Can you recommend CV/Resume tactics for someone with a varied career background?

Kim asks: Can you recommend CV/Resume tactics for someone with a varied career background? Over the years I've had several positions varying in responsibility and skill levels - I've always been more about finding the right fit for a company than being concerned about the job title. In every position I've held, I've always accepted more responsibility, worked very hard, etc. Over the past year I've discovered (yet another) career path which I'm doing very well in and would like to continue in. I've already achieved a good industry certification in my field (and passed with flying colours, which will be noted on the resume) and am looking to continue in my field. Part of the reason that I've done so well is because of my past experience. My difficulty is in finding someone to help me put together a resume which accents my skills and accomplishments without appearing to be "flighty". Any advice is appreciated - Thanks!

In answer:
In all honesty Kim, I don't see that much "flighty-ness" in your career history....

- June 2007 – Present (1 year 3 months) - Asst. Property Manager, Lutheran Social Ministries
- September 2006 – June 2007 ( 10 months): Best Buy Consumer Assistant, selling computers
- January 2003 – May 2006 (3 years 5 months): Same-Differences (Privately Held) Owner of a scrapbooking product manufacturing company
- 1999 – 2000 (1 year): Chief Operating Officer, Saba Software
- June 1996 – September 1998 (2 years 4 months): COO, Regional Internet Company

So that's - three years of ISP/Software; three years in self employment; one year after that companies (sale or collapse?) back in the IT industry; and now one year in property management. Assuming your next job is in property management, honestly there is no problem! And if the scrapbooking company did fail, don't worry about that either - you now have a new and at least semi-qualified career path

Recruiting and HR managers will look at the gaps between positions as much as the achievements in a position. Its the "why" of drive/goal and change that matters in their view of career management and (hence) why you are applying for their post, as much as the skills that you can apply when in post.

If you are looking for a CV/Resume writer, look for one with a professional qualification such as the Council of Professional Resume Writers or the National Resume Writers Association - and stop worrying about your flighty career, when it honestly is not!

Good Luck!

What are your thoughts on CV/Resume writing services?

Corey asks: What are your thoughts on resume writing services? I was just contacted by a resume service and the cost was over one thousand dollars. How can spending this much on a CV/Resume service be justified?

In answer:
As a CV/Resume writer, recruiter and someone who employs career coaches, my bias is obvious!

It is always a personal decision as to whether to use a professional services firm for a specific project. As a Certified Resume Writer, I have helped literally thousands of candidates to land great new jobs and promotions. In an overwhelming majority of those cases, the hiring manager or interviewer remarked that the resume was outstanding and was the decisive factor in the decision to award an interview in a highly selective process.

For instance: Would you cut your own hair? Would you wire your own home (and live in it) if you aren't an electrician? Fix your own car if you aren't a mechanic? Every day, we pay for services because we seek expertise.

The same holds true with CV/Resume writing. Yes, you can go get a book or find a template for very little money. You can certainly write one yourself. But, are you really willing to take a chance that your CV/Resume isn't the best it can be? Are you interested in investing the time (time is money) in researching all of the ins and outs to ensure that your CV/Resume is positioned to get you an interview?

It is critical to understand that there is a major difference between a CV/Resume typesetting/formatting service and a certified, experienced resume writing/composition firm. Depending on how much you earn (or hope to earn), the fee may seem a lot of money: and if someone simply writes a resume for you, it is likely that it will seem flat and not personalized. But having your CV/Resume professionally prepared can dramatically increase your chances of being invited to interview and shorten the amount of time you are on the market.

CV/Resume and coaching services provide their greatest benefit when you are looking to change industries, upscale roles, or have been through a period of unemployment. For instance:

- If you are looking to cross industries or change your career track (i.e. tech to general business) a good resume service will help you identify skills and accomplishments that would be otherwise neglected

- If you have faced a period of unemployment, you are likely into a circle of continual rejection. A well written CV/Resume can make a dramatic impact. Once provided with a good resume and some coaching on how to market themselves, people quickly find interview

My suggestion is to check out the service you are to be provided with before handing over your money. If the resume writing service you pay for includes helping you through the placement process (e.g., cover letter, interview prep) then spending some money may be worthwhile. Paying for a package of career management services - including assessments, cover letter, resume, interview prep, etc. - normally costs around £75/$150 per hour and may require anywhere from 2-5 one-hour sessions. This may seem steep but getting the "right" job rather than simply getting "a" job is better in the long run and probably worth the expense if you can afford it.

Our mission at CV4.biz, and the reason I started a CV/Resume service was to advise, encourage and enlighten job seekers. Maybe you don't want to spend over one thousand dollars on a CV/Resume service, but I hope you'll keep an open mind about the idea of hiring a resume expert to help you.

Opening lines for a sales CV/Resume?

Kat asks: there are (apparently) several theories regarding the best way to start out a sales CV/Resume. What do you recommend?

In answer:
The difficulty in writing good and great sales CV/Resumes is the analysis of pitch between "deliverer" and "shiny suit/wide boy" - so that you achieve engagement and realism.

The content of this posting has been moved to the Professional CV website, CV4.biz. Click here to read the full article

Citing numbers in CV/Resume

Margaret asks: When citing the revenue of a company that you previously worked for on your CV/Resume, is it best to list current numbers or those relative to your tenure (assuming your role had nothing to do with making that number specifically)?

In answer:
If you had nothing to do with the number, why state it? Its irrelevant to you!

If you were responsible for a numbers delivery, always use those relevant during your tenure, not present or historical just to make you look better. Use words that make it clear it was "then an XMillion TO company in ABC sectors," and by the time the person left a "then YMillion." They are then the relevant numbers in the relevant context, as they relate to you. The relevant "when you were there" status should be applied to all things in a CV/Resume, from finances to staff and sectors, etc - other wise you are over or understating it for gain/impact.

If you still want to include the revenue figure as part of a company description, then use of numbers tends to suggest the company is small and not easily known, and present day data inclusion in the companies description could be argued easier to make it found for reference checking.

I once had my own business, but it was not successful - should I include it on my CV/Resume?

Joe asks: I once had my own business but in the end it was not successful, should I include it on my CV/Resume?

In answer:
Yes, you need to place it at present on your CV/Resume. Most employers now employ checking services, which would find this period and investigate it. Leaving it off will need to be explained more, than putting it on your CV/Resume and explaining it in an interview. Once five years has past, you could leave it out via a summary of career to that point.

But why are you seeing this as a negative issue? Even if the business was not successful, there is both a sign of entrepreneurial spirit and lessons learned/accomplishments that contribute to your employability. Resumes aren't about what's gone wrong in your career, they are about what you have to offer to future employers.

The only issue to tackle - in both your Cover Letter and the interview, from any potential employers view point, is: would you ever want to return to self-employment/being an entrepreneur? Close that one down with something along the lines of: "I enjoyed my period of entrepreneurship, but have recognise from that time that I need more skills/experience to run my own suitably scaled business in this sector, and learnt how much I enjoy working with others in a larger group." ie - answer the questions: what have you learnt; why the positive choice to go back into a corporate?

Good Luck!

Converting a science CV to a resume for non-academic job applications

Kelly asks: I'm having a hard time converting my science CV to a resume for non-academic job applications. Any advice?

In answer:
Kelly - I am guessing that the present version is one of those huge formalized American scientific format Curriculum Vitae’s, and it probably looking at your work history goes to at least 10 pages plus - I have seen some over 30pages......?

A common difficulty technical and academic people have in creating non-academic resumes is expressing the results of what they've done. The only reason hiring managers will get excited about hiring you is because of the results you will be able to produce for them, so that you need to get really clear on that. There is also a tendency to assume that an 'academic' is not going to be results-oriented, that they are going to be always focused on research and learning instead of on getting things done, so that your resume needs to help overcome that bias

Start with the easy bit - what do you want to do? Or even easier, start with a target job that you want to do, and its internet/newspaper advert. Let's assume that you meet all the criteria in Para4 of the typical job advert, which amongst other things lists academic qualifications and that as a result of your study you have the work experience to apply. Note, in your case, even if you don't have the three years they require, apply anyway if its a job you really like - the balance of educational experience in most cases will count for you.

Now, take Para's1 and 3 of the typical job advert which list out the job and – after Para2 where they chat about how wonderful a company/organisation/employer they are – in Para3 the type of person they are looking for. Split these two paragraphs down into singular sentences, which are the polished version of the required competencies. You see the trick of this approach is that an advert is written from a job description - so like a detective, all you are going to do is work out by reversing the process what the JD says and how you can tick all the required boxes.

With each of the competencies written down, look at your existing CV and take the experiences from your CV and copy them into a new document. For instance, it says "experience of food hygiene services and checking compliance with state and national regulations" and you have on your CV "study into botulism in the food counter environment" - put those two together. For each competency you want at the end one or two sentences from your CV at the end of the process. This may take a bit of rewriting and summarizing for the text you take from your CV, but that’s the target.

From any source you prefer, take a standard resume format that you like, and after the opening section of name/address/contact details insert a new section entitled Competencies. On the left list up to five key competencies (yes - taken from the list in the advert. If you are not sure which one’s to highlight, then either merge a few similar ones or take the first five), and your responding skill/s. Now copy the career summary from your LinkedIn profile (which is more than long enough for a commercial resume), and put that below it. Complete the bottom section in your preferred format, add a line that a full Scientific Curriculum Vitae is available on request; think about at least two references (one of which should ideally be from a commercial work colleague/non-friend basis), and - that’s pretty much a basic 101 commercial resume written! You’ll need to add a cover letter – I am guessing that will be the subject of your next question.....

I dare say compared to a piece of work from a professional resume writer: the competencies will be poorly focused; the words and their slickness will be weak; there will be little commercial sector focus; and the layout in MSWord could probably do with some polishing – but for a DIY job, it will hit 6/10 most days. Plus, it will be all you – some resume writers take the “you” out of a Resume, and then the HR/Recruiting people complain about what they see on the paper and what they get in an interview not being the same person.

If this daunts you, then get a professional to do it for you – but know first what job or have an actual job advert for them to prepare against. The biggest problem with academics converting to the commercial world is focus and speed of results – its just different, not wrong, and the advert will answer all the professional resumes writers key questions about the what.

Good Luck!

I've been fired - how do I put this on my CV/Resume?

Joe asks: I was fired from my last job after 3 months (not my fault and I found out the company fired 6 employees before me in 1 year). I am presently seeking legal advise from a good employment law attorney that can give guidance on resolution. However, I did learn a lot - is there anyway I can put the experience on my CV/Resume?

In answer:
Yes, you need to place it at present on your CV/Resume. Most employers now employ checking services, which would find this period and investigate it. Leaving it off will need to be explained more/cause more damage than putting it on your CV/Resume and explaining it in an interview. Once five years has past, you could leave it out via a summary of career to that point.

Secondly, until it is resolved - and your current need for employment lawyers in NY suggests it is not - that it will highly limit your immediate employment opportunities. Few employers would employ some who is presently in an unresolved conflict with a previous employer.

Once the conflict is resolved, the way to tackle it in your interview is whether you were head hunted, approached by a recruiter or applied to an open advert? In the first two cases, it would tend to suggest a bigger mistake on the part of the employer than you; the later is more difficult to handle and would result in heavy probing of your ambitions, career path and motivation. What and which ever the answer, thinking through the answers to each scenario will enable a better chance of future employment.

Would you interview for a job if you were on crutches?

Patty, a job seeker, asks: I am not quite sure how to approach this situation. I broke my foot and will be having surgery this week. I will be on crutches for 6 weeks Should I suspend my job search, until I am on solid ground? Or try and push any interviews back? How will a company view my candidacy if I arrive for the interview on crutches?

In answer:
If it won't have a negative impact on your long term health, absolutely 100% YES!

A second invitation to interview may not happen. Secondly, a candidate that does not allow a broken foot to be an obstacle shows an employer that you are indeed a serious professional who will persevere in the face of challenge. Breaking your foot may have a silver lining for you.

Although your mobility is negatively affected, your intelligence, skills, unique competences and ability to communicate effectively remain intact and so should be your willingness of looking for a new job. Plus it shows the potential employer your determination and ability to handle diverse and challenging situations - employers love people who can do that!

Assuming that you will have an interview during your time of convalescence, make sure you explain the situation before hand and check that the interview is held in an easily accessible location. I am sure that the interviewer who could be your next employer, will understand that you have suffered from an accident where you have broken your foot, and will be comprehensive enough to recognize positively the courage that you have had and the effort that you have done in attending a scheduled interview.

Its the "how its handled" gain which is your silver lining here. Of course, this advice is not comprehensive to all such ailments or situations - appearing with a cold let alone thinking of doing so with flu would have a wholly negative effect; and appearing on a stretcher would be considered over zealous. Arriving late is not recommended, but pre-communication of that and management of the situation in extenuating circumstances - like during power cuts or in case of accidents - is acceptable.

Good Luck!

Donna asks: A candidate client suspects that the former employer may be blackballing, is wondering how to determine whether this is true, and what he/she might be advised to do about it. The client worked for the former employer for a significant number of years and handled major accounts. Suggestions and insights appreciated. Thank you.

In answer:
Lets be honest, its not uncommon - plus on certain occasions, if a candidate provides three references, and the first one highlights a certain issue, its not difficult for the reference taker to verge towards that negativity.

The first thing to check, is that the candidate client is being wholly honest with you about their reasons for leaving past employers? When I first meet new candidates, I always ask on those I choose to put forward or place on the dBase, to think about where and who they will reference to - even dumb candidates know to avoid the boss who hated them, only desperate one's are likely to knowingly make that mistake

If you are convinced about the candidates clarity and honesty, then I think approaching each of the references they have given (they may think its X, where as it could be Z being very horrible for reasons unknown to the candidate), and advise them you are the recruitment agent/career advisor, and as they had been provided as a reference to the candidate, was wondering if they could provide a written summary of their reference to you for your files. Then, if they don't or if they provide a statement that says one thing and yet say another on the telephone - which the future employer will always comment on - then its isolates the reference who provides the problem, and makes them looks like an idiot, not the candidate unemployable.

If you do find such a situation, and that employer and the experience gained is key to the candidates being employed in the new post, then - if they are a reasonable person - there is always someone else who can be suitably referenced to, either upwards or sideways. If they weren't dismissed, but don't have any other contacts, there is always the HR department which is a highly suitable "last resort" reference

References are a good thing, but some times reveal a situation in a one-time telephone conversation which can destroy a good career opportunity. I hence think referencing needs careful management from the point of initial contact with the candidate, to successful new employment.

How do you combat work experience vs. certifications when clients are needing the most up to date skills?

Thomas asks: How do you combat work experience vs. certifications when clients are needing the most up to date skills? As a consultant, training and certifications are not something that is offered, vs a full time employee who is permitted training on "the company dollar". How would you combat less experienced professionals with up to date certifications against your own work experience, when new employment opportunities arise?

In answer:
For an operational manager, then experience counts more than certificates. For an HR manager, often experience needs to be balanced with adequate proven certification - they like to see ownership of personal development, through both career path as well as education. It is the HR manager who signs off the final job description, as they are legally responsible for employing suitably qualified employees - and its that later agenda item which plays to the risk/safety manager or finance director who is in charge of procuring and sourcing the companies insurance.

For the contractor, its is most often true that they have more experience than certificates - its a common problem. However, in the modern era, particularly as formalised training is a good way for the HR department of getting the best and weeding out the worst, the traditional contractor career needs to be balanced with adequate certified verification of gained experience. There is also the issue of bleeding edge technology - if you have been involved in such leading edge projects, then often the companies will certify via a letter over formal qualification.

I would suggest that your first action Thomas is to note down your work and project experiences, in some form of a work diary or portfolio - what the project brief was, how long it took, skills you deployed, team in which you worked, and the outcome from both a delivery and times scale/financial view point. You may find from that that if you have worked with certified workers of a particular technology, that if they or the person you worked for verify your work experience, the technology company will issue you with a certificate of qualification or experience.

Secondly, when compiling your CV/Resume, focus on delivered projects briefs for named companies and associated systems integration, over the formalised skills required. Focus on delivery and the skills you were required in the successful completion - that way, you have both the skills implied and shown in delivery, as well as the program management skills of career development.

Thirdly, when you apply for jobs and are refused, then ask for feedback and react in your CV/Resume to it. A rejection is a "not now" learning experience, not a total rejection - recruiters and HR managers will react to engaging candidates, and if you are not right for one job you will be in their mind for another soon.

Finally, when you do get an interview, take along your portfolio - "OK, I haven't got XYZ qualification, but I have a got a letter of recommendation from XYZ company where I deployed that technology into their system!" This will stop the HR managers mind of erring towards caution or the need to undertake lots of work verifying your skills, and means you are more likely to get the job.

Skills are what count commercially, particularly when you can show Thomas successful commercial delivery. In the long term, look to formalise your experience in the form of certificates and formalisation, but if you can get independent verification then there should not be any problems in successfully gaining employment. If you have the bona-fide experience and aren't getting the interviews or offers, then have someone review your CV/Resume to see if you are getting the right information across. Do a "role play" interview with someone else to see if you need to fine tune your presentation.

Good Luck, and if I can help further, please - just ask!

How To Follow Up With Employers?

Samson asks: I have been working on this issue with at least a few of the employers that I have applied to in the last two months, but it has not been too successful. Need suggestions on how to handle with an employer particularly when they state "Please, no phone calls about the job" as it is usually seen with almost all job leads from Craigslist. Of the few times that I have called to ask for a certain person or to speak to the hiring manager, they ask why are you calling about the job and/or they answer with that no phone calls are supposed to made to inquire about the job.

In answer:
Here's the problem form the advertisers perspective:

1. the main reason not to accept calls is the sheer number of CV/Resumes received, with literally 100's of CV's and Resumes to review. Positions need to be filled under time limitations, so Recruiters/HR professionals must be as efficient as possible.

2. With efficency in mind, employers will include all the basic information a candidate should need, eliminating the need to call

3. Most good employers have a great website. This gives active and bright candidates - ie, the people they want to employ - a wealth of information available to them about the company and what it does do. This means that employers are already pre-qualifying candidates in the application process. They want to know that you can do research online, that you can understand their business model, and that you can ask good questions when they do call you. Employers don't want to hire someone who does not take the initiative to learn about them before they apply for a job.

Your resume should speak for you. If an employer calls you for an interview, then expect them to answer all your questions then. Following up an application before they call you with a phone call when the instruction is "not to call" can signal the employer that either you're too desperate, or you don't follow instructions - or both: but you are certainly not for them. And not one single employer I know wants to hire those kind of employees.

Yes, sometimes you have to make a leap of faith, and good practice should mean you get a "thanks but no thanks" letter - but with all of the information available on the web, it should not be a leap made in ignorance.

Good Luck!

Coach potato to job applicant! The skills based format choice

Jacob asks: How to write my resume? I've tried to sound as "unimpressive" as possible, so I can assess the worst situation. Am currently 20 years old if that matter]

-First year of college, spent it running a business.....typical first real business, invested a little money, grew a bit, then died away. Did not attend many classes so failed out...[ I have started money making ventures in high school, but I won't call them real businesses]
-I then completed an online degree....in less than half the supposed time frame. [unproductively used time]
-Instead of return to college, decided to start another company*. Yet, I'd like a job to cover my living expenses at first (eh...might as well work on someone else's dollar, sorry).
I've made a few career mistakes and am aware of them, namely:
-Buying an online degree was a waste of a good year. Now it looks like I spent a year doing absolutely nothing. How can I make it so that it doesn't look (as much) like I spent the last year doing absolutely nothing? I was taking like 14 courses a term...so didn't have much spare time. I really regret it...but oh well, might as well figure out how to solve the problem instead of lamenting the past,
Please feel free to request more information and I'll answer in real time either publicly or privately.
*Please spare trying to persuade me to return to college, I'd rather not waste your breath.

Many thanks!

In answer:
Don't use a chronological format - as you can see, it doesn't suit you or portray you as much more in the past year than a couch potato!

Use a skills based format, which lists your education and then in another section your skills/experience on a skill by skill format, as opposed to a date from/to format of the chronological type

You will also need one great cover letter. Focus that on what you want to do now to advance your career and why that company/job does it for you, over anything else.

Good Luck!

What is the best way to describe periods of independent consulting/contracting?

Tom asks: What is the best way to describe periods of independent consulting/contracting on a resume? I'm looking for advice on any best practices in terms of representing independent contracting relationships on a resume where other periods of time are with full-time employment situations. How would you go about enhancing the perceived legitimacy/value of this experience while balancing the need for brevity in terms of clients served, diversity of work, etc...? For recruiters and other hiring professionals: Do you get a certain feeling in your gut when you get a resume that has a mix of independent work alongside other full-time gigs?

In answer:
The positioning of any period of employment in a CV/Resume wholly depends on the durations of time in each post - be those permanent employment or temporary contract.

I'll answer your second question first. Recruiters and HR people pay most attention to your last two/five years of employment record - its the track record there that show's what you are most capable of with least risk to them. Hence if that period is unmanaged and with high turnover - be it permanent or contract - then yes, many will get a bad gut feel.

However, there are ways of smoothing out those changes - but as a base rule, always tell the truth: it will always out in interview, and leaves you under far less stress. Hence there is no need to lie to "enhance the perceived legitimacy/value of this experience" - its just presentation

As a general rule, if you spent less than six months in post, then describe the project you were engaged on to deliver; if you spent more than six months doing multiple contracts with multiple employers all on contract, then define it as one solid period of contracting work, with a brief summary and associated list of project achievements. In the later case, this would mean that six pieces of project work each last six/eight weeks would end up as one six/eight month period of employment. In example:

Virtual Assistant, 2/2005 to Present <---- (the entire time you have been doing contract work instead of listing each project by date)

Independent contractor for several, long-term clients including Fortune 500 companies such as ABC Company Name and XYZ Corp. Additionally serviced small business owners with occasional, seasonal, and one-time projects. Expertise in human resources and recruitment as well as general, remote office management.

Selected projects:

* Sourced and screened job candidates at all levels for a major corporation that grosses more than $39B annually.
* Conducted 1,000+ pre-employment and tenant background screenings for Company Name.
* Provided remote customer service for Company Name, an international restaurant chain operating as a subsidiary of XYZ Corp. with over 30,000 locations worldwide.
* Transcribed, edited, and proofread 200+ medical, general, and legal audio files for a local attorney engaged in workers' compensation court actions.

I have clients who have spent two years in a permanent position, and then two or three years contracting in multiple positions, and then back to permanent - these are simply summarised as three periods of work.

Never lie on your CV/Resume, and particularly not on the companies application form - this is a legally binding document, and lying on that form is a sackable offence. But presentation of experience in a managed career - be that permanent or contract - is always possible to enable you to get that job interview.

Good Luck, and if I can help further, please - just ask!

Why are so many people so sloppy in writing their CVs and Resumes?

Dominic, a fellow head hunter asks: As a headhunter I read a lot of CVs. Too many are very badly written, with poor grammar, really appalling use of multiple fonts, bad formatting, and occasionally we get blue CVs. Some CVs talk more of hobbies and interests, sport is particularly bad here, with some people giving the impression that they are sportsmen who occasionally take a break from running, skiing or hitting a ball to drop in to the office. CVs are important, yet many people do not put the effort into preparing a CV that they would to filling in a minor form.

In answer:
It is a reflection of the modern through away society which has little memory - except, this time its their career they are playing with.

People don't realise they need to change their attitude when they become a job seeker or applicant - they think we know how wonderful, great, superb, etc they are. The answer is - we would if you could portray yourself correctly, through the communications we review of you: your CV/Resume, your telephone manner, your letter writing and how often/when you interact with us.

Hence, all we see as Recruiters and HR people is the result of that unchanged attitude - poor presentation at multiple levels, and cliched phrases cut and pasted from some online freebie web guidance site, or hastily copied from their best friend. Yes, I have had an applicant who claimed to be both an expert diver in the resume, and yet in interview admitted their greatest fear was swimming - they had simply taken the soft copy of their best friends resume, and just inserted their name and high school!

When even the world's worst speller can learn in 30 seconds how turn on spell check - is it any wonder that your application is turned down when you can't? It just reads to us on the reviewing side not as a spelling mistake, but as "I don't care about me or my career!"

Would you mention your online profile on your CV/Resume?

Jermina asks: Would you mention your linkedin profile url on your resume?

In answer:
Simply - what additional value does it add? If the recruiter or HR person is engaged by your skills and experience actually written on your CV/Resume, then you have made it to interview stage. If not - then it just gets filled in the "thanks but no thanks" pile. During the initial sift process, most HR/Recruiters don't have time to do much more than read the first half page of your application - if you have made no impact in that piece of paper, then your out.

Hence from experience, it makes no sense in adding it. There are many things you should mention on your CV/Resume before your LI profile to get you to interview stage. Once you are at the interview, or ideally on the initial telephone engagement, then it can be used to add value and show your experience and abilities, particularly in developing new business and personal career management.

Good Luck, and if I can help further please - just ask!

Is it OK to lie on a resume to make yourself sound LESS qualified?

Randy asks: The problem I keep running into is that I keep getting told that I am overqualified for the positions I put in for. Is it permissable to lie on the resume and make yourself sound less qualified, maybe even leaving jobs off that would make you sound too professional? I hate even asking this, but I've been out of work too long to really care, I just want to get back to work. I was laid off almost a full year ago, and still cannot find anything. I have started applying to positions well below my experience in an effort just to get back to work. I probably should have moved out of the Austin area when I still had the funds to do so, as I am getting feedback that the military background on my resume may be causing an issue for me in this town. Right now, starting over at a low-level position looks like the only option, and I am going through several different recruiters as well in an effort to secure a position. Just so that nobody thinks I'm being too selective, my count on jobs applied to since my layoff is approximately 1000. Everything from Director level positions to night security guard at a hotel. Obviously, overqualification was not the issue on the Director position, but on many of the others, yes. I have tried to make it clear in interviews that I am not looking for something to tide me over, or something to do while I am looking for another job, but I guess they have been burned too many times in the past to take me at my word.

In answer:
The answer to the basic question is NO - its a definite no to adding experience or qualifications, but selective focusing on experience relevant to the post being applied for is allowed: for instance, that's what a skills focus CV/Resume does.

Secondly, don't under estimate and hence under sell yourself. Eventually, you'll get bored and move on with a lower skilled post - much quicker than you think. Find something which fits you.

And that brings me to the third point - there's something not right here to not have found a position after all those applications, either in how you see yourself, or the approach you are taking: the recruiters you have engaged should have spotted that. I see this myself with many who have been out of work for a while, and in most its just a case of a 1hour chat to get them back on track.

Hence, rather than adjusting your resume, I think its worth engaging some outside resources, who can look at you and your skills to give you a better focus and approach. There are many services available for ex-military personnel, and also from the educational establishments you have attended - often for free, always at lower cost. You could also look at professional coaches, and recruitment agencies and head hunters who provide career management services - effectively a review of you, your career, your skills and what the market needs.

Don't give up Randy - your persistence is highly admirable and employable. And don't believe all these stories of credit crunch and no jobs - the credit induced froth has been been knocked off the top of many markets, but people still retire or have life changes which create new openings. Well focused people who know what they are and what they want are still short resources employers want to hire.

Good Luck - and if I can help you any further, please: just ask!

Can the CV/Resume really die?

Peter asks: There is a lot of speculation about the end of the resume, being replaced by social profiles (LinkedIn, VisualCV, etc.), video resumes and even audio resumes. Really, can any of these things replace it? If so, why? If not, why not?

In answer:
Did Amazon kill the book market? No, there are more books sold now than ever..... OK, so did the eBook kill the physical book? Ah No, see the Amazon tale!

Will the visual/video CV/Resume kill the paper one? Thought1 - do we all look like Jennifer Lopez or Brad Pitt? Hence the idea that a video will totally replace a CV/Resume is ridiculous - it already has in the fields where it matters, like visual arts and TV presenters where its been called a show real since the 1920's.

So will the online information source kill the paper CV/Resume? No - that's like replacing the gun with a tank: more effective in many but not all situations. And we send more letters and consume more paper now than we ever did before we invented computers

You are assuming in your question Peter that the CV/Resume is a presentation of all the facts. No, its a factual sales presentation - no more, no less. Would you like it known in your job application that you weren't great at catching a ball in pre-school: thought not....!

The summary presentation of someone and the skills needing in doing that will continue - and one format will never suit everyone or every skill: part of the selection process starts with that choice of format. What the online world will give is access to more applicants (which it has already done), and the removal of total lie's from the personal presentation, facilitated through easier checking. Candidates, beware!

Which is the best format?

Wahab asks: Which is the best format of a CV or Resume?

In Answer:
Depends - on what you are applying for, and how you think your skills are best presented. Chronological lists your posts, Functional lists your skills, hybrids do a bit of both. A great CV/Resume won't make up for skills shortages - it won't make a qualified brain surgeon out of an first aider - but it will get you noticed and an interview

CV/Resumes - new technology v old tricks

If you read the latest marketing stuff on CV's and Resumes, particularly from those selling VideoCV's or standard eFormat Resumes, then you have to have one of these new formats as opposed to an old piece of paper.

The think goes that.....
A - you stand out from the crowd
B - Your skills can be presented in a way which makes you stand out OR that means all your skills are fairly assessed
C - That Recruiters and HR people get board looking at piles of CV's and Resumes, so could miss your skills

So, these new formats solve all of your problems in one foul swoop - hey hey, job success.

Well, here's a thought......
A - not every one is great at video, and most have never had a presenting lesson on their life
B - most of the formats offered require that you and the Recruiter/HR team have an account on that platform. Your's as a candidate is often free, while ours is often paid before viewing. So, how am I going to see your wondrous CV/Resume UNLESS I am registered? And with so many competing platforms, how am I going to pay all those registration fee's?
C - Every recruiter I know has a CRM system. This catalogues you, and has a facility to scan in your CV/Resume. This CRM system then, when I type in the core skills of a new job I am placing, scans all the people in our dBase - yes, even the scanned CV/Resume - and pulls up those that meet the basic criteria. My large pile of applicants is hence down to a reasonable munchable pile - a bit of scanning and I am down to say 10 great candidates in less than an hour.

Unless you are aiming for a position in the arts, or TV News, or something similar - then Video CV's/Resumes don't make sence - why is the obvious question.

Secondly, the standard formats sell something that my technology over comes - honest, none of ups could cope with even the paperwork for 1000 candiadtes in out offices.

And thirdly - its still the words and your skills which will get you past the initial paper sift: nothing more, nothing less. If you don't have the basic skills, then you won't get the job. Read the advert or the companies annual report to know what those are.

Good luck - and don't fall for those new formats, without going back to the basics

Is it advisable to write your own resume?

Joe asks: I'm a marketing professional and a competent and creative writer, yet every attempt I have ever made at writing my own resume has fallen flat. (The resumes I have written for clients seem to have resulted in some pretty decent job offers...)

Is it possible to be so close to your own experience, and so lacking in knowledge of what others might consider important that you may not be competent to write your own resume? A few points of clarification in terms of what really motivated me to ask the question in the first place:

1. I have been out of the job market for about 12 years during which time I have been running a full service marketing/PR/advertising consultancy. I've gained tons of experience and kept very current, but I am a bit baffled about how to position myself.

2. Maybe it's because I'm a Gemini, or perhaps it was just to stay sane but I've always tried to be competent in a lot of different areas; a generalist more than a specialist. Others could either view that as an advantage or a lack of focus.

3. I consider myself a competent and seasoned professional but I am getting a little long in the tooth. Is age bias something I will have to contend with or will most companies appreciate maturity and experience?

4. I haven't really needed a resume for a long time, but I do have one and have attempted to keep it updated. The thing is, my LinkedIn profile really does a much better job of communicating who I am and what I am all about.

In answer:
Should you write your own CV./Resume - depends! The only true answer is that everyone owns their own CV/Resume.

The question is answered in combination by - can you write; can you market (its a bit more about structure choice and emphasis in the case of CV/Resume writing); do you know what skills you have/don't have/are required in the market which you don't recognise you have; and can you objectively put that all together in a document?

In a quick audit, you clearly have skills 1 and 2, but I suspect you are too close to you to accomplish 3 which is highly detrimental in achieving the final winning result.

Before suggesting you might like to think later about starting a part-time job as a CV/Resume writer (you have the right skills base), you need a bit of external help in the form of a career coach over a CV/Resume writer. I'd say one hour of a chat with a professional over a phone would help you to resolve the skills and projection question for you to highly competently write your own CV/Resume.

You have been quite open in your question and clarification points Joe, and placing you will be fairly easy - that's a great set of skills you have, that are highly desired in the market place. You just need someone at present to act as an objective and clarifying wall in that middle stage to help you achieve employment.

If I can help you any further, please just ask - and Good Luck!