Tag Archives: resume

Apr20

What should I put on my resume?

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What should I put on my resume?

I am often asked – what are hiring managers looking for on a resume?

There is not a generic answer to this question, and it tells me that the questioner is trying to create a “One size fits all” resume.  Nearly every resume you send out will need to be tweaked for the position you are applying to – PERIOD.  Which is not to say that you shouldn’t have a master resume with everything on it, so you can customize it more easily when you are submitting it for a position.

In this day and age, before you send your resume to a company for consideration – you should do some homework.  What you are looking for in your research is the answer to the question you have posed to me – with a more specific focus – what are THESE hiring managers looking for?

And if you are into nuances, what have these hiring managers expressed to their HR or recruiting professionals about what they are looking for?

If you are responding to an ad, make sure that any and all key words in the ad are in your resume (if you have those skills and experience).  Don’t assume that the experience will be inferred, because not everyone who is screening the resumes will recognize that if you did a certain kind of job, you most likely have X skill or experience.  Your best bet is to make sure it is a match.

If you have the opportunity to speak to someone on the phone or in person prior to submitting your resume, ask about the skills, experience and/or training that is being looked for or is in the job description (notice I didn’t say the job posting – they are not always the same).

Ask about the hiring manager.  How long have they been a manager there?  How many other people have they hired? How high is the turnover?

What kind of team is currently in place?  What is the character of the team or department - serious with loads of education/certifications,; strongly team oriented; mostly a loosely assembled group of individual contributors (to name a few styles)?

Customize and edit your resume accordingly.

Some things that I personally do not like to see on a resume (and remember it is different for each and every hiring manager):

  1. I don’t want to see what you did in High School unless you are still in college applying for an intern position or unless it is so unique that you can be googled as some sort of record-breaker or had your 15 minutes of fame with the activity.
  2. I don’t need to see all the part-time and temporary jobs you held, unless they are germane to the position I am looking to fill.
  3. I don’t want your personal references – they are your friends, and by definition think highly of you. They rarely will be able to tell me how your experience makes you the right person for my job.
  4. And last, but not  least, I do not need to see the minutia of your daily activities in your resume.  High level please, believe me, I will drill down if I am interested.

Hope this helps you in figuring out what you should put on your resume – the short answer is: Tailor it for each position you are applying to.

 

 

Feb6

The Devil is in the Details

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The Devil is in the Details

Potential clients and potential employers are inundated with resumes.  Before you add yours to the fray, run down this checklist and make sure you have taken care of the details:

1.  Don’t forget a cover letter.  Make it short and sweet.  Tell them why you are submitting your resume, a summary of why you think you are a match for their position and what you would like to get back from them (Phone call? Appointment? Interview?)  If they have asked for salary information – make sure you have added it.  If you know you are not what they are looking for right now, ask them for a time frame to check back with them for openings.

2. Spellcheck AND grammar check AND have someone who writes well double-check your resume.  Some of the mistakes people have left on their resumes are the stuff of urban legends – check and double-check.  That goes for the cover letter, too.

3. Ditch “Objective”  and “References”- they take up real estate on your resume and don’t offer any value.  Everyone assumes that your objective is to get a job.  If you say too much there, you may talk the reader out of looking further.  And “References”, if the employer wants them, will be asked for, no need to share contact information up front.  Plus, anyone who has agreed to be your reference will undoubtedly have nice things to say.  Most high level jobs will call your references, AND call your previous employers to see what might get volunteered.  Your best reference is to try to always leave or complete assignments on good terms.

4.  KEY WORDS – if the position or assignment has specific requirements such as “MS Project ” or “Quickbooks” then make sure that those words are present in your resume! If they are not, the person(s) screening the resume will not assume that you have those requisites, they will move on to a resume that has them stated.  And remember, sometimes it is not a person, but a software application that does the screening…if the key word is not there, the resume doesn’t make it through the screening – period.

5.  Depending on the conservative level of your potential employer or client – and this is a judgement call based on your research about them – you may wish to leave off employment that is not germane to the position you are applying for.  Some companies only want to see what applies to their industry, and do not care about your previous careers in other fields…and some understand that skills can be transferred across industries (some of them anyway) and will appreciate seeing them.  Think hard about it before you go one way or the other.

Does it sound like you must have multiple versions of your resume?  The answer is YES.

Plus you should have one “Master Resume”with your entire work history on it to use as reference when you are asked to complete an application – which many companies still require even after they have viewed your resume.  The application should be complete with your work history, as often it is used for background checking.

Good luck and Happy Monday!

Jan5

Unemployed or underemployed

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Unemployed or underemployed

I am talking to nearly everyone I know when I use these terms: unemployed or underemployed.  The workplace has changed, the effect is heart wrenching in some cases – and what we all have to remember is that while we all have stories of how it was in the past, we need to focus on now.  Things I know from being on both sides of the job search (looking for work, and as a recruiter):

1.  A resume is not just an introduction to a potential employer, it is a screening tool.   More often it is used to rule out a candidate rather than a flag that says “here is the perfect candidate – hire him/her now”.  This is why you will see the more savvy experienced applicant leaving off some of his/her experience unless it is specifically germane to the job at hand, so that the employer will not screen them out for age or “over”qualification.

2. Knowing someone personally or having a reference that is personally known to the potential employer is helpful.  If you are one of those folks who believes that jobs are awarded by merit, and not by a few other various and sundry criteria, then you need to go find a good therapist because you probably are still hung up on how unfair life is….yes, I know that sounds harsh but reality is that humans are looking for humans that they feel good about to hire, whether that is because of trust in a third party’s opinion, or the fact that you go to the same church, or went to the same college or know the same golfing buddies – all people are looking for someone they can relate to as well as if you can do the job.  Obviously this can be distressing if you are a rocket scientist and you know that there are few rocket scientists with your credentials, but I assure you that unless you are the ONLY one with your credentials and they meet perfectly what the employer is looking for,  you will need at least one more item in your favor.

3. I know that in many cases of desperation, we are all willing to take ANY job.  The great frustration about this is that employers are not always willing to hire us for a position they think we will get bored in, or is less than our previous salary….it is an awful position to be in, and I have been in it.  This is where we all have to be creative, and know when to walk away and find something else to apply for, which is often one of the hardest things to do.  I am going to be 55 this year… I don’t feel old, but I know some employers see me that way because at my age – benefits are more expensive, the potential for illness and time off are more probable, and younger employees and clients may have difficulty relating to me and I to them.  The point here is to not fixate on the jobs you cannot get, but to continue to search for ones you can get, or to find ways to be entrepreneurial and either work or sell for yourself.

I fully believe that the next big thing will be cottage industries – especially with the trend to buy locally to alleviate dependence on oil, help conserve resources, and to be greener.  People who find ways to help others be green, upcycle old items, organize recycling where it really makes sense – those are the folks who will help re-establish small businesses and therefore create jobs.

Good luck out there.  If you are self-employed because of unemployment or underemployment – drop me a note and share your experience. We all learn from each other.  Thanks!

Jul15

Things that make you go “DUH”

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Things that make you go “DUH”

I recently read a series of articles on things NOT to put in your resume. In this day and age it merits restating that there are some things that are just not going to aid you in getting a job. For example, if you are older than 24 and have worked in a real full time job, including your experience at fast food restaurants and baby sitting while in high school is not helping you.
Sounds obvious? Believe me, it isn’t. Remember that common sense is not really all that common. I have seen resumes for technical positions that included in the body of the experience that the person spent a year as a Boy Scout Troop Leader. While admirable, and perhaps appropriate in an area of interests, listing it as part of the experience for a position not related to the Boy Scouts is not helping your cause.
Most people forget that the resume is not only your marketing tool, letting the potential hiring entity know what great experience and qualifications you have – BUT IT IS ALSO a tool that the same entities use to SCREEN PEOPLE OUT of the running for a job.
Before you send in your resume, take a look at it from a “stranger’s perspective” and see if there are items listed that would be reasons to say NO to you.

Jul6

Job Search Tips

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Job Search Tips

My friend Liz described leaving a bad job for uncertainty while looking for a new position, as “Changing Deckchairs on the Titanic” – an apt analogy in these frightful economic times. Of course, there are ways to minimize the risk when working to get a job… and I will go through some of the various strategies and tactics here.

First, remember that getting a job, whether you have one already or not, is work in and of itself. Plan your time. You will want to approach this in a structured and organized manner.

Keep track of the time and materials you spend on job searching. This will allow you to make a good determination of the value of others services in this area… in other words, if it takes you three hours to review jobs against your qualifications to make a choice of which ones to send your resume to, and you can get a recruiter or sourcer to do that for you – you have economized your time.

Get some practice in talking about your qualifications - even if it is just in front of a mirror. Remember to make note of special accomplishments that you may want to mention to a recruiter or hiring manager. Make a list of the companies you are interested in working for, and a list of people you know who already work there (or know someone who does). Your most likely entrance to a company will be through networking. Practice saying to people that you meet “Hi I am (your name); I do (your profession) and I am currently looking for a job – would you happen to know of something that is opening up?”.

Don’t be afraid to call the HR department of companies you are interested in and asking if they have any openings…most likely they will direct you to their web pages, and ask you to apply online. Get the name of the person you spoke with on the phone, and send them a note of thanks for “helping” you, after you submit your resume on line.

Check the job boards on line, and the unemployment job boards and the newspaper. Remember that if a job sounds familiar, it could be the same position. Keep track of where you have submitted your resume, so that if a recruiter asks you if you have been submitted you can tell them. Many companies will not consider you if you have already been submitted by someone else, or if you applied directly. Because in those cases, the Hiring Company will not pay the recruiter, so understand that they are doing their job when asking you if you have been submitted before.

If you get an interview with a hiring manager through a recruiter – ALWAYS get the full name of the person interviewing you and if possible their email address. ALWAYS send a thank you note to the person who interviewed you, and if you want the job, say so. Send a thank you email to the recruiter who arranged it. And communicate with the recruiter… don’t just say “it went well” – give details, what kind of questions were asked, how you answered…and again if you want the job, tell the recruiter “I think they like me, and I want this job”.

Don’t just send your resume without a cover letter. Cover letters are your “special commercial” to tell them where you heard about the position and why you think you are the right person for the job. And if they are looking for specific skills, make sure that you reflect those in your resume. And yes, that means you may have to have several iterations of your resume, each one focused on specific skills you have that match a job description.

And don’t say you can do something that you can’t – with technology today, it is very simple to check on your background and to get references that are not on your resume!

Jun23

Looking for work

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Looking for work

Several friends and acquaintances are looking for work at the moment.  And because I have staffing experience and hiring manager experience, they have been asking me for advice.  There are all the standard bits of advice that everyone in the industry (and out of it) gives; but I was surprised that some folks are unaware of a few tidbits that I will share here:

  1. Google your name before you send out your resume and really check out what comes up!  You may discover that there are many folks with your name out there – be aware of who they are and what they do – so you are not caught unawares if a Recruiter asks you about a subject that seems to be a non sequitor, chances are they are trying to figure out if you are that (insert your name) who skydived in a youtube video or not… You will be surprised at how much “surface” level research is done through googling, and how many folks are mistaken for someone else.  At least if you have looked already, and if the Recruiter or Hiring Manager says “tell me about your skydiving video” you can chuckle and explain that it isn’t you, but someone else with your name.  This is good, because you demonstrate you are aware of your web presence and that you are comfortable with the fact that someone tried to check on you.
  2. If you have a Facebook or Myspace page, edit your comments and pictures before sending out your resume. I know, I know, that is your “personal” space, but believe me – Recruiters and Hiring Managers will go and look to see what they can find out about you (and if anyone they know, knows you).  Rather than having to explain something that is iffy or unprofessional or just embarassing – remove it.
  3. Update your Linkedin page and if you don’t have one, set one up.  Many HR folks will check a resume against the Linkedin.com profile and if there are mismatches, or questionable items – use it to screen the resume out.  Likewise, some HR departments will screen a resume out that doesn’t have a Linkedin.com account – dependent upon your career area.  If you are in Technology, Sales, or Management – you should have a Linkedin.com profile.  And it should be up to date.
  4. The absolutely best way to get a job is through a referral from someone you know, who knows someone in the Company you are trying to get a job in.  This requires work – and let’s face it – finding a job is a job all by itself.  The job seeker should be actively researching where they are most likely to find a job that matches their skills and/or career goals, and networking to see who they know who can get them through all the standard resume filtering that happens.

I hope this was helpful to you if you are looking for work.  Let me know – leave a comment!