Your Resume Is the Trailer, Not the Movie

Think of your resume as the trailer to a movie, not the movie itself. A movie trailer gives viewers just enough to get excited, intrigued, and interested in watching the full film. In the same way, your resume should be a teaser—capturing a recruiter’s attention and motivating them to invite you for an interview, which is the “full movie.”

1. Don’t Try to Tell Your Whole Story on Your Resume

One of the most common mistakes professionals make is trying to fit their entire career history onto their resume. Some go as far back as the 1990s, detailing every job held and outlining every responsibility. The result is often a lengthy, dense resume that reads more like a job description than a story of achievements and impact. While it’s tempting to include everything you’ve done to prove your worth, this approach can overwhelm the reader and bury your key strengths.

The reality is that recruiters and hiring managers spend only a few seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read further. If your resume doesn’t quickly convey why you’re a strong candidate, it risks being passed over. Your resume needs to be concise, impactful, and tailored to the specific job you’re pursuing.

2. Focus on Impact, Not Job Descriptions

A resume filled with detailed job responsibilities often falls flat. Employers already have a good sense of what a typical role entails. Instead of listing routine tasks, focus on what you accomplished in each position. How did you drive results, solve problems, or contribute to the company’s growth? Did you lead a successful project, improve a process, or exceed sales targets? This shift from responsibilities to results makes your resume more compelling and memorable.

For example, instead of writing:

"Managed a team of sales representatives and handled daily operations,"

try:

"Led a team of 10 sales representatives, driving a 30% increase in revenue within 12 months through targeted sales strategies."

This approach showcases both your scope and the tangible impact you had.

3. Keep It Relevant and Current

Your resume should be forward-looking, emphasizing the most recent 10-15 years of your experience and focusing on roles that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Including outdated or unrelated information not only takes up space but can also dilute the strength of your message.

Instead of trying to detail your entire career journey, choose the most relevant experiences that align with the position you’re targeting. Highlight the skills, achievements, and experiences that make you the right fit for this next role, even if that means leaving out earlier positions that don't add value to your story.

4. Think of Your Resume as a Teaser

Just like a good trailer, a resume should offer glimpses of the best parts of your career, creating intrigue and encouraging the recruiter to want to learn more. Use bullet points to emphasize key achievements, and keep descriptions brief—two lines per bullet point, maximum. Be sure to use action-oriented language and quantify your achievements whenever possible.

The goal is not to tell everything but to give just enough detail to spark interest. You want the recruiter or hiring manager to think, “I need to talk to this person to understand more.”

5. The Interview Is the Full Movie

The resume’s job is to get you in the door. The interview is where you can share the full story, provide more context, and dive into the nuances of your experiences and accomplishments. It’s during the interview that you have the chance to elaborate on how you approached challenges, engaged with teams, and drove results.

Approaching your resume as a teaser also helps set you up for a better interview. When you leave some details for the conversation, you create natural talking points and opportunities to elaborate on your most impactful experiences.

6. Conclusion: Less Is More

In the world of resumes, less truly is more. Avoid trying to fit your entire career onto one page. Focus instead on crafting a concise, impactful resume that highlights your most relevant achievements. Remember, it’s not about telling your whole story at once but about giving a preview that makes hiring managers eager to know more. Like a well-made movie trailer, your resume should capture interest, create curiosity, and leave the audience wanting more.