The time has come: You want to apply for an open position.
Open positions exist because someone has a problem (or set of problems) that need to be solved. Your goal is to help them see how you will solve that problem. Tailoring your resume takes effort, and it helps people see you being successful in a completely new role. Far too many people use one resume for every position. Be smarter. If someone doesn’t choose to interview you, let it be for circumstances beyond your control, not the quality of your effort.
The purpose of the cover letter is to induce someone to look seriously at your resume. The purpose of the resume is to persuade someone that you’re a fit for the open role and worth interviewing.
Open secret: Hiring managers don’t like to work hard. Therefore you need to create a path of low resistance by showcasing your skills and experience in a way that it’s easy to imagine you being successful in the position.
Start with your cover letter. It’s not enough to have some perfunctory, “I’d like to talk with you about this role, thanks, looking forward to hearing from you.” Give one or two sentences in the cover letter that highlight how your experience is a fit to specific requirements. Said another way, translate your work history into results-driving skills which match their need. That entices them to look more carefully at your resume.
You resume must highlight results (quantification, quantification, quantification) that demonstrate relevant skills and experiences. I’ve seen gobs of resumes which state “excellent project management and people management skills” but it’s just words without some evidence.
Project management is a common skill requirement. What quantitation could you include about delivering on-time, on or under budget, with what team size, to deliver what $$ or measurable benefit to the organization? Was there any recognition for what was delivered? These speaks volumes more to a hiring manager than “PM certified” statements without specifics.
If the open position calls for driving change, what’s in your history that demonstrates you’ve done it successfully? What numbers and results back that up?
If the open position requires influence without full authority (very common), what stories can you highlight that demonstrate your skill that can be believably reproduced in the future? Use numbers and specifics.
Many roles require learning areas, and repeatedly developing new skills. What could you call out from your role transitions throughout your career (again – quantitatively demonstrated) that showcases adaptability and rapid information acquisition?
Don’t create a list of skills or certifications. Demonstrate those by the results you highlight in your work history. Weave these into a deliverable when the job posting calls for specifics (e.g., “PMP certification required”).
When I applied to an R&D role to “bring the outside in, more effectively” I showcased what I’d done in IT roles which required effective 3rd-party interactions, selling the external to internal audiences, and delivering a better result because of it. I had applied for an operations role earlier on, where I used the same set of experiences to emphasize my ability to streamline operations and improve efficiency. When I was asked to apply for a non-IT role that required substantial writing I showcased both my internal writing in the context of leading IT projects and teams and highlighted published work outside the company to demonstrate breadth of ability. That scored an interview for me, even though the hiring manager said “I never imagined an IT guy could fit this job.”
The most important things you can do with your resume is accentuate perspectives on your work history which make it easy for a hiring manager to imagine your success in the role. Bonus: This work of tailoring your resume is excellent down payment for preparation for the coming interview.
Additional recommendations on content and formatting:
- One page, and dense with results.
- Skip the fancy fonts and colors. HR systems of big companies is that submitted resumes and cover letters are scanned and stripped for keywords. If you’re apply for a role where artistry is required or a plus, then send people to a link with example work displayed. You can use the space on one page better: Pack it with results.
- Group your experience by role, listing results for each.
- Double-check dates. Ask someone else to spell-check (our capacity for spelling blindness seems endless).
- You should have references lined up as you go into job application mode, but you don’t need to list references on your resume. Interviewers will ask. Smart interviewers will certainly check with references before making you an offer.
- Only list affiliations and “non-work” activities which are relevant to the open position.
(Note: I’m a fan of the Manager-Tools.com guidance on resumes. Their podcasts are free. This guidance reiterates much of what they teach, and they go much further. Recommended for professionals!)
