Tuesday Tip October 16, 2012

Make your résumé unique to you and your current career goals

THERE IS NO ONE FORMAT THAT IS GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYONE

Photo from:  http://www.morguefile.com/creative/hyperlux

Typically, I compile information from a client and/or review their existing information:

          1.    Contact information, including photo, logo, or avatar
2.      Skills and Abilities
3.      Achievements
4.      Work History
5.      Education
6.      Groups, professional or community
7.      Presentations
8.      Papers/articles
9.      Certifications/special training

Next it is important to understand the career goal and any specifics regarding primary job target(s) – these may be very different or differ in only subtle ways.  The purpose of the résumé and/or goal of the job seeker is an integral part of formatting the résumé and presenting the various parts.

The Objective or Profile section really sets the tone for the rest of your résumé and should be carefully considered and formatted.  The reader should quickly get a feel for:

•  Who you are
• What you can do
• What kind of position/employer you want

Failure comes only when we forget our ideals and objectives and principles.
Jawaharlal Nehru

WHAT DOES A PROFILE OR OBJECTIVE LOOK LIKE?

This is more of a Profile:

“A results-driven, customer-focused, articulate and analytical Senior Software Engineer who can think “out of the box”. Strong in design and integration problem solving skills. Expert in Java, C#, .NET, and T-SQL with database analysis and design. Skilled in developing business plans, requirements specifications, user documentation, and architectural systems research. Strong written and verbal communications. Interested in a challenging technical track career in an application development    environment.”   Via http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/gettingthejob/a/SWE_Resume.htm

This is more of an Objective:

To obtain a software developer position that allows me to learn new technologies while utilizing my experience developing web-based applications as well as my knowledge of ASP, HTML, VBScript, and JavaScript.”  

Via http://www.jobbankusa.com/resumewrite/ResumeTemplates/software_developer_resume_template.html

Additional articles on Profiles and Objectives from other experts:

http://jzbcoaching.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/résumé-enhancer-the-profile-section/

http://www.peirce.edu/Current/Services/Careers/Résumés#objective

http://www.lookd.com/job-search/preparing.html

Other articles that may be of interest:

Should you use a Profile or Objective Section on your Résumé?

23 hours ago

I often get questions about what to include in a Profile or Objective section on a résumé. Instead, the questions should most often be should I use a Profile or Objective section on a résumé. Or more correctly: When should I use ...

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Oct 12, 2012

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Monday Mission: Consider a Profile or Objective Section on your Résumé?

Photo from:  http://www.morguefile.com/creative/carygrant

I often get questions about what to include in a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.  Instead, the questions should most often be should I use a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.  Or more correctly:  When should I use a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.

The differences are subtle, perhaps.  But, important!

Use an Objective section on a résumé when you are looking for something specific and you are certain that you want to limit your opportunity(ies) to a list of conditions  to which you are committed.

Use a Profile section on a résumé when you want a job and you have skills, abilities, and qualities to highlight for specific employers and/or positions.

THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG HERE

In fact, I would venture to say this is one of the most argued about topics among career and vocational experts!  How then can you decide which is right for you?

Personally, I think the Profile is safer.  To me, the Objective seems more limiting and one runs the risk of having an employer glance at this section and immediately decide that the employer goals do not match the applicant’s goals.

A Profile section feels a bit safer to me because it leaves a little room for the employer to infer that the applicant’s goal may be similar because they have at least some of the desired qualities.

Management by objective works - if you know the objectives. 

Ninety percent of the time you don't.  Peter Drucker 

HOW DO YOU WRITE AN OBJECTIVE OR PROFILE SECTION ON A RÉSUMÉ

You can write an objective statement by thinking about and presenting information about what is important to you in a position or from an employer.  Start by:

1.      Mapping out your ideal work day

2.    Listing tasks you would like to spend your day performing

3.    Noting where you would like to perform the job

4.    Defining what you want from an employer

5.     Alluding to the benefit to hiring you

After you are able to clearly communicate the above, put them together into a brief paragraph in a way that will convince an employer to continue reviewing your résumé.

You can write a Profile statement by thinking about your skills and abilities and qualities and presenting these in a way that will convince the employer to continue reviewing your résumé.  Start by:

1.      Reviewing the job requirements

2.    Noting your skills, abilities or qualities that most speak to the requirements

3.    Researching the employer’s culture

4.    Include qualities you have that make it clear you are a good fit for the company

5.     Alluding to the benefit to hiring you

After you are able to clearly communicate the above, put them together into a brief paragraph in a way that will convince an employer to continue reviewing your résumé.

Write both and think about which “feels” better to you.  If in doubt, I still recommend going with a Profile statement.

What type of section will best sell your unique skills and abilities?

Other articles that may be of interest:

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: How to develop a résumé

Oct 08, 2012

There are plenty of job search and résumé writing books out there. If you don't believe me check it out at any local library or book store. If you need a new résumé you can read them all and get conflicting advice and ...

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Tuesday Tip October 9, 2012

Oct 09, 2012

It is good to review your résumé regularly if you already have one. If you are still working on one, then these tips should also help you! As you look for work you are also learning what employers are looking for from job ...

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Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Friday Follow UP October 12, 2012

Oct 12, 2012

#Job Search #Tip Ask for Help http://ow.ly/emtYC It is hard for many of us to ask for help. BUT, none of us can do everything equally... #Job Search #Tip Review your résumé http://buff.ly/Qckn6T It is good to review your résumé ...

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Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Make Your Resume as Good as ...

Jan 27, 2012

Make Your Resume as Good as Possible. Make Your Resume as Good as Possible - http://pulse.me/s/5ofc7. Posted by Mary ... I am soaking with some best stuff!Exactly what i was looking for my Resume Format. ReplyDelete ...

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How to develop a résumé

Photo by kennkiser@yahoo.com

There are plenty of job search and résumé writing books out there.  If you don’t believe me check it out at any local library or book store.  If you need a new résumé you can read them all and get conflicting advice and information that does not apply to you.

Or, you can work with a career expert or résumé writer and pay relatively little for something that is going to be unique to your goals and your skills, abilities and achievements.

AN EXPERT CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR FUTURE 

Many clients expect that a career expert or résumé writer can just whip up a résumé for them.  In actuality, it takes a lot of interaction and sometimes a good deal of research to really sell a client on paper. 

That is what a résumé should do for you:  Sell you to an employer. An employer should be able to pick up your résumé and in just a few seconds (6 to 10 seconds according to most) decide to put you in the keep pile.

From there, the employer will review your résumé further to determine if you should be added to the to be interviewed pile.  This is of course the hope of each applicant and the reason your résumé is so crucial to your job search. 

YOU CAN GET STARTED ON DEVELOPING YOUR RÉSUMÉ

There are a few things you can do on your own. Hopefully you will choose to work with an expert at some point, but even if you don't you can improve your résumé.  If you do consult an expert then he or she will better be able to help you.

How to start to develop a résumé:

1. Have a goal in mind - will you be applying for one specific type of job or several
2. Know what employers are looking for in your chosen field or industry
3. Spell out any acronyms and be able to explain jargon in plain English
4. Focus more on your skills, abilities, and achievements
5. Determine your dates of employment
6. List out all special training and education, even if you didn't get a certificate per se
7. Include any appropriate social media sites

If you do these few things it will go a long way toward enabling an expert to help you!

What is keeping you from working with an expert on your résumé?

Other articles that may be of interest:

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Resume Examples

Feb 19, 2012

Resume Examples - http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2012/02/18/resume-examples.htm. Posted by ...Testimonials... Mary Sevinsky did an absolutely wonderful job making my resume professional and more comprehensible.

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Make Your Resume as Good as ...

Jan 27, 2012

Make Your Resume as Good as Possible - http://pulse.me/s/5ofc7. Posted by Mary ... With only one submission of my resume, I have a temporary job at Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). The job I received is a ...

http://jobsearchfortherestofus.blogspot.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Monday Mission October 1, 2012

Oct 01, 2012

If the case is that you are overwhelmed then you will only benefit from whittling away at the mountain of job search tasks at hand. If you are fearful of sending out an imperfect resume, cover letter, or resume then it is important ...

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Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Luck of the Draw - Some Tips to Get ...

Sep 10, 2012

The best laid plan, a perfect match on job experience and a great resume won't matter if you are too late for the opportunity or your resume does not get seen. Let's face it, if your resume shows up the day after the job is filled it ...

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

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