Know Your Resume No-No's
Wondering why the subject of resumes is suddenly dominating your screens, both computer and TV? Turns out September is the 10th annual celebration of "International Update Your Resume Month." Or so proclaim the global thinkers at Career Directors International of Melbourne, Fla., and they should know. After all, they were smart enough to steal the name of Australia's second largest city for a backwater burg in Florida.
Now, I know what you are asking yourself. You're asking: "If September is truly International Update Your Resume Month, how am I going to celebrate?" Good question! Is this an appropriate time to give a lavish gift to your favorite HR professional? No, that's what we do on "International Pretend HR People Are Humans, Too, Month," which comes in February, every third leap year. Instead of a gift, why not mark this grand occasion by joining the multitudes that are updating their resumes. And if you are honest, you will have to admit a little updating is not a terrible idea. Yes, I know that your position with the Studebaker Motor Co. shows your executive abilities, but it might be time to bring your work history into the 21st century.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of resume experts available to help with the heavy lifting. Like Tory Johnson, who I caught on ABC's Good Morning America, sharing her best ideas for building a better resume, and whose advice you can find at www.abcnews/gma.com.
The first of Tory's tips did strike me as troublesome. "A fun e-mail address (hotmama, muscleman, vodkaqueen, and so on) may be fine to communicate with friends, but think again before putting it on your resume." Think again, sure, but definitely do it. Who wouldn't want to hire the vodkaqueen? Or to put it another way, who would want to work at a company that didn't appreciate the vodkaqueen's honesty and lack of pretension? Plus, consider the possibilities that vodkaqueen could be applying for a job with the person who turns out to be tonicking. Talk about synergy in the workplace!
I do agree with Tory's Tip No. 2, in which she suggests that "referencing '30 years' of experience screams 'older worker' and it'll often knock you out of the running in this market." Perhaps, but if a potential employer wants fresh thinking, you can point out that no matter how many times you've handled an issue in the past, your poor, porous senior brain can retain almost nothing, so every situation you could come across will seem totally new to you.
If Tory's tips are not enough to put your resume in working order, free advice is also available from Ford R. Myers, a "nationally-known career coach, and author of 'Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring.'"
Myers first suggestion is to "Be Brief," especially in the summary section. "The summary is a brief statement of who you are, where you are 'coming from,' and what skills and expertise you have to bring to the organization," the career coach suggests. Trust me -- if your summary, no matter how brief, includes the words, "Here's where I'm coming from," your chances of getting that job are less than zero, unless you're applying for an executive position at the International Center for Cliches.
Myers also suggests that "you use strong action words at the beginning of every sentence." One of the preferred words is "launch," as in "Launched a major initiative." Good idea, but in your case, I think you might want to replace "launch" with "lunch," since it's the part of the workday that you care the most about. As in "Lunched for a month without picking up a check."
Both Myers and Johnson agree that "There is no need to focus on our after-school job or high-school accomplishments." Again, I'm going to have to disagree. Your high school years were your best years. Remember all your energy, enthusiasm and potential? Sure, you can focus on the bitter, twisted person you've become, but why not emphasize the positive. And wear your high-school letterman jacket to the interview. Hiring managers will be riveted by your stories of helping your school's archery team win the county conference.
Of course, if none of these resume updates get you hired, all is not lost. As must be apparent to you, there are endless opportunities in becoming an expert on career opportunities. Get good enough at it, and you may never have to update your resume again.
