| I first wrote about pocket resumes on | | | | Finally, the message has to be memorable. Forget |
| CareerJockey.org a few weeks back after reading a | | | | Clarence now, let's use me. A lot of people reach |
| discussion in a groups. It mentioned that a company | | | | out to me because they know I'll put my network to |
| was offering business card sized resumes for use at | | | | work for them. Remembering a person's message |
| networking events. "What exactly can you fit on a | | | | is especially difficult for me since I'm not a recruiter |
| business card?" I thought. Then the more I thought, | | | | with a file written up on you. If your message is, |
| the more I caught a glimpse of a mentality that, I | | | | "I'm a good, inexpensive masseuse." I'll remember it. |
| believe, can help you land your next job. | | | | Not only is it clear and concise, it's certainly |
| On a business card sized pocket resume, for lack of | | | | memorable for me. I don't know too many people |
| a better name, space is at a premium. There is no | | | | in this field. |
| room for fluff. You must cut, cut, cut and decide, | | | | However, since I've been in technology for so long, I |
| "What information has earned a spot on my few | | | | get approached by a lot of candidates looking for |
| inches of real estate?" And this final message must | | | | tech jobs. Mentally I files these people under |
| be clear, concise and memorable or it does you no | | | | techie. That message makes it clear and concise for |
| good. What would our resume look like if we took | | | | me, but what happens when I've got four or five of |
| on a mentality like that? | | | | them in my head at the same time. I can't |
| Let's consider what a resume does for you. Its | | | | distinguish between them. They aren't memorable |
| primary job is to land you an interview. It's not | | | | relative to each other. |
| there to explain your life's endeavors. It isn't there | | | | Let me tell you how one of them can altar their |
| to advertise your extensive job history and | | | | message to help me out. If their message is, "I'm |
| accumulated accolades. It's there to charm, allure | | | | the Cisco engineers that worked 15 years at the |
| and get someone to pick up the phone. Once | | | | same company," I may just remember that. It |
| you've gotten the appointment, the resume declares | | | | distinguished him from the others. Right now, I'm |
| victory. | | | | helping a one network engineer in particular. He told |
| How exactly might that work? If you do your | | | | me that until he finds his next job, he's doing |
| homework, you'll be convinced that networking is the | | | | computer work for individuals and small business. He |
| best way to your next job. You deliver your | | | | helped me define my mental picture of him. He's |
| message to friends, relatives, and contacts that get | | | | the "One man Geek Squad." I've referred him to a |
| it to people who know you only indirectly in order to | | | | nonprofit wanting to expand their wireless network |
| get it to a hiring manager with an open position you | | | | and he was top of mind when a recruiter called me |
| can fill. But for this to work, your networker must | | | | looking for a candidate last week. |
| understand when it makes sense to bring you up in a | | | | So how do we practically put this pocket resume |
| conversation or email exchange. | | | | mentality to work? To every job seeker that asks |
| This is where your clear, concise, memorable pocket | | | | me, I recommend putting a three title headline in 14 |
| resume mentality comes to play. Let's assume a | | | | point bold font near the top of their resume. The |
| person named Clarence (I could of used Bob or Jane, | | | | typical resume reviewer gives your resume an eight |
| but let's just be different here.) is networking on | | | | second scan before deciding if they want to read |
| your behalf. If your message isn't clear, you're out | | | | some more. If it takes them more than eight |
| of luck. If Clarence gets your resume, looks it over, | | | | seconds to figure out your message, you've probably |
| and after a few seconds is still thinking, "What does | | | | lost ‘em. The headline approach I recommend |
| this guy do? I don't get it." You have a problem. | | | | addresses that. |
| Your message isn't clear to him. Even if he's dying | | | | For example what does the following headline tell |
| to put you in front of his contacts, he won't be sure | | | | you, "Salesperson / Customer Service Specialist / |
| how to do it. If he's a busy person, he won't have | | | | Problem Solver." Here's another one, "Technology |
| the time to learn more about you so you just blew | | | | Leader / Programming Expert / Project Manager." I |
| the chance. | | | | may not be looking for one of these folks to fill a |
| If you message is not concise and instead aims at | | | | position, but I understand the message and |
| covering too many potential positions, you have a | | | | remember it well enough to pass it along in |
| similar problem. Suppose Clarence again takes the | | | | networking situations. Here's another one, |
| time to look over your resume and now thinks, "This | | | | "Communications, Marketing Major / Hard Worker / |
| guy's been in accounting forever. He's done | | | | Internship Candidate." If I'm looking for an intern, |
| receivables and payables. He could be a controller or | | | | that may be all the information I need to convince |
| an operations manager." You have another | | | | me to carefully review the entire resume. |
| problem. Will Clarence be comfortable | | | | Taking a pocket resume mentality may be a |
| recommending you for a book keeping job today and | | | | challenge. You may not be accustomed to reducing |
| a controller position tomorrow? A voice in the | | | | all you can bring to a job to six or ten words. I'm |
| back of his mind just might be saying, "One candidate | | | | not asking you to change who you are and especially |
| willing to take a book keeping, controller, operations | | | | not asking you to compromise yourself. I am |
| manager or maybe any job will do." If something | | | | recommending you take a pocket resume mentality |
| just doesn't feel right to him, you blew another | | | | and trim your message down so you can market |
| chance at getting your message circulated. | | | | yourself best to those that want to help you. |