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Is your resume merely a self-serving autobiography or does it present a solution to your readers’ problems?

These are questions asked by Phil Rosenberg of “reCareered” sometime back, the answers are however probably even more pertinent in today’s business climate. I receive many resumes on my free resume form page and I am astounded by the lack of understanding that most resume writers have about the purpose of their resume and how a resume needs to be presented.

Phil’s main points:

FACT: ‘IF your resume gets seen by human eyes (97% get pre-screened by a database search), you have an average 15 seconds to capture the reader’s attention.’

So how do you grab your reader’s attention? Write about what is important to them. [You need to read the advertisement and match what you offer to what the ad and employer are seeking!]

FACT: “Most resumes don’t address an employers’ problems? Most are written for the job seekers own pride or ego.” [My own research unfortunately bears this out, even when the advice on my free blank resume form specifically states what bad practice it is.]

Phil then asks: “Do you think it matters much to your audience what you are most proud of? Will your reader care enough to read your resume in detail to get an idea of who you are and what you can do? Or does your audience care more about rapid solutions to their problems?”

If you want even half a chance at getting an interview you will need to heed Phil’s advice.

So: WRITE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE – the hiring manager.

What’s important to hiring managers? Hiring “people who can solve their problems without much ramp-up time or training.”

The full original article is at:

http://www.recareered.blogspot.com/2008/02/your-resumes-audience-cheers-or-silence.html

ONE MORE TIME “Please for your own sake remember if you ‘write your resume to solve an employer’s problems you’re likely to get interviews. Discuss how you can an solve employer’s problems in an interview, and you may even receive a job offer’

ps from Yahoo hotjobs: (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles)

What to leave off your resume:

The Unquantifiable Accomplishment

e.g. “I am the most talented employee my company has ever had.”

The Not-So-Notable Accomplishment

e.g. “I get along with coworkers.”

Offbeat Accomplishment are also a waste of space:

e.g. “Set record for eating 45 eggs in two minutes.”

“Make sure any accomplishments you place on your resume will impress a potential employer. Your ability to do average work or fulfill the most basic requirements of a job does not warrant special mention.”

Ric (orglearn) **Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

While you’re here and this post is fresh in your mind take a look at the free blank resume form and perhaps start to build yourself a better resume!

When seeking employment your image and particularly the first impression you make is vitally important. I have written in the past about cover letters and resumes and how to enhance your chances of getting an interview.

One issue that seems to be overlooked by many is their email address. Now for personal correspondence your email address, or the style of your email address, is probably relatively immaterial. This is not the case I suggest for those seeking employment. Strange or frivolous email addresses can leave the recruiter wondering about the seriousness  or maturity of the owners. On this website there is a free blank resume form with the option to send the document to me for backup and I receive between eight to fifteen resumes a day. Here are some of the email address examples (slightly changed to protect the owners) to give you some examples.

sillyoneme, igotitall, bigboy, godwoman, thedawg, footballfan, clumbsy

As I say the names have been slightly changed to protect the innocent (guilty) however they were all listed as contact addresses on resumes. Can I suggest that if you are seriously seeking employment for something other than a comedian you take a look at your email address and if it is not appropriate set up one that is.

I mean would you consider hiring into your serious business someone known as “iwantmoney@….”

A NY Times story by Julie Weed

‘Alan Kennedy… did what many job seekers are now advised to do: he set up profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn.’

‘Mr. Kennedy’s former co-worker used a software tool to search the profile information of his Facebook friends and LinkedIn contacts. He flagged Mr. Kennedy as a possible match to a job listing. Mr. Kennedy, responded to the invitation, scheduled an interview and within a week, was working as a support engineer there. “I landed a job I might never have even heard of otherwise,” he said.’

Read the full New York Times article:

NY Times Article

So can I suggest… its now time to write your resume, ( use the blank resume form )and join Facebook & Linkedin

Resume Tip A – Avoid Hirer’s “Peeves”

Can I suggest you read “Top 30 Executive Resume Pet Peeves of Hiring Decision-Makers” - by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. before you use the free blank resume form at orglearn!

Some of the peeves are:

1. Resume has spelling errors, typos and grammatical flaws.

2. Resume is too long.

3. Resume is too wordy, contains too much information.

4. Resume is written in third-person.

5. Resume does not list phone number, only an e-mail address, or has inappropriate e-mail address.

6. Resume contains the personal pronoun “I.”

….and more, well worth a read…

Link:

http://www.quintcareers.com/executive_resume_pet-peeves.html

Remember you can go here for the free resume form

Resume tip B – Dumb Interview Questions – Funny or Sad

Well the whole idea of writing a great resume is to get an interview. So when you do get one don’t mess it up!

On first read of this article I thought it was funny… then I realized it was a bit sad.

“You know enough to bring a list of questions to a job interview. When the interviewer asks you, “So, do you have any questions for me?” the last thing? You want to say is “No.” however that could be the best option if you’re at a loss for words, because some interview questions are better left unasked.”

Here are 10 highly unsuitable interview questions that should never make an appearance, unless you don’t want the job:”… the rest of the article and the list is here

The free blank resume form is sponsored by orglearn

ps from my last post “resume, resumé or “résumé” it is most correctly “résumé” Spell it as you wish however you really need to do it. Update now, use the…

free blank resume (résumé or resumé) form, fill in the blank

…sections by editing/personalizing the sample statements.

When times are tough your resume must be perfect! Visit the Free blank resume form page!

You may wish to visit

Management Articles & Free Resume Template Resume Examples

As well as the resume template the rest of the site has articles on what we as managers need to do & the issues to consider in the soft skills area of our role. Tips on behaviour, motivation, selling skills, competence development, teamwork, communication, negotiation, value adding & leadership.

Resume tip A: Resume Screeners Comments on What They Look For

A) In screening the resume the points which I ‘take care of’ particularly would be:

1) Education qualification required for the job

2)Relevant experience [I assume in line with ad specs]

3) Job stability – for me which is very important criteria

4) Location [particularly if there is no relocation package offered]

B) While screening resume, I look for three things – education, experience and age. In my view if these three parameters match with the requirement, you have a relevant candidate and you may go ahead and read the rest of resume for more details.

C) Structure and Relevence

1. The professional structure of the resume for the same reason that the candidate is not physically present and as such a resume is a proxy for him. The better the presentation the easier it is for me to have a glimpse into the candidate’s professionalism.

2. Secondly I would seek for an alignment between the job profile, the special and general skill set that is required for the best performance of the job offered.

3. The personal qualities of the candidate i.e. his enthusiasm and willing to go extra mile. Therein the “value-clarification” on the part of the candidate is something that will attract my attention. The more we are value-driven to do something the more we achieve in life.

And a current (2nd qtr 09) concern…

D] “Unfortunately, the primary force that rules many employment decisions is the *fear of making a hiring mistake *.  In these tough economic times, that’s why so few in the hiring arena take a chance on somebody.  They believe if they don’t get everything right about a hire, then it’ll be their jobs on the line come next layoff.”

Ric-orglearn for a free blank resume, sample resume, resume template, resume form to fill in online with positive statement examples!

Resumes tip B: “Six Ways to Ruin Your Resume”

Article – Greg Schaffer, Computerworld

“…and less than half have made the cut. Although I rejected some candidates because of their lack of experience (or, rather, their lack of demonstrated required experience), others had errors in their application packages that lowered their ranking — errors that could have been easily corrected.”

The rest is at the link below and…

It is a resume writers “MUST READ” —>

www.cio.com/article/print/489104  <–

Ric orglearn cover letter resume form, free blank resume

Resume Tip A – The Best Keywords

Many companies use digital databases to search for potential employees. This means that their HR department will conduct searches based on specific keywords. Therefore if your resume doesn’t have the keywords associated to the position description of the job you are applying for, you will be cut from their list of possible applicants even before the ‘real’ selection process begins.

So how do you ensure the correct keywords are in your resume? The best way is to survey advertisements for similar positions across a number of companies. If you currently hold a similar position you may also find a number of these words (usually nouns) in your own job description. This research will reveal a fairly standard set of keywords that relate to the position sought from an employer’s point of view.

Here are some extracts from real ads for salespeople from all over the world.

Ad 1

We are looking to enhance our team with a dynamic, results driven, business to business salesperson. Display advertising sales experience is crucial, along with a positive work ethic and motivation to succeed. This role would best suit someone who has developed strong new business development skills.

Ad 2

What We Look For: Self-starter with strong work ethic who can work independently. Warm interpersonal and with sound communication skills and a strong motivation to succeed!

Ad 3

Experienced Direct Salesperson required to generate new business in the mobile phone industry. To sell contracts business to business. Experience preferred in this industry but not essential. We are looking for a self motivated, hard working, hungry individual who wants the best in life.

Ad 4

The ideal candidate will have sales experience of some kind, and can demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for selling ads. A genuine enthusiasm for (and understanding of) our mission and content is absolutely necessary. The Ad Salesperson must have an excellent phone manner and strong communication skills, must be able to work on deadline, and must be able to handle multiple tasks in an organized manner. Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, File-maker Pro) is a must.

Give yourself the best chance to at least get onto an interview shortlist… search your keywords and phrases!

Once you have the words can try the free blank resume – fill in the blanks and build your resume using the interactive online resume form at www.orglearn.org 

Resume Tip B – Have Someone Review Your Resume

Excerpt from a Questcareer article:

Ann Hackett?- “15 Tips for Writing Winning Resumes”

“14.Have someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on this input.”

Great article and worth a read:

http://www.questcareer.com/tips.htm

Remember we are often blind to our own errors of judgment or how we are actually are ‘seen by others’, so a frank and honest review of what we have written my hurt… however it may help… a lot!

Remember to check out the interactive online free blank resume form at www.orglearn.org

an excellent article by Robert Half International

“…if you hope to land a new position, you must stand out from the crowd”

1. “I’m professional.”

“be careful with the type of language you use. Remember that your application materials are business documents”

2. “I’m a go-getter.”

“unless you’re specifically asked not to, follow up with an employer if you haven’t heard back after sending in your résumé”

3. “I’m an expert.”

“Employers want to hire people who can hit the ground running. That’s why you need to demonstrate your expertise from the beginning. Three great methods for doing so are enhancing your online reputation, joining a professional association and earning a certification.”

4. “I can save your company money.”

“companies are looking for ways to reduce costs. If you’ve implemented successful cost-cutting measures for previous employers, describe how you did so in your résumé”

5. “I can fill your need.”

“if you are qualified but don’t use the employer’s terminology, your résumé may never be seen.

The full article is here: 5 things to tell hiring managers

orglearn free blank resume form

Resumes – Cover Letter ‘Rules’ Part “A”

Your cover letter should be specifically written and targeted at the position you seek rather than just come across as your cover letter type ‘form letter’.

Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and why you would like to work for them – a disguised compliment perhaps… and everyone likes a compliment.

Effective cover letters also identify your relevant competencies (skills and knowledge when applied to specific tasks) supported by relevant proof statements (based on past job roles, achievements and responsibilities).

If you have been referred to a company by a mutual contact (ensure your contact is in good standing and with your potential employer) and use their name in your letter. (e.g. Fred Jones recommended I contact you regarding the position of xyz)

Your letter must include an explanation of how/where you learned of the position you are applying for and you must ensure you have the correct title of the position and/or any relevant reference number if included in their advertisement.

Free blank resume form at www.orglearn.org

Resumes – Cover Letter ‘Rules’ Part “B”

When responding to an employer’s advertisement refer specifically to the qualifications they are looking for and highlight the two ‘most important’ attributes you have to satisfy their requirements. (The resume should cover the rest)

Always focus on what the employer wants rather than what you desire. (Yes I know its basic however resumes I read still emphasize what the applicant wants rather than what a potential employer needs).

Research the organization you are applying to and make a statement that supports what you have read… perhaps quote their vision or some article that talks about their goals and then explain what you have to give that will help them.

Refer the reader back to your resume e.g. ‘You will see from my resume that I have had extensive managerial experience’
Demonstrate how your competencies and qualifications are transferable and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Sign all letters with “sincerely” not “best regards” or “yours truly/faithfully” or any other variation

Try the free blank resume at www.orglearn.org

Some advice from a government site “GovLoop”:

use the free blank resume form at orglearn

Resume Part A – Don’t Boast or be Self-Centered

As you can see from the links listed on this blog I have a website with a free blank resume template. Many individuals send me their resume, I store it so, as recently happened, when they lose it I can on request send it back to the distressed resume writer.

To digress for a moment:

The thing about selling and buying is that many (all) of us will seek a third party opinion before buying anything. Just stand in the women’s department of a major store and see how many people ask the sales assistant, a friend or even a passer by “what do you think does this suit me” and you will see what I mean. Yes, men do it as well!

So back to your resume:

Here are a few statements from the last few I have received:

I am hard working and fast learning – unsubstantiated claim and boastful

I do the best that I can – poor attempt at a boast verging on an excuse for past failings

I am able to troubleshoot and repair – hmm almost a boast

I am driven to pursue my ambitions and goals through relentless effort and experience [with] companies that will help me achieve my dreams – no one would want employ this person, he/she give the impression they are just in it for themselves

I [Mary1] have great customer service skills – same comment as the first example above

In a previous post I suggested you write without using personal pronouns as by doing this you give the impression of a to avoid a resume that is full of boasts and/or self centered statements.

Lets take the last one and fix it for Mary Sales results testify to (2) great customer skills… see it sounds more credible already.

Add a proof statement and wow…

or…

(3) Excellent customer skills are reflected in the customer survey sheets received.

or…

Positive staff appraisals comment as to (4) great customer skills.

You tell me, if you where culling sales rep resumes, which Mary would you choose to call in for an interview?

Oh no… while writing this I just received another one that started with… “I am a well qualified individual”… urrgh

Resume part B – Express What You Know and Who You Know

Obviously your resume needs to highlight your breadth of knowledge (in relation to the job being advertised). Too much depth can become boring; you can give expanded information if requested at the interview stage. Just as importantly you need to show who you know. If you have reported to, or worked in project teams with senior executives such as a “vice president”, “director” or “department manager” list it in your resume.

Having worked with to someone considered ‘important’ could help to convince the reader to determine that you are also ‘important’.

Remember what I said above about boasting, so don’t go on and on about your ‘important’ connections however don’t ignore them and leave them out of your resume either. You can use the free blank resume to begin the resume writing process.