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What is a successful resume?  It is a resume that has impressed two highly critical and cynical people at two crucial times –the SCREENER (we'll call her "Suzie") and later, the HIRING AUTHORITY, her boss.

As the boss's trusted resume reader and adviser, Suzie may decide your future career when she first scans your resume and later, when she is asked her opinion.  But in many cases, Suzie will screen out your entire application in only 30 seconds!

An amateurishly written resume is thus the main reason why the best suited or most qualified candidates fail to land the job or even an interview!  The awful truth is that strong applicants fail to impress on paper and get screened out by Suzie in Round 1.  They have only themselves to blame.  I have seen hundreds of executive and managerial resumes that were obviously done by a well-meaning secretary, spouse, daughter or girl friend.  Such parties are not qualified to assist you!

Sadly, many senior-level candidates are so confident of their own ability that they don't market their value strongly.  They often write a lackluster profile that was largely copied from sample resumes.  For example, five resumes that were emailed to me start in identical fashion as follows: "Highly motivated and results-oriented ...."  That is an immediate turnoff!  Next, they state their job titles, names of companies, and write a few lines about their responsibilities.  But their accomplishments are all over the place or worse, lie hidden or buried in the text.  No keywords "jump out" to impress the reader.  Worst of all, their value proposition is either weak or has been omitted entirely.  Only a Louis Gerstner of IBM or a Michael Dell can get away with that!

Instead, a "winning" resume should be carefully designed and written to help you impress both Suzie and her boss.  It's aim will be to market your value as effectively as possible on paper.  "A resume is still your most valuable credential," says John Lucht, the veteran executive search expert.  Who can disagree with that?

Always remember that when your resume arrives on a recruiter's desk, it will not be read from A to Z.  Instead, it gets skim-read or scanned in 30 seconds or less –not by the boss but by "Suzie" or "Jim", a secretary, assistant or clerk.   

Even in fairly big corporations, Suzie and Jim might only be 20 years old but are given a pile of 100-300 resumes to look at –quickly– because the hiring authority wants to see only 15 resumes (or less) and plans to interview only 5 or so of the candidates.  Expect them to be more critical of your resume than their "upstairs" boss.  To them you are your resume, warts and all.  You have been warned!

"When in doubt...screen out!"
In Round One, the typical secretary is not interested in hiring you, but in failing you.   His or her task is to find any reason to eliminate you as quickly as possible: "When in doubt...screen out!"   Accordingly, they will search for one or more "red flags" or potential negatives in your resume.  That's why you need to be so careful.  It is Suzie or Jim who will be making the first decision about your future career –not the person you really want to talk to and impress!  

Employers want to see whether or not you are a good "fit" for the position you are applying for.  Resumes should be tailored to address their needs.  The idea of one-resume-that-must-fit-all-jobs is truly a dangerous myth.  

Here are a few tips for impressing Suzie or Jim in Round One:
Don't expect recruiters to read your resume from A to Z to find out what they need to know about your skills and abilities.  Tell them up front –in the first 10-15 lines.

A good SUMMARY of your experience, achievements, skills and abilities is crucial.  If well-written, it will increase your perceived worth or value to employers.

Writing a good resume involves much more than being able to write good English.  How to present yourself in the most effective manner is the art of self-marketing!  What to include, what to emphasize and what to omit are important decisions you have to make.

Incidentally, to avoid these "terminators", try phoning the boss when they are not around –between 7:30 and 8:30 A.M. or after 5:00 P.M.