|
I need a qualitative resume...but what do I put in it?
Earlier this week I covered the content of a chronological resume. Now, I’ll take up what you should put in your qualitative resume. All in all, the content should not be vastly different, just displayed differently.
Personal Information and Objective:
You should put your personal information in the header of your resume, as in the chronological format. Your objective should be directly under the heading, and should be unique to the job you are applying for. In other words, take the time to research and write an individual objective each time you send out your resume. Express your goals in a way that highlights what the company will gain from hiring you. Remember, you want to show the company how they will benefit from hiring you, not simply what you are trying to do for yourself.
Skills and Credentials:
This section is the main differentiation between the qualitative and chronological formats. You should create a list of your top skills, abilities, and characteristics, and list them starting with the most important and relevant trait to the job you are applying for. Again, this may require some editing and layout re-design from job to job, but it could ultimately make the difference between getting a call back and continuing to search. Under each quality, list examples, experiences, and job positions that illustrate your possession or development of the quality. For example, if one of your skills is “Exceptional with customer communication,” you should evidence it like so:
Exceptional with customer communication and satisfaction:
- Fall, 2002 - Present -- Served as customer service representative for Company X's Northern Retail Sales Division
- Spring, 2005 -- Received National Customer Service Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction from Association Y
- Summer, 2003 - 2005 -- Attended 50+ hours of continuing education courses in customer relations, satisfaction and support
As you can see you do not simply want to create a list of your skills. You want to determine what skills you have that most closely align with those the company is seeking, and demonstrate that you have them through examples. The beauty of the qualitative design is that you can highlight skills you may have developed outside of previous jobs or in unconventional ways. Be sure to include volunteer and charity work, or any other type of experience in which you were not paid. What matters is that the experience proves you have the skill, not that the experience was a professional one. There are two guidelines to always remember when composing this section:
- CHOOSE skills that closely relate to the job you seek
- DEMONSTRATE that you have those skills using concrete, clear examples
Work Experience:
Since this is not the focus of a qualitative resume, this section should be as concise as possible. It is simply an easy way to list the work experience you have in a format that will take the hiring manager as little time as possible to understand. Try to keep entries to one line. For example:
(Spring 2004-Summer 2007) – VP of Sales and Marketing – Company X
Educational Experience:
Just like with the chronological resume, the educational section of a qualitative resume should be kept brief. If you have a long work history in the industry, think about only including the highest degree you have obtained, the institution where you obtained it, and the date it was obtained. If you are not far out of school, it might be wise to include other degrees as well. For nearly all jobs, your high school degree has no place on your resume.
Other Interests or Awards:
Since space is a commodity on resumes, be sure to only include additional skills or interests if they actually relate to the company or, preferably, the specific position you are applying for. For example, if the new job you are applying for has some involvement with the internet, but your previous jobs did not, you may wish to include that you run your own personal website or blog, assuming you actually do run a website or blog. This brings up an extremely important point: never lie on your resume. First of all, it’s ethically wrong. If that doesn’t get you, try this: it is in your best interest to be honest; the costs of lying on your resume can be astronomical. People in very high positions have lost their careers and their peers’ respect more than a decade after submitting fallacious resumes. You never know how long someone will hold on to your resume, or when they might look over it again. It is simply not worth it. You want to enjoy chuckling at those stories, and you certainly will not be chuckling if the story is about you! Anyways, additional interests and skills come in every color of the rainbow, so be creative. Many people find it helpful to consult close friends and family for this.
References: For your references section, include contact information for your past jobs and for any people who wrote letters of recommendation. Additionally, you may know people in the industry or within the company you are applying for who you should list. Of course you should ask these people’s permission before doing so. Besides their name and contact information, be sure to include their company and position, as well as their relation to you if it is not clear (ex. supervisor). Under their name, you may wish to write a short, one sentence explanation justifying their inclusion on your resume. For example:
“Mr. Roberts has overseen the XYZ initiative I spearheaded and witnessed firsthand my leadership and organizational abilities”
A quick note on 'References': No matter what kind of resume you choose, the references section is not a necessary component. Half the resume experts suggest you have one, the other half say to never include it. Deciding not to include references can save you time and space on your resume. If you choose to do this, I recommend you compile a separate document simply titled "References", with all of your references and their contact information listed. Then, if an employer asks for your references after receiving your resume or during an interview, you will be prepared to supply them immediately, in a convenient and comprehensive manner.
Well, that's it. You're done...Easy breezy right? Doubt it. If you find yourself having a difficult time figuring out what to include on your resume, remember the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Don't Panic! Everyone does. Again, family members and friends can be a huge help when writing resumes. Also try some of these tactics:
- Make a list of all the qualities the company is searching for in their candidate. Then, list under each quality all the ways in which you have exhibited or developed it. Then, step back and look over your work. You should now know what areas you are strongest in and can focus on them
- If you are still on good terms with your former employer(s), try asking them in what ways you impressed them most. This is a good, object, outside opinion.
- If you are still stuck, you may invest in a professional resume writing service. I would hold back on this, however. Most likely you are able to express yourself better on your own resume than a complete stranger can.
Good Luck!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Adams, Douglas. New York : Harmony Books (©1979)
If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at MWAvera@TopBuildingJobs.com
RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE
You must be logged in
to recommend articles
|
