Search by Keyword |
It happens almost every time. A client commissions us to prepare their resume package, and when our writer sits down with them and starts asking questions about what they did that makes them stand out in their jobs, the reply comes back: "Well, I really didn't do all that much." Yet, after asking a few more questions, we invariably discover that our clients have done many things that have helped make their employers successful; but when it was they tried to remember those achievements on their own, their memory searches came up empty. One reason everyone from Janitors to CEO's find it hard to remember some or all of their accomplishments is that "Don't boast!" reflex our parents drummed into our heads when we were children. Another reason we omit critical data from resumes is bound up with how our memories work. Because we do our jobs on a daily basis, what we do and how we do it gets classified by our memories with "routine" events. But when we are asked about significant achievements, our minds don't normally look in the "routine" box; they frantically search through the "extraordinary" box, instead. At Fast & Focused, our writers specialize in asking questions that get behind memory blocks and uncover significant achievements. To show you how it happens, here are two examples from our case files. The first client was a recent university marketing graduate who wanted a position in hotel public relations but confessed that she had no experience except for a couple of part time jobs. But our writer had a hunch that there was more here than the client had remembered. The key part of the conversation went like this: "Did you ever put on, or help put on, any kind of event." "Well, I helped with a couple of conferences in Beijing and I ran an art exhibit." "Tell me about the conferences." "Um . . . some importers from country X wanted to import Chinese goods to X and some exporters from X wanted to export their goods to China." "And what did you do at the conferences?" "Set up the PowerPoint, got the food, set up the chairs." "And the art exhibit?" "Ah . . . the idea was to introduce the Greek arts community in Athens to some major painters from X." "Wait a second, was this an official X embassy sponsored event?" "Yes, it was." "What did you do?" "I booked the gallery, hired the caterer and the wine merchant, helped the artists hang their paintings and acted as hostess on opening night." "How did you get this job?" "My father was the Ambassador to Greece from country X." "Oh. Did he say anything to you after it was all over." "Yes. He said: 'Well done.'" With that, our writer knew he had what he needed to make this client's resume effective–and she received five interview calls in less than three weeks. The other client was a very experienced project manager, signalling engineer and technical executive. Although he had a fairly good resume, he came to us because he needed something exceptional since he was applying for a C level opening at one of Canada's largest and best run companies. One of the biggest improvements we made to his resume came out of this exchange: "You are an engineer and you run projects. Sometimes, on projects, things go wrong and you, the leader, have to manage the crisis and solve the problem. Did this ever happen to you in a major way? Did a situation arise that threatened to derail completion of a big project." The client said: "Yes." "Tell me about it." "We were building the signalling system for a new subway line in one of the world's top five subway operations. The new signalling not only included new features, it also had to be integrated with the old system. The interfacing component of the two systems had been subcontracted and, right before the deadline, the subcontractor called and told me they couldn't deliver the component. So I had to design and make the component on short notice which I did." "And what happened." "We met our deadline and because the system integrated perfectly with the old system, my employer won additional contracts in the hundreds of millions." This exchange was one of several which enabled our writer to strengthen this client's resume. Three days after his resume was submitted, our client was called for his interview. Why not put all of your significant achievements to work for you? Call Fast & Focused, and we'll find them and add their power to your resume. |
Call us at:
604 418-7094 or 1 800 514-6208 Thank you for your tremendous support during the recent redevelopment of my resume. I am off to manage five international airports as the CEO. It was a pleasure to work with you and the results speak for themselves. Andrew O'Brian CEO, Aerodom Dominican Republic Your magic resume writing produced more than 10 different interviews within just 3 weeks and played a crucial role in landing a job with a major local company and as a Board member of a non-profit. Besides the offer I accepted, I got 2 other offers from a Fortune 500 company and a Nasdaq company. Anyway, thank you so much for your fabulous service, tons of appreciation! Eric Li Accountant Agne Zaruskaite Hotel PR It is less than a month since you sent the resume package and I already have 3 interviews set, including my #1 target – CTO of one of Clive Packham National Practice Leader, Transit Associated Engineering I hired Tim to help write my resume. I cannot recommend him highly enough. Numerous people have commented on the quality of my resume and I found my next position easily with the help of such a powerful resume. Tim was always available and pushed me to think about the qualities that would help distinguish me from others. For such a valuable and effective service it was extremely cost effective too. Ronan Lehane, CPA Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Supervisor, PPB Advisory Melbourne, Australia Major success; a senior management position in less than a month! Your attention to detail and consideration of my true strengths and goals were paramount to my securing this amazing position. You said it would not take long to get calls. I had my pick of the crop and I am so very happy to have contacted you to assist in preparing my portfolio. Jennifer Gibson Digital Sales Manager, Glacier Media During the last 3 weeks I attended 4 job interviews and today I received two job offers. I start working next Tuesday. Oddy Trillo Operations Manager, Valmont Industries I highly recommend Tim for his expertise and integrity. Anthony Fenton, PhD University Lecturer Just wanted to thank you for the great resume. I just got a job thanks to your efforts. I have just recommended 2 more people to you. My job is going along swimmingly and they seem to be very happy to have me. If they decide to keep me, I will be set. If not I shall need you again to update my resume! In a new city with no contacts, your resume quickly moved me into a job. Thanks again. Despite the recession, the resume has worked. It's been four days since you emailed the final drafts and I have two interviews set for this coming week. Thanks again. Tim walked me through the process of resume writing and helped me put some perspective on the qualities and personal traits that were valuable to the different positions I was interested in attaining. I am employed again – so there's the best result one can hope for! I was hired at Sierra Systems as a Technical Lead for their Vancouver office. They were definitely impressed with my resume. Thanks again. The resume is fantastic! The cover letter template is great! You're a miracle worker! I hope that your business continues to grow. I will recommend you to my colleagues. As a former HR guy, I know all about resumes and you wrote a great one. With every key achievement powerfully stated and organized for maximum impact, your resume proved that I was an ideal candidate. |
|||||||||||||||||
support@ffresume.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||
