A Concise Resume
Kent R.
Q: What are some of the most common roadblocks that you find people have when writing their resumes.
A: People have many challenges with their resumes. I talk a lot about how most people find it difficult to speak in terms of achievements. I am going to let that go - for today at least.
This time around, I want to address people's inability to write concisely about their background and experience. Many people - when sitting down to tackle a resume - believe it's important to detail everything about every position they've had - often getting into minor things that will undoubtedly be assumed by the reader. Even worse, most of the content is task related - far from the accomplishment-centric information that makes a resume shine. Including such things does not bolster the case made for your employment. Rather, it often prompts the hiring manager to view you in a more negative light.
The power of a great resume is undeniable, and it serves many purposes. Your resume should be viewed as your first deliverable to a company. If HR and the hiring team see that you can portray yourself in a succinct, compelling fashion, you're off to a great start. If you go on and on about the positions you've held - no matter how impressive your title - you've demonstrated that you can't edit yourself.
In most cases, a resume is meant to be a hook. Persuade the reader to want to learn more via an interview. Trust me, there will be plenty of time to share all of the details, if needed.