How can you provide helpful feedback on a peer's resume without being discouraging?

In my experience, it is extremely difficult to do your own resume. People wrestle not wanting to sound like they are bragging, but end up short-selling their skills and accomplishments. I've written hundreds of resume for peers friends and connections and I always try to get them to start out by just listing measurable accomplishments. With these in hand, it's much easier to help them craft a compelling resume.

If folks are asking for feedback, I think providing honest observations with an emphasis on what works well and couching any suggestion for improvement as an opportunity works well for me.

My approach is … give credit for what’s working well and then add value by speaking to the parts that could use revision and make the person really shine in their accomplishments—your resume balances where you’ve been and should demonstrate your ability for future projects. 👍🏽

Tell them to simply use rezi. It’s a very easy way to make a resume. It’s very fun too! Very human design. It’s great for making a resume !

Better to give no feedback than to be very vague in your suggestions. Pinpoint very specific areas that can be improved and give suggestions on how to make those improvements. If you have other resumes where that area is particularly strong, share that resume with the person so they can see exactly what you are talking about.

Be specific about areas that need improvement, focusing on facts rather than opinions. Offer clear, actionable suggestions for enhancement, such as adding quantifiable achievements or rephrasing vague statements. Provide examples for better formatting or content organisation. Encourage them to tailor their resume to the job description for better relevance. Finally, express support and willingness to help further if needed, maintaining a positive and constructive tone throughout.

The article’s focus on specific, actionable feedback resonates with my approach. I believe integrating positive reinforcement enhances this strategy. For instance, after highlighting areas for improvement, I also emphasize strengths, such as a well-structured professional summary or effective use of industry keywords. This balanced feedback encourages receptivity and motivates improvement, making the process constructive rather than daunting. My goal is always to empower, not overwhelm.

When giving feedback, be specific and offer clear examples. Instead of vague statements like "Your resume could be improved," provide precise advice such as, "Try quantifying your achievements under the sales section to showcase impact." This approach offers actionable steps and helps them grasp the reasoning behind your feedback, making it more valuable and less critical.

I completely agree that starting with positive feedback is crucial. When I acknowledge the strengths of a resume, such as its clean layout or strong action verbs, it not only builds the other person’s confidence but also makes them more open to the suggestions I offer later. It's about striking the right balance: commend where it’s due and then carefully suggest specific areas for improvement. This way, the feedback is both encouraging and actionable, maintaining the positive momentum and truly helping to enhance the effectiveness of the resume.

Maintain balance in your critique by sandwiching areas for improvement between positive comments. Start by praising aspects like the resume's format, then suggest refining the summary statement for clarity. Finally, end with a compliment on the inclusion of industry-specific keywords. This approach prevents your peer from feeling overwhelmed by criticism and highlights the strengths of their resume.

When I provide feedback on a resume, I focus on balancing honesty with encouragement. I agree that encouraging reflection on career goals is a solid approach. Personally, I highlight specific sections where the resume excels and suggest areas for refinement. I ask probing questions that encourage viewing the resume not just as a list of jobs, but as a compelling narrative of their professional journey. This method helps my peers think strategically about presenting their skills and experiences, ensuring the resume truly reflects their ambitions and abilities.

When giving feedback on a peer's resume, suggesting resources is a constructive and empowering approach. It's crucial to balance critique with support. For instance, if weaknesses are identified, pairing them with specific resources like workshops on bullet-point effectiveness or articles on impactful resume summaries is beneficial. This method not only highlights areas for improvement but also provides actionable steps for enhancement, promoting a proactive rather than defensive response. This approach fosters a receptive attitude and tangible improvements.

It's also important to focus on "I" statements when discussing the negative aspects of the resume. For example, instead of saying "You wrote a confusing summary," you could say "I was confused reading your summary." This subtle change takes the spotlight away from their mistake and focuses on your experience reading their resume instead, making them likelier to be more receptive to your message.