Are resumes and hamburgers an unlikely metaphor? I think not. A couple weeks ago I met my friend, Martha for lunch at our local Red Robin. Martha is quite particular in her food choices which is why we always meet for lunch there. In the last four years that I have known her, she has never once ordered something other than a cheeseburger without the cheese. And apparently Red Robin happens to have the best cheeseless cheeseburger in Oklahoma. I wouldn’t know. I’m more of a California Burger or Pita Wrap kind of gal. And while we were sitting enjoying our burgers, fries, and discussing our careers and family lives, I realized the connection.
- Resumes are subjective. So are cheeseburgers, hamburgers, boca burgers, or whatever. Some hiring managers prefer an objective, others are particular about a coverletter, and some have no opinion whatsoever. I once had a hiring manager who would not interview any candidate who misspelled a state abbreviation. If you were a candidate with the right credentials but accidentally wrote Missouri’s state abbreviation as MI instead of MO, you were out of luck.
- Preferences matter. Because recruiters, hiring managers, and human resource professionals spend approximately 10-15 seconds skimming your resume, job seekers need to make a great first impression. What is extremely important is to read the job description and understand the specific instruction outlined as to how to apply. Some applications request that you list your salary expectations while others do not. These details are extremely important.
- Go bold or go home. Some hiring managers like burgers that sizzle. It is important to consider what style, format, and type of resume that is acceptable for your industry, position, or company you are applying for. For example, Jeff Nelson is a marketing director with a very creative and unusual resume. I located his resume after doing a keyword search on Google using the words, “hamburger resume.” Some companies want a little spice with colorful graphics, fonts, and formats while more conservative companies and industries prefer a more standardized format like Guy Macon’s, an electrical engineer which I found using the keyword search “my engineering resume.” Both these examples were found on the first page of the Google keyword search and illustrate how powerful resumes and keywords are when posting your resume online.
- Stay positive & focused. Not every cheeseburger can be their favorite. Not every resume appeals to every hiring manager’s tastes. Some prefer portabella mushrooms while others enjoy extra bacon. What is important is to be yourself and articulate your uniqueness and experiences through your resume. Stay inward focused but also outward and look to ways to improve your plating & presentation skills by refining your resume, coverletter, or even your interview. Because as the candidate we are so focused on ourselves we fail to see the ingredients or characteristics that attract others. Use persons with whom you trust and experts to provide you with outside opinions and guidance to help you refine your recipe.
