Resumes

Did you know a resume will go through multiple levels of filtering before it reaches the hiring manager, if, in fact, it even reaches the hiring manager? An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a computer-generated system that scans resumes for keywords. If it does not see enough of the keywords for which it is looking, HR associates and hiring managers may never see your resume, as the computer will have disqualified it for moving any further. The ATS feature saves time for initial readers, but sometimes eliminates really qualified candidates from the pool. Add to that the knowledge that many readers of your resume may not spend more than 6 to 12 seconds looking at your resume.

At King Wordsmith, my objective is to create a resume that will move through the applicant tracking system and into the hands of the hiring manager. I cannot guarantee your resume will achieve these goals—as a lot depends on how you conduct your job search—but I do everything I can to stack the odds in your favor.

I usually meet clients face to face—unless timing or distance does not allow for that—and I conduct a 1.0- to 2.5-hour session. During this meeting, I learn everything I can about your professional background, previous positions held, and career trajectory. We not only talk about job responsibilities, but also more importantly, about what you have accomplished; it is all about those measurable results.

Prior to or at the time of our meeting, I ask that you provide your current resume if you have one, performance evaluations, letters of recommendation, and 1 to 3 job postings. Job postings are often the most important tool in which to find those keywords we are going to need to include in your resume. I ask for performance evaluations and letters of recommendation because sometimes I will quote what others say about you. I also will ask you about awards, honors, and recognitions you have received; affiliations; and community involvement.

While meeting, I glean information about your past, determine in what direction you are headed in your career, ask if you are changing job levels or industries, and ask about everything that would be appropriate to know about you so I get a clear picture of where you are in your job search and where you see yourself heading. I ask you questions regarding areas in which you are passionate, what drives you, and what gets you excited about getting up in the morning and going to work.

We look over every line item of the job posting(s) you have provided, and I ask you for evidence of your skills in each of those areas. Sometimes looking at a bulleted item will jog your brain and remind you of a huge accomplishment from your past that you had not thought of including. Looking at the postings will also give us the keywords we need to sprinkle throughout your resume. Additionally, invariably I will ask you questions to which you may not remember the answers, and this is the perfect opportunity to think for a moment and develop a viable answer. You can practice during our intake session, rather than being flat-footed at the interview. Once you have crafted your answer, if the interviewer asks you the same kind of question, you will have already developed your answer; it will be top of mind, and you will sail through the interview.

This is important so there is not a disconnect between your resume and how you express yourself in an interview. My clients often note that their finished resume captures who they are and properly represents what they have to offer. They often blurt out, after reading their resume, “This looks great! After reading this, I’d hire me.”

Once we have completed our intake session—and depending on my current schedule—you can plan to have your final draft ready to review no later than 7 to 10 calendar days. We go over the draft—either in person or via phone and email—and finalize the document.

Cover Letters

When a cover letter is prepared, it must be focused toward the job for which you are applying. A “generic” letter usually will not do the trick. The cover letter must give evidence of why you are suited to the job, and compel the reader to want to contact you for an interview. The formatting of the letter must match the resume, so both look like they go together. Additionally, the cover letter can reiterate the high points from the resume, but it should not be copied verbatim; the cover letter accentuates what the hiring manager needs to know in order to determine whether or not you will be contacted for the next step in the process.

Thank You Notes

At the completion of an interview, either a handwritten note or an email should be sent to the hiring manager, in less than 24 hours; the sooner the better. You will want to thank the interviewer for the time taken to interview you, reiterate why you are well suited for the job, make mention of one or more things discussed during the meeting, and provide additional information you may have promised during the meeting (e.g., a link to an article you wrote or an answer to a question you might not have known the answer to at the time you were asked).

I am happy to create a thank you letter for you. You can work from a template I provide to you—where you will fill in the specifics—or we can have a conversation regarding how the interview proceeded and what was said. Then I can craft a thank you letter for you that can be presented to the interviewer.