Think Like Employers
Thinking like a potential employer is easy for me: I am in
the business of walking in other people’s shoes, and hardly give the task thought.
Creating résumés, however, requires the ability to envision things from an
employer’s perspectives—an occupational hazard, if you will.
Traditionally, jobseekers do not
approach their résumés from this viewpoint. Other priorities win out, such as I need to get my story out there, or I need to explain my unique situation.
Some see the entire process as, “It’s all
about me-me-me!”
While employers are interested in
what you can do, there are limits. Jobseekers attempting to overreach resort to
throwing in the unnecessary to satisfy all
employment contingencies and all situations.
Superlatives are used to exaggerate, inflate and otherwise hyperventilate the mundane.
Accomplishing that mission
requires extra verbiage—usually three full pages. Sometimes four or five pages
are deemed inadequate--especially for those with extravagant egos. Inflated material
comes with a price. From an employer’s perspective, long-winded résumés carry unintended
consequences, some of which only appear obvious to employers.
As you flash read[1]
your résumé, see which unintended message your material might convey. Perform
this exercise from the recipient’s perspective. Remove yourself, and imagine
you have 50 emails to scan read over lunch. Pretend someone else’s name is plastered
on your material.
(Lengthy résumé.) Another old-timer who thinks my time is worthless. Next.
(Lengthy paragraphs.) Oh-brother, this is going to be a struggle to read.
Next.
(Too many bullet points.) Am I
supposed to figure out what is important here? Next.
(Focus missing.) I wonder what this person is looking for. –Okay, not really. Next.
(Vague or too general material.) Hmm? Seem
we have a communication disconnect. Next.
(Riddled with rationale or explanations.) Sounds like an excuse maker to me. Next.
(Non-relevant content.) What does
this nonsense have to do with our opening? Next.
(Too much detail or too many givens.) This person must think I am stupid. Next.
(Too many qualifiers or superlatives.) Sounds like someone full of him/herself. Next.
(Glaring date gaps and date omissions.) Is this person trying to be slick or what? Next.
(Functional résumé.) I wonder where this individual did his/her hard time. Next.
(Scattergun résumé.) Hey, Phil, this person can handle our IT, HR and
COO needs! Next.
While protecting
yourself into the mind’s eye of employers poses a challenge, nonetheless, you
should consider the intended audience. The difference between content substance
and informational overload or any illusions listed above amounts to a judgment
call. Small adjustments can cause a significant difference in the mindset of
the recipients.
Copyrighted © 2014 by Robert James
[1] Flash
reading is how employers scan volumes of material in short order. Initial flash
reads generally require less than 15 seconds. Being selected from the flash
read, places your material on the short list. Those receive a second review.