How do I show a hiring manager I will be successful in any role they put me in?

Dear Sam: I have been searching for a new role for almost a year. I know I can perform well in any positions I am applying for, but how do I make my resume reflect that I can do almost anything and succeed?

– Ron

Dear Ron: I love your enthusiasm and willingness to jump into a new role and do what it takes to succeed. I wish that were enough to “prove” to a hiring manager that you would perform in the position in question, but while this may seem like an effective strategy, it is quite the opposite. While I certainly understand the need not to limit options in today’s job market, a one-size-fitsall approach is rarely, if ever, effective. Instead, one should try to identify a primary target, even if you have a second or third target requiring modified resumes. If you try to present yourself as a “Jack of all Trades,” you suddenly become a “Master of None.” Defining your purpose is the critical first step in crafting an effective resume. This step facilitates understanding what your target audience is looking for and what keywords to incorporate. While you may have thought broadening the scope of your resume would yield more responses, it is likely doing the opposite. I promise that the success of your job search will improve when you are more targeted in your approach, messaging, and keyword strategy.

Dear Sam: I am in my 50s and am having a difficult time trying to find work! I am beginning to think it’s because of my age. Am I high-risk? A liability? Why aren’t employers calling me back?

– Theresa

Dear Theresa: My concern with your resume is that you have not fully explored your roles, responsibilities, challenges faced, differentiating experiences, and key contributions. You are not conveying your age on your resume, given that you only date experiences back to 2005, so your age is not playing a role during the initial screening process. I would, however, omit the dates on your education, as by presenting the years you graduated with select certificates, you are unnecessarily adding years to your candidacy.

As mentioned, the issue with your resume is that it lacks engaging content and packaging. Each of your five positions are described with a handful of brief, fragmented sentences. You are creating no visual interest with this approach—no bullet points, no selective formatting, and no content prioritization—and, therefore, likely not holding the reader’s attention beyond the average 4-to-7-second screening process.

Why not revamp your resume to explore your roles in a brief paragraph—which hides short, fragmented statements—with accomplishments or highlights explored in bullet points? Bold the key takeaway in each bullet point to add visual interest and pull the reader through your resume. Once you do this, I think you will create more excitement about your candidacy. You have great relevant experience, so you need to present it in a more attractive package.

Lastly, your salary history is included on a third page following your two-page resume. I want to be sure that you never send that out unless specifically requested. That alone could harm your chances of getting in the door if your past compensation rates are deemed too high or even too low.

Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding.

Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com.

For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442. © 2022 Nolan Branding