When writing resumes, it is important to remember whom it is you’re trying to please – (is it you, or the hiring authority?) In this article I will present my ideas of what makes up really aggressive documents, based on my many years in the industry, and my career in owning and managing a successful resume writing and career marketing firm.

Who Is Reading Your Resume?

Make no mistake about it, aggressive documents are necessary to be successful in today’s competitive job search. But first, some history. Let’s examine some of the “hiring authorities.” Before my career in the resume writing industry, I spent several years as an executive recruiter, placing mid- and senior-level executives in top corporations. Eventually, I managed that firm, which employed 24 recruiters working 10 “desks.” A “desk” is a specialty: finance, banking, engineering, information systems, legal, are all known as “desks” and each recruiter (or team of recruiters) specialized in placing upper managers and executives in a chosen field.

I no longer place candidates, and devote all my energies to resumes and the career marketing industry as a whole, and my own firm in particular. However, I still have many connections with recruiters, and have respect for the really great ones, and distaste for the all-too-often bad ones!

I think it’s important to remember that these days, people in career transition are driven to explore many methods in their job search. In the past, it was much easier to look for a job – individuals simply read the classified ads, called the telephone number listed and chatted with the person over the phone, setting up an in-person interview for the next day. What a snap!

These days, however, the job search is much more complex. Competition for employment has never been greater. The entire process is often drawn-out, depersonalized and hard, hard, hard! Resumes are no longer just asked for, they are DEMANDED. In reality, they are a prerequisite for a job search.

My point is, you have to remember what the resume’s purpose actually is and write accordingly. The dynamics in this field are very exciting but also very volatile. The buzz words are forever changing. Companies, for example, were at one time laying-off, then downsizing… rightsizing… reorganizing, and now reengineering. Whew!

Recruiters, company hiring managers and human resources professionals are all components in your job search, and it is the resume’s job to land interviews.

I routinely speak with professional recruiters, H.R. professionals and hiring managers to get their reactions and opinions to resume styles, formats, contents and verbiage. Remembering that resumes are actually marketing pieces designed to sell you to potential employers, aggressive resumes are NOT simply a listing of your work experience or your biography (life on paper).

What Makes A “Winning” Resume?

Here are some of my methods and suggestions for writing aggressive resumes, based on my own experience as a recruiter, my interaction with hiring professionals and employment specialists and my clients’ success rate in obtaining interviews within 30 days.

Successful resumes need to SELL you over and above your peers and they create a sense of urgency for the reader to pick up the phone and call (or email) you to arrange an interview. Otherwise, the alternative is the reader scans the resume, thinks, “Yeah, this person has a good background,” and then moves on to scan the next resume, pitching your resume in the old “circular file.”

So let’s examine some ways to write aggressive, up-to-the-minute resumes that really SELL you.

OBJECTIVES

There are lots of opinions about whether or not to use an objective, or just how to do so, if one IS used. The only “given” about the use of an objective, is definitely NOT to use one on senior level resumes. A CEO, CFO, COO or other executive’s resume actually looks/reads silly when an objective is used. But for the mid-level or entry-level candidate, an objective can be useful. Here are a few ways to incorporate the concept into a resume…for a very targeted client who knows exactly what she/he wants:

BUYER…PURCHASING MANAGER…PROCUREMENT AGENT

or, for someone seeking to remain in their career pattern: EXPERIENCED COST ACCOUNTANT seeks a position with a progressive organization that will utilize a successful career to meet/exceed company goals.

or, for a client who has several fields she/he want to pursue: Results-oriented manager seeks a position with advancement opportunities; areas of interest include retail, electronics and communications technology.

or, if someone wants to change careers: AGGRESSIVE individual seeks a career in sales utilizing strong interpersonal skills to penetrate untapped markets and build a loyal client base.

What you’ll notice in the above cases, is what’s stressed in the objective: the BENEFIT the COMPANY will receive if they hire the candidate. What is not stated is what YOU want. Companies don’t care what you want – they want to know what you can do for THEM.

A flaw in writing objectives, is that they sometimes just say the same thing that 78+ other resumes sitting on the hiring authority’s desk state: Seeking a challenging position that will utilize my skills in editing, proofreading and copy writing.

Oh, that’s exciting…makes you just want to jump to the phone and give that person a call, doesn’t it? Stating that the person is seeking a challenging position is ridiculous. Would you ever state that you were seeking a boring position? Of course not – so don’t state the obvious – it’s a cliché.

REFERENCES PROVIDED UPON REQUEST

Using this phrase at the end of the resume is archaic. It’s a given (talk about a cliché!), and contemporary resumes omit this. The better approach is to generate a prepared Professional Reference sheet which you can bring with you on interviews and leave with the interviewer when references are requested.

RESPONSIBLE

This word is often so over-used in a resume, that at GetInterviews.com, we never use it. Recruiters employed at retainer-only search firms have told me that the word “responsible” signifies mid-management and below, not executive-level candidates. Personally, I believe the word “responsible” is actually useless in a resume. Instead of writing, “Responsible for all departmental functions including accounts payable/receivable, payroll and invoicing…” I would suggest to use an action word that best depicts what that person actually does – for example, “Perform all departmental functions, including…” or “Oversee all departmental functions, including…” or “Review all departmental functions, including…” See what I mean? “Responsible” doesn’t really SAY anything, it doesn’t give a clear indication of what you actually do. Do you perform the functions or direct them? “Responsible” is too vague to say which.

MY, MINE, THIS, I

Using words like this in the resume indicates you are writing in a narrative voice, as if you are having an actual conversation, a dialogue with the reader. This is not the case: you are presenting your achievements, skills and credentials to a potential employer. My suggestion would be to keep the resume more business-like, more professional. In descriptions, the word “a” could be substituted for the word “this,” as in: “Promoted to a $30 million division of an international widget manufacturer to expand sales into untapped markets” as opposed to “Promoted to this $30 million division….”

ALSO

I have seen this word used when describing daily functions: “Control and administer annual budgets totaling $12 million. Also, interface with vendors to negotiate more favorable terms and gain higher profits.” Again, the “also” is a dialogue word, and quite unnecessary. In writing resumes, it is best to do what my Creative Writing professor called “tight writing.” That is, to eliminate as many “an’s, the’s, also’s, a’s,” etc., as possible. They typically aren’t necessary and can be cut from the resume without loss of meaning.

NUMBERS

Contrary to the rules of grammar, EXCEPT for academic resumes, it is best to use numerals in a resume rather than spell out the number, even when that number is 10 or under. I know that grammatically, we are taught to spell out numbers like three, five, seven, etc., and write 12, 14, 16, etc. The numerical version, however, jumps off a page, whereas the spelled out version often gets lost. Because resumes are often only scanned by the reader 15-20 seconds, the actual use of numbers helps to capture the readers’ attention – they are drawn to the numbers, which means they are spending more time looking at and reading your resume – and that’s a GOOD thing! I made the reference above to academic resumes, because teachers, principals and superintendents are very sensitive to grammatical rules, even in resumes. It’s best to spell out any number under 10 for these types of resumes. I would never recommend, however, that the words “percentage” or “dollar” be used (“30 percent” or “12 million dollars”) – instead, use the symbol, as in 30% or $12 million.

EDUCATION VS. EXPERIENCE

Knowing when to highlight someone’s education vs. experience is important. With certain fields (teaching, for example), the general preference is to lead off the resume with the client’s credentials and educational background, even if they have considerable experience. Recent college grads should also have their education first, as it is typically their greatest achievement. However, someone who returned to college (part time nights, for example), while concurrently employed full time for the past 9 years as a travel agent, should have their resume lead off with their experience, and NOT emphasize they just obtained their Bachelors degree. They are not entry-level candidates – their experience is more vital to a company than their education. Remember that all resumes do NOT have to lead off with the client’s education.

PAST / PRESENT TENSE

Writing in the present tense is always more aggressive than writing in the past tense. Verbs in past tense are in a passive voice, so whenever feasible, write in the present tense. Obviously, if you are still employed, your current job listing is written in the present tense (manage, direct, supervise, control, etc).

PICTURES

Unless you are an actor or model, do not include a picture of yourself under any circumstances. Companies these days are so concerned about EEO lawsuits, discriminatory cases and the like, that at best, they will immediately throw out the picture, or at worst, possibly throw away the entire resume, especially if the picture is printed into the resume. I can guarantee you recruiting firms are highly sensitive to this, as well.

GRAPHICS

Be careful not to make your resumes “too cute.” Remember, companies see you as an INVESTMENT – they are spending x amount of dollars to obtain you (salary), and want to see a return on their investment. It is a business negotiation. If the resume appears too “decorative” or distracting because of cute clip art images or overly decorative paper, you may be dismissed and the resume tossed.

PERSONAL INFO

Marital status, date of birth, health, hobbies, etc., are not relevant on a resume these days.

Remember, you aren’t writing your biography, you are marketing yourself on paper: why does the employer want to hire YOU above all others, especially when there are 91+ resumes from equally qualified candidates sitting on that decision-maker’s desk? Answer that question in the resume, and you will have written a tight, solid, results-oriented resume…in short, a winning, aggressive resume, and the sort of resume that is vital for today’s job search – and that of the next millennium.

So, you appetite to assignment in the IT industry? Great, acceptable choice, salaries can become actual aerial as you assignment your way up through the ranks. Aback you accept 5 or added years in the industry you will be abundant approved afterwards for your sage-like adeptness and acid skills. But, adapted now you charge to administer on some of the acute questions about which area of the IT industry to target, what blazon of training to undertake, and what abroad you could be accomplishing to accomplish yourself a adorable amalgamation to a abeyant employer.

Let’s run through a few ammo credibility that are the capital capacity of the acknowledgment to my aboriginal question:

Be honest, is IT absolutely what you appetite to do, what inspires you and what you feel is your accustomed ‘home’, or is it a fad you best up from addition else?

Are you aflame about the challenges of alive through complex, repetitive, problems with few advertence credibility and little support?

Do you feel ‘at home’ sat in advanced of a computer application applications, or are you added adequate abutting computers and peripherals together, and configuring operating systems and applications?

Are you aggressive by the anticipation of managing an IT activity from alpha to end, documenting every date and reviewing and advertisement anniversary aberration and turn?

Does the abstraction of alive in a awful structured environment, with circadian scrums and amaranthine affairs about-face you on?

Do you get all afraid aback you contemplate sitting for hours and hours autograph JAVA, VB or C++ code?

Does the abstraction of alive for canicule in a freezing cold, and actual noisy, server allowance columnist your buttons?

Do you get all girlie aback you see the best recent abode from Gartner and appearance the Magic Quadrant for the fresh Hypervisor system?

If you said yes to all of the above, you are in burning charge of psychiatric help! No-one gets angry on by any of the above. It’s aloof allotment of the accustomed accepted for those of us alive in the altered sectors of our industry. And that is the point I am making. IT is an industry, not a way of life. Accomplish abiding that you leave your rose-tinted specs at home aback you alpha to contemplate a career in my industry. Keep them on, and you will be hardly disappointed.

Working in IT is like any added job. It can be agitative and energising, but best of the time is aloof apparent arid and tedious. Aloof like your accepted job in fact. What can accomplish it fun for added of the time is your aboriginal choices about what you intend to do and which area you intend to accomplish your antecedent home. I say initial, as you will apparently move about a bit as time passes and you acquisition your alcove and the things that abode to you.

What not to do:

Don’t booty any apprehension of IT training aggregation claims. They’re in ’selling’ approach guys! They appetite your bum on their seats. How do I apperceive this? I ran an IT training aggregation for four years. They will acquaint you how abundantly important an MCSE is, or how advantageous an A+ or Server+ is. Sorry people, none of this is decidedly important. Any affectionate of acceptance that is accordant is useful, but alone to a actual accessory extent. Best application companies are attractive for activity and affection for IT, some acquaintance in the technologies pertinent to the vacancy, and a CV that catches their eye. Doesn’t aching to be able to put a brace of MCPs on the CV. But if the job is alive with UNIX or open-source, an MCP is hardly acceptable to get you noticed. Not anybody uses Microsoft products, surprisingly. Best Internet arrangement systems are Open-Source, best heavy-weight database systems are UNIX, and best video alteration and desk-top publishing is done on the Macintosh and SGI systems. Microsoft Windows may boss the desktop, but in the big advanced apple of IT it has alone a baby allotment of the back-end server-side installations, and a actual baby allotment of the Internet market. You charge to abode this affair and NOT administer your energies alone on Windows based technologies. You may be a hot cardinal alive on your PC at home, with Windows XP Pro installed, but that is not what is adapted in the IT industry. No-one will be attractive for a PC able with XP experience. There are millions of them, so you are not activity to accomplish a active alive with PCs or Windows at that level.

Don’t booty too actively anyone who spouts techno-babble. They accept apparently aloof apprehend an IT magazine, been to their favourite IT web site, or it’s their aboriginal ages alive as a help-desk abettor for a bounded call-centre, or treading the boards in PCWorld. The actuality is they apperceive ’squat’ and that is absolutely what you will apprentice from them. You don’t charge techno-babble, you charge to accept to addition who can broadcast anecdotal acquaintance and advice to you. That’s the best way to apprentice about the industry. You accept to accomplish the accomplishment to acquisition the advice you need, as it is absurd to aback appear.

Don’t bother accepting a part-time job alive boxes of computers around, or humping crates for a computer bargain company, or alive in a retail computer shop. You’ll apprentice annihilation and apparently end up with a artificial aback or a headache. You accept to go ‘industrial strength’ if you appetite to accept a able-bodied paid IT based career. If you can get a job alive as an abettor to a networks engineer, or arrangement ambassador in a aggregation with added than 5 servers, you may apprentice article useful.

What you can alpha to do:

Talk to bodies who are absolutely alive in the industry and accept been for added than three years. Beneath than three years and they are still juniors themselves and will not accept been about abundant to accept any able-bodied formulated opinions based on actuality and experience. They alone ‘think’ they know. That’s not acceptable abundant for your purposes. Addition who has formed in a few altered areas and has a all-around appearance of the IT industry is abundant added admired as a resource.

It’s not consistently advantageous to allocution to addition who has been in the aforementioned aggregation for abounding years. They may be loyal workers, but their adeptness of the IT industry and technologies will be blinkered. In IT today you are accepted to move on afterwards two to three years. If you don’t you will be out of blow with developments. Moores Law states that our industry goes through a technology change every eighteen months. My ‘Law’ says it’s added acceptable to be nine months. Some Gartner and IDC analysts will acquaint you it’s now bottomward to six months.

Read the ’serious’ IT magazines, not the PC Plus, or Active PC blazon of ‘user-end’ mag’. I would admonish that you subscribe to Computer Weekly. It’s absolutely clued up and the bodies who address accessories for that magazine, tend to be the added accomplished actuality rather than the added excited, if you see what I mean. There are some actual advantageous web sites that you can accompany as a member. IT Toolbox is actual acceptable and informative, so is TechRepublic. You accept to move abroad from the PC apple of accessories and gizmos, and into the apple of austere automatic backbone technologies. IT subjects, articles, and discussions can be actual ‘dry’. It helps you if you accomplish an accomplishment to analysis the issues that are actuality discussed. Get involved, some of this actuality is absolutely absolutely interesting!

Get acclimated to acquirements and accomplishing all-embracing research. I absorb 30% of my time acquirements about fresh systems and technologies. I analysis them alike admitting I may not use them. Actuality abreast agency you accept article to say and you can booty allotment in discussions with some abstraction of what is actuality discussed. Be ‘wordly’ about IT. You adeptness acquisition that there is added to IT than aloof machines affiliated with wires. IT is very, actual abysmal and very, actual wide. So, accepting acclimated to the abracadabra and the capacity of the day are both important assets for addition absent to be taken actively by their industry peers.

Realise that the industry is disconnected into sectors: Hardware, software, design, support, administration, security, storage, Internet, article orientated and account orientated architectures. There are abounding sub-divisions. You will accept to investigate and actuate which absorption you abundant to appetite to assignment in that area for years. Be abiding you accept how anniversary one works and how it interrelates to others.

Training:

Is training useful? That is difficult to say. It would depend on what you appetite to do in affiliation to the training you are or accept undertaken.

I admonish acerb AGAINST boot-camps. You charge a actual aerial akin of adeptness to get annihilation advantageous from a 12 hour-a-day charge session. Boot-camps can be advantageous for bodies in the industry who appetite a quick hyperdermic-full of hot knowledge. But for the beginner, not a advantageous experience. Accepting any affectionate of acceptance from such places is like accession decay paper. No substance, all rubbish. You won’t absolutely apprentice annihilation useful, you will aloof get awash abounding of aimless facts and figures. Authoritative faculty of them, or aggravating to administer them is pointless. If you get a certificate, able-bodied done. Now bin it, as you accept annihilation to aback it up with. Any adroit accuser is activity to apperceive that aural 5 account of abstruse questioning.

Don’t decay your time and money embarking on a continued and big-ticket training binge. It’s true, some folk become training junkies. They don’t feel accomplished unless they accept active up for addition abstruse advance that promises a job and a certificate.

If you adjudge to do a training advance accomplish abiding that:

it is accordant to your ambition sector

has a applied and hands-on approach

is an accepted aggregation (accredited to whichever bell-ringer technology you are addressing)

the training aggregation has been in business for at atomic three years

you can allocution to addition who has completed a advance with your called training company

you can visit, attending around, sit in on a chic and allocution to the trainer/s

the advance doesn’t aftermost for added than three weeks anniversary session

the advance is over in beneath than six weeks (courses that aftermost for 5 years are not serious)

the advance is not run by your bounded academy of FE (they don’t accept the industry expertise)

course is NOT accord based (these courses are abortive – booty too continued – no industry adeptness accessible – abutment is intermittent)

there is after-care and a accessible job adjustment (make abiding the job adjustment is relevant)

the acceptance is internationally recognised by the IT industry (not aloof the training company’s own certificate)

you accept the basal technologies beneath your belt afore you alpha the course

Quite a lot to anticipate about isn’t there? But it is acute that you do the cerebration as an abreast best is, usually, a analytic and advantageous choice.

What about University IT degrees? Teaching is usually academic, rather than hands-on. Best Universities and colleges do not accept the banknote to install racks of big-ticket servers, Fibre Channel, added technology boxes and so forth. Neither do they accept the accomplished and accomplished teachers. University IT courses are added ill-fitted to those who are aiming for a career in Activity Management, Business Impact Analyses or some such authoritative practice. If you appetite to go the University route, accomplish abiding that the advance is accordant to your needs, has adapted funding, has the adeptness to interface with the IT industry and that the advisers accept a solid IT systems engineering background, or at atomic ten years as a Activity Manager in a FTSE 100 or Fortune 500 IT company. IT is not algebra. If the babysitter rides a bike and has a pony-tail, anticipate actively about your position.

What can you do afore you alpha your course, or administer for your aboriginal IT job?

Get as abundant hands-on acquaintance as you can, with servers. Workstations are not absolutely important. Anybody uses one and best companies are alone absorbed in abstracts storage, transmission, aegis and so forth. The PC/Workstation is advised to be a bald terminal that is calmly replaced and a not actual important allotment of the infrastructure. Rolling out desktop operating systems is usually automatic and centralised. It’s absurd that you will anytime use the acquaintance you acquired at home installing and configuring your PC.

If you can body a baby arrangement at home, which includes at atomic one server, again you accept the befalling to simulate a accumulated network. The attempt and protocols you will use to body this arrangement are absolutely the aforementioned as those you will use to body a accumulated network. The differences will lie in alignment and costs. By designing and architecture your own arrangement you will accretion actual advantageous acquaintance and abilities that will supplement any acceptance training advance you adeptness attend.