Every week, NETSHARE hosts Ask the Coach, a phone-in coaching session with leading career management experts. Here is an excerpt from a recent session with career coach Don Orlando .
This week’s career coach is veteran Don Orlando, who reminded callers that the resume can be a powerful tool when it is used properly.
As Don noted, the resume is one of the most misunderstood documents used in job search. It’s important for job seekers to understand its role and how it’s used by hiring managers and recruiters.
The Folklore of the Resume:
- It is arcane and has ever-changing rules as to what it looks like, the appropriate length, and what to include.
- It is used to Sell YOU! Which seems demeaning since you are not a bar or soap or bag of dog food.
- It is not something used to try to “game” the APS (applicant tracking system) used by companies and recruiters.
- It is not something that is full of traits, generalities, etc, that don’t differentiate you. These terms show mediocrity, e.g.: Works well in teams, Good team leader, conscientious, diligent, etc. (These can describe many people, including those who are flipping burgers and selling fries.)
The Resume Reality:
· Your resume explains who and what you are. It is the document that best describes who and what you are and clearly shows decision-makers where your value lies compared to their needs.
- It showcases your brand, vividly. Your resume should contain your pledge of value in the top-most section. This is how you intend to make your prospective employer money (or save them money)! You support this brand promise with stories and examples of your successes.
- Your resume demonstrates what problems you solve. Be sure that you dig deep to distinguish the symptoms from the real problems. And explain how you solved them.
- What were the results? Quantify your successes whenever you can. Use comparisons and show context.
- Are those successes transferrable? Be sure to show your successes in context.
You want to make the story told in your resume your story, not the company’s story. Use it to market your potential, not to serve as a history of your past accomplishments.
When done right, your resume can serve as a template for an outstanding interview. It will entice the interviewer to ask the right questions; those questions where you have prepared answers that show you can shine. The resume can be leveraged to not only get you the job, but also the pay you deserve.
