Top Secrets of Resume Writing
By Steven Provenzano, CPRW
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These days, job hunters downplay their resume as a piece of paper that
usually
doesn't work. Maybe you're one of those who believes,
"My resume isn't perfect, but I'll explain myself in the interview."
But there's the catch: You may not get the interview for no other reason than your resume, which often gives
employers their first impression of your professional standards and talents.
Even topflight executives can have trouble writing a
decent resume. They're not sure how to make the link between what they really
want to DO in their next job with the needs of potential employers.
An effective job hunt means having a complete,
professional job search strategy, and your resume must
be a key part of that strategy.
Rather than try to explain (yet again) all the ins, outs, and details of effective resume writing in this
brief article, here are a few Key Factors and philosophies I've developed and
used with great success over the past 15 years. These Key Factors help explain
why most (possibly yours) resumes fail, and how you can really stand above the
crowd and get noticed. When you implement these ideas in the next update of
your resume, you will almost certainly have better success in getting more
interviews.
First and Foremost: Tell
Employers What They Really Want to Know!
Look at the hiring process from the employer's point of
view. There you are with a stack of resumes on your desk and a job to fill,
right now. You've got some key requirements that candidates must meet before
you'll even consider calling them in for an interview. All you want to know
from each person "sitting" on your desk is: What can you do for me?
How can you fill this job effectively? Why should I talk to you? So you start
reading resumes and you see the same old stuff employers have been getting for
decades: page after page of job descriptions, A.K.A. Chronological resumes.
But wait a minute. As an employer, I want to see what you
can do for me, but all you're telling me is what you've done for someone else.
Of course this is important, and I need to review your previous work experience
and accomplishments. But does all this really apply to my situation? Of course
not, and I really don't have time to read 10 or 20 years of your work history
before I decide to call you in.
This is why purely Chronological resumes, for the most
part, are on the way out, and why the next Key Factor is so important:
Consistently Market Your Skills and Abilities
Take a moment and really think about what this means.
Does your current resume really market your most applicable skills and
abilities, or is it a listing of your past? You must extract your most
applicable skills and abilities from your past work experience and sell them at
the very top of your resume in a summary section, titled PROFILE or EXPERIENCE.
Driving home this point are two top recruiters at Motorola headquarters in
Billy Dexter is Manager of University Relations and
Rodney Gee is Manager of Staffing for the Land Mobile Products Sector. This
sector is one of six in the company, and each sector can get up to 600 resumes
per week from executives, professionals, and new graduates. "I have 900
resumes on my desk right now," said Gee.
"A resume must be clear and tell us what you really
want to do. Lead us in the direction you want to go," they said during a
conference call.
"We don't have much time to look at a resume, so it
must have structure and consistency" said Dexter. "If a resume is too
broad, we'll pass it over. Tell us about special projects, skill sets, computer
languages, leadership activities, people or team leading skills, and types of
things outside the classroom. If I have to search through a resume for these
items, I probably won't read it." Your Summary gives you control over your
resume, and lets you focus on these key points.
Although you may have heard otherwise, an Objective on
your resume can be very useful when targeted and concise, but leave it out if
you're afraid it may block you from certain positions. In that case, give the
reader a focus with the first points of your summary. If you do use an
Objective, make sure that it quickly defines what you're looking for in one or
two sentences. It's important to note that unlike a Functional resume, the
Summary section in a Combination resume is not really about previous jobs, but
rather develops those skills and abilities you believe are most important and
relevant to the position you're seeking right now. Your skills must be isolated
and sold to the reader, whether they were acquired through work, school or
volunteer work isn't discussed in this section.
This is the heart of a Combination resume format. It
combines a modified Functional (ability/skill) resume with a Chronological (job
listing) resume. This gives you a two-pronged approach, and the best of both
worlds. Your job descriptions substantiate your abilities on top.
If this sounds easy, it is. But it only works if you use
clear, concise language describing tangible, no-nonsense skills: "Skilled
in payroll processing, audits, and inventory control... "Effectively hire,
train, and supervise staff in... "Plan and
implement strategies for capital investment; assist in mergers, acquisitions,
and financial planning... "Proficient in COBOL, C++, AS 400, and Lotus...
"Experience in long and short-term strategic planning..." And so on.
Always steer clear of using fluff words in your summary
such as "Self-motivated, hands-on professional with an excellent track
record of..." Let's face it. The first two items in this sentence could be
said about almost anyone. As for your track record, let the employer decide if
it's excellent by reading about your abilities (on top) and your duties and
accomplishments (under the Employment section). Avoid the ubiquitous (and
space-filling) "References Available Upon
Request" at the bottom of your resume. If employers really want your
references, they'll ask. When conducting a confidential job search, consider
"CONFIDENTIAL RESUME" at the top of your resume, and/or stating this
in your cover letter. Always respect the reader's intelligence!
"Predigest" Your Information
Employers really don't want to think when they're reading
resumes. Why trust an employer to study your entire work history and hope they
find something interesting? Most resumes get only a few short seconds to grab
the reader's attention.
Research the company's brochure, annual report and job
advertisement, if any, and tailor your resume as much as possible to the
position.
If you have a Chronological resume, no matter how well
it's written, it's still a listing of your past, and therefore not job specific
or future-oriented. Your resume must be a brief advertisement. How many resumes
are actually written along these lines? Very few.
Some Final Thoughts
Although personal networking is the best way to get a
job, having an excellent resume is another way, often just by itself, to get an interview which can lead to a job.
Of course, a brief cover letter should be targeted to the
hiring authority whenever possible. Tell the reader what you know about their
operation, and why you want to work specifically for his/her company. Make them
feel like they're the only person getting your resume. Be sure to check the
tips on correct resume use below the quotes at the end of this page.
When treated as a genuine writing project and not just
something you "put together," your resume becomes a professional
advertisement and really can get you more, high-quality interviews. It can also
save you time, money, and frustration. Consider this: a resume that's only
slightly more effective than the one you have now could help you get a job
weeks, or even months sooner than your old resume.
Your resume is your life, your career on paper. Isn't it
worth doing right?
Steven Provenzano
is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/CPRW and author of six books
including Top Secret Executive Resumes.
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