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"A
great resume is not just a complete list of employment and education. . .
it's got to be a selling document," says Kathryn Troutman, president
of The Resume Place in Catonsville and author of the Federal Resume
Guidebook. "Your resume needs to make very clear that you are highly
skilled and an excellent candidate for their position, with energy and
enthusiasm for your career," Ms. Troutman adds. "A resume is
like a snapshot," agrees Nancy Leaderman, one of two resume
specialists (along with Debra Varron) at The Associated's Jewish
Vocational Service, which offers a full range of employment counseling and
programs, including resume preparation and job-seeking workshops.
"You wouldn't have a picture of yourself taken without combing your
hair, putting on lipstick, or whatever it takes to make yourself look as
attractive as possible. It's the same thing with a resume. . .this is your
first impression."
In terms of the visual appeal of a resume, says Ms. Leaderman, a resume
produced on a laser printer makes a big difference. "A good dot
matrix printer used to be all right," she observes, "but with
the availability of computers so widespread now, a laser printer is really
the way to go." Ms. Leaderman admits that the way a resume looks can
be tied to the field the job seeker is exploring. "I think of resumes
as akin to professional dressing," she observes. "A resume for
the banking industry might certainly look different from a resume for the
advertising industry. "In more conservative areas," Ms.
Leaderman notes, "you won't waver from 12-point black ink on white or
off-white plain bond paper. For more creative fields, however, we might
suggest some graphic changes--using bullets, changing type size. . .things
like that." Don't get carried away though, Ms. Leaderman advises.
Colored ink, for example, can be too distracting. "You want to catch
the employer's eye but still be professional. If you want to impress
someone with your creativity, send a sample of your work. . .don't use
your resume to show how artistic you are."
In terms of what actually goes in your resume, Kathryn Troutman of The
Resume Place advises job-seekers that the resume has to say not just where
you've worked, but how well you've performed. "Think
accomplishments," she recommends. "If you have been a production
supervisor in manufacturing for 10 years," she says, "tell the
reader what you have accomplished, in addition to your responsibilities.
For instance, 'As a Production Supervisor, successfully used a team
management style of supervision to increase productivity; decreased
injuries through new safety programs; promoted staff to management through
an emphasis on training and development; implemented TQM throughout the
plant; and directed installation of digital controls in the manufacturing
equipment.'
"This approach shows that the person is a highly effective production
manager," says Ms. Troutman. Be specific and be focused, adds JVS'
Nancy Leaderman. "Use active verbs (for the grammatically-challenged
who may not remember their junior high English classes, active verbs are
the ones that don't use helping verbs). Use verbs such as maintained,
supervised, managed, as opposed to saying, was responsible for." Many
prospective employers "scan" a resume first--either with an
optical scanner or with the human eye, looking for key words or phrases.
This is done, say resume specialists, not so much as a hiring tool, but as
a way to sort through the sometimes hundreds of resumes received for an
advertised position. "A great resume for scanning provides these key
words in order to 'maximize hits' for the best-qualified applicants,"
explains Kathryn Troutman. In other words, don't just write, 'Directly
supervise 12 employees.' Instead write, 'Directly supervise 12 Customer
Service Representatives entailing training on computer system,
troubleshooting, scheduling to meet peak demands, and maintaining employee
records.'" In order to find the key--or "buzz"--words of
your industry, Ms. Troutman suggests, read the "want ads" in the
newspaper. Find 5-10 ads for your field; look for phrases used over and
over again. Use these words or phrases in your resume. And what if you
don't have all the skills the ads are calling for? "Get them,"
says Ms. Troutman.
A great resume for 1999 always includes details of your abilities with
computers, Ms. Troutman adds. Don't just write: "Skilled in use of
PCs with WordPerfect." "That's not good enough in this
computer-driven job market," Ms. Troutman observes. "Write about
your level of skill in each major program. A secretary, for example, can
write, 'Proficient with WordPerfect 6.0, including graphs, charts for
presentations, as well as word processing and file management; act as
office LAN administrator for 15 management and secretary staff; install
software upgrades and provide user training and support." For those
looking for a federal job, Ms. Troutman notes, the former Form 171 has
been replaced by the new Federal Resume, a 2-4 page document which
includes "security details" such as social security number,
citizenship, addresses of employers, and other details not usually
required by private industry employers. Indeed, within private industry,
says Nancy Leaderman, job-seekers are leaving out personal information
that was once considered standard on a resume--age, health status, marital
status, and the like. "Both employers and employees are more
sensitive to the appearance of bias," Ms. Leaderman observes in
explaining this current trend.
Just how long should a resume be? "That's a judgement call,"
says Ms. Leaderman. "If you can get all the information on one page,
fine, but that's not always the case, especially if you have at least
10-15 years' experience, or a list of publications you've written. . .if
you need more room to get all your skills in, then go to two pages."
The length of the resume might also depend on the format you
use--chronological or functional. A chronological resume-which works best
for most people--emphasizes employment dates and perhaps increases in
responsibility over time. A functional resume, on the other hand, places
less importance on dates and more on the skills gathered through the
years. A functional resume can work best, says Ms. Leaderman, for career
shifters, those with an inconsistent work history, and those who may be a
bit older than the average job-seeker but don't want to call attention to
the fact. Some people may, in fact, have both a functional and a
chronological resume, or even several different versions of the same
resume, highlighting different objectives and different skills. "The
purpose a resume serves varies from industry to industry," Ms.
Leaderman remarks. "In sales, for instance, just a brief resume can
often get you an interview; in other fields, a more detailed resume is the
only way to get your foot in the door."
After completing your resume, don't overlook other job-seeking tools such
as cover letters and thank-you notes, says Ms. Leaderman. In your cover
letter, she advises, respond to what an individual ad has listed; be as
specific as possible. "Go beyond the qualifications," Ms.
Leaderman stresses. "Make yourself stand out from the others."
And don't forget thank-you notes-- for referrals, for interviews, even for
jobs you wind up not getting. "You never know when something else
will open up," says Ms. Leaderman.
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While
the form and format of the traditional resume has not changed much over
the last few decades, the Web and advances in software are bringing new
innovations to this basic currency of the job search. Coupled with the
volatility of the job market, these innovations are bound to affect the
ways in which people attract the attention of employers.
The Web Resume
Web resumes are electronic documents posted on a personal Web site,
allowing for easy transmission of the URL (via links) and quick updating.
Posting a Web resume is particularly useful for career changers who want
to display writing samples or screen shots--your portfolio is just a click
away. With the right Meta tags, a resume will appear on numerous search
engines and be easily accessible to recruiters and employers. The trick of
this approach is to make the entire Web site as professional looking, easy
to find, and readable as possible. It should not be one little corner of a
site that also houses pictures of a pet kitty or recent vacation spot. A
Web resume should have its own domain, where you can display credentials
and supporting materials in a professional, attractive, and printable
format.
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Companies
that are "cutting edge" or involve themselves heavily in
e-commerce and advertising best appreciate a creative resume.
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The Flash Resume
Another new trend is the interactive multimedia resume, which uses some of
the latest animation effects to catch a reader's eye. The form might range
from a space age motif with supersonic sound effects to "Dungeons and
Dragons" to a Game Boy mock-up with buttons that deliver information
on your education and experience. Those who might be attracted to this
approach are not necessarily designers, so a growing number of companies
offer creative resume design using Flash software. These designs offer the
ultimate in movement and sound resumes, with standard theme templates and
custom designs guaranteed to produce a "wow" effect. The resume
package often includes such additional elements as a photo and formatted
cover letter.
A
simple search for "Flash resumes" on any major search engine
will turn up samples of individuals who have gone the multimedia route and
companies that provide the service. Prices are usually reasonable, but
moderate extra charges for updates and hosting should be expected. While
it is difficult to overlook the entertainment factor in these souped-up
resumes, one has to keep in mind their primary purpose: to impress a
recruiter or employer and land an interview.
How
do employers react to the whiz-bang approach of these resumes? It depends
on the type of employer and the type of job being sought. It makes perfect
sense to use a multimedia approach if you are a Web designer or graphics
specialist. Companies that are "cutting edge" or involve
themselves heavily in e-commerce and advertising best appreciate a
creative resume. The appeal of a sound-and-light resume may be lost on an
accounting firm or insurance agency. That being said, the very nature of
new technology is sure to creep into the access, appearance, and
management of traditional resumes.
Resume Format
While
there are many different types of resumes, we recommend and suggest you
stay with the traditional "Chronological" format for the widest
exposure and acceptance. Unless you are in a very specific creative field,
the chronological/historical is the most widely used and accepted resume
format. Most hiring manager and recruiters are accustomed to reviewing
material in this format. It is however, important to recognize that modern
technological advances would necessitate that every job seeker be prepared
to adapt their resume format and style to the situation at hand. This is
why we would also recommend having different versions of your resume that
are easily scannable, searchable by keywords, and/or in standard ASCII
text format for easy posting to job boards or job search engines.
The
Business Cared Resume
So, sticking to ink and paper, what new form might the resume take without
risking the disapproval of traditional employers? Fortune magazine
recently suggested that, for movers and shakers who do their
career-advancement networking at technology and venture capital
conferences, a business card resume might be just the ticket to the next
step in career development. During the self-introduction and handshake,
the ubiquitous business card is exchanged--but the flip side features a
brief but impressive history of past company affiliations, job titles, and
achievements. Since it is unwieldy to carry and pass out resumes at
professional and industry events, the business card resume would get your
contact information and a bit of tantalizing background information into
the hands of a recruiter or potential employer. From there, secondary
contact can be made and more details provided via the traditional resume
and cover letter.
The
Broadcast Resume
It isn't such a great leap to the next new format for transmitting your
qualifications--the "beamable" resume. Beamable resumes would be
broadcast via a hand-held device, with an extremely brief and cogent
summary of your contact information, qualifications, and experience. Just
imagine: Millions of these resumes will silently travel through the
airwaves of future conferences, business meetings, and power lunches.
No
matter the transmission media, certain resume elements remain paramount.
It must be well written, using effective short descriptions, phrases, and
high value-added action verbs that emphasize results. The language should
be tailored to the industry or profession of the position sought and
convey personal qualities that parallel the culture of the targeted
company or organization. Whether you embellish the presentation with a
colorful template or send it via the airwaves between two computers, you
must still communicate the skills, ability, and attitude to fit the
targeted position.
The
design and delivery of the resume may change, but its content will not.
Sheila
Kern, the principal of Kern Communications, has over 25 years of
experience in public policy, international trade and marketing, corporate
public affairs, career strategy and management, writing, editing, and
university program design.
Ten Tips for Writing An Effective Online Resume
Tips for Cover letter
Tips for Dressing
**courtesy** www.kalpoint.com Press
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