IN THIS CHAPTER

Matching your history with the job you want

Showcasing your accomplishments and initiative

Communicating confidence, reliability, and trustworthiness

Actively use the résumé-writing process to understand who you are, where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and what you’re ready for. The good news is that while this effort can be agonizing at times, finding the language transforms your sense of yourself. In figuring out how to prove yourself to prospective employers, you prove your qualifications to … you! You feel reaffirmed and ready for the next step — and prepared to sail through the interviews. Here are ten ways to smooth the process.

Don’t Apply for the Job You Have Now

People often make the mistake of writing a résumé as if they’re applying for their current job. That’s probably because it’s easier to describe where you’ve already been than where you want to go. The best résumés read as if the candidate has spent his or her whole career preparing for the new opportunity: not just any new job, but this particular opening. It makes customizing your résumé essential when you’re seriously interested in the job. Spend some time identifying the match points between you and the employer’s want list. Imagine the ideal candidate: What do you have in common with that theoretical person? Can you orient your experience and qualifications to show you’re the one to hire, and that your past history proves you’re ready?

Adopt the Employer’s Language

Read the ad 20 times to absorb the company’s perspective and understand more deeply what those who hire are looking for. Try to find the problem to be solved or the credentials and qualities that will be most valued. Read between the lines: Does the job posting repeat a word more than once, like “resourceful” or “reliable”? Maybe these qualities were lacking in previous job holders. Does the ad ask for anything specific, like the ability to multitask or work on team projects? These are clues that you should cite proven skills and provide evidence. A close read also helps you identify the best keywords and search terms to use. Don’t slavishly repeat what the ad says, but adopt enough of the wording to show you’re on the same wavelength.

Write Clearly and Concisely

Use tight wording and short, simply structured sentences. You don’t need full sentences; you can be somewhat telegraphic and cut unnecessary words whose absence won’t interfere with meaning. For example, say “Supervised nine people during vacation seasons,” rather than “I was responsible for supervising nine people in the absence of the supervisor.” Cut little words — prepositions and articles like the, also, and, a, and an when possible. But don’t distill the thoughts down to mysterious fragments that make readers guess at what you mean, such as “Ran office, vacations, nine people.” Note that the simple past tense usually works best, but for ongoing activity in a current job, present tense may be better.

Communicate What You Actually Do

Rather than getting lost in official or “insider” descriptions of your work, take the time to figure out how to explain it to your grandmother or to a 10-year old. Think: How do I spend my day? What am I proud of? What skills do I call upon? What problems do I solve? What do people depend on me for? What have I accomplished? Try to quantify your accomplishments in terms of saving time or making money.

Go through as many thinking stages as necessary to make what you do concrete and real. If your job title doesn’t really represent your responsibilities, or you want to more strongly connect your experience with the posting, give yourself a suitable job title, but refer also to the company title this way: “Manager, In-House Video Production (official title: Administrative Chief, Visual Services Unit, Communications Office).”

Write Narratives, Not Just Bullets

Bullet points are handy for concise presentation, but don’t rely on them to tell your story on their own! Think of them as examples and points of evidence that back up your narrative explanations. Write a strong positioning statement to introduce yourself at the top of the page (see Chapter 10). For each significant job, begin with a few lines that give a big-picture overview of your role, and then use bullets to cite projects, proof of success, initiatives, and so on, as appropriate. Start each point with the same part of speech, preferably a verb (for example, catalyzed, reorganized, introduced). Remember that it’s hard for readers to absorb more than seven bullets.

Sidestep Jargon and Business-Speak

When you use jargon, even people in the same industry may not understand it. If you’re applying to a somewhat different industry, you’re doubly muffing it Often jargon becomes invisible after you’re working somewhere a while, so ask someone to read your résumé and to tell you if he understands what you mean. If he doesn’t, explain the meaning behind the words until you get down to the basics and that person does understand you. Take your cues from there. Also, avoid the empty rhetoric that characterizes so much business writing. A statement such as, “designed a breakthrough innovative scalable interface,” doesn’t cut it.

Use Action Verbs to Prove What You Accomplished

Launched, streamlined, originated, chaired, generated, instituted, rejuvenated, mobilized, originated, revamped … there are hundreds of high-energy verbs to choose from, and you can easily find them by Googling “action verbs.” They’re even broken down by industry. Build with action verbs to show how you’ve made a difference in the jobs you’ve held rather than being someone who just fills a role passively. Avoid phrases that start, “responsible for …” or “duties include.” Go for accomplishment and facts. “Managed purchasing for office” can be better stated as “Systematized departmental buying and saved 3 percent of total budget.” Of course, tell only the truth.

Write in a Confident, Positive Tone

How do you feel when you assume your best posture and walk around that way for a few minutes? Probably more confident and just a little assertive. Not boastful or combative. Review your résumé with this feeling. You want it to breathe quiet self-assurance and capability. Avoid hedgy, wishy-washy words like sometimes, might, seems, probably, almost, and possibly. They diminish your stature and raise doubt about your value. And keep away from empty descriptive words like extremely, incredibly, and amazing. Communicate a quiet strength. Also, communicate your intelligence and trustworthiness by eliminating every mistake by proofreading thoroughly. Failing to do so carries a high price. Fairly or not, many recruiters and hiring managers toss a résumé at the first spelling error.

Incorporate Keywords

Keywords are critical to getting past digital screening or junior-level readers, and they also make you findable. Recruiters today looking for the best candidate search the Internet using their pet search terms. Identify keywords and search terms in the job post you’re answering.

Look for keywords in job descriptions, industry material, social media sites, and the free Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor (www.bls.gov/ooh).

Make It Look Good

Appearance counts! Aim for an inviting, accessible presentation that reads easily. This means:

• Keep good margins and plenty of white space rather than cramming in more information that few will read.
• Use a plain, legible typeface in at least 10-point type for body copy and the same, or one other coordinating typeface for headings.
• Don’t use fancy fonts that may not even translate between platforms, especially for your name.
• Arrange your elements in a logical way; a standard format is fine if well used.