Identify your key differentiators
Dear Sam:
I am trying to write my resume and am receiving conflicting advice on what to include. I am reading through job postings and requirements and want to ensure I include everything that is pertinent to my background.
When a job posting calls for a college degree — which I do not have — should I list my high school diploma? Also, I don’t possess all the technical skills required, but am sure I could learn them quickly. What should I do in these instances? – Joe
Dear Joe:
When reading through a job posting, be sure to scan the requirements, but pay attention to the actual description of the role. That section of the posting will represent the language you need to speak on your resume.
The requirements are just that: requirements. It is expected that a qualified candidate would possess those requirements. As such, you and your qualified competitors will be competing based on the uniqueness of your experiences. Your candidacy should be built on these experiences, presenting them in a language that closely mimics the job posting of interest or the theme of positions to which you are applying.
Lastly, regarding technical skills, through inclusion of what you do possess it sometimes tells employers what you do not possess. If your technical skills are lackluster, then omit them entirely to at least leave the question open as to whether or not you possess these skills.
Likewise, with your education, communicating your high school diploma does not say, “I graduated from high school.” It actually says, “I did not attend college.” Be strategic in your inclusion — and selective omission — of said requirements to ensure you are not disqualifying yourself.
Dear Sam:
I find myself with a certain level of paranoia when it comes to securing and retaining my job. I know I am supposed to update my resume frequently in order to avoid being unprepared for a sudden, unexpected departure, but what else can or should I do to protect myself?
– Christian
Dear Christian:
I applaud your efforts to be prepared. All too often I speak with candidates who were blindsided by layoffs and have little or no documentation from their career.
In addition to keeping records of your performance, every month or two, be sure you log accomplishments or special projects. Not only can this facilitate the resume development process, but it can also help tremendously when it comes to preparing for your annual review.
Speaking of reviews, it is great if you can save a copy of them. Reviews often contain strong comments on your performance — comments that can be used directly on your resume. At the very least, keeping your reviews can document your efforts in the event you become a victim of a sticky situation at work. This could be a layoff or an unflattering supervisor, so hanging on to records of strong performance is important.
You should also build and maintain your LinkedIn profile. Be sure to turn off activity feeds on your LinkedIn settings if you are performing a major update, as you would not want anyone you are connected with at your current employer to know you are actively updating your profile.
By performing routine updates, you will be facilitating the opportunity for potential employers to find you. If you can, ask for recommendations on LinkedIn so that you are not caught needing those third-party validations all at once while navigating an unexpected job search. Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and owner of Ladybug Design. Reach her at 614-570-3442 or dearsam@ladybug-design.com.