February 16th, 2011 | 
Author: Resumes are used to secure employment. Normally, it contains an outline of applicant’s job experiences, educational background, achievements and skills. Once an applicant gave his resume to a potential employer, it will be used in the first stage of candidate selection and after having resumes screened, applicants are either excluded or included in the initial stage of selection process.
Bob Gerberg shared tips on how to make impressive resumes with the right format and content. Below is a summarized advice from Bob Gerberg (these advice is originally posted on Robert Gerberg‘s site):
Your resumes and the important “preselling” role
People face immense competition at every stage of their search. This competition will not only affect your ability to get your credentials viewed… but when you are invited for an interview, there are likely to be five to ten other qualified people under consideration.
So, your resumes need to be written with an eye toward reducing interview pressure… by preselling you. The ideal reaction when you meet someone should be “Paul, I was really looking forward to meeting you. I have the feeling you can really help.”
Handwritten memos
Handwritten memos are fast and easy to send off, plus executives are used to them. If your resume is on target for your audience, attaching such notes can work very well. Notes that emphasize what you can do, as well as the results you can bring, are ideal. The opening should demonstrate interest (knowledge of the firm, its industry, etc.) and explain why you are writing. The body should deal with your best selling points and convey benefits. The closing should restate interest, confirm your desire for an interview, and say when you will follow up. Keep it simple. Letters are skimmed, not analyzed.
Customized marketing letters
Cover letters should be interesting and brief. The key rule here is to get to the point and make sure it’s good
Customized marketing letters
Certain people who must avoid revealing liabilities should use personalized letters, but they need to be focused and motivating. Custom letters, tailored to the needs of organizations, can be highly effective. The letters people may require can include the following 12 letters for different occasions:
- For responding to openings
- For contacting recruiters
- For contacting venture capitalists
- For responding to emerging jobs
- For direct contact with employers
- For third-party letters to employers
- For contacting directors of associations
- For networking associates and friends
- For networking alumni
- For networking influential people
- For setting up potential references
- For following up your interviews
An executive biography
An executive biography is a 3 to 5 page narrative document, written in a third-person style.
Decision makers often forward resumes to others to get consensus. And sometimes, you never meet the top people, but nevertheless they will often review your resume. The offer depends on a thumbs upfrom the resume presentation.
An interviewresume
An interview resume is 2 to 3 pages. It is for presentation during or after interviews when employers want to know more and reveals more about you. If you have an executive biography, you would not need this resume.
Other guidelines
- Highly marketable achievers should have a resume that sets them apart from average performers, convincingly.
- Anyone unemployed should have a resume that emphasizes achievements over dates& shows momentum, how they made contributions and why they can be a key solution.
- Those whose achievements are less than stellar, need to show how they can contribute in specific ways, in a dramatic manner, while emphasizing personal factors and transferable skills.
- Those whose employers have not fared well, despite their individual contributions, need to tell compelling stories that will separate their value from the fortunes of their employer.
- Those with a checkered career, or too many jobs, or who have age concerns, need to find a way to minimize liabilities, while emphasizing selected positives.
- Leave-behind resumes.
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