Don’t Let Your Resume Fall in the Black Hole! Gasp!

Photo by jimbowen0306

As I review existing or old resumes prior to starting a new project or see resumes posted online, I find some cardinal rule breakers, like:

Happily married, with two beautiful children.

As much as that sounds nice, you set off red flags for HR directors with that kind of information. If you include any of the following on your resume, you are setting yourself up for rejection:

• your birthdate
• marital status
• number of children
• disabilities

Why?

We’re told employers are not supposed to discriminate against you in the hiring process, but sometimes you are the one giving them the information that creates the bias.

Key point to note: Your resume is a sale tool and you want to refine your resume to sell you in the best possible way.

If you can’t put that personal information on the resume, what should you put there?

Keywords are critical to every resume. At the same time, you are constantly on the outlook for accomplishments. You know the famous real estate phrase: “location, location, location!”, right? My clients often hear me say the resume industry phrase, “accomplishment, accomplishment, accomplishment!”

It’s the “Tell me Why?” question.

What value do you bring to the organization?

Skim through these accomplishment-based bullet points from client seeking a Food & Beverage Director or Executive Chef role:

Showcasing both his skills and his willingness to be part of community involvement projects:

• Selected as Top Chef by patron vote at “A Black Bib Event”, the March of Dimes Signature Chefs auction, featuring six area chefs.

Quantifying his accomplishments:

• Developed and bottled family recipe pizza sauce for outsourcing to Italian specialty stores in Wisconsin and Illinois, resulting in new revenue of $500,000+ in the first year.

Featuring an unusual marketing venture:

• Developed funeral brunch service, resulting in new revenue stream of 6 groups per weeks, ranging from 25 to 300 patrons.

Don’t Let Your Resume Fall in the Black Hole! Gasp! Think about your resume as a marketing tool to sell you, the product! Does that help you rethink what you need to focus on to create your resume?

Talk to me, I talk back!