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Many résumés highlight the wrong information
By Amy Lindgren
Knight Ridder Newspapers
It seems like everyone has a circuitous career path these days.
In fact, the person who advances in a continuous line from one job to
another in the same industry and with increasing responsibility is
becoming rare, indeed.
Unfortunately, résumé formats have not caught up to this reality.
Although most résumé professionals know better than to simply list
jobs in a chronological fashion, professionals don't prepare most
résumés.
They're prepared by job seekers using online formats or software
programs or books, many of which repeat résumé styles from decades
past.
The result is a dated document that highlights exactly the wrong
information, such as the short tenure at some jobs or a variety of
seemingly unrelated positions.
To make sure your résumé works well for you, follow these basic steps.
• Identify your target job or industry.
A person with 10 years in retail sales will highlight different skills
when applying for a fashion merchandising position than when applying
for an insurance sales position.
In the first situation, the résumé would emphasize knowledge of
clothing and display techniques and experience working with vendors,
customers and retail-store management.
In the second situation, the résumé would focus on selling ability,
customer-service strengths and product-related knowledge gained from
classes or certification.
• Pull the most important (i.e., relevant) information to the top.
If this retail salesperson has targeted insurance sales and has
recently completed a course on that subject, that class should be near
the top of the résumé.
Likewise, a two-year stint as secretary to an insurance agent belongs
near the top, even if it happened 15 years ago.
• Emphasize relevant skills rather than job descriptions.
Besides product knowledge, this retail salesperson understands several
sales techniques, knows how to train and supervise junior staff, can
operate electronic cash and inventory systems, can resolve
customer-service complaints, and create or maintain displays.
The skills that most closely relate to the work being sought belong in
the top third of the résumé where the prospective employer — or an
electronic résumé scanner — can find them quickly.
The job descriptions themselves can be relegated to the bottom of the
page, because employers care more about what you can do for them than
about what you did for someone else.
• Don't be a slave to format.
Decide which information will be most important to your targeted
employer or industry and figure out a way to get it in the top third
of the page.
You can use a summary statement, a list of accomplishments, a skills
list, or even a category that bluntly says, "Experience Related to
Insurance Sales."
Whatever it takes, get that information to the top.
Ready for a test case?
Following is an excerpt from a letter from a reader.
See if you can sketch out a résumé for him.
"After 2-1/2 years working for a major bank, I resigned to take a post
as food service and grocery manager for a major nonprofit food pantry.
"This didn't work out and I resigned after only four months. I was
fortunate enough to be hired back at the same bank where I'd worked
before.
"I have 13-plus years' experience in the restaurant and food service
industry, and the sort of work for which I'd be looking would be in
that industry.
"My résumé would be going to chefs and kitchen managers and
food-service organizations' HR people.
"Should I even mention that four-month stint at the food pantry? If
so, how should I handle my brief return to the bank?
"Thank you, Mike B."
How did you do? Here's my approach to this résumé, based on the four
rules noted above.
• Job or industry.
Food service/restaurant.
• Most relevant information.
13-1/2 years experience in the field.
• Most relevant skills.
Food preparation, ordering and inventory management, kitchen
supervision, vendor management and knowledge of health codes.
• Suggested format.
Start with an "Objective" clearly stating type of work desired.
Follow with an "Experience Profile" which notes the 13-1/2 years of
experience and the type of work settings.
Go next to a "Skills" section to identify specific skills and
knowledge areas.
Then on to a section called "Food Preparation Experience" which gives
the actual jobs and their duties (including the four-month job).
The next section is "Related Training" which provides information on
food-preparation courses.
The last section is "Other Experience and Training," where the banking
job and any other school programs are listed. Give the correct dates
for the banking job, but don't highlight them.
Now try this method on your own résumé.
If you haven't been getting a good response rate, it might be time for
a rewrite.
The Seattle Times.
Courtesy:
Google News
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