A Professional Resume

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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.

Bad Job Search Information

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You’ve probably read an article and had that panicked feeling. “Oh no!” you think. “I just sent a thank you note and this article says that hiring managers hate thank you notes.” Or, perhaps, a friend has told you that you need an infographic resume to compete. “What in the heck am I supposed to do with the resume I just spent weeks perfecting?” you ask yourself.

Take a breath. You’re okay.

When it comes right down to it, there are a lot of people vying for your attention on the Internet. So the more against-the-grain – or even outlandish – the idea, the better. I am not saying that some of the following points aren’t rooted in fact, just that they have either been grossly inflated or far too broadly applied.

Here is just a sampling of some of the purported “changes” to the job search and employment landscape that have been clogging up the Internet over the last few months.

Companies no longer accept resumes – A few months back, I read an article about a San Francisco creative firm that did not accept resumes. One firm. That article spawned several weeks of articles about how companies were eschewing resumes and instead only paying attention to “social” resumes – candidates’ presence on social media. Rest assured that this is not a trend.  Companies are more and more likely to weigh your “social resume,” but that doesn’t mean the resume is going anywhere.

No one reads cover letters – This one comes up a lot and is a classic example of over-inflating the preferences of a few. There are definitely hiring managers and recruiters who will not read your cover letter. However, there are plenty of others that will see your cover letter as an opportunity to learn more about your qualifications and motivations. In fact, as companies are trying to maximize every dollar by hiring the best fit – the cover letter has taken on a new importance. And it's often a key tie-breaker when comparing final candidates.

You will be removed from the running if you send a Thank You note – I wrote a post about this a few months back because it just seemed so counter to the prevailing sentiment. There are several arguments against sending a thank you note, none of which hold much weight. As I shared in that post, I maintain that a thank you letter is a key part of the job search process.

The job search process is nerve-racking enough without the addition of misinformation and disinformation. It’s no wonder that people feel overwhelmed.

Take comfort in the fact that some basic tenets of the job search process still hold true. Thank you notes are not bad, cover letters still make a difference, and you will not have to create a diorama or original song to get your next job.

What Are You Becoming?

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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.

Come Prepared

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Q. Do I still need to bring a copy of my resume to interviews? 

A. Yes. There are actually two really good reasons why you should be prepared with a hard copy of your resume for interviews. 

First, you should just be prepared to hand a copy over in the case that someone doesn’t have it. Yeah, that’s unlikely, but imagine how awkward and interview-spoiling it would be if you didn’t have one to share. 

Second, even though everyone you meet with will probably have a copy of your resume, they might have a really messed up, formatting-free version that was spit out by the automated screening system. You want to be prepared to provide the beautifully formatted, reader-friendly version of your resume that you intended everyone to see.

The Right Amount of Achievements

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Q. I have been at my most recent job for 12 years. How many bullets are appropriate? 

A. The number of achievements that you should include in your resume varies based on several factors: length of time in position, recency of role, relevance on position, etc. 

Here is something that might surprise you… Even if you’ve been in your position for 12 years, you still want to keep things fairly concise, so no more than your five most compelling achievements. The reason for not providing more is that the resume is meant to pique readers’ interests and provide just enough information to make them want to learn more via an interview. More than five bullet points and things can quickly start to feel overwhelming and unfocused.

Resume vs. LinkedIn

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Q. Can your LinkedIn profile and your resume be different?

A. Absolutely. While the two need to be complimentary and have consistent “branding,” they each serve a unique purpose.  

Your resume is a more agile marketing document, which means it can (and should) be tailored toward each specific position that you apply to. This also means that you may choose to exclude unrelated experience / skills or reframe your experience so that you are highlighting specific attributes.

While your LinkedIn Profile is flexible, it is more static than a resume; you are not going to be targeting it toward specific opportunities. I recommend that clients use LinkedIn to provide a high-level overview of their professional experience and skills. So I suggest that LinkedIn be an entry-point for interested parties, with a resume being a "next step" document that provides more details about areas of your experience and accomplishments.

As I mentioned above, no matter which approach you take, it is important that your resume and your “social” resume be on-brand and consistent. Think about all of the elements of your job search as a comprehensive personal marketing strategy.

Employees' Choice Awards

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I always get positive feedback on "best places to work" posts so, today, want to point you to Glassdoor's Employees' Choice Awards for 2015.

Have a great week!

More on Bad Resumes

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Last week, I talked a bit about what a specific corporate client shared about a specific candidate. I've spent part of this last week consulting with another corporate client on an executive search that their senior team is conducting. Doing so reminded be of an even better answer to the question posed last week.

What do I hear companies complain about (in terms of talent acquisition)?

Resumes that read like a series of job descriptions.

My message this week is short.

Do not submit a resume that reads like a series of mini-job-descriptions outlining your previous work experience.

Recruiters’ Biggest Complaint About Applicant Resumes

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Q: I know you also do HR Consulting. What’s the biggest dissatisfier that you hear about from companies when it comes to recruiting?

A: I was recently speaking with the Head of Talent Acquisition for a major tech company, and she confirmed something that I hear all of the time from my corporate clients and contacts. Recruiters are inundated with resumes that make it perfectly clear the applicant has not researched the role or company. 

In this specific conversation, my colleague was sharing how frustrated she was that a very qualified candidate – someone that her team really had an interest in – had turned in a generic set of job search documents that didn’t even address specific requests outlined in the job posting. She echoed a sentiment that I have shared on this blog before: the application process is a potential employee’s first deliverable and this candidate – because of lack of attention or ego – had not met some basic expectations. As a result, she was not going to pursue this candidate any further; an unfortunate outcome for both parties. 

Target your documents toward each specific position, research the company to which you are applying, and make sure you are addressing the specific requirements outlined in a requisition. If you don’t, you might miss out on a great opportunity even if you are perfectly qualified for the position.

Not Including an Address on Your Resume

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Q: I am not comfortable putting my address on my resume. Is it okay if I leave it off? 

A: Whether or not you list an address on your resume is completely up to you. However, not listing your address could make it more difficult to get considered for positions. Here is why: 

• Not including an address will leave many readers to believe that you are not a local candidate, which – with many positions still receiving a glut of clearly local candidates – could be a big hurdle to overcome. 

• As old-school as it may sound, a physical address adds a level of credibility to your resume. 

• Many screening systems will automatically reject or “red flag” resumes that don’t include an address. That means your resume might not even make it through the system. 

If you can stomach it, include your full physical address. If your simply too uncomfortable with that, consider at least listing your city, state / province, and postal code. This compromise at least lets readers know that you are a local candidate without fully disclosing your address. 

For readers who are omitting an address because your are not a local candidate, check out these tips for communicating to an employer that you are willing to relocate.