I Need a Resume That Stands Out

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Q: I read your last post and don't understand why a resume that visually catches the reader's attention is a bad idea. Isn't this a sound way to stand out from the pack?

A: As I said in my last post, I understand the allure. There's a lot to like about something that sets your resume apart visually. But, overall, it's simply not a good strategy. Let me add a couple more thoughts to this conversation.

• Highly designed resumes do not play well with automated software, and that's where many resumes start in today's hiring environment.

• For every person in the hiring continuum who appreciates a design-forward resume, there will be nine who don't. Simply put... When it comes down to the presentation of solid, achievement-centric information, designed resumes miss the mark.

• As I've said here on the blog many times, I do think there is room for varying degrees of a designed resume, depending on the specifics of your situation. For example, I've seen design-forward resumes work very effectively as a "leave behind" after an interview. The reason? The organization is already working with your primary resume. This "leave behind" version simply presents your information in a unique way.

Everyday Fulfillment

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With this post, I am introducing something new here on the blog: an Everyday Fulfillment series. This series will focus on tips for moving closer to – and embracing – fulfillment in all aspects of life. These posts will address topics that frequently come up in my seminars and speaking engagements. They are also the topics that clients commonly want to dig into during Coaching  sessions. I hope you find it helpful!

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Ready to have more Big Thinking mojo in your life? Here are some tips:

Think critically – Mindless group-think is a powerful force that goads people into simply "going along" with things. Question the norm. Make your own decisions.

Don't look sideways – Glance sideways from time to time because it's important to know the landscape. Otherwise, look forward. Paying too much attention to what others are doing immediately puts you in the space of duplication and envy. Find your own version of success. When you're focused on the best version of you and doing your best work – regardless of what everyone else is doing – you're less likely to waste time on time-sucking "because they are doing it" activities.

Define yourself – Don't be limited by others' need to put you in a box. We're all dynamic, multi-faceted individuals. Create the frame through which others see you (and not the other way around).

Have a vision for your life – Want to know a great way to become success oriented? Have a vision for your life. Of course, that vision will evolve over time but always have one. Not sure what that vision looks like? Time for some heavy lifting. Start by monster-hugging life's greatest (and most rewarding!) challenge: knowing yourself. The more self-empowered you feel, the stronger your resolution in the face of distractions and the powerful pull of mediocrity. Living with vision is also a prime ingredient of making major change.

Be honest – Being honest is not about being tedious or unkind; it's about growth and authenticity. You can't grow if you are not honest with yourself. And you can't build authentic relationships based on half-truths and lies. That may upset some people, but they will get over it. If they don't get over it, whose problem is it, really?

Keep it positive – Negativity can be fun in the moment, but the fun is superficial and fleeting. Negativity breeds myopic vision and shallow thinking. Sometimes a vigorous, critical conversation can seem negative. That's okay. Here, we're focusing on the kind of pointless negativity that can saturate a conversation or, quite often, an entire relationship. Negativity is the sinkhole of life. If something isn't positive or framed in positive action, run away as fast as you can. If someone is a consistent drain on your life, give them the chop.

Career Blemishes

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Job seekers often feel that the slightest blip or blemish in their career trajectory is enough to eliminate them from consideration for top jobs.

Recently, I was on the hiring panel for an executive search, and – in an interview – one of the final candidates went out of his way to draw attention to a 3-month employment gap in 2008. The panel hadn't even seen it as a problem, but there the candidate was feeling as though he needed to justify it.

As I've gotten into before on the blog, the negative perception surrounding these "deficiencies" (and others) is overblown. 

1. You’ve taken time away to be a parent.

2. You have gaps in your resume.

3. You aren’t working while you search for a job.

4. You are "too old."

Assertions that situations like the above are career ruiners make me crazy; they are shortsighted and outmoded. Sure, I wouldn’t say that these things make a job search easier, but making such sweeping generalizations is irresponsible because of its inaccuracy.

First off, in the last couple decades we have gone through a tech sector bust, a post 9-11 economic standstill, and a *deep* recession. Because of those events – and the way that the world of work is shifting in general – rarely do I see a resume without gaps. Beyond those facts, though, I have little patience for unwarranted negative spins that don’t point to solutions.

Here’s the deal. There are a lot of people who have set their careers aside to be a full time parent. Many people have a gap or two in their resumes, and many people looking for work are currently unemployed. The key – if you are in any one of those situations – is to stay positive and proactive. Here are three things to think about:

• Gaps are quickly overlooked if you have a resume that communicates accomplishments (not responsibilities). Employers want to hire people who get things done. THAT will make you stand out more than an employment gap will.

• Employed or not, a powerfully worded resume helps to make you highly marketable. If you can demonstrate, via your resume, that you are on top of your career (not the other way around), you are a more desirable candidate. Quality employers know that great candidates come from the ranks of both the employed and unemployed.

• Age can certainly work against you; it’s been proven in court time and time again. Having said that, successful job searches do not end when you turn 50. In this new economic climate, especially, employers are looking to maximize the efficacy of each new hire. Great experience – even a lot of it – can work to your advantage.

Is HR on My Side?

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Time for a post that comes directly from the mailbag. I love this question (and can't believe I don't get it more often).

Q: I know you work with a lot of large companies so want to get your take on something. Is my HR Department really looking out for my best interest, or do I need to watch everything I share with them.

A: A good HR department is on your side. A good HR department is also on the company's side. Let me explain... a best-in-class HR department is led by a leader who knows that he/she has a job because she/he is protecting the company. That same HR leader also knows that the best way to protect the company is to also protect its greatest assets – its human resources.

Many companies – especially modern, progressive companies – successfully follow that model. The reality, however, is that many HR departments do not have your best interest in mind. As such, treat your relationship with HR just as you would with anyone you are building a relationship with. Do not divulge the details of anything unless the HR Rep has earned your trust.

Inconsistencies Between Your Resume and LinkedIn

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Your resume and LinkedIn are your core marketing assets when it comes to applying to a new position. Other than what you’ve shared in your cover letter and, if you’re lucky, what an internal advocate has said about you, your resume and LinkedIn represent all of the information a reader may know about you. So, it is incredibly important that these assets are top notch – compelling, achievement-focused, and consistent.

I understand that it is difficult to create compelling and achievement-focused resumes and LinkedIn profiles; it’s why I have a thriving business. But keeping your resume and LinkedIn in synch should be fairly easy. However, inconsistencies between the two show up every day in the work I do. Here is why that is such a bad thing:

To the above point, you presented a small amount of information by which a reader is to judge your fitness for a position. If the small amount of information you are presenting is inconsistent – job titles don’t match up, dates for the same position differ, degrees don’t align – that person is left to think that you are either lying or sloppy.

I believe that many professionals fill out their LinkedIn once and perhaps update it sporadically. Independent of those updates, they make adjustments to their resume. This leads to differing information between the two. Totally understandable and totally avoidable.

Here is a simple fix: when you update your resume, update your LinkedIn (and vice versa). That way you know the two will always be in alignment.

Remember your resume and LinkedIn don’t have to be exactly the same, but they have to be 100% consistent.

Resume Tips from a Fancy Restaurant Menu

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Next time you head out for a nice meal, I want you to pay attention to the menu. Why? Because that menu is full of best practices for writing an effective resume. Check it out:

Length – How long is the menu? In many upscale restaurants, the menu is a single page that presents a list of items that have been a carefully curated with a specific kind of customer in mind. The menu outlines just a handful of choices, because diners want options, but they expect the expert chef to have whittled things down for them. Take Away: Curate your experience in the same way that a chef curates a menu. Consider your audience and present what you are most proud of and what you feel will be most appealing.

Descriptions – Notice how each dish has just a few items listed beneath? The menu isn’t outlining the recipe. It is not providing a detailed description of each component. Instead, it is just highlighting the most compelling ingredients. Maybe it’s showcasing the protein or a vegetable from a local farm. Perhaps it is mentioning the cooking method. Take Away: When creating your resume, provide a brief overview of each role. But just highlight the most compelling aspects of each role (people you led, size of your budget, etc.).

Strategic Placement – Do you see a few items around the menu that are highlighted? Maybe they have a box around them or are bolded. Those are intended to draw your attention for multiple reasons. They may be there to establish a price base (i.e., an expensive item that is intended to make other items feel like more of a value). They may also be there because that is what the chef would like you to order. Regardless, there is a strategy behind what is highlighted. Take Away: Be strategic with what you highlight. Frame out your compelling branding statement or bold some key phrases. Know what you want readers to focus on and why.

Federal and Private Sector Resume Best Practices

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Many of my clients are surprised to learn that federal resumes and private sector resumes are very different beasts. Private sector resumes tend to be most effective when they are concise and laser focused on achievements. Federal resumes, on the other hand, are most effective when they are more comprehensive and clearly outline each position’s responsibilities.

I work with a lot of professionals who are transitioning from government roles and into the private sector. I also work with a lot of clients who are making the opposite move. In doing so, I have identified that, while federal and private sector resumes are very different, there are best practices from both sectors that can be broadly applied.

Strong Branding Elements – Private sector resumes need a strong open; a high impact introduction that captures readers’ attention and compels them to learn more. Federal resumes can benefit from the same strong opening. Remember, no matter the sector, a real-life, time strapped human being is going to ultimately evaluate your resume. Make it easy for them to understand the value you represent by providing a clear and compelling introduction.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) – KSAs are a common element of both federal job requisitions and federal resumes. A KSAs section on your federal resume is a clear way to map your experience to the requisition, which makes it easy for readers (both human and automated) to identify your qualifications. It is for that very reason that a KSAs-like section makes a lot of sense for private sector resumes.

Achievements – Many of my clients who are transitioning out of government roles have dry resumes that read like job descriptions. This achievements-free approach is an absolute no-no when it comes to the private sector. But it is also not a great idea for federal resumes. Just because you need to outline your qualifications more explicitly – as opposed to allowing achievements to imply responsibilities – on a federal resume, that doesn’t mean that it is not smart to speak to specific, quantified achievements. Clear achievements are always a good idea. ALWAYS.

Regardless of sector, increase your likelihood of getting called in for an interview by leveraging best practices from across the entire job market.

Treat Yourself as Your Most Important Customer

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I am constantly impressed by my clients – professionals who, based on the achievements we uncover during the resume writing process, have moved heaven and earth for their (internal and external) customers. So, it pains me when someone who has devoted an astounding amount of energy to the success of their organization or customers fails to even outline these successes on their resume.

I understand that there is never enough time. I understand that evaluating one’s own success is tough. I understand that resume writing is a skill that many professionals just have no need to develop (it is why I have a thriving business). I understand that success often means sacrifice.

But what if you treated yourself like you were your most valuable client? What if you approached updating your resume with your last big win with the same urgency you tackled a key client’s issue du jour? Would you be even more successful? I bet you would be.

In 2018, make a promise. Treat yourself like your best client.

Confidentiality and Your Career

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Since I'm based in Seattle, many of my consulting projects are with organizations based here in Seattle.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a day of strategy development meetings with one of my top clients downtown. Returning from lunch early, I grabbed a coffee and went through e-mails in the lobby. Immediately next to me were two people having a work conversation that never should have taken place in a public space. 

Long story short... An employee was meeting with an HR leader to discuss inappropriate things that happened in a skip-level meeting (a meeting in which an employee meets with their manager's manager).

Because I am your HR doctor (*grin*), a few things I want to ensure you know:

1) Never initiate a work conversation that pertains to anything confidential in a public place. Ever. Just because you caught a busy person "with a free moment" doesn't mean you can have a sensitive conversation in public that should be occuring in a private setting.

2) Similarly, if approached, don't be caught off guard and enter into such a conversation. Find a 100% private location or schedule a time when you can meet in a 100% private location. Demand this even if the person is senior to you.

3) By "conversation" I mean not only personal things that pertain to your employment, but also any topics that can be tied to anything of a confidential nature (client information, NDA-related matters, etc.).

I'm bothered to know that an HR leader would think that a lobby is a satisfactory location for such a conversation. Just because you may see similar behavior modeled in your organization, that doesn't mean it's okay. Courteously state that you'd be more comfortable discussing said topic in a private location.

Workplaces are getting increasingly fast paced. Each day, slow down and remain grounded enough to do the right thing – to model professional, respectful behavior and to expect it from others.

Happy Holidays 2017!

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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2017 has been an unsettling year in this world of ours. The news is full of depressing stories, global relations are very tense, and people seem more disconnected than ever. 

On top of this already disquieting landscape, many people here in the United States – and, more so, around the world – have to endure a lot of day-to-day hardship. About 2 of 3 people lack access to clean drinking water and about 1 of 3 people live on less than $1 a day. In a world with so much wealth, it really is unimaginable.

These realities also give me perspective. Perspective to remember that, as a successful member of society, I can always do more to help in making the world a better, more welcoming place for those not as fortunate as I.

Oftentimes, when I get into these topics, I have to resist the urge to feel as though I am getting “off topic” from the core purpose of Tandem Powered. During those moments, though, I’m quickly reminded that this, too, is what Tandem Powered is all about.

Tandem Powered is, of course, about consulting, resume writing, and career development. Essentially, inspiring people to get better aligned with their authentic selves and, therefore, closer and closer to career (and life!) satisfaction. If you’ve used Tandem's services or have spent some time here on the website, you likely know that it goes deeper than that.

My desire to empower people and communities transcends career development activities. In fact, Tandem Powered got off the ground emboldened by the belief that we are all connected as world citizens. Meaning, what’s good for you is good for me.

In the spirit of doing my part to be a uniter, here are a couple of things I want to share as we enter into the holiday season.

1) First, know that Tandem Powered is committed to the #OpenToAll campaign. No matter who you are, where you're from, who you love, etc., you are wholeheartedly welcome here. I know – from my experience in work and life – that our differences do in fact make us stronger.

2) In the #OpenToAll spirit of connection, I am going to run a promotion through 12/31/2017. If you purchase my Tandem's Essentials package for yourself and someone else, you'll receive a $100 discount. Be sure to mention this e-mail when you get in touch.

Being a responsible world citizen has always been at the core of this business. Thanks to all of my clients – past and future – for trusting me with their personal or organizational development. We are connected!

Happy Holidays