 What
is the best kind of resume?
There is no one
best kind. The best resume is one that works
best.
That's
obvious, isn't it?
It should be, but
most of the resumes I've seen aren't designed
with that "obvious" purpose in mind.
They read like an obituary, simply listing jobs,
duties and education. They are dull, boring and
dead. What they aren't, typically, is an
advertisement to catch attention and stimulate
interest.
But isn't a
resume supposed to tell your work history?
Says who? If a
work history produces interviews, fine.
Otherwise, no. A history or chronological resume
can be effective for people who fit into a neat
category. For example, if you have always worked
as an accountant and want another job as an
accountant, a work history may be appropriate.
Even so, there are some pitfalls to avoid.
Like what?
Like length.
Anything more than a page or so won't be read.
Like job duties. Anyone reading your resume
probably knows what the duties of an accountant,
or whatever, are. Instead of just listing
duties, describe your accomplishments! Show how
you have helped your employers. The typical
resume says nothing about whether you did your
job well or not, just that you did it.
What if you
don't have any spectacular successes?
That's okay. An
accomplishment doesn't have to be major, just
any task you performed well that helped your
employer. There is no better way to prove you
can help prospective employers solve their
problems than to mention results you have
produced in the past. Further, in listing
accomplishments, you are not bragging, just
stating facts. The reader will believe whatever
their own conclusions are about those facts.
They will doubt it if they hear from you how
great you are. Accomplishments push an
employer's hot buttons buy focusing on what is
in it for them in hiring you.
What else can
a resume be, if not a history?
It can be an advertisement
for you. Often, the most effective resume is one
that shows what you can do for an employer, not
just where you have been. A good resume embodies
the "advertising theme" for your
self-marketing campaign. It communicates a
simple, clear, accurate, positive message
emphasizing the benefits an employer will gain
by hiring you. It is often best organized around
skills, not jobs. For example, the main headings
for a manager's resume might be: Decision Making
and Problem Solving;, Planning and Organizing;
and Communication and Directing. Relevant
accomplishments from several jobs are listed
under each of these headings, proving you have
that skill. A brief history of jobs and
schooling might be at the bottom of the page.
This can all fits on one page, is more memorable
and it leads them to their own conclusion that
you are good at what you do.
How do you
know what skills to emphasize?
Figure out what
your prospective employer is looking for, then
emphasize that.
What if
different job skills are wanted for various
jobs?
Then you need
more than one resume. Ideally, you should have a
unique resume for each prospective employer.
That's a lot
of trouble, isn't it?
Not really. With
word processing, it is easy to make different
resumes once you have developed a list of accomplishments.
Besides, if you are using your resume properly,
you will not need many of them. The most
important purpose of a resume is to think
through your image, or "unique selling
proposition". In an effective job search,
the resume is mainly a script to use in talking
about yourself. The best time to give your
resume is at the end of the interview as a
tangible reminder of the message you have been
conveying.
You're saying
that people rely too much on resumes?
Exactly! But
that's another story.
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