Let’s talk about resumes. Don't give me that look.

Love them or hate them, (who am I kidding, we all hate them) in this advanced year of 2025, they are still the single biggest determining factor for most analysts to move forward in a hiring process.

And no, they’re not going anywhere. As much as people wish resumes would vanish into the digital ether—replaced by LinkedIn profiles or skills tests—they’re still your golden ticket to the Wonka Factory.

So, let’s get real about why they matter and how to make yours work harder for you.

Resumes Are the Great Equalizer

Here’s the deal: A resume gives everyone the same 1-2 pages to make their case. Whether you’re a prince or a pauper, this is your shot to shine. In today’s remote world, geography doesn’t hold you back anymore.

From tiny Cedar Point, NC, I can apply for six-figure jobs at global companies—thanks to my resume.

Your resume is your first (and maybe only) impression. Once upon a time, you could hand it to a hiring manager in person and make a connection.

Today, that human touch is rare. Your resume has to do the heavy lifting, showing not just what you’ve done but why you’re the right person for the job.

Only AFTER you clear the first cutdown, do you get the chance to dazzle the hiring manager with your awesome personality.

The 7-Second Rule: Grab Their Attention Fast

Studies show that hiring managers spend an average of seven seconds scanning a resume. Seven seconds!

That means your resume has to hit like a punch. Make it the best seven seconds of their day!

Here are some tips for instant impact:

Lead With Impact

Start your resume with an impactful summary. Highlight your most impressive achievements and relevant skills right at the top. But be brief! Throw out that "Word Salad" with all the flowery adjectives like "cross-functional."

What the heck is "cross-functional" anyway? Nobody knows.

Use Metrics

Numbers draw the eye, and speak louder than words. “Increased sales by 30%” is more impactful than “Managed a sales team.”

Be Concise

Avoid overwhelming hiring managers with walls of text. Use bullet points and clear formatting to make your resume easy to skim. Simple sentences, action verbs.

Ordering Matters: Lead with Your Strengths 

One of the biggest mistakes I see is candidates listing sections in emotional order, based on how hard they worked on things: Education, Skills, Projects, Experience.

Nope, Not like that.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all structure, you need to stop confusing effort with results.

Your resume should establish your value to the employer.

Forget how hard you worked, and think about what the employer values - Experience. Accomplishments.

Start With a Summary

Think of this as your opening act.

Who are you? What’s your superpower? Use this space to highlight your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and career goals. Make it punchy and tailored to the job you want.

Example:

"Data analyst with 3+ years of experience in leveraging SQL, Python, and Tableau to drive actionable business insights. Increased reporting efficiency by 25% and led a team project that identified $200K in cost-saving opportunities."

Lead With Value

After your summary, the most impactful section should come next. This depends on your career stage and experience…

For Experienced Professionals: Lead with your work history. Focus on accomplishments over duties. Use metrics to show your impact.

Example:

“Optimized inventory processes, reducing waste by 15% and saving $50,000 annually.”

For Career Switchers or Entry-Level Candidates: Showcase your skills or projects. Highlight transferable skills and relevant hands-on experience.

Example:

“Built a dashboard in Tableau that visualized sales trends, improving decision-making accuracy by 20%."

Place Education Strategically

Education isn’t usually the star of the show unless you went to a prestige school, or if you have NO relevant experience. Place it toward the bottom.

But Albert, What about the ATS???

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) isn’t that big a deal—it’s a tool to help hiring managers sort through resumes efficiently. It mainly screens out frivolous or woefully unqualified candidates.

Here’s how to make sure your resume clears the ATS and gets through to the human reviewers:

• Keep Formatting Clean: Stick to standard fonts, bullet points, and simple headers. Avoid images, icons, or fancy templates that could confuse the ATS.

• Match Keywords: Tailor your skills to the job description. If the posting mentions Python, SQL, and Tableau, make sure those words appear naturally in your resume.

• Don’t Overload: Keyword stuffing is obvious to a human reader. Focus on quality over quantity.

Don’t Let Perfect be the Enemy of Good

Here’s the truth: You don’t need a perfect resume.

You don’t even need the best resume.

What you need is a resume that’s good enough to get you in the interview room.

Think of it like poker: All you need is a chip and a chance.

Your resume is that chip. What you do in the interview? That’s up to you.

The Power of Tailoring

Every job is different, and your resume should reflect that.

Spend time customizing your resume for the jobs you really care about.

It doesn’t have to be a complete rewrite—just tweak the summary, and highlight the most relevant achievements and skills.

A tailored resume shows effort and attention to detail—qualities every employer appreciates.

Create Your Resume Game Plan

Here’s how to get started…

1. Gather Job Descriptions: Find 2-3 job postings for roles you’re targeting. Identify the common skills and qualifications.

2. Draft a Strong Summary: Write a summary that incorporates the top skills and achievements relevant to those roles.

3. Focus on strong experience bullets: Put your key strengths front and center. Use simple sentences, active voice, lead with impact metrics if you have them.

4. Review and Refine: Run your resume through tools like ChatGPT for keyword alignment against a job listing or have a trusted friend review it for clarity.

5. Keep Iterating: Your resume is a living document. Update it as you gain new skills, projects, and accomplishments.

Final Thoughts: Your Resume Is a Ticket to the Dance

At the end of the day, your resume isn’t just a document—it’s your pitch.

It’s your chance to say, “Here’s who I am, here’s what I’ve done, and here’s what I can do for you.”

It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being effective. Make it clear, make it compelling, and make it count.

Remember: You are enough. Your story is unique and interesting.

Your resume is the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be.

So, craft it with care—and go land that interview.