How many versions of your resume do you have? How much have you spent for them over the years? Feel like you got a good deal and your interviews are smokin’?
Well, not me…I have 6-8 versions, I’ve spent hundreds and another seventy-five bucks this year and still not one interview. What gives? You’d think that I’d be able to strike once, right? My last formal interview was in 2001, not that I’ve needed to worry until now, but geez…
So here’s what I did: You know that EDD workshop I mentioned I attended? Well, one of the benefits of completion is you get to have your resume “scrubbed” for free…mostly by people who are having difficulty themselves. How does this work? I sweat for a week taking workshops ad nauseam and I get to look forward to having my resume butchered by butchers?!
I got lucky…last week I was late to the meeting and got stuck in the room already in progress with tables of folks holding up resumes on butcher blocks. I really didn’t want to be there as I figured what more could be done with the most expensive two pages of white paper in the land – my resume? Well, it just so happened that one of the heads of the group, Paul, was also late as I sat down with some others whose opinions I respect. We sat around waiting our turn; then Paul, smiling down at me as I sat rather sheepishly and protective of my wares, sat down next to me – I guess I was the next turkey for carving. Paul is also our resident HR guru. When was the last time you wanted to spend quality time with one of those? Talking in front of a group as I’ve seen him do so many times, he comes across slightly headstrong like some movie studio Suit who just told their star producer to take a hike and then to later read that same person made a mint with another studio on a project the former wouldn’t buy. But Paul was by far more personable, approachable and helpful with a smaller gathering. Paul actually made me think as he questioned why I had certain things on my resume structured the way I did. Almost everyone at the table said it was very professional looking; at least I got that, which begs the question, “What did I pay for all those years?” The Quick Answer: A professional looking resume, but the content didn’t hit the nail on the head…I paid for just a good hammer. It looked threatening, but it didn’t bark back at anyone.
Here’s the trick which I thought I had mastered for the most part: Everything and I mean all of it, on your resume must tell the reader what the results were to what you did. Look at your skills-set; what started as problems to the employer, what actions you treated them with to resolve them, and what results did you gain by doing all of this for which you can take credit. Your resume must have a value-added summary at the top followed by accomplishments directly after – in my earlier versions I called those my qualifications profile…too wordy and not “in” any more. Companies want to know immediately what accomplishments you have by looking at your stuff. Don’t lie, but phrase your lines in a way that will positively show people what your results were on the job; what good came of what you did on your watch. It’s brutal, but Paul gave me plenty of hints and pointers and others followed up in kind, almost verbatim.
So here’s my simple suggestion: Find a friend you know and trust; a person who will give it to you straight and won’t just pass you off. Do you have anybody in your network that is a small business owner that hires? Are you engaged in job-support groups or professional societies that will assist you at no charge? Try to find these individuals who can take your resume and help you the way Paul helped me; this was the first time I got a freebee and possibly the one resume that will make the difference. Make sure to use Arial 11-point (looks real slick!), minimize the bolding, italicizing, bullet effects and the like – scanners will throw them out. Use whatever default system your software has organizing information. This is not time for fancy; it’s not about looks on paper – save the looks part for the interview, it’s about what your resume says and means.
What all this goes to show is if it ain’t working for you, keep looking around for something better and different until it does work. Keep pushing, poking and prodding people until you find the one who will listen and help. Granted, it’s not easy, but look…if enough people know who you are, and if enough people know you are open to suggestions and willing to learn, eventually you will get into the hands of the right person. You know when your resume will be perfect? When you get hired! So keep at it until you do!
As Always, Thanks For Surfing My Wave!
TheUnemployMENTOR – email@theunemploymentor.com
Why Just Look For A Job…Create One!™
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I also believe a great cover-letter goes a long way. When I was working in the HR department for a company we would receive awful introductions as coverletters and anything professional. So master the art of cover letters. I would open the email up and some would even come across as “stand-offish” I have to say those ended up in the trash bin.
I am currently looking and willing to just get back into the work field again. So I wish everyone goodluck.
Hi There!
Thank you for your comment! I have actually been told with today’s economy, HR wants to cut to the chase–the resume; they no longer have time to read cover letters and many will not open them. Maybe instead of attaching them, put a short note in the body of your email with the attached resume and hopefully that will work. But like you perfectly stated, if you write something that HR does not like or sees as unprofessional or disconnecting with the position, your resume won’t even get read and you’ve just shot yourself in the foot. So, yes…if you are sending cover letters, brush up on them!
Warmest Wishes–and Good Luck To You!
TheUnemployMENTOR