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Thursday, July 24, 2008

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Executive Resume Development Tips

Deborah S. James, CCMC, CPRW

Executive recruiters and HR professionals typically spend 15 to 30 seconds looking over your resume the first time around. That's why you want your resume to read like the front page of a newspaper.

While there are no formatting rules, a resume should market and merchandise your career track, qualifications and achievements. The goal of your resume is to express how you will fit into the future employer's organization. The suggestions below really work. You are unique and your resume should be too. The key to success is to use the top third of your resume to highlight and support your skills and then wow them away with your experience and achievements.

Here are 10 tips to help you to create an interview-generating resume:

1. Career Focus

Start with an actual career title at the top of your resume under your letterhead. You want this title to JUMP out at them. Focused resumes are powerful job search tools. Hiring managers and executive recruiters appreciate applicants who know what skills they offer and where they can best fit into a company. Don't make them guess what position you're applying to.

2. Professional Profile

Write your profile in either paragraph or bulleted format. This is a sales pitch … a concise synopsis that tells employers who you are and what you have to offer and compel them to read further.

3. Areas of Expertise

Include a section that contains top business, leadership, or tangible / intangible craft-related skills. These serve as keywords / industry jargon.

4. Advanced degrees

They are marketable material so why not include them in the top third of your resume.

5. Key Performance Indicators

Showcase 4 - 5 of your STRONGEST career accomplishments right on the first page. Achievements communicate success and numbers sell. Employers want candidates who can identify the problems and challenges they are facing by showcasing their track record and success resolving similar problems.

6. Employment Summary

Make sure you include a brief description of each employer and then follow with a scope of responsibility to include the number of your direct reports, budget oversight and who you reported to. Don't forget to mention your mission. Obviously, they selected you for a reason.

Bullet point your most relevant accomplishments. Remember, don't list everything and certainly don't repeat items that you may have already mentioned in the performance indicator section. Focus on important contributions highlighting your challenge, action and result.

7. Make every word count

Avoid saying "responsible for" and never use "I" or "my" in a resume. Be careful with helping verbs (be, is, are, was) and use articles sparingly (a, an, the). Do not write in a narrative format unless you are writing a Bio.

8. Length

Limit your resume to two to three pages in length. For networking purposes, consider using a one-page profile.

9. Formatting

Make your resume easy to read, graphically pleasing to the eye and designed to generate interviews. Once content is in place, it's all about presentation. First impressions do count. Avoid fancy fonts (I suggest Arial) and make your margins equal. Use good paper and a good printer (laser prints are preferable).

10. Professional Memberships / Affiliations / Certifications

Include these at the end of the document only if current or if they were relevant.

Odds & Ends

Do not reveal your age, marital status, names and number of children, religious affiliation, or nationality. With regard to interests and activities, ask yourself the question: "Does it support my candidacy?" Technology skills … include them on your resume, if relevant.

Deborah James, a Certified Career Management Coach and Certified Professional Resume Writer is the Executive Director of Leading Edge Resumés & Career Services. She is a member of Career Masters Institute, the Professional Association of Resume Writers, and the Professional Resume Writers & Research Association. Deborah has published more than a dozen resumés in some of the world's top selling career-related books. She serves as a guest speaker for colleges and professional organizations and facilitates career-related workshops. www.leadingedgeresumes.com