It's That Time Again!

It's that time again.  Time to recap the fundamentals of a good resume.  This seems to be a topic that will never go out of style.   It is ever relevant as the typical resume continues to violate so many of the basics.   Why this week, you might ask?  Well, as it happens, I have been asked by a new client to edit his resume in a way that will help minimize his pending job search.   He is on notice that his job will be eliminated in about sixty days.   This gentleman is a seasoned professional who has not had to look for a job in well over 20 years so spending a lot of time agonizing over the perfect resume has not been a priority.  As he contemplates job search his strategy is to look beyond the industry segment where he built his career.  His skill set is very strong and should be of value to hiring managers in a number of segments.  As a result,  the resume we craft must emphasize his skills and accomplishments so as to resonate with those hiring managers.

The good news is that my client's resume in solid in many ways.  He is using a standard format; he has an executive summary that serves to position his career;  he breaks things up a bit with a Skill Set Summary in bullet point format; and he separates job responsibilities (in sentence format) from accomplishments (in bullet point format).  The primary issue is that his resume does not properly reflect his stature by his verbiage or formatting.  The verbiage screams middle-manager, and the formatting does not optimize available space. 

Five Key Point for an Effective Resume

• Make use of White Space to break up the resume and keep it interesting.
• Use a 12 pt font to make it easier to read.
• Keep each bullet point to one line.
• Edit aggressively for relevancy and to eliminate redundancy.
• Use the header and footer functions to maintain integrity and continuity.

The point of a resume is to generate interest leading to an interview.  It must be designed for a reader who will spend twenty seconds skimming through the document to arrive at a go, no-go decision.  Short, concise verbiage is key.  Jargon and buzz words are a distraction.  One's accomplishments must jump off the page.  Don't write a dissertation as no one will read it anyway.

I attacked his resume by eliminating bullet points that added little value which gave room to raise the font  to 12 pts.  Those edits immediately took his resume to a full two pages with more white space.  Already, his resume was beginning to look a lot more interesting.  My next step was to edit the remaining content for relevance.  I cleaned up run-on sentences and eliminated follow-on sentences that added no value.  Those edits elevated the stature of this candidate to his rightful place. 

When crafting a resume it is important to remember your audience and how they will consume your resume.  The reader is pressed for time.  Some studies indicate that  a viewer may spend 20 seconds with your resume, unless it is interesting and compelling.  Your resume is as much a marketing tool as it is your personal career history.  Make use of larger fonts and other text effects like bolding and italics.   White space helps to ensure that your message stands out and makes the resume more inviting to the reader.  Be concise and accurate with your prose.  Repetitive themes can be useful, but redundant verbiage is not.  If you follow these suggestions your resume will help you stand apart from the rest of the pack and ensure that you are called for an interview.

One final point.  I received a resume via email this morning.  The email address was very personal, cute even, but it was not professional.  My eyes rolled!  Immediately this candidate looks to be less than serious.  The ideal email address is you name or a reasonable derivation thereof.  It should be used explicitly for your job search so that you will not be distracted by other personal matters.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com

Aces in Their Places

I have had a number of conversations with job-seekers this week, mostly candidates for a current search.  These people are all interested in my opinion as to where the job market is headed.  What little I can offer mirrors what I have heard from the most prominent business and economic experts I follow and from the Government labor reports.  It would appear that the economy is slowing.  Europe and China are weak which affects our global corporations.  The Dollar is strong which is great for buying foreign products, but makes our goods and services more expensive overseas.  The price of oil is way off its 2014 levels putting more discretionary funds in the consumer's pockets which is most welcomed.  On the other hand it puts pressure on the Oil Industry, especially those employing new technology to bring oil out of shale formations.  My understanding of the current oil dynamic is that the Saudi's are trying to regain discipline in the Oil Market by maintaining a high level of supply.  They are also trying to slow down the resurgent U.S. oil boom.  Notwithstanding Saudi machinations, if the demand for oil was stronger they probably would't be so focused on disciplining the market.  Oil prices have been moving up a tad in recent weeks so economic activity may not be about to fall off a cliff.


On the other hand, this year seems to be very similar to the first quarter of 2014 both impacted by severe winters that dampened economic activity.  In 2014 my business was a bit slow in the first half, and then I did a full-years’ worth of business in the second half of 2014.  Who knows, 2015 could be a repeat of 2014.  Another data point which I find interesting is that the Consulting side of our business remains strong.  We have a number of active engagements in process and new projects in the pipeline.  Our clients have issues that need to be addressed; however, they are not interested in adding additional headcount.


What does all this mean for job-seekers?  At this time I see employers working to strengthen the quality of their teams.  They may not be adding to total headcount, but they are working to ensure that they have the right people in position.  “Aces in their places,” is a term you may have heard before.  As the economy slows, market share battles will intensify.  If one wants a world-class product they had better have a world-class team.  Upgrading the quality of the workforce will create opportunities for existing employees, and for those looking for a new opportunity.  If you are looking for a new job, you must be positioned as a viable talent upgrade.  You must ensure that your skills are on the cutting edge.


If you are currently employed I would advise that you look long and hard for opportunities inside your company.  Most companies would prefer to promote from within wherever possible as it is less risky and builds morale.  If you need to upgrade your skills, work on those issues and ensure that it is known within your company.  If you are between jobs you must have a clear understanding as to your skill set gaps.  Close those gaps immediately!  Additionally, seek out project work or short term assignments as a part of your job search strategy.  You will become more of an insider by working on a contract basis leading to job opportunities.


In closing, my best advice is to assume that the job market is tightening and behave accordingly.  Behave like an underdog.  Ensure that your skills are current, especially your networking skills.

Thank you for visiting my blog.


Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

 

Lessons Learned

This past week was focused again on my jewelry start-up client.  The owner is an accomplished business person but new to this field.  Since my entire career has been in the retail sector I know a little about this area, if not everything.  A passionate student of gems and precious metals, my client has been building a sizable inventory while transitioning from her residential construction business.  Her launch strategy is to combine an e-commerce channel with a consignment/leased-space retail channel.  At this time her objective is to gain exposure and distribution.


Working the retail channel is a learning experience for my client.  She negotiated an agreement with an up-scale, woman's ready to wear consignment shop just before Christmas, a promising start.  The store owner wanted a low retail price point for the initial selection and agreed to take 25% of the gross profit margin plus $.99 for each item sold.  The low price point target put a bit of a burden on my client but she was optimistic about the potential.  The sales for the first few months were surprisingly good.  Not stellar, but a good sign that my client was on the right track.  The average sale was almost 50% more than the store owner's target, which was very positive.  My client made some money and the consignment shop owner made a little too.  The shop owner was not pleased with her cut, however, and demanded that my client agree to new terms giving the shop owner 30% of the total sale, plus $.99 per item.  Did I mention that there was no formal written agreement.  A red flag to be sure!  My client agreed to those terms and increased the mark-up to accommodate her client.  She re-priced the stock and updated the display.  Within days, the shop owner decided to end the deal entirely and returned my client's merchandise.  We don't understand what led her to this decision although the shop's first quarter sales have been weak.  Payment for the balance of the sales is now in question.  Lesson learned.  If one fails to begin a relationship with a written agreement it is likely a bad sign for the long run.  My client's attitude is to move forward and bank the learning.  She will play hard-ball to collect on that invoice however.  This situation was no surprise to me.  I have seen this movie many times before.


As one door closes another one opens.  My client found another business nearby with a buttoned-down business model.  This is a large, established retail operation that leases space to dealers.  The operator provides an inviting environment, marketing support and a central check-out counter.  They collect and pay all sales taxes.  Most importantly, the agreement is in written form, signed by all parties concerned.  My client's focus now is to find the right product mix and price points for this location and then find other similar outlets.


Experience builds confidence and leads to intuition, often called "gut feel."  The experience we bring to the table helps predict outcomes of decisions made and to implement strategies to mitigate risk.   As a consultant, one can point out risks and opportunities, however, in the end, the client makes the decisions.  Each of you are experienced professionals.  Your intuition should be pretty well-honed by now.  When you find yourself in a situation that just doesn't feel right it is time to take pause.  Reflect on the situation to understand your lack of comfort.   If you let you head override your heart, recognize the risk and prepare for the likely bad situation to follow.
Thank you for visiting my blog.


Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com