How to Showcase Long Achievements in a Short Resume

Q. I want to emphasize my experience, including some significant accomplishments from 20 years ago. But I want to keep the length reasonable. And some of my best success stories might sound lame, given how much technology has changed. As a librarian and information specialist, I realize technology will be relevant to my new job.

A. Good question. Ideally your resume will be just an adjunct to your search. You'll find your next job by formal and informal networking.

But resumes can make a difference in a hiring decision. And some fields (such as academia)require formal applications and resumes, no matter what.

A few suggestions. Readers, please share your reactions and feel free to add further ideas (or disagree with mine):

(1) Focus on qualities and skills in your future job description, not on what you've already done.

After twenty-plus years, you are most likely seeking a management or senior level position. Your future employer will be looking for evidence that you can complete projects on budget, motivate others and possibly come up with new programs and plans.

So you begin as many sentences as possible with "Organized, "Developed," "Managed," and "Designed."

When you're over 15, you don't have tasks and duties. You have responsibilities and accomplishments.

(2) Focus on how you completed projects - not the nitty gritty of what.

An imaginary example: You organized a new card catalog. You asked supervisors from four departments to contribute sections, coordinated their input and created a master card file.

Card catalogs may be dinosaurs -but you can talk about coordinating 4 managers to create an interactive information resource!

If that's too far-fetched, just use the word "project." Or be specific but emphasize the "how" rather than the "what."

(3) Summarize multiple jobs from your early years, even if you worked for different companies.

For example (I'm inventing details):

Reference Librarian 1980-1991 --San Francisco Public Library 1980-1984 --San Rafael Public Libray 1985-1989 --Levi Strauss Corporate Library 1989-1991

The HR folks will be happy: you gave them dates with no gaps.

Then you have a short paragraph or two with the best stories from all the positions.

(4) Emphasize outcomes more than process in the early jobs; include both when describing later jobs.

"As a result of this project, satisfaction ratings increased from X percent to Y percent." "The new system saved five thousand dollars and allowed us to reduce staff by two." "The new system allowed us to serve three times as many customers while increasing our budget by twenty percent."

(5) Apply for positions where your skills will be appreciated and welcomed.

If your future employer feels threatened by your resume, I would see a red flag warning.

Many articles and books target midlife professionals and retirees with the message, "Don't worry about being overqualified."

They're wrong.

Some folks happily take a step back in their careers. I once met a branch manager of a major corporation who returned to the sales force rather than accept a move. She seemed happy. I've also met former corporate executives who found new joy as coffee shop baristas, sales clerks and restaurant staff.

But in my experience, most professionals find themselves more stressed when they take a job where their experience appears to be devalued. That's why so many end up starting their own businesses.

And often you get tapped to accept extra responsibility, with no extra reward, because "you know so much."

Of course, if you need a job, you won't be fussy. But keep your job search open till you find a place where you will be recognized (and rewarded) for what you can bring to the table.

What's Special About Midlife Career Change?

When reviewing career change books, I sometimes add the comment, 'This book seems more appropriate for 20-somethings or 30-somethings. But midlife career changers will resist." (1) You need different networking systems. A Young Career Changer (YCC) can ask for informational interviews. He can ask to shadow someone for a day or two. But if you're in your 40's or 50's, managers may resist opening their doors to someone who's a peer, perhaps someone who's been working elsewhere. When I taught live MBA marketing, my "older" students had trouble getting interviews for projects. "Two gray-haired men? They thought the IRS had come to call," said one student. For the record, I offered to create a special project for them, but they declined. They'd caught the fire! (2) You're un-learning a style of professionalism. As I like to say: Corporate life is like professional football. Carreer change is like playground basketball. A whole different set of moves. You can do it, once you realize what's going on. (3) Life happens. I'm not typical: my parents are gone and my next-of-kin has fur and paws. Many 40-plus career changers have teenagers, boomerang kids, aging parents and a whole lot more. Some of my clients experience health concerns, whether seeking additional medical screenings or dealing with symptoms. (4) Your day job is more demanding. By mid-career you've probably moved up the corporate ladder and you have more responsibilities. As an executive or professional you may have more flexibility but you work longer hours. And your family becomes more important. (5) Your comfort zone has gotten broader and deeper. What's a lateral move to a YCC may be a giant leap backward at mid-career. I encourage clients to consider the consquences of, say, giving up a large home for a small apartment. Some care a lot. Some barely notice -- they're too excited about the future. Success depends on feeling proud and happy, genuinely, authentically. Anything else gets in the way. Please leave a coomment for me!

[Career Change] NYT article on University of Phoenix

Did you read the New York Times yesterday - Sunday, February 11, 2007? If so, you may have noticed a big article in the Education Section: Troubles Grow for a University Built on Profits, by Sam Dillon. The troubled university was University of Phoenix. The NYT keeps a list of "most emailed" articles. This morning, today's Times reported this article achieved the Number One most-emailed status. If you had been a reader of my ezine, you'd be ahead of the game. You would know I've written an ebook that would have warned you, "Enrolling in the wrong program can be dangerous to your career." See Click here. And -- what a coincidence! -- here's a recent article from my ezine, published just a week before the Times article: Along with a nasty editorial against the dogs-in-bars measure, our local paper directs readers to a website that lists “accredited” education options: oedb.org That website should come with a warning. Many career change clients consider returning to school for credentials, degrees and/or skill building. If you’re at a crossroads, I recommend considering this option, if only because you’ll get new ideas for your next career. But I’ve been on both sides of the desk. I was just as irreverent as a professor and student as I am now. So I encourage everyone to read between the lines before signing up. The old signals of reputability no longer apply. For example: • Some universities are “accredited” but not “respected.” And unless you know how to dig deep, it’s hard to tell who accredited your university and what it means for you. • Online and distance education have become mainstream, especially business, library science and IT. • And I used to say, “Avoid a university that advertises on the side of a bus,” but some very well-regarded schools are now doing just that. Here are five ways to avoid red flags so your time and money will pay off when you change careers. (1) Can you talk to recent graduates of the program? Any alumni office should be willing to share names of recent graduates. Some will insist on getting permission to share contact info. That’s okay. But if they tell you all names are confidential, run away as fast as possible. Graduates should be proud of their training and their academic affiliations. Training programs often promise career success, but the fine print says, “No guarantees.” I’d go with the fine print. (2) Will this program really deliver the results you want? “Tom” signed up for a regionally accredited university’s doctoral program. Thousands of dollars later, he discovered he could not get a teaching position in his local colleges. I’ve heard many stories like Tom’s. Talk to hiring managers and university administrators before signing up. (3) Are faculty listed by name and degree? If more than a few professors graduated from the same program you want to enter, look elsewhere. Diversity means quality. No list of faculty? Forget it. (4) Do you know your own learning style? Are you an auditory, kinesthetic or visual learner? Auditory learners can face unique challenges in online programs. Kinesthetic learners like to develop skills on the job – they prefer action to classrooms. If you face special challenges, such as attention deficits, stress, and/or dyslexia, talk to an independent licensed professional before embarking on your new venture. (5) Can you afford the tuition easily? I don’t recommend going into debt or taking big risks, except in very rare situations. If your company pays the tuition, go for it – but be sure your program or degree will have value if you change jobs and/or careers. Some degree and professional programs will actually drag down your resume. But don’t let me discourage you – really. Exploring programs and reading catalogs will stimulate your creative juices and help you identify what you really want, in or out of school. Need more? Of course you can consult with me one-to-one. You can also read Back to School for a Midlife Career Change Click here!

Career Change: Not Just a Transfer of Skills

Q. “I’ve been a teacher. Can I transfer these skills to become a trainer or professional speaker?” A. You’ve probably heard, “Career change is about transferring skills.” As far as I’m concerned, that’s an urban legend. Skills transfers make sense for some jobs, such as telephone operators who become call center reps. But managers often don’t transfer skills. They join tribes. Teaching and training both call for speaking in front of groups. There the resemblance ends. Teachers have captive audiences. They don’t structure lectures the way a trainer will design a session, much less the way a professional speaker will develop and present a motivational talk. Whether you join a company or offer your services as a consultant, you’ll be expected to join a tribe, with unwritten rules, norms and values. You may be a gifted writer, but some public relations jobs require a degree in journalism. A marketing or business degree won’t count. (1) Use talents to choose a life that feels meaningful. You will probably be most happy and successful when you use your natural talents. And you’ll feel purposeful and authentic. (2) Use skills to create your career makeover. To earn a living, you sell skills, whether you work for a company or for yourself. In other words, you package your talents and get evidence that you know how to use your talents in a way that benefits an organization, group, community or person. ➢ You may have artistic talent, but you get paid for producing a work that will sell in a gallery, designing a website, or creating a knock-your-socks-off advertising piece. ➢ You may write brilliantly, but you get paid for producing articles or books on deadline in a form that meets the demands of your market. ➢ You may be a naturally intuitive person but you get paid for helping clients make measurable changes in their businesses, relationships and/or lives. (3) Get credentials that have meaning to the tribe you want to join. “Vaughn” found his MBA didn’t count with a group of publicity executives. They valued journalism degrees. “Carla” drew rave reviews from students but needed a PhD to get a full-time university job. “Pete” found he needed a CPA to compete for high-level finance jobs, although he’d made money for several companies. When I began to seek speaking opportunities, what drew a sparkle to the eyes of meeting coordinators? My Ph.D.? My years of teaching and speaking on services marketing? My media credentials? Everything helped. But their eyes lit up when I told them I took second place at the regional level in a humorous speaking contest, sponsored by Toastmasters. My former university colleagues would have dissed the whole idea (“you got involved in what?!”). But to my new tribe, this award had real value. Somehow I’d managed to pass an initiation rite without realizing what I was up to. So I encourage my clients to think of the 3-step process – talent to skill to credential – and go where they’ll be valued. You may reprint this article in your ezine or blog if you make no changes and include this resource box with live links: Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a career consultant specializing in midlife professionals who want to manage any area of their career: office politics, job search, career advancement or striking out in a whole new direction. Visit http://www.cathygoodwin.com Discover the 5 essential ingredients of successful career change: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html