What is the function of a resume?

[ldrews]

Your resume is a sales document!  Particularly for consultants and contractors!  It is not an autobiography.

Your resume must present you as a solution to the problem that the resume reader is experiencing.  And it must do so in a direct and clear manner.  Otherwise it is not doing its job.

So, imagine that you are a hiring manager (e.g., your current manager).  When you read your resume, what does it tell you about what you can do to help solve the problems facing you as that manager?  Does it tell you anything?  Why not?  Exactly how hard do you, as a candidate, expect me, as a manager, to work to figure out if you are going to be able to help me solve the problems in front of me?  What happens if someone else makes that job a little easier?

Should you prepare a different version of your resume for each position that you apply for?  Well, would it help make the job easier for the hiring manager if you did?  Is it worth the effort to do so?  

Here is my attempt:
ldrews resume

Any suggestions for improvement?  How would you do it?  What does your's look like?   Let's trade ideas.

[pm4hire]

an application for a security clearance,
credit, loan, and even, employment.  The
role of a resume is to get an interview.

Thus, as a marketing document, very
dynamic as the target audience
changes.

[pm4hire]

email clients and recruiters.

What do you think?

I already have a short career summary
that I often offer to recruiters when
submitting me to the client.

[Colonel Angous]

... but all too often, my colleagues who are looking for their next gig (for maybe a little too long) tell me, "I sent in my resume, but I never got a call."  Follow-up (and all the normal marketing steps) is necessary.

I hardly ever just send out my resume.  I jump right to trying to get an appointment - after all, it's the initial meeting we're all after.  But eventually, you need that sheet(s) of paper that shows at a glance (what is it - 4 seconds?) what you've done with what and how long ago.  I don't have company names on mine, and it's not chronological (which brokers hate, but that's OK I usually don't use them).  I *do* however have a few pages with the list of tools, years of experience with each and "last used" of each that some buyers like to see.

PM's right - it has to be dynamic, with a few versions depending on your audience.

[David Cressey]

Once you have an interview,  the resume has done its job.

[ldrews]

Here is what I do:
Capabilities Brief

[JBB]

Yes, a resume is definitely a sales document.  It's one of the most basic.

I didn't see anyone give you feedback on your resume specifically so I thought I would offer the most obvious thing that stands out to me from your resume.  In my opinion, placing the languages and tools, and application types that you're familiar with orients you more as a programmer / developer than a problem solver / provider of business solutions.  It orients you more towards commodity type work than to speciality or managment type work.  I may be wrong, but I was thinking that you would want to project the latter rather than the former, to be considered for higher level positions, but I my be wrong.  If I'm correct, I would suggest placing the those after your list of engagements.

In addition, when you describe each assignment / engagement you've worked on, you do a good job of describing it in short order.  I would suggest that you continue to do that and add additional content.  The additional content would be any accomplishments at each assignment / engagement.  What did you help the client/customer do?  What objectives were reached?  How did they benefit from your assistance?

In terms of what I would give a client as an Independent Consultant, I would not give them a resume unless they asked for one specifically.  What I would give a client as an IC would be more in line with your capabilities brief.  Stay at a high level and don't get into the technical weeds unless the client asked for that information.

If you're doing contract work, it's likely that the client and the bork are going to want a resume and not a capabilities brief.

[ldrews]

Thank you for your feedback.  I will integrate your suggestions.

[JBB]

You're welcome, I hope you find it helpful at some point.