Your Resume Should Have Character

Your Resume Should Have Character

The notion that employers are only interested in where you have been and where you are heading is pure nonsense. Experienced hiring managers take into account both your experience and your character. After all, in the end, they are hiring a human being, not a robot. Still, many believe that personal attributes just take up space and make the resume "fluffy."

After reading countless job descriptions that make it a point to mention personal characteristics and speaking directly with hiring managers on this specific topic, I've come to realize that it's not the inclusion of personal attributes that make resumes superficial. It's how the characteristics are presented that is the cause of concern. In this article, I will focus on the top three characteristics employers seek (good communication skills, honesty, and a strong work ethic) and discuss how you can seamlessly integrate them into your resume. Now let's get started.

Print out your resume and take a look at it. If you find that you carelessly threw some of the characteristics mentioned above in your resume without making supporting statements to back them up, then the reader will question the sincerity of your claims.

Here's an example of a superficial sentence: "Possess a strong work ethic and recognized for the ability to deliver results." Although the sentence covers attributes employers seek, the sentence needs to be spiced up.

For example, a more compelling sentence is: "Demonstrated record of consistent performance and ability to establish strong presence within global markets (e.g. China, Italy, Sweden), generating 6- and 7-figure revenue gains."

Notice the difference? In the original sentence, the declaration didn't carry much weight. Simply stating you have certain characteristics doesn't make it so. The reader will be scratching his or her head and thinking, "Oh yeah? Prove it."

The revised sentence takes a different approach. Instead of stating personal characteristics outright, the sentence demonstrates results; therefore the reader can deduce that the candidate has all the right characteristics. This will leave the reader thinking, "Interesting stuff. I'll put this candidate in the must-call pile."