Alexey Taranin

Your current position doesn't meet the criteria listed in the job postings that interest you. But you need to learn how to tailor your resume to each new position. Let's look at examples of how people I helped find jobs (an executive assistant and a top manager) were able to create effective resumes based on their notes.

Example #1: Applying for a higher-level position than your current position

Sasha joined a small university department as an assistant several years ago. Over time, she voluntarily took on more and more responsibilities, and eventually became its de facto head. However, the title of assistant to the head and her current salary do not in any way reflect the amount of work Sasha does today.

To begin, she narrowed down the list of job postings that interested her, created a list of five common responsibilities, and briefly described her accomplishments for each. Here's what she came up with:

search for and implementation of opportunities to improve the quality of services provided;

collaborating with department colleagues and representing his work throughout the organization;

management of junior staff and evaluation of their work results;

control over resource allocation and budgeting;

timely resolution of unforeseen issues.

Sasha then wrote a summary section of her resume that reflected all five of these aspects of the administrative director position. She came up with a catchy title, a key component in the resume structure, to immediately show that she had the experience required for the new position. Then she wrote a brief introduction: “Department Administrator – Efficiency Expert – HR Specialist – Crisis Manager. I have been an Assistant Director, ensuring the smooth operation of academic departments for over 16 years. I create and develop systems for managing the needs of employees and students, namely, schedules, records, administrative and economic facilities, and budgets. I perform many tasks that are not included in my job description. I show initiative to successfully implement projects. I act confidently in crisis situations.”

After mentioning her successes, Sasha gave an overview of what she has achieved in her current position over the past 10 years: “I support the smooth operation of the university’s design school both in day-to-day activities and in emergency situations:

I actually work as an administrative director, performing a wider range of duties than an assistant manager is entitled to;

Nicknamed the "Hope Diamond of Gems" by faculty after receiving the Excellence in Service Award in 2013 and 2016;

As the "face of the department," I interact with current and prospective students, faculty, campus staff, and the School of Design;

I monitor and evaluate the learning outcomes of students in the Work & Study program, as well as graduate assistants;

I create a friendly atmosphere in the department by showing optimism, respect and sensitivity to others."

Note the first point, where Sasha explicitly states that her responsibilities correspond to the post of administrative director, not her current position. She backs this up with examples of how she managed to "timely resolve unforeseen issues": "In 2015, I participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the flooding of the design school building. Within 24 hours, I organized its relocation and opening in a new location:

arrived on campus by 7:00 a.m. and assisted emergency response personnel. Rescued documents, furniture, and equipment;

notified the director, staff, students and faculty of the incident in order to minimize disruption to the department;

Where to start

Write a basic version of your resume, briefly outlining the most important information. As you apply for each job, you will need to make minor adjustments to your resume. To do this, read the job posting carefully. Then, make a list of your five or six most significant responsibilities. Briefly describe your accomplishments, clearly demonstrating your success in the areas listed. Name the problem you solved, how you overcame it, and what changes you made.

together with the university caretaker, a specialist from the ServPro company, and an assessor of the size of the insurance loss, she drew up and implemented a plan for cleaning the premises and replacing equipment;

After a month and a half, she ensured the university successfully passed national accreditation. She prepared all the documentation and collected data for the experts’ arrival, ensured their efficient work, including the meetings they held, their accommodation, travel and meals.”

Wouldn't you like Sasha to head your department?

Example #2: Entering a New Industry

After completing her MBA a few years ago, Meghna worked as the COO of a small research company. She had done everything that was required of her in that role, and now she was eager to share her experience with startups in a different industry – wind energy or alternative transport such as bike sharing. How did Meghna present her achievements so that they would be relevant to other industries?

In the summary section of her resume, she highlighted successes that demonstrated her ability to develop startups and solve their typical problems:

"Operating Director

I help new businesses get on their feet and successfully compete with larger market players:

I accelerate business development by releasing new product/service lines that generate regular income, I acquire companies, unite them and form a single corporate culture;

I set up departments from scratch – finance, accounting, marketing, sales and recruitment;

I accurately assess the financial condition of a business by building models, budgets and implementing various KPIs;

I overcome chaos and create a system of competent decision-making based on the analysis of relevant data and reports on its results;

I skillfully manage people and processes. I treat employees and clients with respect and am understanding of their views."

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Management / Career

Meghna went on to describe her current role: “Successfully spent over 15 years growing the company into a $15 million niche player taking on larger public sector competitors. Built the company into a sustainable financial position by introducing an annual subscription, which now accounts for the majority of sales. Created systems for managing finances, HR, projects and customer relationships, which enabled the company to steadily grow from 10 to 150 employees, and in addition to the US office, open seven more international offices located in different time zones.”

Meghna made it clear that she was doing a great job as COO of a startup. She quantified the growth she had achieved through one of her innovative solutions. Meghna also spoke about her extensive experience in finance, HR, sales and project management, as well as her success in setting up the respective departments from scratch.

Is it worth the time to carefully analyze a job posting and then tailor your resume to each requirement? Absolutely, if you want recruiters to immediately see that you are an exceptional candidate who is worth an interview. Don’t let your old job title hinder your professional growth. Use a resume title, summary, and brief mention of your accomplishments. And don’t be afraid to directly point out the inconsistency between your current position and the one you are applying for.

The article was published in the magazine "HBR Russia" http://hbr-russia.ru

Original article

How to Tailor Your Resume to Your Dream Job