Career and Job Search Advice

Recently I read a comment by a hiring manager that struck me as odd. He said that when reviewing resumes, he was looking for the details embedded within and wasn’t concerned about the style or format. Perhaps I’m geared toward a quick scan and visual absorption of information whereas; he may be inclined to generate an impression after studying the details closely. My point is this - regardless of what information you have on your resume, if it takes a hiring manager more than a few seconds to scan it and recognize what they are looking for, you may find yourself out of the running.

It is important to have an effective resume, but what does this mean? A resume alone will not get you the job that you are seeking however, if written properly, it will be your ticket to the interview. Several common guidelines to follow include:

1. Replace the objective with a summary: Many resumes contain an objective so broad that it’s ambiguous at best. For example “Seeking a management position where my skills and experience will add value to an organization.” My preference is see a brief professional summary at the beginning of the resume that encompasses your skills and career achievements as they relate to the position you are seeking.
2.  State your accomplishments in addition to your skills: Avoid using language on your job descriptions that could easily describe any person in your chosen field. Your resume should be impactful, concise and unique to you. Bullet point your responsibilities and more importantly, your accomplishments. You should use them in combination so that your audience is not only aware of your daily responsibilities but also aware of how you added value to your employer.
3.  Keep it short: Your resume should be no longer than one page and two pages at most. If necessary, refer to only your last 10 years experience. Please understand that the most important information should be found in the top one-third of the resume. Remember - less is more. Your resume should peak interest, but not answer all questions.
4. Do not include personal information other than contact information: In the past, it may have been customary and expected to list information regarding hobbies and personal interests however, my opinion is - omit it. If the interviewer doesn’t have a personal connection to your interests, it serves no purpose. It is important to ensure you have listed your current contact information, including email so that you may be easily contacted for an interview.

These guidelines are just the basics when reviewing your resume. If you are sending resumes and not booking interviews, you need to make some revisions. Your resume is your ticket to an interview and an interview is the first step to a JOB OFFER!