Top 10 tips for resume rebranding

06. May 2013 · Write a comment Categories: a job, Career Advice, CV, resume · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

margaret.pngTop 10 Tips For Resume Rebranding

Picture this scenario: you have started to look for a new job, you dug out your old CV/resume and you are looking to do a quick update before applying.

Before you start applying for jobs, take a few minutes to think, is that old CV really what is required in today’s market as it lands on that desk with all the others?

Have you thought about your personal brand and how this fits with the company and the role?

If you have not considered targeting and branding, please read on.

Top Ten Tips for Resume Rebranding

1. Research

Before you can define your brand and create a targeted resume, you need to know who will be reading your resume. If you shoot blind you are more likely to miss the target. Start making a list of companies that you would want to work for, look at their strengths and challenges and then determine how your knowledge and experience can help them to meet those challenges.

In my recruitment job, I see so many people who keep sending the same resume to various jobs requiring completely different expertise and they are then surprised why they are not getting interviews.

2. Focus on your values and your personal brand.

In a competitive workplace, getting your brand and your values right is a must. Your competitors could well be using this method to differentiate themselves. You need to be clear on what unique value you offer. Please contact me on Margaret@interview-coach.co.uk to arrange an intensive Find my Unique Value phone coaching session if this is something you struggle with.

I will help you uncover and communicate the combination of attributes, passions, strengths and qualifications that make you the best candidate for the job.

3. Review your career and write down your personal achievements

This is great preparation for any potential interview and strengthens your CV/resume markedly.

One common mistake I see all the time is that the resumes are very duty oriented. You need to be able to provide specific achievements and show how they’ve impacted the company – how you’ve saved them money, made them money, improved customer satisfaction, improved processes etc.

Now you are ready to write your CV

4. Skip Personal Objective Statements

An employer is primary interested in what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. If you perform well, you will be rewarded once you have got the role, so avoid wasting valuable space in your CV with superfluous statements.

Employers don’t care that you want a ‘challenging position to advance my career’ – who doesn’t? They want to know what you’ll do for them and why you’ll be a good hiring choice.

5. Make your CV eye catching

HR managers and recruiters are busy and often will glance at your CV and will not take time to read it properly.

The top third of your CV is therefore what they see first and therefore you need to focus on making this eye catching with concise and hard hitting statements that encapsulate you and the added value you can give to the position.

Short bulleted statements and quantifiable achievements work well in this section.

6. Format your CV and send it in an incorruptible format

Thank about how you CV looks, is the layout clean and attractive? Are the important statements highlighted?

Ensure that you keep it to a maximum of 3 pages. Avoid densely packed, hard to read information. Shorter chunks of information are easier to read.

Keep the formatting consistent and clean. Don’t use more than 2 different fonts (one for headings, another for content) and use graphic lines sparingly.

Once this has been done, you also need to ensure that it is delivered to the recipient in the same pristine condition.

If you are emailing the CV make sure that you send it as a PDF or Word as this will keep the layout in the way you intended.

If you send it in the post, make sure the paper is of good quality and the CV is folded in a way that will lay flat on the recipient’s table.

Remember that a resume is supposed to get you an interview – you don’t need to include everything you’ve ever done on this document. It needs to incorporate just enough compelling information to generate interest in you. Everything in your resume must be there for a reason. Nothing should be arbitrary. Pare down your content ruthlessly!

7. Typos and Grammar

It should go without saying that typos and errors in grammar are the kiss of death. They may also convey misinformation. Proofread several times and have someone else do it, too. Don’t rely on spellcheck. Make sure your contact information is correct.

8. Keep language clear and jargon free

If your CV uses clear, compelling and result driven language you will stand out from the people using the standard lazy stock phrases.

Keep the content interesting and don’t fall back on dull phases that 99% of other candidates use which don’t differentiate them in the slightest, such as results oriented, visionary leader, excellent communication skills etc.

9. Use Active Verbs

Active and successful people write with robust action verbs.

Use strong words like advanced, drove, spearheaded, accelerated, optimized, streamlined, leveraged, etc.

10. Avoid Repetitive Job Descriptions

CV space is valuable; avoid wasting it with obvious lists of responsibilities in your “Professional Experience” section. Basic duties add nothing to your CV and will not make you stand out. Relevant examples of success however will enhance this section and make you look special. Reinforce your brand by highlighting your relevant keyword phrases linked to specific examples of the value you offered your past employers.

Bottom Line:

Yes, all of this takes a lot of time. But the work you do, and the content you create, defining your personal brand and developing your resume (and biography and other career documents) around it forms the foundation for all your personal marketing materials, online and offline, and offers many benefits:

  • Energizes you with what differentiates your value proposition to your target employers.
  • Helps you know how to tell your network how they can help you achieve your career goals.
  • Prepares you to speak confidently and knowledgeably about the value you offer.
  • Provides a wealth of on-brand information to re-purpose for each of your online profiles and any web pages you create.
  • Prepares you to network and interview well.

If you would like to get some help discovering what unique value you bring to the employer so that you get more interviews and job offers, please answer a few questions at http://www.talkwithmargaret.com and I’ll contact you to discuss your situation and whether I might be able to help.

__________________________________________________________

Margaret Buj is an Interview Coach who’s helped hundreds of professionals across Europe and the US to get the jobs and promotions they really wanted. Margaret also has 9 years of experience recruiting for a variety of positions at all levels across Europe and in the US, primarily in technology and e-commerce sectors. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you are not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview, and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her FREE “You’re HIRED!” video course.

Job interviews are NOT just about job responsibilities

26. January 2012 · Write a comment Categories: Blog, Career Advice, job interviews, Job Search, selling yourself successfully · Tags: , , , ,

Are you stuck in the notion that the job interview is just about the job duties – it’s NOT! Here is what the interviewer is really looking for.

CAN HE/SHE DO THE JOB?
The first item of business for an interviewer to determine is if you have the qualification to perform the duties of the job. That is the basic part of interviewing – to determine if the qualifications and experiences fit the requirements of the position. I talked about how to make yourself and yourself stand out from other candidates in my previous blog post

DO WE LIKE HIM/HER? WILL HE/SHE FIT IN?
The next item of business is to find out if this person is a good ‘fit’ for the job. In other words, will he fit into the team and the company culture? Although this is more subjective part of the interview, it can make or break your chances of getting the job.
The way you answer a question could be sending the wrong message. Are you describing yourself in the best light?

QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
On the surface this appears to be a straightforward question, but if you answer too hastily you may end up sounding like every other candidate. What makes you unique? How can you make yourself stand out and be remembered?

Interviewers ask this question for a couple of reasons: to hear where you place the emphasis in your description, and to see how quickly and creatively you can think on the spot. SPICE UP YOUR ANSWERS.

Don’t leave the interviewer with the same old answers everybody else gives. Think about new ways to get your message across and sell yourself.

“I am a high energy person”. This answer needs more detail and energy.

“I am a person who is energized by challenges and problems”. Better – but you might want to back your answer with some brief explanation of what challenge/problem you’ve recently overcome at work.

“I am a hard worker”. The most common phrase used. No imagination.

“I do whatever it takes to get the job done’ sometimes working 10h days.”

“I am a quick learner.” An overused phrase which has lost its effectiveness. Along with “I work well in a team as well as on my own.” (This is probably the biggest cliché I see in job applications)

“I can hit the ground running and come up to speed faster than anyone I know” (again, back it up with some example of when you’ve done that)

“I am analytical”. A lack luster answer, which does not reveal much information.

“I am a whiz at analyzing data and transforming it into useful information”

“I am very organized”. This is a very understated answer.

“I am a person who can bring order to chaos.” (again, backed up with some example proving your point)

“I am reliable”. This answer needs more information to get point across. “I pride myself on my record of never missing deadlines”

“I am good with customers”. The answer needs clarification – good in what way?

“I build great relationships with customers – they always ask for me.”

SCRIPTING EXERCISE

Describing your personality is like writing ads for a product. What makes you unique? Are you the type of person who’d fit into this organisation? Your job is to convince your interviewer that you are that person. Make a list of personality traits that describe you. The qualities you’d like the interviewer to remember after the interview. Use some of the same words in the job posting.

Requirement: “Must have 5 of more years experience, managing a diverse population of employees”.

Your Answer: “I work well with all types of people”.
This is a rather flat statement and not specific. Try a new slant using more powerful words.

“I am a person who values others’ qualities and contributions. My employees would tell you that I am a very fair manager who listens when they have something to say.”

The more specific you are with your answer, the better your chances of leaving a lasting impression. Interviewers talk to several candidates in a single day. What will make you a memorable candidate?

In today’s competitive job market it is worth taking some time to think about how you can describe your personality in a way that makes you stand out. The buyer needs to be sold on your uniqueness and abilities. When you sound like everybody else, you look like everybody else. Distinguishing yourself from the pack will give you the edge. A little work before the interview will put some zip in your pitch.

If you’d like some help in identifying your unique selling points to use during the interview and creating examples to use to impress the employer, you might be interested in my e-Guide “Land That Job!” at http://www.landthatjob.co.uk

In this guide, I will also give you specific examples of CVs and covering letters from different industries, tell you what to say to handle employer’s typical concerns and how to negotiate a better salary. There is a whole excellent chapter on how to negotiate a salary/pay-rise.

If you want fool-proof strategies, that you can learn and apply quickly and easily so that you’re way ahead of the pack, you can get “Land That Job” for only £15 instead of £27 when you enter VIP15 when you check out. I might take the discount away at any time, so if this is something of interest, you need to act fast:-)

To your job interview success!

Interviews are NOT just about job responsibilities

25. January 2012 · Write a comment Categories: Blog, Career Planning, job interviews, Job Search, selling yourself successfully · Tags: , , ,

Are you stuck in the notion that the job interview is just about the job duties – it’s NOT! Here is what the interviewer is really looking for.

CAN HE/SHE DO THE JOB?
The first item of business for an interviewer to determine is if you have the qualification to perform the duties of the job. That is the basic part of interviewing – to determine if the qualifications and experiences fit the requirements of the position. I talked about how to make yourself and yourself stand out from other candidates in my previous blog post: http://bit.ly/wE2QhP

DO WE LIKE HIM/HER? WILL HE/SHE FIT IN?
The next item of business is to find out if this person is a good ‘fit’ for the job. In other words, will he fit into the team and the company culture? Although this is more subjective part of the interview, it can make or break your chances of getting the job.
The way you answer a question could be sending the wrong message. Are you describing yourself in the best light?

QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
On the surface this appears to be a straightforward question, but if you answer too hastily you may end up sounding like every other candidate. What makes you unique? How can you make yourself stand out and be remembered?

Interviewers ask this question for a couple of reasons: to hear where you place the emphasis in your description, and to see how quickly and creatively you can think on the spot. SPICE UP YOUR ANSWERS.

Don’t leave the interviewer with the same old answers everybody else gives. Think about new ways to get your message across and sell yourself.

“I am a high energy person”. This answer needs more detail and energy.

“I am a person who is energized by challenges and problems”. Better – but you might want to back your answer with some brief explanation of what challenge/problem you’ve recently overcome at work.

“I am a hard worker”. The most common phrase used. No imagination.

“I do whatever it takes to get the job done’ sometimes working 10h days.”

“I am a quick learner.” An overused phrase which has lost its effectiveness. Along with “I work well in a team as well as on my own.” (This is probably the biggest cliché I see in job applications)

“I can hit the ground running and come up to speed faster than anyone I know” (again, back it up with some example of when you’ve done that)

“I am analytical”. A lack luster answer, which does not reveal much information.

“I am a whiz at analyzing data and transforming it into useful information”

“I am very organized”. This is a very understated answer.

“I am a person who can bring order to chaos.” (again, backed up with some example proving your point)

“I am reliable”. This answer needs more information to get point across. “I pride myself on my record of never missing deadlines”

“I am good with customers”. The answer needs clarification – good in what way?

“I build great relationships with customers – they always ask for me.”

SCRIPTING EXERCISE

Describing your personality is like writing ads for a product. What makes you unique? Are you the type of person who’d fit into this organisation? Your job is to convince your interviewer that you are that person. Make a list of personality traits that describe you. The qualities you’d like the interviewer to remember after the interview. Use some of the same words in the job posting.

Requirement: “Must have 5 of more years experience, managing a diverse population of employees”.

Your Answer: “I work well with all types of people”.
This is a rather flat statement and not specific. Try a new slant using more powerful words.

“I am a person who values others’ qualities and contributions. My employees would tell you that I am a very fair manager who listens when they have something to say.”

The more specific you are with your answer, the better your chances of leaving a lasting impression. Interviewers talk to several candidates in a single day. What will make you a memorable candidate?

In today’s competitive job market it is worth taking some time to think about how you can describe your personality in a way that makes you stand out. The buyer needs to be sold on your uniqueness and abilities. When you sound like everybody else, you look like everybody else. Distinguishing yourself from the pack will give you the edge. A little work before the interview will put some zip in your pitch.

If you’d like some help in identifying your unique selling points to use during the interview and creating examples to use to impress the employer, you might be interested in my e-Guide “Land That Job!” at http://www.landthatjob.co.uk

In this guide, I will also give you specific examples of CVs and covering letters from different industries, tell you what to say to handle employer’s typical concerns and how to negotiate a better salary. There is a whole excellent chapter on how to negotiate a salary/pay-rise.

If you want fool-proof strategies, that you can learn and apply quickly and easily so that you’re way ahead of the pack, you can get “Land That Job” for only £15 instead of £27 when you enter VIP15 when you check out. I might take the discount away at any time, so if this is something of interest, you need to act fast:-)

To your job interview success!