Write a persuasive resume for the attached job.
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how_to_create_a_persuasive_resume_part_1.pptxBusiness Communication, MGT309
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
How to Create a Persuasive Resume
Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred
I have an important question for you…How much money is your resume worth? It’s worth what your potential employer will pay for your services. What is your target salary…say it out loud now. For the sake of our virtual environment, let’s say your resume is worth 45K. Think about that….that means your resume, that document is worth 45 thousand dollars. Whew…we have some very important work to do.
Take a moment now, and write down the first job you want to have after you graduate and then write down the job title at the pinnacle of your career.
Register with your school's placement office. Work to keep your resume to one full page. Emphasize information that is relevant to the job you want, is recent (last three years), and shows your superiority to other applicants. Organize to the power positions on the page. Use strong active verbs to start your bullet points. To create a scannable résumé, create a "plain vanilla" text; use keywords. Respond to the employer in the way they ask for the application package. You are being judged on your ability to follow directions. Remove any unprofessional material from your personal Web page, blog, and social networking sites. Always be honest in your résumé.
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Persuasive Resume
Be audience-centered!
As you know, at this point, it is all about the audience. It’s about who is reading the document and how they understand you. You need to language to that brain – that filter – that perspective.
Once again, we talk about audience-centeredness; I want to remind you to ponder these things: demographics, psychographics, culture, needs, drives & desires, fears, desire to connect, and receptiveness to my message. Also remember to reference the questions to ask yourself in the process of audience-analysis.
You can get a job with a bad resume…why? Because beauty and appropriateness is in the eye of the reader. The higher the performance standard of the reader, the higher performance is expected of your document and of you too, of course.
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What Makes a Resume Persuasive?
Non-verbals (How they appear on a page)
Organization
Neatness
Preparation
How well you know yourself – self awareness
Shows confidence
Attention to detail
You have about 15 to 30 seconds to impress them.
What is a persuasive resume? It is an audience-centered resume that is engineered to influence the reader, not manipulate, but persuade. And to influence them, you have only seconds. Research differs on the number of seconds, but you have maybe 15 to 30 seconds.
Here’s what I use to do. First thing one morning, I’d get my coffee and sit down with the stack of application packages, and start reading. I’d pick up the first one, read it in a moment, and place it in the yes pile, the no pile or the maybe pile. The ‘no’s’ never get looked at again. The ‘maybe’s I review and pull out depending on how many are in the ‘yes’ pile. Then I review the ‘yes’s confirming I want to call them. Then I make the invitation phone calls. (Do not wait until Monday to do this)
You are persuasive by…
Your organization choices.
The non-verbals of neatness & error-free.
Where you locate information – We’ll talk about that next slide
How aligned you are to the objective. In my opinion, objectives are not optional. Again, I’ll explain next slide.
How specific your bulleted information is to the objective.
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Here are three keys:
You need an objective. The objective answers the question ‘why.” It tells the reader WHY you are applying for THIS job. EVERYTHING below is to be in alignment with your intention. This is persuasive. (Now you see why it’s so important to understand your personal goal.) – Keep this short, brief single sentence and not a paragraph.
Second, notice the drawn block. This is the most persuasive area on the page. Our eyes go here first, so you are to strategically locate your most impactful persuasive influential information here. Therefore, I tell students to put their education here. It’s new, it’s fresh and it sets you apart in the marketplace.
Strategically decide the size of a section. The more weight you give it, the more power it has. So, that means, you are not the create lots and lots of sections that are all similar in size. You don’t want your education section the same size as your Community Service section, etc.
You need to spend lots of time reviewing resume’s…lots and lots. And you need to get to know yourself.
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Prepare
You need to get to know yourself, the more you know yourself the more you can craft a beautiful persuasive resume. The better you can craft a smart application letter and the more you can WOW them in an interview.
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Prepare – What sets me apart?
Strengths
Talents
Passions/Interests
Values
Personality
Limitations
On the job
How did you make the company better?
On volunteer experiences
How did you make society better?
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Prepare – Ask yourself
Do you enjoy working with people, data or things?
Would you like to work for someone else or yourself?
How important is salary, benefits, technology or stability?
Would you rather work for a corporation or a company?
How would you describe the perfect job?
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More Questions to Ask Yourself
| What do I want them to do? |
| What objections do they have? |
| What is my credibility? |
| What cultural influences are there? |
| What is the best approach – emotional, logical or both? |
Before you enter a persuasive engagement you need to ask yourself these questions as each answer impacts your persuasive strategy.
What do I want them to do? - Business is about action.
What objections do they have? - People come to an experience with preconceived opinions and bias. The more you know the better the connection and influence.
What is my credibility? People follow those they trust.
What cultural influences are there? We are shaped by our experiences. Do your best to understand what might influence others.
What is the best approach, emotional, logical or both? In deciding your approach, consider the balance of emotion. The common phrase is persuade with emotion and justify with logic.
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First - Prepare
Business Communication, MGT309
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred
You need to get to know yourself, the more you know yourself the more you can craft a beautiful persuasive resume. The better you can craft a smart application letter and the more you can WOW them in an interview.
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Prepare : What sets me apart?
Strengths
Talents
Passions/Interests
Values
Personality
Limitations
Accomplishments:
How did you make the company better?
How did you make society better?
Here a question that you need to be able to answer – What sets you apart?
My suggestion is for you to write the answers to the following. If you want you can even do that now, just pause the video while you write.
What are your strengths? In other words, what you are you good at…write down the big things and the little things too. Make a long list. Don’t cull them –just write. Ask your friends and your parents too, they’ll bring you wonderful insights.
What are your talents? This is easier for some over others. I have a friend who has a beautiful singing voice – her talent is obvious. One of my talents is not-so-obvious – I am good at arranging things. Don’t hesitate to list things that your brain tells you is odd. Think over the negative thoughts.
What do you care about? Your passion. Your interests. For example, maybe, you care about sustainability so you take care to recycle. This often connects to your values.
What is your personality? That too affects your choices…are you an extravert or an introvert.
What are you limitations? We all have them. Know what they are…don’t hide from them.
Importantly,
Think about to previous job or group experiences, how did you make that organization better. Remember, the resume and application letter is about your contributions.
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Prepare: Ask yourself
Do you enjoy working with people, data or things?
Would you like to work for someone else or yourself?
How important is salary, benefits, technology or stability?
Would you rather work for a corporation or a company?
How would you describe the perfect job?
Here are an additional 5 questions to answer to get to know yourself.
Do you enjoy working with people, data or things?
Would you like to work for someone else or yourself?
How important is salary, benefits, technology or stability?
Would you rather work for a corporation or a company?
How would you describe the perfect job?
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Second – Execute. Create the document
Now we are turning our attention to getting the job done. We want educated ourselves on some new information and we now know ourselves better, so let’s craft this document.
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Step 1: Decide what job or job area you want.
What are the characteristics of this industry? Job?
What are the skills needed?
What are the strengths needed?
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Think on these questions. Stop now and write down your answers to them.
Efficiency
Management
Customer service
Fast-pace environment
Analytical skills
Training
Attention to detail
Communications skills
Organization
Leadership
Work ethic
Timeliness
Teamwork
Interpersonal Skills
Step 2: Decide which format is attractive to you.
Think-
Look at other resumes. What presentation is attractive to you?
Don’t use a Microsoft Word Template.
How do you want to express yourself?
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In order to live in your authenticity, you need to study other resumes. You need to KNOW what is attractive to you. What is the best way to represent you.
Do you want a chronological format illustrating a from here to here experience.
Or, do you want to create a skills format resume – one that focuses on transferable skills?
Or, you could create a combined picture.
Review formats – what do you like? Additionally, don’t use a Microsoft Word Template. You are welcome to review them; however, they nonverbally communicate ‘no’ creativity. Don’t say that. And, for our experience, they make crafting your personal picture hard to do. Don’t use them.
Chronological
Timeline, current to oldest
Skills
Unconventional path
Changing fields
Combine experience
Hides gaps
Step 3: What do I want located in the power position?
Think-
What is the most persuasive qualifier that I have?
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Step 4: Type your document.
Do –
Use an organized, easy to read approach. Remember, you only have seconds to impress.
Make it beautiful on the page.
Don’t -
Use ‘crazy’ fonts
Use I
Use a template
Use a summary section
List every single job you ever had
Use complete sentences
Miss the power play in positioning & bolding
“References Available Upon Request”
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Required
Objective
Education
Experience
Options
Leadership
Honors/Awards
Languages/Study Abroad
Computer Skills
Associations
Volunteerism/Community Service
Internships
Academic Projects
Related Coursework
Use Smart Sectioning
Do not do a summary section
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Use concise, strong, active language
Think –
Action. Business is performance.
Use emotional word pictures
Be specific.
Increased production capability by 10% resulting in 50K in revenue.
…and AVOID saying “Responsible for the success of the production team”
Start with an action verb.
Analyzed
Chaired
Coordinated
Developed
Improved
Increased
Strengthen
Negotiated
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Step 5: Bold & Proofread to perfection!
Bold your transferrable information, like job titles and the names of your degrees
Tell your story at 100%.
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