Maya Payne Smart

Resume Rehab
Beat out hundreds of applicants with these four smart tune-ups
By Maya Payne Smart

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These days, hiring managers have endless applicant choices. "I put a job listing for an operations manager on a couple of different sites, and I got 60 to 70 resumes in less than two days," says Valerie Mason-Robinson, CEO of Eden Organix, a Highland Park, New Jersey, spa. That's a huge difference from the average 15 she receives in a normal job market. Only five received callbacks. The difference? Their resumes sold their skills and key accomplishments. Make your sell sheet shine with these tips:

Match up your skill

Research the employer's gaps in business tactics or operations. Stress your technological know-how and ability to solve problems that will fill those gaps, says Anita Davis-DeFoe, Ph.D., professional coach and author of Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons for Women as They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom (Afia Press). Emphasize only the aspects of work that relate to the current job opening, says Abby Locke, a Washington, D.C., career strategist.

Play up pro bono work

"At the end of the day we're looking for the skill, whether it came from a job or a volunteer scenario," says Traci Dunn, director of global inclusion and talent acquisition for The Timken Co. in Canton, Ohio. Instead of saying you were a volunteer for the Mahira School of Dance, you might point out that as the marketing manager, you enhanced company image through unique advertising initiatives, secured partnerships with key executives, and garnered $5,000 monthly in corporate sponsorships.

Convey key messages

With companies operating lean and mean, sell experience that reflects the ability to help them make and save money, figure out specific issues, save time, make work easier, be more competitive, build strategic relationships, expand the business, and attract and retain customers.

Document measurable results

Identify areas that demonstrate value, where the hiring manager can say, "If I bring you on my team, I know that you will deliver X," says Locke. For example, writing "captured more than 300 customers in the first four months by orchestrating final product delivery, packaging, pricing and marketing promotions" communicates that you delivered real value.

PERFECTING THE PAPERWORK
Check out these resume pointers from career strategist Abby Locke:

1. Put accomplishments first.

Focus on your performance and career contributions. Listing tasks tells employers what you are paid to do; featuring achievements demonstrates how well you can do them.

2. Make it quick.

Keep statements to about five lines, and incorporate a combination of paragraphs and bullets to allow the content to be identified immediately.

3. Show, don't tell.

Use strong key words, but don't be generic. Starting each sentence or performance statement with a vibrant action word will make each item pop on the page and sell you as a doer.