Last month I shared my first of 2 articles dealing with real job search challenges faced by real folk. In my earlier post, I discussed the executive resume writing strategy used to help clients overcome:
- Trying to Make an Industry/Career Change
- Telling the story of recent lackluster performance
- Overcoming age discrimination obstacles.
In this post, Iโd like to tackle 2 more:
CHALLENGE #1: How to share a career story when youโve held the same role over the course of many years.
As a project manager, this client sent me a resume that was 5 PAGES LONG and that contained a history of 15 different roles. ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ ๐ง๐๐จ๐ช๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐๐ — ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ก๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ.
To make it easy to skim, make it a compelling read and get this down to a more manageable 2 pages, hereโs what we did:
Used a Summary Section:
This section allowed me to explain how heโd been pulled onto high-profile projects every 12 months of so because of his talent for putting tech skills to work to:
- put out regulatory fires
- fix messes to save money
- build things that saved time and helped people do their jobs better
Bundled Projects Together
I turned 5 roles into 1 and did this to create several groupings. For instance,
๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ – ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐ต๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด & ๐๐ฑ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด (2010 – 2015)
Described How He’d Left His Mark. In addition to showing his scope by including a range of the budget and talent resources critical to each job title, I listed each project as a bullet and used the bullet to explain the problem he solved and the tech solution he led to fix it.
The Takeaway?
For a skim read, it helps a great deal to apply a different lens to streamline your story.
CHALLENGE #2: How to Make A Career Pivot into a Brand-New Role
Joe was an Engineer by trade, and over the course of his 20+ year career rose up the ladder to lead teams that support the sale and customers of super high-tech equipment.
His target? A role as a high-tech Customer Experience Executive.
When we discussed what has made him most proud, he spoke of his:
- Love for recruiting, developing and promoting loyal, culturally diverse teams scattered around the world.
- Success leading teams who could work with everyone from product newbies to scientists who have made scientific breakthroughs.
- Ability to support these customers for years — from pre-sales to deal pitching to training.
The resume he shared with me, however, spoke at length about the science and engineering behind what he helped sell and support.
The things he was proud of, and the elements of his experience showing how he was a great fit to:
- build and lead teams around the world
- support customers who use highly advanced technology for their jobs
. . . were missing.
The Takeaway?
When it comes to your own career sweat and tears, it’s easy to lose sight of the successes that are important.
For that reason, I always recommend job seekers begin their career reflection by asking โWhat am I proudest of?โ with each and every role โ and then take things from there.
In need of some career advice, executive resume services or a rebranded LinkedIn?
As an Executive Resume Writer and Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes, offering customized resume services and LinkedIn profile writing, Iโd be happy to chat! BOOK NOW for your free resume consult.
VAFrancoResumes@gmail.com | VirginiaFrancoResumes.com | Call/text 704-771-8572