Biggest Key To Writing A Good Resume

There are thirty teams in Major League Baseball, and each one has a starting shortstop.  Some of their duties include fielding grounders, catching pop flies, throwing to the appropriate base, covering second on the steal, and taking cut-off throws from the outfield.  The duties are the same for all shortstops, but some play the position better than others do.  What’s the difference?  One word--- Results!

It’s no different with your resume.  It’s safe to say that if you asked 50 Cost Accountants to write down their 5 most important duties, that you would get some very similar answers.  So how do you make yourself stand out on paper?

I’ve been asked to work on a number of resumes in the past by some very talented people.  What I’ve seen as the biggest mistake on their resumes is a written recitation of their job description.  The trick is to take a specific duty and illustrate how you added value to your company through performance.  Ask yourself these questions when working on your resume:

How did I increase revenue?

How did I save the company money?

How did I improve on a process?

How did I improve customer service?

How did I help lead and foster growth in my employees and teammates?

How did I go the extra mile?

Finding answers to these questions and putting them on your resume will give it power, and help you stand out from your competition.  You can do this exercise whether you’re a CFO, or an Assembler on the manufacturing floor.  Give it a try!  You’ll be pleased with what you see!

The Truth About Recruiters

I read a post today on one of my Linked In Groups regarding recruiters.  The writer was asking whether recruiters really cared about the job seeker, or just about the hiring manager.  There were a number of responses and opinions.  Here's what I wrote:

Recruiting is no different than any other profession.  There are people who understand that there are internal and external clients, and others that could care less.  You have recruiters who go the extra mile, and others that don't.  It all depends.  I think it is important for the job seeker to do the best they can to tailor their resume and cover letter to the position to which they are applying, be professional, stay on top of it, and remember that like in the Godfather movies "it's nothing personal, it's just business."  Getting a job is like selling a product or service-- you have to make a lot of "sales calls" before you get a few prospects, and then you lose some good prospects before making a sale.  It's a tough concept to deal with when you're out of work, but reality.

It's no fun being a job seeker.  You hear "no" a lot.  You do run across HR people, recruiters, or hiring managers who don't get back to you, aren't honest with you, or are afraid to say too much because they fear litigation.  Take solace in small victories, and lessons learned from other interviews.  Strive to make yourself more marketable with each job you apply for.  Easier said than done--- but if you do this, your job search will be far less stressful and frustrating.

Is Working In A Small Business Right For You?

I’ve worked in both small and large organizations in the past.  Both are challenging, but the dynamics in a small business are very interesting.  It all starts with the owners, and it’s important for job seekers to understand their perspective. 

Business owners are an interesting breed.  We wouldn’t have an economy without them!  They are bursting with ideas and energy.  Their internal clocks are different.  They see things from a different perspective, and ask questions about a subject or situation that many of us wouldn’t think of.  Some encourage their employees to grow and make decisions, while others micromanage everything going on in their company.

Business owners are passionate about what they do.  They’ve probably invested every available dime they have in making their business succeed.  They eat, sleep, and drink their business.  Working all night on a proposal is something that you just “do”.   An employee sees a candy wrapper in the company parking lot, and walks right by it.  The owner sees the wrapper and picks it up because it’s a reflection on the business. 

Working in a small business can present you with a unique opportunity.  I got more chances to be involved in important projects and functions in a small business than I did in a larger one.  The business size also allowed me to be involved with multiple functional areas instead of being focused on a narrower piece.  I also got a chance to have in-depth discussions with the owner where I learned a lot about the business and industry I was involved in.

Be ready to play your “A” Game if you work in a small company.  There’s no place to hide, and you will hear about it very quickly if you’re not performing.  Do your best to understand where the owner is coming from, and the pressure he or she may be under.  Be prepared to go a little further to get the job done than you may be accustomed to doing.

Finally, get to know yourself and how you’re wired.  Are you comfortable working in a small company with the owner’s office right next door to yours?  Do you want to be right in the middle of things, or insulated from ground zero by a couple of management levels?  These are questions that you need to have answers for before you start your job search.