Questions
& Answers
regarding
Resume Writing
What resume format should I use?
Resumes come in a variety of formats, including reverse
chronological, functional/skills, combination and CVs. The best resume format varies from
job seeker to job seeker:
A functional or skills resume
highlights your functional skills and abilities instead of a chronological work history.
Many hiring managers report being suspicious of this format, because functional resumes
are often used by people trying to hide some aspect of their work histories. Since hiring
managers do not prefer this format, use a functional resume with caution. Job seekers with
little or no work history, spotty employment records and/or career changers might benefit
from using a functional or skills resume.
One of the most effective formats is
the combination resume, which leads with a strong summary section (highlighting functional
areas of expertise and accomplishments) and follows with a reverse chronological work
history. This format allows job seekers to place their most marketable skills and
experience at the forefront of the resume.
People in medical,
academic and scientific professions primarily use a CV (or curriculum vitae). Typical
headings of a CV include education/degrees, internships, professional experience, awards
and honors, publications (books, articles, reports, journals), speaking engagements,
conferences and professional affiliations.
How can I make my resume stand out from the pack?
The majority of resumes focus on job duties and responsibilities. To demonstrate your work
ethic and value to a potential employer, emphasize your accomplishments. But don't just
list what you have accomplished -- describe the circumstances, including special problems
or challenges you faced, your specific actions, and outcomes of your performance. How did
your employers benefit from your efforts? The hiring manager should be saying, "Wow,
if this person did this much for XYZ company, imagine what he or she can do for me!"
Here's an accomplishment-oriented bullet for a transportation manager:
Within seven years, reversed monthly losses of $50,000 to a monthly surplus of
$140,000 by restructuring labor force, reducing daily overtime from 15% to 6%, and
creating a cross-dock operation.
How much time does my resume have to convince the
hiring manager to contact me for an interview?
Your resume needs to make an impact within the first 15 to 30
seconds, or you may be headed for the circular file. Here are some tips to make sure the
initial impression is a lasting one:
Make the design and layout as inviting as
possible, so that the hiring authority feels compelled to read it. Try not to squeeze text
to closely or use a tiny font size that can be difficult to read. Use white space to set
off and emphasize the important points, and make it easy for someone to visually scan your
resume for information.
Do I need an objective?
A resume should always have a focus, whether it is in the form of an objective, tagline,
or statement about your background. New grads without a work history and career changers
usually need a formal objective statement. However, job seekers on a steady career path
can bypass the objective statement and showcase who they are in the summary section.
Example: "Innovative product manager with a track record of developing strategies
that enhance insurance product sales, penetrate new markets, and facilitate cross
selling."
I
have several different job targets. Can I write a one-size-fits-all resume?
Keep in mind that a resume is a marketing tool, and you will be better served by preparing
more than one version of your resume. By developing targeted resumes, you increase the
likelihood of getting noticed by a hiring manager who is searching to fill a particular
opening.
I've been promoted --
how do I show this on my resume?
Describe your more recent/impressive positions and list each one separately, showing that
you've moved up (or around) in the company.
Example:
ABC COMPANY, 1992 to present
Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY
District Manager (Brooklyn, NY) - 1998 to present
Store Manager (San Diego, CA) - 1995 to 1998
Assistant Store Manager (Newark, NJ) - 1992 to 1995
Then describe your highest position ("Promoted to district manager to...."). Or,
you can include descriptions and accomplishments below each position.
How do I handle the
fact that my company has gone through a name change as a result of a merger or
acquisition?
Several options:
ABC COMPANY (formerly DEF Company)
ABC COMPANY (acquired by DEF Company in 1995)
ABC COMPANY (merged with DEF Company in 1995)
What
about listing hobbies and interests?
Don't
include hobbies on a resume unless the activity is somehow relevant to your job objective,
or clearly reveals a characteristic that supports your job objective. For example, a hobby
of Sky Diving (adventure, courage) might seem relevant to some job objectives (Security
Guard?) but not to others.
What
if I don't quite have your degree or credentials yet?
You can
say something like:
How
far back should you go in your Work History?
About 10 or 15 years is usually enough - unless
your ideal work experience is from farther back.
What if
your current position is superior to the position your seeking, or vise versa?
You should never mislead a potential employer. Companies often run background
checks on candidates and so it's important that a resume be 100% accurate. You may want to
explain your situation in a coverletter or during an interview.
What
if there are gaps in my work experience?
Tell
what you WERE doing, as gracefully as possible--rather than leave a gap. If you were doing
anything valuable (even if unpaid) during those so-called "gaps" you could just
insert THAT into the work-history section of your resume to fill the hole. Another option is to enter the year without the
months. In other words, enter the year and
not month/year.
What
should the resume content be about?
It's
not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished
--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next.
A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.
What's the fastest way to improve a resume?
Replace
"responsibilities" with accomplishments. State examples.
What is
the most common resume mistake made by job hunters?
Leaving
out their Job Objective! If you don't show a sense of direction, employers won't be
interested. Having a clearly stated goal doesn't have to confine you if it's stated well.
Is it
a good idea to put an OBJECTIVE at the top of a resume or should I leave it off? Shouldn't
it be obvious from the resume what I want to do?
Absolutely, YES, you MUST put an objective at the top of a resume. Never leave it
off. Why? Because otherwise you are forcing the reader to spend time figuring it
out, and they are ONLY going to take about 30 seconds max to decide whether they even WANT
to READ the resume, let alone figure out what your objective is. And NO, it is NOT obvious
from the resume what you want to do. If you don't state your objective, all the reader can
do is ASSUME that you want to continue to do precisely what you did in the past.
Should
I have SUMMARY statements at the beginning of my resume? What should I write and how can
it help?
YES a Summary is a terrific idea. This sets the stage for the reader (employer) to get a
clear picture of you, and to get INTERESTED in reading the rest of the resume. A Summary
(or "Profile" or "Summary of Qualifications") can establish TWO very
critical points: 1) that you are ELIGIBLE and 2) that you are a DESIRABLE CANDIDATE.
And those are two of the most critical points of interest to the SCREENER and READER of
your resume. THOSE TWO POINTS are what keep your resume in the "yes" pile, and
OUT of the "maybe" or "no" pile. And here's what to put in that
Summary to establish those two critical points: FIRST (top line, of about
5 or 6 lines, SINGLE lines!) The AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE you have in that field. SECOND, Any credentials or
training in that field or RELEVANT EXPERIENCE to that field. For example, "MBA, with
an emphasis in International Business Development" or "Certificate of Completion
in Computer Applications". THIRD, Some achievement or
accomplishment that will be impressive; FOURTH, A reference to your
strongest SKILLS relevant to that field. FIFTH, something about you
that's more uniquely personal, that indicates you'd be a great person on their TEAM (OR
some other skill or accomplishment). "Dynamic leader and team-builder, effective in
motivating others to excellence."
I
want to work in a NEW FIELD in which I have a lot of interest but not much experience.
What can I do as a career changer to write a resume so I won't be immediately excluded?
You
have to THINK DIFFERENTLY about resumes. You have to view your resume as a PROMOTIONAL
PIECE for the career of your FUTURE -- not an obituary about the career of your PAST. Take
full advantage of your ENTHUSIASM. You have a lot of interest in this new field, and you
would do well to connect with your future employer at the level of that ENTHUSIASM. So
keep THAT image in mind as you construct a resume that is not about your PAST, but about a
vision of your FUTURE. It should DEMYSTIFY this career choice by indicating WHERE THAT
INTEREST CAME FROM and HOW it was nurtured---how that spark of interest was kept alive
despite the necessity to make a living, in some career that was a less-than-perfect match
for you. Then do your homework and then find a likely employer to share your Vision with.
Every
resume book talks about using "ACTION VERBS." Aren't employers sick of looking
at the same words? Haven't they lost their punch by now?
There has to be
some real SUBSTANCE there and an engaging story behind it. There has to be some evidence
of a real PERSONALITY behind the words, an intelligent individual who has taken a real
INTEREST in the company they're applying to. There needs to be evidence that the
job-seeker has AT LEAST MINIMALLY familiarized themselves with that company's agenda and
has come up with some thoughtful ideas about what they could do to CONTRIBUTE to that
agenda. Then the "action verbs" dissolve and the ACTION emerges. (For more
information pertaining to action words please click here.)
Do
you have to list WHY YOU LEFT a job on a resume, or is it enough to just put the dates? I
was TERMINATED, and would rather explain it in the interview than on a resume.
You
certainly do not EVER have to say anything on your resume except what YOU want to put
there. It is your personal MARKETING document, the place where you shine. Of course it is
to your benefit to make yourself look as QUALIFIED and as HIRABLE as possible (all within
the realm of HONESTY, of course.) So you do your best to meet the employer's need for
specific job-related information. But do NOT volunteer any negative information about
yourself on a resume! As for WHY you left a job, that is data asked on an APPLICATION, and
has NO place on a resume. And even on the Application, you can legitimately reply,
"Will discuss in the interview" or "Prefer to discuss in the
interview."
Is
it more important to talk about what you have DONE on your resumes, or your SPECIFIC
SKILLS and what you could DO? What do employers want?
Employers want to
know, first of all, WHY you are contacting them, WHAT you are asking of them, and WHAT you
are proposing to be available to DO for them. This is otherwise known as being straight
and clear about your Job Objective. Assuming that agenda is of interest to them, they THEN
would want EVIDENCE that you can DO what you propose to do, and do it WELL. Just listing a
bunch of skills and SAYING you are good at them doesn't cut it. You need to describe in
detail---not necessarily at LENGTH, just in a SPECIFIC way---some projects where you used
those skills, including some reference to the VALUE that project had for your past
employer (this is the part a lot of people leave out!) A TIP for doing this well: as you
describe your activity, "tweak" it (put a spin on it) that makes it LOOK a lot
like it would look if you were doing it at THEIR company with THEIR products or services.
I
have read that CHRONOLOGICAL resumes are the ones best received by employers. Do you
agree? What do employers most want to see?
I AGREE
that employers prefer to see CHRONOLOGICAL resumes. The CHARM and VALUE of chronological
resumes is their CLARITY. You can see exactly WHERE things happened, and you have this
lovely sequence of events that is a pretty clear picture of what a person's work-life HAS
BEEN like. And that's VALUABLE information. Most employers WANT TO SEE that. They want to
see it for good reason: they view it as a PREDICTOR of what can be expected, in the
future, of that individual. Well that's FINE if you happen to LIKE the way your work-life
has gone so far, and you'd like to continue doing more-or-less the same thing in the
coming years. But it's NOT fine if you're UNHAPPY with your career, and it's NOT fine if
you've been UNDER-EMPLOYED for a long time, and it's NOT fine if you're ready for a CAREER
CHANGE. It's also NOT fine if you're very TALENTED in a field in which you have not a
shred of CREDENTIALS. This is where THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME comes in handy. But be SURE to
make it LOOK LIKE the old familiar, comfortable, reliable CHRONOLOGICAL resume that
everybody loves and trusts." MODIFIED Chronological Resume, which work for lots of
people who WANT to make significant changes in the career path. The TRICK to the MODIFIED
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME is to take advantage of its FAMILIARITY and its comforting illusion
of STRUCTURE. But then to CHANGE the space that USED to be filled with b-o-r-i-n-g job
descriptions, and instead fill that space up with fascinating images of creative and
interesting and useful ACCOMPLISHMENTS --- all focusing on SKILLS and TALENTS the job
hunter ENJOYED using and wants to use in the future.
Is it
a good idea to submit resumes to companies that I know SCAN them, or should I try and find
a way to get my resume RIGHT TO A PERSON'S DESK instead of a computer?
I think you should
do BOTH, with a lot more emphasis on the latter than the former. But the desk you want
your resume to get to is NOT the Personnel Dept. desk! That's where the computer is, and
the scanner---and also the shredder! The desk you want your resume to get to belongs to
the Hiring Manager, the gal or guy with the AUTHORITY to tell Personnel to sign you up.
You need to invest a HEFTY chunk of your job-search energy tracking down and promoting
yourself to THAT specific person in the company of your choice.
What
are the rules on RESUME PAPER? Should it always be beige, or can you be more creative, and
try to stand out with something different, and maybe a different font?
My personal rule on
resume paper is that it should be INVISIBLE. That is, it should be so APPROPRIATE that it
isn't even noticed. Use plain white or light beige paper of an adequate but not
ostentatious weight (unless you're looking for an ostentatious-type position!) Let
the CONTENT of your resume be SO ENGAGING that the paper is superfluous--so good that you
could write it on a GROCERY BAG and still get an interview.
I
have heard that you do not need to include the line "REFERENCES Furnished Upon
Request" at the end of your resume; in fact, you should include a page with
references without waiting for the company to ask for them. Do you agree?
I suggest NOT
attaching a list of references but DO have a list immediately ready and available, for
when it is requested. And I rarely put "references available on request" at the
bottom of a resume, it's a given. For more information pertaining to References
please click here.
Is it
true that hiring officials make the decision about whether they're going to seriously
consider hiring someone within the first few minutes of an interview?
The first five minutes of an interview are basically indelible. And it's very hard to get
rid of a bad first impression. It's very difficult to erase that and start over.
Non-Verbal
Communication
If your body language is apologetic -- if you lack eye contact, you don't extend your hand
right away, you're really hesitant about where to sit, you're basically acting like you're
taking up someone's time -- that will immediately set the tone that you don't have a whole
lot to offer.
Being overly aggressive -- claiming too much space, having the volume of your voice too
loud, not being able to sort of mirror and match what the environment is -- will also
certainly work against you. So there's a balance that you have to strike.
Eye-contact
As a listener, you tend to make a great deal more eye contact. It's more
appropriate as a listener to extend eye contact for longer periods of time. As a speaker,
it ends up being uncomfortable if you go much beyond about five seconds of eye contact.
Because with five seconds of eye contact, you've made that connection. And then you almost
have to break away. Otherwise, it becomes a stare-down. It becomes too intense.
Posture
Beware of arms crossed across the chest. Sometimes it's just a comfortable place to put
your arms. But to an interviewer, it looks closed. It looks like you're being possibly
judgmental or evaluating in a way that isn't appropriate. It basically says, "I'm
really not very interested in continuing this interview."
When someone is very engaged, the natural posture is leaning in. You want to decrease the
space between you and the interviewer. But you don't want to look too eager either. So you
don't want to be on the edge of the seat, hanging on every word. Posture in general should
be straight but not stiff. And you can have your legs crossed comfortably.
Facial
expression
Stay neutral and positive. You need to study yourself in the mirror. And you may think
that you're being neutral. But you look at your face, and it really looks like it's
frowning.
A lot of people come up to us and say, "Smile!" or, "What's wrong with you
today?" And that's because the nonverbal communication is saying something that maybe
you're feeling. You want to create a neutral or positive look. It's neither happy nor sad.
It's just intent and intelligent.
It certainly is appropriate to smile. But you need to decide whether you are going to
smile with or without teeth. Remember, it can look almost smug if you don't show any teeth
and the lips are together.
Handshake
The limp one says "I don't have any character, I'm not comfortable shaking hands, and
I don't understand your culture." The bone crusher says "I'm trying to dominate.
I'm trying to force my ideas. I'm trying to say a lot without using words." If you're
shaking hands with an older person, the bone crusher is so inappropriate because it could
be really painful. And if you're shaking hands with someone who's your equal, it almost
becomes a competitive gesture.
The entire hand should be engaged, web to web, and kind of match the hand pressure of the
other person. There are some people who have firm handshakes and you want to shake back
just as firmly. And some people have weaker handshakes so you want a softer return. It
shouldn't last longer than a "one, two, three." It's accompanied with a smile
and eye contact. My suggestion is you look at someone until you note the color or their
eyes. A handshake starts and ends a meeting. .
Once you actually get the job and you're safely ensconced in the company, can you kind of
let down your guard and stop worrying about all this nonverbal communication stuff?
Financial success and business success is based on the ability to communicate and get
along with people. And communicating and getting along with people has a whole lot to do
with nonverbal communication and understanding how rude behavior cuts off opportunities.
It alienates people.
Do you have an interview question you'd like answered? Please
forward an email to webcentral@nationalexecutivepersonnel.com.
I'll be more then happy to answer your question, or find the
answer for you.
National
Executive Personnel
and Marketing Group, L.C.
12734 Kenwood Lane, Suite 73
Fort Myers, FL 33907-5638
(239) 931-0200 Voice
(239) 931-0204 Fax
Email: search@NationalExecutivePersonnel.com
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