Ahhhh, the break time.  Well I have been on hiatus or whatever they call simply doing everything but writing.  Barely been reading any of the normal blogs I do, simply working and expanding of the footprint of the business.  Which I might add is doing very very well.  Consulting has been screaming along and our intention is to leverage that for the establishment of a more formal business development effort with centralized location penetration requirements of our employees.

In any case, glad to be back and sorry been away so long.  Look forward to reading and writing a good deal more about this business we work in.

I am motivated to write this however will begin in saying that I pray my words do not lead anyone to believe I am not sensitive to what is going on in the country and the economic situation of people all over the world.  However I write on the comments and expectations I see sewn throughout the conversations on the net about the changing government and the increase our new leadership will offer.

Let us be honest, if change happens – our government will have done little for our victory.  The people, when enacted to build a better life, act in coordination with the truth and look to better themselves is what makes  a country move in action.  My spiritual beliefs find that this is a foundational principle in Jesus Christ.  The nation, people all across the country need and have to want to better themselves.  Our country was founded on principles of freedom but born on the backbone of hard work and ethics.  We have lost that and in that we have started down a path that offers little for the future.  Take a look at the following:

A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage.

Apathy is defined as a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest or concern to emotional, social, or physical life. They may also exhibit an insensibility or sluggishness. 

Does this not define our culture.  A sluggishness…little concern for others or ourselves.  All the while moving towards dependence.  Dependence and faith in government (remember government is people – nothing more) all in the hopes that they may hand us or fix our problems.  Where have we gone I ask?

I am in the process of reading a book on influencing people’s behavior.  It is a well written best seller offering insight into how people have solved some of the world’s largest problems while having nearly no resources to speak of.  All in all…it came down to one thing.  Simple things make HUGE changes.  Let us see and identify how we can make these changes in our job search.  Maybe we need to make some large changes – like move cross country.  Or maybe it means driving a farther commute than would be ideal.  Possibly – it is beginning a new career by starting a company to solve an issue no one will address.  No matter the change, it is time we looked past what others will give us and really push ourselves.

Resume Blasting is something that I have a strong opinion on – that is NEVER do it.  It looks desperate, something that a less qualified candidate would do in a shotgun approach to offload their resume to as many sharks as possible.  Does one really think that works?  A recruiter or HR manager receives an email from one of the blasting services – something that is non personal and gives little attention to the person whose resume they are sending.  Better yet…..the professional using the service rarely ever knows of where the resume is being sent.  How does this benefit anyone again?

A new trend that I am seeing is from candidates themselves, sending their own blasts of sorts to their network.  I received one this morning and let us discuss. 

Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please review the attached detail and if applicable update systems accordingly.

Availability:  1st or 2nd week of Feb…
Pay:  W2 or 1099…
Rate:  Negotiable…
Type:  Contract or Perm…
Passport:  Yes

I have no obligations or commitments.  Single, healthy, no house to sell, no children, etc…completed last contract in October.

Sincerest Thanks

I am reading this letter, only to see that in the address line there are 22 other recruiters listed.  I think to myself, well I am certainly not someone this person wants to work with.  He must have spoken to me once or simply seen my name somewhere and thrown me into his list.  There is no rapport, relationship or reason for me to do anything but hit “delete”.  In the far off chance, I have something that matches his skill set perfectly I might call.  But otherwise, I offer little as I was given nothing.

When people contact through our website, i call or email to discuss their skills – regardless of their match to a current opening.  They have gone through our form, told us their interest in working with us, and therefore deserve to be contacted.  Now I am not 100% perfect doing every time but I make a large effort to offer the same level of professionalism they have offered.  I would say that people considering their resume blast professional should think the same.  Regardless of whether using a service or doing it personally, stay away from bulk mail and spend time developing relationships.

Alright finally I am back in the saddle and writing again.  Coming back from some time off, and talking to folks, seems that the spirits are a little higher coming into the 2009 yr.  With that, the discussion of strategy has hit the forefront of almost all conversations. How do I make the difference?  How do I stand out?  What will make me the most marketable and attractive to employers?

I read an article out of the local paper this morning and it spoke of being “an ad” and to be aggressive and flexible.  All suitable for today’s market but with no substance surrounding the approach and what those things mean in looking for a job today.  So lets speak about some of the things that are needed for making your mark in an economy that is changing and uncertain.

1. Presentation.  This is broad but covers a great deal of areas.  From your resume, cover letter, to the way you speak on a phone interview, all to the way you look.  Presentation covers it all and is well accustomed to the number 1 spot on the list.  People, although they want to be judged on substance, are all too often judged on the look and feel that a person gets when they walk in the room.  Presentation is a key component and there are a variety of channels in which your presentation effects the employer.  I will write a post tomorrow discussing this in more detail.
2. Be Prepared.  It is becoming a repeat thing for me these days, but being prepared can NEVER go unheard.  It shows the true depth of character, what you bring to the job, and how much you care about the job.  In addition, he shows signs of respect for the person interviewing you, letting them know you spent time being ready for the meeting and not wasting their time with superficial and basic questions that could have been answered with some basic due diligence.
3. Know what makes you who you are.  One of the questions I ask all the time – “I have had the opportunity to meet with a great deal of qualified people for this role.  What is it that makes you the person we should hire or consider for the project?”.  Unfortunately most times I am met with a blank face, or a simple regurgitation of what their resume says.  Know what makes you who you are, be prepared to speak about it and let the hiring manager know things that are not on the resume.  What you bring to the table and relate it to the business at hand.  Know this before going in.

These are some basics and we will cover this more over the month.  Many people are out looking for new position.  Do not be intimidated.  The job is yours if you want it and are qualified.  Are you ready to go get it – that is the question?

One of the things that most of our posts are about are what not to do, or better yet, what to do for ensuring success in the job search.  How do we learn all of that stuff?  Well simple.  When things go poorly, our mind turns to looking at the matter more carefully to ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes.  So when things go poorly, what should you do in the job search?

The places where one can make a mistake in the job search process are endless.  Specifically, the opportunity for failure is limitless since we are dealing with personal relationships.  So when things do go wrong, how do we narrow it down to better understand how to improve.  We need to narrow the parts of the process into segments such as: job identification, application process, resume and cover letters, phone interview, in person interview, post interview process, offer negotiation and acceptance.  Once that is done, we can discuss what the possible issue might have caused the problem.

Most of the time it will be difficult to narrow the exact moment the train derailed.  However, that is the point of this post.  What I am looking for is a way for people to understand not to wait till it goes bad to really evaluate things.  In addition, if you are the poor point of your process – do not let it be wasted.  Let it surface to be a true building block of your foundation, making sure not to go down the same road again.  Things going wrong are only a waste of time if you do nothing to learn from, or improve, them.

If you have anything that has gone poorly in your search, let us know as we would love to learn from your experiences.

I have preached on the art of the resume writing plenty of times in the past, however I read a quick brief from another blogger this morning discussing “not to tell the story” which I found so profound.  The style of resume I promote is the impact resume, one with statement, figures and savings.  It should read like a baseball card, not a biography.  Let’s recap some of the things we should be looking for to ensure your resume is successful in its endeavor to get you that interview.

Baseball card.  For all of the non athletes out there, a baseball card is small card no larger than the palm of your hand that show all important stats and accomplishments of the player.  It is a quick synopsis of what someone that likes them would want to know.  Facts, details and figures dominate the content and allow for quick understanding of how positive or negative this person’s career has been.  Think baseball card.

Example of how the start of your resume might look:

Jason Monastra

Address/Phone/ETC

Summary

10 yr executive recruiter and staffing leadership professional with documented ability to build offices, territories, and new companies from the ground up.  Highly skilled trainer of new recruiting and business development talent, having hired/trained/managed more than a 100 person staff.  Personally responsible for increases at the office level of more than 1M annually, with region wide increase of more 5M.

ABC Staffing Company

Partner

12.11.2008-Present

Selected and hired by owners of company to develop southeastern region of IT/Engineering Staffing company.  Developed non-penetrated market through direct sales and team development activities.  Grew region by highest year over year increase than any other region in company.

• Developed new territory in 1 yr into 3.5 revenue foundation for company
• Hired/trained/managed 6 staff members including admin/sales/recruiter
• Exceeded original annual goal by 35%
• Awarded partner status after 9 months
• Being tasked for 2009 with new business development for emerging medical sector
• Saved company 130,000 with new business process that allowed for quicker client fulfillment

Now this is a quick sample that I used for myself, however it will be different for each and every person that does the exercise.  The key component is to sit back and see how you have effected the companies you have worked for.  Once that is done, you can better write the resume and offer value to someone reading it.  Stay away from restating the obvious functions of your job.  No one wants to hear that.  What they are looking for is something that you have done, and responsibilities do not show that.

Keep to the facts.  Do not tell the story and you will quickly develop a resume that people can read quickly, and most importantly attracts them into calling you to discuss what you can do for them.

A subject near and dear to my heart, the cover letter.  For some, the only time they will have to separate themselves from the ever growing stack of applications.  A group of words that can sell oneself to a hiring manager to best understand their skills and application to the job being hired for.  Well, I have written on it in the past in The Cover Letter which describes the must haves of this entry page.

However, when in reading my list of daily blogs, I uncovered one of strong interest….a list of what NOT to do in the cover letter.  Something different.  We all speak to what will make the letter the best, how to write it and make it your own.  But how about a DO NOT DO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE look at the cover letter.  Lets take a look at it and see what the list includes:

• Don’t overuse “I.” While the focus of the cover letter is on your accomplishments, be sure to indicate how you meet your employer’s needs.
• Don’t have a weak opening. If your cover letter is the first thing an employer reads about you, then the opening is the first part of the cover letter that is read.  You need to be sure it is engaging and keeps the reader wanting to continue reading.
• Don’t omit your top selling points.  You need to sell yourself the to the employer.  Thus, you must include why you are the perfect candidate for the position, and the easiest and best way to do this is illustrate your skills and successes.  Be sure to carefully include key words and phrases from the job posting.
• Don’t make it too long or too short. Too short and you may have not put enough time or effort in, and it may not be enough space to include all the relevant information.  Too long and you may come off as overly confident or the reader may get bored and quit reading.  Three or four paragraphs is probably enough to get all your important information conveyed to the reader.  However, be sure that you are not rambling on and repeating yourself.
• Don’t repeat your resume. Your cover letter is an introduction to your resume, not a regurgitated version of it.  While it is important to include similar information, it gives you a better opportunity to elaborate on your skills and successes.
• Don’t be vague. Be specific as to the position you are applying for, as well as why you are qualified for the job.
• Don’t forget to customize. While it is a good idea to have a general cover letter template, you MUST change it for each job you apply for.  Be sure to change the position title, company name and addressee.  Also try to match your skills and qualifications with the job posting.
• Don’t end on a passive note.  Be proactive and indicate when you are going to follow-up, rather than waiting for a phone call for the interview.
• Don’t forget a thank you. ALWAYS thank the reader for their time and consideration for the position.
• Don’t forget to sign. If you are mailing or faxing your application
• READ the entire article here

Of all of these, I need to highlight the one that means the most to me.  Do NOT repeat your resume.  I think this is one of the cardinal errors of the standard cover letter, as people simply see the cover letter as a summary of the resume.  Major NO NO.  Key criteria of the cover letter is to give a view into the candidate soul and who they are, what makes them tick, and best of all what makes them the person that hiring manager needs to see.  If all you are doing is summarizing the resume, there should be no reason to even attach a cover letter.  Be creative and make the reader want more.

I am beginning to think that applicants have lost their internal compass when applying to positions.  I have discussed this before but I find the subject hard to ignore given the constant re-introduction of it to the forefront every time I call an applicant who acts like they do not know the company which is calling, or what job they applied for.  As a partner, I take a keen interest and a discerning mind when accepting an assignment, ensuring that positions are of solid caliber and the companies we represent would be ones I would be comfortable working for.  In that, I expect applicants to offer similar time in their due diligence when applying for roles – knowing where they applied and with whom.  Are my thoughts that ideal?

I think not.  But I know this.  If the response I recieve from applicants is the same that direct hiring companies recieve when they call, it is no surprise that positions go unfilled.  Frankly, a good portion of the applications are rude when first approached.  You let them know they applied for a role through a certain advertisement resource and it is all too common to recieve the following:

“I am sorry.  I have applied to so many positions through so many sites.  Can you tell me again what the role is, where it is, and with whom?”

This should be enough for me to hang the phone up now.  in some cases it is all I need to ensure the conversation is short, especially if the applicant was borderline in the first place.  I wonder why people even bother taking the time to apply.  The acceptance of a call from a hiring manager, HR, or a recruiter should one that it taken with an understanding that this is what could make/break your ability to get a certain role.  That sort of professionalism is not present with a great deal of the applicants that apply.

Spammingis the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages according to Wikipedia.  I see starking resemblances between this and the approach that certain applicants take with the career approach.  The shotgun methodology that proves unprofessional when approached by a potential employer and there is no recollection of the application.

Word to the wise.  No matter the volume of your apps out there, keep a list.  Write down the details of whom/where/when you applied for a role and understand who the contact might be.  I am not saying that having a full out bio is needed to take the call, but quick reference is required to ensure that the client realizes there is a strong level of interest from the applicant.  Keep yourself fresh and on your toes, as you never know who will be calling.

Now I am sure that some will say i am beating down the door of personal email addresses again.  As I have discussed this before, however it took a personal meaning this past week as I was looking for an assistant to hire internally.  There was a level of surprise to some of the applications with their email address, with some even getting marked as SPAM due to their poorly chosen email names.  I found myself even at times smirking, wanting to call and let people know the personal damage that their email ID has done to them in the mist of a competitive market.  I refrained.

If nothing else, the fear of being caught in a SPAM filter for a prospective employer should be all the motivation needed to bring about change.  But I have learned, some will never hear the voice of the river running by them.  They simply will not change.  Names like Cheetah were attached to high profile resumes for executive assistants with 10 yrs experience.  One of the prime responsibilities I am looking for in someone is the ability to communicate at the highest levels with my firms client base.  With that comes a good amount of email correspondence.  How does one think that ID makes them appear from a email communications perspective?

One thing I have never looked to do is change someone, but better to guide them so they can be successful.  That does not have to include the loss of ones individual persona for the sake of landing employment.  However with the advent of free email and a host of options, one should show prudence and have a personal, as well as a business email address.  Business email for simply the job process.  It does not need to describe in anyway that you are a job seeker, but should not indicate any personal agenda.  Something like geraldc@yahoo.com or cgerald@yahoo.comis completely appropriate.  Keep from personal interests like soccergerald or bakingdad, as those show a level of casualness not appropriate for the job search.

Remember, this is a simple step that can keep you from causing job search suicide.  Most people do not take the time, nor the effort to understand the impact of their appearance on others.  With a digital world, that appearance is everywhere and manifests itself through everything.  Not just in person meetings.  From email, to phone etiquette, etc. – all showing representing you before you even meet someone.  This is commonly referred to as personal branding, but for the sake of this post we are only discussing the email ID side of things.  Place yourself in the shoes of the employer – what would you think?  I find that most people preach the liberal perspective saying such things would not effect them, however when placed in a position of authority, they become as shrewd as the 30 yr veteran.

Summary – be professional.  If you do not know how, find someone that does.  If you do not know someone, you have internet since you are reading this…look online for tips.  Simple things have great impact.  The slightest difference will be the cavern that keeps you from getting the job, or landing something you never thought you could have.

This discussion we have been having around the padding of the resume, essentially the direct misrepresentation of skills so that someone will interview or offer you the position has gotten me moved toward the more front end of the process.  I find in the technical profession, that people bend the truth, since without it most managers cannot see past the direct links of keywords in their jobs and the resume application.  So they “pad” to make themselves more attractive and get to the next step.  So how do we avoid this?

First and foremost, remember one simple truth – a piece of paper can never define who you are.  Who you are resonates beyond paper and ink.  The key is the expression of that character and most people limit themselves to a simple resume to get that point across.  Stop limiting yourself.  Playing conventionally will not improve your position of being successful, it only heaps you into the pile of nameless paper, making you as unrecognizable as the next.  Do we really think that better words on that resume are going to make the difference.  The first thing we need to do is get the person to pick up the resume.  A few ideas for how to make that happen:

1. Send the resume in a special format.  I have found for the most important things (and I think job searching for a career is one of them), sending things via FEDEX is a key way to ensure that the person will open it.  Time, money and effort are all shown with this and reflect a level of distinction few others are showing.  (This has been reflective in our firms billing system for example.  We use to email invoices to hiring managers.  Payments were delayed, etc.  We switched to sending FEDEX, bills are paid on time and normally ahead of terms.  We have not no missed or skipped invoices either.  People know when they receive the package, they need to open it and read it).
2. Make sure when they have it in hand, that the read it and not just put it down.  Customization.  Yes, this takes time but is the only way for the manager not to think that he is one of a million recipients of the same message.  Know the role, know the hiring manager’s name, know intimate details about the company and have an opening statement that shows you are an insider who is up to speed on what is going on there.
3. Make an impact quickly.  People waste about a quarter of the first page with their name/address/summary that offers little to the reader.  Make the first thing they see a good reason for them to continue reading.  You have hooked them with steps 1 & 2, do not lose them with a resume that is boring.  Impact statements, signs of concrete substance and positive environmental impact at your old positions.  Savings – hard numbers.  Facts.  Make the most out of the little space you have on that little white piece of paper.

These are just some of the steps in making your job search process easier.  However, I think it draws to the fact that when the process is done right, there is no need to lie.  If you need to lie in addition to all of this, that position is simply not for you.

Padding the resume was a posting I just read on www.interviewchatter.com, describing the bulking up of ones resume for the purpose of getting a job.  Frankly, the technique does not work…it might work for you to get an extra minute of view time on the resume however if the person reviewing the resume can see the discrepancy between skills listed vs. what you did on your job, you will be quickly labeled as a liar.

Take a look at the POST and make comments.  This is an interesting subject and I would like to see what people think about it.

This is something that we cover frequently but I find more people wish to discuss it than I would think.  Resumes….lets focus, are the keys to the opportunities – THEY DO NOT GET YOU JOBS.  I take a look at most resumes and truly wonder what people are attempting to put together.  Is it for look, is it for their own personal praise session, what?  Resumes are to entice interest by the person reading them.  They are to dive quickly into the differences between you and everyone else, letting decision makers know how badly they need you and why.  The art of the resume has been lost, and the writing of it has become so common place that most resumes are given a poor review by the management reviewing them.  Want to know why – because professionals have stopped taking the career search process seriously, and sling pieces of paper out there (resume) seeing what will stick.  Sad state of affairs.

So how do we write a resume that creates a bubble of glee within the professional reading it?  Well that is simple – write it from the heart.  As someone that reads resumes daily, I am always most intrigued by two things.  One, the details that match well to the skill set I am looking for.  Two, the writing of someone that took the time to spill their guts, letting someone know who they were vs. what they did at a job.  Impact -how the effected the professional environment they were in.  What makes them different than every other jo-shmow that does the same job.  These are the things to write about and what make people want to read your resume further.  They draw the audience in, making them read an extra sentence and that extra word.  All of which concludes in the ultimate purpose which is to get them to pick up the phone and call you.

We have spoken on objectives before, and if you need a refresher, please take a look at the post I wrote back in July covering the matter – http://lambentpath.com/2008/07/18/resume-objective/.  The key here is after you have driven the person into wanting to learn more about you, how do you get them to pick up and phone and call you.  Most importantly, stop writing the resume like everyone else.  I am beginning to see more and more that people that make themselves stand are quicker to get the interview than the standard written resume.  So lets see how to make it pop.  When laying out the format of the resume and listing the professional jobs that you have had – we can spice things up by leading way with a professional reference with the job.  Take for example the following:

United Hospital,  St Louis MO, Aug 2002 -Present

Snr Systems Admin

Now normally under here we would give a brief of the hospital and what your responsibilities were.  However at the end or maybe even leading off, we can place a brief reference showing the level of work performed.  “John performed at a level that allowed United to become the leading MS environment in our hospital system.  His vision and technical expertise are invaluable, making him an integral part of our IT environment/staff * “  Now most people are used to seeing references in a separate document – but this gives a brief highlight into what they think about you and then you provided a bookmark to the full version.  They can check the * at the bottom of the page to see what the manager said in full.  What do you think the person reading this is going to do?  They are going to browse to the bottom of the page, see the full version and continue reading.  You have captured the audience interest, making them want to see why this person has said these things about you.  Once this is completed, the come back to your bullet points which highlight your impact on the environment, thus making them place you in the short stack or possibly the only resume that is worth calling.  You have thus made yourself different.

Resume format is not universal.   The purpose is universal but how to get to that end point is all up to you.  I find that too many people follow a template and it is simply boring.  So when reading the resume, think about the audience – what the person will want to see and what makes them want to read more.  Why would you want to read more if you were sitting in their chair?  Also, think about the specific job that you are applying for.  This helps dramatically in your resume writing as the audience is more defined and you understand the responsibilities of the job you are considering.   Sending a general resume is like all cars having to drive on the same size tire.  On most cars it simply does not work.  So tune your resume to the application and make yourself pop with specific pieces that say who you are.

We have been discussing the resume lately as it has re-surfaced most recently for most of my perm employee candidates that want to look attractive for contract positions.  We discussed the objective and summary previously and I want to address the layout and format of a resume to make it attractive.

The resume is progressive.  If your objective is to find the perfect systems admin role but your resume experience highlights how great a DBA you are, well there is a disconnect.  The format of the resume is indicative of the type of role you are looking for.  For example, if you are a contractor by trade and have many projects, a summary with a bullet pointed technical skill set is a strong match.  However, if you are a junior level professional – a more traditional approach might be appropriate.  Something that highlights educational background and your most recent accomplishments on the job.

Facts and Figures.  Whatever the format, the content is the most important factor.  Be sure to include details of things that you have accomplished and make them relevant to the job you are applying. 

Here is an example of job layout that you can use that will assist you when constructing your resume:

Company ABC, Washington DC, 12.2006 – Present

Senior SAP Project Manager

Selected by executive staff to provide leadership over the entire domestic SAP HR/PAYROLL roll-out for a 6B manufacturing company.  Provided strategic IT project management following PMP standards of best practices and SAP deployment methodologies for manufacturing companies.  Developed business process controls that led to efficiency standards reducing deployment costs by more than 30% over other module areas.

• Managed 45 full time and 30 contract professionals ranging from internal company employees to sub-contracted employess from SAP
• Developed business process roll-out to reduce implementation costs by more than 30%
• Managed deployment of more than 27 domestic and 4 Canadian facilities
• Part of executive staff meetings for purposes of progress updates and C level presentations

The resume we have discussed previously in its entirety however the objective has come up recently as a subject of “requirement”.  People want to know, do I need an objective?  If I do, what does it need to say?  If I do not, do I replace it with something else?  Personally, I think it is a matter of choice.  Objectives require a certain style and dictate what one is looking to do moving forward.  I find them limiting in that they tell someone what you are looking to do, and if the objective is written narrowly or does not include certain verbiage, people that review your background will pass you by for certain opportunities as they do not align with your objective.  The summary I see as a valued part of the resume and is a strong replacement for the objective.

Summary means: Presenting the substance in a condensed form; concise or; a presentation of the substance of a body of material in a condensed form or by reducing it to its main points; an abstract.  This is key in understanding the meaning behind what you are writing and how it is to be written.  Facts, bullet points written in a paragraph form that show immediate value and highlight what is being brought to the table.  This is not a section to explain or get into the detail of your background or personality.  It is to elude to the reader your importance and engage them enough to continue reading the resume.  Anything longer than 4-5 sentences will be too much for this section.

Get the attention of the reader quickly.  Lead with something that provides substance and aligns itself with the position you are applying.  Customizing resumes is a crucial part of the application process and there should be a review of the role previous to sending any resumes.  Not all positions require the same skills and the summary is a clear vision in the beginning of your resume eluding to what the reader might see next.  If that summary is poorly written or not in line with the general scope of the role, your resume will be discarded and the hiring manager will move on.  Be safe, take your time, and write to the role and the company – do not send out blanket resumes.  They are sure not to get you calls back.

If you are not sure how your resume sounds or if the wording is not coming out right – ask a friend.  Anyone reading from a non-partisan view will offer some keen advice on how to better show yourself and sound less wordy.  Stay focused, highlight your strengths, use facts and figures where you can showing concise statements of value and you will see a better response on the resumes you send out.  Remember to sell yourself, not the companies you have worked for and use facts that highlight you and not the team that was working the project.  Be inventive and show yourself through your resume.  Boring resumes are all too common, do not catch people’s attention and require little reason to head to the trash basket. 

Happy writing.

As a recipient of countless resumes and cover letters, I get the first hand privilege of reading through and evaluating the way people present themselves.   I concern myself most in this segment with two groups.  The people that write a cover letter and the people that copy a cover letter.  The first group will see the majority of success in their interview processes, gaining more time from the hiring manager reviewing their resume and taking interest in the content of their profile.  The latter will be added to an ever increasing pile of rising paper headed for the trash or recycle bin.

The cover letter is the introduction to the hiring manager.  It is given as a summary of information showing interest, profile matching, and skills you think the manager will want to see.  All companies are different, offering cultural and objective differences, much less the technical challenges that are present in all environments.  With that, a generic or copied cover letter offers little more than an easy excuse for a hiring manager to throw your resume to the side, or better yet in the trash can.  The cover letter for each role is unique.  It is filled with the resulting words that come from your research on the prospective company and job, as well as any intimate information that can be garnered about the evaluating manager.  The letter offers you a quick chance to separate yourself from others with your personal communication style and place yourself in the small group of candidates that show what it takes to be successful.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of cover letters are generic.  Starting with “To whom it may concern” or “Dear HR” or no addressee at all, the letters immediately reflect their writers lack of invested time in learning about the role or the decision makers in the hiring process.  The best are those that introduce themselves, offering no value at all or addressing the job they are applying for specifically.  These are the carbon copy letters that are attached to boring resumes that simply regurgitate responsibilities are former jobs.  If you want to continue to not get the interview, continue to send these out.  You will be certain to raise your postage bill and alienate potential employers.

The key to a cover letter is to make it personal.   Endow it with something that makes it your own.  Fill it with communication style that allows your personality to shine forth, bringing a point of distinction and life to your resume that others do not possess.  Address the job at hand.  Speak of your skills and address what you know of the job and potential solutions you can provide.  Bring value.  I know that is overstated but it needs to be addressed.  People need to perceive value and you need to speak to it.  You are not there in person so the impact needs to be immediate and lasting, one that cannot be denied and requires an in face meeting.  Get yourself in front of the manager, remember that is the key of the cover letter/resume.  Selling yourself from there is easy. 

Cover letters are personal.  They speak a great deal of yourself as well as the job you are looking at.  Most hiring managers hire with a sense of emotion, so do not think they are bionicle folks with no feelings.  They are people like you and want to see people with interest and taking their hiring very seriously.  Show that you respect their time and they will respect you.  Shake the trees and see what works.  Write different things to different people, trying different approaches and figure out what works for you and your writing style.  Communication comes in all forms and sizes, and most people do not write the way they speak.  So be sure you are getting the message across.

Leave with this, have fun and be relaxed.  Most professionals are not professional interviewers.  If they are, that is not a good sign.  So feel comfortable that this is not what you do all the time.  But relax, remember what makes you who you are.  Play to your strengths and them speak candidly about it on paper.  You will find that your cover letters take a mind of their own and stand out amongst the reams of paper.

Recently there was a resume that was offered to us that frankly was “poorly written”.  It offered little in the way of understanding depth of the professional’s technical expertise plus their project management and/or functional skills.  However, I noted that the person had been employed by an industry leader for the past 8 yrs, had successfully navigated several public cutbacks, and had a progressive movement of new responsibilities over his tenure.  I gave him a call.

Glad I did.  Technical skills were in line with that of someone twice his experience level and he maintained strong relationships with snr management and other personnel that captured him the “technical innovator of the year” within his department.  Communication skills were strong, presented well and had the exact mix of techno functional know how for the position I was recruiting for.  Written communication skills I was concerned with due to the resume writing but was rewarded with additional technical documentation that showed his attention to detail and technical understanding.

All this to say…..resumes are tools in which people look to gather a quick insight into your background.  If poorly written, they are indicators of you as a professional.  However, not all of us our genius writers but we do not hire people for their writing skills, we hire them for the technical know-how.  Be safe, write a good resume and people will know how you can help them and call you.  But, if the interim you find yourself as a hiring manager or recruiter looking over a resume that appears “flat”, take a chance…at worse it is 15 minutes out of your day.  At the most it is the next employee that catapults your company to the next level and ceases your needless wasted hours of mining through flashy resumes that fall short when the person comes on site.

The combination of the economy, news reports, off-shoring and a whirlwind of other circumstances is placing pressure on the IT workforce nationwide.  Though all of these factors appear negative, there is still a large demand for the right technical skills to implement change and create value.  IT has become an integral part of almost all business unit functions, touching finance, manufacturing,  and supply chain all the same.  It has worked its importance up to the boardroom and everyone sees the value.  With limited resources plus economic pressures, the need for the right people is increasing.  Take advantage of the market conditions by recognizing the areas where you can provide value and exploiting them.  Most IT teams are considered “foreign” to the business people within their company.   They do not understand the premise in which they work or what they do.  Their only contact is a 1 800 number when something does not work.  Take this time to change they way they look at you.

I think that all IT professionals are keenly aware that they need to remain current in their specific fields, making themselves valuable and relevant to the companies or clients they serve.  But that is just part of the battle.  IT professionals need to learn the business, understanding that their IT function is to benefit the business in which they work (selling widgets) and bringing relief or competitive advantage to the folks they serve.  Planning and research will allow for these benefits to manifest themselves showing business users your awareness of the challenges they face and the reasons they need you, as much as you need them. 

Do not be selfish.  Invest time in relationships even if they do not show immediate return.  Investing time and developing rapport with key business users or stakeholders in your company shows a strong understanding of the need for communication.  Without communication, business and careers die and vanish.  Keep yourself available, out there and interacting with the business.  Make your name known and take time to be a part of meetings, issues, etc that effect their needs and not just your own.  You will find that increasing your exposure allows for you to increase the opportunity for you to provide value, bringing your skills to the forefront and increasing business understanding of the IT skills that live within their own walls. 

Building your career does not need to be moving to a new company.  Surviving the market can be something that is increasing within your current company.  This time when pressures are coming from all sides, the need for someone that can step out of the box could be welcome.  IT and business are one, they do not operate apart from one another and need to communicate better.  Step out of the cubicle and make that known, reach out a hand where no one has before. You will find that you can do more than survive, but actually sling-shot your career forward within your current company and taking part in a whole new area of IT challenges you never saw before.

I read 60-80 resumes every day, 300 plus days a year.  Resumes are simple amalgamations of experience that people attempt to place together to generate interest in their backgrounds.  People that write resumes are not professional writers and they miss the general point of the interview.

Search for “resume” online and this what the return definition is…. “a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job. “  Though the definition of what a resume is happens to be common knowledge, I believe the purpose is misread, mis-understood and very few professionals actually hit the spot with their resumes.

The purpose of a resume is to generate interest from the hiring manager of a potential role, or better yet to simply generate interest.  How do you do that by simply recapping your general job responsibilities?  Impossible.  The definition of the resume is contradictory to its purpose.  If you want people to say “hey I need to speak with this person” – a simple recap will not do.  Their needs to be purpose, a differentiating factor between your resume and the hundreds others looking at the same job.

When the job market is tight for people, I do not need to be writing a good resume.  WRONG.  When the market is tight for talent, actually more people are shopping their skills taking a look to see what is available and if it makes sense.  The best talent actually escapes when the market is tight, making the competition for the best jobs even harder than normal. 

Resume, keep it simple and to the point.  Short is not better if it keeps you from placing key attributes on the paper, but ensure that you grab the reader’s attention in the first paragraph.  Details, bullet points, value and accomplishments.  “Generated 20% savings overall in IT capital costs during first 6 months of operating in the PMO” shows impact, a time line and a value.  All key aspects of each bullet point that should be on your resume.

Get the interview, keep that in your mind when writing a resume.  Not a great writer, hire someone to do it.  Make it easy, pay the money and get it done.  It is worth the investment hands down.  There is only one chance for the first impression, make it good and make it memorable.  Need help….there are numerous companies that offer services for writing.  Hit www.google.com and search “resume writing service” and there will be plenty to consider.