Fifty Shades of Résumé
Many careerists believe there is one résumé template that fits everyone. It is not uncommon for job seekers to borrow a résumé from a friend or copy a template found online when creating their résumé. It is a great idea to look the résumé of a successful professional to get inspiration. However, when it comes to the résumé, there are subtleties that separate candidates even if their history is very similar. Here are some tips to help you create a résumé that is uniquely yours. There are truly at least 50 shades of résumé. Follow these tips to create yours.
Don’t Be a Copy Cat
Avoid the big mistake of copying content from a job description given by an employer and pasting it into your new résumé. A job description contains the basic requirements of your job. Are you an employee that does just the basic requirements? Probably not. So, you want your résumé to show your accomplishments - how you went beyond the expectations.
Also, don’t copy and paste a co-worker’s content. Do you want your résumé to say, “me too” or do you want your résumé to show how you separated yourself from the others in your department? Of course, you want to show your unique achievements. Sure, there may be some overlap in some achievements, but you want to write about your contribution.
One Size Fits All
Well, that may be the case when you buy a poncho. This approach does not work with a résumé. I have
created a highly effective one-page résumé for a CEO of a technology company and also created a two-page résumé for a recent graduate. Your résumé should be as long as necessary to show your major, relevant accomplishments and skills. If you are a PhD with multiple publications and patents, you may have a six-page résumé. Another example is a candidate with more homogenous history - meaning they have similar history, so rather than be redundant I might create a career highlights section and feature the top seven achievements followed by a listing of employers from the most recent ten to fifteen years.
Template 12 - The One With the Cool Green Graphics!
Some writing companies have a résumé sample section from which candidates choose a style from a book. First, this should be a red flag that the company may be a mill and simply filling in your info into a template. What you want is a writer who designs your résumé based on your situation. It is better to choose a format that has a structure to fit the information you want to share; choose a style that is appropriate for your industry, occupation, and personality.
I Want a Chart on My Résumé Just Like Kevin’s
In some occupations, a chart is a perfect way to illustrate rising profits. A picture is standard if you are interviewing for a on-air television reporter position. If you are Ned, a darn-good computer support technician, you probably do not want to put a photo on your résumé. A data chart may not be the way to showcase your accomplishments. However, Ned may want to show the graphic logos of his three professional certifications. There are dozens of specialty categories, graphics, or data displays we can insert on a résumé. The trick is to choose the elements right for you.
Stealing the Summary
The opening summary can be the most challenging part of the résumé. So, why not review some information you found online? A smart plan is to borrow the “formula” for a good summary – this does not mean that you cut and paste. Share information that describes you and that you avoid fluff.
So, you can see that there are at least fifty shades of résumé. There are various ways to present information, many style choices to exhibit your brand, and also decisions as to what information you should share. When you make those decisions, you will have a résumé in a shade that fits you!