Resume: An Opportunity Missed
19 November 2015
The resume is on the rise in public sector recruiting. It has always been of primary importance in the private sector, but with a higher prevalence of short term and contract roles, expressions of interest in temporary opportunities and redeployment situations, more and more opportunities are being filled through reference to the resume. And as always, in mainstream recruitment the resume plays an important part in consolidating and backing up the information presented in the application. For some employers it is the first document they consult, for others it is an afterthought, but for everyone this document needs to add to the argument you are presenting about the capabilities you have to fulfill the role on offer – now and into the future.
My experience of working with people on crafting their resume has highlighted a flawed understanding of what a resume is. The prevailing concept is that the resume is a past focused document that simply lists what you have done previously under some headings, the main ones being work and education. The concept is that by listing your history whoever is reading your resume will be able to make a leap of understanding about what you are capable of doing in the future in the role they have on offer. This leaves a lot of conjecture and interpretation up to the reader, who, because their own thinking is coloured by their own experiences, biases and understanding, can often make unusual, inaccurate and misplaced meanings about what your history implies. This ‘listing the past’ approach to the resume misses an opportunity. It misses the opportunity to more accurately guide the reader to make the understanding about you that you need and want them to make.
Start to think of your resume as more of a future focused document. One that clearly conveys to the reader the sense you would like them to make about what you are capable of doing for them in the future. Start thinking about your resume as a sales document. It is a document that sells a product to an employer – and that product is you. Like any good bit of marketing it highlights the features of the product and lets the buyer know how the product is going to perform into the future.
Every aspect of your resume needs to answer the following question:
Does this information sell me in the way I want to be bought?
There are two aspects to this question. The first is that every word, comma, line, topic and mark on the page has to sell you to the employer. Nothing should raise questions in their head – questions that lead them to have questions that raise worries or doubts or to have fear. Unfortunately most employers approach selections with a negative and suspicious bias and they are primed to see information that confirms to them that there is something fishy about you – so don’t give them any excuse to put you on the no pile.
The second part of the question is that every element you put into your resume has to lead the employer to buy you for the skills you want to develop and expand upon in yourself - the skills that you will need for your future career. Don’t sell to the employer skills that you no longer want to use and develop. This second element reflects that you are the one who is in control of the development of your career. Make sure that the resume you produce supports the way you want your career to develop.
Here are a couple of little things you could do now to refocus your resume:
- 1. Ask someone to have a look at your resume and review it for any bits in it that might raise doubts in the mind of a reader e.g. spelling, use of grammar, punctuation, flow of dates, odd learning experiences, your name or address, outdated design, the font you use…
- 2. Spend some time thinking about the skills that you want to develop in your next role and make a list of the top 5 skills that you want your next employer to give you the opportunity to grow. Then look for ways you can incorporate words around these skills into your resume.
As always wishing you a flourishing career.
Katherine