Cover Letters Matter

Here is a re-post of something I wrote that addresses one of my most common questions: Does a cover letter matter? I just checked in with a recent client, Jane, who – at the start of our project – was as anti-cover-letter as anti-cover-letter gets. She was one of the many people out there who believe that a cover letter is a “throw away” item – something that needs to be done but not very mindfully. Early on, I explained to her (as I often do when clients ask) the importance of a cover letter.

First off, always submit a cover letter with your resume unless a company/organization specifically asks for only a resume. An ideal cover letter can take many forms, but it’s main goal will generally be to motivate the reader to take a close look at your resume. Moreover, I typically like to see a cover letter that gives the reader a bit more information – some “context” that will help them to make further sense of the resume. Oftentimes, a cover letter becomes more important once the list of job candidates has been whittled down.  That’s when the “extras” that a cover letter provides can make all of the difference.

Jane let me know that she believes it was ultimately her cover letter that got her a job. Her new employer told her that it expressed a level of interest and sincerity that set her apart from other applicants. Cover letters are still a big part of the job-search routine. Use that fact to your advantage.

How Do I Get My Resume Noticed?

Q. I’ve read several of your posts on creative resume formats. If you don’t suggest colors or graphics, how do I get my resume noticed?

A. While I don’t suggest colors or graphics, I do recommend you employ some strategic formatting. Having said that, the single most effective way to make your resume stand out is to include clear, quantifiable accomplishments. Because they are so rare, there is simply nothing more effective and disruptive than an accomplishment focused resume.

Remember, it's about you but for your audience. You may like color, but they probably won't. Make sense?

Cut The Crop

When LinkedIn updated the look of profiles, they made the profile picture larger and more prominent. So it is even more important that your profile picture show you in the best light possible. Literally. Here are three things to consider when selecting your LinkedIn profile picture:

Don’t crop a group photo – You may think that the photo of you as the best man on your friend's wedding day – the one with several others in the photo – is the best picture of you. But when that picture is you and the shoulder of a friend, it’s going to look silly on your LI profile.

Go as high quality as possible – Pixelated, low-quality photos make terrible profile pictures. You may be striking just the perfect balance of professional and approachable, but if the quality is bad, it doesn’t matter. Always upload the highest quality picture possible.

Avoid the flash shadow – You’ve seen this picture. Someone standing in front of a cubical wall looking like a deer in the headlights with a horrible shadow behind their head. This kind of photo could make a nobel laureate look like an amateur.

In a perfect world, your LI profile picture would have zero relevance. But the fact is that readers will make immediate judgments based solely on your photo, so take it seriously.

Summer Is Coming – Let It Energize You

The other day I was preparing for a speech, and I ran across one of my favorite lists. It's Outside magazine's take on the best places to work. I like this particular list because – year after year – they do a good job of finding unexpected employers that truly value unique individuals who want to be about a lot more than work. As we approach summer, it's a good time to remind you that you're about a lot more than work. What makes great employees remarkable is that they bring all of themselves to the workplace. What makes outstanding employers remarkable, is that they value a diverse workforce where everyone can be themselves.

Are you working in an environment that energizes you? Are you working for an organization that values – really values – you?

If not, put some of the energy that comes with summer into building a better career for yourself. Trust me, it'll make you happier at work and in your life in general.

Need some help getting the best of you down on paper – in the form of a killer resume that will get attention? Get in touch!

Make this summer your summer. The one where you make things happen.

Discrepancies Between LinkedIn and your Resume

The debate as to whether or not one needs both a resume and a LinkedIn profile continues, despite the fact that each serves a distinct and important purpose. But let’s set that discussion aside and simply assume that you have both (as I recommend you do).  I can’t even begin to count how many LinkedIn profiles I see where the information does not match the information on the resume. I’m talking about things like dates and titles.

Here’s the thing. You don’t want the content of your LinkedIn profile and the content of your resume to be exactly the same. You want those two documents to complement each other and work together to create your “brand.” But specific information like job titles and employment dates should match up perfectly.

Why there is ever a discrepancy baffles me. More critically, any discrepancies could raise a red flag in readers' minds. And those red flags could be the difference between an interview or important connection.

If you have both a resume and LinkedIn profile (again, you should), stop what you are doing and compare the two right now. If your dates and job titles don’t match, fix them.

It's All in the Process

Q. I really enjoyed your post on the value of the resume writing process. I am curious as to why you focused on the process and not the value of the resume itself. I mean, it’s the resume that gets you the job.

A. I don’t claim a resume will get you a job. In fact, I maintain that an outstanding resume is a critical, foundational piece of an effective job search and career management strategy.

Let me say that again. A resume alone will not get you a job. If I were to promise otherwise, that would be unethical (because so much of what you do in applying, networking etc. is out of my control).

But a bad resume can – and likely will – keep you from getting a job.

That is why your resume is such a smart investment. Whether helping you land precious interviews or piquing the interest of new clients, an outstanding resume can “pay” for itself many times over.

The additional value is that my individualized approach leaves clients with a clearer grasp of their potential impact, a firm understanding of their accomplishments and a new language for communicating their value in an interview. Add to that bolstered confidence and the previously mentioned benefits and investing in a new resume becomes a “no-brainer.”

Figuring Out Your Next Big Thing

“I need to change careers. What should I do?”

I can’t answer that question. That is heavy lifting that you have to do. But that doesn’t mean I can’t help.

In a recent post on the value of the resume writing process, I wrote about the clarity that a new resume can provide and how that clarity can help you determine your next big thing. However, the frequency with which I get that question made me think that I should probably provide another tip on how to figure out what your next big thing might be.

Believe it or not, your resume may contain clues that can serve as guideposts and help you start answering the “what's next?” questions.

Start by ignoring your titles.

When you love what you do, you tend to do it well. And when you do something well, you tend to excel. So obscure your titles and responsibilities and just look at your achievements. Now ask yourself “why did I do it so well?” That answer is a guidepost as to what energizes you. And whatever you do next should require that you do a lot more of what energizes you. Period. Keep in mind, though, that just because you're good at something, it may not energize you. Be aware of that distinction.

When it comes right down to it, you can’t figure out your next big thing until you figure out you. If you need help, reach out. Sometimes the process of creating a new resume is just the boost you need. And sometimes you need to dig deeper. Either way, I can help.

The Resume Length Cycle

I say it often, but it is always worth repeating: regardless of your level of experience, the goal of a resume is to establish qualifications, pique interest and create some curiosity gaps – those questions that make readers want to learn more via an interview. In almost every case, a page or two is enough to accomplish that goal. That leaves the question of when is one page appropriate and when should you expand your resume to two pages. The answer to that question might surprise you.

While these are just guidelines, the general premises can be applied to almost everyone.

In the beginning – When you are just starting out, a one-page resume is probably in order. You’ve got little relevant experience, possibly some education and hopefully a lot of promise. At this point in the game, one page is almost always enough to outline your limited experience and communicate how you plan to make a positive impact.

Climbing the ranks – After you have some solid, relevant experience under your belt, a two-page resume starts to make good sense. You’ve likely got several years of experience and multiple relevant positions. You also likely have quite a few bona fide accomplishments. Two pages provide ample room to list your multiple roles and your wealth of accomplishments. This is the time in your career to lay it all out on the table.

At the top of your career – Many of the executives I work with are shocked to hear me suggest a one-page resume despite their extensive experience. At this level though, it is more likely that the foundational and formational experiences can be omitted. Also, it is less likely that you will need to “sell” your position and instead can let your title and scope of influence imply previous experience.

People and careers are dynamic, so these suggestions may not apply to you. However, consider the underlying themes here and help them guide your decision about how long your resume should be.

A Powerful Question For Change

Change is difficult. As people, employees, family members – you name it – we're conditioned to settle into a role and to stay put.

Of course, this can be a recipe for disaster. If a particular role is not authentic, months and months of dissatisfaction can quickly turn into years and years of unhappiness. Then, before you know it, you feel stuck in a role that doesn't fit. Worse yet, it's easy to feel as though it's "too late" to change.

It's never too late.

Your happiness and your life are too important to do something that's not a good fit. Putting you on the back burner is never a good idea. Don't save change for "later" – act now. One step at a time.

Many of the people I work with are not happy in their jobs. Jobs (and careers and companies) that they are often deeply embedded in. In many cases, it seems too overwhelming for them to break away.

I regularly ask these people to ponder one question as they sort out the details and weigh their options:

What are you becoming?

This is an especially powerful question to ask yourself because it shifts your perspective from the here-and-now to the future. It provides the frame for you to put your current situation aside in order for you to assess whether or not you are on the right path. This is crucial because, so often, people will let a current work reality skew their perspective. "My boss needs me right now." "I'm in the middle of a project." "My team is down one person." "I get my pay raise next month."

Ask that question as it relates to all areas of your life. If you find an area where you don't like your response, build a plan for change. You don't have to do it overnight – you simply need to start.

Wishing you satisfaction in all areas of your life. You deserve it.

The Value of the Process

I write a lot about the power of an outstanding resume. What I don’t frequently write about is the power of the entire resume development process. I strongly believe that the process can be as valuable – and possibly more valuable than – the resume itself. So why don’t I go on and on about it? For one, it can sound a bit sales-y. For another, and probably the greatest reason I don’t broach the subject more often, is that I forget that not everybody knows how valuable the process can be.

A new set of job search documents – and my entire process – are an investment.

I was reminded that some of the most important aspects of working with a credible resume writer are not immediately obvious when I read a recent client email. This client shared that they entered into the project simply hoping for a great set of job search documents. They left feeling like they had gotten so much more out of the process.

That email sparked me to share three of the most valuable aspects of the resume writing process:

Confidence – Much of the resume writing process is focused on uncovering accomplishments and speaking to your impact. That allows me to create a resume that is rich with quantifiable achievements. Beyond that, it can reshape how clients see – and speak to – their professional history. Having a clear idea of your impact and the ability to quickly provide examples can improve your confidence in a very profound way.

Clarity – Many of my clients come to me looking for a resume to help them transition into something different. Unfortunately, many of them don’t know what that “something different” is. In order to create a resume that highlights your strengths and positions you for your next big thing, I have to help you identify your strengths. Understanding your natural strengths and transferable skills makes it much easier to determine what you should be doing and where you fit.

Career Trajectory – I am constantly reminding clients that a resume is just one piece of a career management strategy, albeit a very important piece. Not only will a new, achievement focused resume likely help you to more quickly secure interviews or build interest, it can also help you land a more favorable pay package. It is much easier to negotiate salary when you can clearly communicate why you are worth it.

An achievement-focused resume is a very valuable thing. But it’s important to keep in mind that the process of developing that resume is also incredibly valuable – a very wise investment.

The best investment you can make is in yourself. Get in touch if you think you might need help.