Resume Feedback -- Who & What to Believe
By Kelly Magowan
Summary:
When searching for a job, many people will give you feedback on your resume. Magowan offers advice for determining whose feedback you should follow.
We have had a number of members ask us whether or not their resume is suitable for the site. They have found that whilst looking for new employment everyone seems to be giving them different advice and feedback, be it your resume is too long, too short, not detailed enough, too detailed, include achievements, don't include a career objective etc. No doubt those of you going through the job search process can relate.
Take the feedback on board however be selective with it. Particularly as in my experience you find a lot of Recruitment Consultants giving you resume advice, and more often than not it is too make their job easier rather than to assist you. If they ask you to do all the work such as expanding on your resume, filling in additional templates of information about your skills and experiences, chances are they don't understand your experience or what their client is looking for, so be wary.
What I would suggest is to ask: Am I getting interviews? Am I confident that my resume sells me effectively - both my past experience and my future potential?
If the answers are yes, then I would not be so concerned about the advice. If you are not getting the interviews and are not confident that your document is a good sales tool then it would be worthwhile getting advice, though not necessarily from a Recruitment Consultant, perhaps ask a Career Coach or Human Resource Professional.
We have had a number of members ask us whether or not their resume is suitable for the site. They have found that whilst looking for new employment everyone seems to be giving them different advice and feedback, be it your resume is too long, too short, not detailed enough, too detailed, include achievements, don't include a career objective etc. No doubt those of you going through the job search process can relate.
Take the feedback on board however be selective with it. Particularly as in my experience you find a lot of Recruitment Consultants giving you resume advice, and more often than not it is too make their job easier rather than to assist you. If they ask you to do all the work such as expanding on your resume, filling in additional templates of information about your skills and experiences, chances are they don't understand your experience or what their client is looking for, so be wary.
What I would suggest is to ask: Am I getting interviews? Am I confident that my resume sells me effectively - both my past experience and my future potential?
If the answers are yes, then I would not be so concerned about the advice. If you are not getting the interviews and are not confident that your document is a good sales tool then it would be worthwhile getting advice, though not necessarily from a Recruitment Consultant, perhaps ask a Career Coach or Human Resource Professional.
About the Author
Kelly has been specialising in the arena of Human Resource Management, Recruitment and Career Counselling for close to 12 years. Initially focusing on commercial recruitment, and later moving into corporate Human Resources working with the likes of Ernst & Young and General Electric. In these roles Kelly was exposed to best practice HR and developed a true passion for Human Resources Management.
In 2008 Kelly launched Six Figures www.sixfigures.com.au the premium job site for $100K+ jobs, a site created to provide job seekers with a trusted online source to find six figure opportunities across all industries and professions. The site offers businesses a new targeted channel to connect with six figure job seekers, utilizing current technology to feature job opportunities and information about the business in a way that appeals to today's high salary earners.
Kelly’s experience working across HR, Recruitment & Career Coaching has provided her with a solid understanding of what the job market looks like, what employers look for and the common experiences and challenges they face. Visit Six Figures.
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First Published: Jun 14, 2008
