The Magical Resume

Many people are looking for the Magical Resume; the document that opens the door to their next job. The problem is that in this tight economy the competition for jobs is fierce. For many open positions it is not uncommon for a company to receive 50, 75, or even 100’s of resumes. How good does your resume need to be to stand out? I’d plate it in Gold.

You will hear many experts telling you how to write your resume so it gets the most attention. The problem is: There is nothing Magical about your resume. I’ve seen great resumes get overlooked and screened out in the application process. Don’t depend on your resume to get the attention you need in this market.

The best resume you will ever develop is the one you put into the hands of a networking contact. If you have someone inside a company forward your resume or flag your resume, you will get your resume read and be likely to get an interview. Don’t rely on the internet and job postings to get your next job. Network and build relationships with those who can get your resume seen by the right people.

With that said, here are my basic resume tips.

• Your resume is a Marketing document, not a historical record. Think of what you want to sell to potential employers.
  

• The best resume is the one that’s readable. Keep it to one or two pages, with enough space between sections so it doesn’t look crowded.

• Highlight accomplishments rather than duties. Employers want to know what value you brought to your former employers. A great place to look is your performance evaluations.

• Highlight the last 10 to 15 years. Usually our best experiences fall into this time period. If you’ve been working longer than that, give less detail as you write about your career.

• Only highlight the information you want the reader to know about you. Don’t mention experiences you never want to do again or that don’t apply to the job you are looking for.

• Get lots of feedback. I’ve reviewed hundreds of resumes and I’d still need someone to review mine. Other people can give feedback on the wording, readability, and mistakes that we often miss.

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