12/18/12 - !@#$% Insight from Author Scott Vedder

Feeling "Trapped" When Writing a Résumé

Scott Answers a Reader's Question: "How Long Should a Résumé Be?"

 

A job seeker named Anna contacted Scott to ask about how to identify which parts of her experience should be included on her résumé. She’s got a long career history and lots of great achievements of which she’s proud.   Anna’s Question: Scott, I' m currently trapped with a lot of important info I have to put in my cover letter and résumé. I am stuck when it comes to condensing it to fit on my résumé! How long should a résumé be? Having been in sales I am a master at selling myself & know I can usually land a new job -but I want to be better prepared and get the initial interview with a great résumé and cover letter! HELP!   Scott’s Answer – A Response Full of !@#$%: Anna, A lot of people can feel “trapped” when writing a résumé. It’s hard to condense a career full of great experience into an easy-to-read résumé for an employer to review. Your résumé should only be as long as is necessary to showcase exactly why you’re qualified for the job. Usually that’s one or two pages. If yours is longer than two pages, consider removing things that don’t explain and quantify your experience using !@#$%.   Your résumé should focus on explaining and quantifying your relevant experience using !@#$%, the Signs of a Great Résumé. Include specific “!” achievements that show “@” what points you gained relevant experience. Quantify your experience with “#,” “$,” and “%” figures which show how well you performed. Remove any content that reads like a job description or which could apply to someone else’s experience.   Once you’ve determined some of the great !@#$% you should include on your résumé, choose the facts and experience that most closely match the job posting. You mentioned you had a lot of information which you felt you “had” to include on your résumé. You really don’t “have” to include anything. (Except your name and contact information of course!) What you need to do is focus on telling the employer how your experience will help them based on what they’re asking for in the job posting.   If you match the experience you include on your résumé to the qualifications listed in the job posting and if your résumé is full of !@#$%, you’re writing a résumé that speaks for itself. You won’t be “trapped,” you’ll be interviewed!