Keep in mind while you write your resume that your audience is the hiring manager for the position mentioned in your Job Objective statement. In order to sell yourself to this potential employer, talk about yourself in ways that are meaningful to her. In some cases, you may need to do one or more of the following:
- Translate terminology to down play differences between your past experience and your job objective.
- Select only aspects of your achievements that paint a picture of you at your next job.
- Prioritize your points so that your most relevant achievements are emphasized.
Downplay Differences
Avoid job-specific jargon in order to downplay the differences and emphasize the similarities between your previous position and your Job objective. For example, Elizabeth was a nurse who was applying for a customer service position at a department store. She used general terms when referring to her hospital work so the employer would see that her customer service skills were just what was needed in the department store. Instead of writing: Explained medical procedures and equipment to Hamilton Medical Center patients and their families to enable them to make wise decisions regarding surgery, care, and discharge. Elizabeth wrote: Educated clients about new products and procedures at the medical center and assisted them in making personal decisions based on financial, lifestyle, and time line concerns.
When Charles’s military service ended, he wanted a job in corporate public relations, so he phrased his statements using civilian terminology to de-emphasize his career transition. Instead of writing: Managed public relations for the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Week, a $1.5 million celebration that drew 50,000 civilians.
Career Casualty
When you create your achievement sentences, be careful not to emphasize any aspect of the experience that you don’t enjoy doing. Only stress the parts of the achievement that you would like to repeat.
Job-Hunt Hint
Talk about your experience in terms of achievements instead of monotonous job descriptions. Achievements will impress the reader, make your resume far more interesting to read, and stimulate productive conversation during the interview.
Job-Hunt Hint
Build a strong foundation for your salary negotiations by writing powerful achievement statements that speak to the employer’s bottom line.
Brainstorming
The questions on the following worksheet will help you think of relevant achievements for your resume. Not all of the questions will apply to your situation, so answer only the ones that do.
Achievement Statements Brainstorming Worksheet
- What work-related projects are you proud of that relate to your job objective?
Example: Increased productivity 20 percent as lead engineer on Hewlett-Packard’s HMS technical team. - What are some quantifiable results that point out your ability?
Example: Drove profits from $20 million to $34 million by directing a national celebrity marketing campaign. - When have you demonstrated PAR (Problem, Action, Result)? What was the problem,what was your action to remedy it, and what was the result?
Example: Reduced theft 47 percent by instituting Shoppers’ Spy, a tight yet discreet security program. - When did you positively affect the organization, the bottom line, your boss, your co-workers, or your clients?
Example: Enhanced staff morale through a six-month incentive program that also prompted a major increase in sales. - with awards, commendations, or publications demo you achieved that relate to your job objective?
Example: version “Top Salesperson” for three consecutive years. - How is success measured in your field? How do you measure up?
Example: Selected by the NIH to represent the United States at the International AIDS Conference in Brazil. - Are you good at using the skills required for this job? When have you demonstrated that to be true? Example: Used advanced CAD tools to create a totally new look in video game modeling.
- What activities, paid and unpaid, have you performed that used skills you’ll be using at your new job?
Example: Offered academic counseling to 40 students at “Make It Happen,” a volunteer program at Sanford High School. - When did someone sit up and take notice of how skilled you are?
Example: Commended for achieving 97 percent of production goal in an industry where 85 percent is considered high.
Name-dropping is the name of the game. Look for opportunities to enhance your image by slipping in names of impressive people, companies, or organizations.
Warning! Functional Resume Ahead
Many times functional resume writers make the mistake of writing accomplishment statements without indicating where the achievements took place. This practice makes potential employers uneasy because they have no way of confirming the experience. The solution? Give each accomplishment credibility by saying where it happened. Here are three ways to indicate where your success took place:
- Incorporate the name of the organization or your position into the sentence: Managed Harrington Department Store’s $1.5 million budget. Collaborated with executives to create a new marketing strategy, as member of the St.Francis Board of Directors.
- Reference the organization or your position at the end of the statement:
- Managed budget of $1.5 million. (Harrington Department Store)
- Collaborated with executives to create a new marketing strategy. (St. Francis Board of Directors)
- Group achievements together according to where they happened, still keeping them within skill categories. This kind of organization, in effect, becomes a hybrid resume based on a functional format.
Bonus Check
A well-crafted functional resume that makes it clear where the job seeker’s achievements took place can win over employers, even those who claim not to like functional resumes.
