[07.21.09]

20 great comments!

How To Use Your Resume As A Planning And Visioning Tool

There are plenty of reasons to think that the resume will die as a job search or networking tool. Others before me have had this thought, I’m sure. Especially in this world of new online social media, the traditional resume (no color, no pictures, no exciting format) seems terribly in need of a makeover.

But I am not suggesting that today. Because in some strange way the traditional resume has relevance. For me, that relevance is in the objective way your experience and accomplishments are communicated. There is no hiding behind a beautiful head shot or background. It is you, unplugged.

The resume forces you to do your best sales job into two pages. You either have what the company needs or you don’t. No smoke and mirrors. No distractions.

Of course there are other ways to get your value across. Linkedin and VisualCV provide new, more modern ways to tell your story. And, if you are out looking for a job, make sure you have one of each. You can also create a SoloSheet™ which is a resume companion for use (primarily) in networking.

But today’s topic is on visioning. And whether you are knee deep in job search, starting a new job or looking to make a bigger name for yourself in your current company, you need a vision.

You see, visioning is about projecting a future for yourself. A future where you are highly successful. And you are able to feel the benefits of those positive results.

This idea came to me last week as I was doing my own career visioning. I started to think about my resume and how it is used almost exclusively as a job search tool. In fact, most people do not even look at their resume but once every 4 or 5 years. Depending on how often they need to look for work. So the resume is largely a reactive tool.

Need a job? Dust off the old resume and give it a tune-up!

Well, what if the resume were more of a living document? What if you could use it as a career planning and visioning document? Not just something that reflects your past.

What if your resume included your near future in addition to the last 15 years of experience and accomplishments?

Still with me?

How to use your resume as a personal career planning/visioning tool:

So the basic idea is to keep your resume updated as usual but don’t stop there. I want you to write a resume update for the job you will get next. It doesn’t matter whether you have an offer, are battling with four others for a job or if you are just this week back at the job hunt.

Imagine that you are already in the new job. That you were hired after “a great battle” and since then have proven that the company made an incredibly good choice. Because, in the 3-5 years since they hired you, the company has benefited greatly from your influence.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Without An Interview Scheduled

Pick a company on your target list and put yourself in a job there. One that is in concert with your job objectives. Pick a reasonable title and outline your responsibilities as if you are there already. Most important is to envision your accomplishments in that job. Identify 5-6 big accomplishments that have you making a significant impact. Lots of numbers and percentages. Make yourself employee of the year if that is the type of impact you want to have. Be as specific as you can and begin to feel what those accomplishments do to your confidence.

During The Interview Process

Feeling the need to try something a little different? What if you were to hand a version of your resume to the hiring manager but with one added twist. This version of your resume includes the future 3-5 years that you envision. Years that include you being that manager’s top contributor, for example. Your resume is now telling him/her the impact you will have on their top or bottom line.

Give yourself the title advertised and include the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. To get ideas for the accomplishments, ask a lot of great questions. To get a sense of their personal vision for the team or the role for which you are interviewing.

Use this resume as an end of interview leave-behind. It shows that you have thought of their situation and illustrates how your skills and experience will contribute to great things happening on their team. In addition to summarizing verbally why you think you are the best fit for the job, you can put it on paper.

Bold? Perhaps.

But in this world of needing to stand out in a big crowd, sometimes you need to show a little strength.

Of course, your accomplishments should be ones that the hiring manager will see as highly valuable (it is their needs you are satisfying in this case, not yours). It is not about you getting promoted twice in the next 3-5 years. It is about your being a key hire for the company in this role.

A few bits of guidance:

1. Your target is the hiring manager.

2. It is best delivered after what you perceive to be the last interview. If provided too early, you may not know enough about the job or your future manager’s vision for the team or division.

3. Play it by ear. You can be more or less aggressive in your accomplishments based on how much leadership and independence expected of this role.

After You Get The Job

Keep your resume on your home computer’s desktop so that you can update it regularly. Have a great win at work? Add it right away while it is still fresh and add another vision item for next year. Keep asking questions of your manager – especially if your company does not have a formal review and objective setting process.

Because you win, succeed and get promoted when you carry the flag raised by your manager. Make them happy and you get the spoils.

So, what do you think? Is this something you could implement today?

Let me know how you are doing out there! I’m dying to hear from you . . .

TimsStrategy Recommends

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http://markthispage.blogspot.com/ sri

Nothing to worry or get nervous, just be confident and never tell any lie.. answer what you know.. are the first principles while attending an Interview. I had lot of experience in this area, so collected a big list of interview questions and answers sites (more than 220 sites) on wide variety of areas. This doesn’t cover just interview questions but also has information related to how to dress, how and what to ask the person who is interviewing you like if it is HR, you might want to know about the work environment, about the overtime rules, about the holiday structure, any medical benefits, insurance coverages etc.,. Thought it will be useful to all, so sharing them at the below link — might be of some help to you… today and even in future..
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/06/sites-you-must-refer-to-if-you-going.html
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/ sri

Nothing to worry or get nervous, just be confident and never tell any lie.. answer what you know.. are the first principles while attending an Interview. I had lot of experience in this area, so collected a big list of interview questions and answers sites (more than 220 sites) on wide variety of areas. This doesn’t cover just interview questions but also has information related to how to dress, how and what to ask the person who is interviewing you like if it is HR, you might want to know about the work environment, about the overtime rules, about the holiday structure, any medical benefits, insurance coverages etc.,. Thought it will be useful to all, so sharing them at the below link — might be of some help to you… today and even in future..
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/06/sites-you-must-refer-to-if-you-going.html
http://resume.shine.com/ Your resume services guide

Great idea on what can be done with the resume even after bagging a job.
http://resume.shine.com/ Your resume services guide

Great idea on what can be done with the resume even after bagging a job.
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hi sri and thanks for sharing your list . . .
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hi sri and thanks for sharing your list . . .
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Thanks for the feedback. It seems a shame to have the resume sit idle in between jobs!
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Thanks for the feedback. It seems a shame to have the resume sit idle in between jobs!
http://profile.typepad.com/6p0115723200a2970b TalentTalks

Tim – good stuff, as always! I especially like this point:
After You Get The Job
Keep your resume on your home computer’s desktop so that you can update it regularly. Have a great win at work? Add it right away while it is still fresh and add another vision item for next year.
So much easier said that done, though!
When I’m working with my career coaching clients on updating or creating their resumes, it is so much easier if they can recall or have listed somewhere their accomplishments. After all that is what really matters on the job now and next!
The other thing about this topic that comes to mind is how this concept can be used to answer that common question “tell me where you see yourself in 5 years.” I don’t particular care for that question, but it seems to be asked by default, just like “what are your weaknesses.”
Doing a visioning exercise like this can help deal with both issues in a proactive manner and make the job seeker more prepared, thus confident in their ability to perform well.
KB
http://www.talenttalks.com
http://profile.typepad.com/6p0115723200a2970b TalentTalks

Tim – good stuff, as always! I especially like this point:
After You Get The Job
Keep your resume on your home computer’s desktop so that you can update it regularly. Have a great win at work? Add it right away while it is still fresh and add another vision item for next year.
So much easier said that done, though!
When I’m working with my career coaching clients on updating or creating their resumes, it is so much easier if they can recall or have listed somewhere their accomplishments. After all that is what really matters on the job now and next!
The other thing about this topic that comes to mind is how this concept can be used to answer that common question “tell me where you see yourself in 5 years.” I don’t particular care for that question, but it seems to be asked by default, just like “what are your weaknesses.”
Doing a visioning exercise like this can help deal with both issues in a proactive manner and make the job seeker more prepared, thus confident in their ability to perform well.
KB
http://www.talenttalks.com
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Kelly. I always appreciate your feedback. Thank you! You are right about it being a challenge to keep track of things once you arrive at a new job. Often the focus shifts. The idea here was to convince people to keep everything fresh knowing that the new job market may turn over more regularly than in the past. And, yes, creating a tangible vision for your new position makes a lot of sense.
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hey Kelly. I always appreciate your feedback. Thank you! You are right about it being a challenge to keep track of things once you arrive at a new job. Often the focus shifts. The idea here was to convince people to keep everything fresh knowing that the new job market may turn over more regularly than in the past. And, yes, creating a tangible vision for your new position makes a lot of sense.
http://www.job-interview-site.com ziv

Thank you for sharing this article and knowledge.
This is a good list and is an excellent starter list that will help stay on track.
I think interview is the time for you to make your CV alive and share the relevant experience with the audience. It has to be brief and clear, say what you really mean and not what they want to hear. People sometimes try too hard to impress, it may end up having the negative impact.
http://www.job-interview-site.com ziv

Thank you for sharing this article and knowledge.
This is a good list and is an excellent starter list that will help stay on track.
I think interview is the time for you to make your CV alive and share the relevant experience with the audience. It has to be brief and clear, say what you really mean and not what they want to hear. People sometimes try too hard to impress, it may end up having the negative impact.
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hi Ziv – You are welcome! Glad this one worked for you . . .
http://profile.typepad.com/1220292248s14607 Tim Tyrell-Smith

Hi Ziv – You are welcome! Glad this one worked for you . . .
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How To Use Your Resume As A Planning And Visioning Tool

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