This is a guest post by our friend Jessica. She’s a resume writing and job search rock star.
As a recruiter I see a lot of resumes – A LOT – hundreds all month long, thousands throughout the year. You can say I know a thing or two about what makes a resume stand out from the crowd.
I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. But one of the worst types of resumes to review is what I call the Autobiography Resume (an “AR”). This is the resume that is jam packed with such an intense variety of skill sets, job titles, and capabilities that it renders the reader (i.e. the hiring manager – the most important person who will be reviewing your resume) completely incapable of getting a clear picture of what exactly it is that you really do.
You’d think having an AR would be a great asset to have. Who doesn’t want to highlight all the wonderful qualities one has to present to an employer? An AR screams: “Look at me! I’m multi-talented! I can do everything you required in your job description and MORE!”
Why do we have a tendency to create ARs? It’s a reaction: they are a product of grossly exaggerated job descriptions found all across the online job boards. Job descriptions are notorious for including enough responsibilities and requirements to fill the jobs of five people. It’s no wonder job seekers are trying to cram their resumes with every last detail they think will truly help them land the role when in reality all its doing is hurting their chances at even getting looked at.
ARs are counterproductive because they lack specificity.
“But Jessica, my experiences and skill sets really do span across five completely different things – what do I do?!”
Glad you asked – and it’s simple: have more than one resume. This is my number one go-to solution when I stumble across a highly talented individual with an AR.
The conversation goes something like this:
“So John, you’re saying your expertise lies across digital marketing, creative direction, copywriting, editing, AND sales? No problem. The job I have open right now at this very moment is specifically targeted for a Digital Marketing Specialist. I need you to make me one version of your resume where your digital marketing experience really shines. After that, the best thing you can do for yourself is to make four different versions of your resume, each one geared specifically at the rest of your skill sets. This way you’ll not only be able to apply to my job but also target four other different jobs simultaneously.”
I’ll say this one more time: having more than one resume is the best thing you can do for yourself during your job search. Keep it simple, specific, and targeted. Don’t let a fancy job description or big corporations seeking a Purple Squirrel throw you off your game. You know you’re talented. You know you have the #1 skill set being sought after by this opening. All you have to do is follow this one simple rule. This will not only highly increase your chances of catching the hiring manager’s attention, but the follow-up call that goes with it.
Happy Hunting!
– Jessica
About the Author:
Jessica is a Sourcing Specialist/Recruiter currently working for Monster.com. She is passionate about building and maintaining strong relationships between people and resources. Originally from Honduras, she’s enjoyed the Greater Boston area as her permanent home for the last 9 years. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, Zumba workouts, and walking her dog. Jessica lives in Waltham with her fiancé and miniature dachshund, Charlie.
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