TRUST THE PROCESS (Saturday Edition)
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Episode 01:
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“Trust The Process” with David Guerra: Resume Writing
This weekly series is Vlog meets a little Q&A or provides help on whatever you need or whatever I see people needing. In this new series, I talk about why we must (on occasion) completely trust the process because sometimes the process is there for a reason and it helps us. We have to listen, we’ve got to follow it, and we have got to do it. I know most of us do not like doing that as most of us like to blaze our own trails. I know I would rather blaze my own trail but sometimes we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to get it done. Let’s get started.
Today’s topic is resume writing. Folks, I am not claiming to be an expert in resumes, I am not, by no means am an expert in writing resumes but I do know there are certain fundamentals when it comes to a resume and resume writing. Working together we can solve or we can share some of those fundamentals.
#1 ALWAYS HAVE AN OBJECTIVE
Always have an Objective and do not use a Summary. It is called a resume not a CV (curriculum Vitae). A CV is something you would see used by professors, academics, those in academia. The Summary is just that a summary of the professor’s academic and professional accomplishments. That is why you are NOT going to use the Summary. You are looking for a job. You are trying to get to an objective, you are trying to reach an objective. You are trying to get a job. You are trying to claim a position with an organization. They do not need to know your summary. They need to know what you want.
They need to know your objective and does it fall in line with what they are looking for and what you bring to the table. Thus, the process here is avoid using a summary. If somebody told you that that is the best way to go, then yes, it is the best way to go; if you are a professor. If you are seeking an entry-level position or a mid-level position, well guess what? You need an objective. You need to tell them what you want. You need to share with them this is what you are looking for and match that against what the organization needs. If the two mixes well then you can say you are the best fit for the position. Using a summary leaves the organization trying to figure out if what you presented is what the organization needs. Remember, in this very tight and very competitive job market, interviewing organizations do want to spend time trying to decided if what you present is what the company is looking for. In the objective section of the resume you tell them right away what you want and what you bring.
Last word on the Objective section of your resume. Write the objective last. Create all the content below the Objective first: Education, Work Experience, Professional Certifications, and other relevant information. Once that is added then can you begin on the objective. Doing this puts you in a position of absolute certainty that everything you have provided rolls in together and falls in line with your objective. That is why, I recommend you wait until the very end because once you list everything you start putting the final piece together. For example, you want to be a phlebotomist but you make no mention anywhere in the body of the resume that you are certified, that you have gone through the schooling, you have taken the classes. It does not meet your objectives because there is no content to back up your objective. Isn’t that what this is all about? Ensure what you present in the body of the resume can back up and completely support everything in your objective section.
#2 LIMIT THE USE OF THE WORD “I”
Do not use the word I, as in me. For example, “I did this”, “I did that”, “I do this”, “I’m looking for” STOP! Please omit that word from your objective section. If you have not started, please don’t start.
There are exceptions to including “I” and that is fine. Typically, you can start the first sentence and the first sentence ONLY of the objective with “I am seeking a position that will challenge me…” or “I am looking for a position that (will do this for me)” but folks do not overdo it with the I’s. When you start to use more I’s in your objective the more potential employers will see you as someone who is an individual and not as someone who works well with the team. Employers are looking for someone that wants to join the team, their team. Make certain you mention that you’re a team player. Include that you have worked with a successful team and you are ready to be a contributing member another team. Remember, if job vacancy was for a solo project they would not be looking for anyone, that person already had the job.
#3 PICK THE RIGHT WORDS. CHOOSE THEM WISELY.
You have to put your best foot forward. You have to ensure that what you present to potential employers is not only truthful but puts you in a place where having you onboard will be an automatic, almost immediate return on the investment of time, energy, and resources spent on finding and hiring you. What you put down on that paper is critical. Trust me folks, as a hiring supervisor I have seen the resumes of people that were just going through the motions. Seriously, if what they wrote on their resumes was written with crayons it would have been a colorful improvement over the words they chose to write on that document.
Pick the right words and know what you are saying. Always practice by reading out loud what you write in your resume. Say it and then ask yourself if you say this to a complete stranger. You must pick and choose the right words. Do not think or assume the hiring supervisor wants to know the nitty-gritty of what you have done. If you are looking for a job in your chosen vocational field then rest assured the hiring supervisor knows the nitty-gritty, the ugly side of the business. So, they know what you are going to be doing in that position.
Because you applied to that position they just assume that you have the skills and the wherewithal to do that job and all it entails (including the dirty work). Therefore, there is no need to get ugly or gross with the descriptions of the dark side of the job. Also, while tempting it may seem please do not lead the reader (of your resume) down the wrong path. Stick to the facts.
Don’t fudge anything, just stick to the facts as you know them. Understand, when they read this piece of paper, they are going to read about you, what you want and what you bring to the table. So, pick your words wisely because you want to hold their attention, you want them to finish reading that paragraph. If your objective is filled with I’s, no reference to teamwork, inappropriate content, words and language or misleading or misguided information. If it looks terrible please understand they are just going to toss it into the trash bin and you are never going to hear from them again. This is a guarantee.
To bring this all together, unless it is a Curriculum Vitae do NOT use a Summary use an Objective. Omit the I’s have one, at most, that’s all you want or really need. Don’t forget to pick your words wisely. Choose wisely when you are creating that objective but of course writing the objective does not happen until after you have completed the education, certifications and work history sections.
Do not slack off when it comes to writing your objective. This is the first and last thing recruiters, human resources, and most importantly hiring supervisors see. You have that one shot at making that impression worthy of bringing you on-board, do NOT waste it.