Your Resume needs CARBs

No, not the delicious pasta or bread varieties…

CARBS are the bullet points within your career experience that detail;

• CHALLENGES Faced
• ACTIONS Taken
• RESULTS Attained
• BENEFITS To the company/team/customer

One of the most common mistakes I see in resumes, is the good old task list dumped straight from their PD, rather than the stories of their successes and how they’ve left an employer better off.

I want you to ask yourself ‘how is this setting me apart?’

If I think it’s common, I can’t even imagine the numbers recruiters are wading through that are doing the same thing.

Here are some questions to prompt your achievements brainstorming;

• What are you most proud of during your time in this position?
• What is the biggest problem you’ve ever solved?
• Where have you noticed that your work has resulted in increased productivity/efficiency, reduced costs, increased revenue, reduced errors/down-time, or greater client satisfaction?
• What are you the “go-to” person for, and why? Who are the beneficiaries of your expertise, and how do they benefit?
• What positive reviews, awards, or promotions have you received, and why? Was there a specific project or accomplishment that prompted the kudos?
• If you leave your current job, what will the impact be? For example: will they have to hire two people to replace you? Will others have to work overtime? Will projects be abandoned? Will errors increase? Will customer satisfaction suffer?

You can then more easily elaborate on these and structure your bullets using CARB’s.

If you’re not willing to put in that bit of extra time, thought and reflection into your resume, you’re selling yourself short and losing opportunities.

If you need help, please reach out! Email us at [email protected].