Many technical resumes suffer because engineers, developers, researchers, and other technical job applicants have trouble communicating what they do. Many of them are more at home drawing a diagram than writing; and many are used to communicating with their peers at a level where a hiring manager or recruiter is simply lost. Still, the hiring managers and recruiters are the ones who will ultimately examine a resume and deci...
As a professional resume writer, I have a commitment to giving you a clear, concise, accurate resume that shows off your value to hiring managers and recruiters and that can help you move on to the next stage in the application process, an interview. But that commitment also includes things that I cannot do for you.I cannot lie for you. If I am aware of any discrepancies or lies in your resume, I will advise you against the...
If you ever thought about stretching the truth on your resume, you may want to rethink the strategy. The statistics on the amount of lying in resumes are stunning: one study claims that 53% of applicants lie. However, that is not a green light for joining the liars. It simply means that hiring managers and recruiters are well aware of the situation and have re-doubled their efforts to check out the facts on resumes.The most...
A resume is your introduction to hiring managers and recruiters so they will consider inviting you to an interview. First impressions are important during any introduction. Make sure your resume makes a great first impression:1. Your resume stands up strongly for you. Your resume should look hiring managers and recruiters in the eye and explain exactly what you do, have done, and will do for their company. Eliminate words l...
The New York Times has run a regular Sunday feature column in which the CEOs of various companies talk about their hiring procedures. Their comments raise interesting points about resumes.For example, David Politis, CEO of BetterCloud, has advised new college graduates, “The first thing I tell people is, try to go where you can be a big fish in a small pond…where you can actually have a real impact on the business. That giv...
If you took a chance on starting your own company or moving to a different industry or handling a project outside your normal skill set—and failed or were fired—you have to focus on recovery, both in life and in your resume. In the course of my own career, I have found myself working at incompatible companies and I have made major changes in career goals. I know failure is hard.How do you handle failure on your resume?First...
Most people come to me with a resume already written. It may be 15 or 20 years old—unused while they built their career in a single company—or it may be their first attempt at a resume. In any case, they have put words on paper to describe their careers. These are the “before” resumes. What do I do that makes them “after” resumes?First, most “before” resumes do not stress accomplishments. They are task oriented: “I did this...
With over a decade of experience writing resumes and with credentials from the most respected professional associations, I have specialized knowledge that I put to work on every resume. Today, I share some resume secrets that I have accumulated over the years.Resumes are marketing documents. Your resume is first an honest record of your past employment; but it is also a marketing document. Just like any product brochure, it...
When reading a resume, recruiters or hiring managers are less concerned with how long it is than whether they are getting the information they need quickly and accurately. Therefore, it is a big mistake to load your resume with information that recruiters and hiring managers do not need.For example, they do not need:Your philosophy of life. Unless you are applying for a position at a religious organization or a political or...
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from college! Some of you will be going on to graduate school but a majority of you will be looking for the first full-time job in your chosen career. Here are some tips and warnings that will help you toward interviews and ultimately a successful career.1. Highlight any work, volunteer, or leadership activity. Never dismiss part-time positions, even if they are not in your field,...