Janice Worthington MA, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP Send Janice a Question

Simple Resume Secrets That Will Open Doors As a career manager I write compelling résumés for my clients. I distribute those résumés, and then I teach my clients how to outperform in interviews. The whole point in securing a job offer is to out compete everybody else because merely qualifying for the job guarantees nothing. So knowing the job search "game" provides the only method of winning the job offer and that game is what I call the Job Search Olympics because of the various events one must win to get the Gold. The first event is the résumé. Last month in this column I hit very hard on the fact that most folks don’t realize that they need a competitive résumé. They believe that qualifying entitles them to a "getting to know you" interview, which will lead to a "happily-ever after" job offer and acceptance. Last month I stated: "Make no mistake, if hundreds of thousands of job offers totaling millions of dollars have been lost because of free-falling on interviews, the number of missed opportunities due to weak, pointless résumés is unfathomable and heartbreaking." This month I offer the following: Qualified - Logical - Different - Better - Unique - This is a good rule to remember. Many clients’ first respond, "I’ve never seen résumés that look like these," when they first see what we do. That’s the point. If they all looked alike (like so many do) why be motivated to select anyone other than by random? I’d want to be selected for reasons better than by random. Try these tips: Hit Hard With A Headline Objective - Tell me what you are and what you offer me. Goals like "opportunity for advancement" give me no reason to purchase you at that sweet salary you are asking. Executive-Level Marketing Manager walks all over A career-directed position providing expertise in Marketing Management leading toward upward progression everytime. Try a Tag Line - A tag line belongs under your headline objective and displays the fruits of all those years of hard work. "Expertise Developing Sound Strategies for Software-based Receivables Management." Now that’s revealing and the employer has only just started reading! Keyword Tables Draw the Eye - A hard skill describes what you do with no spin or subjectivity. Terms like "Operations Management," "Transportation & Logistics," and "Financial Management" positioned in a vertical table really draws the eye in a short period of time. Borders & Shading Look Distinctive - Just as you wouldn’t wear striped slacks with a checkerboard pattern shirt, you need to be careful that you don’t go over-board with your graphics. Experiment and see what is compatible with your format and what your industry allows. Have a Strong Presentation Logic - Be sure to define what the company does before you chime in with the specific do’s of your job. Define the scope and responsibility of your job description so the reader understands more than "solve customer problems." Telling me in advance that you manage a $15 million profit center means far more and then I can better appreciate your customer service challenges. And remember to include performance-based achievements. A resume without achievements is like a report card without grades. You can win a Gold in the first event of the Job Search Olympics! We see it everyday! Stay tuned next month for coaching on the second event...getting your presence out to the right people!

Janice Worthington is President of Worthington Career Services, Ohio’s oldest resume preparation firm and one of the oldest in the U.S. With 14 years of corporate recruiting experience, Worthington Career Services opened its doors focused on applicant empowerment in 1973. She is known for advising some of America’s highest-ranking industry leaders. Please send Janice your questions at janice@worthingtonresumes.com .  For more information on Janice, please visit her website at http://www.worthingtonresumes.com/!