Is Your Resume Ready For A Recruiter?

• 

Great news! You received a call out of the blue from a recruiter who wants to see your resume quickly. But what if you haven’t kept it current?

First of all, consider asking for more time to pull things together. After all, the recruiter’s job is easier if your resume clearly tells the employer why you’re a strong candidate.

Now, on to getting that resume in shape! Here are three tips to help you craft a compelling document—even if you’re short on time:

1. Focus Squarely On The Goal

Nothing kicks an applicant out of the running faster than an unfocused resume. Therefore, you’ll need to build your value proposition around this particular job, laying the foundation for the strategy behind your resume. (You can always create a different resume for another job type later).

Add a resume title, using as many specifics as possible that reflect your goal, such as Sales Manager, IT Director, CFO, VP Operations, etc.

Next, you’ll need to write down ideas for a summary of your background and why you’re qualified for this particular position. The key to writing an effective summary is to tweak it and keep it flexible during your resume writing process, allowing different ideas to surface so that you can weave them into this section.

One idea that may make this task easier is to use short, brand-focused headlines in lieu of writing a full profile paragraph.

Remember to review your summary after finishing your resume as well. You might find that you’ve uncovered more information to add—forming the basis for a well-rounded, powerful introduction to the rest of your credentials.

2. Jot Down Your Major Success Stories

Here is where you’ll need to spend the bulk of your time. Analyzing how your contributions have impacted your employers is a critical step in the resume writing process.

Start by making a quick list of key points that you’d make if you already had the interview. Take special note of the metrics behind each story and the impact of your work on the company.

Flesh each out to a small paragraph, cutting out extraneous details for brevity. It’s best to aim for a sentence of three lines or less that describes your role, the context behind each accomplishment, and the results.

Repeat this process a minimum of 3-5 times for each job that you’ve held in the past 10 to 15 years to fill in your resume. This task may take a few extra hours, but it will be time well spent on a resume that gives a compelling picture of your abilities.

Finally, add these stories in bullet-point form to your resume, with a basic job description in paragraph form to introduce each of your jobs. Here, you can describe the teams you’ve supervised, budgets managed, and other contextual details.

3. Get Feedback On Your Resume Update

This is an important step, but it’s one that many professionals miss. Colleagues, spouses, bosses, and friends can help you to recall any important projects you might have omitted, or leadership qualities that you should demonstrate in order to be considered for the job.

Be sure to ask others to help proofread your resume as well, since typos and other errors can escape even the best writer who is pressed for time.

That’s it! Now, take the time to compose a short note to the recruiter that points out your main qualifications and the reasons you’re interested in the job. Your new, superbly crafted resume can then do the rest of the talking.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

• 

Related Posts

• 

  Should I Refer Job Applicants From My Social Networks?
  Should I Refer Job Applicants From My Social Networks?
• 

  How To Adopt Winning Habits
  How To Adopt Winning Habits
• 

  Your Parents’ Career Path Vs. Yours: How Things Have Changed
  Your Parents’ Career Path Vs. Yours: How Things Have Changed
• 

  How To Dress For Success At Work
  How To Dress For Success At Work

6 Comments

1. 

   Spark Hire

   May 7, 2013 at 6:01 PM

   No matter if you are using a traditional resume or video resume, these are fantastic tips. There is plenty of value in all of them, especially, getting a second set of eyes to review your resume. Remember, while your resume may look great to you, you are not the one it is meant to impress. Getting advice from somebody else can give you an idea of how other people will receive your resume.

   Reply
2. 

   Suzanne James

   December 14, 2012 at 7:15 PM

   Accomplishments is a major part of a resume. HR managers are looking for problem solvers with leadership skills. What you consider an accomplishment gives insight into who you are, and what you value. It can help the Hiring Manager identify the perfect Candidate for the position.

   Reply
3. 

   Doris Appelbaum

   December 14, 2012 at 6:51 PM

   When I work with a client to prepare a resume, I seldom start with the existing product because it isn’t worth salvaging. Yes, focus on your achievements and accomplishments. You probably have more than you think. That’s why you need a skilled interviewer to start the process.

   Reply
4. 

   Mark

   December 14, 2012 at 6:33 AM

   Did Ms. Proulx start her own company because she could not get a job? Having stories about your successes has nothing to do with a resume. You have those stories ready if a recruiter actually calls.

   Have someone read your resume for you? What a concept. If you do NOT have someone read your resume for you, then you have other problems.

   But the first comment was my favorite. “Focus squarely on the goal.” I have been applying for IT positions and I keep talking about my experience as a fireman. Thanks for the heads up.

   CAREEREALISM, if you can’t give us REAL information, please do not give us runny oatmeal.

   Mark

   Reply
   • 

     Marcia Hancock

     December 14, 2012 at 9:15 AM

     Hi Mark,

     A major part of resume preparation, be it an on-going, lengthy process or in response to an immediate need, is to keep a list/log of Accomplishments including success stories. “CAR,” an acronym used by many job coach professionals, refers to-challenges, accomplishments, results = success. Doing so is a necessary exercise for writing the final resume product. It gets the thought process going and gets the memory in gear.

     The resume will contain an abbreviated synopsis of success stories to peak the interest of the reader and to want the recruiter or hiring manager to learn more about the applicant.

     The lesson here is to be prepared and maintain an on-going list of accomplishments.

     In our business, resume writers have a diversity of clients who present some really interesting resumes for preparation help. It is amazing how many people do not know how to write a basic resume.

     Reply
     • 

       Laura Smith-Proulx

       May 2, 2013 at 2:29 PM

       Marcia,

       My point exactly. If a recruiter calls and your resume isn’t ready, it’s often because you haven’t taken the time to cull your work history for achievements, making your resume ready on a regular basis.

       The C-A-R (Challenge-Action-Result) formula works even better when you’re not rushed, because success stories and problem-solving skills are best identified when you have time to think them over.

       I typically work with executives who are making a strategic move, plotting their career changes months in advance. We spend considerable time collaborating on the context of what they’ve achieved, and they are amazed at the picture of their achievements that emerges after this comprehensive “look back.”

       The point of the article (as you picked up very quickly) was what to do if you HAVEN’T had the luxury of analyzing your background without pressure to do so. I am frequently scheduling ahead, and therefore can’t accommodate last-minute requests (from candidates who were called out of the blue by a recruiter).

       This article speaks to the quick steps one can take in preparation for turning around a resume back to the recruiter, when there’s been little time for reflection. Recruiters (and prime job opportunities) don’t wait.

       Interesting comment from Mark. I’ve actually been hired so many times (ironically, in my former IT career) that I decided to turn my expertise into a business. This was done at the urging of my now successfully employed IT colleagues, who I had helped when they were stuck getting hired during the previous 10 years of my IT leadership career.

       It pays to read carefully.

       Kind regards,

       Laura

       Reply