| How to Position Yourself Favorably | | | | people, indiscriminately. That type of resume doesn't |
| In any career transition, whether returning after | | | | work as it portrays you as a generic, unremarkable |
| maternity leave, or transitioning from an | | | | candidate with no character. You can develop your |
| administrative role to a management position, | | | | character in a number of ways, including using an |
| positioning is crucial. Your resume must demonstrate | | | | accomplishment based resume, and here's another |
| that you have what the position needs, and that you | | | | idea: why not include a quote from yourself? Make it |
| will provide the employer with a good return on his or | | | | a sort of "philosophy of work" or "when I am at my |
| her investment. A few simple steps will work | | | | best." Our Office Manager developed a statement |
| wonders in positioning you as a suitable candidate. | | | | that addressed the main areas of responsibility. The |
| Let's work with an Office Manager who is heading | | | | employer got a real sense of her, of her work ethic, |
| back to work after a few years off. | | | | of what he or she could expect from her, and |
| Give Yourself a Headline | | | | couldn't wait to meet this candidate! |
| Since you've done this job before, you can certainly | | | | "I am most effective in overseeing the |
| assign yourself a headline. Recruiters have actually | | | | interconnection of the many facets of an office: |
| asked for such a headline at the top of the resume | | | | - managing staff and dealing with the day-to-day |
| (in place of that passé Objective Statement). | | | | conflicts and circumstances; |
| This way they are assured, in case there are several | | | | - administering office output and reassigning and |
| openings, that your resume is in the right pile. A | | | | juggling tasks as priorities demand; |
| headline also works in your favour as a subliminal | | | | - and I truly excel in project managing events-from |
| message that you are indeed an Office Manager. And | | | | the cyclical committee meetings to complex, off-site |
| why not take it a step further? Spell out what you | | | | conventions. |
| have contributed in the past with a tag-line. In this | | | | I thrive on ensuring that every tiny detail is attended |
| case, our mom proves in her resume's content that | | | | to, checked off, and double-checked; the events I |
| she contributed to operational excellence and that | | | | arrange are executed flawlessly." |
| her performance, and that of her staff, was "top | | | | Finally, use your cover letter to truly convey a sense |
| notch." | | | | of who you are and why you should be interviewed. |
| OFFICE MANAGER | | | | Research the company to gain a little insight into the |
| Operational Excellence | | | | employee culture, the mission statement and |
| Peak Performance | | | | vision-whatever is available. And then insert some |
| Not convinced that you should delete your Objective | | | | reference to what compelled you to apply. Perhaps |
| Statement in favour of the headline? Here are two | | | | because the company's vision of customer service |
| more reasons: the objective statement is all about | | | | matches yours, or its corporate responsibility |
| you, whereas the entire resume must be all about | | | | resonates with your own life. As proof, add a story |
| how your skills, education and experience can benefit | | | | about your customer service skills ("My co-workers |
| the employer, and the headline is easy to scan in a | | | | always call me when facing a difficult customer as |
| milli-second, whereas the objective statement takes | | | | they know that I will calm that customer down and |
| far longer to read (and is quite boring), and almost | | | | find a win-win solution."), or about your own sense of |
| never contains the actual position title. Do yourself a | | | | responsibility ("It was heartening to see that ABC |
| favour: delete that objective statement and give | | | | Company supports our local food bank; I have |
| yourself a headline. | | | | volunteered for the food bank in the past and know |
| It's All in the Details | | | | how essential it is for our community's well-being.") |
| Make sure that you convey your hard skills. These | | | | Here's how our Office Manager wrapped up her |
| are the tangible skills that you developed before | | | | package with a great cover letter: |
| leaving the workforce, and can also include any new | | | | " To be a successful Office Manager requires the |
| skills gained through schooling or volunteer work. Here | | | | agility to move between roles that address people |
| is a listing that our Office Manager might use: | | | | and processes. Experience has shown that I have a |
| Key Competencies: | | | | natural ability to listen to people and address their |
| - Administrative functions | | | | concerns, to improve processes, and to project |
| - Staff recruitment | | | | manage events. Noting that my experience and skills |
| - Committee administration | | | | closely match your needs, I have enclosed my |
| - Conference planning | | | | resume for the position of (insert position). |
| - Staff training | | | | At my most recent position, as Executive Assistant |
| - Training administration | | | | to the President of an ultra-demanding Toronto |
| - Corporate liaison | | | | brokerage firm, my value was recognized with a |
| - Staff management | | | | regular and substantial bonus, by accommodating, at |
| - Branch office management | | | | the President's request, a part-time work schedule |
| - Scheduling | | | | while on mat leave, and with recognition for |
| - Setting priorities | | | | flawlessly executed company conferences. After my |
| - Correspondence management | | | | permanent departure (due to the long commute |
| Technical Competencies: Microsoft Office (Word, | | | | between Small Town and Toronto), the President |
| Excel, PowerPoint); Email and Internet; Blackberry | | | | admitted that I had established a precedent of |
| It's All About Strategy | | | | excellence, and he had some difficulties finding a |
| Rather than jumping right into the work history, why | | | | suitable replacement. |
| not further establish your credibility as an Office | | | | I bring your attention to these details, only in an |
| Manager? Our candidate developed a section full of | | | | effort to convey the quality of work that you can |
| great accomplishments, titled Indicators of | | | | expect from me. I am at my best when I must |
| Effectiveness and Initiative, that clearly spells out her | | | | juggle several projects, when attention to detail is |
| usefulness. This section could be titled many ways, | | | | paramount, and when a hard-working, but pleasant |
| for example, Accomplishments of Note, Key | | | | office environment is expected. |
| Initiatives, Top 10 Accomplishments-use your | | | | Ending an extended leave, during which time I have |
| imagination, be authentic to who you are and to your | | | | immersed myself in my youngsters' lives, I certainly |
| experience. Catch the recruiter's attention and sell | | | | have not been idle! A high-energy person, I volunteer |
| yourself as a truly qualified candidate. | | | | as a member of the Small Town Public School |
| Indicators of Effectiveness and Initiative | | | | Council, and of the Small Town Skating Club Board. |
| - Named "Sales Assistant of the Year" at the | | | | On my initiative I organized the first "gala" Grade 8 |
| Toronto branch-ABC Company. | | | | graduation, a tasteful, but special event, which I |
| - Held successful roles including Branch Administrator | | | | negotiated, planned, decorated and organized. And as |
| and Executive Assistant to President. | | | | a member of a team of four organizers, the Skating |
| - Planned and organized bi-annual corporate | | | | Club held its first ever fundraiser, that raised $6K in |
| conference, executed flawlessly for 150 participants. | | | | one evening. I also contribute to the Club's annual |
| - Administered schedule of vacation, maternity, and | | | | recitals, an event that requires costume sourcing and |
| other leaves, for office staff of 14. | | | | fittings, program printing, coordinating rehearsal |
| - Delivered "Effective Utilization of the Sales | | | | night-for an event that sees up to 700 attendees. |
| Assistant" presentation to 200 financial consultants. | | | | Ready to return to full time employment, I would |
| - Earned all and substantial quarterly bonuses and | | | | love to present my strengths, abilities to |
| annual increases-ABC Company. | | | | communicate, and more examples of planning, |
| - Volunteer as Board Member, Small Town Skating | | | | organizing, and managing office staff activities, as well |
| Club, contributing to annual events and fundraising. | | | | as small and large events. I am available for an |
| - Volunteer at children's school, with reading program, | | | | interview, and invite your call to arrange a suitable |
| and as organizer of Grade 8 graduation. | | | | time. Thank you for the consideration." |
| Another key to strategy is using an accomplishment | | | | Although she didn't have a company in mind, her |
| based resume. This is a topic unto its own, and there | | | | character and value certainly shine through. |
| is plenty of information available on this topic. Take | | | | Here's a final thought: don't allow perceived obstacles |
| the time to research developing accomplishment | | | | to stop you from making every effort to position |
| statements; it is crucial. (See the No Job Jitters | | | | yourself for success. Resumes and cover letters are |
| articles "Write Your Resume without Bragging or | | | | an investment in your future earnings and workplace |
| Boring," "Keep an Accomplishment Journal," and "Are | | | | happiness. Don't skimp on the effort you put into |
| You a Generic or Brand Name?" for more insight into | | | | these two vital self-marketing documents. |
| positioning yourself with strategy.) | | | | Copyright©2008 New Leaf Resumes. Feel free |
| Develop Your Character | | | | to reprint this article, but please provide the author |
| Most resumes are devoid of character. In fact, most | | | | with full credit, and include the preceding paragraph. |
| could be used by any number of like-employed | | | | |