Purpose of a Resume

The purpose of a resume is to seduce the reader into wanting to know more about you, that is, to get an interview, and not get the job. Because of the high volume of applicants for each job, resumes are tools to screen people out more often than they screen people into the next stage of the interviewing process. If items on your resume don’t contribute to getting you an interview, then leave it off. Your resume tells the reader volumes about who you are and your hopes, aspirations, insecurities, and even your flaws or blind spots. Your resume will get a quick once over – think seconds not minutes. If it is too busy, too wordy, or too minimal, the reviewer may not be inclined to read it. Time is precious. Make your points and move on.

Resumes are tools to assess the candidate against whether the applicant might fit the organization's real or perceived culture. Cultural fit should be the biggest concerns of those doing the hiring as well as those interested in being hired. Unfortunately, one of the primary reasons for job failure is the failure of cultural fit.

Presentation & Formatting

Resume writing begins with the end in mind. What impression do you want to give the reader about you? What will it look like or sound like? What will it taste like? Is it a dessert filled with lots of yummy morsels or dry facts and figures? Does it allow a favorable picture of you to show through? Think of your resume like real estate. In part, it is about location, location, location. What do you need to highlight? What is critical? What is basic, yet necessary?

• Consider whether your outline makes sense – Career Objective, Skill Summary, Experience, Education, Training and Development, Awards and Honors, Affiliations.
• A “Career Objective” section is fine for junior candidates, but isn’t necessary for executives.
• A “Skill Summary” section, if used, should highlight what is unique about you and not a list of everything you have done. You may decide to include this in your cover letter instead.
• Resumes generally should be no more than two or three pages long, unless asked to submit a curriculum vitae or CV. If so, follow the traditional CV format.
• Use attachments for any other documents requested, e.g., salary history, references (with email addresses), article list. Don’t include unrequested background documents. Think – Screen Out!
• Use reader-friendly fonts, such as Times Roman in 12-point font size and 1 inch margins.
• Format consistently, e.g., phone numbers, dates, abbreviations, hyphens, slashes, bullets.
• Place your name at the top of every page. Use page numbers, e.g., Page X of Y.
• Ensure sufficient white space so as not to fatigue the reader.
• Bullet items using standard round bullets to make reading easier on the eyes.
• Include a personal email address. Lack of an email address may raise technical proficiency questions while using your current employer’s email address may raise ethical questions. Use a conventional email address that includes your name, but biker_chick@hotmail.com is not.
• Run Spell Check and Grammar and Style Check about a hundred – no a thousand times.
• Have someone else proofread it – someone qualified and anal. Applicants, who say they are detailed-oriented, but their resume or cover letter contains spelling or grammatical errors causes a disconnection for the reader between what is said and what is demonstrated.
  
  

Content

• Use action words that match the position you want. If you want an executive position, use words like “led” or “oversaw” rather than “managed.”
• Be strategic in your choice of words, e.g., match the language and culture of the organization.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to each job to which you are applying. Make sure your resume shows that you have the skills being sought. Don’t use boilerplate resumes.
• Write the resume for the job you want not the jobs you have held.
• Write in an outcomes-oriented style that explains what your work meant to the organization. Highlight your accomplishments not responsibilities, e.g., “Reduced publishing costs by 30% while maintaining publication’s quality” vs. “Managed an annual budget of $3 million.”
• A 1-2 sentence summary about the organizations you worked in can give the reader context.
• If you include an “Interests” section, only highlight those interests relevant to the position. Genealogical research dating to the 1200s might be relevant for running a research organization, while skydiving is not. Think – Screen Out!
• Avoid using uncommon acronyms or abbreviations, unless necessary. Avoid using jargon.
  
  

Cover Letters

First and foremost, know about the organization and the industry. Tell the reader how you fit their culture and values. From the organization’s perspective, this process is about finding a new leader or filling a position, and not about you getting a new job.

• Use the cover letter to translate your experiences into how it matches the job you want for that particular organization and not a summary of what you did at the last or current job.
• Keep the cover letter brief (3-4 paragraphs) unless you have a compelling, relevant story.
• Find the name of the person who will be reviewing your resume. If you absolutely can’t learn the person’s name, address your letter “Dear Search Committee.” Don't address the letter “Dear Sirs.” Remember associations and nonprofits are highly relational cultures.
• Mention the name of the position to which you are applying.
• Don’t appear desperate, defensive, or whining. Don’t complain. Don’t apologize. Don’t lie.
• Write in first person, but balance the “I” and the “we.” Don’t be arrogant!
• Respond to the specific questions asked. If you don’t respond, it may raise questions about your attention to detail or following instructions. Alternatively, temporizing or answering deftly, can demonstrate your good political instincts.
• Answering the salary expectation question should be handled thoughtfully. One way to answer is to cite data from compensation surveys. “According to the 2008 Compensation Study, executives of national nonprofits with a foundation headquartered in San Diego are earning approximately $120,000 per year.” If you earned less, leave it at that. If you earned more, you might consider adding, “However, while I was at the ZYX Association, I earned $180,000, plus $25,000 in performance bonuses.”
  
  

Salary

Historically, job seekers were told that whoever talks money first lose the edge in salary negotiations. Today, there are so many applicants for each position that salary is one of the ways to identify “real” candidates. If the organization is paying $80,000 and you want $350,000, better to know up front so as not to waste your time or the organization’s time. If the job is paying 50% more than what you are making now, there may be a question about whether you can handle the job. The reverse, however, also may be true. If the job is paying 30-50% less than your current position, the reader may wonder if you are desperate and will leave once you aren’t so desperate. In both cases, organizations aren’t typically comfortable with these kinds of risks.

• If salary isn’t negotiable, don’t say it is. From the beginning, be clear about what you are worth, what the market will bear, and what you are willing to accept. Be in integrity with yourself and others - don’t tell the recruiter you are will to accept X, and later tell the committee you require 50 percent more.
  
  

Miscellaneous

• While it is helpful to have a general or template resume, it is crucial for you to tailor your resume for the job to which you are applying.
• If you are submitting a resume electronically, use a standard software program such as Word.
• Don’t disclose irrelevant personal information, e.g., “I am 65 and expect to work until I am 85” or “I am 5’8” and 135 pounds.” An applicant who makes inappropriate or unnecessary personal disclosures may exercise poor judgment in other areas or may create a perception of a future discrimination claim. Think – Screen Out!
• Consider using the subject line in an email to pique the reader’s interest, e.g., “Senior Government Affairs Director with $500,000 Book of Business” is far more interesting than “Government Affairs Position.”
• Run an Internet search on your name using several search engines and review the hits. A well-known lawyer shares his name with an unconventional judge and a criminal. Better to have thought through answers in advance. Further, make sure you are comfortable with what a prospective employer might find on social networking sites including those of individuals linked to you.
• Stuck? Write the cover letter first and then rewrite or revise your resume or vice versa.
  
  

Smile! Have fun presenting yourself in writing to others. If you hate the process, it will come through loud and clear. Be passionate about wanting the job; people notice. It’s contagious!

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