Professional Executive Resume Writing Complexity

Professional Executive Resume Writing Complexity In Our Hustle Culture, We Are Pressed to Get to the PointLess-is-more advice is prevalent in almost every area of our lives these days. Career communications; aka, executive resumes, are not immune from this weathered recommendation. Whether crafting a resume, creating a cover letter, penning an elevator pitch or preparing interview responses, so many people doling out career advice default to brevity and simplicity.It all sounds so fitting for our hustle culture. Dont waste my time with your words. Get to the point. Bottom line that for me. Keep it simple sweetheart.As an aside, did you know that the origin of the less is more cliche is a Robert Browning poem?Who strive you dont know how the others strive To paint a little thing like that you smeared Carelessly passing with your robes afloat, Yet do much less, so much less, Someone says, (I know his name, no matter) so much less! Well, less is more, Lucrezia. (emphasis added)Writing Explained provides a definition of the less is m ore cliche: Simplicity is better than elaborate embellishment; sometimes something simple is better than something advanced or complicated.Building the Case for Complexity in a Simplicity-Minded WorldAll of this is well and good, but when speaking of a conversation as complex as that which encompasses a marriage between a company and potential employee, a bit of depth and complexity is not only wise, but essential.Conversations, both in writing and in live interviews, should be well thought out and articulated in a way that delves into the contextual detailsfrom original situations or challenges a candidate has faced in past employment, to the strategic planning and action involved, all the way to the measurable and reverberating results, both short- and long-term.This is particularly true in regard to conversations around senior management and executive-level careers. And, amazingly enough, the refrain to pack a 20-30 year career onto 1-2 pages is exhaustingly repetitive and inane. When Experts Bind the Resume With RulesI recently ran across two separate, but recent Facebook recruiter group conversations on the resume length topic. The most recent thread started with a recruiter inquiring whether a 4-page resume was too long for a specific industry professional. I was mesmerized by the avalanche of comments this post spurred104 to be exact.Many of the commenters avidly insisted on a 1-2 page resume max, regardless of the level or depth of a candidates experience. Others suggested it depends upon the quality of the content or the years of industry and other relevant experience.The lions share of responders hard-lined the 1-2 page maximum, with 3 or 4 (gasp!) pages being touted as too long! while exclamation points underscored remarks. One recruiter recommended 1 page for ever $100k of income, which I found interesting.I even saw the commonly espoused, provide the what in the resume but leave the how for the interview. I vigorously object to this, as it is altog ether possible to clearly articulate both the what and how in the resume story and still have so much more to expand upon during the interview.However, my heart leapt with joy when I read the following comments from Amy Miller, recruiter for Google and owner / author at Recruiting in Yoga Pants blog:I havent thought about page length since the last time I printed a resume which was probably 2007.Has anyone ever had a hiring manager reject a candidate purely because of how many pages a resume was? More importantly WOULD YOU LET THEM? (note: Opinions are Amys + dont necessarily represent those of Google.)Another recruiter made the case that I regularly profess with my clients, articulating the value of expounding on a candidates level (and depth) of experience in the resume. She explained that using super short resumes just makes her job harder. This is because matching the muscular position requirements to an anemic resume simply falls short. Moreover, Ive had many an executive refe rred to me for executive resume writing by recruiters seeking out more robust detail to market the candidates value, which brings me to Writing a Leadership Story Requires Detailed ContextTrying to contain years of specific and varied leadership experience and enterprise wide initiatives relevant to the role for which a recruiter is sourcing into such limited real estate is like trying to tell a 400-page novel in 50 pages. You must build muscular foundational narrative around the core outcomes. You frame the leaders initiatives with detailed context and collateral behaviors that insinuate themselves into the actionable outcomes.In a similar vein, I ran across this Fast Company article through my colleague, Hannah Morgans twitter stream recently, Why longer responses to So, tell me about yourself are better. The author, Joseph Liu, a personal branding consultant, strongly disagrees with the advice that a job seeker contain their response to the tell me about yourself question to 30-6 0 seconds.Liu writes, One minute isnt enough time to deliver a meaningful response that benefits you as a candidate. He goes on to explain four points of value in responding more deeply, including the opportunity to reveal motivations behind career decisions, relevant to the hiring managers hiring decisions.Correspondingly, a longer resume can provide contextual leadership traits that underpinned the executive careerists decision making as they pioneered new products, broadened market share, rapidly scaled a startup operation. What were the pushback signals they received from the front lines? How did they influence other leaders who may have been reticent about a particular decision? What change management strategies, in particular, did they employ to go from negative profits to best-ever EBITDA?Chipping Away at the Value Proposition May Be at the Expense of the MessageAn article, When Hiring Execs, Context Matters Most, from Harvard Business Review, further reinforces the need for articulating the executive leaders value in a more tailored way. In the article, research and advisory firm CEB suggests that companies will be more successful if they consider the particular leadership context when hiring for every level.Olympic Gold Medalist and Performance Coach, Joe Jacobi additionally drives the overall point home that less is not always more in a recent LinkedIn post, of which Im sharing just a snippet:Do ideas that ask you to reduce the message at the core   help you better connect with the needed people, resources, and ideas to make it happen? Or, do such ideas create more hysteria and continue to chip away more at what matters most?Follow this link to read Joes full message, which provides encouragement that is counterintuitive to many experts advice in regard to richer, deeper messaging beyond the 15-word sound-bites we are being pressed to whittle our social networking interactions down to.The Value of Words in the Executive ResumeSo, I think to bottom l ine this message that I am so ardently seeking to share with those who will take a few moments to read, to really internalize and consider, is that less is not always more. While brevity has its place, longer form writing and communicating still provides value. In fact, to engage in more intimate, sustainable conversations and to build chaptered, relevant detail around the information gathering and decision-making process, you must use words, sometimes a lot of them.###About the  author: I am a master  resume writer  with 20 years’ experience in the resume writing trenches. No insta-resume service here. I built my story from ground up, living and breathing resumes, full time, self-supporting, and not as a side gig. My clients hire me for the highly consultative, thoughtful approach to resume writing. Contact me at jacqui@careertrend.net to discuss how I can help shape the stories (executive resume, bio, LinkedIn, elevator pitch, etc.) that will accompany you through your next care er evolvement.

How to Use a Resume Writing Skills List

How to Use a Resume Writing Skills ListIt's important to understand that there are a lot of things that can be learned by conducting a resume writing skills list. However, this is only possible if you are committed to giving it a shot. In the end, what it really comes down to is your commitment to be good at your job. If you are going to take the time to put in the effort to improve your resume writing skills, then you will ultimately be happy with the results.First of all, it is important for you to recognize that there are a number of ways that you can improve your resume writing skills. You could read an article about resume writing skills on the Internet, or you could purchase a guide. Whatever the case may be, it is important for you to realize that they are designed for people who are looking to become better writers. These tools are simply there to help you improve on your writing skills.There are many tools available to you that can make the writing of your resume in a simple and easy process. You can save time and money by finding a good way to write a resume. The more often you will revisit your resume, the better you will become at the craft. If you plan on using a resume writing skills list for your first draft, you can easily delete any elements that are not helping your cause.Don't jump right into doing a resume writing skills list. You want to research it carefully first. This may take some time, but the results will benefit you greatly. The best way to get started is to keep it simple and get your resume into a format that you can easily reference later.You should understand how to make the most out of the information on your resume. There are a number of different things that you can do to make sure that you have the best resume possible. Resume writing skills can be a great tool to use, but you need to remember that they are only going to be a tool, not the solution to your problem.Don't get yourself discouraged when you go to use a resume wri ting skills list. As long as you are taking the time to search for new ideas, you will be happy with the outcome. It is important to remember that there are a number of things that you can do to improve your resume writing skills. If you plan on using a resume writing skills list for your first draft, you can easily delete any elements that are not helping your cause.Do not try to apply all of the tips that you learn from a resume writing skills list. While this may help you, it will also end up costing you more time and money. Don't try to put too much effort into it unless you have solid information to work with. It will benefit you greatly to continue reading and researching on your own.Resume writing skills lists are useful, but you do not have to follow all of them if you do not want to. Always remember that using one is only the first step in improving your skills. You need to continue to seek out new ideas on how to write a resume and you will be well on your way to a success ful resume in no time.

Does Your Resume Really Need an Objective

Does Your Resume Really Need an Objective Does a Resume Need an Objective? Resume/CV / https://www.edenscott.com/blog You do not need an Objective section on your resume in todays job market. A resume objective is seen as outdated by many employers and takes up valuable space near the top of your resume that could be better-used for other sections like a career summary statement.In this article, Ill show you exactly why a resume does NOT need an objective and more importantly what to put instead.Lets get startedWhy You Do Not Need an Objective on a ResumeIf you applied for an employers job, then they know your objective is to obtain an interview and potentially earn a job offer. Rather than including a resume objective, utilize the space below your header and contact info to write one or two brief paragraphs about your career accomplishments and who you are as a professional.You can find 10 examples of this HERE.Many modern employers will also view a resume objective as being out-dated and old-fashioned, which could actually hurt your chances of getting hired.If you do put a resume objective, a hiring manager will likely skip it anyway and look for information thats more helpful as they decide whether to interview you for example, your employment history section.If you insist on standing out and expressing your unique interest in a certain position, thats what a cover letter is for.What Should You Put on Your Resume?Now that weve answered the question of, Do you need an objective on a resume?, lets look at some helpful tips and resources when deciding what should go on your resume.I mentioned earlier that its better to put a brief career summary paragraph. Heres an example of how that might look:Manufacturing Engineering with 10 years of bio-pharmaceutical experience, proficient in injection molding, medical device design, research development, and product commercialization.This is showing employers the value you bring to their company, rather than wasting space talking about an objective.This small intro paragraph is also a great way to incl ude more keywords in your resume so you can pass any automated systems an employer is using before a human sees your resume!A career summary like the example above is a much better choice to begin your resume because it has no meaningless filler-content, unlike most of the career objectives that appear on resumes.You could also skip the intro paragraph entirely and begin with a Skills section, an Education section if you just graduated, or your Employment History.Those are all better options than putting an objective on your resume in todays job market.If you want more help with all the sections that should go on your resume and how to decide the order, read this article.Other Outdated Sections to Leave Off Your ResumeHopefully Ive now convinced you that you dont need an objective section on your resume. So while were here, there are a couple of other things you should leave off your resume.First, dont put references directly on your resume. Make employers ask you for references, an d ideally wait until youve spoken with them and know theyre interested. Offering up references before even talking to an employer signals to them that youre either desperate to find a job or very old-fashioned/outdated. Or both.Next, leave off hobbies and interests unrelated to your work, as well as personal information like height, weight, etc.None of these will help you land the interview.And unless youre in the EU, dont put a photo on your resume, either. I know this is customary in many countries in the EU, but if youre a job seeker in North America, your resume shouldnt have a photo of you. Let hiring managers go to your LinkedIn profile if they want to see a photo.If you follow the advice above and stop putting an objective on your resume, youll get more interviews and have a more modern-looking resume.

Stop Your LinkedIn Profile from Being a Sources of Recruitment Goldmine

Stop Your LinkedIn Profile from Being a Sources of Recruitment Goldmine Recruiters are LinkedIn sourcing omnivores. They’ll eat your young to find the best candidates, including using any sources of recruitment available to them. Within limits. Just kidding. No limits. Within the bounds of integrity. Just kidding again. OK, within the bounds of integrity, as defined by each individual recruiter. Yep, that’s the real world.So, here’s what you can do to keep recruiters focused on your profile and avoid steering them to a heap of other contenders for your next job.1. Your Recommendations EndorsementsFirst, know that when recruiters scoot around your profile, they look at who has recommended and endorsed you to see if any of your fans might be a good fit for their searches.Thus, think twice about accepting recommendations and endorsements from people who might be direct competitors for jobs.2. People You’ve RecommendedSecond, recruiters can also see who youve recommended. If youve written a recommendation for someone who might compete with you for j obs, consider hiding it from your profile.To do so:Scroll down your profile to the Recommendations section.Click the edit pencil.Pick Given.Click Visible to: Public in the lower right-hand corner of each recommendation.Click your preferred visibility from your profile.3. Your Project PartnersThird, you can ignore this paragraph. LinkedIn eliminated the project partner list in the new user interface. While it was an issue in 2013, when this post was initially published, its not in 2019 and going forward.4. Your ConnectionsFourth, it stands to reason you would be connected to people who have the same skills you do. Recruiters have been known to go through all 500+ of someone’s connections looking for gold.Thus, to prevent them from turning your connections into sources of recruitment:Click the Me button on your profiles navigation bar.Pick Settings Privacy.Pick Privacy.Find Who can see your connections?Choose Only you.5. Viewers of This Profile Also ViewedFifth, LinkedIn makes it e asy for recruiters to follow each others tracks â€" unless you thwart them.Go back to “Settings Privacy.Click Privacy.”Find Viewers of this profile also viewed.Choose No.BTW, I see this error more frequently than any of the others.Final ThoughtsDon’t let your LinkedIn profile be a treasure map for recruiters.Tighten it up to keep recruiters’ eyeballs on your profile rather than introducing them to other potential candidates.Let’s Connect on LinkedInPlease don’t hesitate to invite me to connect on LinkedInhere:Donna Svei, Executive Resume Writer. The more I know about my readers, the better I can make my blog.Image Courtesy of N Updated November 2019 2013 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Compa ny, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. LinkedIn â€" Privacy Settings (4 Posts)

Writing Bullets For Resume - How to Use Them Effectively

Writing Bullets For Resume - How to Use Them EffectivelyWriting bullets for resume will definitely help your resume writing skills. You may have already seen some examples of this in resume-writing articles. However, to make the best use of these examples, you need to know how to use them effectively.The easiest and most convenient way to use them is to put them in your resume in a convenient place that will not annoy you. One easy place to put them would be at the end of your bullet points and under the headline, which will actually be the first paragraph of your resume. To make it look good, write a good cover letter that comes with your resume and then put the bullets at the end. This will make the readers scan your resume just to see what you are actually trying to do there.If you are wondering how you can distinguish which bullet should go into which bullet point, it is really quite simple. When you use bullet points, always include the conclusion that tells the reader how the a ction you are taking will lead them to. On the other hand, when you use bullets, you will be able to keep the action in the bullet at the end.Since you will be using them throughout your resume, you will want to make sure they are in a place where they can still be of some use. The best places are at the beginning and the end. They are placed strategically so that it will still look like you are writing at the end of your resume.Make it known that you are using bullets. It can be used for both resumes and cover letters. It is also best to use it to give information to the readers when you are asking them to take action in your resume.You can also include bullets on your web-site or blog to emphasize what you are about. Since you will be using them as part of your resume, it would be great if you will be able to use them for your blog and website as well. When you are using bullet points for your resume, the reader will be able to focus on what you are trying to tell them by using th em for both your blog and your resume.One thing you need to remember is that bullets can be used at the beginning of your resume. Since it is already at the start, it is now time to include them with your bullet points. However, you have to be careful with how you do it so that they do not take over too much of your resume. So instead of placing them at the end, you can also place them in the middle or even at the beginning.Make sure you do not overdo the use of bullets. In case you forget about their importance and just use them for a quick outline or example, you may only be doing more harm than good to your resume. It is best to do it smartly so that your resume will be able to stand out from the rest.

How do you plan your job search marketing strategy - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How do you plan your job search marketing strategy Looking  for a new job can be  an enormous task. But, break the job search down into simple steps and  you’ll be signing that employment offer in no time You should look at job search as a marketing campaign,  you  are the product.  Even the best  products need strong marketing. For  you; Who and what is your target market,  the types of employers who would be looking for an employee with your experience and qualifications? Are your skills industry specific or agnostic? For marketing  you, think of yourself in terms of the classic marketing 5Ps: Product:  What key skills and attributes can you offer your “customers” (employers)? Price:  What is your value? Do your educational background, experience, and professional strengths qualify you as a premium product-something elite-or will you need to start “discounted” to get your foot in the door of your targeted sector? Promotion:  What themes or messages convey what you have to offer professionally? Place (distribution):  How will you distribute yourself on the market? Consider using multiple means of “delivering” yourself to potential employers. This could include on-campus recruiting events, job ads, career fairs, company websites, executive recruiters, and referrals from your network. Positioning:  What differentiates you from other candidates? What is unique about your skills, background, or interests? (This is what almost everyone I work with struggles with). You might need some help with;  assessing yourself and your career goals / creating a strong resume/learning how to tailor your resume to specific opportunities  / creating a realistic job search strategy / enhancing your online and offline presence / mastering interviews / salary negotiation. If any of these  requirements resonate,  my  Career Acceleration Plan  will help you achieve that and more: http://bit.ly/14TBOlw Even if you dont want to change jobs now, why not lets have a chat about your career’s next steps, it costs nothing and will give you clarity on your next step. Just click on the link below and let the technology fix a time for us to speak. http://my.vcita.com/daba43a1/scheduler   Look forward to chatting. Warm regards Margaret Buj Interview Career Coach ___________________________________________________________ Margaret Buj  is an  Interview Coach  who’s helped hundreds of professionals across Europe and the US to get the jobs and promotions they really wanted. Margaret also has 9 years of experience recruiting for a variety of positions at all levels across Europe and in the US, primarily in technology and e-commerce sectors. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you are not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview, and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her  FREE “You’re HIRED!” video course.

Learn how compassion at work boosts happiness and results - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Learn how compassion at work boosts happiness and results - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog We already had a great program for our big International Conference on Happiness at Work in May and it just got even better :) The latest addition to the program is a talk by Vibeke Lunding-Gregersen and Henrik Tingleff about corporate compassion. Compassion is an exceptional ability that made homo sapiens victorious in the great evolutionary race and its role in present day life is backed by solid scientific data. Learn how compassion directly increases happiness, health, well-being, performance and relationships as well as a few examples on, how to work with compassion in everyday life. See the full program and get your tickets here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related