Is Your Resume Like a Flag?

July 7th, 2010

There are three kinds of fans that come to a World Cup game. First, there are those who are dressed in plain clothes with no team markings, logos or symbols. If you were to walk past these people on the way into the stadium you would have no idea who they are cheering for. Then there are those who come dressed in their country colours wearing shirts and jerseys with team logos. If you are close enough to read the writing or recognize the flag on their shirt you would know which country they are supporting. However, looking across the stadium at a huge crowd of people these fans are only noticeable in huge sections of similar colours. Lastly, the most recognizable and the easiest to spot in a crowd of screaming fans are those proudly waving a team flag. There is no mistaking these fans and with a quick glance across the stadium, the first thing that catches your eye is a waving flag.

Applying for a job is just like coming to a World Cup game. Hiring managers see thousands of resumes a day, so ask yourself, what is it that makes you stand out from the rest? If it takes someone an entire once-through of your resume to get an idea of your main skills and credentials chances are you will get rolled in with the rest of the applicants. Just like coming to a World Cup game wearing your team colours, you will blend in with the crowd of job-seekers who all have similar work experience and essentially look the same on paper. If you want to stand out from those around you, the first thing you want the employer to see is your own personal flag: a resume profile.

A resume profile is a list of statements (in point or paragraph form) that feature your skill, accomplishments, and career level. This gives your readers a “snap shot” of who you are and lays the foundation of how you want to be seen. Since first impressions last the longest, a well written opening summary of your most marketable skills is an effective way of cementing why you are a perfect fit.

Here are four easy steps to writing an effective resume profile:

Step 1: Do some research on your ideal job. Look through some postings and compile a list of common requirements. These will be the keywords you will attempt to use throughout your resume profile. Next, take a look at your resume and draw up a list of your top skills that are relevant to your ideal position.

Step 2: Start with a statement about your experience that targets the position you are looking for. Use some of the keywords you have listed in your research for emphasis. For example, if your aim is a finance management role try, “Focused finance manager with a solid ability to administer the critical factors for achieving corporate success.”

Step 3: Next, write a statement about your professional skills that are transferrable to almost any position within your field. For example, “Possess excellent analytical, time management and account management abilities.” Another possibility is, “Able to review and disseminate information to diverse audiences using exceptional written and verbal communication skills.”

Step 4: Finally, complete your resume profile with a statement about your abilities that sets you apart from someone else. Think about something you can do for a potential employer that someone else might not be able to do. An accounting clerk might write, “Able to process hundreds of thousands of dollars in small sales receipts, daily, maintaining the highest level of accuracy.”

Remember that applying for a position is just like coming to a World Cup game. A single job posting tends to attract a “crowd” of applicants and in a mix of thousands of people your resume could easily blend in with the others around you.  If these resumes are all a bunch of screaming job-seekers-wearing the same colours of similar work experience, donning the same badges of credentials-the one thing that will set you apart from the mob is your resume profile. Just like a waving flag!

Submitted by:
Paul Gonzales
Moira Cole

Posted in Job Seekers -