Rock Your Resume Review

Emma Strong, resume coach at Strong Edits, and Sarah Cannistra, author of Land Your Next L&D Role: Creating a Career That Works for You and founder of the Overnight Trainer, will be prominent figures at the Association for Talent Development’s International Conference & EXPO, helping attendees to set themselves up for success at the Career Center.

The Conference Daily asked Strong about her skills and her upcoming programs at the conference.

Why should someone talk with a resume coach?

All job applicants should have a simple yet visually appealing resume design. Coaching focuses on tailoring resumes to the person, ensuring content is clear, thorough, and impact-focused.

Why is resume building important for development opportunities?

Your resume is the key to opening the door for your next career opportunity. It is often the first thing a hiring manager or recruiter sees that tells them something about you. It sparks their interest in learning more about who you are and what you can offer to their team and their organization.

If your interview is the feature film, your resume is the movie trailer. An effective resume enables you to move forward in the hiring process and successfully land an interview where you can truly shine.

Building your resume also encourages you to reflect on what you truly want to do in your next role. Most people use the document as a laundry list of everything they’ve ever done; but, when executed correctly, your resume reflects what you want to do next via the lens of what you’ve done in the past.

How many years have you and Cannistra presented at ATD’s annual conference?

This is my second year hosting one-on-one resume coaching appointments and my first year serving as a co-presenter for group sessions in the Career Center.

But it is Sarah’s fourth year presenting.

What can attendees expect at your sessions this year?

Reprogram Your L&D Resume. This is an interactive session on Sunday at 1 p.m., in which L&D career and resume coaches will provide expert advice on how attendees can market their skills, use artificial intelligence the right way, and structure a personalized resume. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to highlight the skills, interests, and values they want to use in their next role.

L&D Resume Roundtable: Live Working Session. After attending “Reprogram Your L&D Resume” on Tuesday at 10 a.m., attendees have the option for additional, hands-on assistance in crafting their one-and-done resume. Attendees should come prepared with a digital copy of their resume and a blank Word or Google doc for workshopping.

1:1 Resume Coaching Appointments. This personalized coaching opportunity includes an in-person, 15-minute appointment to provide detailed suggestions on resume improvement. Times vary throughout the conference. Sign up in the conference app or in person at the Career Center. Participation in Sunday’s “Reprogram Your L&D Resume” session in preparation for the one-on-one resume appointment is highly encouraged but not required.

Cannistra will also present two sessions during the conference: one titled after her book that takes place on Sunday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m. and “Support Accessibility and Inclusion With AI” on Monday, May 19 at 4:30 p.m.

Resume coaching pairs well with a planned career. Learn about ATD25’s offerings.

Read more about ATD25 at conferencedaily.td.org.