STOP LISTENING TO THOSE ANCIENT ECHOES
Those dinosaurs have been interfering with our resumes for too long. Remember your resume is being created and viewed on a PC with a word processor. So the viewer can do key word searches and refine the context in which a term or skill is used. Then they Can make a determination if enough of the skills sought have been presented in a way that compels them to call you.
What do you need to do today to impress? TWO PAGES!? Really?!
Look at this for a start. Which do you use?
SUMMARY OR OBJECTIVE?
Summary from Wikopedia;
A summary, synopsis, or recap is a shorter version of the original. Such a simplification highlights the major points from the much longer subject, such as a text, speech, film, or event. The purpose is to help the audience get the gist in a short period of time.
Objective from dictionary.com
ob·jec·tive - noun
1.something that one’s efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal; target:the objective of a military attack; the objective of a fund-raising drive.
What to call it? Do I care? Not really, as long as these sections are understood to be editable. You have heard it before, “Your resume should be written for the role you are applying for.” That old piece of wisdom still holds true today. Many of us (me to) scoffed at this. But think about the summary or objective as that place to customize. The rest of your resume should reflect why you are good for the position since it contains details qualifying you for the job. If you are not qualified for the job and your resume does not bear this out then stop now and look for the right job. May be you make a tweek here and there to better focus your resume for the submission for your targeted job, but it should not take a whole lot of editing.
SUMMARY STATEMENTS
I will use summary statements pulled from resumes I received recently for examples.
“Delivering results on time, under budget, with quality that not only meets but exceeds customer expectations.”
Nice thought but too short and very generic. I would suggest if these are the concepts you are cjhosing to promote yourself with that you expand it like this.
“A successful network engineer specializing in __________________ of projects requiring a focus on ______________, with budgetary priorities. A proven track record of managing customer expectations and quality delivery as a consultative subject matter expert in ____________.”
The next summary was a better one I think because it had a definite focus. One that is in demand I might add! But I still don’t really like it…
“An Experienced IP/MPLS Network/Security Specialist, with recognized strength in implementing, supporting advanced Enterprise IP/MPLS network and security solutions. Ability to troubleshoot and optimize existing and new network designs. Maintains complete professionalism and personal commitment with excellent communication and people skills with the ability to train, motivate and supervise a team.”
What I like is that this guy knows what he is about so he says, “IP/MPLS” twice in the first sentence that does drive home a point immediately and conveys a certain amount of enthusiasm for his strongest skill. Would I have done it that way?
“An Experienced IP/MPLS Network Security Specialist, with recognized strength in implementing, supporting advanced Enterprise IP/MPLS network and security solutions. Ability to troubleshoot and optimize legacy and new network designs. Successfully maintains complete professionalism and personal commitment with excellent communication and people skills with the ability to train, motivate and supervise a team.”
Here’s an objective to chew over. It is pretty generic and I would say not very good as it stands. In his skills section he lists a lot of security. So his targeted designation is accurate but this is a clumsy statement.
“To work in a stimulating and challenging environment that would facilitate the maximum utilization and application of my skills and expertise in making a positive difference to the organization
Target Industry: IT/Telecom/Banking
Target Designation: Network Security Specialist / Engineer/Consultant”
When making statements like this it is a good idea to say that you want to make a “positive difference”, but it would be more powerful if you say how. The target designation and industry statements are not good because these indicate a generic resume. Remember to tailor the objective statement to the position you are applying for. How would I have said this?
“To work in a stimulating and challenging environment as a _________________ allowing me to utilize my skills in ______________, as the subject matter expert working to improve the enterprise.”
Hey it was one sentence. I would like to say more but I am not the author of this resume and will go with the flavor and feel of that individual. You see your resume is a personal thing and I will work with what I have been provided and reinforce your personal identity. But I would strongly suggest a second sentence splitting the, “To work in” statement from the “How I will make the enterprise better” statement. Look at this next example. It is weak and needs life support.
“Seeking a challenging position in an organization capable of recognizing and utilizing my skill-set for mutual benefits”
I don’t like to be a grammar teacher but I must state that if you are going to write it in a language that might not be your first language that you do a grammar check in MS Word for the language you have used. In this case, “Benefits” should be singular, “Benefit”. You are asking the company to do the work in recognizing your strength and putting you to work to a mutually beneficial outcome. Well I am sorry if I don’t like these generic statements. Remember to tailor the statement to the job you are applying for. How would I edit it? Well first of all, your objective is not to perpetually SEEK a position, right? Your objective is to secure a position!
“To secure a challenging position as a _____________ in an organization where I can make a positive impact on the _____________ environment, while growing my skills in support of the expanding technology improvements that will propel the organization to meet the demands of the future.”
This person still got to say they want to improve themselves but couched it in the needs of the company and how they will make it better first.
This article was posted with permission of Eman Conde, founder of www.ccieflyer.com also know as CCIE Agent.
