I recently had the pleasure of working on a resume project with a talented manager, who had sent in his document for review after he had booked his consultation. His resume looked like every other document I see, perhaps marginally worse than your typical D.I.Y. resume with spelling errors, poor use of language, no real selling features etc.
Imagine my shock when he told me that he had actually paid someone to do it for him! Luckily, he didn't spend too much money on the first incarnation of his "professional resume". My client had found a "resume writer" on a well known online free classified advertisement service. The "resume writer" had a poor command of English, and produced a document that had several spelling errors and was to all intents and purposes virtually useless.
There are other operators that only offer late night or weekend appointments. This is the calling card of someone who writes resumes "on the side" for some extra pocket money - and it usually shows.
I write resumes and perform interview coaching sessions on a full-time basis. It's what I do, and it's what I do best! Every project I work on, I treat as if I were compiling my own document to send off to an employer. Resume writing for me is a serious business - not something to be trivialized by amateurs and part-time pocket money pretenders!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Interview Preparation 101
Ok, so the skillful presentation of your skills and expertise on your resume has won you the interview. What next?
1) Research the company! Visit the website, read about their history, founders, products/services and corporate values. Many companies will perform an additional screen of shortlisted candidates to identify those individuals with similar values to themselves. For example, if a company is active in the community, they'll want to see that you're someone who values community service / giving time up for charitable pursuits.
2) Become an expert on yourself! Sounds 100% obvious but believe me, one of the most fundamental questions that many people cannot answer satisfactorily is "Tell about you, your strengths and weaknesses". In actuality, this question is a gift. It's a license to talk about yourself. If you're not comfortable doing that then get comfortable! If you can't tell a company why they should hire you, they probably won't.
3) Arrive on time and go prepared! Get there early, relax, read the literature they have at reception or study the certificates they have on the wall - it could make for conversation at some point in the interview. Bring at least 3 copies of your resume with you along with your reference sheet. It would surprise you the number of times I've heard of a poorly prepared hiring manager attempt to interview a candidate without having the resume in front of them.
4) Greeting & Parting! When meeting your interviewer for the first time, smile broadly and shake their hand firmly. When you leave, thank them for their time and state your interest in the role (if you're interested). Employers notice these things, and sometimes actually award points for them if you're being scored.
My 2HR interview coaching package begins with a 30 minute mock interview. After reviewing your resume, I'll construct an angle based around the perceived weaknesses / shortcomings of your documents/career history. I then construct your coaching session around the weaknesses in your mock interview, and finish the session with additional questions/concerns that you have about the interview process.
Like everything else - preparation is key. If you prepare well, take the interview seriously, you'll be more likely to do yourself justice in the actual interview, and those pre-interview nerves are never as bad if you're confident in your ability to deliver strong, well rounded, strategic answers.
1) Research the company! Visit the website, read about their history, founders, products/services and corporate values. Many companies will perform an additional screen of shortlisted candidates to identify those individuals with similar values to themselves. For example, if a company is active in the community, they'll want to see that you're someone who values community service / giving time up for charitable pursuits.
2) Become an expert on yourself! Sounds 100% obvious but believe me, one of the most fundamental questions that many people cannot answer satisfactorily is "Tell about you, your strengths and weaknesses". In actuality, this question is a gift. It's a license to talk about yourself. If you're not comfortable doing that then get comfortable! If you can't tell a company why they should hire you, they probably won't.
3) Arrive on time and go prepared! Get there early, relax, read the literature they have at reception or study the certificates they have on the wall - it could make for conversation at some point in the interview. Bring at least 3 copies of your resume with you along with your reference sheet. It would surprise you the number of times I've heard of a poorly prepared hiring manager attempt to interview a candidate without having the resume in front of them.
4) Greeting & Parting! When meeting your interviewer for the first time, smile broadly and shake their hand firmly. When you leave, thank them for their time and state your interest in the role (if you're interested). Employers notice these things, and sometimes actually award points for them if you're being scored.
My 2HR interview coaching package begins with a 30 minute mock interview. After reviewing your resume, I'll construct an angle based around the perceived weaknesses / shortcomings of your documents/career history. I then construct your coaching session around the weaknesses in your mock interview, and finish the session with additional questions/concerns that you have about the interview process.
Like everything else - preparation is key. If you prepare well, take the interview seriously, you'll be more likely to do yourself justice in the actual interview, and those pre-interview nerves are never as bad if you're confident in your ability to deliver strong, well rounded, strategic answers.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Who Are You Anyway?
It's a question many clients have told me they asked the selection of resume writers they canvassed when deciding who to select for their project. Anyone visiting my website will be greeted by, among other things, my 'mugshot', and links to my biography which outlines my experience and expertise.
My background is unique in this industry. I believe that my skills, expertise and experience of recruiting, preparing, and 'selling-in' resumes to some of the most respected corporations on two continents gives me an unparalleled level of insight that I can bring to your project.
Many of my competitors cover their websites with stock photos, don't display a biography or resume samples, and prefer to hide behind a 6-week online course as the only evidence they have handled a resume other than their own. The question I'd have and many of my clients have had is - "Who are you anyway?".
I've come across "resume writers" who ranged from students, to the long term unemployed, "ghost-writers", and those doing it anonymously "on-the-side" so that their day-job employer can't identify them. If you were to engage one of these anonymous firms, would you be dealing with a student, ghost writer or unemployed truck-driver turned resume writer? You just don't know! Either way, it's not too difficult to identify someone reticent to share details about their professional expertise. If a writer is on the up-and-up, with expertise and experience to be proud of, they'll show you!
My clients appreciate the fact that I take this profession seriously. This IS my day-job and I prepare each resume and cover letter as if it were my own. It pains me that this profession is frowned upon in certain quarters, and at times, that skepticism is justified. To that end, I have positioned my firm as the industry trailblazer, leading the way in open, honest disclosure, up-front pricing, and 100% satisfaction guarantees.
My background is unique in this industry. I believe that my skills, expertise and experience of recruiting, preparing, and 'selling-in' resumes to some of the most respected corporations on two continents gives me an unparalleled level of insight that I can bring to your project.
Many of my competitors cover their websites with stock photos, don't display a biography or resume samples, and prefer to hide behind a 6-week online course as the only evidence they have handled a resume other than their own. The question I'd have and many of my clients have had is - "Who are you anyway?".
I've come across "resume writers" who ranged from students, to the long term unemployed, "ghost-writers", and those doing it anonymously "on-the-side" so that their day-job employer can't identify them. If you were to engage one of these anonymous firms, would you be dealing with a student, ghost writer or unemployed truck-driver turned resume writer? You just don't know! Either way, it's not too difficult to identify someone reticent to share details about their professional expertise. If a writer is on the up-and-up, with expertise and experience to be proud of, they'll show you!
My clients appreciate the fact that I take this profession seriously. This IS my day-job and I prepare each resume and cover letter as if it were my own. It pains me that this profession is frowned upon in certain quarters, and at times, that skepticism is justified. To that end, I have positioned my firm as the industry trailblazer, leading the way in open, honest disclosure, up-front pricing, and 100% satisfaction guarantees.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Beware - The Job Guarantee
I was speaking with a prospective client recently who asked about our "guarantee". Our policy, per our website, is that we will work with any client for a period of two weeks post consultation in order to ensure that they are satisfied with their documents. The fact that I've never actually had to do that is testament to the quality of product we produce.
Apparently, there is a company out there offering a cast iron guarantee that they will get you the job you're after! I find such a statement absolutely incredible! It wouldn't take too long a thought process to appreciate the fact that it is not credibly possible to guarantee your resume will get you the job you want, unless the resume writer was also the hiring manager!!
A hiring manager will select a candidate based on specific criteria. If you're not even close, you won't get the job, no matter how good your resume looks!
I'd recommend being careful when dealing with any company making seemingly outlandish guarantees - at the very least - ask them specifically, how they plan to "guarantee" that another human being, in a different industry, working to set criteria, reviewing multiple resumes is guaranteed to give YOU the job!
Apparently, there is a company out there offering a cast iron guarantee that they will get you the job you're after! I find such a statement absolutely incredible! It wouldn't take too long a thought process to appreciate the fact that it is not credibly possible to guarantee your resume will get you the job you want, unless the resume writer was also the hiring manager!!
A hiring manager will select a candidate based on specific criteria. If you're not even close, you won't get the job, no matter how good your resume looks!
I'd recommend being careful when dealing with any company making seemingly outlandish guarantees - at the very least - ask them specifically, how they plan to "guarantee" that another human being, in a different industry, working to set criteria, reviewing multiple resumes is guaranteed to give YOU the job!
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Screen Out
Having screened over 24,000 resumes in over a decade of recruiting and executive recruiting, I've mastered the art of (very) quickly determining the viability of any given job application. When I was assessing an application against a specific job specification, I was looking for reasons NOT to bring you in for an interview.
I'm still surprised by the number of clients who hadn't actually looked at the screening process through this lens. After reviewing countless applications, with each resume blurring into the next, hiring managers become adept at finding reasons NOT to interview you.
This becomes the starting bloc for all of my resume clients. Why wouldn't I want to interview you for this role? At what point would I lose interest in your document and what you had to say about yourself? How easy would it be for me to consign your resume to the shredder?
Once we uncover the likely objections to your application, we can start to construct an outline of our strategy to take your project forward. If we deal with this early, and build our project to address these issues head on, we start to tread the path toward securing you the all-important interview.
The reason so many job applicants fall at the first hurdle, is because they've all made it far too easy for the hiring manager to hit the delete button.
End-to-End
I received a delightful email from a former client informing me that he had secured his dream job! His new employer is located 10 minutes from his home, are a major player in his field of specialty, and the role offers a significant increase in scope, responsibility and of course money!
The client first approached me with a job specification and requirements portfolio issued to him by an international executive recruitment firm. The data set outlining the position requirements and ideal candidate specification was thorough, complex and demanded a candidate of the very highest caliber. The brief went on to detail part of the recruiting strategy which sought to attract local, national and international candidates for the position.
I accepted the request to work with my client on the project and immediately began the consultation process which was structured around the requirements of the role. My client's resume was in need of a complete re-design and re-structure due to the fact that it didn't reflect at least 40% of his actual professional skills and experience, which upon discovery, became crucial to the overall success of his application.
Phase one focused entirely on the resume and cover letter creation, which won him an interview with the executive recruiter leading the international search. As soon as he was notified that his application had won him an interview with the President of the hiring firm, we proceeded to phase 2 - the interview coaching session. This proved to be invaluable, as although my client was a highly capable, intelligent and forthright individual, he had not been in an interview situation for almost a decade, and it showed! After the mock interview we conduct as part of our 2 hour coaching session, we discussed method, structure, interviewer strategy, and what they're looking for as well as the errors made during our mock interview.
I was delighted to hear that he had dazzled the President and associates, as well as receiving his gratitude for the part Vancouver Resume Writing & Interview Coaching had played in his preparation and execution of the process.
He was a great guy to work with and I wish him well in his new role!
The client first approached me with a job specification and requirements portfolio issued to him by an international executive recruitment firm. The data set outlining the position requirements and ideal candidate specification was thorough, complex and demanded a candidate of the very highest caliber. The brief went on to detail part of the recruiting strategy which sought to attract local, national and international candidates for the position.
I accepted the request to work with my client on the project and immediately began the consultation process which was structured around the requirements of the role. My client's resume was in need of a complete re-design and re-structure due to the fact that it didn't reflect at least 40% of his actual professional skills and experience, which upon discovery, became crucial to the overall success of his application.
Phase one focused entirely on the resume and cover letter creation, which won him an interview with the executive recruiter leading the international search. As soon as he was notified that his application had won him an interview with the President of the hiring firm, we proceeded to phase 2 - the interview coaching session. This proved to be invaluable, as although my client was a highly capable, intelligent and forthright individual, he had not been in an interview situation for almost a decade, and it showed! After the mock interview we conduct as part of our 2 hour coaching session, we discussed method, structure, interviewer strategy, and what they're looking for as well as the errors made during our mock interview.
I was delighted to hear that he had dazzled the President and associates, as well as receiving his gratitude for the part Vancouver Resume Writing & Interview Coaching had played in his preparation and execution of the process.
He was a great guy to work with and I wish him well in his new role!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Quips'n'Quirks
Quick tip - do NOT make quirky quips in your cover letter! I was contacted recently by a rather senior executive who had not been receiving any attention from her job applications. Upon reviewing her cover letter, I uncovered the possible reason for her buzz-free blackberry. Her cover letter was replete with quirks'n'quips - here's a modified example to give you an idea;
"I am a senior executive (with a sense of humour;) and 30 years experience (yikes!) of operating at the highest level. I would very much appreciate an opportunity (begging bowl extended) to meet with you to discuss my suitability! Despite my age (i feel 25!), I am a technocrat and regularly tweet on the twitter.." and so it went on - all 2 pages of it. Although this letter is guaranteed to get passed around the department, this bears no relevance to the likelihood of being hired!
On the face of it there will be some who will think that this is refreshing - injecting a bit of personality into proceedings (the twitter bit was my favourite) and if i weren't a hiring manager I may see their point. However, attempting to layer a cover letter with "personality" is like tap dancing on a landmine. More often than not it will blow up in your face. Remember - her blackberry wasn't singing. Her strategy wasn't working.
It may seem obvious but, when you don't know the intended audience keep the "personality" for the interview. The cover letter should focus on forming a narrative around your skills, abilities and achievements.
"I am a senior executive (with a sense of humour;) and 30 years experience (yikes!) of operating at the highest level. I would very much appreciate an opportunity (begging bowl extended) to meet with you to discuss my suitability! Despite my age (i feel 25!), I am a technocrat and regularly tweet on the twitter.." and so it went on - all 2 pages of it. Although this letter is guaranteed to get passed around the department, this bears no relevance to the likelihood of being hired!
On the face of it there will be some who will think that this is refreshing - injecting a bit of personality into proceedings (the twitter bit was my favourite) and if i weren't a hiring manager I may see their point. However, attempting to layer a cover letter with "personality" is like tap dancing on a landmine. More often than not it will blow up in your face. Remember - her blackberry wasn't singing. Her strategy wasn't working.
It may seem obvious but, when you don't know the intended audience keep the "personality" for the interview. The cover letter should focus on forming a narrative around your skills, abilities and achievements.
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