Personal Value Proposition: How to Write a Resume Summary that Makes Hiring Managers Want To Talk To You
Hey, Basel Job Coach - what can I do to make my CV more interesting to Hiring Managers? My Job Search is too slow
This is a great question, but it’s one where many people miss the point of what a CV is for.
Let’s start right at the top of it. Americans call it “The Prime Real Estate”. It’s the part that every viewer will see first.
What should you put there?
If you think it’s your telephone number, your Skype ID or your unshortened LinkedIn profile link, please start again.
You are on the right track if it’s your Career or Profile Summary.
But still, that’s very 20th Century. Like a newspaper headline. But longer. And duller.
Well, I’ve already got a Summary at the top of my CV, thank you very much – but it’s not making employers pick up the phone and ask me to come and interview so that I can show them how great I am!
There are plenty of reasons why your resume summary might not be making the impact you hoped for.
More often than not, it’s because traditional resume summaries are just too generic.
They don’t stand out or convey your unique value to potential employers. They are all the same. Read one, read ‘em all.
Especially in hyper-competitive Basel, you need to go the extra mile to get noticed.
Remember, always ask yourself: “What is my Resume for?”
Pick from two answers:
- It’s for chronologically listing my career history
- It’s how I sell myself to a potential employer
If you want to get ahead in a competitive job search market, having the mindset of answer #2 will take you much further than answer #1.
Here’s the secret: focus on your Personal Value Proposition (PVP).
What’s a Personal Value Proposition?
A Personal Value Proposition (PVP) is a concise statement that highlights your unique skills, experiences and the value you bring to a prospective employer. Unlike a traditional resume summary, which tends to be generic and focused on duties, a PVP is tailored to showcase how your specific attributes align with the company’s needs and goals.
Think about it this way. What are jobs for?
What do you mean by “What are jobs for”? It’s obvious, isn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
Jobs exist to solve problems.
Every Saturday when I was a kid, I’d go to my grandma’s house.
At the same time every week, you would hear the jingle of the Ice Cream Van coming down the street – more enticing than the Pied Piper’s pipe!
This is getting odd…
Stick with me.
Martin, the Ice Cream Man, solved the problem of getting delicious, sugary, worryingly artificially flavoured treats directly to key consumers without the hassle of having to go to the shop and bring them back before they melted.
Everyone knows this. Do you call these Insights?
Yes it’s obvious, but here’s the point.
Can you succinctly describe what problems you solve for the key consumer of your CV, AKA an employer?
Hmmm. Well, erm, maybe, something like, erm…no.
It’s quite challenging unless you really think about it.
And this is the core of who you are professionally.
If you’ve worked for the same employer for a while, the chances are that your colleagues know what you do. It’s implied. “Oh yeah, Lisa’s the Head of Digital Transformation”, “Alex is the Legal Counsel” etc.
But new employers don’t know what you do.
They can try to work it out from your summary or chronological background, but they might get a different idea of who you are and what you offer.
Any they might not be interested and say no. Or, worse, maybe.
No CV ever gets out of the maybe pile.
So, the most effective way to improve your CV Summary, is to tell employers this:
These are the problems that I can solve for you.
Sounds interesting – tell me more about CV Personal Value Propositions
Here’s 3 reasons why they are better:
1. Personalisation
A PVP is customised to the job you’re applying for, making it more relevant to individual hiring managers. It speaks directly to their needs and shows that you’ve thought about how you can contribute to their success.
2. Clarity of Value
A PVP clearly communicates the value you bring to the table, rather than just listing your past job responsibilities. It implicitly answers the crucial question: “Why should we hire you?”
3. Competitive Edge
By focusing on what sets you apart, a PVP helps you stand out in a sea of CVs. It highlights your unique strengths and how they align with the company’s objectives.
How should I start creating my own Personal Value Proposition?
Glad you asked. Not so odd now eh!?
Here are 3 things to focus on:
1. Identify Your Unique Strengths
Reflect on your career and identify the skills and experiences that make you stand out. Consider what colleagues and supervisors have praised you for and what you enjoy doing most.
2. Understand the Employer’s Needs
Think about the company and the role you’re applying for. Understand their pain points, their goals and the qualities they value in an employee. Tailor your PVP to address these specific needs.
3. Craft a Compelling Statement
Combine your unique strengths and the employer’s needs into a concise, impactful statement. Aim for one or two sentences that clearly communicate your value. For example:
“As a seasoned marketing professional with a knack for innovative campaign strategies, I excel at driving brand growth and customer engagement. My experience in leveraging data-driven insights to optimise marketing efforts can significantly boost your company’s outreach and ROI.”
I like this example of a Personal Value Proposition for my CV, but I’m struggling to define what makes me unique and what the employer’s problems are
This is a common challenge – not because people can’t create one, but because it is hard to define who you are professionally. It’s the foundation upon which a successful, professional job search is built.
Being able to define this enables you to find your dream job faster.
If your Basel job search isn’t working and would like to upgrade your resume to accelerate your journey to success, we tackle defining your Personal Value Proposition as a core component of two of our career coach courses:
Modern Job Search: Strategies for Success
Happy hunting!
P.s. if you’ve read all the way to the end, treat yourself to the best ice cream in the Basel area – Gabriella’s!