How to brand your resume to land your next development position

Have you ever wondered how you can land that next fundraising job? While networks are important, a branded resume will really make you stand out and land that next position.

Below are steps that you can take to begin to brand yourself as a successful development director and land that next career move!

1. Develop a strong job title and target – Make a first impression quick!  A job title and summary provides an outline of what you have accomplished and why you are the right person for the job. It sets the tone for who you are as a fundraising professional.
2. Spiff up your professional profiles – Ensure that your LinkedIn, Twitter, and other professional profiles are a good representation of your experience, skills, and strengths.  Then, use your resume to link to your professional profiles to help build your brand.  Linking to your professional profiles gives your prospective employers an opportunity to learn more about the impact that you have had on the field.  Be sure that your profiles demonstrate that.
3. Summarize your career highlights – Create a career summary section and place the most important moments of your career there to stand out.  Think about things such as largest gifts secured, campaigns completed, and projects of note.  This is your chance to shine, so do it here!  I recommend listing at least four highlights tailored to the position that you are seeking.
4. Twist your duties around – It is time to take those boring, routine duties and twist them around.  Make them into initiatives.  Use strong action words that emphasize “Developing,” “Creating,” “Innovating,” etc.  Think beyond your duties and think of initiatives that you may have implemented. For example, instead of listing a responsibility as “Oversaw gift acknowledgment process,” why not highlight it as “Developed the organization’s first Donor Stewardship Plan.”
5. Consider testimonials – We all know that social proof is important, so why not start using it.  Collect and share testimonials from within your networks.  LinkedIn is a great place to collect testimonials. You can then use your resume to drive folks back to your professional social profiles.  Sharing testimonials is a sure-fire way of standing out.  Find two or three reputable references from the field and have them write a one or two sentence quote.

With all of the development jobs out there, landing the right one is important.  There’s nothing better than standing out as the strongest candidate each time you apply for a job.  Increase the odds of being that person by developing your personal brand in your resume.

For a free, 30-minute resume consultant, or to learn more about our “Survive and Thrive” professional coaching services, visit us here at www.hireacfre.com or book your fundraising coaching session at http://calendly.com/robincabral.

Here are some more resources you may want to check out:

https://developmentconsultingsolutions.com/characteristics-of-a-good-development-director.

https://developmentconsultingsolutions.com/how-to-find-and-hire-your-next-development-director/