A well-crafted resume is essential for standing out in today's competitive job market. Aon, a leading global professional services firm, has developed a set of resume building strategies to help job seekers create effective and impactful resumes. These strategies are designed to showcase an individual's skills, experience, and achievements, increasing their chances of landing an interview and securing their dream job.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Resume Building
Before diving into the specific strategies, it’s essential to understand the fundamentals of resume building. A strong resume should be tailored to the specific job and industry, highlighting relevant skills and experiences. It should also be concise, easy to read, and free of errors. Keyword optimization is crucial, as many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they even reach a human recruiter. Customization is also key, as it allows job seekers to showcase their unique strengths and qualifications.
Strategy 1: Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
The first Aon resume building strategy is to tailor your resume to the job description. This involves carefully reading the job posting and incorporating relevant keywords and phrases into your resume. For example, if the job description mentions data analysis and problem-solving, you should highlight these skills in your resume. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise, such as “Analyzed data to identify trends and developed solutions to improve business outcomes.”
| Resume Section | Example |
|---|---|
| Summary | Results-driven professional with expertise in data analysis and problem-solving |
| Skills | Data analysis, problem-solving, Microsoft Excel, SQL |
| Experience | Analyzed data to identify trends and developed solutions to improve business outcomes |
Utilizing Action Verbs and Quantifiable Results
The second Aon resume building strategy is to utilize action verbs and quantifiable results. Action verbs such as managed, created, and increased help to describe your achievements and responsibilities. Quantifiable results, such as 25% increase in sales or 30% reduction in costs, provide concrete evidence of your impact. Use specific numbers and metrics to demonstrate your achievements, such as “Increased sales by 25% within 6 months” or “Reduced costs by 30% through process improvements.”
Strategy 2: Use Action Verbs and Quantifiable Results
When using action verbs and quantifiable results, it’s essential to be specific and accurate. Avoid using vague terms or exaggerating your achievements. Instead, focus on showcasing your skills and experiences in a clear and concise manner. For example, “Improved customer satisfaction ratings by 20% through effective communication and issue resolution” or “Developed and implemented a marketing campaign that resulted in a 50% increase in brand awareness.”
- Use action verbs such as managed, created, and increased to describe your achievements and responsibilities
- Use quantifiable results such as 25% increase in sales or 30% reduction in costs to provide concrete evidence of your impact
- Be specific and accurate when using action verbs and quantifiable results, avoiding vague terms or exaggerating your achievements
Highlighting Transferable Skills and Education
The third Aon resume building strategy is to highlight transferable skills and education. Transferable skills are skills that can be applied to multiple industries and job roles, such as communication, problem-solving, and time management. Education and certifications can also be highlighted, such as a degree in a relevant field or a professional certification. Use specific examples to demonstrate your transferable skills, such as “Utilized effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive business outcomes” or “Applied problem-solving skills to identify and resolve complex issues.”
Strategy 3: Highlight Transferable Skills and Education
When highlighting transferable skills and education, it’s essential to be strategic and focused. Avoid listing irrelevant skills or education, and instead focus on showcasing your most relevant and impressive qualifications. For example, “Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing” or “Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with expertise in financial analysis and planning.”
| Transferable Skill | Example |
|---|---|
| Communication | Utilized effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive business outcomes |
| Problem-solving | Applied problem-solving skills to identify and resolve complex issues |
| Time management | Effectively managed multiple projects and deadlines to achieve business objectives |
Creating a Strong Summary and Skills Section
The fourth Aon resume building strategy is to create a strong summary and skills section. The summary should provide a brief overview of your experience, skills, and achievements, while the skills section should list your relevant technical and soft skills. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise, such as “Results-driven professional with expertise in data analysis and problem-solving” or “Proficient in Microsoft Excel, SQL, and data visualization tools.”
Strategy 4: Create a Strong Summary and Skills Section
When creating a strong summary and skills section, it’s essential to be concise and focused. Avoid using generic terms or clichés, and instead focus on showcasing your unique strengths and qualifications. For example, “Highly motivated and experienced marketing professional with a proven track record of driving business growth and improving brand awareness” or “Skilled data analyst with expertise in data visualization, statistical analysis, and data mining.”
- Use the summary to provide a brief overview of your experience, skills, and achievements
- Use the skills section to list your relevant technical and soft skills
- Be concise and focused when creating the summary and skills section, avoiding generic terms or clichés
Utilizing Relevant Keywords and Phrases
The fifth Aon resume building strategy is to utilize relevant keywords and phrases. This involves incorporating industry-specific terms and phrases into your resume, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise, such as “Developed and implemented a cloud-based solution to improve business outcomes” or “Utilized artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive business growth and improve customer engagement.”
Strategy 5: Utilize Relevant Keywords and Phrases
When utilizing relevant keywords and phrases, it’s essential to be strategic and focused. Avoid using too many keywords or phrases, and instead focus on showcasing your most relevant and impressive qualifications. For example, “Proficient in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity” or “Experienced in developing and implementing cloud-based solutions to drive business outcomes.”
| Keyword | Example |
|---|---|
| Cloud computing | Developed and implemented a cloud-based solution to improve business outcomes |
| Artificial intelligence | Utilized artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive business growth and improve customer engagement |
| Cybersecurity | Implemented robust cybersecurity measures to protect business data and prevent cyber threats |
Quantifying Achievements and Impact
The sixth Aon resume building strategy is to quantify achievements and impact. This involves using specific numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work, such as 25% increase in sales or 30% reduction in costs. Use specific examples to demonstrate your achievements, such as “Increased sales by 25% within 6 months” or “Reduced costs by 30% through process improvements.”
Strategy 6: Quantify Achievements and Impact
When quantifying achievements and impact, it’s essential to be specific and accurate. Avoid using vague terms or exaggerating your achievements, and instead focus on showcasing your skills and experiences in a clear and concise manner. For example, “Improved customer satisfaction ratings by 20% through effective communication and issue resolution” or “Developed and implemented a marketing campaign that resulted in a
