Women for Hire | Robin's Resumes (r)

Writing Your Resume: How Long Is Too Long?

May 12 2013

When I was interviewed online at Women for Hire last year, listeners constantly asked about editing their resumes. Here are a few of their problems (P) and my solutions (S):

P. Most of my jobs seem to have a lot of responsibilities and requirements. If I touch on each of them, the resume grows and grows.

S. Job ads and postings usually make it clear which skills, achievements and knowledge a company considers most important in a job applicant. First, make sure the company knows you are the right person for the job by describing how your skills and achievements meet the company’s requirements. Then, add whatever else will spark the company’s interest in interviewing you, keeping your focus on the job you are applying for.

P. The most difficult part of writing or revamping my resume is to decide how long to make it. Everyone says one page only, and no more than 10 years of experience.

S. “Everyone” is wrong. Two or even three-page resumes are fine if you are giving the company information that is relevant to the job posting and to your ability to contribute as an employee.

P. I am desperate to find a job so I put too much of my skills and education into my summary.

S. Creating a balanced resume when you are desperate is difficult, and one of the reasons why the objectivity and resume editing skills of a professional resume writer are so valuable. Write your summary to match the important criteria for the job you want, not from desperation.

If your resume feels too long—or too short—contact Robin’s Resumes®. We are experts in tailoring resumes to just the right length.

Get to the Point: When Less Is More on a Resume

Feb 17 2013

If you visit the Women for Hire website, you can hear me speak about ways to strengthen your resume. One of the people who listened to that speech had this comment:

“The most difficult part of resume writing for me is condensing my experience and accomplishments into a handful of bullets that accurately portray my strengths in a way that grabs the hiring manager’s attention. I am getting better at condensing, but could use some tips on how to make it compelling.”

When you are describing accomplishments, start with a strong verb like “led,” “accelerated,” “increased,” or “improved.” Phrases like “was responsible for” are weak and use a lot of words to say very little.

Trade in vague adjectives (“excellent,” “highly skilled,” “well-respected”) for solid data that shows how and why you are excellent, highly skilled, and well-respected.

Use numbers (“company with 400 employees,” “revenue of $6 million,” “in less than 1 year”) rather than general statements (“large company,” “exceeded revenue expectations,” “timely”).

Read job listings closely (I cannot emphasize this enough!) to make sure you are focusing on the skills, achievements, education, and values that the company wants—then eliminate anything that does not add to your qualifications for that job.

Remember that a 1-page resume is no longer the rule. Companies welcome 2 or 3-page resumes as long as the contents are relevant.

If your resume still rambles or does not attract the responses you hoped for, contact Robin’s Resumes®.

Four Common Mistakes You Might Be Making on Your Resume

Nov 13 2011

Professional resume writers know to avoid the following four mistakes. Take a look through your resume now to see if you are guilty of:

Misspellings and typos. It is not enough to use an automatic spell checker. You must print out your resume and proofread it word for word. Never trust online grammar checkers—they are all horrible. Check the dictionary if you are unsure about the proper use of words like its and it’s or effect and affect.
Inconsistent information. If the information in your LinkedIn profile differs from the information in your resume or if your resume contradicts your cover letter, recruiters and hiring managers will suspect that you are either lying or careless. Make sure all the elements of your application present the same picture.
Too much jargon and too few specifics. Avoid the temptation to write about “state-of-the-art software” or to a “proactive approach to customer satisfaction.” Automatic tracking systems don’t search on vague jargon like “state-of-the-art” or “proactive.” Those words are taking up valuable space you should use for specific facts: “Redesigned company website using Joomla” or “Increased customer satisfaction 57%.”
Too much history. As I’ve stated before in this blog, your resume is not your life story. Focus your resume on the requirements for the job you want now and the information employers ask for in their ads. That first job you took right after college in 1989 probably has little bearing on your current skills; you moved on long ago.

If you are finding it hard to avoid errors, inconsistencies and jargon or if you are not sure what to leave in and what to take out, please contact me today. You will get some good ideas, too, from my talk on resume revamps at the the Women for Hire website.

Robin Schlinger: Resume Writer and Career Coach

Oct 02 2011

A few weeks ago I had the honor of being interviewed for an audio presentation on the Women for Hire website, to give expert advice about resumes.

One of the interviewer’s first questions was a request to explain what I do.

I’m a professional certified resume writer and career coach. I moved into this field after years of experience in industry as an engineer and project manager. That background gives me practical experience out in the job market, both as a job applicant and as someone who participated in the hiring process. It also makes me very familiar with the requirements of technical as well as management and staff positions.

Now I am dedicated to helping job applicants identify and achieve their career goals. The better you know your goals, the stronger candidate you will be both in your resume and during your interview. I assist job seekers in many fields, including for profit, non-profit and government.

If you need help discovering and writing about your goals, talents, skills and accomplishments, contact me today.