Most people don't think of a resume as a marketing product, but that's what it really is. Think about this for just a moment - before you get an interview at a company, before you get an invitation to meet anybody at that company, the very first thing you're asked to do is to present a resume.
That resume is what's used to judge whether or not a company wants to invest the time in meeting you. Their employees are busy - very busy. So, why should they meet you?
You're marketing yourself with a resume. You're trying to influence the reader to buy something - you.
There are two major elements to a resume. The first is your technical qualification for the role. An employer would like to see that if they have advertised that a position requires a bachelor's degree and four years experience as a logistics analyst that you possess at least a bachelor's degree and four years in logistics. And all those job tasks you list under each job supports this.
But there's also an element of braggadocio (neat word, huh?) in a well-written resume. The resume is an opportunity to tell people what you've accomplished as well.
What's more impressive to read:
- A logistics engineer with five years experience who managed vendors by utilizing a vendor management system, or,
- A logistics engineer who saved their company $2 million by shepherding a team through theimplementation of a vendor management system which enabled the company to find efficiencies and streamline its vendor pool
The first statement outlines what the engineer did. The second statement details the engineer's accomplishments and tangible results to the company.
A hiring manager or recruiter might read the first statement and think, "This guy's got the basic skills."
They might read the second statement and think, "I wonder if this guy can help me save money for the company, take the lead on systems implementations, and get me a big fat bonus for hiring the right dude."
A remarkable number of job seekers don't give themselves enough credit. They spend their time just listing their rote tasks and responsibilities. And they're important - they show that the individual has the basic foundation required for the job. But the wins they've accrued are what separates a job seeker from the pack.
Don't save all your accomplishments for the interview. Make certain that you give employers a reason to want to interview you. Your resume isn't the place to be modest.
Just one note of caution: Find the right balance between individual and team accomplishments. While presenting accomplishments is essential, so is your ability to function in a larger organization. If you take credit for everything that happens in your office, without crediting others, you may come across as self-serving - and not as a team player.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. He is a Human Resources professional and staffing expert with almost two decades of in-house corporate HR and staffing firm experience, and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
