"What Should My Resume Look Like These Days?" - 06/09/21 Edition
Stephen Says Column
Dear Stephen,
I’m looking for a job a little bit under the radar. I work for a company that was acquired recently, and I’m just hedging my bets. “Allegedly” my job is safe, but I figure there is no better time to look than when I already have a job.
Here’s my question: What are companies looking for in a resume today? It’s been a while since I’ve had to update my resume, and I’m looking for some tips specific to the interior furnishings industry. I’m a sales rep for a furniture manufacturer, and I’ve discovered over the years resume formats go in-and-out of fashion. I’ve certainly read your advice about resumes in past BoF columns, and I’ve read all of your books, as well. In fact, I’ve read 10 other books on resumes, too. However, you’re the undisputed career expert in the interior furnishings industry, which is why I’m asking you over anyone else for specific industry-related resume advice.
As a salesperson, what should my resume look like now? Some people say it should have a picture; others say it should not. Some say include my home address, others say do not. All I care about is what works and what is going to get me the greatest number of interviews. I don’t even know if I want to change jobs yet, but I want to have options.
Sincerely,
— Looking but not looking
Dear Looking,
Most of what you said in your letter is true: Resumes for people in our industry are completely unique to our industry. And each industry has its own preferred format. So, generic advice from any book or individual will never be as good as the advice that I’m going to give you right here and now. Your analogy to the fashion industry was right on because the advice I’m giving you today is not the advice I would have given you a year ago or maybe even a year from now. Resume styles and formats, like the industry itself, are constantly evolving.
So, here we go: My experience is that HR departments in the furniture industry rely on artificial intelligence to guide them toward the first candidates to interview. I’m going to suggest to you a very specific template that should be able to get you in the door for an interview. If you’re an architect or a designer and reading this, you’re going to want a different resume than the advice that I am giving for this person’s question. And if you’re a manager or CEO, you may want yet another resume style.
First of all, I think it is important to note the resume’s purpose is to get you an interview. Which means that resumes will not and cannot get you the job, you need to get yourself the job through the interview process. Like I was saying, most resumes today are read by AI, so the buzzwords and information you include in your resume are very important. It’s algorithmic. Buzzwords are things like “revenue generator,” “achieve sales goal,” “client relationships.” Specifics are important. I tell people to consider their resumes as “templates” and to tailor these templates for each position they are applying for.
My first tip is the simplest, but people never seem to follow it: Put your complete home address on the resume. Yes — I mean your street address. If it’s a sales job, the company wants to know exactly where you live in relation to the territory. Just putting your city or town is not good enough in our industry. Chances are, companies may not even ask you where you’ll live, they’ll just skip over you.
Secondly, you should add a hotlink to your LinkedIn URL profile. Why? Because people want to see what you look like. And adding the hotlink makes it easy for the employer, which is
always appreciated and shows thoughtfulness. And it’s extremely important your LinkedIn profile matches your resume. So often, it does not.
Should you put your picture on your resume? Will this separate you from the crowd? Viscusi’s advice: It will separate you, but not in a good way. You’re applying for a sales job, not the theatre. You don’t need a headshot for a sales job. Common sense should tell you they will visit your LinkedIn. Lastly, the photo on your LinkedIn should be up-to-date, in business attire with absolutely no sunglasses and no spouses.
The best time to look for a job is when you already have a job. It’s a candidate’s market for sure, and it’s a good time to shop your options. It’s also important to know your worth.
Here’s another tip: If you’re trying to interview incognito, you can go on websites such as www.theladders.com, and post your resume and choose the option to “cloak” your identity. This means, your name and address are not on your resume, but your experience is. Employers can then contact you without you revealing yourself before you have to or want to. It’s a neat trick a lot of candidates are not aware of called “cloaking.” Good luck and as I’ve said more than once — the grass is not always greener, but it never hurts to look.
Sincerely,
Stephen Viscusi
You can send your workplace questions to Stephen at: StephenSays@bellow.press
Questions selected to be answered will appear in this column. Please use the Subject: Stephen Says for all emails. Stephen Viscusi is a bestselling author, television personality, and CEO of The Viscusi Group, global executive recruiters located in New York. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenviscusi. Like Stephen on Facebook and follow him on LinkedIn.
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