During our weekend mentoring sessions, one common question I hear is, “How do I transition into a new role, especially in AI?”

This question often comes from mid and senior management professionals looking to pivot or realign their careers with AI’s growing impact. As we dive into their aspirations and target roles, the conversation almost always shifts to their resumes.

Most people approach their resumes with a simple mindset: “I’ll list all the work I’ve done, and it should be good enough.” They update their resume, send it out, and then come back a few months later saying, “I’m not getting shortlisted for the roles I want.”

If this sounds familiar, this might help:
📍 How much time have you really spent crafting your resume?
📍 As your experience grows, so does the challenge of summarizing it effectively.

Questions like these are common:
▪️ Should my resume be one page, or is two acceptable?
▪️ How do I include everything without overwhelming the reader?
▪️What format should I use?

🎯 From my experience I can share that: It’s not the format or look of your resume that gets you shortlisted. It’s how well your experience aligns with the role you’re targeting.

E.g. If you’ve been a product manager for 15 years and worked in AI for the past 2, and you’re now aiming for an AI product management role, your resume should highlight: 1️⃣ Your product management expertise. 2️⃣ Your ability to analyze and execute. 3️⃣ Your technical experience in AI.

Think of your resume as a targeted pitch. It’s not about listing everything you’ve done but focusing on the key highlights that resonate with the role you want.

I frequently tell my mentees, “updating your resume isn’t a one-time exercise to do when job hunting—it’s an ongoing process. By regularly revisiting and refining it, you stay relevant in today’s competitive job market and increase your chances of getting shortlisted.”

⭐ Remember, your resume is the first impression a hiring manager gets. Make it count