99% of Resumes Aren't Worth the Paper They're Written On

I don't "do" resumes but, listen.

Everyone knows you're a diligent, hard working, smart, dedicated, flexible critical thinker and strategic planner. What you want your prospective employer to see first and foremost is what you will DO for their business.

You can use prior successes to show how you'll do that or why you're up to the task. Otherwise, most resumes are not worth the paper they're written on.

What I want to know is

What can you do for me?

Your prospective boss is hiring because she or the company has a problem that needs fixing. You can’t know what that problem is without: (a) Asking them; (b) asking around the business community; or, (c) doing a little googling - I go to “news” and put “Bloomberg” into any google search because I don’t want to get dozens of links to what the company’s marketing people say about it (always glowing). I want to know what the CEO said last time he was interviewed or what others are saying about the company’s competition or growing pains or phase outs, acquisitions, mergers, venture capital funding and the like.

Craft your resume for that company. Sure, you can have a form. But that form is what it is - a form to work from, to tailor your experience for the exact need the company has.

That’s all. I tell my clients this all the time when we’re discussing how to pitch a raise, a promotion or request for market value pay in a new job.

You’re good at what you do. But they don't care. What the care about is what you can do for them. Now. Efficiently and effectively.

So don’t toss that resume. Use it as the form its meant to be.

That’s all.