Your
Resume Should Have Character
The
notion that employers are only interested in where you
have been and where you are heading is pure nonsense.
Experienced hiring managers take into account both your
experience and your character. After all, in the end,
they are hiring a human being, not a robot. Still, many
believe that personal attributes just take up space and
make the resume
"fluffy."
After
reading countless job descriptions that make it a point
to mention personal characteristics and speaking directly
with hiring managers on this specific topic, I've come
to realize that it's not the inclusion of personal attributes
that make resumes superficial. It's how the characteristics
are presented that is the cause of concern. In this article,
I will focus on the top three characteristics employers
seek (good communication skills, honesty, and a strong
work ethic) and discuss how you can seamlessly integrate
them into your resume. Now let's get started.
Print
out your resume and take a look at it. If you find that
you carelessly threw some of the characteristics mentioned
above in your resume without making supporting statements
to back them up, then the reader will question the sincerity
of your claims.
Here's
an example of a superficial sentence: "Possess a
strong work ethic and recognized for the ability to deliver
results." Although the sentence covers attributes
employers seek, the sentence needs to be spiced up.
For
example, a more compelling sentence is: "Demonstrated
record of consistent performance and ability to establish
strong presence within global markets (e.g. China, Italy,
Sweden), generating 6- and 7-figure revenue gains."
Notice
the difference? In the original sentence, the declaration
didn't carry much weight. Simply stating you have certain
characteristics doesn't make it so. The reader will be
scratching his or her head and thinking,
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
The
revised sentence takes a different approach. Instead
of stating personal characteristics outright, the sentence
demonstrates results; therefore the reader can deduce
that the candidate has all the right characteristics.
This will leave the reader thinking, "Interesting
stuff. I'll put this candidate in the must-call pile."
Presentation
is Everything
The
way the resume is structured, organized, and written
also alludes to your personal characteristics. Using
actual client stories and the top three characteristics
employers seek, I'll discuss common mistakes jobseekers
make in the presentation of their resumes.
Poor
Communication Skills Are a Real Killer: Bryan was extremely
qualified for all the positions he applied for, but he
was receiving no bites. After careful review of his resume,
I noticed that although he claimed to be an excellent
communicator, he failed to communicate his value. It
was obvious the resume was homespun and lacked the finesse
needed to garner the attention of hiring managers. He
was under the impression that once he received an interview,
he would be able to communicate exactly why he was qualified
for the position. Unfortunately, he never received that
chance.
Lesson
learned: Simply writing "strong communication skills" isn't
going to be enough to convince a decision maker that
you can successfully interact with others. A hiring manager
is going to look to your resume as verification of your
claims; and if you aren't able to effectively put two
sentences together, they are going to question not only
your communication skills but also your ability to do
the job.
A
Question of Integrity: During a client-intake session
with Amanda, a recent college graduate, she told me her
current job title was "Director of External Public
Relations." I couldn't help but think that was an
impressive title for a 22-year-old. After prodding a
little, I discovered the real story. It just so happens
that this particular client worked for her aunt in a
two-person office and there were occasions when she wrote
press releases and spoke to reporters regarding the latest
company happenings.
Though
she did participate in public relation activities, the
title of Director of External Public Relations was a
bit of a stretch. An employer would have had the same
reaction I did. He or she would have doubted her claims
and as a result, wouldn't have bothered calling her in
for an interview.
Lesson
Learned: Your resume has to be believable. If an employer
has any inkling you are being deceitful, your resume
will go in the trash. And even if you are able to get
through the resume review and interview process with
half-truths, be warned: once hired, you will be expected
to deliver.
When
a Strong Work Ethic Doesn't Work: Even though he had
five different jobs within three years, Patrick insisted
on including that he had a strong work ethic in his resume.
He claimed that his job-hopper image was unjust since
he left each job because it wasn't the right job for
him. He insisted that when he found the right job, he
would definitely be committed.
After
careful review of his personal characteristics, we agreed
that there were other personal characteristics he could
use that would make him just as employable as the phrase "strong
work ethic;" phrases that wouldn't leave the reader
with the feeling that he was trying to pull one over
on them.
Lesson Learned: In a resume, leverage what you have to
offer and don't try to sell yourself as something you are
not. Your resume should answer questions for hiring managers,
not leave lingering doubts.
Final
Thought
Integrating
personal characteristics in your resume will make the
resume reader-friendly and allow the reader to visualize
you in the position.
Recognized
as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience
to the career services field. She has been sought out
for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement,
job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume
writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street
Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com.
She is president of CareerStrides and the National Resume
Writers' Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or
email her at linda@careerstrides.com.
lis.
