Resume Help: Don’t Make Assumptions
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Cecile presented her resume to me for a quick review. She was frustrated because she was getting zero responses to her resume. After reviewing with Cecile, I asked a few questions about her history to gather more details. Her response was, “Anyone in my market will know what that means” and “If someone sees that I was with that company; that is all they need to know.” That is not true. I had to quickly help Cecile understand why her resume needed to be easier to digest.
It is not the reader’s job to decode industry-specific or job –specific acronyms. The first person to read your resume is likely a screener or recruiter who may not be familiar with industry jargon or terms. Secondly, even if a person knows the duties associated with a particular job title, they do not know the scope of your responsibility and your unique accomplishments. Those are your strongest selling points. By skipping the step of touting your accomplishments, you are risking your chance to get the interview.
A skimpy resume short on facts and full of acronyms and shorthand indicates a lazy candidate. This candidate could not take the time to fashion a resume to meet the needs of the reader. She did not make the effort to properly sell herself. It shows a lack of commitment, professionalism, and enthusiasm. That certainly was not Cecile’s intention. We worked together to uncover many valuable selling points that will produce an interview-winning resume.
If you are struggling with filling in the details on your resume, contact me. For more resume help tips, check out these blog entries.
Asking Questions to Uncover Your Accomplishments