Creating a Resume Hors d'oeuvre

Tempt Their Palate and Leave Them Hungry for More

By Rita Hess

If you already have a great job, you may think you don't need a resume. Think again. Regardless of where you live or what industry you work in, there is no such thing as "job security."

You may walk into your office tomorrow and find out the company is downsizing. You may decide next month that you're tired of working 60-hour weeks and are ready for a position that allows you more family time. You may be leisurely surfing the Internet some weekend and discover a posting for your Dream Job. Or maybe you're looking for work now but haven't landed a single interview. In any case, why not mix up a fresh batch of ingredients for your old resume?

~ ~

Did you know that the purpose of a resume is NOT to get you a job? It's true! A resume should convince an employer that your strengths align with their needs, and yet not tell them everything there is to know about you. Consider it a scrumptious hors d'oeuvre, something to wet the palate of prospective employers and leave them wanting more...at which point they call you in for interview.

Great resumes contain four categories:

1. A Profile consisting of 4-5 sentences that give an overview of your qualifications and expertise, and tells readers exactly what you can do for them.
2. Employment History or Work Experience that is usually listed chronologically (most recent position first) and includes your job title, company name, city/state, dates of employment, and accomplishments.
3. Your Education (or Training), which includes not only diplomas, but also related licenses, or certificates pertaining to the job opening.
4. Special Skills, like second languages, awards, scholarships, extracurricular activities, and professional organizations if they demonstrate skills or achievements that relate to the position.

Review the job description of the position you are applying for when creating your Profile and listing your Experience and Education. Try to use the exact words and phrases in your resume as they used in the advertisement or provide appropriate examples that parallel their needs. For example, if they want someone who is "goal oriented", list something on your resume that demonstrates you are a goal oriented individual.

Most experts agree your Profile should be first. Why? Hiring managers may have hundreds of resumes to look at. Yours had better grab their attention in the first 30 seconds or they will move on to the next one in the stack. A good profile looks something like this:

• Stock and bond issuance
• Business unit operating plans
• Risk management

In the above example, the applicant knew from the newspaper advertisement that international experience was required and the hiring company was particularly interested in individuals who were familiar with stock and bond issuance. The profile statement suggests a match between employer needs and employee qualifications.

Next, list Employment History or Education depending on what is most relevant to the job opening. If the employer is trying to fill a vacancy that requires network management and that is part of your current responsibilities, put your Employment History first. But what if they require an MBA with five years of business management experience? When you have the degree but only one year on the job, list your Education first.

Even more important than whether you list Employment History first or second is how you phrase the contents. Besides telling whom you worked for and when, you must specify what you did and how well you did it. Consider the following statements.

• Saved money by purchasing widget parts in bulk.
• Negotiated blanket purchasing contract for 2,000,000 widgets, resulting in a 20% cost savings per completed gadget.
• Integrated bulk purchasing program which resulted in annual production savings of $250,000.

In the second and third example, you provide two things: your actions (you negotiated, you integrated) and the concrete, measurable results (20% and $250,000) that were achieved as a result of those actions. So rather than just listing job duties, compose sentences that begin with an action verb (created, analyzed, produced) and explain the results. When numbers (how many, how long, what percentage, how much money) aren't available, use words like "substantial" or "significant." Vary your sentence lengths and search a thesaurus for synonyms so your words aren't repeated too often or too close together within the document.

Use the same descriptive strategy to state your job title. Don't just say you were a Customer Service Representative. Say that you were a Customer Service Representative who successfully handled over 100 telephone calls each day. Add that you were selected as Outstanding Rep three times this year for handling more incoming calls than any of the other 50 employees (or a similarly appropriate accomplishment). Remember, though, that anything you list can be turned into an interview question later or you may be asked to provide proof of what you claim.

In the Special Skills category, it is fine to list the dates you earned the diplomas, certifications, or licenses, but do not include information unless it is relevant to the open position. Who cares if you have a pilot's license when you are applying for a job as a stock trader?

Regardless of what order you put the categories in, make your resume visually appealing and simple to follow. Use a 10-or 12-point font like Times New Roman or Arial, and italicized or bold type and bullets for category headings. Leave adequate space in both margins, at the top and bottom, and between categories to allow a "resting place" for the eyes.

When finished, edit and proofread the document and eliminate every word that does not add value to your resume. Finally, have a friend read it to you aloud and listen for repetitiousness or awkward statements.

~ ~

The following web sites have sample resumes to jumpstart your resume overhaul.

() JobSmart (http://www.jobsmart.org/tools/resume/index.htm)

() ResumePro (http://www.resumepro.com/index.html)

() Headhunter.net (http://www.headhunter.net/Jobseeker/careerbytes/hints0399a.htm

() Career-Resumes (http://www.career-resumes.com/resume_samples.html)

Additional Resume Guidelines

• Limit your resume to one page. Do not use graphics, pictures, or fancy borders.
• Keep an updated resume on your PC so you can quickly modify it to match the needs of a prospective employer.
• Always send a cover letter.
• Use a laser printer and high-quality white or ivory paper.
• If you include references, list them on a separate sheet. In addition to past and present employers, list co-workers, vendors, and members of professional clubs can testify to your work ethic, ability to work under stress, and your communication skills.
• Leave salary requirements out of your resume. If your resume is effective, you can discuss salary when a job offer is made.