Moving Up the Ladder in a Major Corporation

Refreshed resumé opens up new opportunities

Research shows that large companies tend to hire and promote from within up to 50% of the time and prefer hiring internal candidates for promotions due to retention and productivity. But competition for these roles is fierce and it is common to find a large pool of internal applicants for any given key leadership role. Our client from a large telecommunications company is a high-performing individual contributor with five-years tenure and a track record of positive contributions to various projects. When he approached us, he had already applied to two leadership positions and didn’t get an interview. Knowing that his reputation and performance results were good, he started to question his resumé.

The first review

Our review of the resumé turned up a few initial insights and concerns. What we noticed first was the resumé’s length of four pages. This is a common mistake; people err on the side of completeness and write exhaustively about experience and education, often including unnecessary details. We also noticed the voice and tone, passive language which did not convey confidence in his abilities and contributions. Leaders must be able to convey confidence in both written and verbal communication; a lack of confidence in the resumé can be an immediate red flag. Lastly, we took note of the absence of any content pointing toward leadership capabilities.

Yes, a resumé should convey your experience and contributions, but written and indicated in a manner that guides hiring managers to the conclusion that you are the best fit for the job. As a guide for evaluating resumé quality in our clients, we use our four tiered resumé matrix.

Best Resumé (great content, great presentation)

• Resume is filled with relevant content

• Features specific achievements, measurable results and tailored experiences for target positions /job descriptions

• Visually appealing with a clean layout, consistent formatting, appropriate use of fonts and colors

• Well organized and easy to read

• Optimized for ATS

Good Resumé (great content, poor presentation)

Average Resumé (poor content, great presentation)

Poor Resumé (poor content, poor presentation)

Drafting and Finalizing

After reviewing the resumé, we had an initial discussion about the positions he wanted to apply for. There were two open manager positions for which he felt he could compete.

First, we developed the strategy for the new resumé. We would highlight leadership qualities and readiness, reframe accomplishments to be measurable and specific, tone and voice that demonstrates responsibility for actions. Additionally, we considered the specifics of the application process for his company including submission guidelines and any other expectations. We then began the writing process:

1. Structured outline and content arrangement

2. Elimination of inconsistent and irrelevant content

3. Editing and proofing

4. Sent to client for review

5. Clarifications and adjustments

   
   

Results

With a newly revamped resumé under his belt, our client set off applying for two management positions. One of the two resulted in a callback for an interview and thanks to his new toolkit, the client is now in his second year of leadership in that position.