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resume advice Step 3: Present Your Unique Capabilities For higher-level positions or those moves later in your career, it is best to indicate that references are available upon request. At this point in your career, you should have amassed a number of references from your network and you can choose from them based upon the interviewer's interests and needs. Have these references ready to give to the interviewer. List the name, title, address, and phone number of the person you are using as a reference. Also, indicate the nature of the relationship, such as former employer, client, customer, team member, working associate, etc. Once you have given the name to a prospective employer, you should call the person named as a reference to let them know to expect a call on your behalf. It goes without saying that you should have also confirmed with the person in advance that they would be willing to be a reference for you. Once you have prepared your resume in draft form, put it aside for a day or two, then critically review it. Now look at it again and pretend this resume belongs to a person you are considering for your own company. Ask yourself: |
| - | What does the resume tell me about this person - positive and negative? |
| - | Is it presented in a concise and factual manner, or is it full of inflated statements, claims and stretched truths? |
| - | Is it neat and professional looking, or does it show a lack of logical thinking and inability to be clear? |
| - | What else would you like to know about this person? (The resume should make you want to interview the person in order to learn more.) |
If your answers to these questions lead you to doubts, now is the time to clarify, revise, and modify your resume. The product of the resume is you. Make sure that it conveys your value in the most positive manner. The resume's purpose is to get you to the interview ,where you can show your stuff and make a positive impression. Prepare your resume. You should prepare your resume on 25lb. bond paper with matching stock envelopes. Such paper is available at most office supply or stationary stores. If mailing your resume, the correct postage should be determined in advance (nothing kills an opportunity like postage due). In addition, you should determine the correct spelling of the receiver's name and title. Last, check on the specifics of the address. Sometimes there are special codes, mailboxes or identifiers that must be listed in order that the materials get to the right person in a timely manner. Make sure that your name, address, phone number(s), and e-mail address are prominently displayed on the resume. They should be at the top of the resume and presented clearly and in letterhead format. If you are listing your home phone, make sure you have an answering machine to get the calls since most will come during business hours when you are at work. Sending your resume to the targeted company, search firms, and posting it on the Internet are all good ways to get your marketing message out. Don't forget your personal network. Make sure your friends and associates know about your search. Ask them for ideas and to keep you apprised of anything they hear about that may sound interesting. The more senior the position, the more discrete you will have to be and the more focused your contacts. But nonetheless, make sure everyone who can help and who is not a direct business associate, knows about your search. In more senior roles, you will more than likely be working with an executive recruiter. The recruiter should handle the distribution of your resume only to the specific opportunities that are engaged in the search. |
Step 4: Structure Your Resume >> |
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Creating a Successful Resume Step 1: Define Your Personal Marketing Strategy Step 2: Develop a Clear Idea of the Buyer's Needs Step 3: Present Your Unique Capabilities Step 4: Structure Your Resume Step 5: You're in the Door: Now What? [back to top] |
