By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP3140 Now that artificial intelligence can write a perfect resume instantly, you’re drowning in a sea of perfectly customized but completely soulless competition. The only way to stand out is not by using better keywords, but by mastering the one thing bots can’t: tell messy human stories about specific problems you’ve solved. This episode details how to use “circumstances” in your resume to attract recruiters and make your application memorable.
Well, let’s talk about the huge challenges that are emerging in the job market right now. This is kind of a game changer for all of us. Artificial intelligence is here.
Yes, it makes resume writing easier. But, you know, with all these conveniences, it also comes with a big problem. That’s the most important thing, isn’t it? I mean, if everyone applying for a job could use artificial intelligence to create a perfect resume that met every keyword, what would make you unique? How does a recruiter look at a bunch of perfect resumes and decide on yours? So let’s get real started.
Recently Featured YouTube Job Search Videos
You now have these incredible artificial intelligence tools at your disposal. They can look at the job posting, look at your career history, and get that perfect resume. On the surface, this sounds amazing, right? No more keyword guessing games.
But there’s a problem. The problem is, everyone starts to sound exactly the same. It’s like a sea of perfectly customized yet completely generic resumes.
Sure, everyone is optimized, but they have no soul. So the game has changed. It’s not perfect anymore.
It’s about being the person they remember. So what is the solution to this ultra-modern high-tech problem? Well, funny enough, the answer is ancient. This is storytelling.
Sure, the tools have changed, but what about connecting with another human being? It’s totally timeless. Okay, you’ve probably encountered these before, right? The famous STAR method. Condition.
action. result. Or maybe it’s SOAR, which puts a barrier there.
And of course there are cars. challenge. action.
result. They’re both great for building to your victory, and you can see they’re all built from the same blueprint. Now, your first instinct is probably to fill in all the blanks in these formulas, right? Just follow the recipe.
But that’s not the secret. This won’t make you stand out among all AI resumes. The real trick is much simpler.
It’s there. The whole secret is hidden in the first letter. That’s it.
The S in STAR. C in CAR. That’s your new secret weapon.
Hey, don’t just take my word for it. Job search coach Jeff Altman said it perfectly. It’s always in the first letter where you can really flesh out the problem.
The first letter is where you give meaning to everything else. Well, let’s dig a little deeper. Why is this first letter, this situation, so powerful? Why a king? Because that’s where the context is.
Context can turn a boring to-do list into a story people actually want to read. Think of it this way. This case is more than just some boring introduction.
This is the whole setup. This is the actual, concrete, and maybe even messy problem you have to solve before you can do anything else. This is the picture before
So when you identify the situation, some amazing things happen. First, it provides context. The second is to state the problem clearly.
Third, and this is huge, it makes the reader feel a certain way about you. They get it. Fourth, it acts like a hook.
They just need to know what happens next. I like to compare it to a bedtime story. You know, your results saved the company a million dollars.
This is happily ever after. That’s fine, but it’s predictable, right? But what happens? Ah, here’s the good part. This is the terrible dragon.
Mission impossible. This is the beginning of getting us invested and actually caring about the ending. So what’s the biggest gain here? It’s all about the hook.
You have to catch them from the first word. Your resume is more than just a list of your most popular works. This is a collection of many stories, and you need to make the beginning of each one absolutely irresistible.
Okay, let’s wrap this up. Your job is simple. Let artificial intelligence do the boring stuff.
Keywords, format. Your job is to be the storyteller. So when you use Star or Car, focus all your mental energy on the first letter.
Condition. challenge. Describe the problem well so the reader can feel it.
Hook them. This is how you go from a perfect resume to one they can’t forget. So I’ll leave you with this idea.
Go ahead and pull up your resume. Now. Artificial intelligence can perfect the ending and results, but only you can tell the beginning of the story.
So ask yourself, what’s the most compelling, gripping challenge you’ve ever solved that’s missing from this page? Because that’s the story they really need to hear.
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire big game hunter Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense career advice around the world because he’s done so much in people’s careers Easier. These matters may involve job hunting, Recruit more effectively, manage and lead better, career transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,100 episodes.
You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, JobSearch.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
How to Create and Market Your Partial Executive Playbook
Also, please subscribe to JobSearchTV.com on YouTube and No BS Job Advice Radiothe #1 job search podcast with over 3,100 episodes in over 12 years. On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music, and almost anywhere you listen or watch podcasts.
You can also get your #jobsearchquestions answered on Tuesday at noon ET. Search for career coaching office hours on LinkedIn and mark that you are attending. If you miss the live broadcast, you can access the recording.
How to become an irresistible employee
Schedule a discovery call on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us Talk to me about one-on-one or group coaching
LinkedIn:
Resume and LinkedIn profile critiques www.TheBigGameHunter.us/critiques
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Your Work
We allow this and other articles to be used on your site as long as they include a backlink www.TheBigGameHunter.us and states that it is provided by Jeff Altman of The Big Game Hunter as the author or creator. Does not acknowledge his work or provide backlinks www.TheBigGameHunter.us Subjects you to a $1,000 fine, which you voluntarily agree to pay.
