Articles
Resumes - what´s passé
Recruiter´s expectations are constantly changing and if your resume is not getting results it could be due to an outdated image!
Would you be impressed if someone presented at interview in a 1970s suit or with a Beatle's haircut?
It is important to realise that your Resume accurately reflects an estimation of your worth. If your strategy is outdated, you'll miss out on the best career opportunities The following tips will help to ensure your resume projects a modern, professional image .
What's passé
Chronological resume that make it difficult for the reader to quickly reach the most relevant information
Resumes that read like an autobiography - often cramped full of historic, inconsequential information
Gigantic headings comprising only a name and address, monopolise the Resume's space and focus attention on the irrelevant
Self-congratulatory 'personal profiles' with unreal, uncorroborated, grandiose claims that reduce the Resume's credibility in seconds
Objective statements that don't need stating! Your covering letter/email and the job applied for make your aims self-evident
Linguistic terms, catch phrases and clichés all too obviously uplifted from job advertisements
Lists of 'achievements' positioned out of context that make it difficult for the reader to comprehend the point you are trying to make
Repetitive, rambling content. The resume needs to be a quick read. Don't reiterate every task and responsibility you have ever had
Concentrate on results. Outline explicitly, and succinctly what you did, how you did it and the benefit to the organisation.
- Length - for some inexplicable reason two page resumes tend to be recommended. This might not always be appropriate?
Consider the ...
- student who does not have any work experience and a one-page resume would suffice
- consultant obstetrician whose selection panel requires a full list of papers published and conference presentations delivered - this may require a much lengthier document
- headteacher with a lengthy career packed full with initiatives and contributions that made a difference to academic results
- IT Manager whose projects have been in diverse, complex environments requiring a wide range of technical expertise
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While it is definitely Out to produce a longwinded resume - it is also Out to be so brief as to leave people guessing.
With recruitment costs spiralling, employers expect recruiters to probe deeply to find the best candidate at the initial resume screening, NOT at the interview stage
Bewildered? There's no need to be.
What's in vogue . . eye-catching, sleek design
Create an instantly attractive, welcoming resume layout - uncluttered and streamlined by the strategic use of white space and logically positioned text.
Content - commence with your strengths. If your qualifications are strong, recent and relevant then start your resume with those. If your USP is career then begin there.
Prioritise information into clearly defined sub-headings that are right for your career level and guide the reader like signposts. For example, a ...
- Student .. Qualifications - Dissertation - Projects - Work Experience - Voluntary roles - Positions of responsibility - Additional skills - General
- Doctor .. Qualifications - Current appointment - Previous posts - Published papers - Conference presentations - General - References
- Managing Director . Career - organisational background in terms of size and geographical scope - market and industry sector - business turnarounds - culture changes - ROCE - mergers - acquisitions - IIP - cost reductions - Education & Training - General
- Producer . Career - title of films or TV programmes - synopsis of content - length - number of episodes - name of TV channel or film studio
- Sales Manager. Career - products and services promoted - market and industry sectors - accounts won - territories expanded - relationships redeveloped - of new business - targets achieved
To succeed, your resume must communicate clearly, be persuasive and convincing . . .
Communicate - weave into the language your approach, attitude and abilities.
Persuade - convey an impressive picture of your intangible skills - initiative, resourcefulness, determination, persuasiveness and forward-thinking, progressive 'can do' approach
Convince - focus on the recruiter's needs and produce a visually appealing, factually informative resume - well documented with a record of initiative and success. This strategic approach can't help to inspire the recruiter to invite you to in
A Perfect Career specialises in providing expert help with
career planning, writing a esume and interview technique
An article by Helga A Edge MBA
Principal Consultant
www.aperfectcareer.co.uk
