Okay. It's not the early 90s with door after door slamming in your face and human resource managers picking just one or two sparkling resumes from the top of endless piles before them. But if you want that really great job--that perfect plum that makes the best use of your myriad talents--you still need a resume that paints a flattering professional portrait of your favorite subject--YOU.
These days, of course, resumes take on varying forms, with an on-line version a must in most cases. And--assuming you've been an inhabitant of the work world for any time at all--your resume will probably be the centerpiece of a personal portfolio that showcases tangible examples of your work.
To find out how to engineer the perfect resume for today's job market, we consulted a few people whose work has made them connoisseurs of curriculum vitae. Here's what they had to say:
Cindy Buzby
President of New Media Artists Agency, Inc. Cindy places all kinds of creative talent in new, interactive media positions. Her advice to resume builders:
"The really new thing for us is that we now insist that talent (read: job seekers) have Web sites that address their work. Your on-line portfolio should consist of your own personal site, along with links to work you've done for other people. You can't very well ask for a job in new media if you don't even have a site of your own," Buzby says.
Along with links to past projects, a personal site should include screen captures of your on-line work, she adds. "Screen captures will convey the actual look and feel of the work you did. They also allow you to point to the specific pieces of the site that represent your work." she says.
At the center of your portfolio site is, of course, your resume.
"The great thing about an on-line resume is that it can be constantly updated. Just be sure you take advantage of that fact and keep it as current as possible," Buzby advises.
And be sure that your resume--whether on-line or hard copy--includes clear, succinct descriptions of the work you've done. "Job titles are so fluid today that a title alone gives very little information about the extent of the work you've done. You usually need good, clear descriptions. If you've had a mixed background--with some traditional and some new media experience--you should also state your goal at the top of the page. I want to look at a resume and know immediately what kind of position the owner is seeking. That's not always clear when someone has a varied background, " she notes.
Christa Georges
PR specialist and newsletter editor for an on-line job-posting service, Georges drinks in resumes the way most of us consume our morning coffee. Here are her pointers for brewing a resume that hits an interviewer's spot.
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"The first thing I look for is a solid summary right under the name and address. This should be a passage of just three or four sentences that ties together your skill sets and experience. You might begin with something like 'I am a marketing professional with eight years experience, good writing and speaking skills.' This is a good tool whether you're at the beginning of your career and want to tie in things like internships or have long years of experience and want to focus on one specific area," says Georges.
As you move forward with the fascinating story of your work life you should--like any good storyteller--use interesting, action language to tell your reader exactly what you've done and how your actions benefited your previous employer, she advises.
"For example, if one of your duties was answering the phone, you might say something like 'Answered customers questions over the phone as a means of promoting positive customers relationships,'" she explains.
And at the top of her list of no-no's? One traditional piece of advice still holds true. "Don't leave time gaps. If you were home for a couple of years, maybe you were demonstrating your organizational skills by raising money for your church. Remember, you have to be honest on your resume, but no one is stopping you from being creative," Georges says.
Edward Soong
President of Anew Technology Corp., an Internet and e-commerce consulting and service company, Soong works largely with consultants who help him build a "total Internet solution" for his clients.
"One thing I always look for is a sign that the person is intelligent as well as experienced. You find that in the presentation more than the content itself. I want to see that someone has anticipated and answered my questions before I ever have to ask them," he says.
Soong also wants to know that a prospective employee or contractor can work both hard and cooperatively. A line noting that the applicant completed a large, complicated project in a short period of time tells him the subject is a hard worker, he says. And if that project took place at a large company and involved several departments and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it also demonstrates an ability to work as part of team.
"Teamwork is critical in our business. If you bring in someone who's a skilled engineer but can't work as part of a team, he's actually a liability. His skill means very little if he can't share it," Soong concludes.
So, as you build your online portfolio or personal marketing kit to showcase the new and improved, Y2K version of you, remember that interviewers still want to see a well-written resume as your centerpiece.
"Your resume is the most important piece in your personal marketing kit. It's like a summary of who you are to an employee," notes Georges. |
