The Verdict is Out: Writing Your Resume for a Judge and Jury

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked when I speak with people while critiquing their resume and during my webinars and workshops is “what is the standard resume format you use for a resume?”

My answer is a resounding “there is no longer a Standard Resume Format.”

So naturally their follow-up question is “then what should I do?”

Since each of you is unique in terms of what you do for a living, the number of year’s experience you have, the gaps you may or not have in your work history, your education, whether you are looking to stay in the same field, move up or across the ladder or change careers entirely, and so many other dependent factors it is impossible to give a straight answer to this question. And if anyone tells you there is one, don’t believe them.

I know that is not the information you are looking for, so I will try and give you some guidelines that may be of help to you in preparing a resume that works for you.

When you prepare your resume try and think in terms of a defense attorney preparing his or her closing remarks to a jury In a case where the evidence does not make it a slam dunk or open and shut case for the prosecution, and there is an excellent chance to get an outright acquittal or at least a hung jury by establishing reasonable doubt in the mind of at least one or more decision makers on the jury.

When an attorney prepares his or her closing remarks the goal is to get the jury to focus on certain facts and think in a certain way in order to establish the client’s innocence and they do not follow the same pattern in each trial. They read the jury, know what facts will appeal to them and the concerns they may have that need to be addressed. Then they offer up this information in a systematic presentation, using words and painting pictures the jury understands and will appreciate that leaves no doubt about the conclusion the lawyer wants these decision makers to make. Most important they need to grab the jury’s attention within the first 30 seconds of their presentation and keep them attentive throughout.

These same factors apply when writing a resume. You need to look at what the employer wants, what will turn them on and what will turn them off about a candidate, and then measure yourself against these factors.

The first 1/3 of a 1 or 2 page resume is crucial, and at first glance, before one word is even read, the decision maker needs to see an image of a professional that equates to the position you’re applying for. This is why I change up the type of sections I use and the order I use them in depending on who I am writing a resume for.

Over the past few weeks I wrote about resume profiling, and this is another way to view it.

As I said, each of you is unique so what I will do is go over some of the factors I consider when writing a client’s resume, and some of the heading, and you can see which one’s apply to you.

1: Objective: I only use an objective for candidates who are early in their career, or if a person has a specific goal or job in mind. What I find mindless in an objective that uses sentences that talk about what the company can do for you rather than what you can do for the company i.e. “… a position where I use my experience to learn and grow.” I think you only talk about the value you can offer not what you can gain.

2: Title: I use a Title sentence rather than an Objective statement to let readers know what position you’re applying for I suggest you use Title statement that depicts the position/s you currently hold or held or the position you are seeking.

Which one to choose is a tricky point and depends on individual circumstances, so I’m sorry if I am not as clean here as you would like me to be.

3: Brand Statement: I often use this in connection with a title, especially for marketing professionals, to create a unique aura around the candidate and in order to speak in a more personal tone that can separate you from the crowd.

4: Summary of Qualifications: About 20 years ago I started to use this section when it was new and fresh. Today it is passé’ in a resume and what I include in its stead is a section titled Value & Expertise. There are many ways and places in the resume to present this information and you must choose which works for you. The caveat here is not to get an employer thinking that a value you listed is a strong suit of yours if its not.

Next week I will cover the rest of the resume sections, so stay tuned.

If you want some visual aids to understand what I’m talking about, visit my website to view my sample resumes.

Author:

Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for FREE resume critique.

Career Rocketeer Recommends

What to Do When the New Job is a BIG Ugly Surprise (MBA Highway)
10 Ways To Create A Compelling Resume (TimsStrategy)

Perry Newman

Perry Newman is a nationally-renowned job transition specialist who develops branded resumes and is a career coach for executives, professionals and MBA’s seeking six- figure positions in multiple industries within the USA. As a Certified Placement Consultant, Certified Social Media Strategist and founder and former Managing Director of a NYC-based executive search firm, Perry has a rare combination of talent and experience that is essential for your success in today’s job market. Acknowledged as a subject matter expert in his field Perry is a sought-after public speaker for radio, TV shows and career services seminars and his articles and blog posts are published in national newspapers, magazines and blogs throughout the nation and the world.