Why a résumé may fail to generate interest

Last week I reviewed 15 résumés from my blog readers and after speaking with them at length I found only 5 résumés established a personal brand and corroborated it by showing how uniquely qualified they were for the jobs they were applying for.

 

This statistical trend is consistent with the feedback I’ve gotten from talent acquisition specialists I am in close contact with.

 

Let me clarify this based on the two key sections of a résumé.

 

Section One: The Professional Profile & Summary Statement section

 

Many professional and executive résumés begin with a Professional Profile or Summary Statement that is written like a run-on sentence and contiguous paragraph. The result being they are difficult to read and the points they try to make fail to stand out and often go unread. Upon questioning, I found out many were written this way because the writer preferred to conserve space to add more details somewhere else at the expense of making an impact with what was written here.This is foolish since this is where the reader forms their first impression about you. 

 

Another problem I see is many of these statements overemphasize the job seeker’s past without focusing on the positions they are applying for. This makes them come across as overqualified for the job they are being considered for, therefore the reader rejects the résumé at this point without looking any further.

 

The most egregious error I find is commonality. As I go over a Profile or Summary statement point by point / sentence by sentence with someone I always ask two simple questions. One is “does this describe you and what you have to offer an employer.” The answer is almost always an emphatic “Yes.” The second question is “how many other candidates applying for this job can write this same sentence because it applies equally to them as well.” Not surprising, the response here is 60% to 85% of the competition.

 

The first impression I and most people skilled at screening résumés get is not the impression the writer intended. Rather than showcasing a uniquely qualified candidate for the job, the delivered message is “I’m one of X# of qualified candidates you can choose from.”    

 

Section Two: The Experience & Career Progression section

 

Here too there are several misconceptions in the way many résumés are written. The most formidable ones, being a lack of context and validation.

 

What I often read is an overabundance of details and cliché accomplishments, much of which has little or no relevance to the job being applied for. Worse yet, the bullet point achievements are crammed together so tightly nothing stands out and the message gets lost or is never read.

 

The next common mistake in this section is repeating the same information job after job, making the reader think this is all you have to offer, when what you really desire is to be doing something different or new on your next job.

 

A killer mistake made by older jobseekers is often going back far into the past when what you did 15 or more years ago has little relevance to the jobs you’re applying for. All you are accomplishing is allowing screeners to justify calling you overqualified which is often a code name for too old.

 

I also get turned off by many of the so called accomplishments I read because they only focus on qualitative facts without giving any specifics about how they were obtained and most lack any perspective about how much of an accomplishment they actually are.

 

As a courtesy I critique U.S. resumes and offer suggestions on how to improve them at no cost. perry@perrynewman.com

When & Why Objective Statements On A Résumé May Be Objectionable

Whether to include an Objective Statement in a résumé is still widely debated and there’s no universal answer to resolve the dispute.  As a professional résumé writer, when asked this question my answer lies not in “whether to include one” rather “for whom, how and when” an Objective Statement can be used – if at all. 

So here are some random thoughts on the topic to mull over, learn from, and determine if they apply to you.

 

First some background. The Objective Statement began in a totally different day and age when résumés were written in a uniform style for almost all jobs and when job titles were more generic. Also at that time résumés were submitted by hand, mail, and later by fax when there was no such thing as job boards, résumé databases and tracking software. Likewise, it was commonplace for decision makers to read a résumé not just spend 6-30 seconds, according to many, scanning one or inputting some key words and having a computer select the résumés to read.

 

For the most part, early résumés weren’t written to tell the story of what makes a person special and better than someone else. Instead they were Fact Sheets that followed the convention of the day telling the reader what job is being applied for, how many years of overall experience the candidate has and what this/her prior duties and responsibilities entailed, and what is the level of  their education.

 

Moreover most of these resumes were created on a typewriter (and then a word processor) with additional copies run off on 24lb to 32lb cotton rag bond paper. This process made customizing a résumé time consuming and costly. That is why résumés back then were static generic productions that employers and recruiters considered as being professional.

 

For some of you this may sound like a tale out of the Stone Age, but for many job seekers 40 and older this describes the résumé they used maybe 2 or 3 jobs ago; and unfortunately many are updating this same outdated version in 2013.

 

In my opinion, technology has advanced and business models have changed so dramatically thus making old-fashioned résumés and the aforementioned Objective Statement obsolete in most 21^st century résumés.

 

Today résumé writing, résumé screening and résumé submittals are light years advanced and the content and format in a résumé is vastly different as are the mindset of the people and machines reading them. People who screen résumés now take less time to do so, look for specific information, and want to be sold on a candidate not educated.

 

When (and why) using an Objective Statement (OS) is Objectionable

 

1: The Objective Statement is positioned at the top of Page One, the prime real estate on a résumé; therefore it is the first thing people’s eyes will gravitate to. Unless the Objective’s information is crucial, or it is the first thing you want people to know about you, placing an Objective Statement in your résumé is objectionable.  It is a waste of premium story telling space and if it fails to have an impact on people they will read no further.

 

In most cases you are better off using a Title Tagline and Brand Statement to let people know what job you want to be considered for and what makes you special and worth further consideration.

 

2: Most Objective Statements I read focus entirely or in part on what the employer can do for the job seeker. If this is the case using an Objective Statement is objectionable.

 

3. Many Objective Statements are written to be too specific. When this happens the first impression the reader gets is of a “know-what-he wants” candidate who’s over or under qualified for the job at hand and is therefore summarily dismissed from consideration before the reader ever gets to the meat and potatoes of the résumé.

 

When (and why) using an Objective Statement (OS) is Acceptable or even preferable

 

Ican think of only three circumstances when an Objective Statement should be included in a résumé: if you are making a total career transition; if you are a specialist and are seeking a very specific specialized position; if you’re a new grad who is looking for your first or second full-time professional job. A fourth may be on the rare occasions an Objective Statement is requested by the employer.   

 

When writing an objective statement, it’s important to focus on how you can benefit an employer, rather than on how the employer can benefit you. In all these instances the statement must focus on what type of work you want, your main skills and qualifications, and it must include how and/or why you will you be an asset to the company you are trying to impress.

 

As always I am available to critique U.S. resumes and offer suggestions on how to improve them at no cost. You can send me an email with your current resume to perry@perrynewman.com

Career Independence Day

This week on July 4^th America celebrates Independence Day, so why not start planning today to better your life and career without causing a fireworks display that can blow up in your face.

If you work hard and do everything asked of you - and more, and your work has a proven value and worth to your current employer, this does not guarantee you the promotion or raise you feel you deserve. Why is this?  

There are many reasons, the most common being that most companies are structured to act at their own pace and not yours, preferring to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to these types of business decisions. Another is the internal politics in play in advancing your career or in getting recognized and fairly compensated where your currently work. 

A final reason and one I find becoming alarmingly common of late are the unwritten mantras “Feel grateful you have a job” and “Everyone, especially you, can be replaced.” In talking to people, particularly those age 33 and above, it is scary to see how many men and women let this reason control their destiny. Some even accept or are afraid to report incidents of discrimination or sexual or other harassment believing if they talk up they’ll lose their job. This is frightening, but is a topic for another time. 

On another note, many people find over time their lifestyle and priorities change and the career path they are on, or were on before they lost their job, is no longer personally fulfilling or accommodating to these changes.

If you feel a change in pay, position or career path is warranted this Independence Day here are a few things I propose you seriously consider. But I caution you not to act hastily, since they require thoughtful analysis and a well-defined game plan before initiating irreversible action. 

A: Ask for a promotion, a transfer or a raise so you can continue to enjoy working where you are.

B: Look for a similar job in a company where you will be better compensated and/or appreciated. *

C: Change careers to work in an environment you’ll enjoy that also fits your needs and lifestyle. *

* Points B & C may also include going into business for yourself or with a trustworthy partner.

Before initiating action follow the steps below and get some professional insight, feedback and guidance from a trustworthy knowledgeable source to avoid a big mistake.

1: Complete your research before you act or react. When you are seeking a promotion or increase in  pay you must know what the overall market is like in your locale and, more important, you must factor in where you fit in your company’s pay structure and in your company’s plans for the future. It also pays to know what is going on inside your company in terms of financial health, M&A rumors, pending deals etc. This can offer you an insight as to whether it is better to ask for a raise or promotion – and when, or if is best to quietly look for a new job. 

If you’re considering changing careers, I suggest you first be honest with yourself and determine if it is because you are running towards something new and exciting or if you are running away from something at your current job. If it is the latter, you may just need a short break or a change in scenery rather than a change in careers.

Most important, before you do anything you must try and determine if your proposed career change will bring about the desired results.

2: Before taking any concrete action i.e. writing and circulating your resume, networking for leads and contacts, or preparing to meet with or confront your employer about your future, you need to gather your facts, put them down in writing and prepare a winning verbal presentation.

Start by identifying your successes and accomplishments and the positive contribution you have made over the past 12 months or since your last review. Then project and articulate your potential as an employee and what it is you can contribute short and long term to your present employer in the months and years ahead. You can do the same thing, but for a new employer, if you determine a change in scenery is in your best interest.

Once you have uncovered all the facts and you’ve written them on paper or on your desktop, you then begin to develop and perfect your pitch and practice it until it flows out of your mouth smoothly and with conviction.  

If you want to make a career change I suggest you discover whether you’ll need to start over from the bottom, how long it will take you to reach your desired goal, and determine without a doubt if you’re willing to make this commitment. You’ll also need to know what additional or new skills, education, or credentials will be required to make the transition and how you will acquire them if they are non-existent at present.

3: There is no “perfect” time to ask for a raise, transfer or promotion, look for a new job, or change careers. Still timing is everything and in most cases there is a more fortuitous time to take action. Your job, and it is not an easy one, is to determine the optimal time, line up the proper allies, and find the best person in your company to make your sales pitch to. I would love to offer more specifics here but when it comes to this topic advice is very personal, so rather than confuse or mislead you I will leave it as is.  You may reach out to me if you want specifics about your personal situation.

As always I am available to critique U.S. resumes and offer suggestions on how to improve them at no cost. You can send me an email with your current resume to perry@perrynewman.com