Don't Let Perfection be the Enemy of a Good Resume

If you are a high achiever looking for a new job, this blog posting is for you. Have you written 80% of your resume but you are stuck on the last 20%? Are you paralyzed by your need to make your resume perfect? It's likely you are letting "the perfect be the enemy of the good."  This is an aphorism attributed to the writings of the French philosopher Voltaire, who recognized the dangers of perfectionism more than two centuries ago. 

Our need to achieve absolute perfection may lead to diminishing returns. If this rings true for you, give yourself permission to craft a solid resume that is really good but not perfect. Think but don't over-think every decision. 

Here are six basics we believe will help you get out of your own way and equip you to craft an impactful, winning resume:

1. Align your resume with the requirements for each position. This may mean you will have to tweak your resume before you apply for each job. Industries may have different terminologies for the same functions. Your resume should speak to each industry. For example, you may need to use the words "talent development" for one industry and "professional development" for another. How will you know which term to use? Study job postings and articles on the internet.
2. Place a title and a brief summary of your qualifications at  the top of your resume to grab the reader's attention. For example, the title might be TALENT DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE. Just below that would be a short paragraph of 2-4 sentences summarizing your experience.
3. Core Competencies in Short Bullet Points May Add Value. Adding three rows of two or three competencies aligned with the requirements of each position often is a helpful way of providing reader-friendly keywords to the top section of your resume. This list should include hard skills and not soft ones like highly organized, good time management skills, or effective communicator. 
4. Summarizing Key Business Impact or Accomplishments before listing employment history also may add value for the resumes of seasoned professionals. We recommend 3-4 accomplishments using metrics where possible. If you are a newer professional, it is more effective to list achievements in the employment section.
5. Employment Experience should go next followed by education, certifications, technical skills, and other key information. If you have a long tenure at a job, you probably will need to break your descriptions into sections with bolded headings to help guide the reader. Those sections should include key competencies listed in each job posting.
6. Present Your Skills in Terms of Achievements, Results, or Impact.  Where possible, craft as many achievements as possible using metrics. We use two different charts to help people think in terms of results. Our Key Word Resume Builder helps the job seeker to align his accomplishments with particular job requirements. Our Accomplishments Resume Builder uses the SAR technique (Situation, Action & Results) to help quantify achievements. People who have used either chart have found this preparation also helps them prepare for interviews.

In past blog posts, we have provided some examples of achievements. Here are a few: Resumes: What Hiring Managers Want in 2011;  Resume Keywords - The What, Why, and How; and The Top of Your Resume IS Important. But don't take our word for it. Take a minute to study this excellent article with good examples of achievements, How to Write a Resume That Stands Out, written by Amy Gallo on the Harvard Business Review Blog, December 19, 2014. This is one of many writings emphasizing what employers want so see. If you have accomplished great things elsewhere, you are likely to be viewed as the right person for the job.

If you find you are getting stuck, remember not to "let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Then review your resume with that in mind and let it go.

 

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP  |  Resume Boutique LLC  |  Blog

Professional Resumes  |  LinkedIn Profiles  |  Interview Coaching 

info@resumeboutique.com  |  410.340.3511 |  www.resumeboutique.com

Look your best on paper. Show your best in person.™

 

© Resume Boutique LLC 2014. All rights reserved.

Guest Blogger on BlueprintJD: Eight Tips for a Top Notch Legal Resume

The requirements for legal resumes are different than the requirements for other professional resumes, particularly resumes of law students and newer lawyers. 

I have written about legal resumes before and wanted to share the most recent guest blog article from BlueprintJD, where I share eight key tips for legal resumes - the last of a series of 4 guest blog posts. 

If you are going to retain a resume writer to help you with a legal resume, make sure that person has a lot of experience writing legal resumes. 

Your goal is to get your resume on the TOP of the YES pile!  Here is the link to the blog posting:

http://www.blueprintjd.org/recruiting/eight-tips-for-a-top-notch-legal-resume/

Randi S. Lewis, Esq., CEIP | Resume Boutique LLC

Professional Resumes & Cover Letters | Strategic Interview Coaching

Linked In Profile | http://www.linkedin.com/in/resumeboutique

Office: 410.602.2500 ~ Cell: 410.340.3511 ~ rlewis@resumeboutique.com

www.resumeboutique.com | http://resumeboutique.blogspot.com/

There is No Such Thing As LUCK in Landing a New Job

By Randi S. Lewis
Founder, Resume Boutique LLC
info@resumeboutique.com

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Ancient Roman Stoic philosopher, Lucius Annaeus Seneca.  Successful job seekers own the process.

In 2011, we worked with many people who were laid off or otherwise terminated from their positions.  The most successful of them took full ownership of the process, maximized their resources, and never gave up.  Each of them landed positions they wanted. 

Some successful job seekers will tell you it was just luck.  But landing a job happens only when you work hard to achieve your goal.  Here is one example of preparation + opportunity:

From Account Executive to Business Manager

This twenty-something professional (Dave) began searching for new employment in February 2011.  He was gainfully employed at the time but believed he needed to make a move to advance and began making inquiries of his mentors and contacts in the industry. 

One of those contacts referred him to Resume Boutique for a resume, cover letter, and job pursuit/interview/post-interview strategy.  We drafted the resume and several cover letters immediately.  In May, after learning about a position he coveted, Dave went into full gear.  The position was a stretch for someone with his experience.  But that didn't deter Dave.  He leveraged every connection to put in a good word with this prospective employer.  Dave also began utilizing our consulting services to help him navigate this position.  He had great instincts, including the knowledge that he should run his thoughts by those of us who were more experienced.  He regularly relied on a coterie of mentors during what turned out to be a 2 - 3 month process that culminated in a job offer and acceptance. 

We quickly recognized that Dave knew his strengths and understood how to compensate for his weaknesses.  His strengths were many, including:

1. Client Relationships - established rapport with clients; temerity and raw ability to ask connections for assistance (remarkably, he was able to secure a personal letter of recommendation from a high level executive of one of his major accounts - also a major account of the potential employer)
2. Industry Knowledge - keen knowledge of his industry
3. Emotional Intelligence - high level of emotional intelligence and ability to read people
4. Strong Personal Qualities - kind, genuine, outgoing personality, great sense of humor
5. Goal-oriented - tenacity in pursuing his goal with the understanding it was his responsiblity to manage the process 

Dave didn't have many weaknesses but writing wasn't his strong suit.  He knew it and made no apologies about it.  So, we drafted and revised all communications during the two-month interview process.  We also worked Dave to refine his "elevator speech."  Dave was mature for his age but, understandably, was not experienced in the employment process, particularly at the middle management level.  He consulted with us on communication strategies for each interview and follow up, including salary negotiations.   Dave prepared for every interview and every communication.  We worked as a team with Dave and used the advice of his mentors in the industry to refine our discussions. 

Dave always owned the process while leveraging his assets.  Congratulations to Dave and all of you who took control of your lives to land great positions in 2011.  

For those of you who are beginning your job search, we urge you to think about what is reasonably achievable, how you might begin your search, and how you can take control of your success. 

There is no such thing as luck in the employment process.  You have to use all available resources, including limitless patience, to achieve your goal.   

Why Must I Change My Email Address on My Resume?

By Randi S. Lewis
Founder, Resume Boutique LLC
info@resumeboutique.com

Throughout the years, we have job seekers to change their email addresses where the addresses may lead an employer to question their professionalism or maturity.  This simple suggestion has been met with almost universal resistance because people are wedded to their email addresses.  Typically, it's the name before the @ that is the problem, such as:  "mikeysmith" (suggests lack of maturity) or "beergal69" (suggests lack of professionalism) that should be changed.  In other circumstances the questionable email address includes the email provider too.  Consider this email address:  "[any name or initial]pleasant@excite.com."  You don't want the employer wondering why you have that email address instead of considering your qualifications to fit the job. 

It is so important to keep your contact information professional that we offer this suggestion: 

Keep your personal email separate from your job search email.  Simply open a free email account like "gmail" and use your gmail address for all employment-related communications. 

Resume Tips for New College Grads

New Grad Life posted an article worth reviewing if you are a relatively recent graduate. It is called, "12 Eye-Catching Resume Tips."  Here is the link:  http://newgradlife.blogspot.com/2009/12/get-job-career-job-hunt.html

One Anecdote: Patience and Tenacity in Your Job Search in this Economy

One of our Resume Boutique clients just landed a job after a long search.  A Connecticut-based lawyer, he moved to New York City and took a temporary position with the thought that soon he would land a full time job.  But within eight months, the New York legal market began to take a nose dive.  So he did what he had to do.  He was fortunate enough to work for on very long term projects for two firms.  He contacted us in the summer of 2010.  After he took the third temporary position, we recommended grouping all the contract work in one section rather than by law firms.  We continued to refine his resume during this process to present the temporary positions in a manner that enhanced but didn't detract from his credentials.  We also drafted numerous cover letters for different industries. The greatest concern regarding his resume was that there would be too many positions listed that might lead a recruitment professional to discard the resume without taking a second look.

Specifically, the contract work looked like this with bullet points below it summarizing the most relevant information from each position:

Contract Attorney, New York, NY

Aug. 2007 – Present

Contract lawyer for matters involving large financial, securities, and employment actions.  Representative work:

Email Your Resume in PDF Format

When you send your resume by email, the best way to forward it to a potential employer is to convert it to PDF format first.  When you email by PDF, you ensure that no one can intentionally or inadvertently revise or amend it.  A PDF format also maintains the integrity of your resume so that it looks the same on every computer. 

How do you convert to PDF?  You can do it for free by using a free PDF conversion program on the internet such as the one found at http://www.pdfonline.com/convert-pdf/.  Or, you can purchase it from Adobe.  It makes a difference.

Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC

rlewis@resumeboutique.com | http://www.resumeboutique.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2011. All rights reserved.

Resume and Cover Letter Do's for Managers, Directors and Other Executives

I am working on a resume for a highly accomplished engineer/MBA in Products/Operations Management.  The first iteration of the resume is almost completed. I am refining his core competencies, and looking ahead to the cover letter.  During this process, I often search the internet for similar positions. 

Today, I found this posting on OperationsManager.com entitled, "5 Key Personality Traits of Operations Managers," http://www.operationsmanager.com/what-is-operations-management/5-key-personality-traits-of-operations-managers/.

Leadership | Great Planner | Common Sense | Effective Communicator | Cool Under Pressure

The explanations under each "Personality Trait" are well worth your time to read, particularly if you are writing your resume, crafting a cover letter, and preparing for the interview.

Randi Lewis | Founder | Resume Boutique LLC

rlewis@resumeboutique.com | http://www.resumeboutique.com/



Resumes: What Hiring Managers Want in 2011

• Question:  What do Hiring Managers want to know when considering the resume of a mid-level to senior candidate?  
• Answer:  They want to know you can solve problems, help the company run more efficiently, and/or help their business make money.

~  ~  ~  

• Question:  HOW does that translate to a resume?  

• Answer:  SHOW, don't TELL

• Example #1:  if you are a sales representative, writing that you have "excellent sales skills" is telling.  But, writing that you "won 10 consecutive annual sales awards for achieving 110% of plan" is SHOWING.  Because you have made money consistently in the past, the Hiring Manager most likely will infer you will make money for his/her company.

• Example #2:  if you are a C-Level Executive, writing that you are "responsible for branch office  performance of 30 consultants with an increase in revenues" is telling.  But, writing that your "leadership doubled sales staff from 30 to 60, boosted morale, and revitalized performance, resulting in a 58% increase in sales and a 35% decrease in operational costs," now that is SHOWING.

• Answer:  HIGHLIGHT Accomplishments | Results | Impact

~  ~  ~  

These are simple answers to a tricky question.  Every resume is different.  For a free Resume Consult, send me your resume and I will let you know what I think - in plain English - no sales pitch.  

Randi S. Lewis  |  Founder, Resume Boutique LLC  |  rlewis@resumeboutique.com  

© Resume Boutique LLC 2011. All rights reserved.

Resumes for Moms Returning to Work

I just read an amusing blog post, http://nilsenlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/resume.html, by a full-time mom who contemplated what her "MOM" resume would look like.  Interestingly, I have worked with these back to work moms to help them transform 5 to 13 years at home into something about which they can be proud.  In May 2010, a former retail clothing buyer who has been raising her three children full time for the past 10 years.  Within a short period of time, we had a two page resume that made her feel proud of herself.  What's more, the first thing her interviewers commented on was what a great job she did on her resume.  She didn't get the job, but she made it to the final three, and feels like she has something to contribute to a work environment.

The first back to work mom I worked with was a former practicing lawyer who had been out of the workforce for almost 13 years.  Again, one of the most important challenges is for a mom to appreciate her value.  After she landed an interview with her new resume, we worked on that emotional aspect of her job search, then her attire, then interview prep.  She landed the job!  That was years ago.  And she acted with much more confidence when it was time to move on to the next opportunity.

If you are a mom looking to go back to work, think about all the volunteering you do at school and elsewhere.  Volunteer work should go on your resume.  If you are a mom thinking about returning to the work force and you just want to talk about how to start your resume, email me at rlewis@resumeboutique.com and I will be happy to talk you through the process.

Randi S. Lewis | Resume Boutique™

© Resume Boutique LLC 2011. All rights reserved.

Video Resumes in a Down Economy - Risks vs. Rewards

Yesterday, msnbc.com contributor, Eve Tahmincioglu, wrote a piece about creating video resumes to land jobs.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35367030/ns/business-careers//.   She profiled two men who created videos that accompanied more traditional resumes.  One landed a job; the other hasn't landed any interviews.  The man who landed a job shaved his head for a marketing position in a razor company.  Clever.  He thought about his audience and the position. 

Do I generally recommend making a video or, what has become more common, creating a web resume, NO.  You have to know your audience.  Although you may think your idea is clever, that you look great, and that your content sets you apart, prospective employers may not.  But there are some times where the potential reward will outweigh the risk.  Read the entire column if you are thinking about a video resume.   The columnist writes the weekly "Your Career" column for msnbc.com and chronicles workplace issues in her blog, CareerDiva.net.

Cover Letters and Reference Lists

Don't sweat the small stuff when you are beginning to look for a new job. Here are a few simple first steps:

1. Determine what type of positions you will seek.
2. Find job postings that interest you.
3. Revise your resume using language in the qualities listed in the job postings.
4. Craft concise cover letters with two or three paragraphs. Paragraph 1: Identify yourself and why you are writing. Paragraph 2: Talk about work experiences related to the posted position AND what value you would bring to the organization. Paragraph 3: Express your interest in meeting with the employer to discuss your qualifications and express thanks for the employer's consideration, providing your contact information.
5. Compose a reference list that includes the person's full name, title, name of company, email address and telephone number. If the reference has moved on from the company from which he or she would give you a reference, use the new company and then in parentheses note the prior position and company.
6. Use the same format for the top of your resume, cover letter, and reference list.

Randi S. Lewis Founder, Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500 http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com

© Resume Boutique LLC 2008. All rights reserved.

The Top of Your Resume IS Important

By Randi S. Lewis, Owner, Resume Boutique LLC

~ ~ ~

Form and substance matter on resumes. Did you know that a recruitment or human resources professional, typically the person who decides whether to "continue reading" or "discard" your resume, takes about 5 to 10 seconds to make that initial decision? As a result, you want to make sure the top of your resume looks GREAT. Here are a few simple suggestions:

1. Your name should be in bold and in larger font - 16 or 18 pts. There are a number of ways to postion your name and contact information. One clean way is to center your name and then on one or two lines you should place your address, the best telephone where you can be reached most often, and your email address. The address line should not be in bold and can be in the smallest font - no smaller than 10.5 but more commonly 11 pt.
2. In the U.S., the most commonly used font is Times New Roman. Garamond if you want an elegant look. If you have a lot of information on your resume, you probably should use 11.5 or 11 pt. font. The font of the texts shouldn't be larger than 12 pt. Your headings can be larger but no larger than 13 pt. unless you are using SMALL CAPS.
3. Objective vs. Profile or Summary of Qualifications. Most sample resumes suggest placing an objective at the top of your resume. As a recruitment professional who is the first stop for people's resumes, my view is that most Objective sections are meaningless and can serve to undermine the resume. So, my advice: don't waste your time writing an objective. Instead, write a Profile or Summary of Qualifications.
4. Here is an example of one recent profile I wrote: Accomplished executive with 20 years of sales, marketing and operational leadership achievements in the insurance industry and track record of establishing, developing, maintaining, and growing profitable business relationships in a broad range of industries. Collaborative leader with refined networking skills and proven ability to recruit, train, and motivate top-performing sales teams. Lead and manage operations of firm’s largest revenue-generating department.
5. Here is an example of a summary of qualifications (or profile): Employee benefits, ERISA, and retirement plan specialist with a recent law degree and more than 17 years of experience working with major companies and financial institutions administering retirement plans. Extremely thorough and detail-oriented professional with experience designing and drafting plan documents and amendments, conducting and overseeing non-discrimination testing, ensuring operational compliance with plan documents, timely governmental reporting, and disclosure of plan changes and modifications to participants.
6. Here is an example of the profile of an army sergeant looking for employment after completion of his tour of duty: United States Army Sergeant with secret security clearance and eight years of experience in maintenance procedures and repair for Patriot Missile Defense Mission. Strong leader, responsible for the tactical training, morale, health and welfare of other soldiers and for the accountability and maintenance of section equipment. Loyal team player recognized for having unlimited potential, the ability to take direction well and manage time effectively, and creatively executing missions. Seeking civilian position upon completion of tour of duty. ~ ~ ~

Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500

http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com

© Resume Boutique LLC 2008. All rights reserved.

Scented Resumes on Pink Paper? Only if you are Reese Witherspoon!

In the summer of 2006, I wrote a resume for a recent college grad looking for his first job. He had been advised to put his photo on his resume and it was not easy for me to convince him that was not a good idea. He wanted to print his resume on blue paper. Also not a good idea.

~ ~ ~

After all, the only one who could get away with a pink, scented resume was Reese Witherspoon playing a law student, Elle Woods, in the movie Legally Blonde.

~ ~ ~

In the end, he took my advice about the photo and the colored paper. He also landed a nice job in the business world.

~ ~ ~

This month, I had the pleasure of working with this delightful, energetic, young professional again. He is being courted by another company and needed to update his resume. He brought up the photo issue again and told me he thought it was commonplace now in NYC. My response was that I was unaware of this new trend (I even called one of the NYC headhunters with whom I work, who confirmed my suspicions - NO PHOTOS).

~ ~ ~ ~

Earlier this week, I received an email from a representative of HR World (http://www.hrworld.com/), referring me to a recent posting entitled, "25 Things You Should Never Include on a Resume " (http://www.hrworld.com/features/25-things-not-to-put-on-resume-121807/). The list contains very basic, important information about "resume don'ts," some of which should be intuitive. I had to smile when I saw No. 14. Here is what was posted:

• "14. Photograph: JobFairy.com reports that hiring departments "legally cannot consider your picture in determining if you are to be interviewed, or hired," and that "many companies won't even consider résumés that are submitted with a picture to ensure that they are in compliance with [the Equal Opportunity Employer]" legislation. Keep in mind, however, that if you are applying for jobs overseas, photographs may be the norm on résumés."

I rest my case!

In regard to the other 24 listings about what not to put on your resume, I agree with most of them, but not with all. For example, the two that concern me the most are numbers 4 and 5. As most of you should know, the term is sexual orientation, not sexual preference, for no. 4. And for sexual orientation and religion, whether they would be placed on your resume would absolutely depend!

If you want to know more about my advice on those issues, feel free to contact me at 410-602-2500 or by email at: rlewis@resumeboutique.com.

Happy Holidays. Randi

Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC, http://www.resumeboutique.com/

© Resume Boutique LLC 2007. All rights reserved.

A Resume MUST: Be Truthful - A Lesson Learned

By Randi S. Lewis

~ ~ ~

Why is it so important to tell the truth on your resume? The answer is simple: if you fabricate something on your resume, one way or another, your untruthfulness will be uncovered.

~ ~ ~

Last week, the headmaster of an elite all-boys prep school in Maryland was asked to resign due to a non-academic fabrication on his resume. During an annual evaluation of the headmaster (an experienced educator with three academic degrees) it was discovered that he had NOT been a member of an intercollegiate hockey team, as he had noted on his resume and discussed in interviews at the time he was hired 6 years ago. Was it worth the fabrication? Of course not.

~ ~ ~

Three years ago, a young lawyer was given three months to find another job because it was mutually agreed that it just wasn't working out. His supervisors agreed to give a favorable reference. When he first started looking for a job, he was still employed with the firm. So, it was accurate for him to indicate his employment dates were from Sept. 2002 - Present. But by the time he was poised to receive his first offer to join another firm, he had left his firm and his biography had been removed from the company website. This young lawyer did not advise the new company that he had left his current firm. In checking references, the new firm learned he was no longer employed. He didn't get the offer. Would he have landed the offer if he had let the firm know that he had a mutual agreement with his firm that he would be leaving at the end of the month? Maybe, particularly because his supervisors had agreed to give a favorable reference. But failing to provide pertinent information was as fatal here as it was to the headmaster, who told an affirmative untruth.

~ ~ ~

LESSON LEARNED: TELL THE TRUTH.

• For more resume and interview tips, contact Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500.
• http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com
• © 2007 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.