Part 21 (1/2)

GUERRILLA PROOFREADING CHECKLIST

Print this page for easy reference. Then, proofread your resume for each section below. Check the box after completing each task, just like a pilot does before takeoff: * Contact information: Contact information: Verify that your name, address, ZIP code, and phone are correct. Verify that your name, address, ZIP code, and phone are correct.* E-mail address: E-mail address: Use a personal e-mail on your resume, not one from work. Besides looking unprofessional (readers will a.s.sume you'll use company time to look for a job again after they hire you), it's dangerous to get e-mail at work about career opportunities. Employers often have the right to read any e-mail that comes to your work address. Furthermore, make sure your personal e-mail address is Use a personal e-mail on your resume, not one from work. Besides looking unprofessional (readers will a.s.sume you'll use company time to look for a job again after they hire you), it's dangerous to get e-mail at work about career opportunities. Employers often have the right to read any e-mail that comes to your work address. Furthermore, make sure your personal e-mail address is not not something like [email protected] or [email protected] If you need to get a new e-mail that looks professional, do so. And put some thought into it. Best yet, put in your LinkedIn personalized URL so they will check out your online portfolio. something like [email protected] or If you need to get a new e-mail that looks professional, do so. And put some thought into it. Best yet, put in your LinkedIn personalized URL so they will check out your online portfolio.* Facts and figures: Facts and figures: Check all years and numbers in the resume and cover letter. Do they add up? Are they consistent? Check all years and numbers in the resume and cover letter. Do they add up? Are they consistent?* Clarity and content: Clarity and content: Read the resume aloud for awkward, missing, or extra words. Read the resume aloud for awkward, missing, or extra words.* s.p.a.cing: s.p.a.cing: Make sure the s.p.a.ce between each sentence and section is the same. Make sure the s.p.a.ce between each sentence and section is the same.* Spelling: Spelling: Use your word processor's spell checker and then read it yourself. Most misspelled words occur in the headings and in the names of software and companies. Use your word processor's spell checker and then read it yourself. Most misspelled words occur in the headings and in the names of software and companies.* Punctuation: Punctuation: Read the resume backward, looking for missing or incorrect punctuation, such as commas, dashes between dates, apostrophes, and so on. Read the resume backward, looking for missing or incorrect punctuation, such as commas, dashes between dates, apostrophes, and so on.* Layout: Layout: Are the upper and lower margins even and pleasing to the eye? Is there white s.p.a.ce throughout the doc.u.ment, or is the text too dense? Print the resume and show it to friends for their comments. Are the upper and lower margins even and pleasing to the eye? Is there white s.p.a.ce throughout the doc.u.ment, or is the text too dense? Print the resume and show it to friends for their comments.

SELLING YOUR VALUE-ADDED ADVANTAGES

What's your personal 2-for-1 strategy? Why should an employer hire you over the next equally qualified person? You can bet that in the United States today there are thousands of people who have skills similar to yours.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure you're well qualified, and I really am on your side, but you have to know that you'll have compet.i.tion for every job you go after. Your compet.i.tion will come in 3 forms: internal candidates, external candidates, and the status quo. You will need to convince interviewers that hiring you will get them to their desired future result better than any other option. Doing nothing is a very viable option, especially for people in middle management who are risk averse.

So, back to my question-why you?

As a job hunter, if you understand that you are likely to have compet.i.tion for a coveted position, you can leverage other skills to appear more qualified. You do this by selling your personal value-added qualities, and everybody has one or more.

The American Heritage Dictionary American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines value-added as: adjective-”Of or relating to the estimated value that is added to a product or material at each stage of its manufacture or distribution.” In short, it is something added to a product to increase its value. In this case, the product is you. of the English Language defines value-added as: adjective-”Of or relating to the estimated value that is added to a product or material at each stage of its manufacture or distribution.” In short, it is something added to a product to increase its value. In this case, the product is you.

Your value-added is a skill, life experience, or att.i.tude that when added to your basic qualifications gives you an advantage over the next candidate because you exceed the employer's expectations for the position. For example: * Nurses who have had active combat training could have an edge on other candidates applying for an emergency room job at a hospital because they're already acclimatized to the environment.* An engineer who has graduated from Toastmasters, or a similar public speaking program, could have an edge because he or she can also be a spokesperson for the company.

The preceding job hunters added an unexpected but welcome dimension to the job because they highlighted their value-added in their cover letter and later in the interview. In essence, they s.h.i.+fted the interviewer's focus to areas they knew others were not likely to have.

On a more personal note, my wife was selected for a job as a drug and alcohol education supervisor by focusing her cover letter, resume, and interview around her military experience. The fact that she has a degree in psychology and ran several addiction centers qualified her for the job. But I'm convinced she was chosen because the selection committee knew she had the self-discipline to create the course material and the presence to deliver it.

Your value-added can come in the guise of: * Complementary skills* Alumni* Att.i.tude* Industry contacts* Domain expertise

Complementary Skills

For example, a nurse who becomes a doctor could leverage her bond with nursing staff when managing a medical team.

Alumni

I can't count the number of people who have specifically asked me to recruit Wharton or Harvard grads because they would have experienced the discipline needed to graduate from those inst.i.tutions.

Microsoft recruits engineers from the University of Waterloo because many employees are alumni. Want to know what happened to all those high achievers you went to school with? Surf over toand start networking. and start networking.

Att.i.tude

Employers understand that pa.s.sionate employees outperform normal employees 10-to-1. Pa.s.sion is a simple cost/benefit equation and qualities like drive, ambition, and vision tend to come as part of the package. Here's an example: