Resumes by The Resume Slayer
Last night I was privileged to hear the award-winning Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Michael Kranes of ResumeSlayer.com. Michael spoke at the Compass Group, and the room was full of eager listeners. Michael took a different approach to presenting resumes. Typically, he would speak about the sections, cotent, length, font, etc. Instead Michael displayed his resumes on the screen, and he talked about the challenge the client was going through. He talked about the process of creating each resume, and in doing so he taught the entire audience how to make their resume better.
Some of Michael’s tips:
- Use a Professional Summary section instead of Objective section
- Use a Keyword section with strong keywords
- Highlight your accomplishments
- Show quantifiable results
- Use a few recommendations or quotes from LinkedIn or former co-workers/managers
- Have a Title at the top of your resume to make it easier for readers to identify your ideal position/job title
What about length?
How long should the resume be? One page is the standard for someone with little experience. Two pages is the standard for more experienced. However, Michael says “a resume needs to be as long as a resume needs to be.” What about a 12-page resume? I have a friend who uses a 12-page resume when he submits his resume. The first two pages are the summary of his experience and education - like a normal resume. The remaining 10 pages contain details about his experience. Normally, I would advise against a resume that long, but he’s never had an issue getting a job.
Which brings me to the final suggestion: what works for you? A 12-page resume isn’t for everyone, but you need to find what works for you. Does a 12-page resume get you interviews? Does your 2-page resume get you interviews? Find what works for you, and what type of resume is getting you interviews.
