Strategically written résumé produces results

Dear Sam: I’ve sent out more than 100 copies of my résumé to jobs I felt I was qualified for and received very little interest. I’m a graphic designer, have an online portfolio, a degree in visual communications, a strong work history while in college, and have completed internships in my field. Is there something else I can do to improve my results? – Julia

Dear Julia: As a designer, you have to make sure your résumé is touting your talents. By this, I mean use your résumé to showcase some of your work, either by designing your résumé in a unique manner, or by including a snapshot portfolio. It is great to have an online portfolio for review, but unfortunately if the hiring manager does not have time to view your work online they will not get a sense of your talent. By including a mini-portfolio on your résumé, your work will be seen immediately, and will better prompt the reader to visit your site to see more of your work. This also creates a much more interesting résumé and, when coupled with strong content, is sure to make your résumé stand out.

As the ‘Dear Sam’ mailbox receives so many questions like this from candidates with diverse backgrounds, I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight other tactics you can use to make a better first impression. Here are just some of the issues that come up time and time again from those finding it difficult to differentiate their skills from their competitors’.

For the multi-talented candidate: Many want to keep their options open, stating they can do anything if given the chance. While this is wonderful for expanding the job seeker’s prospects, it makes writing an effective résumé difficult. Instead of creating a one-size-fits-all résumé, instead tailor your résumé to suit diverse objectives. If you don’t, your résumé will present a diluted image of your candidacy to each reader. Use a core skills list as a quick and easy way to retarget your résumé in 5 minutes. This list can include any type of experience or skills that represents your notable strengths. Modify based on the keywords in the job posting of interest to create the tailored feel the hiring manager is looking for.

For the administrative assistant: The most common complaint I hear from administrative assistants is they do not have accomplishments to highlight. Most feel that they have played a supportive role and cannot attribute achievements solely to their efforts. I however have yet to work with an administrative assistant who didn’t have achievements of some kind — whether increasing effectiveness, performing despite limited articulation of responsibilities, or even helping others better perform their jobs by seeking out and taking on additional tasks. By showcasing where you have driven value, you will position yourself ahead of the competition.

For the salesperson: One of the biggest mistakes I see in sales résumés is a lack of quantifiers. As a salesperson, your résumé has to include quantifiers pertaining to your goals and actual achievements. Of course, if your quotas are small, or if you had trouble meeting your objectives, then quantifiers have to be used sparingly, but there are almost always ways to incorporate numbers into a sales résumé. If you worked with a smaller company, try to quantify your successes in percentages as opposed to dollars. Doing so will keep you in the running for those opportunities in which you would handle much higher volumes. I also find that some of my clients in the sales arena have never had solid goals and objectives, and therefore think that they don’t have anything to measure their performance against. If this is the case, try to compare the results you achieved with those of your peers, competitors, or industry averages. Lastly, if you can’t use quantifiers, maybe you have some sales-related awards you can showcase at the beginning of your résumé, client comments, or even pull quotes from annual reviews.

For the teacher: One of the fields I enjoy writing most about is teaching, because there are a number of ways you can make a resume stand out as a teacher. First, instead of opening your resume with your full name, use your teaching name, such as ‘Miss Charlie’. This unique approach immediately positions you as a teacher and engages the reader. I also find myself using imagery a lot on teaching resumes. Often this will be something as simple as ABC blocks, but I have also created teaching resumes with images of children playing, writing on the blackboard, etc. These images grab the reader’s attention and make a case for the strength of the content in the resume. Lastly, if you have them available, I suggest adding written comments you have received from parents and students. You can even present them in a handwritten-style font to add a personal touch to your resume. These testimonials, particularly if they are from your students, reinforce the claims on your resume and present an outsider’s view of your core competencies.

Samantha Nolan is a certified professional résumé writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service résumé writing firm.

Reach Samantha at dearsam@ladybug-design.com, www.ladybug-design.com, or 1-888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).