The Six-Figure Resume Check-up

An Article by Sharon Graham, CRS, CIS, CCS, CPRW, CEIP

Principal Consultant, Graham Management Group

If you are in the market for a six-figure job, you are sure to be up against the best of the best. Most job seekers competing at this level are driven personalities who will do what it takes to rise to the top of their profession. Therefore, it makes sense that the most effective six-figure resumes are powerful marketing documents. They advertise the candidate’s value and benefits to the prospective employer in a most persuasive manner.

As a top-performing professional, you must have a resume that can surpass the competition. Here is a six-point check-up that you can do to assess your resumes potential and attract a six-figure opportunity.

1- Is your Value Proposition rock-solid?

Your Value Proposition is your sales pitch to the employer. Ensure that you have defined a unique sales pitch that addresses your potential employers’ buying motivators with valid supporting qualifications. A strong Value Proposition will clearly articulate to the employer what you have that they need. More than this, to surpass the competition, you need to express in a clear, concise way the unique value that you bring to the table, which others may not possess. With a distinctive Value Proposition that reads like a theme through your resume, will you be able to create a compelling picture of who you are and why the employer should call you.

2- Is your resume strategically positioned?

Your resume cannot be just a catalogue of your career history. Rather, it should be an impeccable advertisement designed to attract six-figure opportunities. Therefore, you need a clear, focused target to create an uncompromising connection between your potential employer’s needs and your value. Rather than emphasizing common soft skills, the resume should display specific competencies required by the targeted employers and industry. From top to bottom, strategically position every word, phrase, and sentence to promote interest and drive the reader to contact you.

3- Have you handled your obstacles effectively?

Most candidates have occasions in their background that might be construed by potential employers as concerns. Employers often perceive issues such as a lengthy job search, job hopping, career gaps, and lack of industry experience as less than desirable. Some might see entrepreneurial and contract ventures as “temporary fillers” or “wasted time.” Others might disqualify candidates for lack of experience (too young) or too much experience (too old). You need to minimize and eliminate such potential obstacles from your resume to compete effectively.

4- Does your document promote readability?

Comprehension and retention by the reader can either make or break your opportunity. Communication in your resume must be clear and concise to ensure that your message is absorbed by the reader. We know that spelling and grammar must be flawless, but there is much more to promoting readability. Spend particular attention on parallelism and consistency throughout the document. Ensure that you do not present exceptionally lengthy lists or too much information. Do not use buzzwords or acronyms that are not easily understood. For optimum success, your resume must be a good and easy read.

5- Do you display multiple, transferable actions and results?

Most experienced professionals have attained great successes throughout their career. Employers do not need a job description of positions held, therefore duties and tasks are not nearly as important as accomplishments. The resume needs to display many specific examples that show what value the employer will gain. Rather than focusing on responsibilities, your resume should prominently display multiple, transferable, quantifiable accomplishments. Be assured that every experienced six-figure professional is touting many achievements. You must too.

6- Is your resume designed and branded creatively?

Many downsized professionals these days go through an “outplacement process” and end up with a “template” resume. Others, who do not have that benefit, opt for creating a homemade resume by following templates that they find on the Internet. With millions of these types of resumes flooding the market, only the most creative, branded document will stand apart and be selected. Most effective six-figure professionals retain resume experts to create a high-impact, upscale, branded look and feel to their documents. You can be assured that these individuals rise to the top and are perceived as worthy of a higher compensation.

Your resume is a critical factor in driving how you are perceived by others. Once you have completed your six-figure check-up, make the changes required to compete and beat the best of the best!

Sharon Graham is principal consultant for Graham Management Group, executive director of Career Professionals of Canada, and author of Best Canadian Resumes. Graham Management Group is known for excellence and innovation in resume, interview, and career strategy. Sharon assists executives, managers, and other experienced professionals through this leading career consulting firm. You can find further information and articles directly at www.GrahamManagement.com.

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