Career Musings

…there was a résumé that began with an Objective, followed up with several job descriptive statements and ended with a References Available on Request statement. It looked at itself in the mirror and was quite pleased with its appearance.

Off to the computer it went and applying for jobs on many of the popular job boards. It then sat back and waited…and waited… and waited! No one called. Finally, it found the courage to call one of the employers only to hear that the résumé was received but because it did not tell stories of its achievements, or what it could offer to the employer, it was tossed into “File 13”.

“What is File 13?” the résumé asked. “The garbage bin”, the employer answered, and then hung up the phone…

As you can imagine, that was not a happy-ever-after story for this résumé.

Moral of the story: A résumé that dresses itself up with a ‘me-focussed’ Objective; a laundry list of job descriptive statements and a meaningless “References Available on Request” declaration will never tell a convincing story that opens doors. According to Author and Career guru, Martin Yates, “All the experience in the world won’t get you a job if your resume doesn’t position you with the right story.”

While I can’t take credit for the origins of the following (found it among my notes), I believe it captures the essence of what a storytelling résumé should look like. It should contain:

Relevant

Experiences and

Skills, which are

Understood and

Measured by

Employers

Although this is a humorous look at an ineffective résumé, the overall premise is that an effective résumé is one that tells your story in a coherent and clear-cut manner.

What’s your story? Comment below.

Image courtesy of Filmbayala.com

DON’T send a cover letter with “To Whom it May Concern”. It portends laziness and lack of interest.

DO the research to find the name of the person responsible for hiring.

DON’T use “References Available on Request” on your résumé.

DO use a quote from your performance appraisal or a testimonial that highlights your value.

DON’T replicate your job description when developing your résumé.

DO include powerful accomplishment-based statements that address the employer’s buying motivators or needs.

DON’T spend too much of your job search hours on the computer.

DO arrange more face time with people in your network.

DON’T send a generic Thank-you note after the interview.

DO send one that recaps key elements of the discussion and reiterates your interest in the position.

DON’T ask for a job at an informational interview.

DO ask for one or two names they recommend you contact.

DON’T relate your life story when asked “Tell me about yourself”.

DO talk about your education, work history, and what you have recently done for your company.

Image Credit: Dirjournal.com

When you are taking time away from work for motherhood, keep networking. The single most important thing you can do is keep in touch with former co-workers and other contacts.

Stephanie AuWerter, Senior Editor SmartMoney.com

Are you a mom returning to work?  Follow our series:

Tip # 4: Connect with professional associations. You may have heard of  the ‘six degrees of separation’ adage – that everyone is only separated from everyone else by six degrees. Research professional and business associations in which you have an interest, sign up for their ezines, visit their websites and read their blogs to get current information on what’s happening in the industry. Contribute to discussion forums and attend monthly meetings where you can meet and network with individuals who could provide you with the key to your next job. Put yourself in a position to meet new people – those who can get you closer to your next employer.

Tip # 5: Arrange practice interview sessions. Think of the interview questions that would present a challenge for you and practice answering them with someone who will give you some candid feedback.  Become familiar with behavioural interview techniques, and practice to frame your answers in terms of stories. Be prepared to answer questions that begin with “Tell me a time when… or Give me an example of…” Make sure to project confidence while referring to the time you were away from the workforce. Never apologize for your absence.

Are you a mom preparing to return to the workforce in the New Year? Read Tip #3:

Choosing the right résumé format. Employers tend to prefer the chronological résumé, which gives a historical timeline of your work experience, but this becomes problematic when you have been away from the workforce for a time. As an alternative, you could use the functional format which focuses on notable skills and accomplishments gained from a number of jobs. Use headings such as Administration, Fundraising, Event Planning and Project Management, and list your activities and achievements under those headings. Another alternative is to use a combination format, beginning with a value statement or professional summary that answers the employer’s question, “What should we hire you?” Below is an example:

VALUE STATEMENT

Juggled several tasks as president of school council and chair of membership committee of the local Girl Guides Club. Negotiated sponsorship opportunity with a major retail chain enabling the club to increase membership from 25 to 80 within 5 months. Initiated and led the first Neighbourhood Watch group in Lakeside, significantly reducing incidences of trespassing by 25%. Used Excel to create a budget for a family of five, monitoring it on a weekly basis to ensure there were no overruns. Managed bookkeeping responsibilities for a sole proprietor and implemented an aggressive collections policy that increased cash flow by 30%.

The above summary is an example of how you could incorporate your family and civic involvement into your résumé. The aim is to be creative and bring together your outside professional involvement as well as your related child-rearing activities.