Have you ever been to a restaurant and ordered a dish that looked
appetizing on the menu, but once you actually tasted it you were
disappointed? This is probably what a hiring manager experiences when an
eye-catching resume with irrelevant content comes across their desk,
and it shows just how important it is to pay attention to both the look
and the actual content of your resume. Sure, your pretty resume graphics
might grab their initial attention. However, once they actually read
the resume, it becomes clear by your content that you may not be a good
fit for the position.
We should remember that a resume is essentially a marketing tool. Therefore, it needs to deliver a strong impact upon the reader. This is where your actual content comes in. Your content is what compels the reader to keep reading, and to possibly consider you for the position. Next, we'll discuss exactly how this is done.
Write from the Reader's Point of View
It is important to write from the reader's (usually the hiring manager's) point of view. When you read the job posting, ask yourself - what type of employee do they really want? What are the company values? What is the company culture? Some job postings will tell you exactly what the company values are, which makes it easy to speak to how your personality and credentials fit in with the company's culture. However, other postings may require that you research the company further and read between the lines of the job posting a bit. Let's decipher a few key phrases that you'll see frequently.
Example 1: "Must be independently motivated and energetic with a drive to succeed."
Translation: We don't want to hold your hand.
Example 2: "We are looking for candidates with excellent interpersonal communication skills, who can maintain confidentiality, who are able to work independently and who can present him/herself in a positive manner. You must have proper business telephone etiquette."
Translation: We want someone with experience in dealing with high - profile clients. You need the professionalism and image to impress.
Example 3: "Handles unusual situations and confidential information."
Translation: We need a front line professional who can think on their feet and handle possible irate or problem clients/customers with minimal supervision.
Keep it Interesting
Since you are writing your resume from the reader's point of view, it's obvious that you do not want to bore the reader. Going on and on about your accomplishments without tying them into the actual position and how your experience can benefit the employer will result in your resume ending up in "file 13". (i.e. the trashcan!) Keep your bullet points succinct and to the point, and don't overuse the verbs. The following is an example of a bland bullet point, and how to fix it.
Before: Managed all branch employees and headed the risk management department.
After: Managed daily operations of a growing branch with a primary focus on driving revenue growth, increasing profit, and managing risk.
See the difference? The first bullet point simply stated what the applicant did - that's it. The second bullet point not only states what the applicant's responsibilities were, but provided the details of how he/she went about accomplishing them and within what context.
Balance is the Goal
I certainly don't want you to come away from this article thinking that nice graphics and borders on your resume are a bad thing - to the contrary. A clean, aesthetically pleasing document is the "bait", but I also want to hit home the point of paying as much attention to your content as you do the look. In other words, there needs to be a balance between looks and substance here. Making sure that you keep an eye on both will increase the possibility of garnering more requests for interviews.
Marsha owns and operates Key Image Resumes in Phoenix, AZ, a
professional resume and curriculum vitae writing service. She brings
five years of expertise to the table, and believes in the importance of
using the ever-evolving talent acquisition trends to better position you
for success. She specializes in individuals who have been downsized and
who wish to leverage their skills in order to make a transition into a
new career. Key Image crafts targeted resumes to help market your skills
and accomplishments successfully. Marsha's creativity and desire to
help connect people with fulfilling careers helps her stand out from the
rest.
We should remember that a resume is essentially a marketing tool. Therefore, it needs to deliver a strong impact upon the reader. This is where your actual content comes in. Your content is what compels the reader to keep reading, and to possibly consider you for the position. Next, we'll discuss exactly how this is done.
Write from the Reader's Point of View
It is important to write from the reader's (usually the hiring manager's) point of view. When you read the job posting, ask yourself - what type of employee do they really want? What are the company values? What is the company culture? Some job postings will tell you exactly what the company values are, which makes it easy to speak to how your personality and credentials fit in with the company's culture. However, other postings may require that you research the company further and read between the lines of the job posting a bit. Let's decipher a few key phrases that you'll see frequently.
Example 1: "Must be independently motivated and energetic with a drive to succeed."
Translation: We don't want to hold your hand.
Example 2: "We are looking for candidates with excellent interpersonal communication skills, who can maintain confidentiality, who are able to work independently and who can present him/herself in a positive manner. You must have proper business telephone etiquette."
Translation: We want someone with experience in dealing with high - profile clients. You need the professionalism and image to impress.
Example 3: "Handles unusual situations and confidential information."
Translation: We need a front line professional who can think on their feet and handle possible irate or problem clients/customers with minimal supervision.
Keep it Interesting
Since you are writing your resume from the reader's point of view, it's obvious that you do not want to bore the reader. Going on and on about your accomplishments without tying them into the actual position and how your experience can benefit the employer will result in your resume ending up in "file 13". (i.e. the trashcan!) Keep your bullet points succinct and to the point, and don't overuse the verbs. The following is an example of a bland bullet point, and how to fix it.
Before: Managed all branch employees and headed the risk management department.
After: Managed daily operations of a growing branch with a primary focus on driving revenue growth, increasing profit, and managing risk.
See the difference? The first bullet point simply stated what the applicant did - that's it. The second bullet point not only states what the applicant's responsibilities were, but provided the details of how he/she went about accomplishing them and within what context.
Balance is the Goal
I certainly don't want you to come away from this article thinking that nice graphics and borders on your resume are a bad thing - to the contrary. A clean, aesthetically pleasing document is the "bait", but I also want to hit home the point of paying as much attention to your content as you do the look. In other words, there needs to be a balance between looks and substance here. Making sure that you keep an eye on both will increase the possibility of garnering more requests for interviews.
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