• By Susan Somers
• in Guest Blog
• April 12, 2011
• More_posts
• 

ATTENTION!!

• High Profile Execs
• Savvy Marketers
• Profit-Minded Professionals
• Exceptional Communicators
• Skilled Negotiators

Does your resume accurately represent your talents for today’s competitive job market? Are your contributions and achievements clearly exhibited in your resume?

I have met with so many of you who have experienced tremendous success throughout your amazing careers. You've built businesses, designed wedding gowns, conquered start-ups and managed projects that require unbelievable smarts. You’ve patented products, taught special-needs children, won new business through tireless persistence, and turned around big corporations. The stories are endless not to mention incredibly impressive. When we talk on the phone, I can just about hear the fire in your belly and almost see the sparkle in your eyes when you speak of your proudest moments. And when you send me your resume, I immediately become aware it has been updated, revised and added to at least a million times. With each new revision, regretfully, it drifts a little bit further and further away from telling your amazing story. And worst of all, it is nothing more than a job description with no consideration given to your incredible achievements.

So how can you be certain your resume will stand out in this tough job market?  The answer is straightforward. You must show accomplishments and achievements by way of dollars saved, efficiencies gained and results achieved. It really is that clear-cut. And it is not as hard to construct as you may think.

“Created and maintained new client relationships” may be a bullet in your most current resume.

“Created and maintained new client relationships through creating promotions by way of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, resulting in increased sales by 39% YTD, 2010” should be a bullet for your results-focused resume.

See the difference? You went from a job description focus to an achievement driven focus simply by asking “and as a result” at the end of the sentence. High impact and keeps the reader’s attention.

Your resume should focus on what you have achieved in every position you have held, not be an unending list of job duties. As a HR professional, I know what I hired you to do....... what I want to know is what you achieved while you held that position. Keep it simple.....this shouldn’t be the second coming of “War and Peace”. Engage me. Make me want to read more and know more and find out more. Give me just enough to keep me wondering, keep me reading, and keep my interest! Give me reason to pick up the phone and call you right now to get you in here for an interview and find out how you did that. Because I need someone who can do exactly that! Save dollars. Achieve results. Make my company more efficient. Lead people. Be inspiring. Be creative. Take risks. All achievements you have done in your current and past positions, I feel sure. Does your resume clearly demonstrate your success? It absolutely has to for the job market today or you are dead in the water without ever being considered to interview for that job you are “perfect” for. Remember, your resume doesn’t get you the job, you get you the job, but your resume paves the way to the interview.  Don’t sell yourself short. You only have one chance to make a good first impression with your resume. Be smart and be proud and let it be known that you have experienced tremendous success and are ready to contribute with excellence in your new position based on your past achievements.

Much continued success to you in your amazing careers!