| Your resume is about
your future, not your past. Based on this principle,
keep in mind while writing your resume that your audience is the hiring
manager for the position mentioned in your job objective statement.
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Hit the Target
A targeted resume can get you considered by a hiring manager or search committee, while a general resume is apt to get lost in the pile of competing resumes. The key concept in writing a winning resume is to keep the focus on your job objective, which means you may need to tailor your resume each time you apply for a different job. Don't groan… revising your resume isn't that much work, and it's well worth your energy when you consider how much more effective your document will be in today's tough job market.
Consider Your Audience
In order to sell
yourself to this potential employer, create statements that are meaningful
to him or her. In some cases you may need to:
Use more generic
terminology to downplay the differences and emphasize the similarities
between your previous position and your job objective.
Example:
Brenda was a salesperson
who wanted to make a career change into elementary school teaching.
She tried to bridge the gap between her two careers by emphasizing the
common denominators of the two experiences.
Preferred version:
• Made
presentations to multicultural audiences, incorporating small group
activities and individual coaching to ensure that each person understood
the subject matter.
Instead of:
• Made
marketing presentations to corporate executives, achieving an average
of 34% more sales than fellow presenters.
Select the aspect
of the achievement that relates to the job objective.
Example:
As a horticulturist,
Patty was surprised to learn that the part of her job she liked the
most was answering client questions. When she wrote her resume for a
job as a travel agent, she emphasized her customer service skills and
downplayed her scientific expertise.
Preferred version:
• Assisted
customers in selecting from over 2,000 options by patiently answering
questions and educating them about costs and benefits.
Instead of:
• Provided
scientific information on thousands of plant species, as the lead
horticulturist of the country’s most prestigious botanical garden.
Prioritize your
statements so the one most relevant to your new job is first.
Example:
In her former job
as office manager, 75% of Andrea’s time was spent processing administrative
paperwork, and less than 25% on training and supervision. She wanted
to get a job as a corporate trainer. So she prioritized her achievement
statements to stress the training experience even though it was not
her primary responsibility.
Preferred version:
• Trained
13 employees on new automated accounting system, providing classroom
sessions, individual coaching, and written instructions.
• Led office to achieve “#1 Team” award by motivating
staff to take a customer service approach to all internal and external
interactions.
• Supervised administration of firm’s largest litigation
department with over 300 cases per week.
Instead of:
• Supervised
administration of firm’s largest litigation department with
over 300 cases per week.
• Led office to achieve “#1 Team” award by motivating
staff to take a customer service approach to all internal and external
interactions.
• Trained 13 employees on new automated accounting system, providing
classroom sessions, individual coaching, and written instructions.
© Copyright Susan Ireland, 2003-12. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
---------------------------------------------
About this author:
Susan
Ireland is the author of four job search books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect
Resume, now in its 5th edition. For more information
about writing your resume, read Susan's books or visit Susan's Website SusanIreland.com. For immediate help with your resume and cover letter, check out Susan's Ready
Made Resumes and Cover Letters, an online resume builder to help job seekers quickly create an effective resume. Follow Susan on Twitter @SusanIreland, visit her JobLounge blog, and interact with her on the LinkedIn's JOBS Group (Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections!) in her ** Let's Talk Resumes ** featured discussion. |
