How to Create a Resume That Proves Your Value to a Potential Employer

To be successful, you can’t just talk the talk—you also have to walk the walk. This is especially true when it comes to resumes. A hiring manager has nothing but your resume to help them form an opinion of you, so set it up in a way that makes it impossible for them to pass you over. This means marketing yourself heavily (modesty has no place here) without straying from the truth.

Crafting a great resume can take quite a bit of time, but this important investment in your career is well worth it. We all live busy lives, so you don’t have to worry about writing your resume yourself—hire a resume writer to spare yourself the stress! These professionals know all the latest trends in resume writing and can produce a document that expertly highlights your best qualifications and skills. 

Here is how you can prove yourself on your resume.

Start with your career summary

People no longer waste space on their resumes by including an objective statement that tells the hiring manager that they want the job. You obviously want it or you wouldn’t be applying for it. The expectation nowadays is to include a career summary, which briefly explains why you’re qualified for the job. 

In these short three to five lines, include your best qualifications and experience to give the hiring manager a taste of your value. You’ll later expound on these, so only mention qualifications and experience that you can prove later. It’s important to show off your most important skills and qualifications here because if the hiring manager isn’t impressed with your career summary, they may not give the rest of your resume a chance.

Move on to your skills section

Your skills section is where you can highlight your qualifications in a concise bulleted list. Before listing anything, however, read through the entire job description and note any keywords and requirements. Many people don’t take the time to do this, which is generally a fatal mistake. Not only does it indicate laziness and lack of enthusiasm for the job, but failure to include relevant keywords might also mean that your resume never even makes it to the recruiter’s desk. 

These days, many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATSs) to scan resumes and sort them according to certain specifications, the main one being keyword usage. Essentially, these programs go over a resume and check whether it includes the employer’s chosen keywords, which can usually be found in the job description. If a resume doesn’t feature enough keywords, the ATS automatically tosses it out. 

So, if you want your resume to make it past the ATS and land on the hiring manager’s desk, make sure to include keywords from the job description. A word of caution, though: Your resume should prove whatever skills you list in this section. Don’t add keywords that bear no relation to reality, and aim to incorporate them naturally so that your resume still sounds good to a human reader. The skills section is a great place to quickly list your best qualifications and catch the hiring manager’s eye.

Elaborate on your qualifications in the work experience section

Your work experience section is pivotal in proving your qualifications. Here, you expound on them through your employment history. Use your job descriptions to prove you truly possess all the skills you’ve listed and be specific. 

Let’s take a look at ways to elaborate on your qualifications.

1. Showcase the results of your efforts

Hiring managers want to see how you benefited your previous employers, so highlight the results of your hard work. It may feel as if you’re bragging, but it’s fine to let it be known that you did create value for another company. In fact, that’s what you have to do to convince the hiring manager to welcome you on board. If you’re not confident in your abilities, why should they be? 

If you simply list your responsibilities without specifying results, you won’t prove yourself. For example: 

Responsible for creating new software [responsibility]

Created new software that analyzes sales by product [results]

In the second example, you’ve demonstrated the results of your work. That’s what hiring managers look for.

2. Use numbers

Recruiters often look at numbers to determine value, especially if the job revolves around increasing revenue—they want to see that you can improve their numbers. If you can demonstrate results using numbers, do it. Here’s an example:

Increased sales in one month [not specific]

Increased sales by 12% in one month [specific]

Adding a number makes your description more credible because of the specifics. When possible, use numbers, but be careful not to disclose sensitive information about your previous employers. Don’t offer specific dollar amounts—stick to percentages.

3. Add unpaid experience

Work experience doesn’t come only from paying jobs. You should add any experience that contributes to your value, such as volunteer work, internships, or similar projects. You may even be able to include hobbies if you can extract real value for your resume from them. Showing that you were willing to work without pay to expand your knowledge demonstrates your passion for your career. 

Your value isn’t based solely on what you put on your resume—it’s also based on how you perform. However, unless you make your value clear on your resume, the hiring manager will have a hard time justifying bringing you on board since they have no other way of determining how you can benefit their company. Don’t just rush through your resume, neglecting to prove your skills—after all, why should the recruiter take you at your word? Not sure if your resume proves your qualifications? Contact our resume experts for help and coaching.