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.
