Misunderstood – Resume Skills Summary
As a career practitioner one of the most often misunderstood concepts I encounter is a misunderstanding of the importance of targeting the Skills (or Summary, or Highlights or Professional Profile, or whatever they choose to call it) section of a resume to each employer. Frequently individuals choose generic skills they believe themselves to possess and often provide a list with no demonstrable “proof” as to how they gained those skills, or how they relate to the specific job for which they are applying.
A lack of understanding of how employers screen applicants combined with inexperience articulating skills in a meaningful and industry-suitable manner are two root causes but the most common reason relates to students’ prior “knowledge” or experience with resume writing. Often there is an attachment to a previously created resume– usually a high school resume created to find Part time after- school employment. While that resume may have helped them to secure a position at the time, it will not be an effective tool for “career” job search because it does not address the specific requirements for the job.
Frequently employers are inundated with resumes and as a result may spend limited time reviewing them. Readers whose attention is not quickly captured may discount a candidate without progressing too far into the resume. It is therefore advantageous for candidates to quickly draw attention to why they would be “value added” for the employer. By targeting the “Skills” section of a resume, the writer is able to immediately demonstrate both that they understand the job (employer need) AND by drawing a direct correlation to the skills that answer that need, they demonstrate why they are a great fit for the job (value add) thus saving the employer time – and time is money!
The best analogy I can think of is the “tip of the iceberg”. Seeing the visible piece of an iceberg provides only surface level information about its depth and breadth. If you making decisions about how best to navigate the waters around an iceberg, it is vitally important to have information about the whole – that which is under the water and cannot be seen. In the same way, a non-targeted resume may show the reader only the smallest glimpse into the actual skills and capabilities that you have to offer. As a sailor navigating the waters, the “value add” of knowing the underlying depth and breadth of the iceberg allows me to make an informed decision about how to react. Similarly, as a hiring professional, understanding the depth and breadth of a candidate’s experience as it relates the job mean that I can make a much better, informed decision to interview that candidate.
As a candidate, you will get the best results if you identify the crucial skills needed by an employer, then draw the correlation between their need and what you offer. Identify the skill, assess a level of competency and then provide some proof.
In the examples below, an Industrial Safety employer is seeking a sales rep with good communications skills and who can provide training to client groups.
Eg 1. Communications skills – weak to meaningless illustration of skill
Eg 2. Excellent verbal communications skills with presentation experience – stronger but lacking proof
Eg 3. Excellent verbal communications skills developed through 10+ years experience delivering health and safety workshops to groups of up to 300 participants – Solid! Its quantified (10 years and 300 participants) and qualified (verbal communications (delivering workshops) and it has context that relates to the employer’s stated need (health and safety workshops)
Who would you interview?
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