How to read a resume
by Miki SaxonMost people hate writing resumes, partly because all the advice from books/experts/friends often contradicts each other, which makes a difficult task even harder.They’re in good company because most managers hate reading resumes, although they don’t need to contend with conflicting information, because there is no information! (This is probably the only managerial action in the world that does not have at least a dozen how-to books devoted to it.)
It’s not rocket science to know that reading resumes takes time. And the payoff is iffy—you win some, you lose some, but the payoff for not reading resumes is absolute. No ifs, ands, or buts—you lose.
The trick to increasing your productivity is to increase your resume-reading skill with the aim of having the fewest face-to-face interviews resulting in as many hires as possible.
Whether the resume is chronological or functional, straightforward or fancy, long or short, the most important point to remember when reading is not to make assumptions, rather make notes and then ask questions! You are NOT hiring the resume. Resumes are merely brochures for potentially interesting “products,” creating enough interest for a “product demo” so that you’ll “buy.”
The great secret in reading a resume is the ability to read between the lines. You are not reading for speed but rather for comprehension. You want to understand what the candidate is trying to say as opposed to what he does say, or, conversely, to see through what the candidate says to reality.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- You cannot screen a resume without knowledge of the specific req as well as the general needs of the organization.
- The length of the resume is less important than the contents.
- There should be strong correlation between the length of time worked, the experience described, and the positions achieved.
- People tend to value those skills their current/old managers valued. The skills you seek may be underlying the skills described.
- Today everything in technology and business is constantly changing. The person who has successfully changed industries, technologies, careers, etc. has abilities that usually go unnoticed.
- In a tight labor market, recognition of “change-ability” allows you to source candidates unrecognized by your competitors.
- Take notes and jot down questions on a separate sheet of paper, including your name, then staple it to the resume.
- If you are unsure of the candidate’s viability, pass it to another team member with your notes and a specific query.
- Resume turnaround time should not exceed 48 hours, including second opinions.
As you hone your resume-reading skills, you will add key points based on your own experience�always remembering there are exceptions to every rule.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do trust your instincts and intuition. Both are based on subconscious pattern recognition, which in turn is based on your experience, business philosophy, and ethical code. Sometimes the pattern is buried so deeply you may not be able to explain it. However, prejudices and assumptions are not the same thing.
- Don’t look strictly for your words. Frequently people write resumes in the language of where they work, stressing those things that their current boss thinks are important. The skills you are looking for may be in the background or only implied.
- Do stay aware of possible trade-offs. In today’s rapidly changing world, flexibility and speed of learning is worth a great deal.
- Do stay aware of red flags such as chronological gaps, frequent job changes, a hollow feel, etc.
- Don’t reject a good resume with a red flag or two without allowing the candidate a chance to explain. Use the phone. Stay cautious, but ask and listen carefully!
- Don’t expect to find value in all resumes. Use a reasonable amount of time and effort and then relegate it to the circular file.
More tomorrow.
