High Level Resumes gives you an edge up in a highly competitive job market!

Read the following excerpts from High Level Resumes!
as published on dcjobs.com

Resume Format Options
Resume Technical Points
A move within present organization
A career change as an experienced professional
Resumes and the Internet
Resumes and Informational Interviewing

Resume Format Options

The traditional chronological and functional resume formats are not usually the most efficient and effective ways for senior level professionals to present their varied specialized, in-depth experiences and qualifications. A quick review of the descriptions of these types of resume will indicate why. In today’s highly competitive job market where there are more candidates than positions, you do not want the reader to have to take too long to figure out whom you really are and what you have to offer. Many reviewers take only ten to thirty seconds to scan a resume and decide whether to place it in the call in for an interview or reject pile.

Chronological resume:

A chronological resume takes a historical approach by outlining your work history starting with the most recent position and ending with the oldest. Most reviewers and hiring agents prefer this format since it is the easiest one to follow and find needed information. Your career progression is shown over time by linking together a detailed job description of responsibilities with employer data. Additionally, if the organizations you have worked for, particularly your most recent employer are well known and have excellent reputations, they will be more visible in a chronological resume format. Disadvantages for a senior level professional are: 1) age more obvious, 2) not particularly imaginative for you to stand out, 3) not selective or allows for highlighting specific qualifications up front, and 4) does not allow a reader to quickly see the overall picture of the extent of your background.

Functional resume:

A functional resume presents skills and experiences and stresses accomplishments and strengths rather than a progressive career history. One of its main features is a background summary statement: This synopsis section, one or two short paragraphs, highlights experience and expertise, specializations, and competitive edge, including both work content specific and transferable skills. This format is particularly useful when making a career change and you may need to pull up experiences from several years ago .to a more front line placement. Disadvantages for a senior level professional are: a) does not naturally highlight details of promotions and career growth, d) details of employment information are de-emphasized and minimized, c) does not necessarily contain all the information required for a particular defined work opportunity, d) is not as a matter of course results or outcome oriented, and e) it could seem as if you have an erratic work history or gaps of unemployment.
Targeted Resume Format

If traditional resume formats do not work for senior level professionals, what will? A targeted resume configuration is one that is really quite appropriate for people in this category. This is one version of what many people refer to as a combination resume format since it has elements of both chronological and functional resumes. Basically, you are extracting selected information, arranging the facts and data in blocks thereby, bringing it to the forefront. This is quite different from showing your capabilities in the traditional resume manner of listing information in sequential time order.

For a highly experienced professional, a targeted resume set up works best because experiences, savvy, and competencies that have produced measurable results are highlighted. Skills, knowledge, and most importantly, your successes for how you used or applied the competencies listed reflecting your creditability. Aptitudes in high demand are clearly seen for: a) solving problems with effective outcomes, b) providing leadership to an organization, a work unit or a project team, c) seeing the big picture, and also d) having a package of other strengths and expertise that is an added value to the employer. A targeted resume can bundle qualifications and achievements in a way that tells your story directed towards the specific needs and culture of a potential employer.

As a successful seasoned professional with an in-depth and varied work history, you have more than one avenue of employment to consider in your job search efforts. With a targeted resume, you can more easily and readily rebundle your qualifications and customize your experiences to match different types of job specs and employer’s requirements.

[TOP · BACK]

Resume Technical Points

A reviewer not only looks for reasons to select a resume for the short initial interview pile, but also looks for reasons to reject a resume. When a document has a "high polish", clarity, balance, and "togetherness" look to it, the hiring agent receives the message that you are a consummate professional. This is particularly true when a person, who has never met you, uses the resume as their main tool for selecting candidates for the initial interview invite.

Frequently, a resume is rejected simply because of typos, grammar errors or just not easy to read. Therefore, it is essential to pay close attention to the required or preferred resume technical points. Some of the rules are just Standard English and writing usage and others are good resume development procedures. Fifteen accepted guidelines to follow as you develop your resume are:

1. Be accurate and check and if necessary, double check all dates and figures
2. Omit jargon and other language that is organization or industry specific, particularly when making a career change or professional shift to another field and/or industry e.g., acronyms, titles, phrases and so forth.
3. Try and not to repeat or overuse the same professional skill word, action verb or other characterizing words in describing your background and experiences.
4. Do not abbreviate to save space other than the usual accepted ones e.g., state names, academic degrees, part of an organization's name, commonly used in a specific field or industry
5. Use wide space and wide margins to make the resume visually appealing
6. Keep language, simple, easy to read, clear, concise, brief and statements brief, crisp, and succinct
7. Review grammar, spelling of formal names/titles, and English correct usage
8. Avoid gender specific words e.g., manpower, salesmen
9. Be consistent: in verb tenses, abbreviations, formatting, headings, design, style, fonts, spacing
10. Omit the use of "I", (first person) and "he" or "she" (third person) and "A" or "An" or "The" (unnecessary articles)
11. Use short sentences, paragraphs or bullets, and start each opening sentence with an action verb or professional skill word.
12. For a resume that is more than one page, put your name at the top of any following page in case they become separated from each other and clipped together not stapled
13. Keep resume to two pages in length, unless have an unusual background or extensive experiences that need to be included and/or for meeting job qualifications
14. Choose high quality paper stock that says this is a successful senior level professional
15. Proof read word by word at least twice; then have a couple of colleagues (your fresh eyes) do the final critique and proof with complete objectivity and neutrality, providing you with their impressions and recommendations

[TOP · BACK]

A move within present organization

When making a move within your organization, it is usually one of two basic options: a) A move that is a step up (a promotion) or b) A move that is across the career ladder and/or the organizational structure (a lateral move). Since people are quite familiar with the concept of moving up or advancing your career and what a promotion implies, no further explanation is needed.

However, not everyone may fully understand what is and why someone wants to make a lateral move. A lateral move involves transferring to a different but equal to the one you presently have. This is a professional shift to consider when you want to remain with your present employer, but want to further develop as a professional and therefore, interested in expanding your skills and experience base. For example, Bill a HR Specialist with some responsibility for writing training materials, develops a growing interest in writing and editing. This results in his request for a lateral move to the In House Publications Department since one future possibility is working for an organization specializing in HR publications.

In either of these moves, one of the challenges that you may have to deal with is – how other people see you. If you are seeking a promotion: Do they see you as someone on their way up in the organizational structure or not? Or, if making a lateral move to learn new skills, do people who are only aware of your desire to make this transfer without knowing the reasons for the change may see you as a not very ambitious person.

Additionally, when attempting to make any type of organizational move try to be aware of any inside competition you may have and how you can offset their advantages with some of your own. Use the company’s informal networking system or your intuitive sense of other colleagues and be aware of whom else maybe applying for this position. On the other hand, if a specific opening does not exist, determine an organizational need/issue, and plan to promote yourself as the person who not only can solve the problem, but is interested, ready, and available to make a move and you will not have any competition.

For making a move within your professional field, as you identify information to include in your resume ask yourself these questions:

• What have I done that demonstrates my leadership potential?
• What have I done that illustrates my intent to remain and grow with the organization?
• How will I use my resume (beyond submission to HR for the position opening) to market myself within the organization?

For example, Bill who wants to make the lateral move, answers these questions in the following way: “Have a growing interest in broadening and increasing my writing and editing skills to return to the HR Division better able to create training manuals and other HR/learning materials for the organization. Presently, manage a HR project focused on future staffing training needs and the development of courses to meet these needs. In four years have moved from being an assistant to the Recruitment Manager to being a learning and performance specialist. Will my resume available when talking about my desire for transferring with my supervisor, the In-House Publications Manager, and some of the editorial staff.”

[TOP · BACK]

A career change as an experienced professional

Changing careers completely is one of the most difficult transitions to make successfully – that is to change both work tasks and work fields. For example, Charles, a Corporate Director of Training with 20 years of experience has decided to make a career change from working in private industry to teaching in higher education. One of the concerns he faces, like many senior level job seekers making this type of transition is the age factor. Employers tend to focus on salary and benefit package requirements and the possibility of you being overqualified when looking at high-level professionals seeking a job outside of their usual specialized practices or industry.

One good strategy is having the reviewer concentrate on your transferable skills and knowledge as well as the benefits of hiring a seasoned professional so that your disadvantages fade into the background. Use your age to your advantage by identifying the chosen market needs, how you can meet those needs, and stressing your solid experience and significant achievements.

In being realistic about making a career change, you need to also consider the possibility that you may actually have to accept a position at a lower level of responsibility and leadership than your present one and to do so with a salary cut. Your résumé’s fundamental role is to project your professional image in a way that improves the chance of this scenario not happening.

Another defensive strategy is to thoroughly research your new career interest and work environment. By doing your homework, you become aware of the essential required skills and knowledge. Follow-up with identifying the proficiencies you possess or in lieu of actual experiences can substitute education/training. As a selling point, consider taking professional development course to fill the gaps in you qualifications as proof of your strong commitment to this transition.

For making a career change, as you identify information for inclusion in your resume ask yourself the following questions:

• What is it that I am exactly looking to make a change to – in terms of profession/field, work tasks people involved, and work environment?
• What is or was the overall focal point of the roles I have played as a: – a) project/team management, b) resource/information supplier, c) specialist in a profession/field, and/or d) organizational/leadership provider and what is your new focal point interest?
• How can I use my proven record of successes as an indicator of future accomplishments?

For example, Charles answers these question in the following way: “Looking to change from the HRD field to Education and teach at a University setting in an undergraduate Business School, perhaps in a college town setting. Major functions in my present position have been management and leadership. Would like to return to being an information supplier (classroom teacher) and teach HR basics such as delivering training and improving human performance. My PhD in Human Resource Management and OD indicates academic proficiencies while extensive and diverse background in curriculum development and training demonstrates capabilities as an instructor.”

[TOP · BACK]

Resumes and the Internet

If you have not been active in the job market within the last 10 years, you will find that the methodology used by employers to locate and track applicants has undergone a rapid change. Increasingly, more organizations are turning to the Internet to help them find suitable candidates for their job openings by using their own Web sites as recruitment portals as well as turning to independent electronic resume databases. This is true whether the employer is a Fortune 500 company or a medium-sized one. Moreover, most organizations have established computer-based applicant tracking systems. Organization's increasing reliance on the Internet as their means to receive resumes is reflected by Sam Bresler, SPHR of San Diego, CA, by his statement: "My organization will generally not accept paper resumes any longer. Only resumes submitted by our web-enabled system are reviewed. It helps us to search for key words/phrases for specific skill sets and experience when we have openings."

The Internet, if used properly and wisely can be a very effective and efficient way to market your story. Your resume can be distributed in a matter of minutes, if not seconds, to an unlimited number of recruiters and employers. And there in lies a problem. With a traditional print resume, you can control its distribution and can customize your qualifications according to what you believe are the needs of a specific organization.

Consequently, to conduct a targeted marketing campaign on the Internet, a way is needed for selectivity regarding who reads your resume and how to target the particular people you want to reach. The use of the Internet for your job search activities needs some caution taken since it is also a possibility for your supervisor or a colleague to come across your resume. This is something you do not want to happen, particularly if your current employer is not aware of your plans to seek a new position.

It is assumed that you have familiarity and some experience with basic Internet research machines like Google.com or Yahoo.com. However, prior to using the Internet as a marketing tool in your job search campaign, you can take advantage of the online search engines and Web sites as information resources to help focus and narrow your marketing arenas: Think about your marketing and job search needs and utilize web sites to:

• Identify organizations you are interested in working for
• Research organizations that have job openings for which you intend to apply
• Review job listings on an organization's web site
• Locate on-line job data bases specializing in your field and/or industry
• Become informed about salary range norms and other benefits
• Learn of local networking events and headhunters' offices
• Investigate cost of living and other needed community information, if considering relocation

Depending on the circumstances, your resume information can be submitted or distributed electronically through several different options: scanning, as an online document, an E-mail attachment, and/or transferred to a resume form at an employer's web site.

Upon deciding how, when, and where you want to market your resume via the Internet, some adaptations to the original document are necessary for usability and effectiveness for integration into an electronic data base system. The major difference between an online and print resume is the lack of control you have with the electronic one - only one is usually submitted and it can be screened for various job openings. With a paper resume, it is possible to submit more than one version targeted to an employer or headhunter for different position openings for which you qualify.

First and most importantly, for your resume to rise to the top in electronic sort and retrieval activities, it needs to contain key words and phrases. Secondly, when you upload your resume, it has to be able to be scanned. Third you will need a copy that has been converted to ASCII or plain text web E-mail readiness and to be stored properly in an applicant database.

Importance of key words and phrases:

The role of key words and phrases is important in both print and electronic resumes. However, in electronic resumes, key words and phrases' objective is to attract the computer's attention while in a print resume the copy is part of the integral style and layout with its function to showcase qualifications. Since your traditional paper resume is verb oriented (based on the key word and phrase listing you developed), only a little adjustment or editing should be needed. Review your print resume and make sure that for the purposes of an online resume, you have optimized the use of action verbs and their synonyms to ensure chances of an ideal match.

Once your document is entered into a resume database, present or future comparisons are made between the key words and phrases contained in your resume and the job opening requirements.. The more accurate key words and phrases contained in your resume the better are your chances for a match. Having the majority of the required key words and phrases will identify you as a highly qualified candidate to be called in for further consideration. Libby Sartain, SPHR, senior VP human resources of Yahoo Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA, reinforces this practice. "We use an electronic scanning system for a lot of our hiring. Be sure you use key words that are relevant to the position."

An online resume can be sent or scanned directly into an employer's automated applicant tracking system or as an attachment to an E-mail letter. Furthermore, sometimes an employer does not want your own resume submitted, but asks you to fill out one of their online applications. Before completing this form, compare your own key word and phrase listing to the job requirements so that your chances for a match are greatly improved. It is possible that a different verb is used to describe a skill or expertise than the one you would normally use. Double-check and make sure you are correct in how you make reference to your qualifications and level of expertise. The difference between a reviewer scanning your resume and an automatic scanner is that a reviewer will know that "manage" and "direct" are describing a similar skill, however, a software program may not.

Ability to be scanned:

Next, your resume needs to be scanning friendly. Whether you fax or mail your resume, assume it will be scanned into an applicant tracking system. To have a scannable version of your resume is a matter of following several specific technical procedures:

• Use a common business font sans serif - one that the scanner would most likely recognized and the letters do not touch each other, e.g. Helvetica, Arial
• If your original resume has a border, omit it since it is possible that the software is an older version and will see it as a single character and eliminate the entire section
• If your original resume contains columns, readjust the format since it is possible in the scanning process, the order of words will lose its sequential order and lessen the effect of your key words and phrases
• Do not condense space between letters or use less than a 10 font, a 12 is preferred so that the scanner will read the document easily
• Plain white paper or a very lightly tinted one are the best to use
• Mail rather than fax, use an original crisp copy, do not fold or staple - if must fax (deadline expediency) use fine mode and a resume without any staple or crease marks
• Follow-up with a traditional print resume for two reasons: 1) Your resume may not get through due to spam filters and blocks, and 2) The transmitted resume may be difficult to read - format may change since it may not be converted in the same exact way as was the original
• Do not forget to bring a resume copy to the interview to reference specific information

ASCII or plain text resume format:

As has been previously mentioned, you need to convert your resume into an ASCII or plain text format for the information to be transferred accurately by E-mail or directly online at electronic storage bases. It is also with this format that you can copy and paste your resume into online resume template forms. In other words, ASCII format has the advantage of being universally recognized and readable by any type of computer. By carrying out the following procedures, you create an electronic version of your resume:

• Open your resume folder or file and select the Save As command from the file menu, enter a new file name, e.g. "resumeelect.text", and select "text only", ASCII, or "plain text" as the file type.
• Reopen the new electronic version, all original formatting should be removed, however, carefully review since in the conversion some errors may occur that will need to be corrected.
• Format all the plain text in a left alignment style, including your name and contact information.
  For example:
  John Doe
  123 Any Street
  Anywhere, USA
  Phone No. (111) 222-3333
  E-Mail Address jdoe@abc.com
• Replace bullets with simple ASCII asterisks (*)
• Eliminate all bolding, underlining, tabs, columns, italics and centering. "Plain text" means literally plain text. If any line contains more than 65 characteristics, adjust margins. At the end of each line save with a hard break so that margins are kept.
• For some styling, block paragraphs for job descriptions, achievements, and education, double space between sections or achievements and capitalize headings for some eye relief. Also, make use of blank lines or commas for information formerly separated by tabs.

This ASCII version can be used for E-mail document attachments or for pasting or embedding into the body of the E-mail message, the preference of most employers. This preference is due to virus possibilities. Note, if you need to use a third option pasting your resume into a web-based form, remove the hard breaks at the end of sentences so that it will automatically wrap to the size of the window.

Other suggestions for efficiency and effectiveness:

You may want to consider some other steps to increase your competitiveness when using a resume limited in style and design.

• Trial run: Before posting your resume, send it to yourself and to some other people both as an attachment and as a cut and paste into the body of an E-mail message. Open both copies to view the electronically sent results and check with the other recipients to receive their feedback.
• Strategize your E-mail message heading: Use your subject heading of your E-mail message as a marketing tool to promote your expertise and grab the attention of the reader. For example, RE: HR Executive, over 15 yrs experience or HR Professional, health industry expertise - Job # 157A.
• In responding to a specific job listing on an employer's web site, follow instructions exactly. Do not send a cover letter if not asked to do so.
• When posting to a resume database site, and there are no instructions regarding how to send the document, as we stated above, the usually preference is to embed the document directly into the message itself rather than send as an attachment. If there are any database procedures, follow them exactly as stated.
• Do not include your home address and any other confidential information that can be available to anyone once posted on the Internet. You may want to consider renting a mailbox or establishing a code name with a separate E-mail address from your usual one. It is best not to use your work E-mail address for the obvious reasons.
• As a senior professional with specialized expertise, it maybe worth your time and effort to establish a public web page with your resume. Free services are available or your own ISP may offer free web page space as part of the fee and then register your web site with some of the major search engines. This gives employers looking for candidates with your qualifications another way to find you.

Using the Internet as a broadcast tool

Although most people think of only using the Internet for the actual submission of resumes or to locate specific employers and positions, the Internet can serve as a very efficient and effective broadcast media. By E-mail, you can inform, individual colleagues and colleagues in your professional associations and network groups that you are back in the job market. Think of how quickly you are able to reach dozens of people, all who potentially have a lead or referral for you. However, again be very careful who receives your distribution.

Send out a broadcasting message with your resume attached as a Word document, briefly describing less than five sentences: a) the types of job opportunities you are interested in, b) the types of organizations you would like to work in, and c) other information you deem pertinent. Ask to set up a meeting or a phone call to discuss your situation further. In the Reference Section let people know why you have contacted them by stating, for example: "Job search inquiry."

In summary, it is true that employers and job seekers are more frequently turning to the Internet to conduct their business however, you should not be looking at electronic resumes and listings as the only way to market your resume and conduct your job search. As an experienced professional, you have several marketing alternatives. After sending out a broadcast E-mailing or using your Rolodex, sitting down with a colleague to discuss your situation is still one of the best ways to learn of opportunities and to inform people that you are in the market.

Some positions are not listed on online resume databases due to their highly specified requirements and needed expertise. Often, the word is spread through certain selected groups or arenas. It is for this reason and to expand your contact and referral listings that the roles of networking and informational interview are important in the job search process.

[TOP · BACK]

Resumes and informational interviewing

Another networking technique, yet quite different is informational interviewing. Informational interviewing is a screening process. You use this to screen careers, jobs, locations, industries and employers before you change careers or accept employment with a new company or organization. It is also used to find answers to very specific questions that occur to you during your job-hunt.

You conduct informational interviews with people who are in jobs you like, want to have, or think you want to have. You ask them about their job. You are trying to get information to help you make a career decision and at the same time increase your networking contacts. This is not an interview or a request to hire you. You do not conduct these interviews with those who have the power to hire you, you conduct these interviews with those who are doing work that you want to do. Do not take a copy of your résumé with you to these interviews. It's not about you; it's about them!

If you have no specific questions to ask try these:

• How did you get into this particular line of work?
• What educational/training requirements does someone need to succeed in this position?
• What things do you like the most about your job?
• What do you like least about your job?
• What's a typical day like for you?
• Who else is in this same line of work that you recommend I go talk to?

Your objective in conducting an informational interview is to get answers and guidance for you to consider your career options. Once you have gathered information you can process it and begin strategizing. Does this new information reinforce what you already know and the goals you have already set? Or does it cause you to reconsider your present course? Did any new thoughts or ideas come up n the course of your interviews? Are they worth investigating?

Create some next steps or action items as a result of these interviews. Then be persistent! Continue to do what you know to do. Targeting your résumés for specific jobs and audiences, properly create and submit online résumés, networking, and conducting informational interviews. Separately, each technique yields results. All together, as a multi-pronged aggressive job search, you increase your odds and better your chances of obtaining your ideal job.

Because informational interviews have been so abused in the past, make sure you do not take your resume with you to an informational interview. According to Cory Edwards, president of Partnering For Success in Sterling VA, "the most positive results are obtained when participants do not have their resumes, but follow up with it as requested." If you are able to produce a resume when asked at an informational interview, then the person you are interviewing knows you weren't serious about the interview, but desperate to get a job. And remember, you don't want to appear desperate! So instead, send your résumé as a follow up if requested.

[TOP · BACK]

High-Level Resumes: High-Powered Tactics for High-Earning Professionals by Marshall Brown and Annabelle Reitman (Career Press 2005) provides a step-by-step process and practical guidelines for selecting the skills, strengths, experiences, and successes that have you tower over your competitors. It includes such special features as: 1) how to target different audiences, 2) Addressing specialized fields as associations/non-profits, retired military candidates, and government, 3) Lists of skills and resume sub-heading options, and 4) Up-to date print and web resources. Approximately 50 resumes included. To order: Call toll-free 1-800-CAREER-1 or visit: www.careerpress.com. Price $14.99.

Contact Marshall Brown via email or by phone at 202.518.5811 and explore the exciting possibilities for greater success for you, your staff, your members and your organization!

[TOP · BACK]

home | about us | contact us | services | site map