The Final Step-Your Resume

by Howard Freedman

Copyright 2019 Financial Aid Consulting. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, by photocopying or by any other means without expressed written permission of the author.

Howard can be reached at finaidguy@gmail.com

Getting over a job loss is not easy. However, your next job is to get on the ball and prepare or update the resume that will lead you on the path towards a new position. 

Wherever your career path takes you can be determined by your accomplishments, potential value and how well you present yourself to an employer.

A resume is neither a brag sheet or a detailed history of your life starting at childhood. Despite the personal importance of these events, employers don't often care as much. They are focused on pursuing the best resources that have the educational and occupational backgrounds to fill an occupational void within their organization.

I have written many of my own and resumes for others. What I  thought was good may have been too wordy or provided more detail that would answer all the interview questions before they were even asked. Once I learned the knack for doing them right, I was fortunate to land many important positions by having an effective resume and being well prepared for a job interview.

Upon college graduation may students may not know exactly what they want or don't have the experience in the real world. Others in the workforce may have lost their positions or are seeking new career paths making resume writing more challenging. In those cases, a brief cover letter improves your chances.

Here are some helpful resume tips to get you started

1. Be focused on what you are looking for. This may be a specific job or career path but should not be so general in nature that it is destined for the waste paper basket.

2. Create a list of your skills and accomplishments to be incorporated into your resume. Consult with others that can include items that you may have overlooked.

3. Research companies and careers before you begin. Some employers offer training, benefits, educational assistance, career growth in a fun and productive environment. You should also verify their retention rate especially if you are planning for long-term employment.

4. Look at resume models. Some are chronological while others are functional. Some may be virtual and sent to a PO Box for which it is unlikely that you will receive a personal response.

5. Look for the keywords that an employer uses to describe a job. Then work those words, if applicable in the body of your resume. This will help them weed out the other information which may not be as important.

6. Always spell check the document. It could be the greatest resume in the world but marred by poor spelling or editing. Take the time to review it. Ask others to do the same since obvious mistakes are easily overlooked.

7. Do the "so what? test on your resume. I learned this simple test from a headhunter. For each item listed, ask yourself: So what does this mean to a new employer? For example: Being a cub scout is very nice but would have very little value to an employer looking for an electrical engineer. Saving the company millions in operating expenses is also what would catch most employer's eyes, especially those on tight budgets. It is also a transferable skill that can be used by any company.

8. Make sure that your information is factual and consistent especially since it will be verified before and during your interview. Although you may envision yourself to be much better or more knowledgeable than you think. these skills will be proven on the job. Being honest will help to guaranty better job success down the road.

9. Keep everything on one page. On average most resumes are reviewed for only 8 seconds. It is ok to have multiple versions of your resumes as not all the requirements are the same.

10. Use the right font type and size and the required page format as your resume is likely to be scanned. Any deviation can force it to be missed

11. Minimize the number of Me's and Isin a resume. I learned this technique from a Harvard University English major. It is tough but can be done if you reread each item.

12. Follow-up. The result of a good resume is not a new job but an invite for a job interview. Keep track of the dates sent and check if you were screened to meet the criteria for a job interview. Be happy if you get one.  Always move forward searching for other positions until a job offer is consumed.  

Beyond the formality of resumes, I have also written to companies in response to articles or area of common interest. This often bypasses HR and helps for further recognition and responses. This is where your creativity can work wonders.