Before I start, let me say this. The resume isn’t the operative tool for getting looked at. Imagine how many resumes the employer is seeing! What really gets you in the door is the cover letter. Research the company where you are applying. Exhibit passion for the job… discuss your qualifications in the framework of what you learned about the company. Have someone else check your grammar and spelling because your cover letter and resume speak volumes about how professional you are and your attention to detail. If you can establish your credibility in the cover letter, close by mentioning some thoughts on what you can do to improve something about the company’s products, etc.
A while back I had to write my resume highlighting my skills and business accomplishments. Because this was my first time to write my resume, I researched types of resumes online. I found three common types: Chronological, Functional, and Hybrid.
Chronological resumes are almost always written in reverse chronological order with most recent employment at the top, listing strong achievements in recent positions.
Functional resumes typically use functional headings to highlight areas of expertise or specific skills. Functional resumes mostly benefit someone making a career change or a job seeker who has gaps in employment, such as time off raising children. Functional resumes highlights areas of expertise and skills as opposed to highlighting positions held.
Hybrid resumes are the best of both worlds; this is the most common resume you will see in the marketplace. Typically, with the combination resume you would begin with skills and accomplishments, then follow with job titles listed in reverse chronological order. Hybrid resumes are best for job seekers who have performed a range of job functions. Regardless of the type you choose, remember that those seeking quality employees want to know one thing: what can you do for the company.
In December, I placed an ad to hire an administrative assistant. We received more than 300 resumes. For me, the combination resumes were the most straight forward, allowing me to quickly decide whether to discard the resume or interview the person. Remember that resumes are about looking good, but job seekers must be truthful.
A recent article I read stated that about one third of all job seekers provide false or exaggerated information on their resumes and that men are more prone than women to do so. I interviewed a promising applicant to replace my assistant, the first interview went well, but there were some things about her past employment that did not ring true to me. I did some checking and found that she had blatantly lied during her interview. Of course, we did not hire her.
A little resume sprucing is part of the process; employers expect you to jazz up your resume to tailor it for their job, but there’s a big difference between jazzing up and lying.
When sending your resume include a cover letter indicating how your background matches the job specifications. When communicating by email use the subject line to your advantage, reference the job number or position because that makes it easier for the recipient to get your resume and cover letter to the right person.
Ron Sturgeon, Mr. Mission Possible, has been a successful business owner for more than 35 years. As a small business consultant, he can deliver wisdom and advice gleaned from an enviable business career that started when he opened a VW repair business as a homeless 17-year-old and culminated in the sale of several businesses he built to Fortune 500 companies.
Ron has helped bankers, lawyers, insurance agents, restaurant owners, and body shop owners, as well as countless salvage yard owners to become more successful business people. He is an expert in helping small business owners set the right business strategies, implement pay-for- performance, and find new customers on the web.
As a consultant, Ron shares his expertise in strategic planning, capitalization, compensation, growing market share, and more in his signature plainspoken style, providing field-proven, and high-profit best practices well ahead of the business news curve. Ron is the author of nine books, including How to Salvage More Millions from Your Small Business.
To inquire about consulting or keynote speaking, contact Ron at 817-834-3625, ext. 232, rons@MrMissionPossible.com, 5940 Eden, Haltom City, TX 76117.