Bob Fisher Editorial and Educational Services, E-mail: robefish@pathcom.com, www.pathcom.com/~robefish

Client Résumé Planner

The information below is designed to create a framework for the résumé process and to elicit the specific information that we will need in order to create a complete and effective résumé.

1. Your Name

When designing a new résumé, you should decide on what your "professional" name is going to be. It may be the time to begin using your full given name (Robert as opposed to Bob, Susan instead of Sue). On the other hand, you may already be known in a number of circles by "Bob" or "Sue" and your professional identity therefore may be established.

Some people use a middle initial in their name. I recommend that you do not because it can tend to look pretentious. I recommend using a middle initial only if confusion would result if you didn't. Do you need to make it clear that you are Michael Fox and not Michael J. Fox?

Titles such as Mr. or Ms of course are not necessary.

2. Your Coordinates

Although your résumé can be changed quickly and easily, decide now on the main address that you will be using.

If you are planning to work outside Canada or for some reason you might be sending your résumé outside Canada, it is best that we include the country in your address. The postal code is also very important.

Include the area code (in parentheses) in your telephone number. If the number is a cell phone, we should indicate it as Cell: not Tel:.

It is best to include your e-mail address in your coordinates. Choose an e-mail address that is professional and not a nickname like pixelking@hotmail.com. If possible, set up an e-mail address that is as close to your name as possible (and easy for someone to remember). You may also wish to consider using an e-mail address that is accessible from any location, as opposed to just your home computer.

3. The Personal Concept Statement

This is an innovation that I use in most résumés. After a lengthy discussion, we will decide on the concept title and description. You might begin thinking about the following. If you were to create a one-page flyer describing who you are and what "services" you have to offer, what would the "header" be on the flyer? How would you sum up yourself using descriptive language?

4. Educational Experience

If you are a student about to enter the job market, this section should come first because this is where you will be focussing the public's attention.

This section can be tricky from an editing point of view. It is important to list your educational qualifications in reverse chronological order, and to be very precise about (a) the exact names of the institutions, (b) their locations, and (c) the exact time periods during which you attended the institution(s). If there are gaps, timewise, we will discuss how you should be prepared to explain this to a prospective employer. If you were unsuccessful at a program or did not complete it, we will discuss how we can turn this to your advantage.

The name of the degree or diploma should be very precise, exactly as you see it on the official documents you received on graduation.

Depending on your situation, we may wish to highlight an area of specialty, awards, distinctions, or other information related to your educational background. While compiling your educational experience, think how you might indicate why your degree or diploma suggests your individual strengths. We will discuss this at some length with the objective of using your educational experience to define your particular strengths.

5. Employment Experience

If you are not currently a student, this section should come before Educational Experience. There may be other reasons as well that we may decide to give this section a priority focus on your résumé.

This section is also tricky from an editing point of view. Once again we need to be very precise about (a) the exact title of positions you have held, (b) the exact names of companies, their locations, and (c) the time periods you were employed there.

In addition, we will create a very concise and precise description of the positions you held focussing on marketable skills and active words (verbs especially). These descriptions should suggest that you were proactive and an employee who was actively engaged in the work.

It is important to list your employment experience in reverse chronological order. If there are gaps in the time frame, we will discuss how to explain this to your advantage.

You will notice that I recommend creating a résumé that highlights specific skills that you have developed. In our discussion we will define how each of your positions reveals skills that you have developed. You should not take anything for granted nor underestimate what you have learned to do. Even the "simplest" jobs teach a person specific transferable skills.

In this section, we also try to make reference to important issues in the contemporary workplace such as collaborative work skills (teamwork), critical reasoning and problem-solving, multi-tasking, the ability to work well under supervision but also independently, communications and language skills, resourcefulness, accountability, integrity, decisiveness, and leadership skills.

6. Other Training

Depending on the situation, I sometimes recommend that this be a separate section. It might a section called "Computer Skills" or it might be included with your educational experience in a section called "Education and Other Training".

As a separate section, it might list specialized training you have received such as CPR, St. John's Ambulance, Royal Conservatory, general accounting courses, recreation leadership courses, athletic training that you have completed, or general interest courses.

This may also be a separate section in which you list and describe professional development courses or in-service (job-related) training courses directly related to but supplemental to your education.

In general this section is very "hands-on" skill-oriented.

It is also my experience that most people underestimate or take for granted their life experiences and consequently do not recognize the skills, strengths, distinctive attributes, and personal values that the activities in their personal lives reveal. It is my job to help you see what your "other" skills are.

7. Professional and Personal Interests/Community and Volunteer Experience

Depending on your personal situation, this section may have a particular format and title.

People develop a lot of skills engaging in activities for which they are not paid. Non-paid activities are strong indicators of a person's overall skills. They also reveal specific skills that are transferable to many paid working situations. These should not be taken for granted nor underestimated.

Some career counsellors suggest that volunteer activities, hobbies, or general interests should be mentioned only if they relate to your particular career field. I disagree. Increasingly, employers need people who have many skills in many areas. In fact, given the multi-tasking environment of the workplace today, the "generalist" may actually be the most adaptable and flexible employee.

In addition, a unique personal interest or skill area can be an important point for discussion in an interview situation. It can lead to a dialogue in interview situations that will demonstrate that you are a multi-dimensional person. It may also be a detail that will remain in the employer's mind, thus serving as a catalyst for remembering you.

Remember that employers hire people not résumés.

8. References

Some career counsellors suggest that references should not be included on a résumé as it is presumed that a professional person will have them. Some suggest that a statement such as "References On Request" be appended to the résumé.

I recommend that three references be obtained and included in the résumé, perhaps on a separate page. As a person who has often served as a reference, it is my experience that employers do take the references seriously and follow them up. I recommend therefore that they be included on the résumé to suggest that you have enough confidence in your ability that you are prepared to suggest that others speak on your behalf. A reference, in my opinion, is not a "check" on the individual's credibility but instead an additional opportunity for an employer to gain insight into the candidate.

I generally recommend three references, at least one of which is a personal reference in that he or she can speak to your overall strengths as a person.

You should speak with each of the people you will be listing as a reference, explain why you have chosen them, and obtain (a) the full, correct, and preferred spelling of their name (b) their position (this defines your reference and makes an effective connection with you), and (c) the telephone number (area code included) at which they can be reached easily and with the least disruption.

9. Other Issues and Information

A résumé is your principal professional document and should be created with great care. There are always other issues for discussion that come up during the interview creation process that I recommend.

This Client Résumé Planner serves as a general outline and informational framework for assisting us in completing the process.