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Sooner or later, most of us will look for a job; the majority of us will use a resume in our job search. But in all likelihood, a resume that worked in the past won't work at all today.
The rise of the Internet and online job postings, the often-glutted job market resulting from massive layoffs, and the overwhelming amount of information - from instant messages, e-mail, telephone calls, television, radio, blogs, and the Web - means that people have less time then ever to read and absorb information.
If you're a job seeker, it's especially critical to recognize this. Your resume must grab the reader's attention within the first 10 or 15 seconds or risk be tossed aside. The job search has become like a Hollywood casting call, where many, many applicants show up, but only a few get asked to interview.
Fortunately, there are techniques that can help your resume get noticed - and help you get that all-important interview.
WHAT'S YOUR BRAND?
The easiest way to understand current resume writing principles is to look at basic marketing theory. Good advertising copy doesn't actually focus on the product - it focuses on the buyer's needs and how the product meets those needs.
It's the same with resumes. The best ones don't focus on the applicant as much as they focus on how the applicant is a fit for the job in question. Gone are the days of the "Career Objective" heading and the painfully inward-looking paragraph that begins, "I'm looking for a position that will let me use my many talents."
Get it? It's not about you - it's about others, specifically the hiring managers. What problems do they need to solve? What keeps them awake at night? What do they value in an employee?
Because most resumes are not screened initially by the person who will eventually do the hiring, it's a good idea to make it abundantly clear up front what position or area you're targeting. Don't force anyone to guess what it is you want to do with your career. If you're an IT Project Manager, say so. If you're a Senior Marketing Executive, say that. If you're applying for a particular position that has a slightly unusual title, use that title on your resume.
Target your resume toward the specific jobs that interest you. Personal computers and word processing packages have made it easy to create as many resume versions as you like. It's what smart job seekers do.
WHAT'S YOUR VALUE?
It goes by many different names - branding, value, or mission statement, elevator pitch, billboard message, and so on. Whatever it's called, the meaning is the same: it's an answer one all-important question. As author Jay Block says in 101 Best Resumes To Sell Yourself, the best resumes: "... sell job candidates and set them apart from the competition. Why? Because they deliver effective messages that answer the question, 'Why should I hire you?' and they do it with power and punch!"
For instance, as a writer, my value statement might be, "I communicate with clarity and impact." A property manager might say, "I deliver maximum return on investment to property owners by increasing tenant satisfaction."
You get the idea. By showcasing your value and targeting your resume, you'll have a much better chance of hooking the reader.
WHAT ELSE TO INCLUDE?
So where do you start if you're not going to use a career objective? And where do you go from there? Here are a few suggestions:
Summarize and Highlight
Most professional resume writers find it effective to use a short summary statement at the top of the resume. Many of us also like to add a competency section. Competencies can cover a wide area. They can be management, customer, or skill related.
They can also be technical, as is often the case in information technology resumes. Most IT managers want to see hardware and software familiarity, as well as industry certifications, on the first page. If that's the expectation, be sure it's there.
Don't Waste Your Bullets
When it comes to work experience, try to avoid the job description trap. You should give a brief description of each job. What you should not do is list those job duties as bullet points.
Save the attention-getting bullets (remember the 10 to 15 second rule, coupled with the fact that those who do keep reading are often skimming) for accomplishments. What did you do that saved money? Salvaged a customer relationship? Improved productivity? Generated new business? The more you can use action verbs and quantify your achievements, the better.
So What?
That's the question you should ask yourself about any accomplishment you list. What did it mean to the company? To customers? To colleagues? To the bottom line? That's what potential employers really want to know. That and whether or not you could do the same thing for them.
How Far Back Is Too Far?
If you've been working for a while, it's safe to include 10 or 15 years of work history. And it's fine to list earlier jobs as "Additional Relevant Experience" as long as you don't give any dates. Age discrimination does exist.
How Important Is Education?
Very, if this is your first job after graduation. In that case, put the education information near the top, to explain the lack of professional experience. Once you've been in the workforce for a few years, put the education section near the bottom. Of course, if you're a graduate of a very prestigious school, such as Harvard or Yale, feel free to ignore this advice.
Does Presentation Matter?
In a word, "yes." If your resume is difficult to read, you put yourself at a significant disadvantage. Keep these points in mind:
*If you're not comfortable writing your own resume, hire a professional. Your accomplishments won't mean much if no one can understand what you're saying. Your resume should be clear, concise, and to the extent possible, devoid of jargon. It should also be easy on the eye. Yes, some people do get hired with resumes set in nine-point type and half-inch margins, but when that happens, it's in spite of the resume, not because of it.
*You should save something for the interview. No matter how fascinating you and your spouse think you are, try to limit your resume to two pages. If you're a CEO with merger and acquisition experience, you can go a page or two longer.
IT consulting firms are an obvious exception to the two-page rule. They're notorious for including every position, application, piece of hardware, and software package that their employees have ever used. Resumes that exceed 12 pages are not uncommon. Don't follow their example.
*There's lots of debate as to whether cover letters are necessary and no real consensus among hiring managers as to whether they're read. Most professional resume writers will encourage you to use a cover letter. It's one more opportunity to market yourself, so why not take advantage of it? If you do use one, keep it short and to the point.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
If all goes well, an interview should be the next step, so prepare yourself. Find out as much as you can about the company beforehand. Take notes during the interview and be sure to write a thank-you note to each person you speak with. That's not only another marketing opportunity, it's also a chance to reinforce the positives and counter any negative issues that surfaced during the interview.
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