The Resume
Resume writing can be a tricky thing. What type should you use? Should it be hybrid, reverse chronological or functional? How do you know which one is right for your particular situation? Color? Do you need color? What about a picture – of yourself or something else? How do you figure out what to do?
Here I will give you the answers to the above and provide some other tips in this post entitled ResumesDoneWrite, aptly named for my company and blog of the same name.
1. Resume Style – There are many approaches to resume writing. Below are some of the most compelling things you should consider, and in some cases use when creating your resume.
* Reverse Chronological Style: Reverse chronological resumes are best utilized when you have not had any gaps in employment and have not changed career paths. Reverse chronological is what hiring managers expect to see because it is the most common. Fear not though – if you have changed careers, industries, or been out of the game for a bit of time there are other ways for you to present your credentials that will still draw attention and ‘get you the interview’. Reverse chronological resumes start with your most recent position and work backwards. I recommend not referencing things in any great detail that go back farther than 10-15 years. You can reference a Previous Experience section where you reveal the company name and your title. If it comes up in an interview, be prepared to address it there. Your resume should ‘show a little shoulder’ not give away the entire store.
* Hybrid Style: The hybrid setup will allow you to reference key achievements in a section of the same name at the top of the resume. This is particularly useful if you are transitioning to a new industry, embarking on a new career path, or reentering the workforce after an absence. The key achievements should reveal compelling information that can be correlated to the position you are seeking. If you are in possession of a job description, even better. Review it to help tailor the resume for the position. In each style it is imperative that you provide the reader with metrics that support the work that you have done. The meat is in the results. A sure way to get your resume noticed is to provide clear and concise examples with the outcome so the reader understands how you made an impact.
2. The Headline – At the very top of your resume write a headline. This will serve to tell everyone reading what you do, what you are good at, and in some way what you want without stating it in an outdated objective. The headline is like a newspaper headline. You might consider the following: GENERAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT /OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP. That headline would go right underneath your name and contact details and clearly conveys that you are management professional who runs operations. It’s the quick hit to set the tone of the document.
3. Core Competencies – I know I write about this all the time; but it really is important or I wouldn’t stand on the box about it. Hiring managers and internal screening systems (Taleo, etc.) can easily scan this for your key attributes. Write six or eight core competencies – and make them meaningful.
4. Using Color – Here’s an interesting question – the question of color on the resume. When well done and in the appropriate situation, color can work very well on the resume. Less is more in this case so you will need to be careful. If you work in marketing, communications, public relations or a creative field, consider adding some color to your document. I don’t mean iridescent yellow. The reader won’t have to find the resume in the dark. I mean something classy. You should consider Accent 2 (Darker 25%); Background 2 (Darker 25%); Accent 3 (Darker 50%). You can use them for your name and personal details and perhaps even start the first portion of the bullets with a color. These colors are muted; so they don’t want to make you run from the room screaming. I think they set a nice tone and will liven up the resume a bit.
5. Picture Perfect: I have used pictures on resumes that I have created for my clients – not their likeness, but actual photos from IStockPhoto.com, bigstockphoto.com or other free or cheap stock photo sites. They are easy to download and size; and once purchased, you can save them for use somewhere else. Again, you need to be careful about using a picture. I would not recommend this if you work in financial services, consulting, or manufacturing, for example. Do you work in the recreation field? I wrote a resume for a client that had extensive experience handling parks and recreation activities. A picture was perfect for her resume. When complemented by the rest of the written content really told, well, the complete picture of her skills and abilities. Other resumes where I have included pictures are for graphic designers, musicians, and event planners. When done correctly, it can really make your resume stand out from the crowd without being obnoxious or ‘hokey’.
Closing Thoughts
There is no such way as the ‘right’ way when it comes to writing a resume. The right resume is the one that gets you the interviews. Consider your options; if you need, get some professional help to ensure you are positioned effectively. You won’t be sorry. A well-written professional document can really mean the difference between the interviews that get you the job offers – and a situation where you sit around wondering why nobody is calling. Capable enough to do it yourself? Even better! Make sure you do some research. There are resources online where you can use a template to create your own document. Just make sure you send the right message. Include the results of your efforts in a meaningful and concise way. In your job search you have the most control over your resume – so make it a great one.
After having written more than 10,000 resumes and telling people constantly that there are more verbs out there than managed and developed, I decided to put pen to paper (or let my fingers do the walking on the keyboard in this case) to give you some help with other verbs. Don’t get me wrong – there is nothing wrong with managed or developed. The issue is that when writing a résumé, people use them all the time – I mean in every line. You want to engage the reader, not help the person lapse into a coma. I realize that these don’t exactly correlate. I want to give you some ideas. Without further ado, here is a list (albeit a short list) of alternative verbs that you should consider.
You should also definitely check out Thesaurus.com or you can try out the very cool visualthesaurus.com where you will find a plethora, myriad, a veritable cornucopia of enticing, invigorating, and all around exciting words that will send sparks flying through your brain! These tools will give you numerous choices of synonyms for commonly used words. It doesn’t only apply to verbs folks; it applies to all words in the English language. The only caveat that you need to be mindful of is that some words may “be” synonyms but do not really convey the meaning of the original word. Sometimes it takes a little digging, but I can assure you – it’s worth it; and will spice up your resume. That’s a sample of my mind origami for the written word.
Someone asked me how to write a winning resume, and the question took me by surprise. Usually people ask specific questions, like “How can I avoid looking like a job-hopper?” and “I’m concerned about age discrimination — should I drop my degree date?” (Or the always popular, “Can you review my resume…for free?”)
So after the question was asked, I saw 13 years of resume writing experience flash before my eyes, along with every resume tip I ever offered — it was like a near-death experience.
Where to start? Winning resume strategies vary dramatically depending on the job seeker’s background, career level, goals, even geographic location. It would be impossible to give the recipe for a winning resume and wrap it in a pretty bow. But I like a challenge, so I decided to break it up into a list of do’s and don’ts. So here goes…
Do’s
* Do state your career goal. Your objective should be clear from the very beginning of your resume. You can incorporate your goal into a bold headline, or weave it into your Qualifications Summary. Thinking about using a “one-size-fits-all-jobs” resume? You could be in for a long job search.
* Do include a Qualifications Summary. If you’re diving right in to your work history without a brief introduction, you’re missing the opportunity to spoon-feed your strongest credentials or “value proposition” to the resume reviewer — right at the top of your resume.
* Do include your important skills. Hiring managers are looking for specific skills when filling a job opening. So create a bulleted list of your industry-related skills. Relevant job-related skills (such as “vendor negotiations”) hold more weight than general skills (like “communication skills,” which everyone claims to have).
* Do include accomplishments. Most resumes are heavily focused on job duties, but employers want to see how well you’ve done your job. Include specific examples of the main ways you contributed to your employers, and hiring managers will see the value that you bring to the table. Use quantifiable accomplishments whenever possible.
* Do pick the right length. If you’re a new grad with minimal experience, chances are you need one page. If you are an experienced professional with lots of experience, two pages should do the trick. If you’re a top-level executive with an extensive track record or a techie with many relevant projects, you might need three pages. Professionals who require a longer resume are in academia and need a CV, not a resume. A resume is a brief “snapshot” of your qualifications — you want to have something to discuss in an interview.
* Do create an attractive design. Your resume needs to stand out from the pack of resumes, and a distinctive (yet conservative) design can help your resume get noticed. Make use of your word processing program’s formatting features, like font size, bold, italics, etc. But don’t overdo it –- it’s a careful balancing act to make sure your resume looks nice, and not like a three-ring circus!
* Do give kudos to team accomplishments. Did your department generate $2.5 million last year? Then give credit to the team instead of claiming the accomplishment as your own, unless you want to look like a braggart who likes to steal the limelight.
* Do use a readable font size. I’ve been seeing more and more resumes with teeny tiny fonts — apparently people are trying to squeeze in as much information on a page to avoid starting a new page. Not good. Your font should be easily readable on-screen. It’s better to go to a new page or edit some of the content and use a font that doesn’t make your reader squint (or just delete your resume to avoid a migraine headache). Along the same lines, make sure you have plenty of white space to make your resume reader-friendly.
* Do include related hobbies. The emphasis is on related. If your hobby shows some aspect of your personality that would be desirable or an interesting talking point with the interviewer, include it. Avoid including anything that is kind of “out there” or would reveal something about you that you wouldn’t want your next employer to know.
* Do proofread. Your resume should be error-free. Sending a resume with typos is the equivalent of showing up to a job interview with food stains on your shirt.
* Do keep your resume updated. A resume that’s frequently updated and revised is more effective than one that is out-of-date and neglected. Make a point to update your resume when you have a new accomplishment, and take a good look at the document at least every few months.
Don’ts
* Don’t use a functional format. It’s almost never the right answer, and only raises red flags and doubts about your work history. Plus, if you’re trying to hide dates, a functional resume may do the opposite and draw attention to dates. A “combination” resume (a reverse chronological resume that leads with a Qualifications Summary) works for almost all professionals.
* Don’t be a copycat. Don’t use a resume template (unless you want to blend in with the crowd) and don’t copy your friend’s resume. You can use resume samples to inspire you, but don’t copy!
* Don’t lose sight of your career goal. When writing your work descriptions, always keep your career goal in mind. Highlight the accomplishments that are related to your next career move, and downplay unrelated career information. Remember, you can’t include everything you’ve ever done, so you might as well include the skills and accomplishments that will grab your reader’s attention.
* Don’t overuse bullets. Professional resume writers refer to this type of resume as a “polka-dot resume.” If you bullet everything, no one point stands out and you dilute the impact of the bullets. Instead, strategically use bullets to draw attention to the key points that you want to emphasize.
* Don’t go way back. If your work history spans more than fifteen years, keep in mind that employers are most interested in what you did recently. So dedicate the most space to your recent experience. You can include earlier work history if you want, but consider summing up the highlights in an “Early Career” section.
* Don’t use a funky font. Most resumes are being emailed and opened on computers, so it’s important that your font selection translates properly on the receiver’s end. If not, the receiver’s system will convert to a different font, and there goes all of your perfect formatting.
* Don’t write “References Available Upon Request.” This is not the 80s, folks!
* Don’t include personal information. Marital status, date of birth, salary data, and other personal information shouldn’t be included on most resumes. There are a few exceptions, like resumes going to foreign countries and entertainer resumes in which personal information is relevant to the job. Federal applications also require personal information such as salary history. Other than that, omit personal information.
* Don’t use personal pronouns (“I,” “me,” or “my”). The reader knows you are writing about you. Use an “implied” first-person voice, like “Developed reports…” instead of “I developed reports.”
* Don’t use bad resume lingo. If you’re a “results-proven leader with excellent communication skills looking for a growth-oriented position with a forward-thinking company,” please delete the bad resume lingo right now! This post has more detail on offensive, over-used cliches that should be eliminated from your resume.
* Don’t lie. Whatever you are trying to cover up isn’t as bad as you think it is, and a dishonest approach can get you into all kinds of trouble (even long after you’re hired). And yes, omitting significant jobs is lying. “Honesty is the best policy” — didn’t we learn this lesson in kindergarten?
Part of what lands you the job is your preparedness during the interview. Of course you wouldn’t be there in the first place if your resume didn’t demonstrate that you have the qualifications to fit the role. Once in front of the hiring manager you have an opportunity – an opportunity to sell yourself. The marketing process begins when you send off a well-written resume. To secure the job you need to give them reasons – yes, plural – reasons that you are the right one. You want to grab the interviewer’s attention – demonstrate that you are their ‘Neo,’ i.e. the ONE – the one that will be able to deliver what they need. Here are some tips to help you present your qualifications, skills, and abilities to get the offer:
Develop a list of what you bring: Part of preparing for the interview should include generating a list of the traits and skills you possess that meet the needs of the position for which you are applying. For example, if you are interviewing for a customer service role in a bank you should have examples of customer service roles you previously held and how you consistently surpassed expectations. This might include awards received or letters from satisfied clients. This doesn’t mean that you should pull out a binder full of press clippings, reviews and the flotsam and jetsam accumulated during you long and storied career. Be able to talk about how many customers wrote about you, the types of awards, and situations where you were able to demonstrate your strong attention to meeting the needs of the clients.
Selling yourself: You will have an opportunity during the interview to provide examples of how you will drive value – your sales pitch should provide a strong example of how you achieved results in a previous role. Of course this should be relevant to the business of the company where you are interviewing. For example consider the following:
“During my tenure with XYZ Company I developed a process whereby each employee in my department was trained to handle the responsibilities of other members to alleviate production downtime. This program saved $45,000 over the course of the year and afforded the team the opportunity to develop new skills. My interpersonal skills are exemplary; I am collaborative and focused; and I know I would make a great addition to your team.” – TOUCHDOWN/GOAL/BASKET/HOMERUN, etc.
Now that you have demonstrated why they should hire you, you should be well on your way to negotiating a solid compensation package worthy of your talents!
Again – getting the interview is only part of the battle – I have a laundry list of stories where my resumes have gotten the candidate in front of the decision maker(s) only to have them hit an iceberg and go down like the HMS Titanic. For more information please see my blogs on nailing the interview.
I am reminded here by the old Boy Scout motto – “always be prepared!” I can tell you from experience, once you start going down, it is only a matter of time before you are so far behind the eight ball even Minnesota Fats can’t help you.
Someone asked me how to write a winning resume, and the question took me by surprise. Usually people ask specific questions, like “How can I avoid looking like a job-hopper?” and “I’m concerned about age discrimination — should I drop my degree date?” (Or the always popular, “Can you review my resume…for free?”)
So after the question was asked, I saw 13 years of resume writing experience flash before my eyes, along with every resume tip I ever offered — it was like a near-death experience.
Where to start? Winning resume strategies vary dramatically depending on the job seeker’s background, career level, goals, even geographic location. It would be impossible to give the recipe for a winning resume and wrap it in a pretty bow. But I like a challenge, so I decided to break it up into a list of do’s and don’ts. So here goes…
Do’s
* Do state your career goal. Your objective should be clear from the very beginning of your resume. You can incorporate your goal into a bold headline, or weave it into your Qualifications Summary. Thinking about using a “one-size-fits-all-jobs” resume? You could be in for a long job search.
* Do include a Qualifications Summary. If you’re diving right in to your work history without a brief introduction, you’re missing the opportunity to spoon-feed your strongest credentials or “value proposition” to the resume reviewer — right at the top of your resume.
* Do include your important skills. Hiring managers are looking for specific skills when filling a job opening. So create a bulleted list of your industry-related skills. Relevant job-related skills (such as “vendor negotiations”) hold more weight than general skills (like “communication skills,” which everyone claims to have).
* Do include accomplishments. Most resumes are heavily focused on job duties, but employers want to see how well you’ve done your job. Include specific examples of the main ways you contributed to your employers, and hiring managers will see the value that you bring to the table. Use quantifiable accomplishments whenever possible.
* Do pick the right length. If you’re a new grad with minimal experience, chances are you need one page. If you are an experienced professional with lots of experience, two pages should do the trick. If you’re a top-level executive with an extensive track record or a techie with many relevant projects, you might need three pages. Professionals who require a longer resume are in academia and need a CV, not a resume. A resume is a brief “snapshot” of your qualifications — you want to have something to discuss in an interview.
* Do create an attractive design. Your resume needs to stand out from the pack of resumes, and a distinctive (yet conservative) design can help your resume get noticed. Make use of your word processing program’s formatting features, like font size, bold, italics, etc. But don’t overdo it –- it’s a careful balancing act to make sure your resume looks nice, and not like a three-ring circus!
* Do give kudos to team accomplishments. Did your department generate $2.5 million last year? Then give credit to the team instead of claiming the accomplishment as your own, unless you want to look like a braggart who likes to steal the limelight.
* Do use a readable font size. I’ve been seeing more and more resumes with teeny tiny fonts — apparently people are trying to squeeze in as much information on a page to avoid starting a new page. Not good. Your font should be easily readable on-screen. It’s better to go to a new page or edit some of the content and use a font that doesn’t make your reader squint (or just delete your resume to avoid a migraine headache). Along the same lines, make sure you have plenty of white space to make your resume reader-friendly.
* Do include related hobbies. The emphasis is on related. If your hobby shows some aspect of your personality that would be desirable or an interesting talking point with the interviewer, include it. Avoid including anything that is kind of “out there” or would reveal something about you that you wouldn’t want your next employer to know.
* Do proofread. Your resume should be error-free. Sending a resume with typos is the equivalent of showing up to a job interview with food stains on your shirt.
* Do keep your resume updated. A resume that’s frequently updated and revised is more effective than one that is out-of-date and neglected. Make a point to update your resume when you have a new accomplishment, and take a good look at the document at least every few months.
Don’ts
* Don’t use a functional format. It’s almost never the right answer, and only raises red flags and doubts about your work history. Plus, if you’re trying to hide dates, a functional resume may do the opposite and draw attention to dates. A “combination” resume (a reverse chronological resume that leads with a Qualifications Summary) works for almost all professionals.
* Don’t be a copycat. Don’t use a resume template (unless you want to blend in with the crowd) and don’t copy your friend’s resume. You can use resume samples to inspire you, but don’t copy!
* Don’t lose sight of your career goal. When writing your work descriptions, always keep your career goal in mind. Highlight the accomplishments that are related to your next career move, and downplay unrelated career information. Remember, you can’t include everything you’ve ever done, so you might as well include the skills and accomplishments that will grab your reader’s attention.
* Don’t overuse bullets. Professional resume writers refer to this type of resume as a “polka-dot resume.” If you bullet everything, no one point stands out and you dilute the impact of the bullets. Instead, strategically use bullets to draw attention to the key points that you want to emphasize.
* Don’t go way back. If your work history spans more than fifteen years, keep in mind that employers are most interested in what you did recently. So dedicate the most space to your recent experience. You can include earlier work history if you want, but consider summing up the highlights in an “Early Career” section.
* Don’t use a funky font. Most resumes are being emailed and opened on computers, so it’s important that your font selection translates properly on the receiver’s end. If not, the receiver’s system will convert to a different font, and there goes all of your perfect formatting.
* Don’t write “References Available Upon Request.” This is not the 80s, folks!
* Don’t include personal information. Marital status, date of birth, salary data, and other personal information shouldn’t be included on most resumes. There are a few exceptions, like resumes going to foreign countries and entertainer resumes in which personal information is relevant to the job. Federal applications also require personal information such as salary history. Other than that, omit personal information.
* Don’t use personal pronouns (“I,” “me,” or “my”). The reader knows you are writing about you. Use an “implied” first-person voice, like “Developed reports…” instead of “I developed reports.”
* Don’t use bad resume lingo. If you’re a “results-proven leader with excellent communication skills looking for a growth-oriented position with a forward-thinking company,” please delete the bad resume lingo right now! This post has more detail on offensive, over-used cliches that should be eliminated from your resume.
* Don’t lie. Whatever you are trying to cover up isn’t as bad as you think it is, and a dishonest approach can get you into all kinds of trouble (even long after you’re hired). And yes, omitting significant jobs is lying. “Honesty is the best policy” — didn’t we learn this lesson in kindergarten?
The US Government has quite a bit to offer as well, read about it here:
resumes
As you may have noticed if you have begun your Federal job search, agencies have varying and unique application procedures to meet their hiring needs. One application format may be acceptable for one agency and not another. In the past, this proved to be frustrating for job seekers applying to multiple positions.
building your resume on USAJOBS
In an effort to drive the Federal hiring process toward a universal application format, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) gathered together several agencies from around the government to create one resume format that would include all of the crucial data required for Federal application into one uniform resume format.
The product that resulted was the USAJOBS Resume Builder. The USAJOBS Resume Builder allows you to create one uniform resume that provides all of the information required by government agencies. Instead of creating multiple resumes in different formats, you can build your resume once and be ready for all job opportunities.
USAJOBS Resume Builder
Resume and KSA (knowledge, skills & abilities) tips
pay attention to keywords
Whether you’re writing your first resume, updating an existing one, or answering a position’s Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s), stop and think about which keywords you need to add. You could be the most qualified person for the position, but you could be lost in a sea of applicants without the right keywords.
A Single Keyword Communicates Multiple Skills and Qualifications
When a recruiter reads the keyword “analyst,” he or she might assume you have experience in collecting data, evaluating effectiveness, and researching and developing new processes. Just one keyword can have tremendous power and deliver a huge message.
Study Job Announcements
This is the best way to determine important keywords. Review several job announcements and their questions for your ideal position. The jobs don’t have to be in your geographic target area. The idea is to find skills, experience, education and other credentials important in your field. You will probably find keywords frequently mentioned by different agencies. Focus on the “requirements,” “skills” or “qualifications” sections of job ads, and look for “buzzwords” and desirable credentials for your ideal job.
be concise
Don’t confuse telling your story with creating your autobiography. Recruiters are inundated with applications and are faced with weeding out the good from the bad. The first step involves quickly skimming through submissions and eliminating candidates who clearly are not qualified. Therefore, your application needs to pass the skim test. Look at your resume and/or KSA’s and ask yourself:
* Can a hiring manager see my main credentials within 10 to 15 seconds?
* Does critical information jump off the page?
* Do I effectively sell myself on the top quarter of the first page?
The Sales Pitch
Because applications are quickly skimmed during the first pass, it is crucial your resume and KSA’s get right to work selling your credentials. Your key selling points need to be prominently displayed at the top of the first page of the resume and directly address each question asked in the KSA section. For example, if an advanced degree is an important qualification, it shouldn’t be buried at the end of a four-page resume. If a KSA question asks about your writing ability, immediately detail your experience instead of enjoyment of it.
Use an Editor’s Eye
Many workers are proud of their careers and feel the information on a resume should reflect everything they’ve accomplished. However, a resume shouldn’t contain every detail and KSA’s should only address the question at hand. So be judicious. If your college days are far behind you, does it really matter that you pledged a fraternity or delivered pizza? The editing step will be difficult if you are holding on to your past for emotional reasons.
use numbers to highlight your accomplishments
If you were a recruiter looking at a resume or an answer to a KSA, which of the following entries would impress you more:
* Wrote news releases.
* Wrote 25 news releases in a three-week period under daily deadlines.
Clearly the second statement carries more weight. Why? Because it uses numbers to quantify the writer’s accomplishment, giving it a context that helps the interviewer understand the degree of difficulty involved in the task. Numbers are powerful resume tools that will help your accomplishments draw the attention they deserve from prospective employers. With just a little thought, you can find effective ways to quantify your successes on your resume.
Think Money
For-profit, nonprofit, and government organizations alike are and always will be concerned about money. So as you contemplate your accomplishments and prepare to present them on your resume or in your KSA’s, think about ways you’ve saved money, earned money, or managed money in your internships, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities so far. A few possibilities that might appear on a typical college student’s resume:
* Identified, researched and recommended a new Internet Service Provider, cutting the company’s online costs by 15 percent.
* Wrote prospect letter that has brought in more than $25,000 in donations to date.
* Managed a student organization budget of more than $7,000.
Think Time
You’ve heard the old saying, “Time is money,” and it’s true. Companies and organizations are constantly looking for ways to save time and do things more efficiently. They’re also necessarily concerned about meeting deadlines, both internal and external. So whatever you can do on your resume or in your KSA’s to show that you can save time, make time or manage time will grab your reader’s immediate attention. Here are some time-oriented entries that might appear on a typical college student’s resume:
* Assisted with twice-monthly payroll activities, ensuring employees were paid as expected and on time.
* Attended high school basketball games, interviewed players and coaches afterward, and composed 750-word articles by an 11 p.m. deadline.
* Suggested procedures that decreased average order-processing time from 10 minutes to five minutes.
