3 Strategies to Successfuly Accept Resume Feedback

When people find out I'm a career coach I tend to get asked quite a few questions - which I'm okay with since I love what I do. The most difficult question is if I'll "take a look at their resume and let them know what I think?"

This year I launched a Kick Ass Resume & Cover Letter Review Session because of how often I was asked this one question. However, this post is about how to accept feedback. Why?

Because the #1 thing I hear from recruiters and other career-industry professionals is that when they (and me included) give people feedback on their resumes it's either not integrated or they take it very personally. That's why I chose to write this post - to help out those of you who ask for resume feedback. Here are 3 Strategies to Successfully Accepting Resume Feedback:

1. Check Your Ego At The Door.
   
   Think of your resume as a marketing brochure and you as the product. The more information, data and 'stuff' you put on it the more overwhelmed the buyer (recruiter, hiring manager) becomes. Marketing experts know to KISS (Keep It Simple & Short) their customers; the same goes with your resume. Check your ego at the door, let the expert determine which accomplishments to keep and which ones to remove - remove your ego from the process to increase your chances of success.
   
   
2. Consult An Expert.
   If you need to buy a house, you get a realtor. If you need sugar, you go to a neighbor. When you need resume advice, go to a career industry expert - not your friends and family. They're great for potlucks but not resumes. We live, eat, breathe and sleep industry statistics and see hundreds of resumes a month - sometimes more. It's our job, literally, to know what works, what doesn't work, and how to market you to land a job. As an example, a career coach and industry expert will know that nearly 80% of recruiters and hiring managers only read the top 1/3 to 1/5 of the first page of your resume. More importantly, we know the recommended information to put in that part of your resume.
   
   
3. Apply the 2:1 Principle.
   I developed what I call the 2:1 Principle nearly 8 years ago after people asked for advice that would fall on deaf ears. We all have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, listen twice as much as you question. Listen carefully and thoughtfully to what the career expert's advice and recommendations are for your resume. Listen to why they recommend you adjust your resume in the manner they are advising. After their suggested feedback is finished, then ask thoughtful, intelligent and relevant questions. Great questions can take your resume to the next level.

These 3 Strategies to Successfully Accepting Resume Feedback will give you the winning advantage to integrate any resume review. Your resume is the first impression a potential employer has of you - shouldn't it be the best?

Go get 'em,
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