Posted By Amanda Collins on August 29, 2011

Recently, I came across a blog on glassdoor.com about “pocket résumés.” The suggestion was that job seekers should always carry a miniature version of their résumé with them, either in the form of a business card or an iPhone app. While the idea of carrying one’s résumé in an app was new to me, the idea of carrying a mini billboard is one I’ve been sharing with my clients for a long while.

When you go to networking events, you may be prepared to take résumés with you, but the truth is that most people don’t want to receive an 8.5 x 11″ document when they’re meeting dozens of people. But what everyone DOES expect to receive at a mixer is a business card. As a job seeker, you can maximize the information you share on this tiny billboard—and create a pocket résumé.

A business card is a minimal investment; on VistaPrint.com, you can even find a free option. The trick is to include just enough but not too much to grab someone’s attention. Obviously, you will want to include your name, email address, and phone number. A LinkedIn URL is also helpful. In addition, both sides can be used to showcase talent areas. This is not where you want to put specifics such as companies worked and colleges attended; you want to get to the point quickly! I typically encourage clients to add in a title and some targeted keywords, one or two great accomplishments, or a strong branding statement.

Once you have a great card, remember that you don’t want to be shoving it in everyone’s hands at the event. Instead, wait until you’re asked for your card. And don’t run after everyone you see; target a handful of people and create some meaningful conversations. While most people do want to help others, they’re more likely to do so after getting to know you a bit.

Whether you carry your pocket résumé on a business card, a phone app, or even verbally with a great 30-second commercial, be ready to share your value quickly. You’ll find that you’ll make a great first impression, and it can turn into your next job!

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Posted By Amanda Collins on August 8, 2011

Often, when I’m out in the community reviewing résumés, job searchers proudly boast, “I have about 50 versions of my résumé; I just brought one with me today.”

50 versions?! Seriously? What I always tell people is that you really only need one résumé: your master résumé. If you’re looking within a set industry, why would you need multiple versions? What you did at past positions won’t change. And if you’re like most people, you’ll have a hard enough time coming up with ANY accomplishments, much less a variety for different positions. So that means that from the professional experience to the end of the document will probably never change.

While you don’t need to change the whole document, you definitely should be looking at the top third of your résumé before you send it out to a new opening. That section includes your headline/title, summary, and areas of expertise/keywords.

Headline/Title
Although you may have set yourself a title to pursue, each company will likely call it something different, so be sure your résumé reflects their language.

Summary
Who you are at the core won’t change, but how you sell yourself to each position probably will. Reread this paragraph with the job description in front of you. What are they looking for you to do? What problems do they want you to solve? These are imperative to include here because this is the section that’s most likely to be read.

Areas of Expertise/Keywords
While your core competency areas are static, the ones you’ll showcase—and how you’ll sell them—may change. Look at the job description for the “must have” section. Many companies are reviewing résumés via a scanning system first, so if you don’t have the right keywords, you may never show up.

Save each document with your name and title: “Joe_Smith_Customer_Service_Manager.” That way, you’ll know to where you sent it when you’re looking back.

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Posted By Amanda Collins on August 2, 2011

It’s coming from everywhere these days: Many employers are only looking for candidates who are currently employed. Others are willing to expand their nets to those who have been unemployed six months or less. But I know, as a résumé writer and reviewer, a huge amount of job seekers don’t fall into that category. If you need to have a job to get a job, what do you do if you’re in the category of folks who have been without for six months or more?

Lying on your résumé is never a good choice, but the truth is that most candidates actually ARE working in some capacity. Many talented job candidates are busy doling out advice and support as a consultant, even if they haven’t hung up a shingle to advertise that effort. On your résumé, though, it’s a good idea to fill in that gap with what you really have been doing for the time you haven’t been working in Corporate America.

What you may not know is that you don’t need an LLC or business license to say that you have a company. Call it Smith Consulting and put it on your résumé. Share what you have been doing as your own entity. Perhaps you’ve helped a significant other, friend, or relative with business-related issues. The catch is that you can’t put a “pretend” position on your résumé if you can’t back it up. Like any other position, you’ll still need to have an overall job scope and, more importantly, accomplishments. Be sure that a prospective employer can follow up with your clients (whether they paid or not, if you helped them, they’re clients).

If you cannot say that you have been consulting, try volunteering to fill the gap. Some job seekers are helping out at career networking groups or even in their own industry. That is pertinent information to share—and it might help you to look more relevant in the job search.

Have questions about how your résumé stacks up? Email it to us for a complimentary review.

For further reading, see:

• Only the Employed Need Apply
• Job Listing: Unemployed Need Not Apply
• Should Employers Be Able to Hire Only the Currently Employed?

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