Combine an interview winning resume, a strategic marketing campaign and a powerful interview presentation and you have the ingredients to orchestrate a successful career transition.
by Tina Fisher
Your resume, or personal marketing tool, will empower or disempower you throughout your career advancement campaign. A strategically designed, well-written resume will help you reach several objectives:
According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), human resource professionals say they welcome either one-page or two-page resumes, but 62 percent of them frown on a three-page or longer resume. Clear, concise communication sells. Optimize every opportunity to showcase your communication talents. Here are some of the ways you can enhance your resume, thereby enhancing your employment opportunities:
Not for the weak at heart! This is your first opportunity to separate yourself from the competition. Allude to your technical savvy by providing your home fax number, E-mail address, and the URL address to your Web page resume.
In a targeted mailing, clearly indicate on your resume and cover letter the position you are seeking. Taking the time to personalize each of your mailings will significantly increase your response rate.
Ask not what your employer can do for you, but what you can do for your employer. Deliver your power punch via a three-to-four sentence overview of the strengths you bring to the table.
It's showtime and that means it's no time to be humble. This is the where, when, what, and how section, with heavy emphasis on the "how". Present a truthful reflection and quantification of your accomplishments, contributions, and ability to solve problems. Everybody has a story. If you have not taken the time to identify yours, do not expect the hiring authority to get excited about your candidacy.
Include academic preparation, special certifications, and continued education. Don't forget to include academic honors, college memberships, affiliations, and special contributions. Perhaps your success story here is that you demonstrated your drive, motivation, and commitment by working throughout college to finance your education.
Include or not? Absolutely, if your participation in some way benefits the employer. Golf, for example, might be an interest that you apply in networking or relationship building. Membership in an industry-related organization indicates a passion for your profession and a commitment to keeping abreast of industry knowledge and trends.
Your marketing materials should communicate that you possess a balanced combination of both soft skills and industry specific knowledge. Understand and use relevant industry terminology and buzzwords while avoiding the use of acronyms that the initial reviewer(s) may not fully understand.
There is only one absolute rule to abide by when designing your resume: It must be letter perfect. In the SHRM Survey of Cover Letters and Resumes, 76 percent of the respondents say they would remove an applicant from the pool of possible candidates if they found typos or grammatical errors.
The message is clear: Take the time now to make your resume reflect the professionalism you bring to a job situation. It is the quickest, surest way to make a good and lasting first impression on a prospective employer.
Fisher, owner of CareerComm (formerly eXclusively Resumes), is a Certified Professional Resume Writer in North Royalton.
This article was first published in The Plain Dealer (08.28.00) Career Expo section.