Scott Nelson, founder of Medsider.com interviewed Sue Sarkesian, Co-founder of The Resume Group a few weeks ago. They had a fascinating, very candid conversation about the mistakes people make on their resumes, as well as how to put together a great elevator pitch, critical job search strategies, the ins-and-outs of applicant tracking systems, and how to leverage LinkedIn as an important, strategic element in the job search.
Check out this really informative interview at www.medsider.com/interviews/. I promise, you'll be very glad you did.
Then, if you like, email your current resume to sue@theresumegroup.com for a no-cost, no-obligation resume evaluation and market analysis. If you're looking at ways to advance your career in the medical device space or in any other sector, the tips provided by Sue in this interview will help you get started.
If you find you need help putting together your resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profile, and search strategy, The Resume Group is there to provide the professional experience and expertise you need to take your professional image to the next level.
We wish you the best in your job search, and if we can help in any way, let us know!
Showing posts with label personal branding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal branding. Show all posts
Monday, May 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Waiting To Inhale...Your Resume!
That's what an Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) does. It "inhales" your resume, sorts your personal and professional information, and looks for specific keywords that match job descriptions. In this very tough job market, hiring managers and recruiters are inundated with hundreds of resumes for every opening, and they just don't have the resources to read each one and select the most qualified candidates. So, the ATS does it for them. The problem is, the ATS is NOT looking for ways to include you – it's looking for ways to filter you out of the candidate pool. So how do you conquer the ATS challenge to get your resume actually seen – and read?
The obvious answer is to stuff your resume chock-full of as many keywords and as much industry jargon as you possibly can, right? Maybe even stick a giant keyword paragraph on at the end. Good ideas, right? Wrong. Most ATS's will reject resumes that don't have enough keywords, but some ALSO discard resumes that have too may keywords. It's important to have the right balance of the right keywords in your resume.
So what's the answer? First, read job descriptions. Read some more, and then read a few more. Read as many job descriptions as you can for the type of position you want, pick out the right keywords - the ones that match your background, experience and expertise, and write your resume so that your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the job description. Of course, it also has to be true and accurate. Many ATS's now automatically check details like degrees and even employment dates, so don't lie. Give yourself the best chance of getting your resume seen by making sure your is keyword rich, with the right balance of keywords to make the ATS cut!
The obvious answer is to stuff your resume chock-full of as many keywords and as much industry jargon as you possibly can, right? Maybe even stick a giant keyword paragraph on at the end. Good ideas, right? Wrong. Most ATS's will reject resumes that don't have enough keywords, but some ALSO discard resumes that have too may keywords. It's important to have the right balance of the right keywords in your resume.
So what's the answer? First, read job descriptions. Read some more, and then read a few more. Read as many job descriptions as you can for the type of position you want, pick out the right keywords - the ones that match your background, experience and expertise, and write your resume so that your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the job description. Of course, it also has to be true and accurate. Many ATS's now automatically check details like degrees and even employment dates, so don't lie. Give yourself the best chance of getting your resume seen by making sure your is keyword rich, with the right balance of keywords to make the ATS cut!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Take Your Resume From Drab to Fab - Critical Steps to Make Your Resume Resonate
Your resume is probably pretty good. You've doubtless done a fair job of outlining your skills, your experience, and your contributions. You've labored over getting all the right key words in there; you've proofread your resume over and over again to make certain there are no typos, no grammatical errors, and no red flags that would cause a potential employer to eliminate you from the running. You've toiled long and hard to carefully craft your resume for one purpose and one purpose only - to get the job you want, right? Wrong. A pretty good resume is going to get you nowhere, especially in this job market. Your resume has to blow them away.
Your resume is a marketing piece. You're writing ad copy. You're making the most important sales pitch of your life, and you have to sell the product (you) better than anyone else. You have to be the product everyone wants to buy and you have to create excitement around your personal brand. I'm sure you've heard this all before. The question is, how do you present your story in an authentic, credible way and at the same time convince a potential employer to "buy" your product? How do you differentiate yourself in the market and make your resume the one that gets to the top of the stack? How do you influence the hiring manager's buying decision?
Here are a few things to think about for your sales pitch:
1) Its Not All About You. Zero in on what the potential employer wants to buy, and position yourself to be the product that employer must have. Read a few dozen job descriptions for your dream job. Target the qualifications, key phrases, and requirements, yes - but go further. Focus on the "sizzle" the employer may have put in the job description. Look for the kinds of personality traits and individual qualities they may be looking for in the person they want to fill that role within their organization.
2) Differentiate Yourself. Think about the professional competencies and skills you bring to the table, of course. But what exceptional talents, knowledge, and aptitudes make you stand out from your peers? What have managers said about you in performance evaluations? What have former employers seen in you that made you remarkable to them? What personality traits do you possess that have helped you succeed throughout your career?
3) Back Up Your Claims. Potential employers want to know that you understand the tangible value you've brought to organizations - and they want to know what you can do for them. Why should they "buy" you? Can you make them money? Can you save them money? Can you improve processes? Increase market share? Boost productivity? Find new markets? Bring fresh ideas to product development? Prove it! Don't say you increased revenue - knock them out with how much you improved sales. Don't say you reduced costs - wow them with the numbers.
4) The X-Factor. Don't forget to add awards and professional affiliations, but also mention any civic or community activities. Potential employers like to know the product they're buying will go a little further and do a little more than expected. They want to know the person they're hiring understands the value of giving back.
Employers are on a quest for the best - in this economy, they can't afford to make hiring mistakes. The competition for every job is unbelievably fierce. Don't let a pretty good resume blow your chances. Close the deal with a resume that makes the sale.
Your resume is a marketing piece. You're writing ad copy. You're making the most important sales pitch of your life, and you have to sell the product (you) better than anyone else. You have to be the product everyone wants to buy and you have to create excitement around your personal brand. I'm sure you've heard this all before. The question is, how do you present your story in an authentic, credible way and at the same time convince a potential employer to "buy" your product? How do you differentiate yourself in the market and make your resume the one that gets to the top of the stack? How do you influence the hiring manager's buying decision?
Here are a few things to think about for your sales pitch:
1) Its Not All About You. Zero in on what the potential employer wants to buy, and position yourself to be the product that employer must have. Read a few dozen job descriptions for your dream job. Target the qualifications, key phrases, and requirements, yes - but go further. Focus on the "sizzle" the employer may have put in the job description. Look for the kinds of personality traits and individual qualities they may be looking for in the person they want to fill that role within their organization.
2) Differentiate Yourself. Think about the professional competencies and skills you bring to the table, of course. But what exceptional talents, knowledge, and aptitudes make you stand out from your peers? What have managers said about you in performance evaluations? What have former employers seen in you that made you remarkable to them? What personality traits do you possess that have helped you succeed throughout your career?
3) Back Up Your Claims. Potential employers want to know that you understand the tangible value you've brought to organizations - and they want to know what you can do for them. Why should they "buy" you? Can you make them money? Can you save them money? Can you improve processes? Increase market share? Boost productivity? Find new markets? Bring fresh ideas to product development? Prove it! Don't say you increased revenue - knock them out with how much you improved sales. Don't say you reduced costs - wow them with the numbers.
4) The X-Factor. Don't forget to add awards and professional affiliations, but also mention any civic or community activities. Potential employers like to know the product they're buying will go a little further and do a little more than expected. They want to know the person they're hiring understands the value of giving back.
Employers are on a quest for the best - in this economy, they can't afford to make hiring mistakes. The competition for every job is unbelievably fierce. Don't let a pretty good resume blow your chances. Close the deal with a resume that makes the sale.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
How To Write a Bad Resume
As a professional resume writer with more than 15 years of experience, I've seen thousands of resumes. Some are good, of course, but some are just downright horrific. We all know that a resume, no matter how great it is, isn't going to get you a job. Your resume only gives you a shot at getting an interview. A bad resume takes away the chance that you'll even get that far. So, I've decided to put together a list of just a few of the things that make for a really bad resume. By avoiding these pitfalls, you might improve your odds of getting in the door for an interview. Then it's up to you to seal the deal.
1) Focusing on responsibilities, not achievements. Your resume is a sales tool. It's your marketing piece. You're selling a product (you) to a buyer (employer). Get them to see the features and benefits you offer. Why should any prospective employer "buy" you as opposed to any of the other products (candidates) out there? By highlighting your achievements, in quantifiable ways, you give potential employers a reason to want to hire you.
Example: Resume #1 says, "Exceeded sales objectives"
Resume #2 says, "Delivered 137% of sales goal, outpacing 122 reps nationwide"
Which candidate do you want to interview?
2) Putting anything in your resume that you might have to back-peddle from in an interview. In other words, don't exaggerate, don't lie, and don't inflate your achievements.
Example: "Ranked in the Top 10 of all sales executives in the country". Great – now when the interviewer asks you how many sales executives there were, and you have to say "10", you look idiotic and there's zero chance you're getting that job.
3) Using acronyms like alphabet soup. Like everything else, there's a time and place for acronyms. Some have become a part of our business vernacular and it's OK to use them (i.e. HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). But be careful about tossing around acronyms. Some can have several meanings, so it's probably a good idea to spell out your use of the acronym once in the resume (i.e. ABC – it can mean Activity-Based Costing, Always Be Closing, or Anything But Chardonnay – make sure a potential employer knows which one you mean).
4) Using different fonts. I have seen resumes with at least 10 different fonts, in 6 different sizes, and a wild array of bold, italics, small caps, colors, and even flashing special effects. Don't do it. Use one font, and make it one that most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will recognize – Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgia are all good, standard fonts. Use Bold and Italics sparingly – and some ATS have a hard time with Italics - so only use them if you think they're absolutely necessary.
5) Listing your reason for leaving each job. Just one word. Don't. No matter why you left, whether it was a layoff, downsizing, restructuring, firing, or voluntary, it's going to be perceived as a negative. Better to leave this discussion for the interview.
6) Using your current company email address or phone number as your contact information. No employer wants to think that you would use company resources for your job search, so don't use your current employer's phone number or email address on your resume. It will doom your chances of getting an interview. Make sure the outgoing message on your cell phone or home phone sounds professional, and open a professional-sounding gmail or hotmail account for your job search.
Today's job market is more challenging than ever before. If your resume isn't better than everyone else's out there, you don't stand a chance of landing the job you want. Make sure you're giving yourself every opportunity to sell yourself in an interview.
1) Focusing on responsibilities, not achievements. Your resume is a sales tool. It's your marketing piece. You're selling a product (you) to a buyer (employer). Get them to see the features and benefits you offer. Why should any prospective employer "buy" you as opposed to any of the other products (candidates) out there? By highlighting your achievements, in quantifiable ways, you give potential employers a reason to want to hire you.
Example: Resume #1 says, "Exceeded sales objectives"
Resume #2 says, "Delivered 137% of sales goal, outpacing 122 reps nationwide"
Which candidate do you want to interview?
2) Putting anything in your resume that you might have to back-peddle from in an interview. In other words, don't exaggerate, don't lie, and don't inflate your achievements.
Example: "Ranked in the Top 10 of all sales executives in the country". Great – now when the interviewer asks you how many sales executives there were, and you have to say "10", you look idiotic and there's zero chance you're getting that job.
3) Using acronyms like alphabet soup. Like everything else, there's a time and place for acronyms. Some have become a part of our business vernacular and it's OK to use them (i.e. HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). But be careful about tossing around acronyms. Some can have several meanings, so it's probably a good idea to spell out your use of the acronym once in the resume (i.e. ABC – it can mean Activity-Based Costing, Always Be Closing, or Anything But Chardonnay – make sure a potential employer knows which one you mean).
4) Using different fonts. I have seen resumes with at least 10 different fonts, in 6 different sizes, and a wild array of bold, italics, small caps, colors, and even flashing special effects. Don't do it. Use one font, and make it one that most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) will recognize – Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgia are all good, standard fonts. Use Bold and Italics sparingly – and some ATS have a hard time with Italics - so only use them if you think they're absolutely necessary.
5) Listing your reason for leaving each job. Just one word. Don't. No matter why you left, whether it was a layoff, downsizing, restructuring, firing, or voluntary, it's going to be perceived as a negative. Better to leave this discussion for the interview.
6) Using your current company email address or phone number as your contact information. No employer wants to think that you would use company resources for your job search, so don't use your current employer's phone number or email address on your resume. It will doom your chances of getting an interview. Make sure the outgoing message on your cell phone or home phone sounds professional, and open a professional-sounding gmail or hotmail account for your job search.
Today's job market is more challenging than ever before. If your resume isn't better than everyone else's out there, you don't stand a chance of landing the job you want. Make sure you're giving yourself every opportunity to sell yourself in an interview.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Four Myths About Resumes
There are a lot of myths about resumes - here's four of the most common resume myths that should go away - now.
1) Everyone Should Write Their Own Resume. Of course you can write your own resume, but should you? No one knows your career, skills, accomplishments and experience better than you. But are you trained to know how to take that information and distill it into a succinct, well-articulated marketing tool? Will the resume you create differentiate you in the market and get you to the top of the must-interview list?
A professional resume writer can ask the right questions, bring out essential information, and create a powerful, compelling document that really zeroes in on your unique skills and achievements. A professional resume writer can develop a resume that positions you for the job you want - which is not necessarily the job you currently have. You're smart enough to hire a qualified specialist when you need a new roof or a tune-up on your car. Make sure your resume gets the same expert attention!
2) A Longer Resume is More Impressive. I don’t' know why this myth continues to perpetuate, but somehow it does. We are an instant-gratification society and nobody is going to wade through more than a page or two of information. So edit, edit again, and then edit some more.
In fact, in today's Blackberry, I-Phone, Twitter world, potential employers just might be looking at your resume on a screen no larger than a credit card. You may want to create a quick-to-read, introductory version of your resume that is no longer than a paragraph or two - yes, a Personal Branding Statement. Develop an "elevator pitch" of just a sentence or two that hits the highlights of your skill set and experience, as well as a key achievement or two. If your profile statement takes more than 30 seconds to read, it's probably too long. Have your longer, more detailed resume ready to send as a follow-up.
3) Include Every Job You've Ever Had. Once you've been out in the workforce for more than a year, you can safely eliminate high-school babysitting jobs and part-time summer stints at the local fast-food joint. Employers want to focus on your most recent jobs and accomplishments, so it's generally best to condense experience older than 10 or 15 years into just a line or two. As an added advantange, you'll create space in the document to strengthen the impact of your resume by expanding on your most recent experience.
4) I Don't Need a Resume - I'll Network to Get My Next Job. There's no question that networking is a key part of any successful job search strategy. In fact, up to 80% of jobs are never advertised, and most people leverage their network connections to get introduced to decision makers inside companies where they want to work. But then what? Sending an up-to-date resume is normally the next step in the process. If nothing else, having a great resume will help you clarify and crystallize your professional story in your own mind, and that translates into confident responses when a potential employer asks about your background.
Obviously, your resume won't get you a job. You're the one who has to sell yourself in an interview. The trick is actually getting the interview. Give yourself every advantage in the job search process. A professionally developed, concise, targeted resume is one of the most crucial tools in your search arsenal. A great resume can get the interview so you can get the job you deserve!
1) Everyone Should Write Their Own Resume. Of course you can write your own resume, but should you? No one knows your career, skills, accomplishments and experience better than you. But are you trained to know how to take that information and distill it into a succinct, well-articulated marketing tool? Will the resume you create differentiate you in the market and get you to the top of the must-interview list?
A professional resume writer can ask the right questions, bring out essential information, and create a powerful, compelling document that really zeroes in on your unique skills and achievements. A professional resume writer can develop a resume that positions you for the job you want - which is not necessarily the job you currently have. You're smart enough to hire a qualified specialist when you need a new roof or a tune-up on your car. Make sure your resume gets the same expert attention!
2) A Longer Resume is More Impressive. I don’t' know why this myth continues to perpetuate, but somehow it does. We are an instant-gratification society and nobody is going to wade through more than a page or two of information. So edit, edit again, and then edit some more.
In fact, in today's Blackberry, I-Phone, Twitter world, potential employers just might be looking at your resume on a screen no larger than a credit card. You may want to create a quick-to-read, introductory version of your resume that is no longer than a paragraph or two - yes, a Personal Branding Statement. Develop an "elevator pitch" of just a sentence or two that hits the highlights of your skill set and experience, as well as a key achievement or two. If your profile statement takes more than 30 seconds to read, it's probably too long. Have your longer, more detailed resume ready to send as a follow-up.
3) Include Every Job You've Ever Had. Once you've been out in the workforce for more than a year, you can safely eliminate high-school babysitting jobs and part-time summer stints at the local fast-food joint. Employers want to focus on your most recent jobs and accomplishments, so it's generally best to condense experience older than 10 or 15 years into just a line or two. As an added advantange, you'll create space in the document to strengthen the impact of your resume by expanding on your most recent experience.
4) I Don't Need a Resume - I'll Network to Get My Next Job. There's no question that networking is a key part of any successful job search strategy. In fact, up to 80% of jobs are never advertised, and most people leverage their network connections to get introduced to decision makers inside companies where they want to work. But then what? Sending an up-to-date resume is normally the next step in the process. If nothing else, having a great resume will help you clarify and crystallize your professional story in your own mind, and that translates into confident responses when a potential employer asks about your background.
Obviously, your resume won't get you a job. You're the one who has to sell yourself in an interview. The trick is actually getting the interview. Give yourself every advantage in the job search process. A professionally developed, concise, targeted resume is one of the most crucial tools in your search arsenal. A great resume can get the interview so you can get the job you deserve!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The WOW Factor
Imagine you are a hiring manager.
You're sitting behind your desk, its about 3:45 P.M., and you're getting ready to review the 237th résumé of the day.
Your eyes feel like sandpaper, you're starving, you're grouchy and if you see "References Available Upon Request" one more time, you're going to make somebody eat those words - seriously.
So you pick up the next résumé, heave another huge sigh of boredom and wish - for the 237th time today - that this résumé is different. That this résumé is the one you can't put down. That this résumé is from a candidate that gets it. That this résumé is from someone who's résumé is geared to what the hiring manager wants - not what the candidate wants.
Now - let's assume you have all the experience, skills, education and credentials necessary for the job.
What does a hiring manager think when she or he takes a look at your résumé? What in your résumé makes them want to get you in for an interview as soon as possible? What do you offer that the other 236 candidates don't? What differentiates you in the résumé market?
Your résumé has to tell your story in a way that makes you the high-end, upscale, exciting product - the unique brand the hiring manager has to buy, no matter how much it costs.
How do you get your story across in a way that showcases you in that way?
Here's how:
Know what the hot-button issues and challenges are in your field and show that you know how to address them.
Know what people in your business are talking about right now and talk about those topics.
Know what everybody who's anybody in your professional arena sees as the newest and greatest technologies, the up-and-coming products, the untapped markets and the high-profit potential opportunities - and talk about them in your résumé.
Show you know what's hot and what's not. If you can prove you have any experience or expertise in any of the latest hot topic areas, show it.
Make your résumé the one that gets the hiring manager out from behind the desk and running down the hall to the HR Director - to get you in for the interview. Good Luck!
You're sitting behind your desk, its about 3:45 P.M., and you're getting ready to review the 237th résumé of the day.
Your eyes feel like sandpaper, you're starving, you're grouchy and if you see "References Available Upon Request" one more time, you're going to make somebody eat those words - seriously.
So you pick up the next résumé, heave another huge sigh of boredom and wish - for the 237th time today - that this résumé is different. That this résumé is the one you can't put down. That this résumé is from a candidate that gets it. That this résumé is from someone who's résumé is geared to what the hiring manager wants - not what the candidate wants.
Now - let's assume you have all the experience, skills, education and credentials necessary for the job.
What does a hiring manager think when she or he takes a look at your résumé? What in your résumé makes them want to get you in for an interview as soon as possible? What do you offer that the other 236 candidates don't? What differentiates you in the résumé market?
Your résumé has to tell your story in a way that makes you the high-end, upscale, exciting product - the unique brand the hiring manager has to buy, no matter how much it costs.
How do you get your story across in a way that showcases you in that way?
Here's how:
Know what the hot-button issues and challenges are in your field and show that you know how to address them.
Know what people in your business are talking about right now and talk about those topics.
Know what everybody who's anybody in your professional arena sees as the newest and greatest technologies, the up-and-coming products, the untapped markets and the high-profit potential opportunities - and talk about them in your résumé.
Show you know what's hot and what's not. If you can prove you have any experience or expertise in any of the latest hot topic areas, show it.
Make your résumé the one that gets the hiring manager out from behind the desk and running down the hall to the HR Director - to get you in for the interview. Good Luck!
Monday, June 16, 2008
What Does Your Resume Have to do to GET the Interview?
Writing a résumé that provides information about your credentials, experience and accomplishments is the easy part.
Writing a résumé that forces a hiring manager to pick up the phone - NOW - and invite you in for an interview - PRONTO - is a whole other question.
What do Hiring Managers want, anyway?
Simple - they want:
1) Clarity – they want your story - clear, concise and in a format they can easily read.
2) Criteria - they want a candidate that meets their hiring requirements. They want to see the qualifications, education and experience needed for the job they're trying to fill.
3) Correctness – no "gilding the lily". They want a truthful, accurate picture of who you are, what you can do, and where you did it. They don't want typos, spelling errors or grammar mistakes.
So, if all things in the résumés of two job applicants were essentially equal, why would a hiring manager contact one candidate for the interview over another?
It's all about how you sell your personal brand. It's the things that make you the "must-have" candidate that everyone wants to interview.
You have to create a sense of excitement – a buzz – around your brand. Remember, a résumé is a marketing tool. It has to highlight your strengths and your contributions in a way that make YOU the standout applicant.
You have to tell the story of your professional life in a compelling and powerful way. When I work with clients on rewriting their résumés, I ask them to run the "so what" test on every single sentence. Here's how the "so what" test works: read each line in your résumé, then ask yourself, "so what? Would someone hire me because of this?" If the line is a reason to hire you, great – leave it in. If it's not, you should probably take it out.
Hiring managers and recruiters see and scan thousands of résumés every month.
Make your résumé the one they actually READ – and GET the interview!
Writing a résumé that forces a hiring manager to pick up the phone - NOW - and invite you in for an interview - PRONTO - is a whole other question.
What do Hiring Managers want, anyway?
Simple - they want:
1) Clarity – they want your story - clear, concise and in a format they can easily read.
2) Criteria - they want a candidate that meets their hiring requirements. They want to see the qualifications, education and experience needed for the job they're trying to fill.
3) Correctness – no "gilding the lily". They want a truthful, accurate picture of who you are, what you can do, and where you did it. They don't want typos, spelling errors or grammar mistakes.
So, if all things in the résumés of two job applicants were essentially equal, why would a hiring manager contact one candidate for the interview over another?
It's all about how you sell your personal brand. It's the things that make you the "must-have" candidate that everyone wants to interview.
You have to create a sense of excitement – a buzz – around your brand. Remember, a résumé is a marketing tool. It has to highlight your strengths and your contributions in a way that make YOU the standout applicant.
You have to tell the story of your professional life in a compelling and powerful way. When I work with clients on rewriting their résumés, I ask them to run the "so what" test on every single sentence. Here's how the "so what" test works: read each line in your résumé, then ask yourself, "so what? Would someone hire me because of this?" If the line is a reason to hire you, great – leave it in. If it's not, you should probably take it out.
Hiring managers and recruiters see and scan thousands of résumés every month.
Make your résumé the one they actually READ – and GET the interview!
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