Virginia Franco Resumes

10/09/2026

"My Top 6 Resume Non-Negotiables" is up on my website!

This latest article will feature a vlog series where I walk through each non-negotiable with you, explaining what's needed from your resume and why in 2026.

For a human to review your resume and quickly understand why they should reach out.

✔️ That means your resume needs a clear target.
✔️ It needs a summary filled with substance rather than adjectives.
✔️ Your achievements need data, scope and context.
✔️ Every piece of content needs to support the role you’re pursuing.
✔️ AI should make your research and thinking better, not replace your voice.
✔️ Your documents must be written and designed for how people consume information today: quickly and online.

Get those 6 things right, and you’ve gone from writing a resume to creating a career marketing document that makes it easy for the reader to understand where you fit, what you’ve accomplished, and why you might be an ideal person to invite for an interview.

Read and watch the walkthrough of all 6 in my latest article! 😉

https://bit.ly/4hO843H

10/02/2026

Once you're clear on your job target, the next step toward finding or changing your job is getting your resume and LinkedIn ready to roll.

So the question becomes... is it worth it hire a resume writer?

If you feel clear on your direction, confident in how your experience is presented, and are getting traction, you may already be in a good place. It can be helpful to have a second set of eyes when:

• you’re navigating a shift
• things feel a bit unclear
• the response you’re hoping for isn’t happening

Before you decide to outsource and hire a professional or determine it’s best to go it alone, ask yourself these questions:
https://bit.ly/3ykVp5r

10/01/2026

Updating Your Resume Isn't About Adding More.

It's about making what's already there more meaningful.

If September's International Update Your Resume Month inspires you to finally open that document sitting on your computer, don't feel like you need to start over.

Start by reading it differently... like a busy hiring manager.

 What jumps out?
 What gets buried?
 What feels generic?
 What no longer matters?
 What is missing?

And most importantly, can you see the story?

Your career may be complicated. It may include pivots, promotions, career breaks, unexpected turns or experience that doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional progression.

It doesn’t mean you lack a story. It means your resume needs to help someone else see it.
Remember... while the tech surrounding job search continues to evolve, good questions, clear writing, relevant details, and a compelling story matter.

Your next update may not require adding more. It may simply require looking at your career with fresh eyes.

Read the latest, "International Update Your Resume Month: 8 Things to Reconsider Before You Update Your Resume:"
https://bit.ly/4dfHXRY

09/30/2026

September is International Update Your Resume Month, which makes it a good time to take a fresh look at one of the most important documents in your career toolkit.

But before you open your resume and start adding your latest job, accomplishments and skills, I encourage you to pause. Updating your resume does not necessarily mean adding more.

In many cases, the best update is taking a closer look at what is already there and asking a few simple questions:

 Is this still relevant?
 Does it demonstrate my value?
 Is it helping tell my story?
 Does it make it easy for someone else to understand what I bring to the table?

Read the latest:
https://bit.ly/4dfHXRY

09/28/2026

His resume read like he was a Manager, even though he was a VP (his company called it something else).

WHAT HIS ROLE ENTAILED

- Oversaw multiple product lines
- Led a >120 FTE organization
- Managed a $5M P&L
- Reports and presentations to the Board

WHAT HIS RESUME LACKED

While he'd done a great job explaining his day-in and day-out activities, his stats lacked context, and there was no mention of how:

- He'd built some teams from inception, while others required turnaround.

- His industry had faced serious headwinds, and his company had come out ahead of the competition.

- How he'd posted a profit after years of the company remaining flat.

- Mention of the scope of the role (team size, budget size, company descriptor).

BY NOT SHOWING IMPACT

Decision-makers couldn't . . .

- Determine his current capabilities. They assumed lower scope.

- Recognize their own painpoints, or see how he was equipped to help solve them.

MAKING THE FIX

Situations like this often occur because job seekers rely on the same resume-writing approach that worked for them as they climbed the ladder.

They can be averted by providing a brief company descriptor, along with team and budget size where applicable l, and by asking these 4 key questions before getting started:

#1 What did things look like on Day One (what problems were you hired to solve)?

#2 What did things look like on the last day (or as you prepare to leave)?

#3 What was your role in moving the needle from Point A to Point B?

#4 How did the company/customer/client benefit from these accomplishments?

/ / /

I write high-impact Resumes & LinkedIn Profiles that protect your career, keep you visible, ready, and in control, and help you land interviews in record time.

If you find this content useful for your job search, you can keep it in your feed by liking and commenting.

If you might benefit from custom documents that tell your unique story and don't read like AI, learn more and schedule a chat using the link at the top of my page.

09/24/2026

09/23/2026

I consider “resume reading” a misleading term.

For the first pass, resume scanning is probably more accurate.

People are busy.

Your resume needs to convey the stroy even when someone isn’t reading every word.

Small adjustments, including leading with achievements instead of responsibilities, can make your impact much easier to spot.

Looking to update your resume? Schedule a chat with me to learn more!

09/22/2026

The biggest resume killer? Ignoring lessons from news writing.

Journalists learn this rule early in their careers:

Never bury the lead (lede).

In other words, don’t hide the most important information deep in the story.

The same principle applies to resume writing.

Hiring managers are often scanning quickly. If your biggest achievements get buried under job descriptions or long introductions, they may never be seen.

In this article, I share three common places where professionals bury their lead:

• The branding/summary paragraph
• The experience section
• Bullet points

Small adjustments, including leading with achievements instead of responsibilities, can make your impact much easier to spot.

Read the full article here:
https://bit.ly/42MDEJ1

09/17/2026

"AI doesn’t know why that project was difficult.

It doesn’t know sales had declined for 2 years before you arrived.

It doesn’t know 3 people previously tried to solve the problem.

It doesn’t know you accompllished your goal with half the expected budget.

You know the context. Give it the context."

Follow me on Substack for all things resume, job search, and more: https://bit.ly/4m8R7kB

09/15/2026

NEW! Resume Case Studies shared!

Read the stories, challenges, and strategies of 4 career journeys and how I helped update their resumes for their paths ahead.

Case studies include:

✍🏼 How to Tell a Career Story That Shows Progress When You’ve Held the Same Role for Many Years

✍🏼 How to Address and Correct Pre-Conceived Notions

✍🏼 How to Write a Resume to Make an Industry Pivot

✍🏼 How to Present a Tough Year on Your Resume

I walk through how we accomplished each resume upgrade, with details that may help you too.

Read it here:
https://bit.ly/4htyAR1

Looking for a resume upgrade of your own? Schedule a chat with me to get started!