Time to Update the Ol' Resume

Excellent question!  Just like your iPod, your resume gets updated too. Version 1995 won't get you noticed in today's competitive market. 

Out with the Objective, In with the Professional Summary.  A Career Objective used to be placed at the top of a resume, but it has definitely been replaced by a Summary because hiring managers used the Objective to weed-out applicants.

Your Professional (or Executive) Summary is a persuasive, branded, four-to-five line synopses which, if crafted well, grabs the reader's attention and entices them to read on.

Use this section to sell your key capabilities and unique experience, with an emphasis on results. It's very important to align your strengths with the key competencies required for the job.

Here is an example of my summary, using a headline.

Masterfully Building Profitable Careers and Businesses

An entrepreneurial business leader with extensive experience in Human Resources. Driven to increase organizational profitability by hiring and developing an engaged and productive workforce. Successful in achieving results in a wide variety of fast-paced, dynamic environments including manufacturing, non-profit, and service, as well as in global businesses with multiple field locations (US, Europe and Asia).

Accentuate Accomplishments. Too many people focus on job activities or responsibilities on their resume. A hiring manager expects applicants to be able to perform the duties.

What really grabs her attention are the metrically-based accomplishments you list using bullet points. Notice the difference between activities and accomplishments:

Examples of activities:

1. Led teams to complete a wide variety of IT projects.

2. Implemented FI module of SAP.

Examples of accomplishments:

1. Decreased average resolution time from six days to less than 18 minutes in 60 days.

2.  Increased data backup success rate from less than 70% to 99.97%, saving approximately $85K/year.

The more you say, the less people remember. Did you know that even as you painstakingly craft your resume, the average hiring manager actually skims it and makes the decision to call you or not within 30 seconds?

Your resume should be two pages – no more.  If you haven't impressed the reader on the first page, you certainly won't on the third page.

"Be Cooler by Design." When you submit your resume online, you are competing with hundreds of other people for a job. In addition to great content, a great design and format are imperative.

The trick is to take some risks with the design, but not get too crazy. Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters by Levinson and Perry presents some very interesting formats.

Invest in Your Success. Consider hiring a local experienced resume writer to help with branding, design and writing accomplishments. If you land just one day sooner, your investment will pay-off.

Good luck with your resume and your search!

If you've got a question for me to answer post it on the Lake Zurich Patch website or send them to me at AskCoachChristy@gmail.com. Of course, you'll have to subscribe, but subscriptions are free.

See you next week,

Christy, your neighbor and career coach