Friday, December 26, 2008

It's Not Your Father's Resume Anymore

By Craig Calvin

You may not have had reason to update your resume in quite some time. If you suddenly find yourself in the job market, your same old style of resume likely won't get you the attention you deserve nowadays. Today's resumes are trending toward a fresher, more progressive tone. Since studies show that you only have less than 30 seconds for your resume to communicate its message, it is important that you make sure your resume is to the point. Use monetary gains and savings to accentuate the positive, and play down age.

Value proposition is a catch phrase being tossed around nowadays. Businesses have been using it for years to sell their stuff. Savvy job hunters now know they need to incorporate it into their resumes to help them sell themselves. A value proposition in your resume essentially describes the tangible results a company can expect to receive from you. And, by tangible, companies want to see dollar signs. This may be in the form of decreased operational costs ~ some money-saving ideas you may have implemented, or a step you may have taken to improve customer retention.

Another change is the now common resume summary statement, which replaces the old fashioned one-line objective statement. The newer style takes a more direct approach to the employer, expressing how you can use your goals and values to increase their bottom line and make their company better.

Play up your experience and down play your age. You don't want your old style resume to present you as too old for the job. Older applicants sometimes aren't given fair opportunities, though probably not often on purpose. If the boss is 20 years younger than you, then he may shy away from hiring someone who he considers old. Despite age discrimination laws, this still does go on and you can't afford to draw unwanted attention to your age if you are older.

So, how do you overcome that? You can begin by omitting the date that you graduated, and by including the jobs that you've held over the past 5 to 10 years ~ rather than the past 30. Use a vibrant, energetic tone, with words like "progressive", "results-oriented", and "savvy". Perhaps, one of the best ways to convey your value is to keep your skills (i.e. computer, and software skills) updated to a current level. Be sure to let your potential employer know that you are willing and capable of learning new technologies and skills quickly. Finally, skip the dreary rundown of your past employment listing your duties and responsibilities. Employers want you to highlight achievements you made while you at past jobs. - 15485

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