Harty Part 5 Part 1

Overview: There is no one correct way to write a resume or cover letter. The point of the resume is to get the interview, no more or less. Some of the main things that a resume can demonstrate are communication skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills, initiative, professionalism, specific skills, ethics, management, and ability to prioritize.


Munschauer - Language of Employers

What can the candidate do for us? This is what every manager is thinking when they are looking to hire someone new. Therefore, that is what the message of your resume should be. Emphasize this point and target the writing to a specific manager and it will likely be a successful resume. Turn the focus to their needs and not your wants. Try not to overuse "I". A helpful tip on targeting the manager is to research and learn about the industry you are appplying to. This will give you some common ground/interest with the manager and you will immediately be more appealing.

"you made the ritual the message and the meaning got lost"
I'm not sure if this is copied from somewhere else or if it is Munschauer's own but I really like the phrasing of this quote and the impact it gives. The meaning is fairly simple, that we get caught up in the formatting and supposed rules that we forget even why we are writing. We are trying to get a job and also service a need of an employer, it is mutually beneficial.

Unfortunately, there is something that matters alot that shouldnt matter at all, Appearances! The content should far exceed the importance of typos and a printer that is low on ink, however, managers need a system to sort through the insanely high number of resumes and letters that they recieve. It is very easy to pick out ones that don't look "good" and throw them away before reading. The point is, be professional.

Similarly, many people try to use gimmicks to make their letters and resume stand out but these too are often quickly overlooked as non-professional.

Find a way to show off career related experience. These are things that do not come from school or work but do pertain to the field you wish to enter. These show your extreme interest in the subject and show that you are willing to do above and beyond what you are required.

Formating is a large issue in resumes. We have already said that there is no set way to do it but one big tip is not to forget about white space. By double spacing around key points it will highlight the achievement and make it stand out even more. This leads to the idea that resumes should be made in a way that makes them easy to scan. Managers are not going to spend much time looking at them. The pertinent information needs to jump out at them. If they are interested they will read more carefully later.

Knowing that the document will be scanned quickly, you also need to do a double check and look for key words that do catch the eye and make sure they are not things that "turn off" the reader. If at all possible these pinpoint words should spark the readers attention.

There is a debate about whether or not to include a job objective in the resume. The authors advice is frankly yes, but name it career interest instead. The career interest is the entire point of the resume. Without it, there is hardly a reason to make one.

There is another debate between a one page format or allowing longer resumes. It is nice to be concise and make it easy for the manager to scan and read but this is no equivalent to using a proper amount of white space and heading even if it runs over one page.

The last thing to consider is whether or not to even send a resume. Sometimes they can detract more than help your case. Sometimes it can be more effective to put it all in prose and leave all for a letter.

What is the message of the resume?