Been thinking about a number of resumes
that I have been asked to review. Here
seven reflections–
- Target the resume: is the focus industrial or
academic, part-time or full time, one specifically
targeted position or one of a number. General
resumes with a “qualification statement” may
be suitable for career fairs where there are
several or many positions.
- Job boards: consider targeted industry boards,
targeted industry recruiters and societies that
are growing and nurture the interaction of
seekers (this can be called “niche” boards or
“boutique” boards/societies).
- Heading: one telephone, one email, one web
presence contact is sufficient; however,
On-line identity: Present it in the resume heading
via LinkedIn.com profile and/or web-page (well
constructed and representing you well). Most
interviewers and recruiters will “google” you.
Know what they will find.
Differentiate yourself positively.
- Work History: don’t skip items in your work
history. Limit time gaps. What did you do when you
did not have a salary-paying job.
- Career or field change: I reviewed a resume
that showed a student completing an MS in
engineering while simultaneously taking MBA
business courses. Pressed on the issue: He
audited them. Audited courses do not pass
muster for expertise.
- Beware: hybrid skills based/chronological
resumes are not viewed positively. They can
be seen as “hiding something”.
- References: While some say that “googling”
someone is enough. It is not enough when
a person’s list of references includes someone
I know and can call even before speaking to a
candidate.