Networking

'Am I Money?' #8 - Mark, Mid-Career & Wondering How He Compares

markdubayHello, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have others review my career documents, etc. Thank you for this great idea, J.T. Mark Dubay Hi Mark! Well, I have to say that I think you are definitely money, I'd give your tools a 4.0 and say with a little tweaking that you'll be at 5 in no time! Let's take a look at each tool you submitted: LinkedIn: While I like that you haven't gotten overly wordy in your on-line profile, I would say that it's actually on the light side. You need to add some quantifiable accomplishments to help a reader get a sense of what your various positions entailed. Also, I'd suggest you get a headshot picture done that you can use across all social media tools to help brand you. When it comes to social media, people want to put a name with a face. Finally, given all your experience, I think you should try to ramp up your connections. The bigger your network, the greater the chance you'll be able to connect with someone who works at a potential employer with whom you could network to get the inside scoop on job openings. Resume: Okay, there are elements of your resume that I ADORE, and other parts I would change. For starters, the banner summary of your quantified experience is great! I would take out the summary paragraph. Most hiring managers won't read it, especially if it reads a bit subjective. Instead, I'd list your top transferable skills (i.e. project management) and the # of years of experience you have for each one. This skill summary should replace the professional attributes section - which is also too subjective. Saying you are 'detailed-oriented' or 'results-oriented' is your opinion of yourself, not a quantifiable fact. So, it's better to let the facts speak for themselves by listing accomplishments in number terms. For example, I like the 'selected career achievements' section, BUT the bullets should each contain a statistic or figure that proves your success. Only the first bullet point is a truly quantifiable accomplishment. Finally, I like the way you offer a 'Challenge, Action & Result' section under your past employers. I also like that you list all the training you completed, although listing it in a cloud format like that can be hard to read. I'd suggest you put them in columns instead to make it easier on the eyes. Cover Letter: The opening paragraph should be removed and replaced with something that talks about the employer. Tell them specifically what you love about their business model or their clientele and back it up with a story of how you've come to appreciate what they do/offer. This will help you segway more clearly to the next paragraph where you discuss your accomplishments. Otherwise, I think it's a good letter! I hope this helps! Best wishes in your job search. You certainly have the skills! Fellow experts...got any additional advice for Mark? Please post your thoughts below.
Featured