Writing the Resume
Preparations for the job or investor search are similar. At some point you will be asked for your collateral: resume, some form of communication (cover letter) and business cards.
The resume can be a problem if you make it one.
Everyone you meet will have an opinion: 1 page, 2 pages, as many pages as needed, 10 years back, 5 years back, funky layout, strict layout. More whitespace…less whitespace. It can and will drive you crazy. They will state that opinion as if it gospel and make you feel that if you do not follow it you will fail.
An investor needs your resume so as to quickly know whether or not you are qualified for the position you currently hold. Can you lead? What have been your past successes? What are your skills that bring victory?
The biggest difference between job search resumes and resumes for investors is this: most resumes for the job search weed you out. Investors usually want to meet you first, and thus the resume qualifies who they know you are already.
However, you can have one set of resumes that supports you in both areas. Yesterday I briefly mentioned John Lucht’s book, Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+. It talks about the comprehensive executive resume. However, the book stipulates that every element on the resume should talk about a success.
Be careful, as the executive resume stated by the book may be too long.
From my experience writing and reviewing resumes here is what I found works:
- Have three versions of your resume. A full length, multiple page version. A two page version, and a one page version. Always lead with the two page version. If they want something more or less, you are prepared. The only exception is if you have less than five years work experience or just out of college. In that case, you should only have a one page version.
- Have a Text Version. This means that if the investor or hiring person needs you to fill it into a box on a web site, then you can do so. When it prints it will print out in a good format and the person will not need to reformat to read it. They will appreciate you. Read Rites of Passage, it explains this a bit more.
- Do not list career objectives. Is your objective to do something other than the job you are applying for? No? Then, why is it there. Your objective is to get the job and exceed the expectations of your hiring manager/investor. Everything about the resume should scream what you can do for the company.
- Use a summary section, and as per the Rites of Passage book, be objective. Do know fill it with subjective adjectives like, “Excellent”, “Superb”, “World-Class” unless you won an award that has that in the title. Be objective and let your achievements stand out.
- At most, have one or two lines about the job description.
- All other bullet points on the job should be about successes and what you achieved for the company.
- Write for your audience. If they say you should list skills, then do so. If they want a one page resume, then do one. The point is that you deliver to your customer’s needs (or perceived needs).
All the other pointers on writing resumes such as font size, layout, white space, skill listing, placement of education, awards, depends on the industry, your preferences, and what the thousands of other books and articles on resumes say you should do.
One more thing, have a short bio about yourself. The bio should speak of your strengths and experience that applies for the company. The bio and full resume should go into an appendix in the business plan.
