Your resume is your gateway to landing your dream job in the tech industry. As a developer, it's not just about listing what you can do—it's about showing how your skills fit the job and company you want to work for.

Primary Steps

Before we dive into the details, there are three primary steps you should keep in mind before creating your resume:

1. Define Your Job Role

Before you start writing your resume, you need to know what job you're applying for.

We have talked about this in very first module of this course. If you haven't gone through it, please do so.

Clearly defining the type of developer job you want—like front-end, back-end, or fullstack—helps you tailor your resume to match what employers are looking for. This makes it easier for recruiters to see that you're a good fit for the position.

2. Research Your Target companies

Once you know the job you want, research the companies you're interested in working for. Look at their websites, job postings, and social media profiles to learn more about their culture, values, and the skills they're looking for in candidates.

It helps you understand their culture and projects, so you can customize your resume to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their needs.

This makes your application more appealing to recruiters and shows that you're genuinely interested in them. And it's a MUST!

3. Talk to Industry Experts

Reach out to industry experts, developers, and recruiters to get their insights on what employers are looking for in candidates.

They can provide valuable advice on how to make your resume stand out and what skills to highlight.

It also helps you build connections that could lead to job opportunities. This proactive approach demonstrates your dedication and can set you apart from other candidates.

---

Now that you have a clear idea of the job you want and the companies you're interested in, let's dive into understanding the main issue with resumes and how to create a narrative-based resume that stands out to potential employers.

The Main Issue with Resumes

Most resumes are simply a list of facts without any coherent narrative.

“I went to this school, then worked here, then here, I did this thing.”

Facts aren’t enough.

Your resume needs a clear underlying thread that ties all the facts together into a cohesive and compelling story.

There are three key steps to creating a narrative-based resume:

1. Choose your narrative
2. Cut the fluff
3. Use bullet points to sell your strengths

In the following sections, we'll explore each step in greater detail and provide an example to help illustrate the process.

---

Select Your Narrative

An exceptional resume can be summarized by one message: "I am the _ who can help you _."

For instance:

• "I'm Maria, the front-end developer who turns design ideas into pixel-perfect and responsive websites that wow users."
• "I'm Tom, the back-end developer who builds scalable and secure web applications that exceed your expectations."

Your potential employer's primary concern is understanding who you are and how you can help them. However, most people do not consider resumes in this way.

If the underlying message of your resume is unclear, a hiring manager will give it a glance for 15 - 20 seconds and move on.

To avoid this, be clear about the top 1-3 takeaways you want your potential employer to get.

You Already Have the Answer

Most people are unaware that they need a message, much less what it should be. So they give bland responses like "I'm passionate."

But you have done the preparation and already know:

• The precise role you are targeting
• The exact terms used by employers (via job advertisements and company websites)
• The most significant challenges (via experts)

It's time to put all of that knowledge together and come up with your narrative.

Put yourself in the shoes of your potential employer. What are the 1-3 things that would compel them to notice, remember, and call you over the other hundreds of resumes in their inbox?

Don't skip this stage.

---

Cut the fluff

Most resumes are fluffier than cotton candy. They sound fantastic, but there isn't much substance to them. Hiring managers aren't gullible; they can detect fluff from miles away.

Review your resume line by line and ask yourself:

1. Is this in plain English?
2. What am I trying to say here?
3. Does it support my narrative?

If the answer is yes, keep it. If not, remove it. Be relentless. Every word should earn its spot on the page.

Using Plain English

Here's an example from a real resume:

In plain English, all this means is "I'm smart and well-rounded." Everyone claims this about themselves, even if it isn't true. Remove it. Here's another:

In plain English, this means "Completed the task on time." Not very persuasive when put that way.

This appears to be straightforward, but it is surprisingly difficult to do in practice. Especially when you consider most job search advice recommends you use phrases like these.

But, with practice, you'll become at writing and saying what matters.

---

Write Bullets That Sell Your Strengths

Most people write their resumes using language like this:

Yawn… First of all, "according to established processes" is meaningless, so let's cut that.

Second, use language that engages the reader. Inject vivid details, credibility markers, and tangible outcomes wherever possible to surprise your reader:

Notice the difference? The first bores hiring managers. The second wows them.

Not sure which bullet points to write? It depends on the company you’re applying to - their needs, challenges, and wants.

---

Remember, the most critical aspect of any resume isn't your design or font. It's your narrative.

Structure everything to fit that narrative and get rid of everything else.

Finally, polish up the final product by injecting vivid details and credibility into every bullet point.