Issue Date: March 16, 2003
The new world of résumés
Today, telling employers how you met goals and what you value is key.
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Last time I wrote a résumé, the how-to advice went: Keep it to a page, bullet points are best, and stick to the meat and potatoes. I did include a section called "personal interests," but the career counselor winced. "You've got great real experience. Why do you want to weaken it with all that other stuff?"
Well, times have changed. A narrative style that describes not only what you did on the job, but how you accomplished it, is now preferred. You certainly don't want to drone on, but because many résumés are now transmitted via e-mail and the Internet, length is less important. And then there are the other facets of your life: community service or pro bono work, for instance. Suddenly, including these activities -- particularly those that sing of your personal values -- is a big plus.
"Call it Backlash, Corporate Style. In response to Enron, WorldCom and Adelphia, we all have a heightened sensitivity that you want to hire honest people," says New York corporate recruiter Gregg Grossman. The question becomes, how do you maneuver values onto your résumé without beating prospective employers over the head with too much detail? Grossman and Gershon Bergwerk of Resume.com, a career services firm, have these suggestions:
Tell a prospective employer what's important to you. "Saying 'I am an active participant in the PTA' or in charitable organizations, that says something about you, your skills, who you are and how you manage your life," Bergwerk says. A hiring manager wants to know how you'll make him look good, make the company perform better and add to the bottom line. If you had huge success raising money for a cause, rallying support for a political candidate or serving as commissioner of your local little league, that speaks to the skills you might bring to a company.
Sidestep political footballs. By doing your research on companies ahead of time, you'll know when it's a mistake to tell an organization you're a fervent member of NOW or an ardent Republican (maybe you'll decide you don't want to work there!). So absolutely tailor your résumé to each individual employer.
Show how you dealt with any downtime. If you've been out of the workforce for a while, account for the time. Maybe you took classes, volunteered, or cared for your kids or an ill relative. "People think if they weren't president of their co-op association, it doesn't count, but they're wrong," Grossman says.
Above all, be honest. A no-brainer, but many people embellish their résumés. They fudge dates of employment to make it look as if they worked continuously. Or they play around with their educational chronology or degrees. They assume no one's checking. Today, companies absolutely are paying attention. They are calling references not as a formality but because they really want to know what a former boss will say. So play it straight.
Contributing Editor Jean Sherman Chatzky is the author of Talking Money (Warner Books, $24.95).
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