Authored by: Ron Cottick, CPC, CHRM
When working with a Recruiter, your background would typically be presented verbally over the phone. By verbalizing your background to the Hiring Manager the Recruiter had a chance to create interest and nail down an interview for you. Sometimes the Recruiter would be asked to email or fax the resume before the Hiring Manager would commit to an interview but for the most part was able to get a commitment for an interview. If you were applying directly to the company you probably would have received a phone call to discuss your qualifications and then have a chance to secure an interview.
Things have changed over time though and with the advancement of technology we have become more of an antisocial society. We now seem to rather email than call to talk and look over a resume to make a decision rather then discuss it. Whether we like it or not, this is generally what the new standard is and the way it works. Additionally, and more and more, companies are relying on an electronic application process when you are approaching them directly about a posted position. So whether you are working through a Recruiter who may help open doors for you or working through an electronic application process with the company you are applying to, “That Antisocial First Impression” becomes more critical than ever.
Aside from the technological advancements this phenomenon has developed because companies have developed their own recruiting departments to source candidates out of resume databases. The Recruiters in the department send the resumes over to busy Hiring Managers who expect the departments to send qualified candidates to interview. Many of these Hiring Managers are newer and more comfortable with the technologies used in recruiting and quite busy. They prefer to be more hands off in the process. They are not fond of interviewing to begin with and are not always interested in qualifying candidates themselves. They prefer recruiting to do the qualifying for them. Since many corporate recruiters send the resumes over to the Hiring Manager to decide who they want to interview, qualification is determined by what is seen on paper. With this becoming a corporate process of choice, how do you make “That Antisocial First Impression”? You do it with what I call the “Impressionable Presentation”.
So, whether you are working with a recruiter or applying directly to a company, electronically or otherwise, how do you make an “Impressionable Presentation” to get the right attention and an interview? You do it with a well thought out presentation that addresses your qualifications for the position. The presentation would have a Career Summary which is page one of the presentation, and, a Resume. Together they become the presentation. The summary acts as a cover letter for the presentation and draws the reader into the resume. A good career summary would typically have the following content but could have some change ups and variations based on circumstances:
1. Why you are looking. This is not an objective, just fact, direct and to the point.
2. An overview of your “relevant” scope of experience, skills and accomplishments. Relevant is to the job description and what the company is looking for. Bullet formation is easier and quicker to read so set it up in bullet format. This format also draws the reader in more quickly so they do not get bored and lose interest. It looks better as well.
3. Strengths. Make sure they are your functional strengths and relevant. Do not say something like “team player” or “work ethic” as these would be expected and should be givens.
4. Your greatest accomplishment, relevant to the job is best and gets the most attention.
5. Comment what your past managers would say are your greatest attributes. This is not a reference, just what you think they would say about you.
6. Availability. When you can interview and when you can start if you receive an offer.
Here is a suggested lay out:
1. Reason for seeking a new opportunity:
a. Answer
2. Relevant scope of experience:
a. Answer
3. Strengths:
a. Answer
4. Greatest accomplishment:
a. Answer
5. What past managers would say are greatest attributes:
a. Answer
6. Availability:
a. To Interview: Answer
b. To Start: Answer
I would be sure in addition to your name at the top of the first page of the presentation to put the position you are applying for and add any notes that are relevant to the position. When submitting this presentation through the electronic application format separate your career summary page from the resume and use the summary page as a cover letter.
To have a uniform look and transition from the career summary to the resume make sure your resume is set up in a bullet format. This will look better and be consistent throughout the presentation. Doing this does not take much time and is an easier and quicker read for Human Resources or the Hiring Manager to determine qualification.
So, the career summary is developed to speak of and support experience, skill set, accomplishments and addresses relevancy. It is intended to draw the hiring manager into reviewing the resume. The resume is reformatted (dressed up if you will) to compliment the summary. The two merged become the “PRESENTATION”.
This process is going way above and beyond what others do. It has been well received and complimented by hiring managers. Human Resources likes it too because the summary is a separate page that can be uploaded as a cover letter into their database. The resume, being stand alone, is an easy and clean upload as well. In a non-electronic application format, typically emailing your resume to someone, make your presentation in the same manner. Either way, this will go over as a great first impression.
This process works very well. You can not go wrong with it and you will find that presenting yourself in this manner you will make a very favorable “FIRST IMPRESSION”.
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