Fluent in Company Speak

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

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You may not recognize it, but your organization likely has its own language. Sometimes company speak aligns with broader corporate lingo and sometimes it is so specific to an organization that it is almost completely removed from common business vernacular (Microsoft employees, government contractors, and Service Members, I am talking directly to you).

When it comes to marketing yourself externally (via a resume or LinkedIn profile, for example), this can create some really big issues. To successfully market yourself, you need to be especially aware of how the language you use sounds to audiences outside of your company. Here are a few reasons why: 

• Too much organization-specific lingo will make it challenging for readers to grasp your role and impact. Remember that readers of your resume and LinkedIn profile are not about to take the time to translate complicated company speak; they will simply move on.

• Overuse of internal jargon can send the message that you’re so deep into your current company’s specific culture that you might have difficulty assimilating into a new culture.

• Some of the terms that are perfectly acceptable to use when speaking with co-workers sound very silly when you are “off campus.” For example, I recently read a resume that included the term “co-developed a magic new product…” Magic may work if you're in Apple’s marketing department, but it will sound a little off to most readers.

As I’ve shared before, a little jargon is not a bad thing. It let’s readers in your same industry know that you are an insider. However, a little goes a long way. Make sure that readers can 1) quickly grasp what you offer and 2) don’t need a corporate Rosetta Stone to figure out what you're saying.

A Resume That Gets Noticed

You’re viewing an archived post. This post was originally published by The Change Laboratory, which is now part of No Vacation Required — our platform for Everyday Fulfillment. While this content is archived, it’s still full of solid advice and timeless insights.

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It's a new year.

Want a resume that really stands out? Focus on curiosity gaps. Not quite sure what those are? Read on.

A truly effective resume strikes just the right balance between presenting a solid track record of success and communicating potential. If you read my blog, you know that your resume needs to include specific, quantifiable achievements. For most readers, that concept is disruptive enough.  So the idea that your resume needs to also create some strategic curiosity gaps can be too much. In fact, you may be thinking that those two ideas are mutually exclusive. However, a resume that achieves both is going to be incredibly compelling. Here’s why:

Discovery is exciting: When it comes to hiring, the thought that you may have found someone with untapped potential and someone who is going to be a rock star in her / his new role is a pretty exciting idea. By creating some strategic curiosity gaps on your resume – those questions in readers’ minds that make them want to learn more via an interview – you allow for that feeling of discovery.

Quantifiable accomplishments reduce risk: Potential is a powerful selling point, but without some track record of success, the risk can simply seem too high. A bad hire is a costly error. If you can show – by sharing clear achievements – that you have made a positive impact in the past, you reduce the perceived risk and allow the reader to take a more calculated gamble.

Your best is yet to come: No one wants to bring in someone whose best days are behind him or her. No matter how successful you’ve been, you need to leave space for something even greater in the future. Take the iPhone for example. The product was an initial hit because it united Apple’s track record of quality and design excellence with potential. That same powerful combination continues to make the iPhone an incredible success.

Have a look at your resume. Are you balancing clear accomplishments with some compelling curiosity gaps? Are you communicating that – despite your success – your best work is yet to come? I’ll be honest, that balance is not easy to achieve. On the plus side, those that do achieve it will stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.

Best of the Year

Again this year, I am sending out a big thanks to all of my clients and colleagues for allowing me to share my passion for Career Development and Human Resources during 2014. Thanks for contributing to a better world by caring about your career and the way your company operates.

Here is my (almost!) annual list of 5 of the blog posts that were most popular during the year.

On what NOT to do on a resume.

On marketing yourself.

On social media and your job search.

On profile pictures.

On just wanting a job.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Cheer

A quick post.

Wishing all of you a very happy holiday and a peaceful close to 2014.

If you have a roof over your head and are able to put food on the table, remember those who aren't so fortunate. It's been a rough few years for many people; let's remain mindful of that as we reflect on 2014 and plan for 2015.

We all do better when we all do better.

Here's to a prosperous 2015. For all!

What Makes the Best Resume

Last week's post on resume length triggered a lot of questions surrounding the "best" resume. Here's a repost of an article addressing resume length.

I just had an interesting e-mail from a potential client, inquiring about Tandem's services. Within her inquiry, she stated that she had just read a powerful article written by a popular entrepreneur. She wrote:

"In the article he says that he won't even consider resumes that don't make mention of professionals within the field who have influenced the job candidate."

She had not heard of this before and was wondering what to do with the information. This goes back to a couple core questions that come up from time to time here on the blog.

What makes the "best" resume?

Whose opinions matter?

First off, There is no "best" resume. There is no gold standard, which is what makes resume writing so mad-making for so many. Second, opinions on resumes are largely subjective.

Bottom line... If you include uncommon things in your resume a handful of readers, such as the article writer referenced above, will likely be thrilled. The truth, though, is that most readers won't be so pleased. That's why it's important to remember the core purpose of a resume – to serve as a hook that piques readers' interest and helps in securing an interview. The most effective way to accomplish this is by creating an achievement focused resume that appeals to a broad range of readers.

So, to all of the people that say "I want to add (color, a crazy font, a picture, a poem, etc.) to my resume because it represents me." I let them know that there are other ways to inject "you" into a resume. The job-search / candidate-sourcing process is changing – moving to something that is more meaningful for all involved. For now, your best bet is to stick to a resume that is most likely to work in the current environment. The job-search process can be frustrating enough; there's no sense in complicating it further by diluting your chances of securing a job.

The list of companies that like to see off-the-beaten-path elements on a resume is growing (although still quite small). I encourage clients to add those elements situationally. For instance, Google wants to know what makes candidates unique. When I work with clients who are targeting Google, we add that sort of information in.

It's worth repeating... No single style works perfectly (without that gold standard). However, there are certain resume standards that tend to work more effectively than their alternatives. For instance:

• Certain fonts screen more effectively with humans and computers.
• The optimal placement and presentation of keywords makes a difference.
• Certain approaches (functional, chronological, hybrid) work well for particular industries and disciplines.

Beyond these standards (and some others), though, a well composed resume can take a number of different forms. Although It’s most important to follow the appropriate standards for your situation, it’s also important that adherence to those standards is backed up by content and a format that makes sense – one where all of the elements maximize each other. This is why it's not a good idea to go too far out on a limb. Remember, you want to appeal to the broadest audience possible in the current environment.

My resume work focuses, first and foremost, on those conventions – not opinions – that are proven to work. This includes those things that I’ve learned not only as a resume writer but also from my work on the other side of the table as an HR and business professional. Beyond that, though, my resume writing hones in on other concrete, key dimensions that make them as effective as possible. All of my work is backed up by a highly individualized approach that fosters the inclusion of incredible content, style, and a bit of your personality.

How Long Should My Resume Be?

Don't let a headhunter trick you into believing you need a 4-page resume. Here's a repost of an article addressing resume length.

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.

Top Places to Work

It's here!

One of my very favorite lists of the year is Outside Magazine's yearly take on the best places to work.

So this post is short and sweet.

Check out the list here.

And have a great week. I hope good things come your way!

A Job That Pays The Bills

“I need a job that pays the bills. I’m not interested in being a superstar and my experience is kind of average. I’m worried that a lack of passion will make it hard for me to get hired.”

That sentiment, which a client recently shared with me (and agreed to let me use that portion of her email), may ring very close to home for you. Even though I work with a lot of clients who want to make positive steps toward professional fulfillment, not all of my clients some with the same motivation.

Here is my advice for individuals who “just want a job that pays the bills” and have “kind of average” experience.

Manage your expectations: Don’t say you want to be a contributor and then try to land a high-level leadership role (or something similar). Not only will it be super challenging to secure that kind of position, you are setting yourself up for failure because your pursuing a role that requires a level of passion and commitment that you are admittedly not interested in providing.

Stop self-assessing: When it comes to your background, “kind of average” is a fairly arbitrary assessment. I am constantly amazed at how often clients tell me that they have no accomplishments, only to find out that they just haven’t recognized their accomplishments. Additionally, I have plenty of clients who believe they’ve outlined all of their greatest accomplishments only to uncover several more during the process of developing their resume.

Change your mindset: Just because you are in it for the money does not mean you can’t find little ways to pursue professional fulfillment. I’m not saying you need to climb the corporate ladder – just that finding enjoyment in some aspects of your position, no matter how minor, can have a major impact on your attitude and sense of well being. Do this for you, not the company.

I talk a lot about career fulfillment, but that doesn’t mean I am blind to the fact that many people just need a job that allows them to get by or enables them to focus on non-professional fulfillment.

Dates for Education

Q: Why are dates so important on a resume but mysteriously optional when it comes to the Education section.

A: Great question, and one that I (understandably) get a lot. 

First off... Yes, dates are critical on a resume. Years of employment should be listed with all jobs. When it makes sense, it's also a good idea to list months because screening software is often set to "red flag" employment dates that do not include months. That's another post for another day!

With the Education section, though, there is forgiveness. Why? Because putting a date next to your education can be a gateway to discrimination. Because of that, it's largely understood that dates aren't necessary for that section. 

Some Readers Will Like It

This showed up in my inbox the other day:

“I read your post on why you shouldn’t use narrative to tell your story on a resume. I understand what you are saying, but I don’t care. I want to defy convention and tell my story in a really creative and narrative way. I think some readers will like it.”

Given that I take a very clear stand against a narrative approach, my response to a portion the above email might surprise you. When it comes to the assertion that “some readers will like it,” I agree. Some readers will like it. However, lots of readers won’t like it.

Just about any convention you can come up with – no matter how quirky – is going to appeal to someone. But crafting a resume for one-off tastes is not a smart strategy.

The most effective resumes appeal to a broad range of readers across the hiring process by employing some powerful, proven resume writing best practices.