Page 38 - Marky Stein - Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job-McGraw-Hill (2009)

Fearless Résumés

This process is moving toward a very worthy goal: a para-
graph that will irresistibly influence your reader to take action.
Here are 12 sample power propositions. Don’t worry if the word-
ing or the structure seems unfamiliar at first. This is “résumé talk.”
We don’t use the word I or me, and sometimes we simply use
phrases rather than what one would consider “proper” English
grammar.
All in all, it’s not the punctuation that counts—it’s the words
that represent what we know from résumé psychology to be the
very words the employer is looking for.
Once you read all of these power propositions and the addi-
tional ones from the sample résumés in Chapter 7, you’re going
to have a good feeling about expressing yourself in this way, and
the style will be far more familiar to you.

Sample Power Propositions

Power Proposition 1

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Over three years’ experience as a customer service representative
and manager serving small to medium-sized companies, special-
izing in retail sales, inventory control, and employee training.
Designed and delivered trainings for up to 20 participants while
working at Home Design Warehouse. Awarded for perfect cash
drawers over 12 times in a five-year period. Voted Customer Ser-
vice Manager of the Month in July 2006 and February 2008. A.A.
in Business Administration from Silva Valley College. Certificate
in Retail Management from University of New York extension
program. Organized, friendly, and detail-oriented.

Now, has this candidate provided the bait for the hooks that
will catch the reader’s attention and lock it there until he has fin-
ished reading the whole résumé?
Of course she has. This little paragraph, her power proposi-
tion, answers not only the minimum requirements (and preferences)
of the position that are spelled out in the job description, but
indicates even more fertile talent than is expected.

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