Posted under Branding, Job Search, Resumes on June 23rd, 2008
As an executive resume writer, I have the opportunity to see a lot of resumes that are in circulation, but failing miserably at their job.
They’re not capturing the attention of hiring decision makers reviewing them among possibly hundreds of others. And, if they do manage to get some attention, they’re not differentiating the job seeker and positioning them above the pack.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but these are what I consider the top 10 worst offenders.
Four things that too many executive resumes lack:
1. A clear job target. Without a specific focus, decision makers reading your resume won’t make a connection between you and the job they’re trying to fill. They don’t have the time or inclination to sift through irrelevant information to see if you’ll be a good fit. Everything in your resume has to point to the requirements for that specific kind of job.
2. Personal branding. Especially in an economic downturn, personal branding makes more sense than ever. Companies are looking for good fit and personal chemistry. Branding generates chemistry and makes the candidate come alive on the page.
3. Value proposition. The value you bring your next employer needs to be abundantly evident, monetized, and linked to your brand.
4. Career success stories. When you show the reader exactly how you’ve accomplished all the great benefits you’ve brought to past companies, they can zero in on what you will do for their company. Follow a “Challenge – Actions – Impact” kind of framework to illuminate your successes.
Six things that too many executive resume have, but shouldn’t:
5. A designated “objective” statement. No one cares what you want. Instead of leading your resume with a statement saying what you want from the job, tell them, in a powerful brand statement, just what you will do for them.
6. Densely packed, hard-to-read information. With more and more hiring decision makers reviewing resumes on BlackBerries, the need for concise on-brand, value-driven statements surrounded by plenty of white space is obvious. Make it easy for them to read and quickly get to what they need to know about you.
7. Too many pages. Keep it to 2 pages. Remember that today’s resume is not meant to be a comprehensive career biography. As a marketing document, it needs to incorporate just enough compelling information to generate interviews.
8. Typos, grammatical errors, and/or poor formatting. This probably goes without saying. Errors are the kiss of death. Keep the formatting attractive, consistent, and easy to read. And make sure your contact information is correct.
9. Overused resume-speak. You’re not like everyone else. Your resume should reflect and embrace what makes you unique. Keep the content interesting and don’t fall back on cliches like “results-oriented”.
10. Passive verbs and repetitive, boring job descriptions. Draw in readers and hold their attention with robust action verbs that indicate your vitality and relevant key words that highlight your niche expertise. Don’t waste precious space reiterating obvious responsibilities. Avoid the tired, boring phrase “responsible for”.
Posted by Meg Guiseppi
Print This Post