When Your resume is looked at, does it do this?

Or Does it Do This?     [

 Pretend you're a manager, you have 50 resumes to go through and you're short on time.  You will spend on average 7 seconds on the resume so what will grab their attention?

So you've learned one thing already...  SIZE MATTERS, but let's break down what we can do to make your resume stand out with a great resume header.  That's all we'll focus on in this article.

Let's create a Resume Header that grabs their attention and KEEPS IT.
 

Let's begin with the standard resume header I see and we'll change it:    THIS ONE ISN'T THAT UNUSUAL SO DON'T THINK I'M EXAGERRATING.

SUMMARY   

• A data processing professional with 25 years of experience in business data mining, data statistical analysis and synthesis, advanced SAS programming (in MVS mainframe and PC client/server architecture environment).  Major analytical and technical expertise is in categorical and continuous data analysis, experimental design, analysis of variance, regression analysis, clustering analysis, data modeling, forecasting.   
• Intensive experience in the development and maintenance of a wide spectrum of business applications involving full project life cycle participation: data collection, analysis, design, coding, testing, implementation, program changes, communication with clients, final product support and program documentation writing.
• Strong ability to get to the essence of a problem under analysis, construct an adequate logical model and convert it into computer code according to specifications furnished in written, oral and graphical form.

• Good interpersonal skills with ability to succeed as a team player and/or autonomously in very dynamic and challenging working atmosphere.
  

I don't know about you but I fell asleep after line 1 and it kept going.  You can imagine what the rest of the resume looked like. 

We need 3 things to grab my attention besides font, size & color(we'll discuss that next):

1. What do you do -  Explain in 5-6 Words

2.  What are you applying for – Does it tie to the position you are applying for

3  What will you do for me - Show me quickly how your skills match my job

 So Let's look at the resume above and fill a job seeking:  JOB AD:  Seeking a  Data Analytics Manager for a Pharmaceutical Company.  Must know SAS. Must have managed departments and proven experience.

Let's get rid of the term 'data processing' .  That shows already you are out-of-touch as we don't use that term any more.   The ad tells you what to say:

FIRST:  What do you do and does it apply to what you're applying for?

William G. Morgan

_______________________________________________________

Address, Phone, Cell Phone, etc.

_______________________________________________________

ACCOMPLISHED SR. DATA ANALYTICS MANAGER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL & LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES

____________________________________________

Okay, did I get your attention?  Possibly?  Which resume would you look at first?  By the way, that was the type of position this individual applied for.

SECOND:  What can you do for me?  

The next thing is to show me quickly, using keywords how your skills match what I need.  What's a keyword?  Go to my article on keywords  as shown here:  http://www.thejobswami.com/2009/10/24/using-keywords-to-make-your-resume-standout/

I might  put this in '2-3 column format with bullets and key words' but I'm limited in this article so I'll just  bullet quickly 1 column for now with sentences.

• 10 years experience. managing Data Analytics dept for a leading pharmaceutical company
• 15 years utilizing SAS Modules  X,Y,Z
• Full Product Life Cycle Development and Analysis with over 100 clients
• Managed budgets and projects from $1MM to $100MM
• Experienced in Data Analysis, Experimental Testing, Regression Modeling, Variance Analysis, forecasting and full life cycle management.
  

So now we've developed a much more compelling resume, plus what else did I do to make it more compelling?

1. Font Size

2. Font Color

3.  Bullet form versus Paragraph form

4.  Underline something that may be important  

There are so many ways to generate a more productive header.  What you don't want to do is be BORING!!!    Now go write a strong header.

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 William G Morgan, the Job Swami, is the Regional Manager and an Executive IT & Sales Recruiter with Segula Technologies, Inc.   He can be reached at (610)579-3216 if you are looking for great people or are looking for next employment.

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