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We wrapped up our four-part Career Development Series with a practical session led by David Doan, helping attendees rethink one of the most important career tools they have: their résumé.

Rather than focusing on job responsibilities, David challenged attendees to think about the story their résumé tells. Every bullet point should answer three questions: What did you accomplish? Who did it benefit? What was the result? By shifting from duties to measurable outcomes, project professionals can better communicate the value they bring to employers.

Understanding Today's Hiring Process

One topic that generated a lot of discussion was how résumés are evaluated before they ever reach a hiring manager.

David explained the difference between traditional Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the growing role of AI in recruiting, while emphasizing that technology is only part of the process. Attendees learned how recruiters typically scan a résumé in seconds, why the top third of the page matters most, and how tailoring a résumé to a specific job posting can improve its effectiveness—without creating an entirely different résumé for every application.

Building a Personal Brand

The session also explored how résumés, LinkedIn profiles, interviews, and networking all work together to tell a consistent professional story.

From writing stronger accomplishment statements to aligning experience with the language used in job descriptions, attendees left with practical techniques they can immediately apply to strengthen their personal brand and better position themselves for future opportunities.

Thank You

A special thank you to David Doan for sharing his expertise throughout this Career Development Series and to everyone who joined us over the past four sessions. We hope the tools, frameworks, and conversations help support your career journey, wherever you are today.

We look forward to seeing you at a future PMI-LA event.