I Studied for a Professional Certification But Haven't Passed Yet... Should I Include It On My Résumé?

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Certifications are a big deal. There are certifications for technical folks, the bar exam for attorneys, boards for doctors, even the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) for HR folks.

If you've studied for the tests, and haven't yet passed, should you include the classes you took on your résumé?

Like so much in life, it depends.

I'd like to quote here an individual who recruits folks in the HR arena:

"People that show they went to an HR certification class on their resume but don't have a PHR…It tells me that in almost all cases they took the test and failed. Not so impressive and maybe not even worth listing if you analyze things the way I do."

Recruiters and hiring managers often "read between the lines" on a résumé. And this is a perfect example.

In other words, if you don't tell something, people will assume.

If you have studied for a certification, and you're scheduled to take the exam in two months, make sure to include that on your résumé. It shows that the studies are a work in process.

If, on the other hand, you studied for the exam years ago, and either never took the test or didn't pass, then it might be a good idea to leave it off altogether.

Of course, there are exceptions to most rules. For example, let's say there's a job for a procurement specialist who reviews contracts. If you studied for the bar but opted not to become an attorney, this might still be a valuable skill set for such a role.

And sometimes, an individual can possess excellent accounting skills without having passed the CPA exam. They may be able to fill the requirements of a less demanding position while they try again to pass.

Know your job market, and then decide whether to include it on your résumé.

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.

Somebody Sent me a Message Through LinkedIn About a Job! What Should I Do?

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You're going through your LinkedIn account, and you notice there's an email from a recruiter. The message says that they've reviewed your profile, and you might be a match for a job that they are working on.

It's nice to be wanted, isn't it? But how do you handle this situation? You didn't ask to be contacted, you aren't really looking for a job, and you're not sure the company is someplace you'd like to work.

In short, answer the message. Schedule some time to talk with the recruiter.

Opportunities are just that - opportunities. And by definition, an opportunity may not always be there when you want it.

If you think that getting that job you want is all about putting your résumé up on Monster and waiting for the responses to roll in, think again. Job hunting is all about relationships and networking.

Which means, the job the recruiter is approaching you about may or may not be the right position for you. But you won't know until you speak with them, and they're definitely interested in speaking with you.

In addition, if you both come to the conclusion that this role might not be a fit for you, you may be able to refer somebody to the recruiter who is a better fit, and make the recruiter's life a little easier. They'll remember that in case something more up your alley emerges.

And don't forget - people know people. Recruiters know other recruiters. If you make a good impression with one, but you don't fit their needs, they might be willing to help you with an introduction to another company which may be a better fit.

Lastly, make sure to send a note of thanks to the recruiter after your conversation, regardless of the outcome. It demonstrates professionalism and leaves a positive lasting impression.

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.

What Does It Mean When an Interviewer Asks You To "Tell Me About Yourself?"

Question from the reader mailbag: "A lot of interviews seem to start out with the, 'so, tell us about yourself' type of question. Is it better to start with the early years (training, etc.) and work up to today and why I'm perfect for this job? Or is it better to start with what I've been doing most recently and follow the path backwards to show how I got here?"

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During job interviews, I hated being asked by interviewers to "Tell me about yourself." The question is painful for so many reasons:

• It's vague, and wide open to interpretation.
• You don't know specifically what the interviewer wants to know about you. Are they interested in your work history? Or are they interested in the fact that you ran around wearing little more than red and white body paint at every college hockey game? A wrong gamble could toss you out of the running.
• It is, quite frankly, a lazy question. It requires no imagination or planning on the part of the interviewer, and places the burden squarely on you to make of it what you can.

I also have a confession - when I had to run into an interview with a job candidate, and I had little time to prepare, I asked this question, too. Sorry, Momma.

What do you do?

The good news is, it's an opportunity to direct the interview in a favorable direction. In my opinion, the best strategy is the "elevator speech" approach.

An elevator speech, in case you haven't heard the term, refers to a short sales pitch that can be delivered in the brief time of an elevator ride with your intended target.

As an example, let's say you devised an incredible process for converting used candy wrappers to gold. Then, let's say you miraculously find yourself in an elevator ride with the president of a major candy company. The ride in the elevator might last about a minute, at most. How can you sell your idea to the president in that time that will make her excited to invest in your candy wrapper-to-gold idea?

Now, let's transfer the concept to a job hunter. What can you offer an employer that makes you unique, and will steer the conversation in a direction to highlight the value you bring to the table?

Let's say you're a teacher interviewing for a tenure-track educator position at a school district. The conversation might look something like this:

Interviewer: So, tell me about yourself (yawns).

Job Hunter: I would be glad to. I am a highly skilled and experienced educator, with over ten years of experience in changing the lives of young students for the better. My teaching methods have been recognized as highly progressive and current in my field, and I currently hold the latest state certifications. In addition, I have experience mentoring students in not just the classroom setting, but through my leadership in extracurricular activities such as coaching the soccer team and academic tutoring.

Interviewer: (Perking up) Very interesting! As you know, we have a teaching position available, but we also lost our last soccer coach who succumbed to a fatal case of pinkeye!

Think about what makes you unique and exciting to a hiring manager. Then polish it into your very own elevator speech. Then you'll be ready when this doozy of a question comes your way.

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.