So, even after making your resume as professional and polished as possible, and making it the perfect sales pitch for your skills, education, and value you bring to the company, the bottom line is that you still have to make it seen by the person that can make the decision to call you in for an interview, for it is at the interview where you truly sell yourself and demonstrate your capacity to do the job.
So, how do you get your resume seen? We will explore this question in depth over the next several weeks as we explore various means and methods for getting seen.
You may have read of various gimmicks that people have used to get their foot in the door. Sometimes, these can still be highly effective, if you're in the right marketplace. Sending your resume by sticking it half-way out of a gigantic chocolate cake and having it hand delivered by a singing messenger will probably get some attention in certain industries, and get you round filed in other industries. I would suggest staying away from such gimmicks unless your industry revolves around the arts or creatives.
I will share one strategy, however, that more people should use, but don't. This strategy assumes that you know the exact name and proper delivery address for the person that is making the decision to bring people in for an interview. This strategy will cost you $15 to $20, depending on where you are and where you're sending it, but if it's a job you really want, it's worth it. This strategy requires a professional, powerfull resume and a great cover letter, of course, but most hiring managers WILL see your resume if you do this. Why? Because in our society most people are programmed out of curiosity to open something that is delivered this way, and I think that just about everybody subconsciously gives such packages higher priority.
What am I referring to? A FedEx Priority Overnight package.
The FedEx Priority Overnight service is their guaranteed 10:30am (noon in some locations) delivery. You can send it in their document envelopes made for just such a purpose, but I would suggest using their small boxes for this. It has long been demonstrated in direct marketing circles that "lumpy" mail gets opened more, and it doesn't get much better than a box sent priority overnight with those bright purple and white logos identifying FedEx.
In future articles, we'll take a look at how to find the right person to send your box to, as well as other ways to get into the right circles to get your resume seen, including how to get it hand delivered by an existing employee of the company even if you don't know anybody that works there.
]]>In this economy, hiring managers are busier than ever, scanning more and more applicant resumes. When faced with a document that is text heavy, featuring blocks of uninterrupted type, next to one in which that same data is presented in a clean, easy-to-read bulleted format, which do you think the hiring manager will choose?
An example:
Paragraph format
Configured and supported company’s PC’s in heterogeneous LAN environment with over 350 users; supported company LAN/WAN, including installation and configuration of company routers, switches, and hubs. Led three person team supporting operations for Novell 4.11 file, print, Unix, and Windows NT 4.0 servers, as well as Windows NT 4.0 workstations, Windows 95 & 98 desktops, and remote access laptops. Administered and managed security for remote access service through Windows NT 4.0 servers to access corporate LAN/WAN. Designed/developed standard desktop environment and prepared system images for deployment. Supported Lotus Notes 4.6 clients, including remote replication of server databases. Wrote and distributed procedures for end-users and technicians for upgrading and implementing system/software roll-outs.
The same information in a bulleted format
* Configured and supported company’s PC’s in heterogeneous LAN environment with over 350 users; supported company LAN/WAN, including installation and configuration of company routers, switches, and hubs.
* Led three person team supporting operations for Novell 4.11 file, print, Unix, and Windows NT 4.0 servers, as well as Windows NT 4.0 workstations, Windows 95 & 98 desktops, and remote access laptops.
* Administered and managed security for remote access service through Windows NT 4.0 servers to access corporate LAN/WAN.
* Designed/developed standard desktop environment and prepared system images for deployment.
* Supported Lotus Notes 4.6 clients, including remote replication of server databases.
* Wrote and distributed procedures for end-users and technicians for upgrading and implementing system/software roll-outs.
In the first example, the data is uninterrupted, dense, and daunting. The second example, on the other hand, allows the hiring manager to pause and digest the data before moving on to the next sentence.
]]>Graphics can be used to:
1.
Display a logo for a webmaster.
2.
Indicate a certification for someone in the IT field.
3.
Be used as a backdrop to indicate a career field.
4.
Showcase work completed by a graphic designer or an artist candidate.
]]>With the advent of computer software and PCs, everyone now has the capability of desktop publishing, complete with fancy fonts.
However, with these innovations come problems, especially if you’re sending your resume via email (as an attachment) to a prospective employer.
Generally speaking, only classic fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial are universal on PCs. Designer fonts like BlackAdder II, Broadway, Mistral, and Stencil must be purchased or downloaded from free font sites on the Internet. Because of this, a resume created using BlackAdder II might look great on your computer, but once it’s transmitted to the employer’s computer, another font will likely be substituted. What does that substitution do? Well, for one, it throws off formatting, potentially stretching your perfect one-page resume onto two or more pages, because fonts differ in height, depth, and the amount of spacing between characters. And while BlackAdder II is a rather elegant, stylish font, the one the computer will substitute may very well be bulky and, quite frankly, ugly.
Therefore, if you’re going to be sending your resume as an attachment to numerous employers, it’s always best to use Times New Roman or Arial. That way, you know your formatting and the overall look of the resume will remain true.
Bullets
Like designer fonts, designer bullets add flair to a resume. And like those fonts, designer bullets are not universal on all PCs. So if you choose one that’s a check mark, a small arrow, a five-pointed star, or anything other than the universal round bullet, those dynamite designs may very well turn up as question marks or numerals on the hiring manager’s computer.
Remember, the best time to use designer fonts and bullets is when you’re “snail” mailing your resume to an employer or handing it to them in person -- that is, when you have a hard copy of your resume for distribution. For those resumes being sent as attachments, it’s best to go with traditional fonts and bullets.
]]> 1. Reverse chronological
2. Functional
3. A combination of the two
Reverse chronological
Generally speaking, hiring managers prefer that employment data is provided with the most recent job listed first, followed by the next most recent, and so on. In that way, it’s easy to see career progression from an entry-level position to a more senior status. It’s also easy to detect gaps in dates of employment. These gaps lead some candidates to use a functional format instead.
Functional
Functional formats stress what skills you have, rather than where and when you used them. These formats are best for students who have just graduated from college and have little “real-world” experience, those who have been out of the workforce for long periods because they were raising children, and job seekers who are transitioning from one career or industry to another. However, sometimes combining a functional format with a reverse chronological format makes the most sense. These are called combination resumes.
Combination
With this format, skills that are relevant to the current job search are placed in a special section by function, while the Professional History or Work Experience is presented in a standard, reverse-chronological format. This format offers the best of both worlds, and is highly popular with modern job seekers and hiring managers.
]]>However, the rules change when you are submitting your resume to overseas employers.
Although each country has a different set of requirements regarding which pieces of personal information they most want to see, generally most will ask for the following:
1.
Date of Birth
2.
Place of Birth
3.
Citizenship/Nationality
4.
Sex
5.
Race
6.
Marital Status
Personal data such as hobbies or activities
Because the modern resume is a business and marketing tool, it’s best to keep personal interests and hobbies for the interview process as a way to “break the ice.” This is especially true if your activities involve some perceived risk or danger. A candidate who is otherwise qualified for a management position might have his resume passed over if he “runs the rapids” on the weekends or participates in a parachuting club. Activities with risk aren’t the only ones to caution against. A candidate who collects rare coins -- an expensive hobby -- may have her resume passed over by a hiring manager for a position that involves controlling a company’s funds.
Remember, hiring managers want to know what you can do for their company in terms of boosting profits or reducing expenses. What you do on your own time is best kept off a resume.
References
Unless, and until, you are asked to interview for a position, references should not be provided to a prospective employer.
However, in some cases location does matter. This would generally apply to someone who has international experience and is continuing to seek a position internationally.
Rather than hope the hiring manager notices the location of your employers, it’s best to bring this information out quickly and effectively.
One way to do that is to mention it in the Qualifications Summary or Profile paragraph that begins your resume.
]]>In presenting dates you must:
1. Make certain that years of employment are in reverse chronological order. That is, the most recent job should be presented first, followed by the next most recent, and so on.
2. Indicate exact dates of employment for each position if you have had more than one at the same company.
3. Format your resume so that dates are easily located, rather than hidden within other data.
4. Avoid using months, except on resumes for federal government jobs that require such data, or on resumes going to graduate schools as part of the application process.
Presenting data in reverse-chronological order:
If you worked for ABC Company from 1999 to the present, and at XYZ Company from 1989 to 1999, your data would be written in this manner:
ABC COMPANY, City, State
1999 – Present
XYZ COMPANY, City, State
1989 – 1999
When you have had more than one position with a company:
Let’s say you worked at ABC Company from 1989 to the present and held three positions of increasing responsibility. The best way to present that would be:
ABC COMPANY, City, State
Controller (1999-Present)
Chief Accountant (1994-1999)
Accountant (1989-1994)
1989 – Present
The above provides specific information about your dates of employment for each position, with total employment for that company provided in the first line.
Formatting dates:
Because a hiring manager will most often scan, rather than read, a resume, it’s best to provide dates of employment immediately after the company’s name and location, preferably with those dates flush right. This separation avoids the dates getting lost in the other data, yet still showcases them for potential employers.
Using years of employment, rather than months & years
By excluding months, you can improve the readability of the data, while also downplaying brief periods of employment. For example, indicating that you worked during the year 2000 is certainly more positive than indicating that you only worked January - February 2000.
]]>Regardless of your industry or targeted position, your name should always appear at the very top of the resume, in large enough type to distinguish it from the rest of the document.
Remember that your name should be in a font that is representative of your industry (conservative or nontraditional), and one that can be easily read by a busy hiring manager.
]]>1.
Quickly capture the hiring manager’s attention.
2.
Detail the skills and qualifications you can bring to the job.
3.
Dovetail your past experience with the needs of the current position.
4.
Showcase accomplishments.
5.
Provide relevant academic data.
A classic resume can effectively do all of that, while also being aesthetically pleasing within the perimeters of your chosen industry.
How, you ask?
By addressing the unique requirements of each of the following points:
* Name
* Contact Information (Address/Phone/Email)
* Subheadings
* Employment Dates
* Places of Employment
* When to Include Personal Data
* Designer Fonts & Bullets versus the Traditional
* Templates
* Graphics
* Text Presentation: Bullets versus Paragraphs
* Stylish Resumes
1. Always use the same heading for your cover letter that you have used in your resume.
2. Whenever possible, use the hiring manager’s name. This personalizes the document and shows attention to detail.
3. Include in your opening paragraph what job you’re interested in and a specific reason as to why you feel qualified for this position.
4. Include in the body of the letter the specific experience, skills or accomplishments from your past that dovetail with the requirements of the new job. This data should be bulleted, rather than presented in a solid block of text. The human eye is drawn to bulleted areas, and they provide the data in an easy-to-read format, so that the hiring manager can digest the information from one sentence before moving on to the others.
Examples of bulleted areas follow:
As my enclosed résumé indicates, my background includes more than two decades of service at US Flight with significant experience in:
*
Aircraft accident investigation as a member of the US Flight disaster team.
*
Security checkpoints, where I handled countless calls for assistance.
*
Training the Ground Security team to protect and promote public safety.
In addition to the above skills, I can also offer your firm:
* More than 30 years of experience in the airline industry.
* Expertise in dealing with government agencies, including the FAA where I facilitated communications to reduce company fines.
* Reduced absenteeism and occupational injuries -- standards I maintained at US Flight, where I achieved the best employee safety record of all US Flight cities.
5. If the letter is being addressed to a specific hiring manager, close your letter proactively indicating that you will be contacting the hiring manager’s office within the next week to see if you might set up a time to meet.
Sending Your Cover Letter by “Snail” Mail
With today’s technology, most resumes and cover letters are sent as attachments via email. However, if you have reason to send your cover letter and resume by “snail” mail, the documents should be printed on good bond paper (20 lbs.) with a watermark. Choose a color that evokes professionalism; the best choices are white or cream, though a light gray can also be considered.
]]>To ensure that your candidacy gets the attention it deserves, use a follow-up letter to again place yourself in front of the hiring manager. Not only will that person take note of your continued interest in the position, but you will certainly move ahead of those other, similarly qualified candidates who did not send a follow-up letter.
To ensure a professional look for your follow-up letter and to maintain consistency, use the same heading that was on your resume and initial cover letter.
Within the body of the follow-up letter, reiterate your most stellar qualifications as they relate to this position.
]]>To make the most of the after-interview stage, always send a personalized thank you letter to the hiring authority. Not only does this indicate unusual and continued interest in the position, but it also shows follow-through and a professionalism that simply can’t be beat.
Make sure that your thank you letter uses the same heading as your resume and initial cover letter, as this maintains consistency. Keep the content brief, mentioning only the highlights of your meeting with the hiring manager. This will serve to remind that person of the skills and qualifications you can bring to the opening.
If there were some matters that you forgot to mention during the interview, such as your ability to work extra hours and take on extra responsibilities, a thank you letter is the perfect way to introduce this.
]]>If you want to make more, though, you need to do one of two things:
1. Massively increase your web site traffic.
2. Multiply the number of small web sites you have.
Regardless of whether you do one or both, in order to do it effectively, you need to implement and maintain SYSTEMS. In fact, any Internet marketing course that you buy that is worthwhile is going to be a manual describing how to set up and run systems.
What exactly is a system? A system is defined as, "a procedure or process for obtaining an objective." In this case, our objective is to generate income, be it from product sales, ad clicks, new user registrations, etc.
Here's an example of a system: Google Adwords. You create ads, insert keywords, assign bids for clicks, get traffic. Wash, rinse, repeat. You can do the exact same process (system) for each and every web site that you own.
Creating such web sites is, in and of itself, a system. If you have a web hosting account that allows you to host multiple domain names, then you can create a new web site every hour or every day if you want to. For example, you can create a series of "how to" web sites on subjects you are interested in. You can create a template web site that includes your Adsense code, navigation links, etc. On each web site, you place a few articles that you write about the subject. You could cover a whole bunch of subjects, such as "how to clean your house", "how to organize your garage," "how to change your oil," etc.
Once you have a system like this set up, you can work on it when you want to, and replicate the sites AND the traffic model. This is honestly how you make large amounts of money online from what initially sounds like a small idea.
]]>A compelling cover letter that follows five essential rules will convince a hiring manager to read an applicant’s resume.
Rule #1 -- Appearance
The resume and cover letter must be aesthetically pleasing and consistent in appearance. This would include using the same heading and fonts in each, both produced on a high-quality printer and paper (if documents are being “snail-mailed"). Save the designer stationery and stylish fonts for writing letters to friends. A professional employment package never sets a casual tone.
Rule #2 – Target Your Audience
Always use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation. If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job posting, a bit of Internet research or a well-structured phone call can produce results. In using the contact’s name, the cover letter is personalized, while also showing the applicant’s interest in the company. Remember, a letter addressed "Dear Sir or Madam" or worse, "To Whom It May Concern," has the same impact as one addressed "Dear Occupant."
Rule #3 – A Strong Opening
A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture and retain a hiring manager’s interest. Pared down to basics, for a quick and effective read, it should include a reference to the position sought and a brief statement as to why the applicant feels qualified to fill the job. Emphasis should always be placed on what the applicant can do for the targeted company, while also providing quantifiable proof as to why this is true.
Rule #4 – Showcasing Accomplishments
Include a bulleted area to emphasize accomplishments pertinent to the targeted job. Not only does this break up large blocks of text that a hiring manager might find daunting, but it also draws the eye towards the most important part of the cover letter -- what the applicant has to offer.
Rule #5 – A Proactive Closing
Always initiate further action at the end of a cover letter. A proactive closing indicates that the applicant will call within a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to meet. To wait for a hiring manager to take that first step is to risk losing the opportunity to another candidate.
]]>In the United States, however, resumes are most often used. That said, CVs are warranted under the following conditions:
1.
The jobseeker is in an academic field (college or university professor), and is seeking a teaching position.
2.
The candidate is in employed in research, medicine, or a similar discipline and is seeking a residency, fellowship, or admission into a program (i.e. Ph.D.).
3.
The candidate has been published numerous times and has made many presentations, with details of these included in the document.
Differences between CVs and Resumes
*
Content: CVs tend to be more comprehensive in the data provided to the hiring authority. This is especially true of CVs used for distribution overseas, where the inclusion of personal information (date of birth, marital status, religious affiliation, nationality, country of birth, etc.) is required.
*
Length: Whereas resumes rarely exceed two pages in length, CVs can run from 10 to 15 pages and longer.
When to use a resume or a CV
Again, generally speaking, a resume is preferred over a CV in the United States, unless the hiring authority specifically requests a CV.
]]>1.
A more conservative appearance.
2.
A separate area showcasing Career Accomplishments.
3.
A finished length of two or more pages.
That said, Executive formats can be used by any job seeker, especially those who have career or academic accomplishments and seek a more comprehensive approach to employment history -- if that comprehensive approach is relevant and enhances their candidacy.
Conservative Appearance
Executive Resume format generally employs the Times New Roman font, which is universal on PCs, easy to read, yet elegant in appearance. Designer fonts, which include BlackAdder II, Castellar, and Broadway, are best left for graphic designers, artists, and those in nontraditional industries. The ample use of white space and underscored section headings are aesthetically pleasing and provide visual cues about where one data area ends and another begins.
Career Accomplishments
This is the hallmark of the Executive resume and what hiring managers most want to see. In this economy, when dozens or even hundreds of applicants with essentially the same backgrounds vie for each opening, the only characteristic that will separate a candidate from all the others is what they accomplished in previous positions. In an Executive resume, these achievements are showcased near the top of the first page. What’s more, these accomplishments are generally quantified in terms of percentages, dollar figures, and time periods to specifically indicate what was done.
Finished Length
Executive resumes are usually two or more pages because of the sheer breadth of a candidate’s experience. However, a modern resume should be only as long as it needs to be to contain the data relevant to the current job search. It’s unwise to expand a one-page resume to two pages to meet an arbitrary page length, just as it is to cram a two-page document onto one page, reducing white space and font size to such an extent that the finalized document is hard to read and not aesthetically pleasing.
]]>Your best choice is to:
1. Be certain all type is flush left.
2. Separate sections with white spaces, rather than dashes (--), dots (. . .), or tildes (~~~).
3. Do not use tables.
4. Do not use graphics.
5. Put section headers in ALL CAPS.
Therefore, avoid all “designer” fonts that are difficult for a human being to read. If anything, the scanning software will have even more difficulty.
It’s best to stick with classic fonts like Arial, which is san serif, or Times New Roman, a popular serif font. Other good choices are Garamond, Bookman, Courier New, and Century Schoolbook.
Font size
Don’t make the software work extra hard to read all the characters in your resume, as this may lead to mistakes and missed keywords. It’s best to use a font size between 9 and 12, depending upon the font.
]]>In addition to your street address, including your city, state and zip, it’s important to include an email address. With today’s technology, a hiring manager most often contacts successful candidates by phone or by email.
Because of the importance of email correspondence in a job search, it’s wise to choose an email address that is businesslike in tone, rather that one that reflects a special interest or a nickname.
For example, the following would be considered inappropriate:
Another important piece of advice is to avoid using work-related email addresses. Hiring managers are rarely interested in interviewing someone who is using their current employer’s time or email system to look for another job.
The key is: Always be professional
Phone Numbers
It’s sometimes wise to include a cell phone number along with your home phone number, especially if that’s your easiest point of contact. However, be certain of the quality of your cell phone and service provider before offering the number. Nothing is more frustrating to a hiring manager than to conduct a cell phone conversation through static and breaks in conversation due to poor technology.
In modern resumes, fax numbers are rarely provided. Most hiring managers will not fax an interview request to prospective candidates.
Never include current work phone numbers in your scannable resume. Hiring managers think poorly of candidates who use a current employer’s time to search for new opportunities.
* Typing 90 wpm
*
* Dictation Microsoft Word
* Microsoft Excel
* Microsoft PowerPoint
* Reception
* Phone Support
For an Accountant keywords might be:
* Tax Accounting
* Reconciliations
* General Ledger
* Profit and Loss Statements
Where to Find Keywords
1. Current and Previous Job Descriptions.
In most positions, employees are given job descriptions. Using these, pull out nouns or noun phrases of what you do on a daily basis, so long as those tasks are still relevant to your current job search.
2. Resumes.
Cull data from the Professional Experience and Skill sections of your current or old resumes. These daily duties will provide relevant and significant keywords for your scannable resume.
3. Job Postings.
These are perhaps the most significant resource a candidate can use. By dovetailing past experience with required qualifications and skills, a candidate is effectively targeting the new job, while enhancing candidacy.
How to Use Them
Here, you have two options:
1. Create a keyword list for inclusion at the very beginning of your resume.
2. Sprinkle keywords throughout your resume.
A keyword list at the beginning of your resume would read like this (for a Senior Product Manager):
Pharmaceutical Marketing. Territory Growth. Market Share. Opportunity Mining. Physician Rapport. Marketing Strategies. Budget Oversight. Targeted Goals. Sales Force Leadership. Problem Resolution. Market Data Analysis. Sales Forecasting. Productivity Monitoring. Performance Enhancement. Sales Representative Training. Product Launches. Microsoft Office. Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft Excel. Master of Arts in Marketing. Medical Doctor. Emergency Room Experience. Zithromax. Diflucan. M.D. Bilingual. Spanish Fluency. English Fluency.
Keywords in a Qualifications Summary would read like this (for a Senior Product Manager):
Dynamic, effective Physician and Pharmaceutical Marketing Professional with a strong background in maintaining standards of honesty and integrity while mining new opportunities for territory growth and market share. Easily establishes rapport with physicians based on a background that includes a Master’s Degree in Marketing, a Medical Degree, and emergency room experience. Creative problem solver experienced in devising new strategies for Zithromax and Diflucan to eliminate lost sales to generic brands. Client-oriented with superb communication and organizational skills in preparing successful marketing strategies, overseeing budgets, and leading a sales force towards targeted goals. Fluent in Spanish and English. Technically proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Remember, the more closely your background matches the qualifications of the new job, the more likely it is that you’ll be invited to interview.
]]>Generally speaking, what OCR means to the modern job hunter is that initially a computer, not a human being, will be scanning the resume for appropriate content. Since machines are not impressed by font styles and other formatting enhancements, content is all-important, as is the presentation of your document in a scanner-friendly manner. With computer technology changing daily, "scanner-friendly" may mean a document stripped of all formatting and enhancements, or one that bears some formatting that can be read by the more modern software.
However, regardless of which format is used, content is still essential, beginning with keywords.
The same is now true when you send your resume to the human resources department of major corporations (and in increasing numbers, hiring managers at smaller companies). Because hundreds or even thousands of individuals apply for one opening, software that is preset to determine applicant skills and qualifications is used to “weed out” those individuals who don’t match the job criteria.
Therefore, to make the most of a job search, it’s essential for the modern resume to:
1.
Be in a format that can be read by optical character recognition (OCR) software, if the targeted company is using this tool.
2.
Contain essential keywords* related to the job opening or industry.
* Keywords are nouns or noun phrases that the software has been programmed to search for. The more keywords or “hits” the software finds in the resume, the more likely the document will be read by a human resources professional. In fact, for some federal job openings, a resume must have a 95% or higher hit rate if the candidate is to be given serious consideration -- that is, a moment of the hiring authority’s time, and perhaps even an interview.
Sound daunting?
It doesn’t have to be when you know the tricks of the trade in creating this modern resume. The essentials include:
*
The technology you’ll be dealing with
*
How to find keywords and make the most of them
*
Your name
*
Your contact information
*
Which fonts are scanner friendly
*
Formats to use
*
Samples
]]>Impossible, you think? Not at all. Writing a winning resume simply takes thought and planning. After all, you wouldn’t drive from Los Angeles to Manhattan without mapping the surest route. The same goes for your resume. By using the ResumeEdge© six-step process, you’ll gain perspective on your career target and the audience you need to reach, learn how to showcase your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and produce a document with maximum punch.
The process:
• Step One: Targeting Your Career and Audience
• Step Two: Formatting for Maximum Impact
• Step Three: Skill Set and Qualifications Summary
• Step Four: Accomplishments and Special Skills
• Step Five: Professional Experience
• Step Six: Education and Training
STEP ONE: Targeting Your Career and Audience
You must have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish in your professional life in order to maximize the impact of your resume for your targeted audience -- the hiring manager or graduate school admissions director.
Before you begin, ask yourself these questions. Are you:
1. Making a lateral move?
2. Seeking a promotion?
3. Career transitioning?
4. Pursuing admission into a graduate program?*
For numbers 1-3 above, the most effective way to begin targeting your resume is to search openings that appeal to you on job boards (i.e. Monster, Hot Jobs. CareerJournal), internal company postings, or newspaper classifieds.
With these in hand, you can highlight the qualifications you will need to be considered and the duties you would be expected to assume. Every match in terms of qualifications and experience will serve as key words** in your resume, as well as provide focus so that the resume can be tailored for your targeted audience. The more closely the content of your resume matches the content of these postings, the more likely you will be asked to interview.
* Resumes provided for graduate school admission showcase your skills, professional experience, accomplishments, and academic history in much the same way as “job” resumes. The difference is that an admissions resume will focus on what transitions well to the classroom, not to the workplace.
** Key words include industry-specific jargon or acronyms (i.e. "generally accepted accounting principles" (GAAP) for accountants; "Certified Professional Resume Writer" (CPRW) for resume writers; "Series 7 licensing" for brokers; "initial public offering" (IPO) for investment bankers; "at-risk child" for social workers; "Level 2 Training" for physicians; "intellectual property law" for attorneys; "triage" for nurses; and nouns or noun phrases indicating qualifications or required tasks (i.e. general ledger, word processing, contract negotiations, benefits, payroll, closing (for sales people); catering services, new menu items, capacity planning (for chefs); logistics, quality assurance, advertising campaigns, product launches, staffing, training, orientations. Companies that employ scanners require a set number of hits on key words before the hiring manager will personally review the applicant’s resume. It is always wise to incorporate as many key words as possible into your resume.
STEP TWO: Formatting for Maximum Impact
The moment your resume is opened by a hiring manager or admissions director, it must appeal to him or her on an aesthetic level, while accurately reflecting your industry or career goal. To do anything else is to relegate your resume -- no matter how brilliantly it is written -- to the rejection stack.
In order to ensure that your resume receives the initial attention it deserves, it’s important to adhere to certain formatting guidelines, which include:
* Template and Font Choice
* Effective Use of White Space
* Prioritization of Data
Template and Font Choice
In all cases, templates and font choice should:
1. Be easy to follow. There is no greater irritation to a busy hiring manager or admissions director than to receive a resume where data is presented in a haphazard or inconsistent manner. That’s why templates are used. An effective template will present company names, dates, job titles, academic information, and all other pertinent data in a clear manner, so that a quick glance will tell the contact person what they need to know.
But consistency in format isn’t the only point to consider. Templates should be chosen because they accurately reflect a candidate’s career or goal. In other words, a banker, accountant, or administrative assistant would choose a more conservative format than a graphic artist or interior designer. Nothing is more jarring -- or disastrous -- than to receive a financial professional’s resume written in italics or script with accompanying graphics.
2. Be easy to read. Resumes written in bold text or italics are extremely difficult to read and project a lack of professionalism. The same goes for artistic fonts that resemble handwriting. It’s a common misconception that jazzing up a resume with these stylistic tricks will get the document read. On the contrary, the resume will get noticed -- and discarded -- within seconds. It’s not the font you use that attracts attention, but rather the resume’s initial appearance and the words crafted within it.
When in doubt about font choice, always err on the conservative side. Two good choices are Times New Roman or Arial in 11 points -- no smaller, or the text will be difficult to read.
Effective Use of White Space
There is no quicker way to get your resume ignored than to create a document with (narrow or nonexistent) margins, and block after block of uninterrupted text. No one wants to read a text-heavy document with sentences that run on for four or five lines. In today’s fast-paced world, you must get your point across quickly, with a minimum of words presented as bulleted sentences within special sections (i.e. Professional Experience, Education, Qualifications Summary), separated by well-placed white space.
Think of white spaces as necessary pauses -- a chance for the hiring manager or admissions director to catch her breath, collect her thoughts, and digest (and appreciate) the data you’ve presented.
Prioritization of Data
Imagine you’re a hiring manager. It’s 7:30 on a Monday morning, and an important position needs to be filled in your company’s legal department. Over the weekend, 200 resumes came in from eager applicants all wanting to fill this one job. Most of the resumes are attractively formatted and use the appropriate font type. So far so good. But on closer inspection, most of the candidates have relegated their willingness to relocate for the position -- a core qualification -- to the very end of their two-page resumes. More than a few have buried accomplishments within the text, figuring this will force the hiring manager to search for that data, which means the entire resume will have to be read. Some have placed bar admission, another important qualification, dead last on the resume, believing that where they can practice law certainly isn’t as important as the fact that they are attorneys. And a few misguided souls simply list company names and dates of employment, assuming that the hiring manager should know without asking what legal duties they performed at these firms.
It’s enough to drive a hiring manager to distraction -- or another career.
But then, at last, there are those few resumes that list the important data at the top of the first page. In less than five seconds the hiring manager knows that the first candidate is willing to relocate and assume the cost of those expenses, if required. This candidate also provides a special section beneath the Qualifications Summary that indicates where she is licensed to practice law. The second candidate does the same, while also pulling out Career Accomplishments and placing them at the top of the first page. After all, why keep a 100% win rate at trial a secret, or the fact that one can practice before the state’s Supreme Court?
Given the above scenario, it’s clear which applicants will be called in for an interview. No hiring manager will read every single resume that comes across his desk. Nor will a hiring manager search for data. In today’s tight job market it’s up to the candidate to prioritize data so that a hiring manager knows at a glance what the job seeker has to offer the company in terms of achievement, work experience, education, licensing, certifications, and special concessions, such as relocation.
STEP THREE: Qualification Summary & Skill Set
Picture yourself at the market after a long day at the office. You’re in a rush, of course, and want only to purchase those items on your list, if they’re on sale. Hurrying into the store, you glance around for the weekly advertising piece that indicates which items will be offered at a discount. Trouble is, there’s no advertising piece this week, and no one to answer your questions. If you want to purchase the items you most need at a discount, you’re forced to walk up and down each and every aisle until you find what’s available.
Doesn’t sound like much fun or an effective use of time, does it? And yet this is the same type of frustration hiring managers are exposed to every time an applicant sends in a resume that fails to open with a well-written Qualifications Summary and/or Skill Set.
What is a Qualifications Summary?
It’s a brief paragraph that showcases your most effective skills and experience as they pertain to your job search. More importantly, it’s your chance to convince a hiring manager of the skills you can bring to the position. This is essential, given that hiring managers generally afford no more than 10 seconds to an applicant’s resume, unless they’re compelled to read further.
So, how do you compel them to keep reading?
Let’s use this example: You’re an accountant who has worked at XYZ Company for nine years and been promoted every time you’ve come up for review. Because of your organizational efforts, the company is saving $2500 monthly. You’ve passed the CPA exam. You’re skilled in Profit & Loss (P&L), audits, taxation matters, and internal controls. Now, you want a Controller position.
Rather than including all of the aforementioned data in the body of the resume, where the hiring manager would be forced to look for it, but won’t (remember, you’ll be given 10 seconds before the hiring manager moves on), the wise candidate would write something like this:
Results-oriented, detailed professional with comprehensive accounting experience. Background includes consistent promotions to positions of increased responsibility. Skilled in P&L, audits, taxation, internal controls, and streamlining procedures, effecting a monthly savings of $2500 at XYZ Company. Recently passed the CPA exam; currently seeking a Controller position.
In five lines and a mere 45 words, you’ve given specific examples of what you can do (P&L, audits, taxation, internal controls), quantified an accomplishment (streamlining procedures, effecting a monthly savings of $2500 at XYZ Company), indicated past performance (consistent promotions to positions of increased responsibility), provided data on certification (recently passed the CPA exam), and provided your career path (currently seeking a Controller position). And you’ve done all of that in a well-written paragraph that’s interesting and easy to read. (Note that personal pronouns are not used here. In business writing, which includes resumes, personal pronouns such as I, me, or my are never used).
Fine, you say, but what about an Objective? Where does that go?
In the modern resume, an objective statement is no longer used. The reason for this follows.
Qualifications Summary vs. the Objective
In the outmoded Objective, the candidate told the hiring manager what he wanted, whether that was a job at the company, room for advancement, a chance to use a new college degree, or any other reason an applicant could think of and the hiring manager could dismiss as self-serving. On the other hand, the Qualifications Summary proactively declares what the candidate can do for the targeted company, which places the hiring manager’s needs first. A wise applicant always uses a Qualifications Summary, either by itself or combined with a Skill Set.
What is a Skill Set?
Generally speaking, it's a list of your core competencies as they relate to your targeted career goal. Again, let’s take the example of the accountant who has just passed the CPA exam and now wants to be a controller. Rather than presenting all of that data in the qualifications summary, a portion of it would be showcased as a tag line (professional title or title of job you’re targeting) and skill set, and might look something like this (followed by a reworked qualifications summary paragraph):
Results-oriented, detailed professional with comprehensive accounting experience. Background includes consistent promotions to positions of increased responsibility for notable achievements, including $2500 in monthly savings at XYZ Company by streamlining procedures.
This time, the first two lines, which contain just 15 words, present core strengths quickly and effortlessly.
STEP FOUR: Accomplishments and Special Skills
Accomplishments
There is no data on your resume more important than your accomplishments. Why?
Think of it this way: you’re a hiring manager with one position to fill and 10 qualified candidates clamoring for the position. Each candidate has the same basic educational and professional background. So, who gets the job?
The candidate who contributed the most at past positions. Accomplishments are all that separate you from other equally qualified candidates, with one caveat. Your accomplishments must be quantified.
What is an Accomplishment?
1.
Increasing the company’s bottom line (i.e. facilitating its growth)
2.
Streamlining procedures
3.
Promotions
4.
Special projects successfully completed
5.
Decreasing costs
6.
Company- or industry-sponsored awards
7.
Certifications and licensure
What is not an Accomplishment?
1.
Daily responsibilities that are included in your job description
2.
Regular attendance at work
3.
Getting along with co-workers
4.
Working full-time while going to college at night
5.
Volunteer or community service unless it has a direct bearing on your job search
In other words, an accomplishment is service that goes beyond your usual job description. But for an accomplishment to have the most effect, it must be quantified.
What is a Quantified Accomplishment?
One that includes dollar figures, percentages, and time periods.
For example: Our accountant has streamlined procedures, realizing a $2500 monthly savings for his company. The dollar figure quantifies the accomplishment, while the “streamlined procedures” explains how he did it. Now, if he achieved those savings within three months of hire, that would further strengthen his accomplishments, and it might be written thusly:
*
Achieved a $2500 monthly savings for XYZ Company within three months of hire by streamlining procedures.
Imagine the hiring manager’s reaction to the above as opposed to this entry:
*
Streamlined procedures for XYZ Company.
Doesn’t say much, does it?
Special Skills
Special Skills should always be presented up-front so that a hiring manager knows what you can do. In some instances, a special section (i.e. Computer Skills, Languages, Office Procedures, etc.) should be created to showcase these special skills.
Special skills will include:
1.
Computer proficiencies
2. Office procedures (i.e. answering multi-lined phone systems, taking dictation (include speed), transcription, typing (include speed), 10-key, etc.)
3. Linguistic capabilities (i.e. fluency in a foreign language, ability to translate, etc.)
4. Any skill that’s industry-specific for the job you’re seeking
Here are a few examples of resumes with outstanding accomplishments and skills showcased effectively for hiring managers:
IT Professionals – Project Manager
Chief Marketing Officer
Executives – Supply Chain Director
STEP FIVE: Professional Experience
In the Professional Experience section you will list your employers, job titles, and dates of employment in a reverse-chronological order; that is, your most recent job comes first, followed by your next most recent job, and so on. This format is standard and is expected by all hiring managers and admissions directors.
With regard to employment dates:
Generally speaking, hiring managers prefer years of employment, rather than months and years (i.e. 1999 - 2003 as opposed to May 1999 - April 2003). However, some college admissions programs want specifics when it comes to dates, so it’s best to use precise dates when applying to graduate school.
In the Professional Experience section you will also include daily tasks and responsibilities beneath the appropriate employer listing. If you’ve included a Career Accomplishments section in your resume, you should not repeat that data here. Once data is presented in a resume, it must not be repeated.
To ensure that your daily tasks are presented in an interesting and easy-to-read manner, you should do the following:
1.
Use a bulleted format. This breaks up large blocks of text that could prove daunting to a hiring manager.
2.
Delete unnecessary articles and adjectives. Your sentences should be short and snappy.
3.
Begin each sentence with an action verb. This quickens the pace of your writing and makes the text more enjoyable to read. For a comprehensive choice of action verbs, please use this link: Power Verb List.
An example of a bulleted format, pared down writing, and sentences beginning with power verbs follows: (Again, we use our accountant)
Verb tense:
*
For those jobs where you are still currently employed, write your job duties in the present tense.
*
For those jobs in the past, write the responsibilities you held in the past tense.
Additionally, Professional Experience can be captured and showcased in three formats:
1.
Functional
2.
Chronological
3.
Combination
In the functional format, you are stressing what you know over where you gained your experience. This works for those who have strong skills, but a weak employment record.
In the chronological format, you are providing a work history dating back from the present. This is the most common format and is generally preferred by hiring managers.
In the combination format, you are stressing what you know in one section, while also providing work history dating back from the present in another. This is a highly popular modern format.
STEP SIX: Education and Training
Education:
Data provided in this section should be prioritized (and included) according to:
1. Your current career level (entry-level as opposed to professional)
2. The purpose of your resume
3. The country in which your resume will be distributed
Your current career level:
If you’re an entry-level candidate with little or no professional experience, your education should be presented immediately after the Qualifications Summary and/or skills area. The reasoning for this is that education is currently your most marketable asset. Here, you would include:
* GPA (if 3.5 or above)
* Awards/scholarships
* Dean’s list
* Coursework relevant to job search
If you’re a professional with five or more years of experience, Education should be listed last on your resume. GPAs, awards or scholarships, and mention of dean’s lists are not generally provided in a professional or executive resume, except for those used for entrance into graduate school programs.
The purpose of your resume:
Resumes sent to admissions directors for graduate school can list Education before Professional Experience or after, depending upon these factors:
* If the applicant has just recently completed his bachelor’s degree, it should be listed before Professional Experience.
* If the applicant has real-world experience related to the graduate degree she is seeking, the Professional Experience should be listed first.
The country in which your resume will be distributed:
If you are distributing your resume within the US, high school education is not included. The only exception to this rule would be if you’re applying for a job with the federal government. In that case, you would include high school data.
When distributing a resume outside the US, then high school education is included.
Training:
Include all specialized training that is transferable to your new job target. If you have not attended college, include all specialized training in your target field. Hiring managers generally prefer to see some post-secondary education.
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