It's My Resume and I'll do what I want!

It's My Resume and I'll Do What I Want!

by Howie Appel, Resume Expert

I am a resume writer.  One of the challenges I face during each consultation is:  "It's my resume"   and I'll do as I want.  What the client doesn't know is that as soon as you hit the word "enter", it is no longer yours.

Whether you send it to an in-house recruiter  (now referred to as a Talent Acquisition Specialist) or to an agency recruiter (commonly referred to as a "head hunter"), once you hit that key, it is no longer yours.  It now resides in the database of someone else.  It will be retrieved at their whim and their desire/discretion.     

What are they looking for?  Key words?  Contact information? 

Summary, work history?  Yes, and more....all the above. 

What are they NOT looking for?  Redundancy, typos, your objective (they don't care what YOU want to do....the questions is, can you do what THEY WANT YOU TO DO). Antiquated terms are also now taboo.  "References available upon request" is not only antiquated, but also obvious. 

Format is VERY important.  Short, succinct statements.  They want to see quantitative information....yes, numbers. 

Finally, and most importantly, typographical errors are  the nemesis of every applicant for any job.  Those who have the audacity to type in "Attention to detail" are inviting scrutiny.

Lest I write a lengthy article and give away all my "trade secrets", I invite you to put me to the test.  Send your resume draft in MS Word to me at hra246@gmail.com and we will arrange a very quick review of your resume.  My goal is to help you get an interview (note, I did not say, "get you an interview", that's your mission, by virtue of someone else's strategy mistake).   

My Contact information is hra246@gmail.com and cell phone/text is 407-373-4293

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Resume....are you an Android?

Howie Appel (LION)

Resume Builder / Writer - The LinkedIn Expert - Recruiter - B2B Linkedin Seminars and Veteran

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Resumes....are you an Android?

Feb 21, 2016

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As you probably know from reading my LinkedIn Profile, I am both a resume writer and LinkedIn Expert.  I have built a reputation for the last 25 years on building high quality and effective resumes.

You may ask, what do I mean by "effective" resumes?  The answer is very simple, the resume that gets you to the interview (be it in person or over the phone).  During my sessions, I also coach the client on the Behavioral Based Interview (including the S.T.A.R. concept) but....I digress.

This article is my attempt to convince you, the reader that you are not an android.  What is an android?  I will provide for you my personal definition.  Most people equate the word to a cellular telephone.  Although that is one use for the word, I add still another.  In the movies of old, a robotic person is an android.  One that is identical to another.  My definition is very similar.  In the resume world, an android is a resume that has been assembled using a template created by another person or organization.  You fill in the squares and the other party formats it based on their interpretation on how to use those squares.  

Confusing?  Just think of how the corporate recruiter gets when they see more and more androids come in.  Cliches and commonly used words that look profoundly alike from one resume to another!  This, to me, is the ideal concept of an android.  It is NOT setting yourself as being different from other. Contraction here....you  are using terms that EVERYBODY seems to be using!!

What are some of the most commonly used "android-ish" phrases?  I will give you a selection here.  One of the most common is right near the top of your resume, "Objective".  The objective is an attempt by you, the job seeker, to tell the employer what YOU are looking for in a job.  Does he/she care?  What they really want to know is what can you "bring to the table" that will benefit their company.  That comes in the form of a "Summary".  

Another phrase?  This one comes right from your old job description, "Responsible for".  The recruiter sees this and right away feels that you copied and pasted it right from the job description.  What's that called?  Plagiarism!  You need to be far more creative and determining ACTION words that fit.

Finally, at the bottom of your resume "you" typically advise the recruiter that "References are Available Upon Request".  My reaction?  Of course they are!!  The recruiter will find them on the application you just completed.

There are so many other phrases that are antiquated that I will not go into them here.  So, what are some examples of more appropriate content?  Quantitative information (yes, numbers) that will REALLY compare you against your competition.  Are you a veteran?  Employers will probably use the key word "veteran" before they will use the word "military".  All those who served 18 months or more in the military are, indeed, VETERANS.

Android resumes, for the most part, fail to bring these terms to the front. Picture yourself in the "batter's box" in a baseball game.  Your goal is to get that home run (yes, an offer.... a job-let's call it a "career").  Swinging the bat and getting to first base (telephone interview) is the first measurable goal.  A coach like myself, may be just the ticket.  I assure you that I do NOT create android-ish resumes.  

I can also assure you that it is just you and me....one-on-one who puts this "package" together.  This package includes a resume and your enhanced LinkedIn Profile.  You can find more details on my web site .  Is there a sense of urgency?  I can probably accommodate you.  Simply email your "draft" to me athra246@gmail.com or text me at 407-373-4293 (US residents only, please).

Hope you learned a lot here.  My calendar is about to fill up.  Suggest you become proactive and contact me ASAP so you can stop being an android and start being a real, live applicant!

Identity Theft Vs Job Search

As you may know, I am a resume writer and a LinkedIn Expert. My mission has been and continues to be to help those who are unemployed or underemployed.  I find it very rewarding to help these people with their strategy.  I have helped many change their lives!!

The most important way I change peoples' lives is by creating a high quality resume and an enhanced LinkedIn Profile.  I find that using correct key words, expressions, and phrases comes natural to me.  One of the most common misconceptions is the potential candidate's contact information (on their resume) and picture on their LinkedIn Profile.

Naturally, when I create a LinkedIn Profile, it comes directly from the information I put on the resume (for a job seeker that is).  Herein lies the "rub".  Oftentimes, on a resume the job seeker will put a post office box.  When asked why they prefer to do this, the first phrase they use is, "I am worried about identity theft.  It is so rampant in our society that I am cautious about putting down my address on my resume".

My first reaction to this comment is very simple and I usually give an example:

I am a hiring manager.  I have two identically qualified candidates.  They both live in the same city (a rather large city). I know for a fact that the one who lives furthest from the office will be asking for more money during the offer stage OR upon reaching their 90 day probation period, will be asking for a sizeable increase.  The request for this sizeable increase will be based on their economic need (gas!!).  My mission MAY be to hire the person who lives closest to my office!!

In fact, I may even ask the recruiter to do a "mapquest" to find out how far each candidate (remember, they are identically qualified) is from my office.  I don't care what kind of dwelling they live in and I don't care what the actual address is....all I really want to know is the distance from their residence is to my office.  It is a fact, I will want to watch my budget (again, remember, they are identically qualified) and hire the one who is closer.  You will never know that I am doing this!

Again, your only concern is identity theft!!  Would you rather get the interview or would you rather guard your address?  The chance of a stalker or a person with ulterior motives does not exist when a resume is submitted.  There is only one reason why you submit a resume.....to get that interview.  

When it comes to your LinkedIn Profile, many job seekers will leave their picture off their Profile.  Why is that?  Some say that it gives away their age.  What happens if I, as the manager, want to hire a person with some "maturity" to do the job.  I will want to, again, see where you live (i.e. the greater Orlando area) on your Profile.  Chances I will have already seen your address on the resume.  Chances are, now I want to see a "less formal" side of you by checking out your LinkedIn Profile!!!

I realize that you, as a candidate, would be less likely to insert your address on LinkedIn and that's a good notion!  BUT a picture (and not a "selfie") is essential.  A stronger case in point is that I want to see what my candidate looks like!  Will they fit in (yes, stereotyping and "profiling" is inevitable).  Maybe you wear glasses and NOBODY in my office wears glasses!!!

Back to Identity Theft and your job search.  Paranoia should NOT exist when it comes to your resume.  If you put down a post office box, the first comment that comes to mind (as sarcastic as it may seem) is "gee, how comfortable are the living quarters in that post office box?". Comical as it may seem, the recruiter WILL probably select (again, if identically qualified) the one who does include their address.

Please know that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for perfection in so many ways.  One is ensuring they are interviewing the right person (i.e. no typographical errors and the exact right skills) and the other is ensuring they meet their hiring budget.

Give the recruiters and hiring managers what they are seeking. They are seeking a resume free of mystery.  Work with a high quality professional who has been a recruiter for 25 years.  Send me your resume (to hra246@gmail.com) and I will give you a 15 minute critique, absolutely free of charge.  If we feel we should take your candidacy to the next level, let's talk.  Want more information on me?  Check out MY LinkedIn Profile and web site.

Remember, Identity Theft comes second to securing that interview!!