rad·i·cal ( P )

adj.

 

1. Arising from or going to a root or source; basic: proposed a radical solution to the problem.

2. Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme: radical opinions on education.

3. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions,

    or institutions: radical political views.

 

Getting to the root of who you are and the brilliance you have to offer. Moving beyond the tired and

slavish résumé conventions we've all seen. Empowering you to own those talents and accomplishments

you may not be fully seeing.  Helping you step out of that box that keeps you feeling small and

unimportant so you can land the job you really want. That's the radical approach. Besides, the time it

will take you to read this paragraph is the average time an employer spends looking at your résumé.

Why not be RADICAL? What do you really have to lose?

 

We combine a mastery of résumé mechanics, a keen creative intuition, superb writing and editing skills,

a sledgehammer advertorial approach, and a willingness to be daring to create outstanding résumés.

 

A Radical résumé will, at the very minimum...

 

1. Take an employer-centric approach

Pretend you are the hiring manager for the position you are seeking. Remove yourself from the picture

for the moment. What type of person do you want for this position? What are the real skills and

experiences necessary? If an item on your résumé does not clearly answer the question, "why am I

superb for this position," it doesn't belong.

 

2. Offer a dynamic power statement

The power statement is the 10 second commercial telling the reader why you are superb for a given

position. It is essentially the summary, skills, key strengths and accomplishments that appear on the

first half or third of the résumé with strong, action oriented language ("Led," "created," and "developed"

as opposed to "responsible for", "helped," or "attended".) The power statement should be so compelling

that the reader need not have to go any further through the résumé to know that you are ideal for

the given position. Many people save the power statement for the cover letter. Gatekeepers typically

only pass on your résumé itself to the real decision-makers. Why not say everything that needs to be

said clearly, concisely, and boldly right on the résumé?

 

3. Target a specific job both in content and style

Targets a desired job or industry by utilizing key buzz words, phrases, cadences, and styles emphasizing

relevant strengths and skills. An offbeat design may be great for an artist, but not necessarily for an

accountant. A technology professional's résumé will list computer skills at the top whereas a publicist's

might display press contacts instead.

 

4. Display leadership, original thinking and problem solving

 

5. Look visually clean, organized, and pleasing to the eye

Employ a simple but elegant font with minimal graphics, clear sight lines, and consistent formatting.

 

6. Minimize the appearance of frequent job hopping 

For a frequent job hopper, we might use a functional layout, which organizes experience by job function,

skills, and accomplishments, instead of the traditional reverse-chronological ordering.

 

7. Exhibit consistent and flawless grammar and spelling