Does Your Résumé Reflect The Real You?

“The tongue of the just is as choice silver….” – Proverbs 10:20

When you give your résumé to a potential employer, what exactly should you be sending him/her? What should it reflect? How should it present who you are? How in-depth should it be? What should or shouldn’t it include?

Your résumé should be so much more than simply a checklist and bullet points…it’s a major part of the impression you leave, it should be considered your most important tool to market you and to showcase your true accomplishments.

Oprah Winfrey once said:

The challenge of life, I have found, is to build a résumé  that doesn’t simply tell a story about what you want to be, but it’s a story about who you want to be.”

Your résumé should be a true reflection of you, who you are, your goals, experiences, interests, education and aspirations. Your résumé should also be written from the employer’s perspective so you are sure you are addressing the questions they need answered, information they require, and look and feel they expect.

Tips for making your résumé reflect the real you…

• Begin with your résumés presentation by using the K-I-S-S formula – Keep It Simple Silly! When I talk about keeping it simple, I’m talking about how it looks. It should look clean and easy to read and reflect your professionalism.
  • It should include no more than 2 font styles, which would include 2-3 of each font’s sizes, also the use of that font italicized, bolded or underlined if applicable.
  • Don’t get carried away with coloring the letters or highlighting sections. Your résumé should be in black and white only and no color used. (NOTE: The only exception to this is if you are in Marketing/Advertising and need to use color to showcase your creativity.)
  • Use white space for a clean look and to create sections, which makes it easier to read and more appealing.
  • When creating your résumé file you will want to use three different file formats. First, you will need a Word file in case the employer requests a Word copy and so you can easily make changes and customize it. Second, you will want a PDF file since this is the standard file format you will send to the employer, unless they request otherwise. A PDF also ensures that the file is not accidentally altered when being downloaded or viewed. Third, you will need a text only file for when you need to copy and paste your résumé into the appropriate field on the employers website.
• In your summary you can take advantage of the opportunity to talk about how you would like to use your talents and strengths, as well as showcase how your job is not just a job but a real reflection of who you are and a way that you find fulfilment.
• Be honest in all of your statements about positions you have held, education, or titles for each position. It’s not difficult for a potential employer to check up on these things, and if they aren’t true, you will come across as dishonest and untrustworthy, and may actually not even be considered for the position. Also, if found out that you lied after you get the position through an HR audit you could be terminated for getting the position under false pretenses.
• Take the time to tailor your résumé to each particular position you apply for. Build and maintain an accomplishments library so you can select the accomplishments that most closely match what the employer is looking for. Much of your résumé will be the same for each application, but tailoring the accomplishments, areas of expertise, and summary statement will make it much more appropriate for each position.
• Give recruiters what they are looking for, such as what your extracurricular activities or volunteer work may include. Together with the skills you have listed, the recruiter or manager, will be able to form conclusions about who you really are. Recruiters will also ask for such information as salary range, geographic preference, and other information you wouldn’t provide an employer. Together with the skills you have listed, the recruiter or manager will be able to form conclusions about who you really are.

If you would like to explore working with a Christian centered Career Coach, Contact me for a no-obligation 60-90 minute job search consultation with America’s Job Searching Coach, or text me at 425-220-0707  and we can discuss your situation, your résumé, what you would like to achieve, and structure your job search to fit your uniqueness.

I am also available to speak to groups.