Whoever Invented Resumes Ought to be Shot
I’m a hiring manager with a job description that clearly outlines the specifications of my job. And what do I receive from candidates, usually with no cover letter? A piece of paper that spews out useless information about a total stranger, in chronological order. Great. So, in my left hand is what I need. And in my right hand is a one, two or three-page pile of words, leaving me to figure out if they should be applying at all.
Given that the resume is all I have, I do the following: glance down the experience list, seeing if any companies are in my industry or on my target list to recruit from or high caliber companies at all. Then, I might look at titles to gauge level of experience. At this point, I will delete, toss, or put in a “maybe” pile.
I don’t read objectives since they are one of two things: Written exactly for my position, so I know they are being tailored for each application, or, two, so general and squishy, this person has no focus. An example of #2: “Proven executive searching for an exciting position that leverages my strengths with people, technology and process.” Huh?
What I do like at the top of the resume is an Executive Summary. A set of 10-12 skill sets that describe you, in two columns of short bullets. Net out the “so what” from your years of experience. LinkedIn is a great resource for identifying those skill words, assuming you have a 100% complete profile, which you need. Example, my bullet points might say: Global Sales Leader, Marketing Strategist, Strategic Planner, Team Builder, Channel Chief, Cross-Team Leader, etc.
There are many great resume-writing resources on the web…use them. Make it clean, easy-to-read, and error free.
Since there is no one right way to format a resume and I find ALL resumes a hard way to find my candidates, I recommend the following:
- Always do a cover letter. Even if the hiring manager doesn’t read them, for those hiring managers that do, or IF all of the other candidates have one, you need one. DON’T regurgitate your resume in your cover letter. Study the job description and tell me, the reader, three reasons why you are the best candidate for my position.
- Make the 1-page cover letter the top page in your word or PDF file with your resume starting on page 2. This saves me from having to open multiple files in your attachment. Many sites only allow for one document, too.
- Use the same technique when sending a resume to a network executive. “Dear ____, thank you for offering to give me some advice as part of my job search. Attached is…
7 Responses to Whoever Invented Resumes Ought to be Shot
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Dana, this is fantastic advice. I love hearing from recruiters, because it helps me provide better service to my clients. I already do much of what you suggest, so it’s great validation.
I especially advise clients to have a profile of their Core Value Proposition, followed by a bulleted list of no more than 15 Core Capabilities – so in the first 1/3 of the resume, you can see if they have what you need. The rest of the resume “proves” the “theorem” laid out in the beginning of the resume. It’s a very LinkedIn-friendly format, and full of key words – so important now due to computerized applicant tracking systems.
The other part I like is including a cover letter as the first page of a PDF or Word file, followed by your resume. I’ve reviewed resume submissions and it is so annoying to have to open two files on email. This method is far better than putting the cover letter in the email, because all your materials are together for the recruiter to print out or transmit. If a cover letter is in the email, the recruiter still has two things to think about. One step is always better than 2 steps in the job application process.
Thanks again for great tips for job seekers.
Hello, Julia and thank you for adding such great insights. I’m not a recruiter, but a seasoned hiring manager for over 30 years. So my perspective is from an executive who’s neck is on the line for making an excellent hire. I really like the “Core Value Proposition” and bulleted list, too.
Thank you and let’s stay in touch,
Dana
Hi Dana, What do you think of visual resumes, such as this: http://slidesha.re/WvSbid ?
Many people (and organizations) think they’re cute but the usability ends there. However, there have been instances of people hired on the basis of the creativity of their CVs. As a seasoned hiring manager what’s your take?
TIA
Rohan, thank you for sharing. I reviewed the link and think it is great for a way to display a portfolio for a freelancer or service provider of any kind where the visual display is important. However, I don’t recommend it for a replacement for a resume with a great cover letter, with the cover letter tailored to the role. I don’t believe people are hired due to the creativity of their CVs, even in the creative businesses. The hiring manager needs to know, within 3 minutes, if the candidate has the “technical” skills first, meaning the core skills and experiences to get the job requirements done. Then, if the candidate gets past the first screen, their creative talents will definitely be reviewed with a portfolio. Too much creativity can backfire.
This was nicely done, but quite long, even for a portfolio. Aim for 1/2 and viewers can handle two key messages per slide. Thanks for sharing and best of luck!
Dana Manciagli
Thanks a million for your inputs, Dana. Most appreciated.
Including the cover letter in the same PDF with the resume is brilliant! It’s obvious once you mention it. And of course the cover letter is a _Marketing Piece_!
Thank you, Sharon! Best regards, Dana