Get to the Point!

One of my biggest frustrations in rewriting a resume or coaching a client is CUTTING THROUGH THE CLUTTER in their resume or their mock interview responses. Loading up your communication with industry jargon or the latest buzzwords in business or management does NOT mean that you are clearly communicating the most important information in your job search:

Who you are and what you can do for the employer.

Keep it simple! Use clear, strong, direct language to get your point across quickly and crisply. Keep sentences, paragraphs, and lists short. Curb any tendency to speak for more than 90-120 seconds without interacting with your interviewer. (Time yourself, then listen. If you've been practicing a 3-minute introduction, you'll be surprised at how LONG that is when you're listening.)

I think some of the over-communicating comes from fear that if you leave something out, you'll miss an important point that the reader or interviewer is looking for. Relax. Talk about what you've done and how it's been valuable (more profit, less cost, happier customers and employees, greater market share, and so forth) - and be specific! Don't spout generalities - tell stories!

Even better - listen, ask questions, and react to what you learn. Make it more about "them" and less about "you." You'll position yourself as a partner committed to solving problems - and isn't that what employers are looking for?

Posted by Louise Kursmark

Comments

[Deb Dib]

Louise, you are absolutely right--simplicity is powerful and value speaks for itself. If job seekers would do the mental preparation needed to de-clutter their message and get it defined /refined to what makes sense for the employer, then that strategy would carry them right through the resume, letter, elevator, speech, and interview.

[Louise Fletcher]

Such a good point! I'm just working on a resume now for a client whose worksheets are filled with jargon and long-winded sentences and technology terms. If I wrote the resume the way the information is presented here, no one would understand what my client does or why it was important.

His new resume is going to be so much more effective because it tells a clear and compelling and easy-to-understand story of his considerabe accomplishments.

[JibberJobber Guy]

Hey Louise, I'm curious how you would handle this on a very technical resume? It may not be good for HR but if a hiring manager can see real stuff (like languages, etc.) then that would be important.

I can see a fine line here because some of the technical resumes where overboard, while others were easy to follow and even believable. Just wondering what you would do.

[LouiseKursmark]

Jason, you're right - it can be a bit of a balancing act, to include enough technical (or other specific) information without weighing down the resume or removing all meaning from the sentences.

I recommend keeping as much technical jargon out of the accomplishment statements as possible. I might add a parentheses at the end of each statement describing the specific environment, languages, tools, etc. And/or I might include a technical summary - essentially a listing of various areas of knowledge and expertise, either as part of the introduction or toward the end of the resume. This can be scanned (by humans or computers) for a keyword match but doesn't have to permeate the language of the experience and accomplishments.

But even technical people need to be sure their resumes are focused on not just the "what" but the "why" - how their efforts contribute to company goals. If they give the big picture, include benefits, and include the specific keywords that are essential for the jobs they're seeking, they should get the opportunity to interview. Then they can engage in as much "techie talk" as they like with people who will actually understand it!