Resume Writing – What Do Hiring Managers Look For in a Resume?

by Jennifer Anthony
Designated Resume Rockstar

How many times has this happened? You see that perfect position so you put together a resume and send it off with the hopes of getting a call back for an interview. You wait and wait but no one calls so you scratch your head and wonder what you could have done better. Your well-intentioned friends or family members may try to convince you to believe that the position was already filled or that the company hired internally.

Although these scenarios are viable possibilities, it’s more likely that your resume simply does not reflect what employers want.

So how do you get more calls for interviews?

You have to understand what hiring managers want to find in your resume.

Simply put, they want to find the best candidate with the qualifications and required skill-set for the job.

If you need an electrician to do some work in your house, you won’t pick up the yellow pages and blindly flip through the pages until you find someone who might be qualified. You are more likely to go straight to the “E” section and look up electrical contractors. Then you might narrow it down by using criteria that are important to you (e.g. licensure, years of experience, cost, availability, etc.) Basically, you have a need and you want it fulfilled.

Likewise, while writing your resume you should keep in mind the hiring manager’s main goal: to fill a need. It seems simple, but so many jobseekers seem to make the same mistake by using resumes that are generic without a clear direction or goal. It is extremely important to target your resume to the position you are applying for.

Some Tips for Targeting Your Resume

First, throw out that old objective statement and replace it with a headline followed by a skills summary or a profile.

Here is an example headline and profile for a sales and marketing manager:

EXPERIENCED SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

Results-delivering senior sales and marketing manager with an exemplary record of leading organizations to exceed plan year over year. Currently lead $50M sales team for multiple product lines as a Regional Sales Manager for [Company Name]. Adept in developing and executing strategies that increase market share and generate record-breaking sales. Strong relationship-building skills, known for securing crucial partnerships with…

As you can see, it is unmistakable what this jobseeker is looking for and what unique qualifications he or she has to offer a potential employer.

Once you get that part of your resume under control, make sure you are using industry keyword phrases throughout your resume.

Caution: Don’t go overboard with keywords because you may give the impression that you are fluffing your resume or “keyword stuffing” if you over do it.

Here are some example keyword phrases for the same sales and marketing manager:

• client relationship management
• strategic alliance building
• negotiations and deal structuring
• customer acquisition
• marketing strategies
• key account management and retention
• P&L management
• brand development and management
• collateral design and development

Tip: A good method to find your own keywords for your industry is to take them right out of the job ads. Go to indeed.com and type in the kind of job you are looking for and check out several ads. Write down they key phrases that repeatedly appear.

Once you learn to write your resume around what employers want, you will significantly improve your odds at getting a called for interviews.

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© Jennifer Anthony Nationally Published Resume Expert & Career Strategist
E-mail: jenn@jennwrites.com | Phone: 503-395-8877 | Web: www.jennanthony.info

Disclaimer: Advice offered in this article is not comprehensive and is intended for a wide-range of readers. Individual results may vary based on geographic location, local economies, market saturation for a particular industry, academic background, adaptability to workforce changes, and/or continued motivation. Contact a professional resume writer to discuss your unique situation.

Could Your Executive Resume Actually Be Too Short?

Guest Article by:  Laura Smith-Proulx
Designated Resume Rockstar

Most job hunters remember the days of single-page resumes, when hiring professionals warned them that any document daring to breach this “rule” would be quickly eliminated from consideration.

Fast forward to the rapid-fire job market of today, and you’ll find that things have changed considerably.

Not only have many executives jumped ship amid volatile corporate changes, but numerous mergers, downsizing efforts, and layoffs have cluttered the employment landscape. The results? Job seekers have more information than ever before to incorporate into an executive resume.

However, it seems that plenty of executives still sell themselves–and their resumes–short. Consider the case of Richard* (fictitious name), an executive with a long tenure in the financial services industry.

He wanted to go after sales positions both inside and outside his industry, and possessed a solid history of wealth management experience, sales awards, and business-to-business relationship-building skills.

Yet, for all his experience, Richard was still cramming more than 20 years of sales proficiency and executive history into a single page. His resume didn’t even do him the honor of providing metrics on his revenue performance, nor did it spell out how his career progression was tied to his ultimate goal, which was Vice President of Sales.

Naturally, we worked together to extract some impressive numbers (4 years in President’s Club, leadership for a 10-person team, multimillion-dollar revenue growth, etc.). In the process, we discovered that his core strength (building strategic alliances) actually accounted for up to a THIRD of his department’s revenue, making this skill a central theme.

Incorporating and assembling these facts made it easy for his resume to stretch out and breathe–giving space to shout his value proposition and clearly tell a story of success. In the end, his resume pushed past the single-page mark, making it much easier for the reader to digest.

If this situation sounds familiar, it’s time to break out of your comfort zone and advance your resume into the 2-page arena. Keep in mind that a clean, easy-to-read design surrounded by plenty of white space can showcase your achievements, and that employers appreciate being able to quickly scan a resume for relevant information.

Here are 3 tips to jumpstart your resume-building process–and incorporate your strongest points into a powerful document worthy of your stature:

1 – Start by asking colleague to comment on your value proposition.

You’ll find that, as your career has progressed throughout different positions and companies, your brand value has remained intact. Often, you’ll see major themes emerge when looking at your work history from an aerial viewpoint.

For example, natural leaders usually find that they are drawn to work environments where the team needs a strong focal point. Problem-solvers inevitably end up at companies where there are operational or process improvement issues to overcome.

Whatever your unique strengths, showcasing them on your resume–even if you typically would wait until the interview to discuss these qualities–allows employers to see how your work will have an impact on their success. Not sure how to approach colleagues? Consider what alliance partners, vendors, or suppliers have noted about your performance.

Of course, you’ll want to ensure that these qualities and capabilities take center stage on your executive resume.

2 – Write dollar-driven specifics that back up your value proposition.

Figures are the best way to demonstrate proof of your capabilities, as they provide eye-catching points that hit home for hiring managers.

Budget amounts, sales revenue, cost savings, productivity gains, and other metrics are all useful information for an executive resume.

What if your previous employer won’t allow you to disclose these amounts? Consider using percentages to indicate improvements in revenue, market share, or profits that drive home the same point on your brand.

3 – Add judicious use of white space and text effects.

An understated, yet powerful presentation is a hallmark of the most effective executive resumes. While many people opt to use a built-in Word template, doing so can reflect poorly on your leadership strengths. Formatting and visual design are key elements of an effective resume, and can require some creative thinking on your part.

Executive resume samples are readily available on the Internet, and while copying text is not recommended, looking closely at different formats will give you an idea of the best presentation for your materials.

For a clear brand message, add white space around the title of your resume, plus the section headings and individual jobs. Be sure to use boldface text to set off areas of particular emphasis.

In summary, you’ll find that expanding your executive resume to 2 pages can inspire hiring authorities to take a second look. These steps will help you to easily expand your resume with relevant information–leaving you with a strong brand message in a just-right amount of space.

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Award-winning executive resume writer Laura Smith-Proulx, CCMC, CPRW, CIC is a former recruiter who partners with executives to open doors to prime opportunities at Fortune-ranked corporations. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she is a certified resume expert and job search coach whose work has been published in numerous career bestsellers.

The Ladders Resume Writing Service – Scam or Not?

by Jennifer Anthony
Designated Resume Rockstar

Head over to the Ask the Headhunter blog and make sure you read the anonymous comment from a resume writer from TheLadders.com.

(fourth comment down)

“Yes, they do charge very high prices and, if the client is lucky, he or she will be assigned to a writer who truly cares about the client and not just about throwing together some poorly written bit of fluff in order to move on to the next assignment.”

Wow, so after a jobseeker drops $600+, they MIGHT get lucky and get someone who cares. Oh that’s comforting.

I saved the post as a PDF just in case this “employee” decides it was career suicide to write that about an employer online and removes his/her post. You can get it here: TheLadders’ Marc Cenedella makes a phone call

Read more about The Ladders:

• TheLadders.com reviews
• Avoid The Ladders
• The Ladders Scam
• The Ladders Resume Writing Service – Scam or Not?
• The Ladders Resume Writing Scam
• Stumbling down the rungs of TheLadders
• Oh, no! Job-search scams!
• The Ladders Complaints – Scam
• Is The Ladders a Scam?
• Rip Off Report: The Ladders.com

Need I say more?

If you are looking for a professional resume writer who has a GOOD reputation, please check out my Resume Rockstars page here: http://jenniferanthony.wordpress.com/the-best-professional-resume-writers/