Most resumes fail because they read like datasheets — dense lists of tasks and buzzwords. But a great resume is a sales page. Its job isn’t to catalog your responsibilities; it’s to persuade a hiring manager that you’re the solution to their most urgent problems. Here’s how to make that transformation.
Why Your Resume Must Sell, Not List
Like a good sales page, your resume should agitate, excite, and make the reader eager to learn more about you.
First, you need the hiring manager to know immediately — in 10 seconds or less — that you are a solution to their problem and that there are reasons to choose you over other candidates.
How to Write a Resume Summary That Sells
Your summary is your value proposition in miniature. It answers three questions fast: Who are you? Have you really done this job? And why should they choose you over someone else?
Here’s the structure I recommend:
- Positioning + Domain Expertise
- Rubric: “I am a <role> with <years>+ of experience in <type of product/work>, in <domains>.”
- Example: “I am a Senior Product Manager with 10+ years of experience in AI-driven SaaS platforms, in ed tech, HR tech, and other highly regulated domains.”
- Breadth of Practice / Body of Work
- Show you’ve repeatedly done the core activities of the role.
- Example: “I have delivered dozens of products and hundreds of features from concept to market acceptance.”
- Or: “I have shaped and transformed customer journeys across dozens of applications, combining deep domain expertise, insight-driven strategy, and cross-functional leadership.”
- Reputation / Differentiator (Social Proof)
- Phrase it as “I have a reputation for…” or “I am known for…”.
- It must be something not on the job description that truly sets you apart.
- Examples:
- “I have a reputation for tackling the tough problems others avoid — and solving the root cause, not just slapping on a bandaid.”
- “I am known for bridging the gap between sales and product development, creating impactful tools that drive revenue while preserving engineering bandwidth.”
- “I have a reputation for delivering intuitive, field-verified solutions that integrate with complex physical workflows — because scanning 80 million packages a day leaves no room for error.”
Turn Bullet Points Into Stories of Transformation
Your bullet points must hint at stories of transformation and success. (NOT your job responsibilities — they already know those.) You want the hiring manager to say:
“I want to hear more about that!”
When each bullet points toward a meaningful change — a product rescued, a process streamlined, a team transformed — your resume becomes not just a record of jobs, but a showcase of impact.