Before You Send in that Resume . . .by Gen Caruso, dba Golden Resume Creations
Some years ago while working for an insurance company, I was asked to help select a new manager for the Marketing Services Division. My task was to identify the five most preferential candidates, out of the 87 who applied, based on nothing more than their résumés and cover letters. The five applicants who appeared most promising would be invited in for interviews.
Since the year was 1997, prior to relying on the Internet for our every need, résumés and cover letters were printed and sent through the mail. You could actually touch them! It made part of the task much easier because you couldn’t get away with a bad format, or many other errors that were usually blamed on Internet server problems.
With so many to review, I figured if one brain and two eyes could handle this, just think what two brains and four eyes could accomplish. I “borrowed” a coworker to assist me for a few hours, not realizing we were embarking on a journey like nothing before.
We sectioned off areas on long table in the conference room, with labels that read:
1. “Almost too good to be true, check further.”
2. “May be winners.”
3. “Not quite sure yet, read on.”
4. “Questionable”
5. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
We decided not to toss the envelopes, as they, too are rather telling. Envelopes looking as if they’d been run over by a truck, chewed by the dog and especially those handwritten with smudges, cross-outs, spelling errors, etc. were immediately put in the “Questionable” pile.
I don’t think I mentioned that these résumés were sent in response to a specific job ad. Certain requirements, criteria and qualifications were essential and if these weren’t addressed, and properly, out they went.
It’s amazing how many people couldn’t seem to provide simple, straightforward answers to simple, straightforward questions. They’d either “dance” around the issues or ignore them altogether.
Once our task was completed, we had:
1. 12 — Almost too good.
2. 7 — Possible winners.
3. 19 — Read more.
4. 26 — Uncertain, read on.
5. 23 — Garbage.
I suppose it shouldn’t have shocked me to see 26% were trash, and only 8% were really worthwhile. The funniest thing was finding one résumé that was almost a direct copy of my own! People, beware, you never know who may be at the other end!
The résumés that fell in the “too good to be true,” category, we either ones taken directly off a template, wording and all, or from individuals who had substantial credentials, but nothing in the area of marketing!
I’ll save the winners for last.
The 19 in the “read more,” made one big mistake. While after reading them, some individuals did seem capable of doing the job, we had to dig too far into the resume to find this out. This should be immediately evident and hit the reader like a sledgehammer. None of these did, so there were sort of in limbo.
The questionable category had many recent graduates and people starting out in their careers. Nice try, but this was not an entry-level position, and stated so. Most of these were tossed.
The 23 résumés classified as “you’ve got to be kidding,” were just that. We received everything from handwritten résumés on notebook paper, to several so contrived in every way, we know they were nothing but a bunch of lies. Thinking she was writing to a man, one woman very strongly implied if she were hired, he would benefit from not just her work, but sexual favors, as well. While the majority didn’t go this far, they simply spoke loud and clear, this person was not in the caliber we were looking for.
Some of the most basic rules of putting together a résumé that will at least get read are as follows:
- Proofread and then proofread some more. Typos and spelling errors are not tolerated, especially when it comes to things like the name of the company, etc.
- Have a bit of dignity and respect. Even if you may not be a perfect match for a particular job, you certainly will get more attention by writing a cover letter that is respectful and humble. Its okay to talk about your strengths, but don’t come off like you are the only living soul capable of doing this job.
- Any letter that begins with, “Dear Sir,” immediately goes in the trash. Its 2011 people. Women have the right to vote and work! If you don’t know who you are writing to at least begin it with “Dear Sir or Madam,” or better yet, “Dear Hiring Director.”
- Don’t give any negative information, such as a bad experience with a boss/coworker or talk your financial problems. We all have them. You won’t be hired based on pity, and the more negativity you bring at this point, only means there’s a boatload more to come!
- We truly understand and appreciate people wanting to change career fields. I did it. Yet, if you were in the banking industry, but now want to get into restaurant management, you must show relevant skills applicable to that job. You simply cannot hop into another field, simply because you are 43-years-old and had 16 years of experience doing whatever. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit. Take classes, go back to school, and learn about what you want before trying to make a recruiter think you can do it.
- A cover letter isn’t an opportunity to share your life story. If I pick up a package and find a four-page cover letter, out it goes. I neither have the time or eyesight to care about what you did back in 6th grade.
- Don’t approach me as your friend. I am not your friend, (and may never be) but a cover letter should be written in a conversational, yet professional tone. Not, hey dude!
- Do not ask about salary at this point. If you are applying for a professional middle-management type situation, you’ll be paid good enough. This isn’t the time to worry about money, vacations or sick leave.
- Never lie because we will find out. We’ve been doing this long enough that we are one step ahead of any tricks or scams you can think of. When your résumé and John Smith’s sound peculiarly similar, you are insulting our intelligence and it will get you nowhere.
- Feel free to ask relevant, appropriate questions. We like when people are interested enough to want to know more.
- Be yourself, be polite, humble and gracious. You don’t just get respect, you must earn it, and someone who is appreciative and appropriate, gets a lot of points.
We know I could write a book on this subject, as many people have. However, from where I sit, these are the very basic things that make it or break it.
I said I would comment on the seven people who were possible winners. Each one had an appropriate cover letter, along with résumé. While one individual did not include a résumé, per se, he covered all the points properly in his letter. As it turned out, we invited six out of the seven for interviews. The other person already had found a job. Out of the six, we narrowed it down to three, and then finally hired the person we felt had the qualities, skills and personality we were looking for.
Golden Résumé Creations is a home-based, freelance writing business, owned by Gen Caruso, CPRW. She has produced résumés, cover letters and related articles to individuals and audiences worldwide. For questions or rates, contact her at [email protected]
