Let’s get one myth out of the way; resumes do not get jobs, they get interviews. Your goal is to write a resume that gets you an interview. The purpose of the resume is to pique the interest of the reviewer so he or she will call you in for an interview, not to tell them enough that they can decide they don’t need to talk to you. Your resume is the most personal, intimate marketing tool you will ever design, to promote the only thing you really have to promote, the new, improved you.
To assist with this, examples of different styles of resumes are provided here. Perhaps one of the things most commonly forgotten in resumes is a simple statement of what was achieved. While it is very nice that you were CFO of a multi-million dollar organization, what did you have to do with making it a multi-million dollar organization? This is the time to forget what your mother told you about being modest, this is the time to make sure that the person who reviews your resume knows who was responsible for making it happen.
What should your resume be?
Understandably worded. The first reviewer may not be an expert in your area of expertise. Say what you need to say in clear, concise language.
Universal in appeal. The approach should be such that anyone in need of a person with a background in healthcare finance recognizes that you could be the person for the job. Avoid language or inferences that pigeon-hole you as hospital only, or even healthcare only. The purpose of the resume is to open you up for possibilities, not to enable the reviewer to eliminate you quickly and efficiently.
Results oriented. While it is fascinating to know that you supervised 150 people, what did this get your employer? Lead with accomplishments, follow with duties.
To the point. Two pages of resume is too short to belabor the obvious. If everyone with your background can do it, and you haven’t improved it, it may not be necessary to include it in your resume. Emphasize what you did that you excelled in. Just because you did something doesn’t mean it needs to be mentioned in your resume.
Honest. These days many employers check every fact. The last thing you want is to be disqualified for modifying a provable fact.
Visually attractive and easy to read. If the reviewer has to work at all to read or understand your resume, your chances of being classified as a promising candidate decrease almost geometrically.
There are three basic types of resumes:
1. Chronological. This is the most common, and presents your career in reverse chronological order. This format emphasizes current activities. It is particularly effective if you have a stable job history and are not attempting a major career change.
2. Functional. This format emphasizes previous accomplishments. It is commonly used by applicants trying to make long periods of unemployment or job hopping less obvious.
3. Combination. This format combines the chronological and functional formats. It is most commonly used when the applicant has received a number of promotions in the same company. This format lists titles in reverse chronological order, followed by a summary of major accomplishments and responsibilities.
There is no perfect resume form for everyone, anymore than there is any perfect length resume. It is a matter of personal preference. However with the easy availability of desk top typesetting, there is no reason to use only one resume, or only one format. You may want to create several resumes to address different types of opportunities that may arise. Perhaps a chronological resume for positions similar to the one you now have, or have held most recently, and a functional resume for the job outside of your field that you have always wanted to try. A job hunt is also an opportunity hunt, a time to be open to all options.
What ever resume form you choose, now is the time to deal with presentation issues. Check all the data, spelling and facts, success is frequently in the details. Have several others whom you trust review your resume again to ensure that it is both accurate and clear. Finally, have your resume printed on high quality bond paper.
This is a rare opportunity to consider options, to re-evaluate, to do things you may have only dreamed about before. Just a few random thoughts:
Consider taking some contract work while you are looking. Many employers are using contract employment as a way of evaluating a potential employee before making a permanent job offer. This also gives you a chance to really know what is going on with a potential employer before you say yes to a job offer.
When you take contract assignments, look for opportunities that give you the chance to learn something different. Perhaps you would never consider a rural or urban employer, but this may be an opportunity to see what you can learn from them to make you more effective when you find a “real” employer.
Make use of the internet in your search. If you don’t have an internet connection at home, make time to go to the local library to use one. Seriously consider getting a private e-mail address. Especially when you are involved in a job search, there are e-mails you really don’t want going to your employer. There are free web-based e-mail providers that allow you to check your mail from any place you can reach the internet. The internet and e-mail have made Fed Ex the slow way of communicating.
Use e-mail to keep in touch, to make networking fast and easy. And once you find the job you were looking for, keep using it to keep those networking connections working.