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Resumé Advice You Never Hear: Stop the Endless Targeting!

Imagine you are at a barbeque and a friend says, “We are hiring. Shoot me your résumé and I will pass it along to my manager.” Elation suddenly turns to panic. You spend the rest of the weekend pulling your hair out in order to get a résumé together by Monday.

Whether you are in active job search mode or more passively open to new opportunities, it is prudent to have a sparkly résumé ready to send off in a moment’s notice.

Job seekers are generally advised to target their résumés to each specific position. This sounds good in theory but it is not always possible. The aforementioned barbecue scenario is one case in point.

Another issue is that position descriptions vary widely. Some are overly detailed while others are short and skimpy. Rather than expressing any amount of passion and truth, job seekers parrot back what they think employers want to hear. The end result is a résumé that reads like the back of a can of paint.

There are certainly times when we should tailor a résumé to a specific position. However, there is a lot to be said for creating a personalized marketing piece that can be used more broadly. This allows us to be nimble and effective in responding to opportunities and it ensures we don’t lose ourselves in the job search process.

For the next few minutes forget everything you have heard about the importance of targeting your résumé. Rather than focusing on employer needs, look into your heart to identify what you want in your next position. Here are three steps to creating a powerful, all-purpose résumé:

Be Future Facing

Let this version of your résumé describe the job of your dreams. Rather than simply regurgitating what you have done in the past, highlight what you want to do more of going forward. Don’t list anything that you find draining.

Think beyond recent work experience and also emphasize skills gained through volunteering and personal interests or from positions held long ago. A résumé is a ticket to your happy future and it needs to be written with a clear vision in mind.

Be Compelling

Beyond listing skills and qualifications, develop a “career highlights” section in which you provide brief accomplishment statements to communicate the real value you can provide.

These accomplishment statements are like pencil drawings that support your goals and ambitions. When you land an interview, you can turn these pencil drawings into vivid word pictures and stories. For now, let your resume offer captivating snippets of who you are becoming professionally.

Be Yourself

When it comes to landing a good fit opportunity, your best bet is to present yourself honestly. Most résumés are sterile and lack personality. It seems the goal of so many job seekers is to avoid offending anyone – ever.

Speak your truth. Use conversational language and let your natural voice flow on to the page. Being forthright and creative in your presentation will cost you some jobs but staying true to yourself increases the likelihood of finding a position in which you can thrive and grow.

A future facing, compelling and personalized résumé allows you to be ready when random opportunities present themselves. When you do need to target your résumé for a specific position, you can modify this version while maintaining your personal brand. Putting more heart into your résumé is a good first step to attracting the attention you desire.

 

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Ah, the stories we tell…

I have interviewed thousands of candidates during my career. Recruiting for years taught me a thing or two about what it takes to make an employer sit up and take notice.

These days, I teach interviewing skills in workshops.  I coach clients one on one.  I video them in mock interviews and together my clients and I look at how to improve their ability to connect with potential employers.  I have seen highly successful people fall to pieces just trying to figure out how to respond to, “Tell me a bit about yourself and your interest in this position.”  This simple little prompt can bring a person to tears.

Once you get past that “tell me about yourself” prompt, the best thing you can do is tell stories.  Your past experience are the best indicators of what you can do in the future. They show who you really are and what you really do under pressure, in a crisis as well as during times when things are flowing at work.

I encourage clients to take a highlighter and go through the job description or posting. Underline the key qualifications for the position.  Next, tap into your memory for examples from your past experiences that match what the employer is seeking.

Putting your stories into a quick outline is often enough to help ensure you will be able to recall the story during an interview.  Use the C.A.R. formula to ensure you get to the point and make an impact. C stands for the challenges you faced.  A is for the action you to took to overcome the challenge.  R is all about the results that were obtained.

It is also important to be able to focus your story on the question being asked. Stressing the parts of the story that most closely match what you are being asked is a powerful skill.  Another important skill is being able to come full circle back to the original question at the end of your story. This shows you are listening and relating to the interviewer not just repeating a memorized story.

For example, you may be asked to talk about a recent accomplishment.  Once you tell your story, come back to the question you were asked and say, “So, this is an example of what I will do here in this position.  I really pride myself on setting goals and working hard to achieve excellent results.” Come full circle back to what the interviewer has asked and relate your response to your future actions if you were hired in this new position.

It is really important to collect your stories and practice them before the interview.  However, you don’t want to sound over-rehearsed.  You want to remain conversational in your tone and natural in the delivery of your stories. And, you want to forge a connection with the interviewer.

Beyond the facts of your story and the end results, it is important to consider the emotions behind the stories you tell.  When gathering stories, consider telling about experiences that showcase not just your skills but also your PASSION. Share stories that reveal your core values and the qualities that will differentiate you from other people who do the same work you do.  What sets you apart?  What makes you stand out?

In the end, it is not the facts that will be memorable.  It will be the way you made the interviewer FEEL that matters.  Bring in some emotion and avoid just relaying dry facts.

Most of my clients say, “I don’t have any amazing stories to share.  I just show up and do my job.  There is nothing remarkable about me.”  Everyone has a story.  We all have unique ways of doing what we do. I often ask my clients some key questions to help them recall good story material.  Here are some prompts:

  • When were things in total crisis and chaos at work?
  • When were you totally in the flow and when did time fly by?
  • When did you help a company make money, save money, or minimize risk?
  • When did you improve a process or streamline a procedure?
  • When were you completely frustrated?
  • When were you joyful and satisfied?
  • When did you know you were doing great work even if no one else was noticing?

I generally advise clients to have at least 5 or 6 good stories prepared before an interview. You can tailor them to the specific needs of the employer who is interviewing you. So, your stories are about you but you are telling them in a way that makes them about “you and the potential employer.”  A great interview story should express what WE could do together if you were brought on board.

A good story is what will make you memorable.  A few good stories will be what compels you to receive an offer over another candidate with a similar skill set.  For every hour of interviewing that you do, expect to put in at least 5 or 10 hours of research and practice.  Don’t get robotic or repeat everything on your resume.  Tell a good story.  Put your heart into the stories you tell and be your authentic self.

This is interviewing magic!

 

 

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Know Your Why

In the world of counseling, we are told to avoid asking clients any question that begins with the word, “Why…?”  There is an implied judgment when we begin questions in this way. Clients may become defensive or feel the need to justify their feelings or behaviors.

I do believe, however, that we should all be able to answer “why” questions for ourselves.  Our “why” is the foundation for our personal mission and purpose.  It gives meaning to our lives and to our work. When we figure out our “why,” the what, how, when, and where for our decisions often become more clear.   It becomes much easier to articulate our worth and speak to the value we can provide. Knowing our “why” gives us the drive and energy to make our dreams come true.

So, when a potential client asks, “Why should we choose you over another service provider?  You will not become defensive.  You will have a ready response that is filled with clear, compelling information.  When we know our “why,” our words ring true and others can feel our passion for the work we do.

When a hiring manager asks, “Why should we hire you over another candidate?”  You will not feel the need to justify your worth.  You will offer a response that is confident without being boastful.  And, you will be much better able to figure out for yourself if you even really want to work for this particular employer.

When we blow it, we should ask, “Why on earth did I do that?”  Considering the underlying reasons for our blunders is the surest path to improving and recovering from set-backs and failures.

So, while I may not ask clients too many “why” questions, it seems quite clear to me that we all need to know our why.  Work and life become much more fulfilling, decisions become easier, and our focus becomes clearer – when we are keenly aware of “why.”

 

 

 

 

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