Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Resume: Friend or Foe?

In many ways, the resume (or CV – Curriculum Vitae) is the job seekers “football” It’s near impossible to play the game without it (unless you are hired by a family member or close friend), and even then, HR may require a copy for their files. But the truth is, a resume can either open an interview door for you, or slam it shut leaving you to forever wonder what ever came of that submittal.

The questions I’m getting are “How does my resume read”, “What should I put on my resume”, what format and structure should I use on my resume”? Indeed, these are the right questions to be asking.

Here is the reality: As a headhunter, I can get anywhere between 10-25 unsolicited resumes a day – and that is without any job board postings. If I’m getting that many, then you can bet that a typical hiring manager or HR manager is getting at least that many (and likely far more). At those volumes, it’s impossible to read them all at a granular level. I confess that I never read a full resume. I would venture to say that I don’t likely read half of the content. After many years, I’ve trained my eyes to selectively find data, keywords, and structures that are going to help me make one basic decision: “A” pile, “B” pile, or “Circular” file (known these days as the shredder).

So, here is what I tell people regarding resume construction:

1. Find a sensible format - There are more flavors of resumes than there are ice creams. Most formats are crafted around the same principles, so it’s what you do with the format that matters most. Some excellent templates to start with can be found at Microsoft Office Online (http://bit.ly/I6coc) Look for a template by industry or by lay-out. But understand what your marketable qualities are and chose a template that will highlight those assets. If you have been very stable throughout your career, then chose a resume that allows the reader to see your stable job tenure quickly and easily. These resumes usually list dates of employment in the left column, isolated from other distracting text. If you have experienced some job movement, then chose a format that blends your employment dates into the body of the resume.


2. Style - Choose a clean, crisp and readable font. NEVER use a script or calligraphy font. Chose a font size that allows for maximum use of the page without causing the reader to strain or squint. Don’t go so small that the reader feels like they are reading small print disclaimers on prescription packaging. Likewise, avoid very large font sizes (which can tend to make the resume look like a Dr. Seuss book). Create a document that allows the readers eyes to easily flow through the page while harvesting its valuable information. Strategically using bold, italics and underscores will create emphasis and natural starts and stops between thoughts.


3. K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple - Basic advice that so many people have a very hard time following. There’s so much to say and so little space to put it in. As you begin to consider what content to add to your resume, operate under this simple principle: The purpose of a resume is to whet the appetite. Your goal is to entice the reader and make them feel compelled to hear more. Like a movie trailer, the best way they can know more is to see the movie


4. Content – So what exactly should you include in your resume? The keyword here is SUBSTANCE. Throw away the superfluous, clever lingo that kills a resume (and your chances of getting an interview). I absolutely hate trying to sift a wordy resume just to get to the stuff that really matters. (Sidebar: Off the bat, I’ll say right here that every resume you see will have an “Objective” field. This common resume header has become a throw-away statement and has become so perfunctory, that I rarely read them. Either eliminate it all together or keep it to one line. Consider it your mission statement – short, memorable, and packed with punch). In fact apply that principle to the whole resume. Use bullets and make a series of impact statements for your current and each of your previously held positions. Include (where applicable): Brief product description, key notable achievements (where you have made or saved your employer money. This is where you employ the “cocktail party test. List only those things you would share at an evening party in hopes of impressing your listener, and you have 2 minutes to do it in), awards and recognitions, and promotions. Of course you’ll want to include your contact information (don’t use emails you never check or phone numbers that aren’t at least semi-private) and make note of your education (School, degree, year of graduation, honors/societies, etc). That’s it. This should not exceed two pages – tops.


5. Wording - Use words and vernacular that portray action, energy, and confidence. This is your time to boast. You have invested valuable time and expense in your career through either education or experience or both. Given the energy and effort most of us apply to our jobs, you have every right to “toot” you own horn here. (There is a line between confidence and arrogance, and if you don’t know where that line is then this whole paragraph won’t make sense to you anyway).

A good resume will cause its reader to pause, raise an eyebrow, and ask a few questions. The goal is to get “invited to the party”. So, it’s critical to have a high impact resume. If you don’t, you’ll discover that the paper in your briefcase is really your greatest foe.

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