Writing Resumes That Attract Your Perfect Job

Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happen

Ben was a comptroller. He liked what he did and wanted to find a similar job after his position was eliminated during a re-organization. He brought to our initial meeting a resume that outlined his employment history and education. There was no professional summary and nothing that identified how his market value differed from all the other bean-counters out there with similar experience.

I sent him home with an assignment to create a professional summary. This is what he wrote:

I am an Accountant/Comptroller with expertise directing all aspects of finance and accounting functions for manufacturing and distribution industries. Core competencies include data management, financial analysis, and direction of integrated services.

This was a huge improvement and a great start. But I knew we could do better.

As we talked more, I asked Ben probing questions to find out what he really liked to do. Then something interesting happened. Ben started talking about creating change and implementing process improvements that helped to increase the productivity and profitability of a company. As he spoke, his eyes lit up, and he got more animated and energized. Clearly this was what he really enjoyed most about his job. It was apparent he was extremely effective in this role.

Too bad no one would know that. Reading his resume and professional summary a potential employer wouldn't have a clue about Ben. He hadn't communicated his unique abilities and strengths. Ben hadn't "branded" himself within the marketplace.

We wrote a new professional summary to "sell the real deal." Let me introduce you to the authentic Ben:

Results-driven Sr. Financial Executive with proven success as an effective change agent in the development and advancement of both Fortune 500 and start-up companies. A hands-on team builder able to reach objectives through a combination of entrepreneurship and "outside of the box" thinking. Expertise spans all aspects of finance and accounting functions for manufacturing and distribution industries with the proven ability to consistently impact improved productivity and profitability.

Do you see the difference?

We now know the size companies and the industries Ben wants to work for. We understand more about his personality and the kind of culture/environment where he would be most effective. We also see that he is more interested in driving end results then reporting on end results.

Can you imagine how this type of statement would help to attract the opportunity he really wants?

In the first statement, Ben could have easily attracted jobs that would have stuck him behind a desk to crank out monthly reports and balance spreadsheets - something that would have left him unfulfilled, unchallenged and under-utilized.

In changing his statement, Ben positioned himself to attract the fast-paced, change-oriented culture he craved, and the type and level of responsibilities he desired.

Here's one other point of interest. By identifying himself as a Sr. Financial Executive, Ben is also sending a compensation message. Who do you think commands a higher salary - an accountant/comptroller or a Sr. Executive?

If you want to attract what you like and want, you have to put it out there. By incorporating information about your personality, level of experience, core competencies and interests, you can effectively advertise for what you want to attract the best fit in the four critical areas......

Jeannette Kraar, president of Performance Management International is the Breakthrough Career Coach and a highly-acclaimed trainer, speaker and consultant. Hundreds of PMI clients have succeeded even in the most turbulent times. Jeannette is the author of BREAKTHROUGH, The Hate My Job, Need A Life, Can't Get No Satisfaction SOLUTION. Learn more about the book at http://www.breakthroughcareersolutions.com. Email Jeannette at pmi@manageyoursuccess.com or visit her on-line at http://www.breakthroughcareersolutions.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Bartending School Online- Earn Your Bartender Training From Home
Many young adults flock to bars, lounges and clubs on a weekly basis. They spend hundreds sometimes thousands of dollars on entertaining themselves and their friends. When the night's over and the lights go up, everyone starts to trickle out the front door a little more broke than they were when they entered. Everyone that is, except the bartenders who get to walk out a little richer than they were when they came in. Bartending as a career can be lucrative and extremely fun. Better yet the occupation fits well with many young adults lifestyles and allows them the freedom that regular nine to five jobs don't.

Surviving Unemployment Through Emotional Damage Control
Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation when you think you've found a great position, low with discouragement when you realize that someone else was offered a job you wanted.

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance
Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us feeling lonely, stressed and anxious. How do we manage to deal with the financial and emotional stress of having a home, a car, work (or no work), kids and a spouse in this too-busy world?

Reading the Want Ads--Not for Jobs--For Information
What? Want ads are where job announcements are, not information!

War Time Hiring: 5 Steps to Attract Top Talent
A recent report, titled "The War for Talent" stated that over the next 20 years, employee talent will be what differentiates successful companies from those going bust. The late 90's gave us a glimpse of the talent war, but was nothing compared to what's ahead. Here are five ways to bulletproof your company before the battle begins.

Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!
That "B" word---B O R E D O M.

Have Enough Money to Change Careers - Five Key Steps
At every talk I give, I ask the audience to tell me the reasons why people don't change careers. The most common answer given each time is "lack of money." So many people have such an exaggerated fear about money that they will not even take the time to determine how much they will need to do work they love in the first place!

Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict
Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the Uncooperative

21st Century Career Success
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we can all count on is change. With the advent of technology, telecommuting, and E-commerce, how work is performed is in a state of reinvention. Self-employment and small business development will become more the norm than big business. And career changes will be more frequent due to rapidly changing organizations and industries. Finally, the line between one's personal and professional life will become even more blurred. Since the modern world of work is rapidly changing to keep up with the demands of our fast-paced lives and lifestyles, here are some characteristics of what the new work contract will look like:

Traveling for An Interview? 10 Tips to Get You From Here to There
You've just been granted an on-site interview in another town. Hurray!

A Concept That Could Double Youre Income in Mystery Shopping
Do you want to double, or increase significantly you're income in mystery shopping? If yes, I'll be sharing to you an age old concept. Now you might have learned this already or you may consider this common sense. But is a concept that's worth drilling on for more knowledge or for the sake of repetition, mind you "Repetition is the mother of all skills".

3 Questions No Job Seeker Ever Wants To Be Asked?
Employer and interviewers expect you to answer tough question during interviews. Take a few minutes to brainstorm on how you might elaborate on the following answers. The answers you give to these questions that will be asked during your interview will be very important in your career prospects.

Career Job Satisfaction - Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!
Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!

Get Paid to Shop And Keep Everything You Buy - Without Having to Pay!
Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For Money; Compare Prices, Staff Efficiency, Product Range, Customer Service Between Rival Firms?

Job Interviews -- The Four Worst Objections You?ll Face and How to Deal with Them
Dealing with tough questions and objections is an essential part of job interviews. Here are four common ones that derail many candidates. Read on to find out what they are and how you can deal with them.

How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy
Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a place called Apathy. Had been for months now. Knew he had to get moving, had to find a job, but ? just couldn't seem to get his act together. Oh, he'd tried ? a little. But his lack of immediate success just made him that much more apathetic.

An Alternative to Hiring Employees
Current trends in business are conspiring to create a revolution in the way that small and medium sized companies do business. These forces have created an environment in which growing companies can make maximum use of their labor dollars, while accessing a talent base previously unreachable due to the costs involved with hiring top talent.

Great Interview Skills
Going for a job interview can be a harrowing experience. The reasons are varied: A job applicant may not have the necessary relevant working experience or may be worried about the inability to answer difficult questions. Even the pressure of needing a job to pay for the living expenses can cause a job applicant to "freeze" or go numb with anxiety during the interview.

Rev-Up Your Network!
Whether you are looking for a job, new clients or feel the need to expand your list of professional contacts, networking is the answer.

The Group Interview
Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up in a situation where you are in a group interview. A group interview is where you are being interviewed along with several other candidates for the job. Some professions that might conduct group interviews are sales, education and flight attendants.