Applying For Multiple Positions Within One Company

Q. There are three positions at a NGO that I am really interested in. The on-line application system allows me to upload a targeted version of my resume for each position. Is that a good idea or should I just use one resume for all three? A. I get this question a lot and there tends to be a deeper concern lying just below the surface. The worry seems to be “will I get found out for targeting my resume?” So let’s just get this out of the way. Targeting your resume is a smart strategy and a courtesy to the reader. You are simply highlighting your specific qualifications for a specific role. There is nothing suspicious about that.

So to answer you actual question, yes. Submit a targeted resume for each of the three positions.

Because it is likely that all three resumes will be read by the same people (just assume they will be), make sure the three resumes complement one another. Remember, targeting does not mean sweeping changes (or presenting dishonest content), it means subtle shifts to focus on different aspects of your expertise. That's why it's a smart move!

Listing Career Development Work and Training On Your Resume

Q. I’ve taken several Coursera.com courses while I have been out of work. Should I list these on my resume? A. Expanding your professional skill set and honing your expertise is an excellent way to maintain your competitive edge while out of work.

For the most part, I suggest you list on-line courses like those offered by Coursera.com and Codeacadamy.com on your LinkedIn profile and keep your resume to degrees and highly relevant “on-site” training. Even with LinkedIn, don’t overdo it. If you’ve a lot of courses, select a handful of the training courses that you feel are most relevant or that highlight your knowledge in especially-in-demand areas.

When you do list career development and training on your resume, it's a good idea to separate the activities from your degrees. Consider placing them in a separate Career Development section. That way your degree(s) don't get lost among less critical content.

Novella Or Resume?

Does your resume look like an assignment for a creative writing class? Be honest. If you are using large chunks of narrative to tell your “story,” then that is how readers are likely perceiving your resume. And since almost nobody has time to read a short story at work, that is a perception that you want to avoid. If you are currently taking a narrative approach to your resume or are playing around with the idea, consider these three things:

1. Narrative makes it very difficult for readers to quickly scan your resume. You might say, “Good, I want them to read it closely!” The truth is that if a reader feels overwhelmed by your resume, they likely won’t read it at all.

2. Like them or hate them, bullet points – when written well – are incredibly effective. They are considered a best practice because they make it easy for readers to quickly grasp your achievements.

3. Density is the enemy when it comes to resumes. If your resume feels dense, then it is probably difficult for readers to pick out the important parts. You never want to make readers “work” to find your achievements and impact.

One of the main reasons that client sometimes request a narrative approach is because they believe it will make them stand out. And they are right. Unfortunately, a narrative resume may make you stand out – but likely for the wrong reasons. What will make you stand out even more is an achievement-focused resume that clearly and concisely communicates your impact.

A New Package

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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.”