The resume bible
It seems that there are some significant shifts going on in our current economy, with Web 2.0 and corporate responsibility and downgrading. I have heard a half-dozen friends communicate some “job insecurities” lately.
Given this, I have a bit of knowledge to imbue from my experience in the staffing industry (years ago), reviewing dozens of resumes a day.
First, there is no such thing as the resume bible. Go with the gut. Take anything I or others say with a gain of salt.
Next, note that the true goal of a resume is not to get the job (that’s the end goal). The true goal is to get a meeting. So really, then, your resume should be a tease. Tease the reader with interesting things that will make them want to meet you. Get creative. NEVER go more than one page. They almost never read more than 12 seconds worth.
Put some recognizable names and quantifiable numbers in there. What brand names or celebrities have you supported? How much have you impacted sales, grown business or saved money?
Get rid of your home address. Do you really think anyone is going to write you a letter, saying “you’re hired?” Show them you have a modern resume with just your cell and an email.
Add some success stories in there. Create bullets of one sentence each, using what my friend Peter calls a “CAR”: Challenge, Action step, Result. Explain the challenge, describe the benefit of you being there and the action you took – and then show the bonafide $ or % that was the result of that action. Readers will then put on the hat of your success and see if that would solve their current challenge.
With that, you should not add bullet points under a position that include anything obvious about the job. Don’t state the obvious. If I see one more resume where a waiter/waitress tries to embellish on their fine serving skills…
Finally, customize your resume to every job posting to which you apply. Show them how perfect your experience applies. Nobody wants to “read into” what you really meant – and try to fit your square peg into their triangular hole.
