Resume Suggestions

To my former colleagues.?

One of the challenges with a resume is they are often seen as a list of skills, job titles, dates, tasks, etc.? The opportunity is to look through the lens of what you can do for your prospective employer.? There is a lot of different advice on how to do this.? One thought is to customize your resume / application for each role you apply.? Another is to create a broad-based overview of what you can bring to any employer (who you are as an employee) and then tweak it a bit with a cover letter or summary in your resume for each role you apply.?

My observation is that applying for jobs is very much a numbers game.? Meaning - you may need to apply to 100 jobs, to get 10 responses, to get 1 interview.? There are always stories of what worked, best practices from "thought leaders" and "industry insiders", but don't underestimate simple odds.? It is easy to apply for a job.? It is cheap and easy for an employer to post a role.? The math indicates that it will likely take a lot of effort or a lot of luck – regardless of your superior skills and your perfect resume.?

Below are few thoughts.? Please reach out to me if you want to talk or get together in person.? I am more than happy to be an advocate for you and help you find a new role.?

• An objective or a summary may be helpful to call out how you can help an employer and state what your resume says (in a quick synopsis).? Your resume may not be read as thoroughly as you assume.?
• No need to go back to before you started with [your most recent or applicable roles].? Very few employers will find it relevant.? Focus on what is relevant to the prospective employer.?
• Think of your time as "phases" and name or describe the phase.?
• Education does not need to be just "formal" schooling.? Education can be life-long learning or role / industry specific.?
• Try not to be too hard on yourself. Forgive yourself for whatever is running through your head. You have heard me say it before.... You'll get over it. We all do the best we can for as long as we can, and then we go do something else. Good luck.