Stop Boring the Hiring Manager with Your Resume

[Sunday, March 14, 2010 | View Comments ]

Your resume should communicate your experience, expertise, value, personal brand, accomplishments, and contributions among other things. What it should not be is a run down of your last job description word for word.

If your resume consists mostly of bullet points that only describe your responsibilities and duties, then you’re doing yourself a great disservice in your job hunt and you’re boring the hiring manager or recruiter reviewing your resume. Job duties are only the minimum and convey only that you were able to meet the minimum requirements for the position. It doesn’t show the employer your ability to go above and beyond, to produce results, or to contribute significantly to the team or company.

Providing accomplishment and contribution based statements will give the hiring manager a more in depth view of what you can bring to the table, what value you offer as an employee and what you can mostly achieve for their organization. A critical element is choosing the best and most applicable accomplishments and contributions.

For example, in human resources reducing turnover and fill time is a hot topic. Reducing turnover saves the company money and so does reducing the fill time for open positions. These are two critical elements to being a successful hiring manager so elaborating on your successes and accomplishments in this area would look very favorably for you. Each industry and position has different core criteria that is extremely important to the success of that position and person. Take those duties that you’re still holding on to on your resume and turn them into accomplishment and contribution based statements. You’re still telling the employer that you met the requirements of the position but you’re showing them how you exceeded them and the results they can expect from you as an employee.

After all, history repeats itself and if they see that you’ve accomplished it before they’re going to naturally assume you will again – show them you’re not just a “squeaks by on the minimum requirements” type employee and that you go above and beyond the call of duty and you’ll be surprised how quickly your phone will start ringing.

Guest Expert:

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or for a free phone consultation call 1.877.875.7706.

Your resume should communicate your experience, expertise, value, personal brand, accomplishments, and contributions among other things. What it should not be is a run down of your last job description word for word.

If your resume consists mostly of bullet points that only describe your responsibilities and duties, then you’re doing yourself a great disservice in your job hunt and you’re boring the hiring manager or recruiter reviewing your resume. Job duties are only the minimum and convey only that you were able to meet the minimum requirements for the position. It doesn’t show the employer your ability to go above and beyond, to produce results, or to contribute significantly to the team or company.

Providing accomplishment and contribution based statements will give the hiring manager a more in depth view of what you can bring to the table, what value you offer as an employee and what you can mostly achieve for their organization. A critical element is choosing the best and most applicable accomplishments and contributions.

For example, in human resources reducing turnover and fill time is a hot topic. Reducing turnover saves the company money and so does reducing the fill time for open positions. These are two critical elements to being a successful hiring manager so elaborating on your successes and accomplishments in this area would look very favorably for you. Each industry and position has different core criteria that is extremely important to the success of that position and person. Take those duties that you’re still holding on to on your resume and turn them into accomplishment and contribution based statements. You’re still telling the employer that you met the requirements of the position but you’re showing them how you exceeded them and the results they can expect from you as an employee.

After all, history repeats itself and if they see that you’ve accomplished it before they’re going to naturally assume you will again – show them you’re not just a “squeaks by on the minimum requirements” type employee and that you go above and beyond the call of duty and you’ll be surprised how quickly your phone will start ringing.

Guest Expert:

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that win interviews. For a free resume analysis visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or for a free phone consultation call 1.877.875.7706.

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