Leadership professionals often spend significant time
adding content to their resumes, showing career progression
and detailing their strengths. So why does the average
resume get only a minimal response?
Most people don't realize that when it comes to touting
their own skills at a six-figure level, presentation is
EVERYTHING. When you choose that canned Microsoft Word
template for your resume, you are laying the foundation for
lackluster results.
Now, opening a new document and choosing a built-in
template might work fine if you're sending a quick email
message, but it certainly isn't a good way to sell your key
competencies if you're an aspiring leader ready to take on
the world and boost your salary in the process.
When it comes to writing the most critical document of your
career, consider the message you are sending with the
actual style of your resume, not just the content.
Now you might ask: what's wrong with using that Word
template? Well, first of all, it's made for EVERYONE to
use. Can all professionals relate to your level of
achievement? I doubt it.
In addition, the font allows for only minimal wording to be
used, with very short lines. Now, I don't know about you,
but as a professional resume writer, I find it extremely
hard to get critical information across in seven-word
sentences.
Third of all, the template doesn't convey status or
prestige—the very components that drive careers at
the upper echelon.
The really amazing thing is that professionals who wouldn't
dream of showing up at a job interview in less than a suit
are giving a resume presentation that equates to wearing
their Saturday jeans. Is this really the impression that
you want to give your next employer?
Case in point: Brad, a seasoned operations manager skilled
in guiding large construction firms through periods of
multimillion-dollar growth, came to me with 30+ years of
experience stuffed into the standard Word template.
Not only could he barely fit his achievements into the
tight spaces allowed, the grid-like format required a font
that didn't represent his stature. After we collaborated to
review his work history, it was obvious to me that he could
control costs, hire top-producing teams, and institute
practices that made his employer very, very profitable in a
short period of time.
You can bet that these facts really jumped off Brad's new
resume, leaving no doubt as to his career level and focus.
Even with tightening up the wording on his accomplishments,
I was still able to give the reader two full pages of
detailed, concise information about him that would've
otherwise been LOST if he'd continued to use the template.
So, the next time you're in the midst of a job search, give
your resume style the same attention and focus that you
would apply to any business presentation with a
professional style that speaks to your status and level of
achievement.
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Six-figure resume authority Laura Smith-Proulx creates
cutting-edge documents that open doors to jobs at
prestigious corporations. Known as "The Career Champion,"
Laura has authored the upcoming "21 Insider Resume Secrets
to the $100K+ Job of Your Choice," plus "Solve Your
Toughest Resume Challenges." For her free e-course, "The 7
Biggest Resume Mistakes That Can Keep You From a $100K+
Job," visit http://www.AnExpertResume.com .
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