Yeh Resume Maange More – Part I

A

The Purpose of a Resume

First of all we must be clear about the resume and its objective. The One and Only One Purpose of the resume is to win an interview. If it does that, it worked. If it doesn't, it isn't an effective resume.

A great resume doesn't just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light. It convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career.

It is so pleasing to the eye that the reader is enticed to pick up and read it. It "whets the appetite," stimulates interest in meeting you and learning more about you. It inspires the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview.

It's not an official personnel document. It's not a job application. It's not a "career obituary!" Your resume is YOUR marketing tool, not a personnel document. The resume is a selling tool outlining your skills and experience… It is about YOU the job hunter, not just about the jobs you've held. It's not just about past jobs!

• → A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job
• → It focuses on your future, not your past
• → It emphasises your accomplishments, not your past job duties or job descriptions
• → It documents skills you enjoy using, not skills you used just because you had to

B

Most Desirable Qualities for Job Seekers

What are the most desirable qualities for job seekers in the workplace? Your resume must convey that you carry all these essential attributes:

1. 1Willingness to share information and ideas
2. 2Commitment to teamwork
3. 3Responsiveness to change
4. 4Ability to work under pressure
5. 5Sense of ownership of work and ideas
6. 6Willingness to take calculated risks, without fear of consequences
7. 7Multicultural experience and/or ability to speak multiple languages
8. 8Ability to communicate clearly and honestly with peers, managers, customers
9. 9Understanding of business strategy and how you create shareholder value
10. 10Commitment to continuous learning and skill development

Ample presence of these attributes in your resume will give a positive aura to your profile.

C

Bad Transportation of Resume

A lot of candidates send their applications to placement consultants and companies via email with multiple recipients in the "To:", "CC:" or "BCC:" fields. Almost all big job sites having national or international presence broadcast your resume via email with multiple recipients. These big job sites also flash your resume from their own email ID to another of their own email IDs. Now this is criminal.

Resumes received this way are treated as spam — deleted. Over 90% of placement consultants and recipient companies delete them because they feel you are TOO DESPERATE FOR A JOB and have mailed your resume to every Tom, Dick and Harry in business. The logic runs like a downward spiral: desperate → unemployed → incompetent → pariah → immediate deletion. This deletion could happen at the server level through spam guards or manually on the recruiter's desktop.

D

Essentials in the Subject Title

As a placement consultant, I receive a lot of resumes. Candidates generally do not give any importance to the subject title and their resume also does not get any attention from recruiters. Like the cover letter, the subject title is an under-utilised resource.

The following subject titles from recent posts are losers: Aditi Jain · Copy of Resume · Résumé · Arun's Resume · CV for your Consideration.

If your title is similar, nobody will bother to read further — you have done nothing to distinguish yourself from the crowd. One of the best titles I have seen recently was:

Not only can this person communicate effectively — he/she is decisive. In eight words, the candidate told me everything I needed to know.

Cover Letter

Tips for a Superior Cover Letter

After being clear on the purpose of resume, knowing what an employer seeks in a candidate, transportation hiccups and subject title, let's talk a little more about the cover letter. Cover letter is an extra page you can add to your résumé that takes the focus off your past and places it on your potential.

If transitioning to a new industry, focus your resume on your transferable skills rather than routine responsibilities. Back up your transferable skills with illustrative accomplishments. Translate industry-specific jargon into general terminology.

• Simplify facts: A cover letter is not an autobiography. It should be short and sweet, brief and to the point. Three to four paragraphs, no paragraph over six lines long.
• No grammar or spelling errors: Even a small typo can look like a glaring error and may reflect on your ability to perform accurate work. Ask someone else to proof-read it for you.
• No negatives: This is not the place to explain why you left or are leaving an employer.
• No ego-maniacal tone: Make sure that by the time you have finished writing, the person most impressed by your letter isn't you.
• Avoid salary history: A salary history is more likely to cost you a job than not.
• Make it easy on the eyes: It should be easy to scan and have a logical progression.
• Don't repeat your resume: Your cover letter is not a summary of your resume — it will be counterproductive.
• Avoid clichés: Don't promise "excellent written and verbal communication skills" or the ability to "think outside the box." Be different.
• Offer a solution to their problem: Your cover letter should be solution-centric, not "I" centered.
• Personalise whenever possible: Address a specific person. Generic cover letters indicate the writer is broadcasting her resume to every employer.
• Be sincere: When you tell potential employers why you're interested in working for them, be genuine. Don't pour on flattering statements.

The right tone — a comparison:

Sample

A Cover Letter Structure