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My background working with trades professionals
includes Licensed Boiler Operators, Plumbers, Electricians, Building
Contractors, Automotive Mechanics, Machinists, Welders, Sheet
Metal Fabricators, Asphalt and Excavation Contractors, HVAC Technicians
and Facilities Managers - to name a few.
Craig, a master carpenter, had won several awards
for his designs and remodel projects with his work frequently
featured in Sunset Magazine. I was surprised when Craig wanted
to describe his carpentry and design skills as "Good Design
Skills." Now, how great does that sound for a resume? Not
too powerful. Wouldn't you assume Craig's skills were excellent
if he had won awards and being featured in a national magazine?
I wanted to say that Craig possessed, "Excellent,
Award Winning Design Skills." But he would have none of
that and said that statement was just too strong. We spent about
10-15 minutes coming up with a replacement for that one word
- excellent. Finally we came up with, "Unique and Innovative,
Award Winning Designs." Craig finally leaned back and said,
"Okay, now that feels comfortable." Like Craig, many
tradespeople are only used to describing their skills and experience
with terms used within their industry and often feel uncomfortable
with descriptions and language outside of their industry. If
you have this tendency, you may need to broaden and stretch your
comfort zone so that you can use such descriptions and appear
better qualified.
Another problem that trade people often face
is an erratic work history due to working on a project or contact
basis. This had also been another of Craig's resume problems.
Craig knew he had great carpentry, design, project management
and supervisory skills but his chronological resume just didn't
show them. Take a moment and read a section from Craig's before
resume. What image does this section create of Craig's skills
and abilities?
Carpenter, Burnstad Homes 1997 - Present
Kitchen Remodeling
Projects, Residential Building Contractors
1996 - 1997
General Laborer, Asphalt Paving and Excavation 1996
Cabinetmaker, New Home Kitchens 1995
Carpenter, Fairland Homes 1995 |
Now take a moment and see if your impression
of Craig's skills and abilities do an about face when you read
the section below I created for his after resume. Does he look
much better qualified with significantly higher level skills?
Does this new section significantly elevate Craig's image?
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Master Carpenter - Award
Winning Designer
Designed innovative remodel and cabinetry work for homes valued
up to $2.5 million, with projects featured in Sunset Magazine.
Commercial and Residential
Projects - Cabinetry and Finish Work
Diverse remodel experience includes additions, kitchen, bath,
saunas, skylights, decks and tenant improvements ranging in fees
from $50,000 to $200,000 per project.
Project Management and
Supervision of Construction Staff
Managed a full range of trades workers completing light and heavy
commercial projects with remodel fees of up to $1 million per
project. |
$9,000 Salary Increase
The first resume workshop in this site shows how Fran's after
resume resulted in a $9,000 salary increase. Fran wanted a $33,000
Corporate Customer Representative job but her resume created
an image of her being at a $20,000 to 24,000 salary level --
that's $9,000 to $13,000 beneath her goal.
What Level Does Your Resume Market
You At?
If you are curious to see what level your resume is marketing
you at … then be sure to read and use the graphing techniques
in my first workshop. By graphing the job titles used in Fran's
resume it's easy to see why her resume failed … and once
you understand this … you will understand why the majority
of resumes fail. You'll then understand how to analyze your job
titles and see if you are better off using them or replacing
them with skill headings that market you more effectively.
Most People Have Job Titles that
Weaken Their Image
I estimate that at least 85% of all job seekers have job titles
unrelated to their current career goals … and that they
are much better off using skill headings rather than job titles
to land higher salaries and double and triple their interview
rates.
For example, Fran had been
a Directory Operator but in most people's minds that doesn't
sound like she's at the level of a Corporate Customer Representative
making $33,000 … that's because most people don't view directory
operators as providing true customer service. Most people say
that Directory Operator sounds like someone making only $20,000.
However, by using the 12 Questions in my Proven Resumes Series,
Fran wrote a new description of her duties as a Directory Operator
that described her being selected out of 100 Directory Operators
to provide specialized Customer Service to the Governor's Office
and Political Dignitaries in the Washington State Capitol …
now that information begins to change our image of Fran doesn't
it? That makes her sound much more like someone being able to
command $33,000.
Which sounds like a better
match for the $33,000 Corporate Customer Service Representative
goal… her old job title of Directory Operator … or
a skill heading like Customer Service Representative to State
of Washington Account. In Fran's actual resume we used the heading
of Customer Service Representative but you can see how you can
play with skill headings to control and elevate your image …
this is one strategy I explain in detail with examples throughout
my book, Proven Resumes: Strategies That Have Increased Salaries,
and one of the strongest things I can offer you as a resume writer
… just in case you don't have the time or patience to write
your own.
Going from 0% to 100% Interview Rate
By using skill headings that matched her goal, Fran went from
a 0% interview rate to a 100% interview rate -- meaning none
of her prior resumes had landed an interview but her new resume
landed an interview for each position she applied for.
Click here to learn other
ways we improved Fran's resume and landed her a job paying $9,000
more click here
to read
my first set of resume workshops! If you've entered my site via this page, be sure
to go to my main website's home page for an overview of more
than 60
Free Resume & Job Search Workshops that include tons of Resume Tips for 45 Career Fields,
Job Search, Electronic Resume, Cover Letter, Interviewing, Networking
and Confidence Building strategies.
The testimonials throughout
my site describe salary increases ranging from $10,000 to $30,000
and more. Here's one of my most recent ones:
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Regina, the resume you wrote
caught the attention of the world's leading software manufacturer.
Thanks for helping inspire me through your thoughtful questions
and objective interpretation of my work history.
I'm sure it made a big difference
in my ability to be recognized in a competitive environment and
cross the $100,000 threshold. By the way, the offer I accepted
was an increase of $25K annually (21% increase).
Rachel Pizarro, Senior Sales
Account Executive / Operations Manager |
In Summary
If you work in a professional trade
and are preparing a resume be sure to list and categorize your
industry experience as I did when writing Craig's after resume.
Providing such details shows an employer the depth and breadth
of your skills and will result in more interviews and higher
salary offers.
If you have trades experience or are graduating
from a 4 year university program,
I recommend that you consider purchasing my booklet series, Proven Resumes: Strategies That Increase
Salaries. It is targeted for job seekers with a salary
range of up to $100,000+ and provides over 2,000 skills, skill
headings and sample sentences including a list for mechanic,
machine shop, industrial maintenance, automotive, construction,
facilities management, production, engineering/drafting, general
management/supervision, consulting and transferable skills. It
provides extensive resume examples and worksheets to help you
identify your skills and market them to match the jobs you want.
For a complete description click on the link below. |
Website Contents, Regina Pontow,
1997-2005 