Polish Up That Resume

Recruiters are constantly battling the issue of what to believe on a resume and what to put on a resume for their candidates.  There is a pretty good article on ERE by Joseph Murphy titled Are Your Resumes Valid?  In following the responses to the article, it does display some good views from recruiters about what a resume really is.  Is it a sales document meant to peak interest in a candidate?  Or, is is a grave stone defining in exact terms what this candidate has accomplished in life?

I tend to lean more to the sales document side.  You should be looking (and selling) not just what your candidate has done, but what can they do.  Even from the candidates perspective, they don't want to keep doing the same job, they want a new challenge of something they haven't done!  It's you job to get to know that candidate well enough to be able to judge that.  Each resume needs to be tailored to explain why you are sold on this candidate for that job.  NEVER LIE!!!  You will get caught and lose creditably in the marketplace.  But, I am saying you will play up the skills or talents that will help them accomplish the job the client is asking you to fill.  If there are skills or jobs that don't fit, or may even down play their other qualities, take it off or reduce it's effectiveness.  MAKE SURE YOUR CLIENT ALWAYS KNOWS HOW YOU STRUCTURE YOUR RESUMES AND WHY.

It's so disappointing to me when I see a candidate not even get an interview for a job I know he's a great fit for because of a poor written or poorly reviewed resume.

Good related article:  Lying or Selective Truth on ERE by Louise Kursmark, a professional resume writer.