Minimize the ‘Hops’!

I received an email from someone trying to figure out how to minimize any negative impressions his resume may make to potential employers because he had worked a number of contract and consulting projects. When he lists his entire job history, it looks like he’s been hopping jobs way too often when in fact it’s the nature of the project work he’s done. Some of his assignments were a matter of days and others for several months, but it makes a chronological resume look bad.

This is not an uncommon problem, and likely one that will continue to grow as a greater percentage of people take advantage of contract or consulting opportunities. The number of companies that use contract workers is increasing every year as well as the frequency and types of positions they use them for. When a company sees a need for additional help for a particular project that has a beginning and an end, it makes much more sense to use a contract worker for that period of time than to hire a new ‘permanent’ employee that they may have to lay-off when the project is done.

So, for someone like the person that sent me the email, who has been contracting for years but now would like to be considered for a permanent / full-time position, how do you create an honest resume that doesn’t scare a potential employer off?

Minimize what appears to be job-hopping through groupings!

When, as in the case of my emailer, you’ve been working contract or consulting positions exclusively for a period of time, treat that time period as one ‘job’ on your resume. For example, if you’ve worked on 12 projects over a 5 year period, you might show that on your resume like this:

 

Contract and Consulting Assignments                                2004 – 2009
Engaged on a number of projects that have included:
- Network Administration                                              - Desktop / PC Support
- Hardware Troubleshooting                                          - LAN Installations
- Desktop Roll-Outs                                                     - Software Distribution

Technologies included: Windows XP/Vista; Windows Server 2003; Norton Ghost; SMS; Active Directory; Altiris 

Companies included: Target Corp; 3M; Cargill; Digital River; United Health Group; Peak Systems

Accomplishments:
- Completed several projects ahead of schedule
- Gained ability to adapt to multiple new environments and technologies quickly
- Gained broad range of understanding of multiple processes and procedures

 

Certainly more specific details, and accomplishments ought to be included, particularly as they are relevant to your actual experience. However, I believe this is a great way to display your related experience, not hide from the fact that you’ve had several assignments, yet not clutter your resume with too much detail.

Never embellish, and never be deceitful about your job history. However, it’s also not necessary to over-emphasize what might be perceived as negatives. Group multiple positions under a relevant heading with the appropriate date range and you can produce an effective document that will help your job hunting process rather than hinder it!

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What’s Your Purpose?

Ever spend much time thinking about that? What’s your purpose?
What does that have to do with your job search or career? Everything!
Do you find your purpose in your job, or in something outside of your career?
What animates you from day-to-day?

- Advancement in your career?
- More money?
- Ability to have more toys, nicer houses, cars, jewelry, or ‘stuff’?
- Provide better for your family?
- Provide value or serve your customers?
- Be a better spouse, parent, child, friend, or neighbor?
- Have more fun?
- Serving God, or reflecting Him in the culture around you?
- Achieve happiness?
- Gain authority, titles, recognition, or power?
- Become the ‘Best’ at something?
- Live a ‘good’ life?
- ???

There are dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of things that can give someone purpose for their life. Certainly some purposes are more worthy or more noble than others, however, it’s important to know what yours is. Without purpose you go through the motions each day to do what you think you’re ‘supposed’ to do, but nothing drives you to do or be more or to be enthusiastic about getting out of bed in the morning. Lack of purpose can lead to depression, while having a clear purpose in your life gives you hope and encouragement.

Too often I see people who have no idea what their purpose is. They drift from day to day and their priorities change constantly. They feel empty and often try to fill that emptiness with drugs, alcohol, sex, or some other vice. They may even appear ‘successful’ on the outside, however, constantly feel discouraged or aimless on the inside.

People with purpose are more directed in all areas of their life. Even if their purpose has nothing to do with their career, they tend to perform better on the job because they know what it’s all for. 

Our culture makes it easy to be distracted from thinking about our purpose. There are endless ways to fill our time and our minds with other things. TV, Radio, iPods, Video Games, Restaurants, Bars, Work, School, or anything else you can think of. The thought may come to mind that “it might be a good idea to figure this out”, but something else comes up and things get postponed again, and again, and again.

Taking the time to really think through what’s important to you, why you’re here, what you want to accomplish in life, and how do you get there can be an absolutely life altering experience. I would suggest that finding a purpose in something that’s transcendent, something outside of your personal achievement or worldly ‘success’ will ultimately be far more satisfying to you. However, whatever you decide your purpose is, it will make you far more effective in your life than not having one at all.

What’s your purpose? Take the time to figure it out!
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Are You “Professional”?

What makes someone “Professional”?

I’ve read interesting takes on that question lately. Some good points, and some… not so much. What defines professionalism? Based on various pieces I’ve read, it’s certainly subjective. Whatever the definition anyone uses, it’s often THE factor that tips the scale from one candidate to another in the hiring process.

In trying to define it, the dictionary doesn’t seem to be much help. Webster defines professionalism as: “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or professional person.” …sounds like a circular definition.

Having been a Recruiter for 23 years, and interviewing thousands of people, I’ve gathered some observations:

~ There is no single characteristic that makes someone ‘professional’. Invariably when someone impresses as being professional, it’s a combination of a number of traits that creates that impression.

~ It’s not the occupation! Often, people think you need to be a doctor, or lawyer, or senior executive to be considered professional. However, I know of people that are in lower level blue-collar positions that I consider more professional than some C-level executives.

~ Attitude. Certainly attitude creates a positive impression. However, I believe it is also a critical component of professionalism. It’s not just whether someone is upbeat or not, but also whether they are a solution-finder or nay-sayer. A professional is someone that sees opportunity, not just finds reasons that something can’t be done.

~ Competence. With that perspective regarding attitude, competence in your field is therefore also vital. In order to be professional, you have to know what you’re talking about. You have to be able to have understanding and insight into relevant issues in your field and be able to articulate solutions.

~ Communication Skills. You may have a great attitude and be highly competent in your field, however, if you can’t communicate your insight or ideas effectively to others, you miss the mark. Communication skills don’t refer to an accent, but rather the ability to be understood, speak in clear terms, and make complex subjects understandable.

~ Appearance. Unfortunately, often “unprofessional appearance” has been used as a euphemism for racism, sexism, discrimination against the obese, or some other such discrimination. Those are misguided and shouldn’t be a factor in considering a professional appearance. However, appearance does matter. It’s not necessary for someone to wear a $2,000 suit. However, clean and appropriate clothing, fit properly, and arranged well do play a part in a professional image. A mechanic in well fitting and well cared for cover-alls can create a professional image as well as a C-Level executive in a tailored suit. Dirty, wrinkled, sloppy, and unkempt appearance damage a professional image regardless of the field you may pursue.

~ Appropriateness. Inappropriate language, slang, appearance, or subjects have as much to do with damaging a professional image as anything else. Running off on unrelated tangents in a conversation, cursing, or wearing a polo shirt to a formal executive interview each create an impression that you don’t grasp the particular role. Like it or not, but ‘bucking the system’ rarely gets rewarded when pursuing a new job.

These are obviously all personal opinions. However, I have seen each of these factors play a large part in my own impression of someone’s professionalism. Observations that are regularly supported by the feedback I get from my clients.

Are you "Professional”? Take a look at yourself through these criteria and decide.

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Cover or Uncovered???

I’m often asked how important a cover letter is when submitting a resume for a position, or if one is even necessary at all. My answer is: “It depends.”

Who is receiving your resume? If it’s being sent to a recruiter, or you are applying to an online system, you can be virtually guaranteed that a cover letter would not be even looked at, much less read. The volume of resumes that go through a normal recruiting process makes it all but impossible for cover letters to be considered in addition to resumes.

A recruiter focuses on the resumes looking for prior work experience that matches the job requirement as closely as possible and quickly discarding those that don’t show the obvious fit. When there are dozens, or hundreds of applicants as there often are in today’s job market, there are simply not enough hours in the day to pore over every resume and cover letter thoroughly.

If you are submitting a resume to a recruiter or through an online system, don’t bother taking the time to write a cover letter. It won’t get read.

A hiring manager, however, may be another story. In most companies, the hiring managers don’t usually get many resumes to sort through themselves. The corporate recruiter or HR representative usually has the responsibility to screen the majority of applicants and present a select few for the hiring manager to consider. Also, since the hiring manager naturally has the greatest interest in knowing more about the applicants they are somewhat more likely to read a cover letter if one is available. However, the resume is still the primary document that helps them to decide to move forward or not.

As a candidate, your chances of getting an interview rise dramatically if you can present your information directly to a hiring manager. If you do, be sure to include a cover letter along with your resume for them to gain a better understanding of how you can be of value to them in the role.

Whether you submit information to a recruiter or to a hiring manager, a clear and effective resume is critical.

There are several other resources available on this site and elsewhere online with tips for writing an effective resume and cover letter. The focus here is strictly whether to actually send a cover letter or not.

Are there any negative consequences to submitting a cover letter to a recruiter? No. However, as you seek the most effective ways to spend your time in a job search, you are much better off networking or  finding information through online resources to gain access directly to a hiring manager rather than take time writing to an online system.

Manage your time effectively and seek the best contacts at every company you target.

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