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The Professional Woman�s Guide to Creating an Extraordinary Resume

Written by

Maret McCoy, Executive Coach for Women

Helping Professional Women Land and Succeed in their Dream Job

www.MaretMcCoy.com [email protected] With a powerful, well-written resume you are sure to stand out and get noticed! This guide guides you through the process of developing a compelling resume that confidently communicates your strengths and experience and sets you apart from the competition. Most professional women find resume writing to be extremely challenging and intimidating. It doesn�t have to be this way. I will show you how. In this guide, I walk you through the steps to creating a resume you are proud of and will land you your dream job. Locking down your resume is, of course, one of the most important aspects of the job search. Having a solid resume you feel good about allows you to quickly respond to promising job leads. All too often women let extraordinary opportunities slip by because they don�t have an up-to-date resume ready to go. I want to start out by encouraging you not to put too much pressure on yourself. The first drafts of your resume need not be perfect. A lot of women get hung up on attempting to make it just right the first time out. Give yourself time to

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develop the document. Through several rounds of writing and editing, a high-quality final product will emerge. At times, the resume development process can feel completely overwhelming. The best way to overcome these paralyzing feelings is to take the project one step at a time. Breaking it down into manageable action steps and focusing on one small task at a time is the best way to achieve any goal. This guide is organized in that step-by-step fashion so you can easily move through each resume-building phase. Specifically in this guide, I walk you through the eight steps to creating an extraordinary resume. The eight steps include:

• Create a Compelling Sales Document • Elevate Yourself to the Executive Level • Include Winning Components • Select Persuasive Themes • Focus on Accomplishments, Outcomes and Results • Feature a Summary Section • Streamline to Maximize Impact • Format Carefully

I recommend you create one full-length master version of your resume. This version will include your complete job history and professional background. This template is then customized to each position you apply to. For each individual job application, you will select the most relevant information to include and remove the rest. This produces a streamlined resume for each application you submit. If you are targeting more than one industry, develop have a modified template for each one. To help you create the master version of your resume, I�ve provided a fully-formatted executive-style resume template. This template sells as a stand alone product on my website. However, as a bonus to you, I�ve included it as an addendum to this guide. The two-page resume template provides a sharp, professional look that is visually appealing and reader-friendly. It is provided in Microsoft Word so you

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can easily cut and paste your customized content right into the document. Use this template as the basis for your master version and each subsequent variation thereof. I�d also like to say at the outset that while many of the resume building strategies I share in this guide are universally applicable, there are some that are not �hard and fast rules.� One set of parameters cannot apply to all resumes because, indeed, each resume has a unique set of goals and messages. The detailed specifics of your resume depend on your target position and the needs of your target audience. There is certainly room for nuance here. If you have questions on how to apply the strategies outlined in this guide to your personal resume, feel free to contact me. I will help you sort out the specifics according to your unique situation and professional aspirations.

Step One: Create a Compelling Sales Document The purpose of your resume is to be a compelling sales document. What does this mean? It means your resume must demonstrate what makes you uniquely qualified for the position you�re applying to. This sounds straightforward and logical. However, most people miss the mark and fail to build persuasive messaging into the document. Before you begin developing your resume, define the position you�re looking for and how you will sell yourself. Prior to writing your resume you must know the type of job you want, the type of organization you want to work for and the specific industry you want to be in. If you have yet to determine your target job, organization type and industry, see my book Discover Your Authentic Career Fit for step-by-step guidance. Having a solid career vision in place will help you create a winning resume as well as assist you in devising your cover letters, networking talking points and job interview strategy. Each component of the job search process is interrelated. The stronger the foundation you build, the easier your search will be.


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The number one resume mistake women make is merely listing out the responsibilities and duties of each of their current and past positions. While this is a necessary component of an effective resume, it is not the only required element. Yes, include the responsibilities you had in each position. However, do so strategically. You are not required to list every function you performed in each job. Therefore, do not include anything on the resume that you do not want to do again. For each position, only list the duties that correspond with what you want to do moving forward in your career. Furthermore, you are not required to list each job you�ve held. Attempting to be all things to all people is a resume recipe for disaster. Focus on the positions that most directly relate to what you want to do next. Of course, you don�t want large time gaps on your resume. If this is a concern for you, consider a �functional format.� This option is discussed in the �Formats to Consider� section of this guide. Again, if you�re focusing on more than one industry, develop a targeted resume for each. How you craft the message of the document, of course, depends on your intended audience and goals. The resume is not about you. Rather, it is about responding to the needs and wants of your target employers. Only include information your intended audience will find relevant. Any extraneous information will take your resume off course. When setting out to develop your resume, ask yourself the following questions:

• Who are my target hiring managers? • What are the concerns, needs and problems of my target hiring managers? • How can I address these concerns, fill these needs and solve these

problems? Another crucial element of the compelling sales document is punchy action verbs. They add life to the document and make your message leap off the page. Examples of action verbs and phrases include:


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• Direct • Lead • Oversee • Strategize • Launched • Created • Spearheaded • Slashed Costs

Commence each section and bullet point with engaging action verbs. If you think your word choices are lackluster, they probably are. Use the above list to generate ideas and add more of your own to energize your resume.


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Step Two: Elevate Yourself to the Executive Level The next concept I want you to consider is that of the �Executive Level� resume. Chances are, its time for you to give yourself a �resume upgrade.� This involves elevating your resume from that of an �individual contributor� or �manager� to the level of �executive.� Rather than relegating yourself to �worker bee� status, you want to present yourself as the upwardly mobile, executive-level professional you are. To successfully accomplish this, a mind-shift is required. Upgrade your definition of your professional self from staffer to dynamic leader. Apply this shift in attitude to everything you do in your professional life. Your resume is a great place to begin with this transformation. To propel your resume to the executive level, identify the leadership qualities most desired in your target field and target position. Review the following list and see if any apply:

• Ability to motivate others to achieve results • Effective strategic visioning and long range planning abilities • Budget development and management skills • Adept at working both within and across business units

Of course, identify additional leadership qualities that are desirable to the decision makers within your target companies. I suggest you make a list of the top ten. Include all that apply from the above list and add in more of your own. For further ideas, review the job announcements of positions you�re interested in. Also, consult with your networking contacts and examine the websites of your target employers. Many companies have an �employment� section on their website which includes information on the qualities they look for in their top recruits. As you conduct your research, complete the following list.


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Top Ten Leadership Qualities Desired by My Target Employers Leadership Quality One ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Two ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Three ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Four ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Five _____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Six ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Seven ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Eight ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Nine ____________________________________________


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Leadership Quality Ten ____________________________________________ Once you�ve finished the list of sought-after leadership qualities, identify the ones you currently possess. You probably don�t currently have each of these ten skills (yet!) but I bet you have at least a few of them. My Top Five Leadership Qualities Desired by My Target Employers Leadership Quality One ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Two ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Three ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Four ____________________________________________ Leadership Quality Five _____________________________________________


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Next, develop a few strategic bullet points about each of your leadership skills. This text can then be presented in the Summary section of your resume as well as the Professional Experience section. Use Proactive Language Also, pay close attention to the type of language you use. Use words that are confident and proactive. Believe it or not, women often downplay their strengths on their own resume! Obviously, this is the last thing you want to do. To ensure you are putting your best foot forward, take a hard look at your current resume. Review each section carefully for passive words and phrases. Replace any use of passive voice with proactive statements. For your reference, I provide examples of powerfully written resume bullets in the �Focus on Accomplishments, Outcomes and Results� section of this guide. Finally, upgrading your resume and your professional image to the executive-level requires a metamorphosis of attitude. I�ll share a powerful quote to support you in this endeavor. My favorite massage therapist has a saying she shares with her clients. It�s also displayed on a plaque in her treatment room. It has to do with proper spinal alignment; however, I think it applies beautifully to the lives of professional women as well. Her profound phrase goes like this: �Sit tall, stand tall, walk tall, and think tall.� I encourage you to �think tall� in all you do! Your resume is the perfect place to start with acknowledging your unique set of strengths and talents. Once you truly own your distinctive gifts without apology, your colleagues will recognize and appreciate them as well.


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Step Three: Include Winning Components To help you launch the process of developing your resume, I�ll describe each of the individual components to include. But first, let�s check in with how you�re feeling. At this point, you may be experiencing some anxiety and feeling nervous about how you are going to create the content for your resume. You may be wondering where you�re going to come up with material to include. To quell this anxiety, let�s talk about where your content will come from. There are numerous sources you can consult for ideas. These sources include:

• Your job descriptions � for both current and past positions • Praise you�ve received in your past performance reviews • Feedback you�ve received on your work from clients, colleagues, etc. • Your employer�s website � both your current employer and past

employers • Information in your �Success File� � You do keep a Success File, right?

Also, in my Discover Your Authentic Career Fit book, there are several exercises that help you develop rich content for your resume. The �Likes & Dislikes� exercise in guide eight is especially useful for this purpose. In addition, guide nine walks you through how to create your professional success stories. These stories can be converted into powerful material for your resume, cover letters and job interview presentations. If you haven�t done so, I highly recommend you go through these exercises. They will help you immensely as you move through the job search process.


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Resume Components Now let�s discuss the individual components of the resume. Every resume should have a few standard sections. There are also optional components you can include depending on the type of position you�re targeting and your background. Mandatory Components Every resume should include the following:

• Header • Resume Title • Summary • Professional Experience • Education

The following is an explanation of each of these standard elements: Header This is where you display your contact information at the very top of the first page. Include your name, address, phone number and email address. I provide tips on how to maximize this space in the �Format Carefully� section of this guide. Resume Title See the �Feature a Summary� section of this guide for an explanation of how to set this up.


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Summary Section See the �Feature a Summary� section of this guide for an explanation of how to design your summary. Professional Experience This is the section in which you include your most relevant work experience. Include your current position as well as past positions that relate with the job you�re applying to. As I�ve mentioned, it is not necessary to include an entire historical account of each job you�ve held. Keep this section streamlined and concise so it stays on message. Even if each of your positions directly relates to your target job, it may not be necessary to include them all. If you have been working for 20 years or more, you may want to remove the jobs from the early portion of your career. This is simply because they were most likely at the junior-level. Leaving off your entry-level experience creates more space for your recent positions in which you probably had more responsibility. Also, when crafting the language for your Professional Experience section, avoid simply copying and pasting from your job descriptions. A rough cut and paste will not flow with the rest of your content. Do use your job descriptions as source material. However, shape the phrasing into appropriate resume wording so it seamlessly ties in with the remainder of the document. Reference the resume template for a model of how the Professional Experience section should be arranged.


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Education In the Education section, include the degrees you�ve earned and any other professional credentials you hold. Professional credentials may include certificate programs you�ve completed or trainings you�ve participated in. If you are currently working on a degree, list it here along with the anticipated graduation date. It is not necessary to include each of your educational credentials. Only include the items that support the marketing message of your resume. Say for example, you hold a Master�s Degree in Applied Research and a Bachelor�s of Science in Information Technology. In addition, you also happen to have a real estate license. As you apply for research director positions at large corporations it is not necessary to include your real estate designation. This credential does not support your candidacy for the research position and thus would take the resume off course. Finally, unless you are fresh out of college without any professional experience under your belt, place the education section towards the bottom of your resume. Position it after the Professional Experience section and before any of the optional components I discuss in the following section. Optional Components In addition to the five standard sections, there are additional optional components you can add depending on your professional background and the type of position you�re targeting. The additional optional components include:

• Honors and Accomplishments • Publications • Public Speaking Engagements • Professional Affiliations • Community Activities


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The following is an explanation of each of these optional elements: Honors and Accomplishments These are accolades you�ve received either on-the-job or from the community. Only include those that are the most impressive and relevant. Timeliness is also important. I�m often surprised to see seasoned professionals include high school activities on their resume. Unless you are right out of college, do not include awards you received in high school. And, unless you only have a few years of professional experience, do not list anything from college, unless it�s remarkably noteworthy. You want your resume to be a depiction of the executive you are. Including items from your formative educational years takes your image down to the status of student. The following are examples of honors and accomplishments appropriate for a resume:

• Awards you�ve received on-the-job such as �outstanding contributor� or �excellent performance� awards, etc.

• Honors you�ve received from the community such as �businesswoman of the year� or �outstanding volunteer,� etc.

• Trainings you�ve completed � these can be listed either under Education or in this section

If you want to call particular attention to a training you�ve completed, it�s probably best to place it in the Education section so it is prominently highlighted. If it is more an ancillary item (albeit still relevant), it should most likely appear in the Honors and Accomplishments section. Use your best judgment.


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Publications If you have published journal articles or books in your target field, by all means include them on your resume. Only cite your most impressive and relevant publications. Including an extended list is not advised because the reader will merely scan and won�t fully absorb a lengthy catalog. Of course, if you are in academe or a scientific field in which publications are important, you will cite more. Public Speaking Engagements If you have a track record of successful speaking engagements you can certainly include a list of your top presentations. Again, I recommend you keep your list to your most impressive appearances. That is, unless you�re applying to a job in which public speaking is the main crux of the position. In this case, you�ll include a more detailed list. Professional Affiliations If you belong to the top professional associations in your target industry, you could certainly list them. It�s even more impressive to be an active member of one of the organization�s committees. I highly recommend you get involved in your association�s committees as a way to meet people and network. Group membership, in and of itself, does not hold a lot of cache. That is, unless it�s an exclusive organization that only takes a select few like Mensa International, for example. If you don�t have a lot of room to spare on your resume, you can consider leaving off your professional affiliations. Community Activities Again, check relevancy here. If you have the space, listing your community involvements can be a good thing. This is especially so if are applying to jobs in


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the nonprofit sector or to a private company that highly values community service. Volunteer work can also be a great way to round out a skill set and demonstrate your commitment to an issue. For these five optional elements, only include content if you have the room to spare. Every item on your resume must have a strategic reason for being there. Do not force content to fit simply for the sake of including the information. It is not worth spilling over to three pages or reducing font size to make room for extraneous information. Formats to Consider In addition to building the individual components, it�s also important to select the right format for your resume. There are three basic resume formats to choose from. They are:

• Chronological • Functional • The Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Chronological Format This format presents work history in chronological order. The most recent position appears first and other jobs are listed below in reverse time sequence order. This format is appropriate for the job seeker who has had a steady progression of increased responsibility within their target industry. It is also good for someone who has a bank of transferable skills that can be applied to their new target field.


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Functional Format This format presents work history in terms of function. It groups similar types of jobs and/or work within the same industry together, regardless of time order sequence. For example, say a job seeker is looking to land a position as a marketing executive. She has had marketing experience throughout her career, but not in her most recent positions. She would use a functional resume and list all her marketing positions together under the heading �Marketing Experience.� She would present this section as the first segment in her �Professional Experience� section. Depending on the rest of her work history, she may include her other jobs under additional special category headings that relate to her target position. Or, she could list the remainder of her relevant positions under the heading �Other Professional Experience.� The Curriculum Vitae (CV) The curriculum vita is essentially a long, detailed version of one�s professional history and background. It is used mostly in academia and the scientific community. The CV tends to be much more comprehensive than a standard business resume. In addition to work history and education, it generally includes a detailed accounting of one�s publications, research projects, fellowships, speaking engagements, honors and professional affiliations, etc. While the standard business resume is usually kept to two pages, the CV can be multiple pages in length.


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Step Four: Select Persuasive Themes Since your resume is a sales document, it must have a strategic marketing message. Therefore, the next step in the resume development process is developing your central message and themes. All too often, women fail to present themselves strategically in their resume. Instead, they simply list their jobs and corresponding duties with no thought as to the message being conveyed. Avoid this ineffectual approach and build your resume around themes or selling points that correspond with your target job. As discussed in the beginning of this guide, I suggest you create a long version of your resume that includes each of the jobs you�ve held along with your other professional experiences and accomplishments. This will serve as your master template. As you prepare applications for specific opportunities, you�ll select the most relevant experiences to include in that version. It will then simply be a matter of cutting and pasting to create the optimum resume for that particular job. To define your top selling points for your master template, identify the most valued professional competencies in your target industry and ideal job. Ask yourself questions such as:

• What are the most sought-after professional competencies in my target industry?

• What are the top skills required for my ideal job? • What are the accomplishments, outcomes and results industry decision

makers look for in top candidates? These questions go hand in hand with the three questions listed in the �Create a Compelling Sales Document� section of this guide. They also dovetail with the top five leadership qualities you identified in the �Elevate Yourself to the Executive Level� section. As mentioned in that section, glean ideas on how to answer these queries through a review of job descriptions of positions that


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interest you and by consulting the websites of your target employers. You can also discuss this with the business and professional contacts within your network. Once you have a sense of the desired skills in your target industry, identify the ones you currently posses. Ask yourself questions such as:

• Of the most valued professional competencies in my target industry, which do I possess?

• Among the top five skills required for my ideal job � which do I already have?

• Which of my on-the-job accomplishments, outcomes and results are of the greatest interest to my target decision makers?

While identifying the sought-after skills you possess, pay attention to both hard and soft skills. As explained in my book, Discover Your Authentic Career Fit, the following are the definitions of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are quantifiable job skills such as: writing, public speaking and software development. Soft skills are personal qualities and attributes such as: hard working, creative and dependable. Both sets are equally important. Hiring managers look for both types of skills when bringing on new team members. For assistance identifying your top hard and soft skills see guide eight, �Identify Your Strengths and Talents� in the Discover Your Authentic Career Fit book. Once these steps are completed, you�ll have an outline of the strategic themes to build your resume around. At this juncture, I�d like to take a moment to touch on a common emotional trigger point that usually surfaces right about now. Many women feel a clutch in their stomach when they�re asked to narrow their resume to a handful of strategic message points. They fear targeting their resume will result in missing out on potential job opportunities. They�re afraid of �closing doors� and feel pressured to leave all options open.


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This is a natural tendency. However, when you narrow your focus rather than dispersing your energy, you get more results. Don�t feel like one resume needs to be �all things to all people.� There is no need to worry about �closing doors� because you can have more than one version of your resume. In fact, you can have as many as are necessary. As you apply for an individual position, begin with your master template resume and customize it for that job. Tailor each resume to the position you�re applying to. Specifically, it should be geared to:

• The desired skills � both hard and soft • The substantive issue areas of the position • The level of the position and its decision-making role • The organizational culture of the organization

Make each modified version of your template streamlined and succinct. Only include information that is the most pertinent to that particular hiring manger. Tailor and customize the bullet points under each job as appropriate. Furthermore, some bullets may be deleted because they are irrelevant for that position. You can also reorder the bullets to call attention to skills that are of most interest to the decision maker. As you prepare to apply to a job opening, carefully analyze the job announcement. Identify the top five desired professional competencies. These include a combination of hard and soft skills. This will be your guide for what to focus on in the resume as well as your cover letter and job interview presentation. When job requirements are repeated throughout a job posting, it�s an indicator that they are highly valued. If the hiring manager is repeating things in the announcement, it�s probably because the previous employee didn�t meet expectations and she wants to avoid this same challenge in the future. Be sure to address these points and demonstrate how you can solve these problems. Granted, some job announcements are written better than others. Do the best you can with the description you have. You can also gather information about


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what the employer values from their website. Furthermore, check with people in your network about what they know about the organization. Ask if they know any of the decision makers or staffers in the department in which you�d be working. You never know where a great inside connection might come from. To pinpoint what each potential employer is looking for, ask yourself questions such as:

• What top five skills, both hard and soft, are highlighted in the job announcement?

• What substantive issue areas does this position focus on? • What is the level of the position and its decision-making role? • What are the concerns, needs and problems of the target hiring manager? • What success stories is the employer looking for in its top candidate? • What is the organizational culture of this particular organization?

You�ll notice I�ve mentioned a few times the importance of highlighting your on-the-job success stories � otherwise known as your accomplishments, outcomes and results. I go into further detail on this in the next section of this guide. Before moving into that section however, I�d like to share a few thoughts on employer organizational culture and how it applies to your resume. When applying to a job, design your resume so it blends with the employer�s culture. For example, a resume for a children�s entertainment company will have a much different look and feel than one for a financial investment firm. The version for the entertainment company should be splashy and bold in its visual appeal to match the spirit of the organization. Whereas, the corporate investment firm version should be formal in its presentation. Be cognizant of whether the employer has a formal or informal culture as you develop your application materials.


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Step Five: Focus on Accomplishments, Outcomes and Results The number one mistake women make with their resume is focusing too much on job duties and not enough on accomplishments. Hiring authorities want to see the specific results you�ve achieved in your current and past positions. This provides them with a compelling reason to call you for an interview. The more you focus on outcomes, the stronger your resume will be. Instead of simply listing your job duties, go a step further and describe how well you did them. Demonstrate that you are a proactive problem solver who produces results. Focus on achievements that are of the most interest to your target hiring authorities. Specifically, concentrate on what your accomplishments resulted in and provide numbers where you can. For example, certain on-the-job results are quantifiable such as:

• Increased Revenue • Decreased Costs • Increased Productivity • Increased Client Satisfaction

Consider the following example of a resume bullet for a marketing professional. Option one is the �bland bullet� that simply focuses on her job duties. The second one expands on the concept and provides the specifics of what she accomplished. Option One Managed sales campaign to promote technology products in 38 markets nationwide.


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Option Two Led the development and implementation of a sales campaign to intensely promote technology products in 38 markets nationwide; Campaign generated $1.5 million in net income, exceeding target by $300,000.

As you can see, bullet number two packs a much greater punch! Adding specific outcome data makes your words jump off the page. Of course it is true, some on-the-job accomplishments are easier to quantify than others. While it won�t be possible to quantify each of your results, do the best you can to provide specific and measurable data such as numbers, years and financial figures wherever possible. You can also embed quotes from your past performance evaluations. A first-hand account from a former boss about one of your successes can make a fantastic impression on your resume. Of course it goes without saying, you need to be completely honest and accurate with your outcomes. Do not embellish in any way. That being said, do of course take credit where credit is due. For example, a key accomplishment on your resume might be: Collaborated with the Director of Finance to create the annual program budget. This is a somewhat strong bullet point. What makes it even stronger is providing more specifics by saying: Collaborated with the Director of Finance to create program budget, resulting in 35% net savings in annual programmatic costs. You may need to search through your work archives to pinpoint the details of your outcomes. It certainly can be challenging to remember all the specifics, especially when it�s been several years. This is why, as referenced earlier in this guide, I suggest you keep a �success file.� Your success file is a special place you


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store information on your accomplishments. That way, you won�t have to struggle to piece together the details in the future. More Examples The following are additional illustrations of how to amp up the impact of your bullet points by adding in results. Each of the following is a real example from one of my client�s resumes. For each of my on-one-one clients, I conduct a full resume critique at the beginning of her coaching program. In those critiques I provide wording and phrasing suggestions to strengthen bullet points. The following are examples of how I re-crafted bullet language based on my knowledge of their work accomplishments and by asking the client questions to help her hone in on her particular results. Original Bullet Point Managed book publicity tour for best selling author. Strengthened Bullet Point Managed book publicity tour for best selling author resulting in an 18 percent increase in book sales and generating revenues of over $110K. Original Bullet Point Managed wireless communication accounts. Strengthened Bullet Point Managed wireless communication accounts. Results included:

• 23% increase in account volume • Client satisfaction improved by 20% • 80% of client billing issues resolved


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Original Bullet Point Developed successful grant proposals. Strengthened Bullet Point Developed successful grant proposals; generating over four million dollars in funding over an eight-month period. Original Bullet Point Oversaw operational improvements to the organization�s infrastructure and technology. Strengthened Bullet Point Oversaw operational improvements to the organization�s infrastructure and technology, including:

• Reduced energy consumption by 40% resulting in over $50,000 in annual savings

• Enhanced the corporate website, making it more user-friendly and navigable resulting in $22,500 savings in annual maintenance fees

These accomplishments look quite impressive, and they are. However, don�t be intimidated. These results were achieved by real women just like you. I bet if you simply spend a bit of concentrated time reviewing your work history, you will identify some outstanding outcomes of your own. Start by going through your resume and designate the bullets that can be strengthened by tacking on a result. Then, ask yourself what the result was. Be specific and quantify the outcomes where possible. Craft bullet language that accurately articulates the accomplishment you achieved. Many women are concerned about overstating their role in an on-the-job success. Of course, many positive achievements are the product of a team effort. This will most likely be the case with some of your result-oriented bullets. For those bullets, provide proper attribution by using phrases such as:

• �Key member of research team that �� • �Led a group of five managers who produced ��


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• �Integral member of strategic planning group that ��

Do not underestimate the power of including outcomes, accomplishments and results on your resume. Sometimes you may need to �dig deep� to piece together your past on-the- job successes and their resultant impact. However, it is time well spent and will pay off for you in both the immediate short-term and long-term as well. I want you to know that many women find it challenging to identify their accomplishments on their own. If you are feeling this way, please know you are not alone. Of course, I�m happy to support you with this. I�ve helped just about every woman I�ve ever coached identify her accomplishments. So, even if you think you don�t have any, I�m confident I can assist you in coming up with some compelling material for your resume. If you�d like to schedule a session, send me an email and we�ll set up a time to talk. Next, let�s focus on another crucial element of your resume � the professional Profile section.


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Step Six: Feature a Professional Profile Section One of the most important sections of your resume is the professional �Profile.� The Profile is your opportunity to make a winning first impression. This section consists of a crisp snap shot of your most relevant skills and experience. It sets the tone for the document and gives context to the remainder of the information you provide. The human resources professionals and other decision makers who review your resume will usually skim the document rather than thoroughly read the entire thing. This is why the Profile is so very important. Most people will read this introductory section in its entirety but only scan the rest of the information. Since the Profile is often times your only chance to grab the reader�s attention, make it compelling and succinct. Use language that is streamlined and to the point. Leave out any irrelevant or extraneous text. Design your Profile around the strategic themes of your resume. Use this section to clearly communicate you have the skills, experience and track record of success for the job you�re applying to. Take this prime opportunity to highlight the top professional competencies your target hiring managers are looking for. While developing your Profile, strive to see things from the employer�s point of view. From their perspective, what do they value? For example, your target employer may value one or more of the following:

Increased Profits • • • •

Decreased Costs Enhanced Effectiveness and Efficiency More Results and Fewer Challenges

The Summary is positioned at the top of the resume right under your name and contact information. It usually consists of a few introductory sentences paired with three to four key strategic bullet points that highlight your most impressive skills, accomplishments and attributes.


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The following is a formula you can use to design these two sections. See the resume template for an illustration of how this is set up. I also provide three additional samples in this guide section. The introductory text should be no more than 50 words and can feature items such as:

• The number of years of experience you have • The industry (or industries) you have expertise in • Your most relevant top skills - both hard skills and soft skills (For

assistance identifying your top hard and soft skills see the Discover Your Authentic Career Fit book. Guide eight, �Identify Your Strengths and Talents� walks you through the process.)

The three to four bullet strategic points should include:

• The top results you�ve achieved that directly relate to the job you�re applying to

• Any specific skills sets you want to call special attention to • Any education or special credentials you possess that are directly relevant

to the position

You can also place a title at the top of the Profile section. The purpose of the title is to convey the document�s central theme. Rather than a �job title� your resume title is a �career title.� Each of your employers has assigned you a title that makes sense for the internal structure of that organization such as Research Director or Senior Vice President. Your resume title, however, is the overarching title of your career. Examples of resume titles include: Business Development Executive, Program Leader, Sales and Marketing Manager. Make sure your resume title directly relates with the type of job you�re going for. See the resume template for a model of how the title is displayed.

The following are three samples of well-designed professional summaries.


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Sample One

Experienced intellectual property attorney with a 15 year track record of successful litigation work. Manage thriving IP practice with annual billings of over $11 million. Highly skilled at hiring, training and supervising associates, patent agents, scientific advisors and paralegals. Recent Litigation Successes Include:

• Won a $5.1 million professional liability case in federal court • Recovered unpaid fees for an architectural company for 2.5 times the

amount owed • Obtained dismissal of a $3.25 million toxic tort case in state court

Sample Two Seasoned public health professional with over ten years experience as an advocate for children and families. Proven track record of delivering top-quality results and innovative solutions to complex challenges. Strategic thinker with strong persuasive writing and oral communication skills and the ability to build coalitions that produce results. Additional Qualifications Include:

Master�s Degree in Public Health • •

•

Excellent negotiator and public speaker; adept at coordinating communication activities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment Conversational fluency in Spanish

Sample Three Accomplished mechanical engineer with over 20 years experience in the aerospace industry. Profit-oriented and cost-conscious with an emphasis on business objectives. Strong record of success in producing quality work on time


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and within budget. Ability to work well with a wide variety of personality types. Additional Qualifications Include:

Key core competencies: Mechanical design, layout and analysis • • •

Software mastery in: CAD & 3-D Modeling, Unix Solaris8 and AutoCAD Top Secret Security Clearance

As you can see, each of these examples highlights specific competencies and skill sets. Once you have your main Profile outlined, you can customize it to each individual position you apply to. Both the text and bulleted sections can be modified as well to highlight your skills and experience that directly relate to the position you�re applying to.


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Step Seven: Streamline to Maximize Impact One of the most effective ways to strengthen the impact of your resume is to make it streamlined and succinct. The concept �less is more� is certainly applicable here. The more to the point your resume is, the more powerful it will be. There is absolutely no need for �filler� on your resume. Padding a resume only diffuses the strength of its strategic message. Remember, most hiring managers will only scan so it is not necessary to include a lot of detail. Amplify your impact by making it as streamlined as possible. Every piece of information you incorporate into the document should have a tactical function. Avoid listing extraneous text that takes away from your central theme. Only include job responsibilities that reinforce what you want to do next and avoid rehashing experiences you don�t want to repeat. For example, remove references to administrative duties you may have had in some of your first jobs out of college. In fact, if you have a significant track record of work history, you may want to leave off your entry-level positions altogether. When formulating the content for each of your jobs, use the format in the provided resume template. The following is a �before and after� example from one of my client�s resumes. Through this example, you can see the power of streamlining your content. �Before and After� Example Erica is a software engineer with a successful track record of designing and developing module programs for the aerospace industry. While she had a lot of great content for her resume, she fell into the trap of including way too much information. Here is the �before� description of one of her past positions.


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The Before Version Data Inc., San Jose, CA 2005 - 2009 Software Engineer As a Software Engineer at Data Inc., I was responsible for the maintenance and testing of Visual C++ and PowerBuilder modules for a large multiprocessing information system on Microsoft Windows NT. The system was built from Component Object Model (COM) business objects that stored persistent data using embedded SQL and ODBC in a SQL Server database. The system validated data, stored the data for later retrieval, and allowed for data editing and automated transformation. During this time, my specific roles and responsibilities included: • Performing updates and testing to the graphical user interface (GUI) of this

system, which included modifying menus and scripts, adding controls, and creating new data windows and global functions.

• Writing test cases, tracking discrepancies in a web-based testing tool. Updating software documentation and performing formal testing for customer acceptance.

• Installation of tape drives and software components to prepare machines for delivery to customer.

• Acting manager for six months. Supervised one individual. Delivered product on schedule with fewer resources than anticipated. Represented team in weekly status meetings with the customer and contractors. Provided monthly status reports to the customer.

• Contributed to the design of a Dynamic HTML-based application to serve as a reference and provide guidance for students of the Corporate Project Management training course.

• Designed and implemented a menu-driven application for the Corporate Project Management training course using Microsoft Access 97. This application allows the user to schedule class sessions, assign students to course sessions, and track student�s progress after completion of course.

• Contributed to the design and implementation of a web-based document management system. This system, a server application using ORACLE and ORACLE's Web Application Server on Sun Solaris, supplied information to clients using various browsers.


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• Participated in all portions of this system's project life-cycle and was wholly responsible for the system security plan.

• Implemented more than forty PL/SQL cartridges for the ORACLE Web Application Server, rendering to the user an interactive dynamic HTML interface to manipulate scanned document images and relational data.

• Customized a Network Computing Architecture C++ Cartridge for retrieving and enabling images to be retrieved from the database and displayed in a web browser. Designed and developed custom web reports using Oracle Designer 2000 and PL/SQL.

• Maintained detailed test procedures for code, and at delivery, participated in testing. Packaged and delivered the final release to the customer.

• In the Operations and Maintenance period following delivery, remained the principal technical contact with the customer, and worked with them to define new requirements, design and build additional tools to satisfy their needs.

Wow, what a lengthy description! As you read through it, were you able to absorb all the information? Do you have a clear understanding of what Erica did in this job and what her accomplishments were? My guess is that your answer to these questions is �probably not,� because there was simply too much text to wade through. As I�m sure you noticed, this �before� version is much too lengthy. The introductory section alone, which is supposed to be very succinct, is a total of six lines. She then had a very long list which consisted of a whopping 12 bullets detailing her job duties. Clearly, this was too much and would most certainly lose the reader�s attention. Many women feel they need to include all the details in order to accurately communicate what they do. On the contrary, streamlining your presentation makes it more understandable and thus, much more powerful. Another trap Erica fell into here was using a �narrative� format and incorporating full sentences into her descriptions and bullets. This is not necessary on the resume. Rather than using full sentences, use condensed


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phrases. This also eliminates the need for periods at the end of each bullet, thus allowing the reader�s eye to flow freely through the information. This �before� description is also very heavy with �engineer-speak� and industry-insider terminology. The �after� version includes technical language, but it�s the kind any manager who hires software engineers would understand. Do include the keywords your target employers are looking for. However, avoid overloading the document with extraneous and unnecessary information. I include more on how to make use of keywords in the �Format Carefully� section. Here is the �after� version. It makes use of the format I�ve provided in the resume template. It is also much more concise and therefore, much more effective. The After Version Software Engineer 2005 - 2009 Data, Inc. San Jose, CA Key member of engineering team responsible for conceptualizing, designing, launching and maintaining a large multiprocessing information system. Contributed to the success of all phases of the system�s project life-cycle. Specific duties included:

As the principal technical contact, collaborated with the customer to develop system requirements and metrics

•

•

•

• •

•

Designed, implemented and tested effective technical solutions using Oracle Designer 2000 and PL/SQL Created final release hardware and software packages to meet customer needs

Accomplishments:

Successfully delivered software products on time and within budget Designed web-based system security application improving data integrity by 60% Wrote an award-winning Corporate Project Management training course improving student compliance ratio by 82%


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In this �after� version, the description has been pared down to three bullets under duties and three under accomplishments. Using a total of six bullets is much more effective than the original lengthy list of 12. It focuses the message on what Erica wants to do in her next job. Furthermore, highlighting her accomplishments in a feature section adds emphasis to her results. Also, quantifying her outcomes makes a much more powerful presentation. Additionally, the �after� version is more �punchy� because it makes use of brief phrases rather than full sentences laden with industry-specific lingo.


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Step Eight: Format Carefully Of course, the visual look and feel of your resume is extremely important. This cannot be overemphasized. Even if the reader does not review the entirety of your content, they most certainly will formulate an impression based on the aesthetic appeal of your resume. In this section I review six key resume formatting principles. These include:

• Make it Reader-Friendly • Keep it to Two Pages • Incorporate Lots of White Space • Use Keywords • Make it Eye-Catching • Watch the Details

I also include a checklist for you to follow as you conduct your final edit. First, let�s go through the six formatting principles. Formatting Principle One: Make it Reader-Friendly Is your resume easy to read? Is it pleasing-to-the-eye? Unfortunately, most resumes do not have these sterling qualities. Rather, the average resume has too much text, not enough white space and is uninspiring to look at. There are several formatting elements to pay attention to in order to ensure your resume is as reader-friendly as possible. First let�s discuss font size and type. In terms of font, an important rule of thumb is to make your font large enough. Many resume writers make the mistake of using a small font size because they want to pack a lot of wording on to each page. Small font makes your resume look crowded and uninviting to the reader.


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When selecting a font type, use one that is professional and eye-catching. In the template, I use Times New Roman for the text and Arial for the headers and accent lines. For the Times New Roman I use a 12-point font. The Arial is 10-point because this font style is larger than the average design. Formatting Principle Two: Keep it to Two Pages Is your resume too long? Chances are it may be. Many job seekers make the mistake of putting too much information on their resume. Only include the most compelling content. As I�ve stated throughout this guide, you do not need to chronicle every position you�ve held and detail the entire scope of duties for each job. Rather than a long-winded narrative on your professional history to date, your resume should be a vibrant sales piece that effectively makes the case as to why you are the top candidate for the position. Unless you�ve been in the workforce for two decades or more, keep your resume to two pages maximum. If you have less than seven years experience, as a general rule of thumb, you can probably keep it to one page. Only include the positions, experiences, accomplishments and job duties that specifically relate to what you want to do next. Do not include anything that you do not want to do again as you move forward in your career. Again, the hiring authorities are simply going to scan the resume, so make sure the content you include pops off the page. I suggest you take a good hard look at your resume to see what superfluous information can be removed. This can be a very challenging task. Many women have a difficult time determining what to leave on and what to leave off. However, this is an absolutely essential step. I am happy to help you with this. Feel free to contact me for a coaching session. I can provide strategic suggestions regarding content to eliminate from your resume to make it more streamlined and persuasive.


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Formatting Principle Three: Incorporate Lots of White Space Your resume should incorporate an abundance of white space. This makes the document ultra-readable. When a resume is crowded with too much dense text the strategic message of the content cannot shine through. As you can see, the template demonstrates effective use of white space. The margins are of a healthy width to give the eye �breathing room.� Ample space is built in between each section and sub section. The accent lines and headers clearly demarcate each portion of the document. And, the main header at the top of the template is kept to one line to maximize free space. Furthermore, as mentioned in the �Streamline to Maximize Impact� section of this guide, do not use periods at the end of bullet points. This allows the eye to glide smoothly from one bullet to the next. In addition to the resume, integrate lots of white space into all your job search documents including the cover letter and thank you note. Formatting Principle Four: Use Keywords Many employers scan the job applications they receive and store them electronically. They then use digital readers to conduct keyword searches to pinpoint qualified candidates. Whether you submit your application via email or through an online system or even in paper format, you should make strategic use of keywords. Determine which keywords to use by reviewing job descriptions that are a close match with your target position. Employers will emphasize the keywords they are looking for in their job announcements. Furthermore, utilize various forms of each keyword. For example, you could use �project manager� in your summary section and �project management� in the


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experience section. Using modified versions of the same keyword concept increases the number of �hits� you�ll get from the electronic screening systems. Also, use both acronyms and full-word keywords. For example, if you have a law degree, be sure that both �Juris Doctor� and �J.D.� appear in the document. Intersperse these tandem terms throughout the resume rather then pairing them side by side. Another example would be an informational technology professional with credentials from Microsoft would include both the acronym and the full name of their certification. Specifically, they would include both �Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer� as well as �MCSE.� Furthermore, they would include both �IT� and �Informational Technology� when referencing their field of expertise. Finally, include industry-specific buzzwords because the electronic screening systems specifically seek out these search terms. Formatting Principle Five: Make it Eye-Catching I recommend using a snazzy format for your resume, something that is eye catching and vibrantly conveys your impressive set of skills and accomplishments. The provided template uses an executive-style format that is fresh, energetic and pleasing to the eye. Also, notice how the accent lines add drama to the overall design. An important attention-grabbing element of your resume is the header. In this section, I walk you through the specifics of how to design your header so you�ll make the most of this prominent feature.


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Resume Header I suggest you create a header for your resume that you use consistently with all of your other job search correspondence. Use this same header on your cover letters, thank you notes, list of references, etc. For the header font, I prefer Arial. It is has a bold, fresh look and is easily readable. Include the following information in your header:

• Your Name • Your Mailing Address • Your Phone Number • Your Email Address

Although these header elements appear to be totally self-explanatory, there are a few rules of thumb I suggest you follow. Your Name My opinion is that it is not necessary to include your middle name or middle initial. Go with the principle of less is more and avoid extraneous information. If you go by your first name only, then do not include your middle name. It only crowds the limited space you have in the header. Also, use the everyday name you prefer to be called. If you go by Cathy, why list your name as Cathleen? This will only confuse the person contacting you for an interview. Your Mailing Address Of course, use your personal mailing address. Never use the address of your current employer. You do not want to give the impression you conduct personal business at work. Also, write out the full street address. Taking the shortcut of using abbreviations is not appropriate because this is a formal document.


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Your Phone Number Provide one personal telephone number only. Never use a work number. List either your home or mobile telephone number, not both. When you list more than one contact number it makes it unnecessarily difficult on the person scheduling the interviews. Designate just one of your personal numbers for your job search. Then check for messages often and return voice mails promptly. Your Email Address List one email address only. Use a personal email address, never a work address. Make your personal email address easy to read and easy to type. A long, complicated email address with lots of letters, numbers and characters is cumbersome to key in. Choose a clean, easy to type email address such as your first name, last name and domain name. Also, please use a professional sounding email address. It�s best to use your first and last name rather than a �cutesy nickname� or unprofessional �email handle.� One time I saw the email address [email protected] on a resume. No kidding! This is just not appropriate. Finally, do not include anything else besides these four items in your resume header. Adding extraneous text such as a fax number, etc. will only make the header appear too crowded. To maximize white space, keep the header to one line. Formatting Principle Six: Watch the Details The final formatting principle is to watch the details very closely. One small typo can cost you a job opportunity. Edit your final resume version with a fine tooth comb. Carefully read it through from top to bottom at least three times. To help you effectively keep on top of the formatting points, I created a style


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guide with tips on common resume formatting details. Write Out Numbers There is often confusion on how to present numbers on the resume. Write out numbers less than eleven. For numbers 11 or higher, use the numerical form. Present Tense / Past Tense Watch your tenses very closely. Use the present tense when discussing your current position. Use the past tense when addressing your past positions. Consistent Spacing Make sure the number of spaces between each section is consistent. For example, you may have two spaces between your professional Profile section and your Professional Experience section. These two spaces are 12-point size each. To maintain uniformity, use the same exact spacing between the other sections as well. Do Not Use Personal Pronouns A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be written in a concise style. Avoid using personal pronouns such as �I� or �me.� Also, make use of condensed phrases rather than long-form full sentences. For example: I developed the brand positioning and ad campaign for a $300 million redevelopment project resulting in a 40% increase in sales volume. Should be changed to: Developed brand positioning and ad campaign for a $300 million redevelopment project, resulting in 40% increase in sales volume


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Use Formal Language Your resume is a �formal� document and therefore it should use professional language at all times. Avoid slang, unnecessary abbreviations or �familiar� colloquialisms. For example, write out the full formal title of your academic degrees. A Bachelor�s Degree in Information Technology should be written out as such, rather than displayed as: �BS in IT.� Onscreen Display Watch how your resume appears onscreen as well as in print. Many employers will instruct you to submit your resume via email. Therefore, it is critical the document appear neat and clean in the electronic form as well as in hard copy. Naming the Electronic File When submitting applications electronically, carefully name each document file. I often notice my clients email me resumes with confusing electronic names such as: �Final Resume September Edit.� A name like this will mean nothing to the human resources person receiving your electronic application. Make it easy for them to download and save your file to their system by assigning it a logical filename. I suggest you name your resume file in the following manner. Use your first and last name, then a dash, then the word �Resume.� Therefore, the filename should appear as follows: �First name Last name � Resume.doc.� As an example, my resume filename would be: �Maret McCoy � Resume.doc.� (Word files have the .doc extension. If you�re using different word processing software, your file will have a different extension.) Use this same naming formula for your cover letters and other application materials.


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The Final Edit After you complete the process of putting together your resume, its time for a good final edit and proofreading. Every resume needs to be edited very carefully to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors of any kind. Any mistake on the document, no matter how small, will reflect poorly on you. Since you have worked on the document so intensely, it is very easy to miss typos � even glaring ones. I have a classic example of this from my own experience. My very first resume - which I had a professional print shop type up and format for me - had a glaring typo in it. The ironic thing was so many people missed it. I had overlooked it as had the professionals who created the document. My parents and the at least ten other people I showed it to (I was so proud) never spotted it. It wasn�t until my best friend sat down at my parent�s kitchen table to read it. She noticed it right away and pointed out that where it should have said �Leadership Skills,� it actually read �Leadership Ships.� Leadership Ships! I�ll never forget that! How could so many people have missed such a glaring mistake? It goes to show how easy it is to miss even the most obvious of typos. Here are some tips to help you edit your document and save yourself the embarrassment of the dreaded typographical error. After you complete the process of writing your resume, let it sit for at least a day or two before editing it. This will give you time to gain some distance and perspective. Then, come back and give it a good, hard edit. Review each section separately for typos, etc. I suggest you edit it thoroughly at least three times. Next, I suggest you let it sit for another day or two, assuming you have this luxury of time. Then, proofread it backwards. Begin at the end of the document and read through each word backwards. This is a great way to catch those pesky typos. (Certainly I would have spotted �Leadership Ships� if I had done this!) Your next step in the final edit process is to share it with friends and colleagues for review. Fresh sets of eyes with an objective perspective will come in handy.


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Approach people in your network who are good editors (or are very detail oriented.) These folks will be good at spotting any errors you have inadvertently overlooked. Also, give it to a few people in your network who are excellent strategic thinkers. They will be good at giving you advice regarding the strategic messaging of the document. Again, your resume will always be a work in progress. In fact, you should be adding to it and revising it on a quarterly basis. Once you start your new job, update your resume within the first few weeks. While you won�t have an intimate understanding of your position yet, don�t delay in making the additions. Simply use the job description you�ve been given by your employer to get ideas on how to describe your new role. You will then augment this section with your successes and accomplishments as they develop. From then on, revisit your resume once a quarter. Every three months add in your recent achievements and refine the job duties section as necessary. Again, you can certainly have different versions of your resume. If you have more than one, simply revise each one as appropriate. Program a reminder into your calendar to automatically prompt you to update your resume at the beginning of each quarter. Editing Checklists To assist you in the final edit process, I�ve developed two checklists for you. The first list is for strategy and content. The second is for formatting. I�ve broken these out into two separate lists because the editing procedure is different for each function. Again, you will create a master resume template that you�ll customize to each job you apply to. Once the last draft of your template is complete, use these checklists to finalize it.


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Final Edit Checklist: Strategy and Content Is the resume well-organized? Is it built around themes and selling points that directly correspond to my target job? Is the strategic message consistent throughout the resume? Do I present myself as an �executive leader� rather than an �individual contributor?� Have I highlighted both my top hard skills and soft skills throughout the document? Do I include accomplishments, outcomes and results? When possible, are these quantified? Does my professional Profile section clearly state why I am a great match for the position I seek? Is the document streamlined?

Have all the extraneous details unrelated to my central theme been removed? Have all the references to the duties I do not want to do again been removed?

Are there any irrelevant sections that could be removed? Have I effectively made use of key words?


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Final Edit Checklist: Formatting Is the font size large enough? Is the font size and type consistent? Is the document a maximum of two pages? Does it include enough �white space?� Has the punctuation after each bullet point been removed? Does the resume have a fresh and visually-pleasing format that is easy on the eye? Is the header kept to one line only?

(It should only include the following four pieces of information: your name, mailing address, one phone number and one email address

Does the resume header match the header on my cover letters and other job search materials? Have numbers less than 11 been written out? Do numbers 11 and higher appear in numerical form? Have I used the proper tense throughout the document? (Use present tense for your current job and past tense for your former positions.) Is the number of spaces between sections consistent? Have I eliminated the use of personal pronouns? Have I made use of condensed phrases rather than long-form full sentences? Is the onscreen display of the electronic version in the proper format? Have I assigned a logical filename to the electronic document?


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Is the resume free of all typos and grammatical errors? (Remember the handy editing technique of backwards proofreading. Start at the end of the document and go through each word, one by one, from bottom to top.)


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One-On-One Assistance Are you feeling as though you�d like some one-on-one assistance with your resume? There are lots of qualified consultants who can help you. I am happy to assist you as well, if you�d like. One place you may want to start is with a critique of your current resume. Here are the details of my resume and cover letter critique services. Resume and Cover Letter Critique Services Includes a comprehensive critique of both your resume and cover letter as well as a private coaching session via telephone. I review your documents and make suggestions on the following:

• Strategy for Maximum Impact • Content and Word Choice • Format and Design

During your one-on-one, private 45-minute coaching session, we discuss your resume and cover letter and review my comments and edits. After the session, once you have implemented the changes into the documents, you can email them to me for another strategic review. I will conduct one final analysis and provide any additional suggestions via email. Included with the resume and cover letter critique and private coaching session are three bonus documents:

• Executive-Style Two-Page Resume Template (like the one included with this guide)

• Cover Letter Template • Post-Job Interview Thank You Note Template


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Each of these templates is fully-formatted and provided in Microsoft Word so you can easily customize them to each individual job you apply to. These three bonus documents are valued at $45.00. If you would like more comprehensive assistance with your resume, I also provide customized resume writing services. This includes a telephone coaching session to pinpoint your target position and identify the specific skill sets to highlight. I then develop the resume to speak to the hiring managers in your target industry. We then meet via telephone again to discuss the resume upgrades and to answer any questions you may have. A cover letter critique is also included along with the three bonus documents listed above. Cover letter writing services are also available. To get started with a resume/cover letter critique or customized resume and cover letter writing services, email me directly at [email protected].


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Final Thoughts Developing your resume can be an empowering and energizing experience. It is an opportunity to let your talents shine and show off all the stellar accomplishments you have achieved in your career. To make the process feel less daunting, give yourself plenty of time to develop and finalize your resume. Also, keep in mind that your resume will always be a work in progress. Making continuous refinements is an ongoing part of the process. Also, to ensure you have a top notch end product you need to edit, edit, edit. Thoroughly proofread your resume multiple times to make certain there are no typos or other errors. And very importantly, remember to focus on accomplishments. Capture the attention of decision makers by highlighting the outcomes you�ve affected and the results you�ve achieved. My final thought here is a reminder to reach out for assistance when you need it. There are lots of qualified professionals who can help you. I am happy to support you in this as well. I have coached many professional women through the process of defining their career direction and tailoring their resume to their target audience. Managing a successful career transition is very challenging. I am here to support you.

© Maret McCoy Enterprises. All rights reserved. To request reprinting permission, send an email to [email protected].


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http://by143fd.bay143.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=B6E6456C-E0D0-4214-AE42-7B385F983FB7&start=0&len=38361&src=&type=x&[email protected]&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=4C834BE1-BBC8-408B-8FA9-B8A5C7F1D5C8&a=d96be564ad5b256532d960a76c8521e8c35251d7e5a4f65f121b856aa4395874

MARET MCCOY, EXECUTIVE COACH FOR WOMEN

As an experienced executive coach, Maret helps professional women discover their authentic career fit - a job that offers fulfillment and is a match with their greatest skills and interests. She knows all too well the struggles of working in the wrong job, having experienced it first hand.

Now, after a decade of working in the corporate world and over seven years of owning her own coaching firm, she works in her dream job and helps other women achieve that same level of career fulfillment and satisfaction for themselves.

Maret has coached hundreds of professional women from a wide variety of industries including technology, communications, finance, education, law and health care. She has worked with women from corporations such as Accenture, Fidelity and BAE Systems; major philanthropic organizations such as the Red Cross and the World Wildlife Federation; and federal agencies such as the Justice and Treasury Departments.

Maret has also coached women attorneys at ten of the top 100 law firms in the nation. She has coached an attorney at The White House who said: �Maret is a cut-above in the coaching profession. I highly recommend her services to others who want to achieve results now!�

Maret�s diverse professional background � having worked in the private, government and nonprofit sectors � provides her with a depth and breadth of career experience that she freely shares with her coaching clients. Her education


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includes a Master�s degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor�s degree in Economics as well as coach training credentials. She lives on the beautiful island of Maui in Hawaii.


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Complimentary Career Advice Ezine Receive a free monthly professional development article with powerful and practical tips to advance your career. Subscribe here Career Success Resource Guides A Woman's Guide to Salary Negotiation: How to Develop Negotiation Skills that Fit Your Communication Style A Woman�s Guide to Strategic Power Networking A Woman�s Guide to Job Interview Success Executive-Style Resume Template Monthly Budget Spreadsheet Template Maret's Comprehensive Career Planning Book Discover Your Authentic Career Fit - The Professional Woman's Guide to Career Fulfillment Written specifically for professional women, this 200-page guide takes you through a step-by-step process to define your authentic career fit. Download the Book Here Download a Free Guide Here


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