Before we get into the resume framework, let's take a look at the meaningful message that must be sustained throughout the process.
Purpose: the purpose of a resume is to introduce your capabilities to a potential hiring manager or networking acquaintance. Your goal is to make them want to know more about you. By sharing the highlights of your knowledge, skills, and experiences as they relate to the position you are interested in, you start the exploration of how you fit and what expertise you can bring to their organization.
Therefore, please be aware that unless all the openings you are responding to are for exactly the same responsibilities, within the same industry, within companies with the same type of culture, one resume will not be appropriate. You need to get comfortable adjusting your resume so it speaks exactly to what each employer is looking for.
Remember, in the market today there is a lot of competition. Your resume has to make it easy for the person reading it to quickly assess where you fit and how you can add value. Today it’s likely that your resume may be initially read by a computer. Make sure you are using the language and keywords they are looking for. Make it easy for them to get excited about what you have to offer. Make them pick up the phone and call you!
Getting Started
Objective or not?
There seems to be a debate these days among career coaches and resume developers about whether it is appropriate to include an Objective Statement at the beginning of the resume. I happen to be in the camp that supports offering some direction to the reader about the talents you are most interested in offering. People are very busy. Your resume may only be viewed for 10-20 seconds before a decision is made, up or down on your being a match. Don't add the task of having to read your entire resume to see where you would fit to serve the company; give them a place to start.
On the other hand, I do believe that it is not appropriate to list a particular job title, especially since you don't want to be excluded from other positions you are qualified for - unless, of course, you are only interested in one job. Instead, I think it is appropriate to include a sentence that highlights your interest and those primary competencies you can offer to help the organization achieve their goals and objectives.
Example: Over 16 years experience guiding organizational improvements utilizing organization development expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, project management, and meeting design and facilitation.
Qualification Summary
This may be the only section of your resume that gets read, so make it dance! This section is most often set up in a two- or three-column table. The table contains bulleted "keywords" that quickly illustrate the relevant competencies and characteristics you bring to the job. This is also the area where you will want to highlight key technical skills and primary functional areas you have knowledge in. The bullets should be brief, often just one or two word descriptors. Naturally you will also use applicable keywords used in the jobs posting that match your experience.
This section will determine the information you will include in the rest of the resume. The remainder of the document should offer strong examples to support how these competencies were applied in past positions, along with the quantifiable results you achieved.
Experience - Reverse Chronological Order
Some of our competitors prepare "functional" resumes rather than reverse chronological. You want to avoid functional resumes unless of course you are working with a headhunter or a recruiter who will be supplying the hiring manager with additional information about your background.
Functional resumes are fast and easy to construct; however, they are very difficult for the hiring manager to sort through. Information is not provided in a logical manner to allow a map of your career to be drawn. These resumes require a lot of work on the part of the employer, so they often end up in the trash. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see sharp, concise reverse chronological resumes. These start with the last job and work back to the first job you held, or at least your career over the last 15-20 years.
Headline each position you've held by providing the following information, in bold: name of company, city, state, and the years (no months) in which you worked for this firm. A job title that is understood by individuals outside of a particular firm or industry should also be noted. NEVER lie about anything on your resume, but if your title was Chief Number Cruncher, it's perfectly alright to indicate your title as Accounting Specialist, or Accountant, whatever is the most recognized equivalent title to the outside world.
Next, the experience information shared for each job title held while at each company should be begin with a statement such as, "Responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting operations for a national IT consulting firm with revenues of $10 million per year."
Now that you stated the overarching responsibility that you held, the following 8-10 bullets should highlight the primary functions you performed and the results achieved in each area. This is also the section where you would note awards. Each bullet should begin with an action word, such as achieved, coordinated, managed, analyzed, etc. Follow this formula for each bullet: responsible for = quantifiable result.
An example would be: Supervised and managed a team of six Accounting Specialists consistently recognized by management for their high levels of productivity and employee engagement.
As you detail job experiences after the most current job, you will begin to have fewer bullets. It's very important that each bullet is never a repeat of a task or function you have already detailed. Make each bullet a new fact about your background and experience. Make sure you include results that speak to improving elements of the organization such as results and processes, saving money, managing organizational change, and building teams. These are all points that are very important to potential employers. If you have global experience or can speak another language, highlight that as well.
Education
I often have clients ask me if they should include their high school information. The answer is, it depends. It depends on whether you have a college degree to list (if yes, than no to high school). Or perhaps you have college coursework that you can note. Everyone will assume if you took college courses, even if you didn't graduate, that you completed high school. Depending on the number of years you've been out of high school, it isn't necessary to note the date. You will complete that information when you complete the application.
Don't forget to also list all the training classes and workshops that are applicable to the type of position you are applying for. Also include certifications, licenses, etc.
What Not to Include in Your Resume
Be careful about putting too much personal information into the heading of the resume, especially if you are posting on a board where you don't know who will have access to it. Take all precautionary steps to protect against identity theft. Be mindful of the information you have included in your resume and where you post it, as well as the comments and information shared on Facebook and LinkedIn. Thieves are very clever about pulling all the pieces together from various sources.
Don't take up space noting that references are available upon request. We all know that you will supply references prior to getting hired, so be ready with that information when you are called for an interview.
Your resume should not be longer than two pages, with margins of at least an inch, and a font no smaller than 10 pt.; 11 is preferred. The process will take a few iterations, so be patient. Get all your information down, and then start editing. Have someone else read through what you've developed and give you suggestions. It's hard to write a resume alone; that's why so many people use resume writers and coaches. It's a challenging process to get to the right level of detail, but you can do it. Please check out some free examples on my website that may be helpful to you and check out the links on the right side of this blog for additional resources.
A solid resume is critical to your job search and career development plan. Take the time to think through how you want to brand yourself and the skills you have to offer. If the industry you have come out of is struggling, examine the skills and talents you have to offer and reframe those experiences for a different industry or line of work. Help the reader see how your skills transfer regardless of industry.
Have a Reflective Journey
The process of searching for a job is a journey. Although it can be frustrating at times, be open to learning more about your skills and passions and how you identify and articulate who you are. The reflections you make during the process will help align you with the right position, prepare you for the interview, and help you be more authentic in the new job. Best of luck with your resume process and job search journey.
Do you have specific questions related to the job search process? Visit my Dear Jobseeker page for answers.
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