Prepare Your Resume for a Recruiter

The HR process has changed in the recent years. The major change is that people are now seeking out industry specific recruiters. In the past the head-hunters sought out the budding talent and industry celebrities and offered them high paying, fulfilling manager positions. Today motivated professionals are focused on their goals. They know what they want and are prepared to do whatever is necessary to reach their goals. The good news is that they are able to work with recruitment firms to prepare for their resume and their job hunting skills so that they will stand out from the crowd. The number one obstacle to your dream career is not the hundred other resumes that are sitting on the Human Resources Manger’s desk. The biggest obstacle is failing to ‘be’ the restaurant manager they are looking for. 1. Focus on The GoalrnNothing eliminated the Candidate faster than an unfocused resume. Trying to be everything to everyone tells the HR professional that you have no goal. Your resume cannot appear to be trolling for any job. Your value proposition must be built around a particular job. The job description must be the foundation for your resume. rna) Add as many specifics to the resume title as possible. These need to reflect your personal goals. What is your dream job, General Manager, restaurant manager, kitchen, marketing, or other position? b) The next step is to summarize your background. Why are you qualified for this particular position? Keep your resume flexible at this stage of the writing process. rnDon’t think about paragraph length or resume writing at this point. Brainstorm and let your creativity flow, write out these ideas in detail. Often the first page or two of ideas will be the same cookie cutter ideas that fill most resumes. After a while you’ll start remembering things that saved your previous employer money, helped execute projects, and solved problems. c) Leave your ideas for a day or two. Feel free to add to this list, but don’t edit or remove ideas until you’ve left your ideas rest for a few days. When you return to your work you might find that you’ve uncovered more information that changes your resume from a ‘Candidate’ looking for a position, to a ‘powerful asset to the restaurant’ that an HR professional cannot ignore. d) Now trim your ideas into short summaries. Think ‘brand focused’ headlines. It may take a few days to summarize the ideas down into short, succinct titles. 2. Highlight Your Major Successesrna) Write down the successes that support the titles you’ve created. These can be anything. Ask Colleagues, spouses, bosses, and friends to help you recall important projects, leadership qualities, and b) Summarize your role, process, and results into 3 line ‘sound bites’. c. Now turn these stories into bullet-point form. I’ve been asked why it is important to start with the long term version and narrow it back down to simple titles and bullets. Many Restaurant Candidates have taken short cuts when I work with them, and learn the error of their way before we finish the prep process. rnThe long outlines are important. They help you focus and articulate your thoughts before the interview. You are prepared. A recruiter can ask any question, or for an explanation on any bullet point, and you are ready to offer a short, well thought out explanation and expand on any point without pausing or thinking. 3. Ask for FeedbackrnThis is one step that many professionals miss. Even when you are working with a recruitment firm it is important to ask colleagues and friends for feedback. What you wrote and see on the page may not be what another person reads. You’ve heard the saying ‘what you said is not what I heard’. This applies to resumes. You may also want to do a Google search for a couple freelance editors with resume experience to proofread your resume. Don’t let them confuse you or try to change your work. Trust your instincts, and your recruiter.