Resume writing is one of life's big mysteries. We all need one, but very few of us enjoy putting one together, and even fewer of us are any good at it. Before you even start writing your resume, you must first decide which style is best for you. There are specialty resumes such as CVs for doctors, lawyers, and professors and federal resumes for gaining employment with the federal government.
However, when looking for work in the private sector, your resume is most likely going to fall into one of three categories. Let's look at the three categories and examine when they work and when they don't. Hopefully, the next time you sit down to write your resume, this will help you decide which style to use.
Chronological
POSITIVE: This is the most widely used and positively accepted resume format. It focuses on the chronology of your work history from most recent back as far as 10 to 15 years. It follows a logical flow and is easy to read. If you career has taken a linear path, this is a great showcase for your growth in skills and responsibility.
NEGATIVE: The chronological resume does not always work. This style of resume points out large gaps in employment. The chronological style does not work well for career changers, as the employer will have a hard time quickly seeing the transferability of the candidate's skills. Someone who has held the same job for more than ten years may also have trouble with the chronological resume as most people do not want to see a list of 20 bullet points in a row.
Functional
POSITIVE: The functional format focuses on skills versus work experience. This style enables you to highlight transferable skills, even when your work experience does not initially appear relevant. The functional resume does not include dates and can be used to disguise gaps or long periods of unemployment or frequent job or career changes.
NEGATIVE: This resume is viewed with suspicion by employers and is not often recommended for use by employees. The lack of dates immediately waves the red flag that you are trying to hide something.
Combination
POSITIVE: The combination style is a resume that is just like the functional, it highlights skills versus experience. Where it differs is that it contains dates of employment. Including the dates can erase the suspicion and doubts from an employers mind while focusing positively on transferable skills.
NEGATIVE: Most people think - and view resumes - in a very linear fashion. It is important to clearly relate accomplishments and skills to employers and time frames so employers are not confused. The combination resume does require more effort and creativity to prepare to overcome these obstacles.
Showing posts with label resume writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resume writing. Show all posts
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Write a Resume
When I ask people whether or not they enjoy writing their own resume, I most always hear a resounding NO! Some of the most common complaints I hear is that they don't know what to say, they don't know what employers want to hear, or they don't know where to start.
Many people who have attempted to write their own resume describe a painful experience that includes sitting at a computer, staring at a document that is blank except their name and contact information. Although I am not sure I am able to make the process painless, asking yourself these three questions may help ease you into the writing process.
What do you want to do?
It is quite difficult to write an effective resume without the answer to this question. Without a target, how will you know what skills to highlight? Answer this question before you begin the resume in order to focus in on your most marketable skills and accomplishments.
What value can you bring to an employer?
If you write your resume by focusing on the answer to this question, you will set yourself apart from the crowd. An employer is always seeking the most cost-effective employee that will bring them the highest return on investment. Define how you can bring value to an employer, how you will earn the salary they pay you, and how you can solve their problem or fulfill their specific needs.
How did you make a difference in each previous position?
The answers to this question go hand-in-hand with the previous question. For each job on your resume, brainstorm what you did to make things better - increased sales, improved efficiency, and enhanced organization are just a few examples. Insert these accomplishments into your resume and be prepared to tell the stories in detail during your interview for a more successful job search.
Many people who have attempted to write their own resume describe a painful experience that includes sitting at a computer, staring at a document that is blank except their name and contact information. Although I am not sure I am able to make the process painless, asking yourself these three questions may help ease you into the writing process.
What do you want to do?
It is quite difficult to write an effective resume without the answer to this question. Without a target, how will you know what skills to highlight? Answer this question before you begin the resume in order to focus in on your most marketable skills and accomplishments.
What value can you bring to an employer?
If you write your resume by focusing on the answer to this question, you will set yourself apart from the crowd. An employer is always seeking the most cost-effective employee that will bring them the highest return on investment. Define how you can bring value to an employer, how you will earn the salary they pay you, and how you can solve their problem or fulfill their specific needs.
How did you make a difference in each previous position?
The answers to this question go hand-in-hand with the previous question. For each job on your resume, brainstorm what you did to make things better - increased sales, improved efficiency, and enhanced organization are just a few examples. Insert these accomplishments into your resume and be prepared to tell the stories in detail during your interview for a more successful job search.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Dangers of Using a Resume Template
For someone sitting down to write their resume it is natural to want to use a template in order to give themselves a starting place. You can find templates online, in sample books, in resume building software, and even in applications such as Microsoft Word. Although resume templates can help you launch the resume writing process, there are several negative aspects of using these templates that can actually hinder your job search success.
They Make it Harder to Stand Out From the Crowd
If you were competing with three other candidates that used the same resume template, how would you make yourself stand apart? Now expand this scenario to being in a pile with hundreds of candidates. The ones that seem similar to the others are going to be assumed to be "carbon copies" of the others, making them less likely to be read.
Studies show that when the resume is looked at by human eyes (as opposed to an online parsing program) they make a decision about whether or not to read your resume further within the first 10 to 15 seconds. When you use a template program, your resume tends to blend into the crowd and will not captivate the reader's interest.
They Eliminate the Strategic Marketing Aspect
There is no exact science to resume writing. There are no rules that say "write your resume exactly like this." A good resume is approached very strategically.
Where you locate sections (or whether you include them) on the resume depends on their strategic importance in your job search. For example, a template will always put the education section toward the bottom of the resume. If you are in a career transition and your education is one of your key selling factors, it needs to be moved toward the beginning of your resume. This is a change that many templates will not allow.
They Depersonalize the Resume
There is no one else that offers your unique blend of experience, skills, accomplishments, knowledge, and training. Therefore, your resume must be the way you distinguish yourself from other candidates.
Your personality, personal traits, and personal style should be reflected in your resume in a creative, yet professional, manner. What sets you apart from the crowd does not always fit into the confines of a template that is someone else's idea of what a resume should look like.
They Make it Harder to Stand Out From the Crowd
If you were competing with three other candidates that used the same resume template, how would you make yourself stand apart? Now expand this scenario to being in a pile with hundreds of candidates. The ones that seem similar to the others are going to be assumed to be "carbon copies" of the others, making them less likely to be read.
Studies show that when the resume is looked at by human eyes (as opposed to an online parsing program) they make a decision about whether or not to read your resume further within the first 10 to 15 seconds. When you use a template program, your resume tends to blend into the crowd and will not captivate the reader's interest.
They Eliminate the Strategic Marketing Aspect
There is no exact science to resume writing. There are no rules that say "write your resume exactly like this." A good resume is approached very strategically.
Where you locate sections (or whether you include them) on the resume depends on their strategic importance in your job search. For example, a template will always put the education section toward the bottom of the resume. If you are in a career transition and your education is one of your key selling factors, it needs to be moved toward the beginning of your resume. This is a change that many templates will not allow.
They Depersonalize the Resume
There is no one else that offers your unique blend of experience, skills, accomplishments, knowledge, and training. Therefore, your resume must be the way you distinguish yourself from other candidates.
Your personality, personal traits, and personal style should be reflected in your resume in a creative, yet professional, manner. What sets you apart from the crowd does not always fit into the confines of a template that is someone else's idea of what a resume should look like.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Test Your Resume IQ
I often tell people that resumes are like beauty. They are very subjective and everyone has a different opinion of what it right and wrong or good and bad. I think one of the reasons that I enjoy writing resumes is that there are no rules. Me being the "rebel" that I am, I enjoy creating a document that works for the individual and does not have to comply with a set of rules.
Although there are no hard and fast resume rules, there are guidelines that you can follow to ensure your resume is as effective as possible. Take this "test" to see how much you know about optimizing your marketability with your resume.
True or False: When writing a resume, more is always better.
False. There is such a thing as too much information. Your resume should seldom be longer than two pages and must only contain the information that is relevant to the job and the employer for which you are applying. Providing too much information will hide the important info and may scare away your potential employer.
True or False: Your resume must contain every job you have held since you graduated high school.
False. A resume is a generally accepted ten year picture of your work history. If you have only been in a professional career field for six years, you don't have to go back ten years. However, no matter if you have 25 years of experience, you should not go back further than ten years to avoid age discrimination.
True or False: Your resume should be generic enough to cover a variety of career fields.
False. There is no such thing as an effective generic resume. If you try to appeal to everyone with your resume, you will end up targeting no one. Pick a target, define your marketable skills in that career field, and highlight your most relevant accomplishments to effectively target a specific career field. This may mean that you need multiple resumes.
True or False: Employers like to know about your interests outside of work.
It depends. I know that is cheating, but whether or not you add your outside interests or volunteerism depends on how relevant they are to the job. If you have been a mechanic volunteering as as forestry worker for the last ten years and you want to work as a forest ranger, then you better include this info on your resume. However, most employers don't care that you like macrame and long walks on the beach.
True or False: A great resume will get you the job.
False. A resume is not designed to get you the job. Its purpose is plain and simply to land an interview. Few employers see a resume and make the decision to hire you without first conducting and interview. However, keep in mind that a poorly written resume can cost you the job opportunity.
Although there are no hard and fast resume rules, there are guidelines that you can follow to ensure your resume is as effective as possible. Take this "test" to see how much you know about optimizing your marketability with your resume.
True or False: When writing a resume, more is always better.
False. There is such a thing as too much information. Your resume should seldom be longer than two pages and must only contain the information that is relevant to the job and the employer for which you are applying. Providing too much information will hide the important info and may scare away your potential employer.
True or False: Your resume must contain every job you have held since you graduated high school.
False. A resume is a generally accepted ten year picture of your work history. If you have only been in a professional career field for six years, you don't have to go back ten years. However, no matter if you have 25 years of experience, you should not go back further than ten years to avoid age discrimination.
True or False: Your resume should be generic enough to cover a variety of career fields.
False. There is no such thing as an effective generic resume. If you try to appeal to everyone with your resume, you will end up targeting no one. Pick a target, define your marketable skills in that career field, and highlight your most relevant accomplishments to effectively target a specific career field. This may mean that you need multiple resumes.
True or False: Employers like to know about your interests outside of work.
It depends. I know that is cheating, but whether or not you add your outside interests or volunteerism depends on how relevant they are to the job. If you have been a mechanic volunteering as as forestry worker for the last ten years and you want to work as a forest ranger, then you better include this info on your resume. However, most employers don't care that you like macrame and long walks on the beach.
True or False: A great resume will get you the job.
False. A resume is not designed to get you the job. Its purpose is plain and simply to land an interview. Few employers see a resume and make the decision to hire you without first conducting and interview. However, keep in mind that a poorly written resume can cost you the job opportunity.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The 5 Most Important Factors in Your Resume
There are really no rules when it comes to writing a resume. This fact can be both freeing and frustrating! Although there may be a lack of rules when it comes to writing a resume, there are some items that must be included. Here are the top 5 most important items, as defined by human resources professionals, that you need to include when writing a resume.
Industry Experience
Relevant Skills
Whenever I speak with HR professionals, receiving a resume that is full of irrelevant skills and experience is their top resume pet peeve. Don't force the HR department to sift through irrelevant information to get to the most important information. Chances are good that they will move on to the next, more relevant candidate if you include irrelevant information.
Functional Experience
Your resume should demonstrate that you have experience performing the functions of the job for which you are applying. If you are making a career transition, it is imperative that you do your research and define your transferable skills.
Employment History
Your resume must include your employment history, complete with dates of employment. A resume without dates waves a giant red flag for an employer. Automatically, employers begin to question why you chose to leave off the dates. Doubts creep in about how old your experience may be and they can't tell how many years of experience you bring to the table.
Measurable Accomplishments
It is much more effective to prove you possess a skill through a proven track record of accomplishments. Instead of making empty assertions about your abilities, demonstrate your ability to utilize those skills through previous accomplishments. Whenever possible, make those accomplishments measurable with dollars, percentages, hours, numbers of people supervised, and other figures that quantify what you are capable of handling.
Industry Experience
Whenever possible, hiring managers are looking for industry-specific experience. If you are making an industry and/or career change and you don't have industry experience, this presents a challenge. Be sure that you do your research on the industry, the job, and the company before sending your resume. Determine the keywords that are specific to the industry and be sure to work them into your resume through your transferable skills.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Truth about Lying on your Resume
Whether you are currently looking for a job or not, unless you live under a rock you know the economy has taken its toll on the job market. It is very tough out there and very competitive. With the unemployment rate still above 9%, many job seekers are taking the approach that desperate times call for desperate measures.
A recent survey conducted by TalentWise, a background screening firm, asked 2,026 adults if they thought it was acceptable to embellish or lie on a resume. Of the adults they spoke to 45% of the adults aged 18-34 years old said it was okay, 27% of people 55 and older said they would embellish the truth on a resume and 34% of respondents overall said they found it okay to lie on a resume.
Truth be told, these numbers are probably lower than the actual facts. Several years ago, more than 60% of hiring managers told the Society for Human Resource Management they found untruths on applicant resumes. The most popular methods of embellishment are dates of employment, job titles and responsibilities, accomplishments and level of education.
Desperate job seekers may decide to do whatever it takes to get their resume noticed and get a job interview. However, before you consider stretching the truth – or even outright lying – on your resume, stop and consider the consequences. Here are some of the potential outcomes of this dishonest approach to job hunting:
• You may be discovered in the pre-screening phase. There are new tools being marketed to companies that enable them to do a preliminary background check of resumes submitted. You would then be “blacklisted” in their company hiring database.
• Your lie may not hold up under the pressure of the interview. Remember, the resume is just step one. Once your resume gets you noticed, you then have to go into the interview and support the resume with details. It is much easier to lie on paper than to someone’s face.
• You may be hired, only to be fired after it is discovered that you lied on your resume. This recently happened to a colleague of mine. They started a new job and inherited a problem employee. It was discovered that this employee left a job off their application and was let go for lying. Problem solved!
• You may not be discovered at all. However, do you really want to build a relationship based on a foundation of lies? Can you live with the knowledge that you got that job, not on your true qualifications, but based on a fantasy version of yourself?
A recent survey conducted by TalentWise, a background screening firm, asked 2,026 adults if they thought it was acceptable to embellish or lie on a resume. Of the adults they spoke to 45% of the adults aged 18-34 years old said it was okay, 27% of people 55 and older said they would embellish the truth on a resume and 34% of respondents overall said they found it okay to lie on a resume.
Truth be told, these numbers are probably lower than the actual facts. Several years ago, more than 60% of hiring managers told the Society for Human Resource Management they found untruths on applicant resumes. The most popular methods of embellishment are dates of employment, job titles and responsibilities, accomplishments and level of education.
Desperate job seekers may decide to do whatever it takes to get their resume noticed and get a job interview. However, before you consider stretching the truth – or even outright lying – on your resume, stop and consider the consequences. Here are some of the potential outcomes of this dishonest approach to job hunting:
• You may be discovered in the pre-screening phase. There are new tools being marketed to companies that enable them to do a preliminary background check of resumes submitted. You would then be “blacklisted” in their company hiring database.
• Your lie may not hold up under the pressure of the interview. Remember, the resume is just step one. Once your resume gets you noticed, you then have to go into the interview and support the resume with details. It is much easier to lie on paper than to someone’s face.
• You may be hired, only to be fired after it is discovered that you lied on your resume. This recently happened to a colleague of mine. They started a new job and inherited a problem employee. It was discovered that this employee left a job off their application and was let go for lying. Problem solved!
• You may not be discovered at all. However, do you really want to build a relationship based on a foundation of lies? Can you live with the knowledge that you got that job, not on your true qualifications, but based on a fantasy version of yourself?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Four Focus Areas for a Fantastic Resume
Constructing a resume is easy...constructing a great resume is hard. This is the wisdom I impart to soften the blow for those on the receiving end of one of my resume critiques. Writing a resume well takes a certain skills set, one that isn't impossible to learn but must be practiced with dedication to master. For those that find writing a resume daunting, below are areas that I suggest focusing on along with some proverbial saw-sharpening resources to make the task easier.
Personal Mission: It might seem counterintuitive to work on a personal mission statement but indulge me when I say there is no better time to get in touch with your values and sense of professional purpose than when you are creating your marketing document. Franklin Covey has a great personal mission building tool, and Quintessential Careers, a site rich in resources, walks you through the personal mission process in five steps.
Grammar: You don't have to be Steinbeck or Fitzgerald to write a strong resume; you just need to follow the conventions of resume grammar. This Canadian website offers a great foundation for how grammar functions in a resume and the comically-named Grammar Monster offers grammar quizzes and an excellent section on easily-confused words (think 'there' vs 'their').
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: To appropriately frame your work experience to what's expected in the position, O*NET provides a wealth of coded and categorized information on different positions, rich with data and descriptions of essential job functions. A more dense but comprehensive vocational analysis is published yearly in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Many companies utilize machines that scan a resume for keywords that pertain to the requirements of the position; these resources can help you craft a relevant for any position to which you apply.
Power Words: Finally, a great bank of power words to give your resume vitality and individuality can be found on the Money Zine website here. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the value found in this well-crafted blog post from the Daily Leap.
To reap the reward, you have to do the work! If creating a new resume, break your writing up into these four focus areas for success, or use them to self-evaluate the content of your current resume. Be honest with yourself and strive for creating that fantastic fit!
Personal Mission: It might seem counterintuitive to work on a personal mission statement but indulge me when I say there is no better time to get in touch with your values and sense of professional purpose than when you are creating your marketing document. Franklin Covey has a great personal mission building tool, and Quintessential Careers, a site rich in resources, walks you through the personal mission process in five steps.
Grammar: You don't have to be Steinbeck or Fitzgerald to write a strong resume; you just need to follow the conventions of resume grammar. This Canadian website offers a great foundation for how grammar functions in a resume and the comically-named Grammar Monster offers grammar quizzes and an excellent section on easily-confused words (think 'there' vs 'their').
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: To appropriately frame your work experience to what's expected in the position, O*NET provides a wealth of coded and categorized information on different positions, rich with data and descriptions of essential job functions. A more dense but comprehensive vocational analysis is published yearly in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Many companies utilize machines that scan a resume for keywords that pertain to the requirements of the position; these resources can help you craft a relevant for any position to which you apply.
Power Words: Finally, a great bank of power words to give your resume vitality and individuality can be found on the Money Zine website here. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the value found in this well-crafted blog post from the Daily Leap.
To reap the reward, you have to do the work! If creating a new resume, break your writing up into these four focus areas for success, or use them to self-evaluate the content of your current resume. Be honest with yourself and strive for creating that fantastic fit!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Resume Tips For Post Grads With Little Experience
Some of us have been blessed with experience after experience to fill out pages of our resume. Others have been so focused on school they haven't had time for a job or internship or simply haven't had luck finding one yet. So what do you do when your resume is looking pretty sad? Make the experience you do have and your skills shine and you'll have many experiences to add to that resume in no time.
1. Put your name and contact information front and center at the top of your resume. Make sure your email address is professional!
2. Next add a summary of your objective. A tip is to spruce this part up for each individual job you're applying for. If you're applying for a journalism internship, explain your passions in writing and reporting and relate it to what the company does specifically.
3. List your education experience and academic skills and awards first. Even if you don't have much job experience, showcasing your academic achievements can be just as impressive.
4. Next list your job experience. It is okay to spruce this up a bit. If your only job has been babysitting, don't put "Babysitter" put "Childcare Coordinator" or something similar that sounds more impressive. List bullet points of your job duties (remember if the job was in the past, use all past verbs and if you're currently working there use present verbs).
5. List your references and be sure to have some recommendation letters on request, even if they're just from professors.
6. List all of your skills and achievements! Received a math award? Write it on there. Amazing at Photoshop? Better add that too. The more skills you have to share, the more impressive your resume looks. Even if you don't have the job experience, this will help. Just be sure not to lie. It won't do anyone any good if you say you're a wiz at Excel and when you start the job they realize you've never used it in your life.
7. Add volunteering you've done. This will help if you've had big gaps in your work experience or not much at all. Saying you were volunteering at the time will show character and give you points, especially if it is in the same field as the job you're applying for. Just be honest about it!
8. Fill your resume with PAR: problem, action, and results. Showcasing the times you've noticed a problem at work, an internship, or while volunteering and how you took action and got results is a great way to share your amazing skills with a potential employer.
9. Don't list hobbies and interests unless they are relevant to the job you're applying for or you received some kind of award from it.
10. Lastly, when in doubt: keep it simple. Employers do not want to read through pages and pages of your so-called skills. Try to keep your resume to one or two pages with all relevant information.
1. Put your name and contact information front and center at the top of your resume. Make sure your email address is professional!
2. Next add a summary of your objective. A tip is to spruce this part up for each individual job you're applying for. If you're applying for a journalism internship, explain your passions in writing and reporting and relate it to what the company does specifically.
3. List your education experience and academic skills and awards first. Even if you don't have much job experience, showcasing your academic achievements can be just as impressive.
4. Next list your job experience. It is okay to spruce this up a bit. If your only job has been babysitting, don't put "Babysitter" put "Childcare Coordinator" or something similar that sounds more impressive. List bullet points of your job duties (remember if the job was in the past, use all past verbs and if you're currently working there use present verbs).
5. List your references and be sure to have some recommendation letters on request, even if they're just from professors.
6. List all of your skills and achievements! Received a math award? Write it on there. Amazing at Photoshop? Better add that too. The more skills you have to share, the more impressive your resume looks. Even if you don't have the job experience, this will help. Just be sure not to lie. It won't do anyone any good if you say you're a wiz at Excel and when you start the job they realize you've never used it in your life.
7. Add volunteering you've done. This will help if you've had big gaps in your work experience or not much at all. Saying you were volunteering at the time will show character and give you points, especially if it is in the same field as the job you're applying for. Just be honest about it!
8. Fill your resume with PAR: problem, action, and results. Showcasing the times you've noticed a problem at work, an internship, or while volunteering and how you took action and got results is a great way to share your amazing skills with a potential employer.
9. Don't list hobbies and interests unless they are relevant to the job you're applying for or you received some kind of award from it.
10. Lastly, when in doubt: keep it simple. Employers do not want to read through pages and pages of your so-called skills. Try to keep your resume to one or two pages with all relevant information.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
What Does Not Belong on your Resume?
In a previous blog entry, I addressed the five most important elements that belong on your resume. Today, I would like to address the taboo items – those things that should not be listed. When it comes to resumes, there really are no hard and fast rules. However, there are items that can negatively effect how you are perceived by potential employers. Here are a few.
Salary
The question of salary should not be addressed on the resume. Ultimately, the only time you want to discuss salary is when they are making you a job offer. However, if the employer requests a salary history, list this on a separate sheet of paper – not on the resume itself.
Personal Information
Consider that you have very limited, very valuable real estate on a resume. Filling this space with irrelevant and inappropriate information such as your hobbies, personal interests, health, height and weight, age, race, marital status, or number of children is a waste of space. Most of this information is illegal for an employer to ask you in an interview, so why provide it on your resume? This list also includes your photograph, which is almost never acceptable to include.
Of course, there are exceptions to listing hobbies or volunteer experience. An example would be when this information is relevant to the job or demonstrates an affinity for the industry – such as sports or a specific charity – for which you are applying.
Supervisor Names and References
References and supervisor names, unless requested along with your resume, should not be submitted until the interview. Most employers will not take the time to check references until they have had a chance to speak with you in person. Also, avoid the line “references available upon request” at the bottom of the resume. It is a given assumption you will provide them as requested. Once again, this is nothing more than a waste of valuable space.
High School Education
Very seldom do we list high school education on a resume. If you have any college degrees or courses toward a college degree, you can leave the high school education off the resume. However, there are a few exceptions. If the job posting specifically requires a high school education, then you should list you diploma and the school you attended. Don’t list the date of education, as you don’t want to make your age an issue in the screening process.
Salary
The question of salary should not be addressed on the resume. Ultimately, the only time you want to discuss salary is when they are making you a job offer. However, if the employer requests a salary history, list this on a separate sheet of paper – not on the resume itself.
Personal Information
Consider that you have very limited, very valuable real estate on a resume. Filling this space with irrelevant and inappropriate information such as your hobbies, personal interests, health, height and weight, age, race, marital status, or number of children is a waste of space. Most of this information is illegal for an employer to ask you in an interview, so why provide it on your resume? This list also includes your photograph, which is almost never acceptable to include.
Of course, there are exceptions to listing hobbies or volunteer experience. An example would be when this information is relevant to the job or demonstrates an affinity for the industry – such as sports or a specific charity – for which you are applying.
Supervisor Names and References
References and supervisor names, unless requested along with your resume, should not be submitted until the interview. Most employers will not take the time to check references until they have had a chance to speak with you in person. Also, avoid the line “references available upon request” at the bottom of the resume. It is a given assumption you will provide them as requested. Once again, this is nothing more than a waste of valuable space.
High School Education
Very seldom do we list high school education on a resume. If you have any college degrees or courses toward a college degree, you can leave the high school education off the resume. However, there are a few exceptions. If the job posting specifically requires a high school education, then you should list you diploma and the school you attended. Don’t list the date of education, as you don’t want to make your age an issue in the screening process.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
What Belongs on your Resume?
There are essentially five questions that your resume should answer for your potential employer. These questions make up the aspects of what you need to include on the resume. Check back later in the week for a list of what does not belong on the resume. Here are the key areas that your resume should highlight.
What are you seeking?
This question typically used to be answered using the objective. However, the use of an objective is often done poorly. Using a vague objective such as “seeking a challenging position that offers growth opportunity” is ineffective. If using an objective, ensure it is focused and targeted to a specific position or company. The most effective way to convey your objective is to use a clearly stated and focused summary of skills or profile section at the beginning of the resume.
What can you do?
Your resume must convey what skills and abilities you possess. Utilize past accomplishments to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. Instead of offering a “laundry list” of your skills, use a fact-based and example-driven method of proving you have the skills to succeed.
What experience do you have?
It is critical to offer a chronological work history that includes dates. Avoid functional resumes that focus on skills and do not include dates. When communicating your past work experience, it is important to discuss only relevant skills. If you have limited experience, or no formal work experience, you can list volunteer work, extracurricular activities, clubs, memberships, or any offices held.
What have you accomplished?
Each position you have listed on your resume should contain at least two to three accomplishments. Focus on measurable accomplishments whenever possible that highlight dollars, percentage, or hours. Use a three step formula when writing accomplishments that defines the problem faced or task accomplished, details the actions taken, and states the end result of your actions.
What education or training have you received?
List degrees completed, degrees in progress, and even courses towards degrees when citing your education. Evaluate training courses you have taken and identify the training that is most relevant to the job or career you are seeking.
What are you seeking?
This question typically used to be answered using the objective. However, the use of an objective is often done poorly. Using a vague objective such as “seeking a challenging position that offers growth opportunity” is ineffective. If using an objective, ensure it is focused and targeted to a specific position or company. The most effective way to convey your objective is to use a clearly stated and focused summary of skills or profile section at the beginning of the resume.
What can you do?
Your resume must convey what skills and abilities you possess. Utilize past accomplishments to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. Instead of offering a “laundry list” of your skills, use a fact-based and example-driven method of proving you have the skills to succeed.
What experience do you have?
It is critical to offer a chronological work history that includes dates. Avoid functional resumes that focus on skills and do not include dates. When communicating your past work experience, it is important to discuss only relevant skills. If you have limited experience, or no formal work experience, you can list volunteer work, extracurricular activities, clubs, memberships, or any offices held.
What have you accomplished?
Each position you have listed on your resume should contain at least two to three accomplishments. Focus on measurable accomplishments whenever possible that highlight dollars, percentage, or hours. Use a three step formula when writing accomplishments that defines the problem faced or task accomplished, details the actions taken, and states the end result of your actions.
What education or training have you received?
List degrees completed, degrees in progress, and even courses towards degrees when citing your education. Evaluate training courses you have taken and identify the training that is most relevant to the job or career you are seeking.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Address Yourself - Street Addresses on Resumes
With nearly limitless information available on the Internet, protecting one’s identity has become a necessity. Identity thieves prey on those who are not safe with their personal information, inflicting significant economic and emotional harm on their victims. With a large amount of personal contact information traditionally contained on it, the resume has become a point of contention in recent career strategy. Should information-particularly the street address-be omitted for the sake of information security? And could listing the street address make you a less desirable candidate? Below we’ll focus on this issue and I’ll offer reasons why maintaining tradition shouldn’t be so trepidatious.
Don’t be indiscriminate: One of the arguments against putting a street address on your resume is that you do not want a group of strangers who view it on the Internet to know where you live. This advice baffles me, not because of its logic but because I can’t recommend to any job seeker to simply post a resume online for the world to see-whether a street address is on it or not. Resumes are to be targeted toward a specific job or a specific industry; simply posting it online, to me, indicates a lack of job search savvy and sophistication. You might as well walk around with a sandwich board on your shoulders saying “hire me!” YOU control who sees or does not see your resume, so distribute it to specific companies who are looking for specific positions to fill. Do not just allow it to be viewed publicly in the hope that an employer will happen upon it.
Address bias: Another reason/rumor I hear to remove an address from a resume is “address bias,” where a recruiter, human resources rep, or hiring manager will discriminate against candidates by making assumptions about their skills and work habits based upon socioeconomic characteristics of their neighborhood. Socioeconomic status is not a protected class, so legally a company can, in theory, practice this type of discrimination. But let’s say that you find out that a company does do this…would you want to work there? The hiring practices of a company speak to how it treats human capital, be they candidates or employees. If you fret to put your street address on your resume for this reason, put it on there anyway and consider it insurance against the bad companies out there that don’t deserve your talents.
Illusion of anonymity: Simple reasoning will lead you to the conclusion that your street address can easily be obtained via an online background check or even a simple Google search. There was a more difficult but no less effective way to do this in the near past: the white pages. Don’t give employers any reason to throw up any kind of red flags regarding your candidacy: protect your birth date, social security number, and invest in a diamond-cut shredder to destroy important documents, but your street address is-and should remain-a must on your resume.
Don’t be indiscriminate: One of the arguments against putting a street address on your resume is that you do not want a group of strangers who view it on the Internet to know where you live. This advice baffles me, not because of its logic but because I can’t recommend to any job seeker to simply post a resume online for the world to see-whether a street address is on it or not. Resumes are to be targeted toward a specific job or a specific industry; simply posting it online, to me, indicates a lack of job search savvy and sophistication. You might as well walk around with a sandwich board on your shoulders saying “hire me!” YOU control who sees or does not see your resume, so distribute it to specific companies who are looking for specific positions to fill. Do not just allow it to be viewed publicly in the hope that an employer will happen upon it.
Address bias: Another reason/rumor I hear to remove an address from a resume is “address bias,” where a recruiter, human resources rep, or hiring manager will discriminate against candidates by making assumptions about their skills and work habits based upon socioeconomic characteristics of their neighborhood. Socioeconomic status is not a protected class, so legally a company can, in theory, practice this type of discrimination. But let’s say that you find out that a company does do this…would you want to work there? The hiring practices of a company speak to how it treats human capital, be they candidates or employees. If you fret to put your street address on your resume for this reason, put it on there anyway and consider it insurance against the bad companies out there that don’t deserve your talents.
Illusion of anonymity: Simple reasoning will lead you to the conclusion that your street address can easily be obtained via an online background check or even a simple Google search. There was a more difficult but no less effective way to do this in the near past: the white pages. Don’t give employers any reason to throw up any kind of red flags regarding your candidacy: protect your birth date, social security number, and invest in a diamond-cut shredder to destroy important documents, but your street address is-and should remain-a must on your resume.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Should Your Resume Be Only One Page?
This is one of the oldest resume debates. Different experts have different ideas and recommendations. As the job search becomes more digital, this debate has become less of an issue. No matter the reigning opinion, the bottom line is that there is no hard and fast rule for the length of the resume.
Keep in mind that we live in a fast-paced society and employers already admit to only giving your resume 10 to 15 seconds of attention. Therefore you must be concise, brief, and only offer information that is relevant to the reader. How long your resume ends up is determined by what you have to say that is important to your potential employer. Not everyone can fit on one page. However, there are some guidelines when deciding on the length of the resume.
If you are on two pages, fill both pages entirely. A resume that is a page and half long looks as though the second page is a mistake or an afterthought. Often, this second page will be overlooked if that is the case. If you can’t fit everything on one page without crowding your margins or using font smaller than 10-point font, then consider going to a second page.
If your resume is on two pages, make sure you capture their attention on page one. People who use two-page resumes often put too much “fluff” into their resumes. The entire first page ends up being a summary and the work experience does not start until page two. If you don’t grab an employer’s attention right away with benefit statements and evidence of how you can help them, they may never even look at page 2.
Always put your name, contact information, and page numbers on subsequent pages. Just in case the second page gets misplaced, be sure your name AND contact information ends up on all the pages of your resume.
Make sure every item on the resume is relevant to the targeted employer. Read through every line of your resume and ask yourself if it all demonstrates a benefit that you can offer your potential employer. If something is on your resume because you are proud of it (i.e. winning first place in the company track meet last year) but does not add any value to your potential employer, it probably does not belong on the resume. Often, when a resume goes longer than 2 pages the writer is providing too much information or too many details.
Keep in mind that we live in a fast-paced society and employers already admit to only giving your resume 10 to 15 seconds of attention. Therefore you must be concise, brief, and only offer information that is relevant to the reader. How long your resume ends up is determined by what you have to say that is important to your potential employer. Not everyone can fit on one page. However, there are some guidelines when deciding on the length of the resume.
If you are on two pages, fill both pages entirely. A resume that is a page and half long looks as though the second page is a mistake or an afterthought. Often, this second page will be overlooked if that is the case. If you can’t fit everything on one page without crowding your margins or using font smaller than 10-point font, then consider going to a second page.
If your resume is on two pages, make sure you capture their attention on page one. People who use two-page resumes often put too much “fluff” into their resumes. The entire first page ends up being a summary and the work experience does not start until page two. If you don’t grab an employer’s attention right away with benefit statements and evidence of how you can help them, they may never even look at page 2.
Always put your name, contact information, and page numbers on subsequent pages. Just in case the second page gets misplaced, be sure your name AND contact information ends up on all the pages of your resume.
Make sure every item on the resume is relevant to the targeted employer. Read through every line of your resume and ask yourself if it all demonstrates a benefit that you can offer your potential employer. If something is on your resume because you are proud of it (i.e. winning first place in the company track meet last year) but does not add any value to your potential employer, it probably does not belong on the resume. Often, when a resume goes longer than 2 pages the writer is providing too much information or too many details.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
You’ve Got the Power: Three Tips for Perfecting Power Words
Just like your favorite Dan Brown or Stephanie Meyer book, your resume tells a story. What kind of story is it telling? Are you the confident hero, using your knowledge, skills, abilities, and fortitude to identify problems, create solutions, take action, and save the day? Or are you a secondary character who stands in fright or awe as the hero does his or her thing? Your professional character/persona is projected in your résumé and how you shape it could be the difference between standing out and striking out. Strategically using power words-action verbs used to place emphasis on professional duties and accomplishments-can ensure you create a leading character résumé.
Impact-minded power words: Lists of power words can easily be found online (I found some good ones here and here). But armed with a list of power words does not a good resume make. Be mindful of the words that you are using to create a more vivid picture of your work. Here is an example from someone who worked as a waiter:
See the difference? The word “coach” creates in the mind a different type of action than “taught.” By thinking creatively and choosing the appropriate power word you honor your experience and the employer “sees” this through how you describe it.
Notice the story you’re telling: Now that you have a better handle on power words to use, let’s turn a mindful eye on the story that they are telling. Which phrase below sounds more appealing to you as an employer who is hiring an information technology specialist for a leading hospital?
Again, the difference one word can make. Now, don’t be disingenuous: if you didn’t lead the project, don’t say that you did. But if you start to notice that your power words do not show leadership, delve deeper into your experience or use it as a catalyst to start creating experiences where you are in a leadership role. It is never too late to intentionally shape your career.
Be wary of repeats: Personally, I hate using the same power word in a resume more than once. To me it shows a lack of creativity in one’s self marketing. So try to keep this down to a minimum: repeating a word once is acceptable, but do not make it a habit.
Power words, when used appropriately, create stand-out impact. When writing the novel of your career, use the right power words to ensure your name is blazoned across the cover.
Impact-minded power words: Lists of power words can easily be found online (I found some good ones here and here). But armed with a list of power words does not a good resume make. Be mindful of the words that you are using to create a more vivid picture of your work. Here is an example from someone who worked as a waiter:
- Taught new employees how to use the POS system to ensure accuracy and rapid transaction completion
- Coached new employees in the use of restaurant POS system to ensure accuracy and rapid transaction completion
See the difference? The word “coach” creates in the mind a different type of action than “taught.” By thinking creatively and choosing the appropriate power word you honor your experience and the employer “sees” this through how you describe it.
Notice the story you’re telling: Now that you have a better handle on power words to use, let’s turn a mindful eye on the story that they are telling. Which phrase below sounds more appealing to you as an employer who is hiring an information technology specialist for a leading hospital?
- Assisted multi-departmental team development on an iPad app to enhance workflow and improve care to patients
- Led multi-departmental team development on an iPad app to enhance workflow and improve care to patients
Again, the difference one word can make. Now, don’t be disingenuous: if you didn’t lead the project, don’t say that you did. But if you start to notice that your power words do not show leadership, delve deeper into your experience or use it as a catalyst to start creating experiences where you are in a leadership role. It is never too late to intentionally shape your career.
Be wary of repeats: Personally, I hate using the same power word in a resume more than once. To me it shows a lack of creativity in one’s self marketing. So try to keep this down to a minimum: repeating a word once is acceptable, but do not make it a habit.
Power words, when used appropriately, create stand-out impact. When writing the novel of your career, use the right power words to ensure your name is blazoned across the cover.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Should you Hire a Professional Resume Writer? The Pros and Cons
Many people would rather prepare their own taxes than write their own resume. It is often a daunting task that we procrastinate. However, everyone needs a well-written resume at all times – even if you are happily employed.
So, should you write the resume yourself or should you hire a professional? You can do it yourself, but can you do it well? To be fair, I must tell you that I am a professional resume writer. However, I want to offer you both the positive and negative aspects of hiring someone to write your resume for you.
Pro:
Having your resume professionally written can save you tremendous amounts of time.
Con:
You must be willing to participate in the process by providing the writer with personal information and approving the final product. Otherwise, you may end up with a resume that is full of information and skills that you can’t support in an interview or that is written in language or terms that you would never use. Don’t let someone write your resume FOR you, they should write it WITH you.
Pro:
A well-trained professional has the ability to assist you in identifying your marketable skills and will create a sales-focused document that attracts employers’ attention.
Con:
Beware of the “resume factories” that don’t take the time to get to know you personally. Whether the information is gathered via worksheet or personal interview, the important thing is that you define and market how you can benefit an organization. A well-written resume should be a personalized representation of what makes YOU the right person for the job.
Pro:
Having your resume written for you is one less thing for you to worry about in the hectic job search process. A certified professional resume writer is required to stay on top of the latest job search trends and methods and will provide you with updated documents that are suitable for the current job market.
Con:
Most anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a resume writer. There are several reputable associations of professionals such as the National Resume Writers Association at www.thenrwa.com, Career Directors International at www.careerdirectors.com, and the Professional Association of Resume Writers at www.parw.com. Before hiring a professional, verify their qualifications, experience, and reputation by doing your due diligence.
So, should you write the resume yourself or should you hire a professional? You can do it yourself, but can you do it well? To be fair, I must tell you that I am a professional resume writer. However, I want to offer you both the positive and negative aspects of hiring someone to write your resume for you.
Pro:
Having your resume professionally written can save you tremendous amounts of time.
Con:
You must be willing to participate in the process by providing the writer with personal information and approving the final product. Otherwise, you may end up with a resume that is full of information and skills that you can’t support in an interview or that is written in language or terms that you would never use. Don’t let someone write your resume FOR you, they should write it WITH you.
Pro:
A well-trained professional has the ability to assist you in identifying your marketable skills and will create a sales-focused document that attracts employers’ attention.
Con:
Beware of the “resume factories” that don’t take the time to get to know you personally. Whether the information is gathered via worksheet or personal interview, the important thing is that you define and market how you can benefit an organization. A well-written resume should be a personalized representation of what makes YOU the right person for the job.
Pro:
Having your resume written for you is one less thing for you to worry about in the hectic job search process. A certified professional resume writer is required to stay on top of the latest job search trends and methods and will provide you with updated documents that are suitable for the current job market.
Con:
Most anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a resume writer. There are several reputable associations of professionals such as the National Resume Writers Association at www.thenrwa.com, Career Directors International at www.careerdirectors.com, and the Professional Association of Resume Writers at www.parw.com. Before hiring a professional, verify their qualifications, experience, and reputation by doing your due diligence.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Avoid These Common Errors on Your Resume
No matter your qualifications, a resume full of errors is likely to land you in the “no” pile. Your resume must speak for you when you are unavailable to speak for yourself. If the resume is sloppy, lacks attention to detail, and is full of errors, it appears this is how you will perform on the job.
Proofreading your resume before you send it to a potential employer is critical to success. For some employers, if they find just one error they will not even consider interviewing the candidate. Don’t rely on the spell check function; it won’t catch most of these common errors.
Spelling and Word Use Errors
I once sent a cover letter addressed “Dear Hiring Manger.” Since then, I have learned that there is an AutoCorrect function in Microsoft Word that allows you to automatically fix your common errors. Following are some of the most common misspelled words you might use on a resume: Judgment, Commitment, Consensus, Indispensable, Liaison, License, Occurrence, Occasion, Perseverance, Privilege, Separate, Proceed, Acceptable, A While (always two words), Accommodate, Acquire, Acquit, A Lot (always two words), Conscientious, Experience, Guarantee, Immediate, Noticeable, Recommend, and Weird.
Word Use Errors
Most errors on a resume are misuse errors versus misspellings. The spell check functions do not catch these errors. They are spelled correctly; they are just not used properly. Here are some of the most common offenders:
Its versus It’s – This is one of the most common errors. That tiny little apostrophe can make a big difference. To keep it simple, it’s is a contraction of the words “it is” or “it has,” while its is possessive. It’s going to rain. Its tires were flat.
Your versus You’re – You’re is a contraction of “you” and “are,” while your is possessive. You’re my best friend. Your hands are cold.
Their versus There and They’re- Once again, they’re is a contraction of the words “they” and “are,” while their is possessive, and there refers to distance. They’re going to their house over there.
Ensure versus Insure – When you insure something, you are referring to insurance. When you ensure something, you make sure of it. I ensured my family was insured.
Lead versus Led – When referring to leading in the past tense you use led. When talking about a metal, or using the present tense of leading, you use lead. However, they are pronounced different based on the meaning. I led a project team. I want to lead this team. He has lead poisoning.
Proofreading your resume before you send it to a potential employer is critical to success. For some employers, if they find just one error they will not even consider interviewing the candidate. Don’t rely on the spell check function; it won’t catch most of these common errors.
Spelling and Word Use Errors
I once sent a cover letter addressed “Dear Hiring Manger.” Since then, I have learned that there is an AutoCorrect function in Microsoft Word that allows you to automatically fix your common errors. Following are some of the most common misspelled words you might use on a resume: Judgment, Commitment, Consensus, Indispensable, Liaison, License, Occurrence, Occasion, Perseverance, Privilege, Separate, Proceed, Acceptable, A While (always two words), Accommodate, Acquire, Acquit, A Lot (always two words), Conscientious, Experience, Guarantee, Immediate, Noticeable, Recommend, and Weird.
Word Use Errors
Most errors on a resume are misuse errors versus misspellings. The spell check functions do not catch these errors. They are spelled correctly; they are just not used properly. Here are some of the most common offenders:
Its versus It’s – This is one of the most common errors. That tiny little apostrophe can make a big difference. To keep it simple, it’s is a contraction of the words “it is” or “it has,” while its is possessive. It’s going to rain. Its tires were flat.
Your versus You’re – You’re is a contraction of “you” and “are,” while your is possessive. You’re my best friend. Your hands are cold.
Their versus There and They’re- Once again, they’re is a contraction of the words “they” and “are,” while their is possessive, and there refers to distance. They’re going to their house over there.
Ensure versus Insure – When you insure something, you are referring to insurance. When you ensure something, you make sure of it. I ensured my family was insured.
Lead versus Led – When referring to leading in the past tense you use led. When talking about a metal, or using the present tense of leading, you use lead. However, they are pronounced different based on the meaning. I led a project team. I want to lead this team. He has lead poisoning.
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