Résumé Help: Position Overview Polish

So many candidates are very close to having an excellent résumé, but they miss the mark in a few categories and as a result the candidate misses great job opportunities.   So is the case with Mason.  We recognize immediately that the appearance could be better.  The greenish color is not the best choice. Objectives are outdated and not needed.  A punchy headline would be better.  The profile needs to be reworked to show the unique value Mason offers.  Many functional “check-list” type proficiencies should be moved to another section, like an Areas of Expertise or Core Competencies section after the Profile section.

Today let’s focus on the overview of Mason’s most recent job.  He created an effective structure, starting with an overview of the job and following with three major accomplishments. The first words we read are “Responsible for.” Whether we are aware of it or not, this passive phrase connotes that this was Mason’s job, but it does not communicate that he did it, or did it well.  Easy to fix.  Start with a strong verb, such as “Sold.” Next line, same issue.  Rather than showing he has knowledge, let’s show what he did with it.  Can we go further, was he considered an expert?  Did he train others?  The last sentence also needs more power. If we had a quick chat with Mason, I bet we could uncover the scope of his product development activities and the impact to the company.  Now, that’s more like it. Mason needs to communicate how he performs and how he excelled. 

After Mason polishes the language and improves the appearance, I am sure he will begin to see better results with his résumé.  Like many candidates, under the mask of a less-than-stellar résumé is a fantastic candidate.

For more information on improving the content of your résumé, visit these blog entries.

Résumé Help: Senior Technology Consulting Manager

Average Résumés Don’t Get Job Offers

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If you would like a résumé critique, please contact Debra Wheatman at debra@careersdonewrite.com or visit us at http://careersdonewrite.com. The Résumé Help blog appears weekly on Mondays.

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