Please STOP reviewing your friends’ resumes

A few weeks ago I received a distraught call from a client who had recently received his newly minted professional resume.

At the conclusion of the resume writing process, this smart, capable professional felt equipped, empowered to proactively tackle his job search. But just days later, he was feeling defeated and unsure.

You see, he had sent his resume to someone he knew, and that person had provided some well-meaning pointers on ways that the resume could be improved.

None of the suggestions she provided would make him more likely to get hired. In fact, many would attract the wrong kind of job fit. But here he was, feeling like he was back to the drawing board.

Often times when job seekers come to me to learn about having their resume written, I tell them, “Your resume is not your problem.”

Yes, a professionally written resume is likely to be more effective than what you wrote yourself.

Yes, a resume is an important tool in your job search toolkit.

But your resume is not the end all and be all of your job search.

Here’s the secret to finding a job: ACTION.

When you should NOT offer resume advice

If you work in HR, recruiting, or management, you’ve likely been asked dozens of times to review resumes for friends, relatives and distant acquaintances. Don’t break out your red pen just yet — if any of the following are true, your advice could do more harm than good.

1. When you haven’t been asked for it. You’d think that coaches helping people with job search would be just about out of business with all of the free, high quality job search advice out there. WRONGO. Job seekers are swimming in information, much of it conflicting, about what is the right way to look for a job. And constant feedback from peers, friends and family can make them feel less capable — as if everyone else in the world knows the right way to look for a job, and they’re just not putting the pieces together. If you haven’t been asked to review someone’s resume, think twice before offering an opinion.
2. When the suggestions you have to offer could fall under the category “personal preference.” If your company prefers to see no bullet points, that information is only helpful if the candidate is applying with your company. At some point, a candidate needs to stop futzing with the resume and focus instead on applying to jobs and networking their tush off. Minor points likely won’t improve their success rate, but could keep them from focusing on the real work of job search — connecting with employers.
3. When you don’t know the person’s professional goals. Each resume should be customized for not only a person’s professional background, but also their target companies and positions. This may mean leaving certain responsibilities off their resume entirely, or enhancing areas that may seem less relevant. (One client never, ever wanted to work with Sarbannes-Oxley again. Even though this skillset could open doors for her, if they’re doors she won’t walk through, what value does it have?) Always make sure you know what they’re trying to achieve before sharing how you think they can achieve it.
4. When they’re really asking for something else. Many times, your friend doesn’t need resume advice — they need reassurance and support. So before offering feedback, ask yourself what will really serve them — another piece of advice, or praise, support and reinforcement of their impending success? Make the right call and you’ll be doing them, and your relationship, a big favor.

photo credit: brainware3000

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