I have a 1 page resume. It lists my skills, my job positions, and the responsibilities of each job description.

I have recently asked that a few people review it just to keep me in check, and to make sure I am not misrepresenting my skills (or skills I project). I have had mixed responses, but mostly positive input and encouragement that it is a solid resume.

What concerns me is the feedback (on a few occasions) I get like this:

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"To be honest if you were applying for a job at my company I doubt your resume would get past my HR people for me to even see it. It doesn't tell me anything.
The key to an effective resume is to show how "great" you are. Your resume only tells me job responsibilities. You have to give examples of how you stand out from the crowd."

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So I have noticed there are 2 general differences in resume structures. You have the resume like mine that I have already described, and you have the "other". The "other" resume is the format that you list all the hardware and software platforms you are familiar with/know. Under each job you list your accomplishments, in other words, business justifications in bullet format style that describes what you did, its impact, and financial result. For example you installed 100 servers, migrated 20,000 people, and did so in under 3 months, and at 80% of the budget allotted. Of course theres a bit of fluff in these but this is the typical format. Its almost as if this style resume is more for project oriented work roles and not constant/fixed work roles.

So my question is what is a more reasonable resume to write? Should your resume describe your job responsibilities, or should it provide business justifications that imply a sense of productivity you bring to the table? Does my question make any sense? Does anyone understand what Im getting at?

7/15/2008 10:33:51 PM

<carl face>

7/16/2008 8:14:20 AM

you have a CV not a resume

a resume has fluff and a HIRE ME tilt to it that you will have to customize for each application/company (as well as a cover letter)

a cv is just the listing

7/16/2008 9:12:48 AM

Yea... I hate fluff in resumes.

7/16/2008 10:02:44 AM

Your post reminds me about the two ways that companies provide info on their products -- features vs. benefits

Your resume has "features" -- particular things you have done.

You need to show "benefits" -- how you as a person contribute to the company and can pull your own weight.

Companies don't hire people just to accomplish X,Y,Z tasks. Companies hire people in order to make money, grow the business, cut costs somewhere else, etc. Show the company how you are going to be profitable to them, i.e. provide more value to them than what they are paying you in dollars.

7/16/2008 10:03:41 AM

provide both features AND benefits in one resume?

Shit... Im going to end up with a 4 page resume....

7/16/2008 12:06:35 PM

Thanks for the previous help, hopefully this one won't get locked since I have more questions. Everything's past 90 days, I don't need writing or tech help. Please refer me to the CORRECT thread if this one doesn't suffice either.

Is it appropriate to deliver resumes to companies that may not have openings? Also, if it is should I just leave my resume for the HR director or someone else?

8/20/2008 7:19:04 PM