1510972017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology Forbes / Leadership AUG27,2014@2240PM 684,518 @ 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology Jon Youshaei, CoN 18/2 0F fentional career stories and ideas. FULL BIO ‘Opnons exgressed by Forbes Contibutors tthe ow File not found. The requested file could not be found. The day I landed my job at Google was the day I decided to pay forward all the help I received on reworking my resume. After going through many resumes, I want to share what I learned in hopes that it helps more people get their dream jobs. My biggest realization? We don't think like psychologists. And in doing so, we sell ourselves short. Here are six ways to change that: hitps:lwuwforbos.comstesijonyoushael2014/08/27iresumesi#260316103121 16450912017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Payehalogy 1. Quantify Your Impact ‘Tip: Show your accomplishments in numbers, not just words. It’s such an easy way to standout since few people do this. Answer questions such as: how much money did you manage? How many people attended your last event? How many views did your promotional video have? Examples: + Weak: Managed a budget to plan large-scale events for students + Strong: Managed $12,000 budget to plan large-scale events for 2,500 students + Weak: Compiled a pitch deck for buyout of automotive company + Strong: Compiled a 44-page pitch deck for buyout of $53 million automotive company + Weak: Wrote articles on entrepreneurship and technology « Strong: Wrote 8 articles on entrepreneurship and technology, generating 107,000 page views, 8,003 likes, and 3,723 tweets Reason: Greek philosopher Aristotle taught three pillars of effective persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos. He believed most in the power of logos, which means persuading others using logic, evidence, and facts. By quantifying your impact, you're doing exactly that. You're providing evidence to underscore the significance of your accomplishments. hitps:lwuwforbos.comstesijonyoushael2014/08/27iresumesi#260316103121 261510912017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology (© Mike Baldwin / Cornered BA Dolie PERSONNEL “Thanks for coming in. We’ll get back to you as soon as we lower our expectations.” (Credit: Cartoonstock) 2. Make Your Interests As Quirky As Possible Tip: To quote Drake (another great philosopher), you need to “start from the bottom.” The last line of your resume is where most people list their interests, but don’t actually say anything interesting. You like movies, sports, and traveling? How original! Instead, say something that could strike an emotional chord or spark a memorable conversation mid-interview. At the very least, be highly specific. htps:www forbes.comsitosjonyoushaeli2014/08/27Iresumesi#2803161031211510972017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology Examples: Settlers of Catan, Quentin Tarantino films, Mediterranean cooking, Lego Star Wars collections. Reason: In Give and Take, Wharton professor Adam Grant emphasizes that similarities matter most when they're rare. “We bond when we share uncommon commonalities, which allow us to feel that we fit in and stand out at the same time,” he says. Your interests are a huge bonding opportunity with your resume reader. Don’t waste it. 3. Show The Competition Tip: This one gets me every time. $o many people win awards, get into selective programs, and do other impressive things but don’t convey the full amazingness of those accomplishments. It’s because they don’t show the competition; they don’t reveal how many other people were gunning for that very same spot. Examples: ‘Weak: Won Granny Smith University’s Innovation Competition Strong: Won $1,000 for Granny Smith University’s Innovation Competition (80+ entrepreneurs competed) Weak: Accepted into Johnny Appleseed Management Program Strong: Accepted into Johnny Appleseed Management Program (9% admit rate, Granny Smith University selects 50 students per year) Reason: Social proof is one of the most powerful principles of influence, according to psychologist Robert Cialdini. By showing your competition, you emphasize how coveted your accomplishments are. Many people tried, but only you succeeded. By doing this, you safeguard yourself in case the recruiter hasn’t heard of your program, award, or honor - which they most likely haven’t and won't bother looking up. 4. Ask An Employee For Feedback Tip: tionships are more important than r Before applying to any company, always connect with an employee - whether through information sessions, introductions, or alumni outreach. If the conversation goes well, kindly ask for feedback on your resume before applying. hitps:lwuwforbos.comstesijonyoushael2014/08/27iresumesi#260316103121 461si082017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology ‘This accomplishes two things. First, it’s an extremely efficient way to customize your resume to different companies. Employees offer highly specific edits (“hey try using this buzz word, we love that”). Secondly, this is an awesome way to internally pass along your resume without even asking. If an employee finds you impressive, kind, and sincere, there’s a good chance they'll put in a word with recruiters. Example: Here's an email I've used before. Hey Jeff, Great chatting yesterday! I really enjoyed hearing about your experiences at [Company X] and I'm excited to apply for [Position Y]. Tknow you're super busy, but could you spare 2 minutes to share any feedback on my resume before I submit? Even a quick gut reaction would mean a lot. Best, Jon Reason: The Foot-In-The-Door Phenomenon refers to people's tendency to more readily complete larger requests after they've already agreed to smaller ones. By asking for feedback, you're doing just that. Requesting two minutes of their time is an easy starting point, especially if you've built rapport beforehand. Before you know it, they may help out in bigger ways by making referrals, brokering introductions, and more. 5. Associate Yourself With Big Brands Tip: Build instant credibility by associating yourself with trusted institutions, even if you've never directly worked for one. Did any of your clients include Fortune 500 companies? If you worked at a startup, was it backed by notable venture capitalists? Were you featured in any major publications? Well-known brands shine when recruiters scan resumes so find a way to include them. Examples: + Strengthened relationships with 7 strategic partners (including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble & Emirates Airlines) through follow-up meetings with senior leadership hitps:lwuwforbos.comstesijonyoushael2014/08/27iresumesi#260316103121 861510972017 6 Secrets of Great Resumes, Backed By Psychology + Hired and managed 6 students from Penn and Yale including programmers, salespeople, and graphic designers + Collaborated with Zagat’s “Restaurateur of the Year” Stephen Starr to run a Philadelphia-wide Restaurant Week at 8 different venues Reason: Authority is another one of Cialdini’s principles of influence. If you don’t have it, the best way to convey authority is by associating yourself with those who do. hitps:lwuwforbos.comstesijonyoushael2014/08/27iresumesi#260316103121