Let’s imagine that you are a Software Engineer and your dream job is to work for Microsoft and develop the next version of Halo. Do you want to stack the deck in your favor? Try this sneaky / strategic move. Find a resume of someone already working there and match your resume as closely (and honestly) as you can to it. For example, here is a search string that will help you find the resumes of Software Engineers who work for Microsoft and have had some experience with the XBox.
intitle:resume software (engineer OR developer) xbox “microsoft corporation” -your -submit -apply
For the unschooled, with the above search string I am asking Google to look for the term “resume” in the title of a web document, the term software, the term “engineer” or :developer,” also bring back documents that have the words “Xbox” and “Microsoft Corporation,” but not “your,” “submit” or “apply.” The terms your, submit and apply are typically on job descriptions which is why I do not want them in my search results. I am seeking resumes. ( For more info on this type of thing, check out my recruiter training website. )
Out of those results, I found a resume of particular interest, a former “Development Lead” working in the XBox Division of Microsoft. Check out some of his work history.
Now why do I suggest that you mimic someone’s work history rather than say… a job description. Oh, let me count the ways…
- Job Descriptions tend to be too generic and often times do not give the job seeker enough information. I mean, think about it, how closely would a want-ad accurately describe all that you are responsible for at the office? (Especially when companies are ascribing more work, but not more money.)
- Who is evaluating your resume? An experienced recruiter with years of hiring in the industry or a junior recruiter who is only checking for keywords? There is no way you can know! However, if an experienced recruiter and a junior recruiter can scan your resume and see you doing things that present day employees are doing, chances are they will consider you more qualified. Furthermore, a hiring manager can look at your resume and their “gut” will tell them that you would be a good fit since you have done so much of what their workers are presently doing. Make sense?
- If you look at someone’s resume and you cannot reasonably adapt your resume to fit what they have done, then maybe its not really the job for you. Make sense?
Okay, I’m done for now. More tomorrow…
Jim
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