Drafting an effective résumé is key to contributing to a successful job search. Oftentimes your résumé is the first thing a hiring manager reviews to determine your suitability for a potential opening. This first (and lasting) impression is critical; putting your best foot forward in creating a highly accomplishment-driven document will go a long way in ensuring that you are contacted. There are a number of things that should be considered to ensure your résumé works to your advantage:
Results – Everyone has responsibilities as part of their job. That does not engage or capture the reader though. It’s fairly boring to read ‘Responsible for…’ and whatever it is that you do on a daily basis. The key component is to provide the reader with an example of something you did that generated RESULTS for your employer. Consider the following acronym: SAR. This stands for Situation, Action, Result, and can help you define on paper what the situation was, the action you took, and the result that will demonstrate your ability to deliver. If you do this throughout your résumé, you will set a positive and proactive tone that you are a committed and productive individual who is able to serve as a change agent for a company.
It’s all in the Words – Using compelling verbs will serve to engage your reader. Try to come up with different verbs to lead the bullets or sections of your document. Avoid using the same words over and over again. The résumé is a marketing document. You need to take a step back and think “What would I think of this if I saw it for the first time?” Try to get inside the mind of the hiring manager. You want to impress and engage someone. Actionable word choices will help you do this. Some good résumé verbs: Spearheaded; championed; aligned; delivered; implemented. You get the idea – these words present a call to action.
Presentation -While ‘content is king,’ presentation plays a part in the recipe. People like to look at things that look nice – résumés are no exception to this rule. Your résumé should be presented in a consistent manner on the page. Ensure that the margins are aligned properly. Choose an appealing font like Book Antiqua in 10 pts. or something a bit stronger like Tahoma in 9.5 points. There are many fonts out there that hold more appeal than the totally boring Times New Roman. Once your résumé is complete, print it. Don’t just look at it on the screen. Printing it will give you a better sense of how you are presented overall.
Rules about Grammar and Spelling – If there are two things that will send your résumé straight to the circular file it is grammar and spelling mistakes. I recognize that we are not perfect – but, and there is always a but, your résumé must be perfect. If you know that this area is not your strong suit have someone else review it. It is also a good idea to have someone else look at it because the more you study it the less likely you are to catch small things that a fresh pair of eyes will capture. The Little Blue Book is a great resource to help with myriad grammar issues. Not sure how to spell something? Dictionary.com is there to help. Need another word for managed? No problem – check out Thesauras.com for synonyms. There are countless resources right at your fingertips. Gone are the days of heavy books; the online world allows access to the most inconceivable information, which you should use to your advantage.
The Downlow on Hobbies – Leave hobbies off the résumé unless a hobby for you is completing an Ironman Triathlon or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Simply stating that reading or running is a hobby is not very compelling. The hiring manager will learn about you in time. However, the aforementioned triathlon and climb is certainly of greater interest than reading books. In addition to being an icebreaker, which can set a personal tone to the meeting, those things also demonstrate a unique spirit and other traits that set you apart from your peers. The perseverance, commitment, and dedication needed for those things warrants referencing on the résumé. If not something really unique, leave it off.
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
WWW.ResumesDoneWrite.com
Connect to me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter
How many people do you know that know exactly what to do to plan for a job search and identify opportunities? Most people I speak to don’t even know where to begin. They have a better understanding of quantum physics than the way to undertake a job search. I am sure this has much to do with the human component to job searching. Once other people are thrown into the mix, the entire system goes haywire; all logic goes out the window.
Most career seekers need guidance; they need reassurance; they need help in how to plan for the search, and ultimately get the job. Every one of us finds the job search process daunting to some degree. There is a tremendous strategic component to seeking employment. Consider the following to help you.
• Your résumé by itself will not get you the job. The résumé is merely the starting point. Yes, your résumé can open doors; it can get you the interview. It cannot get you the job. You need to do that part. As a seeker, you have the most control over the career documents and the strategy you employ. Is the résumé results oriented? Do you have accomplishments and clear information with examples of how you achieved results? Those are the ingredients of a strong résumé. Your résumé should ‘show a little shoulder’ – not give away everything. You have a very limited time to make an impression; do it with examples and results.
• Are you using your traditional network? Your job search cannot be a top-secret mission. To some degree, you need to spread the word. Of course, I do not mean that you should run around the halls of your current employer announcing boldly that you are pursuing other opportunities. You should be discrete, but active. Speak to friends and family members. Get the word out a bit. Consider asking for introductions to other people. Every person you meet represents an opportunity to share information, and learn something new – this is especially important where job search is concerned.
• Relationship with social networking sites. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Plaxo – these Web 2.0 tools are ‘all the rage’ – and for good reason. The power to connect with people globally provides and immediate and distinct advantage when conducting a job search. You can join groups where open discussions are held; you can meet new people and exchange ideas; you can engage in open dialogue, and really gain entry into an entirely new way of searching for a job. The Internet is a very powerful tool, which connects people to other people, individuals to businesses and vice versa. Use it. If you are not sure where to begin, hit your local Barnes and Noble for some brick and mortar books or search the Net to get some guidance.
• It’s in the details. Preparing for a successful search takes some preparation and research. There are a lot of companies out there. You are not appropriate for every company nor do you want to work for all of them. It is highly advisable to do research on the company as well as the positions that are available. You will gain several things from this exercise, including an understanding of the company’s mission, values, and goals; from the job descriptions, which can be found online, you can quickly pinpoint opportunities that would be applicable given your skill set. This exercise will save you time; and it will prevent you from applying all over the place and spinning your wheels on things that are not suitable for you.
• Follow-up Protocols. Once you send out the résumé, what is your follow-up strategy? I recommend keeping a spreadsheet of the company name, contact person (if any), date sent and any replies received. This will not only keep you focused and organized, but allow you to manage your search campaign effectively.
Remain proactive and be persistent. The right opportunity is out there. It will take some time, but with a little planning and a strong brand, you will no doubt find the right fit.
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
WWW.ResumesDoneWrite.com
Connect to me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter
Your New Year’s resolution Don’ts
When it comes to defending against ageism in the workplace—in particular, inviting unwanted attention to your possibly advanced years—here are some resolutions you can make and keep.
Resolution #1: Resolve to look forward, not back
The past is past. Most people, recruiters especially, want to know:
- What have you been up to lately?
- What can you do for me now?
- What do you want to accomplish in the future?
It’s time to break out of the habit of touting your 15, 20, 25-plus years of experience or more, as though it were a hard-won badge of honor you wish you could frame or take to the bank. Your time in the trenches is so First World War.
Do you really want to come across as an oldster in this competitive a job market where, as a Boomer, say, you’re vying with Gen Xers, Yers and Millennials? Drop any mention of this stuff in your cover letter and résumé. Do it now.
Resolution #2: Never let ‘em count your candles
Face it, there’s a good chance you’ll be working for a younger boss when you land your next job and with colleagues who are younger still. Or maybe you already find yourself in this position. Recognize that ageism is pervasive even though few will openly admit to its existence. Do you want to be subject to unfair stereotyping through your own careless missteps?
Resolution #3: Don’t do anything to stereotype yourself as an old fogey
No catnaps at your desk, either. Nor do you want to come off as the know-it-all eminence grise. Or the technophobe. Or the person who’s made fun of for tapping out messages on your BlackBerry using your index finger. Or, worse yet, checking your clunky old wristwatch when you want to know the time? Perish the thought.
Resolution #4: Don’t lead with your experience or patronize
Why risk threatening younger bosses or co-workers with your deep well of knowledge? You want to make friends, not enemies. Before you start mentoring or coaching them, make sure they have clearly expressed a sincere willingness to learn from you and see your offer of assistance as well-meaning, not merely an opportunity to show them up.
Resolution #5: Don’t be dismissive of new ideas because you think you know better
You may be senior in years and experience but not in seniority. Keep in mind that curmudgeonly phrases such as “I remember when” or “we used to do it this way” won’t endear you to your listeners or impress them with your forward thinking. More likely they’ll be perceived as a real turnoff, labeling you as even more of an outsider, and an unwelcome naysayer at that.
Now for some Do’s
Appear open to new ideas and enthusiatic about embracing them.
Stay current by seeking out professional development opportunities.
Keep up with industry, technology and social trends, as well as popular entertainment, even slang, by regularly combing the Internet.
Narrow the age gap by dressing in contemporary fashion. Don’t shop your closet if your wardrobe dates back to the 1980s.
Most important: remember that age is only a state of mind, so think young(er).
You feel like you’re submitting your resume to every possible job under the sun, but you just can’t get any traction. In the back of your mind is this nagging suspicion that it’s not them, but your resume that could be the problem. But what should a good resume have? You’ve got your past jobs on there with dates, shouldn’t that be enough?
No.
A resume needs to be an attractive, readable, interesting document that makes the employer want to get to know you more. Think of it like an enticing description of a dish on a menu. When you go to a restaurant for the first time, you have no idea what you’re going to order. You have to rely on the descriptions to entice you and steer you in one way or another—ideally for the restaurant toward the highest priced item. They don’t just list the ingredients of the dish, but the description pulls the whole thing together and makes it sound appetizing.
Is your resume enticing to an employer? Here’s what turns them on.
RESULTS: Employers have GOT to see that you get results for the work you do. How effective are you? There’s a difference between not increasing sales at all, and seeing a 34% increase–so put that on the resume! How have you affected the company since you’ve been there?
CAREER SUMMARY: This takes the place of the Objective at the top of your resume. A career summary should give an employer a thumbnail view of who you are as an employee—think of it as a thesis statement on your old high school research papers. DO NOT simply provide a shopping list of qualities such as: hard working, dedicated, loyal, or the phrase attention to detail. They are on EVERYONE’s resume—trust me, I’ve seen my fair share. Instead paint yourself as if you’re an enticing dish on a menu and write something truly descriptive like this: “Syndicated/qualitative research professional with in-depth, customer service experience across a variety of industries. Successful track record of client retention, strong contract negotiation skills and increased sales through up-sell opportunities and new product development. Specialized experience in analytical category analysis, internal data management and written/verbal client presentations.” This describes the person behind the resume and paints a detailed picture of her experience in a short period of time.
BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTIONS: Under every company, job title and dates (and yes, in most cases, you should include months as well as the years), you should provide one or two sentences to describe what the company does (in case the name isn’t well known), and the basics of your job description. That’s it. Employers need to understand the industries you worked in, and the basic responsibilities of your past positions. They do not need to see your duties spelled out—your accomplishments will answer those questions in their mind.
So take a look at your resume. Does it pass the test? If not, email it to me for a FREE 10 minute critique and we can strategize where you should go from here.
Isn’t it worth it to have that nagging “is it my resume?” question answered?
