The Perfect Resume
People often ask us: “What is the perfect resume?” Quickly followed by: “Do you have a copy?”
The answer is, “No.” There is no such document as ‘the perfect resume’. What is perfect to one employer may be average to the next. This is true even within the same organisation, from one prospective manager to the next.
What you need to have is the most honest and appealing resume for you. When you seek outside assistance and are coached in the creation of that elusive ‘perfect resume’, it is never really yours but something crafted by other people. Do you buy a painting, hang it on the wall and say, “Look what I painted”? A resume review can help you be more insightful and identify areas for improvement, but you must understand and originate the content of your resume.
A resume should tell the prospective employer the things about you that are relevant to placing you in the role they want to fill. There are three key elements to employing someone, and these need to be reflected in your resume.
- ‘Can you do the job?’
You can demonstrate this by summarising previous employment and skills gained: be concise and give clear examples. If the position description calls for good communication skills, your response should not be, “I’m a good communicator,” but instead an example of where you have demonstrated good communication skills like: presenting to the Board, acting as MC for an event, etc.
- ‘Can I trust you?’
Once an employer takes you on, you are entrusted with company assets like equipment, vehicles, cash, documents and information. A high level of trust is placed in every employee. You can demonstrate your experience fulfilling trusted positions by citing projects you have been responsible for, your level of seniority, and referees who will vouch for you.
- ‘Will you fit in around here: can we work with you, and can you work with us?’
A good cultural fit is paramount to a harmonious and productive workplace. If you like the company and work well with the team – and they like you – it creates a positive work dynamic enabling great things to be achieved.
Ask any HR manager what their biggest problem in the workplace is. They will tell you it’s not a lack of skills and knowledge, but resolving the conflicts that lead to absenteeism, poor productivity and employee-employer tension.
So, how do you demonstrate your suitability for their work culture? This comes back to your personal brand. What have you been doing apart from applying for positions? Think about your lifestyle, associations, friends, prior employment: all these elements build the story about who you are. We cannot reiterate enough the importance of building your personal brand. It gives the prospective employer valuable insight into who you are and whether you will fit into the organisation.
To recap: There is no such thing as ‘the perfect resume’. There are great resumes that give the candidate the opportunity to present to the prospective employer – a resume is the commencement not the conclusion. Preparing for the interview is the next phase in the process.
In summary:
- Be honest
- Address the three key requirements
- Be focussed on the industry/employer you want to work for and what you want to do.
