Being Irresistible to the Recruiter
by Linda Buggy

Step One....First Contact

On a scale of 1-10, how proud are you of your resume? Your resume can be a powerful calling card when first meeting with recruiters or prospective employers. Make sure it reflects a track record of your growth, accomplishment and innovation.

You want your resume to be memorable, clear and engaging. Your goal is to inspire the recruiter to pick up the phone immediately and call you. A recruiter wants to see how you distinguish yourself from others with similar credentials.

The summary profile at the top of the page is the starting point to achieving this result. Make sure it is brief-no more than three-to-four lines-and guides the reader to quickly see and understand your unique combination of talents, experience and contributions.

As an executive recruiter who has worked with high potential candidates including executives and mid-level managers across a number of industries and functions, I enjoy meeting with individuals whose resumes really jump out and say, "Read me." These are the resumes that send a personal branding message highlighting their owners' Career DNA, their uniqueness, their extraordinary attributes and their specific measurable accomplishments. These are the resumes of individuals who have done their homework, know their purpose and know where they can make the most effective contributions.

Here are three guidelines for helping you unveil your unique brand and develop a memorable resume that is irresistible to the recruiter:

1. Being Unstoppable: For each assignment you have held, identify when you have been unstoppable even when faced with major obstacles. Identify the what, where, why, how and when that happened. This will give you clues of your key talents and environments where you are most likely to flourish.



2. Go for the Gold: Reflect on the times when you had/ have had big dreams, demonstrated bold actions, stretched and gone beyond what was expected. Ask others for feedback. Then start thinking about what great challenges you would like to create for your future legacy.



3. Say "Yes" to making it happen. Make sure you focus on what type of role you want to achieve next and where you could make your best contributions. What is the next big career challenge you would like to face? Once identified, focus both your attention and intention on achieve these outcomes.

As you review your career to date and start working with these three guidelines to create your personal blueprint for success, you will be able to better:

• Define your originality and uniqueness.
• Uncover and go after opportunities that intrigue you.
• Use the ingredients of your past career successes to design and energize your current career strategy.

These three guidelines will provide you with powerful benefits as you come to understand the foundation of your career to date, your personal leadership style, the type of environments and communication styles where you flourish, and the intensity of tempo and creativity that has garnered you your most memorable experiences and accomplishments.

Working with the Three Guidelines for creating irresistible resumes

1. Being Unstoppable: Being, branding and broadcasting your unique Career DNA
   
   Use writing or updating your resume as an opportunity to:
   
   • Understand your extraordinary attributes and your unique purpose.
   • Clarify your values and passions.
   • Review your contributions in previous and current roles.
   • Create your personal brand strategy for success.
   • Consider branding as an opportunity to bring out the best in you.
   • Broadcast an engaging message that includes how you Think Big, Act Boldly and Go Beyond what is expected.
   
   Capture the times you demonstrated courage and imagination. Make sure your resume spotlights your successes as if you were in a talent show.
   
   • Identify where you have overcome fear, doubt or adversity to achieve the "impossible."
   • Describe how you identified great problems to work on.
   • Highlight achievements that reflect your passions and talents.
   • Include examples of how your creativity, flexibility, perseverance and resilience led to powerful results.
   • Show how you prepared for challenges.


2. Go for the Gold: Let your resume reflect how you are worth your weight in gold to the hiring manager or company. Communicate why you, your talents and your performance to date make you highly desirable.
   
   Gather the gold nuggets from your past:
   
   • Identify times when you have gone from being Good to Great.
   • Demonstrate how you have been the"Go to" person.
   • Describe your successes in ways that reflect your Growth and how you have
   • Gathered your resources and support.
   • Show how you are Grooming yourself for further success.
   • Generate a resume that reflects your authenticity.


3. Say "Yes" to making it happen: You are the author of your future. Your preparation for your resume is a first step in creating a powerful career strategy that could allow you to:
   
   • Create a "Brand New You."
   • Identify yourself as a Player.
   • Determine "Your Desired Outcome."
   • Enjoy Meaningful Success.
   
   Let your resume be:
   
   • An authentic reflection of your success to date.
   • A blueprint of your potential for a memorable future.

Linda Buggy is an international executive recruiter, professional and executive coach, and founder of the Outrageous Futures women's leadership program. She can be reached at .

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