This document provides tips and strategies for building a brilliant resume to secure an interview. It discusses preparing by defining accomplishments, impacts, and legacy for each role. Self-assessments are recommended to improve self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses. Keyword research of job descriptions is presented as important resume preparation. The resume should be structured strategically in 7 sections and customized to stand out from other applicants. Proofreading and verifying details are also emphasized before submitting the resume.

1. intelivate.com https://www.intelivate.com/career-strategy/build-brilliant-resume-and-secure-interview
By Kris Fannin
How to Build a Brilliant Resume and Secure the Interview
“98% of job seekers are eliminated at the initial resume screening and only the ‘Top 2%’ of candidates make it to the
interview…”
Kris Fannin
CEO and Founder
That quote from industry expert, Robert Meier, really stood out to me in the
article, “Why Only 2% of Applicants Actually Get Interviews,” by Peter Harris .
In my 20+ years of professional existence, I’ve seen many resumes. I’ve
laughed, cried, yawned, and many times, I don’t get past the first section.
The days of mass distribution of your resume are OVER and is why I am often
asked to review resumes and they never go back without a ton of comments and
redlines.
I am going to give you some very powerful and unique resume strategies to help yours stand out. The first thing you
need to understand though is the purpose of your resume.
Before you dive in, I highly recommend you watch the short, video introduction. It will help to establish your focus and
goals through this comprehensive resume strategy guide.
We’ll include navigation so you can jump to specific parts if you should bookmark this for reference as you complete
each component.
Table of Contents
STRATEGIC PURPOSE OF A RESUME
Tease ‘Em. Make Them NEEDING More.
Define Your Future
Your Door For Opportunity to Knock
Promote Your Personal Brand
PREPARE
Define Accomplishments and Impacts
Define and Document Your Legacy
Self-Assessment
Industry and Role Keyword Research

2. Step 1: Do An Online Search Based on Your Industry, Position and Seniority Targets
Step 2: Find 10 or More Relevant Job Descriptions
Step 3: Copy and Paste Core Content into Document
Step 4: Use Word Analysis Tools to Rank Keywords
Secure General Recommendations
Get a Dedicated Phone Number and Email Address
Verify for the Verification Process
BUILD IT (RIGHT) AND THEY WILL COME
STRATEGIC 7 SECTIONS OF RESUME STRUCTURE
Summary Section
Expertise Section
Experience Section
Education, Certifications & Licenses Section
Work Authorization/Security Clearance Section
Recommendations and References Section
Cover Letter Content Template
DESIGN YOUR RESUME
DIY Design Approach
Resume Templates
CUSTOMIZE YOUR RESUME (#resumecustomize) SUBMIT YOUR RESUME
Proof BOTH Spelling and Grammar
STRATEGIC PURPOSE OF A RESUME
If you don’t have a correctly defined resume goal, you’re doomed before you type the first keystroke.
Tease ‘Em. Make Them NEEDING More.
Think of the best I-will-never-ever-forget-this-never-ever date you’ve gone on in the past. The best ones left you
wanting to see and know more about the person – REALLY wanting to see and know more.
That’s the purpose of the resume. You want a hiring manager to say, “I NEED to meet this person!”
Leave the hiring manager with that feeling of your best I-will-never-ever-forget-this-ever date.
Tease ‘Em. Make HR NEED to meet you.

3. Define Your Future
Once you land your perfect job, the resume is often used for first role assignment, career progression and project
planning. It’s a baseline of information that an organization has to begin those plans.
Your Door For Opportunity to Knock
Even if you have absolutely no desire to leave your company or search for another position, by following these
resume and promotion strategies, you’ll have the most open door for an opportunity to come knocking.
Yes, that’s right – this will increase the chances that opportunities you never dreamed possible or that you never even
thought of coming to YOU as opposed to you chasing them down.
Now isn’t that just a happy thought?
Promote Your Personal Brand
Think of a resume as a single-page website that is one paper. It should accurately showcase the value you provide
and the uniqueness of your brand.
The job market today is incredibly competitive. Having skills is not enough anymore. Hiring managers want
personalities that define and support a workplace culture.
With the purpose in mind, let’s dive into your resume strategies to help you land your dream job!
Whether you are building your first resume or you are a seasoned leadership executive, these resume strategies will
set you apart from the 98% of all other applicants and move you closer to landing the interview.
I will give you a lot of tools and references throughout this article. Don’t worry, I’ll summarize them all for you at the
end for quick reference as you start building your new, brilliant resume.
https://imgur.com/LFVpMto
PREPARE TO BUILD
If you skip preparation you end up with a resume.
When you fully prepare before you develop your resume, you end up with a strategy.
Define Accomplishments and Impacts
Don’t you dare start feverishly typing out your resume before you’ve done a lot – a TON – of preparation. It amazes
me that most people skip this step in their resume strategy. If you skip preparation, you end up with a disconnected
resume at best. When you thoroughly prepare before you write it, you end up with a strategy. It is likely the most
critical of all of them as this is the core of your resume content and job strategy. Step away from your resume and
keyboard and be sure to do the following before you even type the first letter. For each company/position, identify your
biggest 3-5 achievements in each of the following areas:
1. People
2. Process

4. 3. Technology/Systems
For each of these areas, define the specific 3-5 business and financial impacts to the company.
In other words, how did the business benefit from you being in the role or project?
Why is it so critical to define your impact before you begin developing your resume?
Most job descriptions will focus on these three areas and include qualifications around people, process and
technology experience and expertise.
You are going to use these strategically in your resume content to keep it from showing you did ‘tasks’ (yawn) to
proving that you impact business.
BAM!
Define and Document Your Legacy
Here’s how we define legacy at Intelivate:

5. This is true personally and professionally, even if you do not have a leadership ‘title’.
Don’t let the title get in the way of your definition. Please and thank you for this.
For each position you’ve held, when people (colleagues, leaders, direct reports, channel partners) think back to you
in that role, what is the 2-3 sentence description that they would give about the legacy you left?
Think specifically about the impacts you had, the influence you used and the general lay of the culture of the
organization or team.
How did you enhance it?
How did you positively change it?
Especially for executive leadership roles, this should be the primary highlight of the effectiveness of your influence. It
is sometimes a tough definition to develop, but invaluable in the result.
Need some help? Ask former colleagues, mentors or leaders. After all, these are likely the people you impacted and
influenced. Why is this critical?
Your legacy definition will not only provide content for key parts of your resume, but it will also help in preparing for
your interview. The more you prepare and look ahead to the next step, the more likely you are to succeed.
As a bonus, you will probably find out impacts and influence that you had not thought of to leverage in your resume
strategy.
Why? Because it comes naturally to you, so it does not seem like anything unique or special. To others, you seem
brilliant. To you it’s ‘simple’ to them it’s ‘impossible.’
I write about the concepts of easy versus simple in this article.

6. Self-Assessment
One of the secrets to happiness and success is truly being self-aware. One of the most useful tools for developing
self-awareness is self-assessment. Early in college, I took several of these industry-grade assessments and all of
them together really helped me understand my ‘quirks’ as well as natural strengths and weaknesses. Knowing my
strengths and weaknesses has been a critical factor in helping me continue to be aware of those areas that I should
leverage myself versus really leverage others.
If it is a natural weakness and I don’t find value in learning it, it’s going to take me 5x as long to do something that
someone else who excels and loves it – and they are going to do it better.
Our partners at Truity provide a portfolio of brilliant scientific personality assessments with a real focus around self-
awareness of connecting your personality to work and career.
They have a vast offering of both free and premium assessments.
I would start your journey of self-awareness with three of their free assessments:
The 300-Question Personality Test
Find out how you’re really wired with this multifaceted, in-depth assessment of your personality across 5 broad
dimensions and 30 personality traits.
Personal Strengths Inventory
What strengths and personal convictions keep you moving forward during hard times? What talents can you tap for
more success at work and at home?

7. 
DISC Inventory - Analyze Your Behavior
You know how you see yourself, but how do others see you? This assessment helps you to understand how you
interact with others and how your behavior style shapes your relationships.
How to Take Self-Assessments and Leverage the Results
When you take any self-assessment, you want it to be accurate. Therefore, make sure you are in a time and place
that you can focus, take it as quickly as possible so that you do not overthink your answers and respond with the first
instinct you have. That will ensure that you get an incredibly accurate assessment.
One of their premium assessments is the Typefinder®Personality Test and is based on the original 16 personality
types created by Isabel Briggs Myers.
The results alone are always fascinating and truly powerful in helping you understand your personal strengths and
potential.
The results of these assessments are invaluable tools to not only guide you to your natural focus but to also highlight
your personality and strengths for your resume strategy and overall career path.

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START BUILDING YOUR SELF-AWARENESS TODAY!
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The TypeFinder is the scientifically validated personality type test that anyone can use. Learn your four-letter type,
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CAREER SURVEYOR (PREMIUM)
The Career Surveyor™ is a comprehensive, scientifically validated career test that will help you discover the best
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Part 2: Keyword Research & Analysis
Keywords are vital in any resume. They give your resume more appeal and relevance to a targeted base of hiring
managers. This is an ultimate resume keyword analysis strategy.
Part 3: Verification & Recommendations
This section continues with strategic resume preparation including targeting recommendations and how to breeze
through the verification process.
Part 4: Structure & Build
The goal of your resume is to keep them wanting more. A strategic 7 section structure will make your resume and
developed content magnetic.
PART 5: DESIGN, CUSTOMIZE & SUBMIT
The goal of your resume is to keep them wanting more. A strategic 7 section structure will make your resume and
developed content magnetic.