Top Resume Tips From BMAA Member Felicia Enuha That Will Get You Hired

Felicia Ann Rose Enuha is a marketing executive by day who works for global Fortune 500 companies and a podcaster, serving as Executive Producer and Host of the Trill MBA Show- The Career Management Podcast for Black Women. With a BA Degree in Liberal Arts from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA degree from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Felicia’s goal is to help people survive and thrive in corporate America with her uniquely honest humor. In addition to podcasting, speaking, and marketing, Felicia also runs Trill MBA Career Consulting Services, providing group and individual career navigation and interview preparation consulting. Extremely passionate about creating opportunities in Corporate America for underrepresented minorities Felicia is helping current, and future MBAs make their dream careers.

Q: What are some tips for marketing professionals to keep in mind when writing their resumes?

Well, first, decide what you want to do. Then, you should have a template resume that you keep on hand that has the basics of your experience and education. Have that basic/template resume ready and revise it to fit the job you’re applying to.

• Don’t worry about filling the page. The problem is we feel, especially when we’re more junior in our careers, like we have to fill the page with information but don’t worry about filling the page! It is better to have the experience listed that resonates with the job requisition you have been asked to apply to.
• Build a solid experience-driven resume. For marketing professionals, when writing your resumes, you need to focus on marketing tactics that you have executed against. This can be through programming, campaigns, etc. 
• Speak the language that’s in the job requisition. That is the hiring manager’s idea of what they are looking for most of the time. So, you want to mirror that language back to them in your resume to get it to resonate. If you’re a marketing professional, you might think you need to have all these marketing words and fluff in your resume. The problem is that every company, even in its marketing capacity, will use a different vernacular for the same job duties. For example, one posting might say something like “communicate our brand values across XYZ” and another, “communicate our brand vision across XYZ.”  You should have that template resume that you can customize by taking some key language and tailoring it to align with that job posting. The person who had to write the job requisition is most likely the hiring manager. We might think HR writes the job posting, but usually, HR helps the Hiring Manager write it. That might not always be the case, but most of the time, the hiring manager wrote the job req, so explain your experience in that company’s language. 
• Don't lie on your resume. Don’t lie about the title (saying you were a senior manager when you were the marketing manager) or projects worked on (if you assisted on a project, tell what part of the project you worked on, but don’t claim to have led it when you didn’t). Embellishing is one thing but do not lie on your resume. The industry is small, and you never know who might know someone in your current or previous role.
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask for opinions or invest in a resume service. Don’t hold it so tight that no one sees it until you apply for jobs. Get other eyes and differing opinions because this is a living, breathing document, and it needs to be groomed to grow. Even when I’m writing my resume, I may have trouble articulating my experience in a way that will resonate with roles that take me to the next level we all do. When looking to invest with someone, invest with someone who understands multiple industries and can help you craft the story.

Q: What part of a resume usually catches a hiring manager's eyes first? 

The language used in your experience. This goes back to speaking the language used in the job requisition and tailoring your resume to reflect that.

Q: What is the biggest mistake you see job seekers make when putting their resumes together? 

Typos. That’s the biggest tactical mistake. The best tip I can give anyone is to get a fresh set of eyes to look at your resume.

Q: Do you have any resources that you recommend for resume writing? Do you provide resume services yourself?

I don’t offer resume services, but I recommend Nichelle Evans of Career Remix LLC. She is an HR leader and has a company that helps junior to executive-level professionals prepare themselves for new roles. Career Remix provides resume writing and interview coaching, and prep services, all of which are part of getting the job.

More resume and career gems from Felicia include:

• Once you know what you want to do, figure out where you want to apply. You might think about applying to big well-known companies because of the name, but be intentional and think about going places that really work to develop their people.
• Think about your resume not as a silo but as part of a sprint. From writing your resume, submitting your resume, getting an interview, and taking an offer. You need to think about it holistically.
• Your resume bullet points should be led by your results (what teams you led, projects managed, or what you’ve saved the company). Your title tells what your responsibilities are but what specifically did you do? Those are things your bullets should be focused on.
• Don't be ashamed of your resume. Things happen. You don't have to lie; you need a powerful story. If you took a break in your career, mention being productive when explaining that break. For example, if you took time to take care of an ill relative, be sure to mention any certifications, courses, or professional development you did during that time as well)
• When trying to switch careers, highlight your transferable skills and dial back the ones that overshadow the work you want to do.
• Networking helps! Think about the company you want to work for and use LinkedIn to see who you know there before applying. They might be able to get your resume in front of the Hiring Manager sooner.
• A good resume service doesn't just write your resume. They prepare you for what you want next.

Interested in more career tips from experts like Felicia? Join BMAA today by signing up for a membership here. If you have any questions, visit our FAQ page at https://blackmarketers.org/membership-faqs and contact our Director of Memberships at directorofmembership@blackmarketers.org today.