Tips help managers and executives write expert resumes

By Lori Michelle Ryan, JIST Publishing

Job seekers often communicate a first impression through their resumes. Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark, in the newly updated edition of Expert Resumes for Managers and Executives, stress how important a strong resume is for all applicants.

“A vital component of your career management plan is your resume, which must instantly position you as a well-qualified and highly competitive candidate,” the authors said. “The easiest way to accomplish that objective is by developing a powerful, performance-based resume.”

In their book, Enelow and Kursmark provide numerous resume samples, divided by career field, that are aimed at people at all levels of management, from front-line supervisors to top-level executives. They also offer nine strategies for writing effective resumes:

Write to the job you want: “You cannot write an effective resume without knowing, at least to some degree, what type or types of positions you will be seeking.”

Sell it to me … don’t tell it to me: “If you ‘tell it,’ you simply state facts. If you ‘sell it,’ you promote it, advertise it, and draw attention to it.”

Use keywords: “Keywords are … specific to a particular industry or profession. … When you use these words and phrases, you are communicating a specific message.”

Use the “big” and save the “little”: “Try to focus on the ‘big’ things—revenue and profit growth, new initiatives and ventures, special projects, cost savings … then save the ‘little’ stuff—the details—for the interview.”

Make your resume “interviewable”: After “you are contacted for a telephone or in-person interview, your resume becomes all-important in leading and prompting your interviewer during your conversation.”

Eliminate confusion with structure and context: “Be consistent; make information easy to find; and define the context in which you worked.”

Use function to demonstrate achievement: “A resume that focuses on your job functions can be dry and uninteresting and says little about your unique activities and contributions.”

Remain in the realm of reality: “Do not push your skills and qualifications outside the bounds of what is truthful.”

Be confident: “There is only one individual with the specific combination of employment experience, qualifications, achievements, education and technical skills that you have.”

“Your resume can have tremendous power and a phenomenal impact on your job search. So don’t take it lightly,” say Enelow and Kursmark. “Rather, devote the time, energy and resources that are essential to developing a resume that is well-written, visually attractive and effective in communicating who you are and how you want to be perceived.”

Expert Resumes for Managers and Executives is available at major bookstores, Amazon.com and jist.com.