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October 19, 2005

It's Not About You!

I just received a resume from a potential client who is looking to move from administrative work into management of some sort. Her resume begins:

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a middle/upper-level management position with responsibilities including problem solving, planning, organizing, and managing budgets.

She then goes on to detail her administrative responsibilities.

I can predict with 100% certainty that this resume will bring her no success whatsoever. The problem? It's all about her.

She wants to move from administration into management, but the stranger reading her resume has absolutely no interest in her career goals or her desires. None! Even if he/she is an otherwise caring person. All the reader cares about is: how will you solve the problems I'm currently facing?

This candidate needs to refocus her resume. First, she needs to identify exactly what type of management position she's seeking. Then she needs to understand exactly what's required of people who hold that position. She also needs to understand why employers hire for that position (what problemns are they solving). Finally, she needs to rewrite her resume so that every single word shows why her previous background makes her a perfect fit.

If you're sending out resumes without much success, ask yourself whether you have clearly addressed needs of potential employers. If every word of your resume isn't aimed at solving problems, you need to rewrite.

Posted by Louise at October 19, 2005 08:58 AM