Liz Benuscak, CPRW, JCTC is Executive Director of Bi-Coastal, a full service firm specializing in career marketing for Sales, Marketing and Operations Executives. A designated Expert for TheLadders.com, Benuscak has been quoted in The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune and The Miami Sun Times and has appeared on national television as Career Expert for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. A contributor to Mc Graw Hill's 101 Best Resume Series, she is distinguished among the top career experts in the US.
When you prepare using the C-A-R formula (Challenge-Action-Result) you action-pack your resume, cover letter, and interview, filling them with accomplishments designed and refined to impress your target audience.
Including these in your resume and emphasizing them in your interview will be among the most critical components of a successful job search.
To create this type of content for your resume, you need to focus on accomplishments, not attributes or strengths. We're looking for the tangible results of your work. What did you face? What did you do? Use as much quantifiable information - figures, percentages, etc., as possible.
For Example: Reached annual sales goal in five months, ultimately achieving 230% of $6 million annual quota.
For the purposes of exploring these scenarios present each accomplishment or project like so...
C-A-R Format for a Strong Accomplishment or Project
Situation: Job seeker is an IT Management Consultant skilled in process improvements and producing rapid and sustained business growth.
Challenge: The subsystem was in dire straits since it had a budget of $600K, actuals of $400K, was estimated at 20% complete, and the leader quit. The subsystem provided the communications for the entire network of 66 VAX computers. It was a critical path for the project.
Action taken: Gathered the team together, reviewed the requirements, and re-engineered the partition of subroutines (design) and assignments. Undertook the design and code for 3 CSCs out of 8.Revised the schedule, got overtime approved for all staff, and released revised delivery dates.
Importance: This system was the cornerstone for years of maintenance sales and enhancement contracts and was of enormous importance to US Air Force.
How this was presented in the resume:
- Successfully wrote 12,000 lines of assembly code for a subsystem which provided communications for an entire network of 66 VAX computers which resulted in no critical defects, and very satisfactory marks from the US Air Force allowing company to procure four years of contracts for the subsystem.
See how powerful accomplishments can be when you give the reader the challenge, action and result all in one bullet point?
Now it's your turn... develop 3-5 C-A-R stories for each of the positions you've held in the last 6 years. Develop 2 -3 stories for positions held between 6 and 10 years ago. It's not necessary to go further back unless you held positions that are more relevant to your career goals than your most recent positions.
Remember to use the format challenge, action, result as you write your stories - and quantify wherever possible!
Using Action Words
Once you've developed your stories it's time to change them into bullet points for your resume. For maximum effectiveness, it's important to start each bullet with an action verb. Remember that your resume will initially be skimmed quickly before the decision-maker determines whether to read more. Your goal is to convey a sense of action, impact and movement - if you do this, your resume will make it onto the "interesting" pile for review in more detail.
Here's an example of how much more effective bullets can be when you lead with impact and action.
The job seeker originally wrote:
- Handle transfer of copy test from paper//pencil data collection to electronic version and tested 30 advertisements in a side-by-side comparison.
This was rewritten as:
- Cut overhead costs in half by moving copy testing methodology, at the corporate level, from paper/pencil data collection to electronic version. This comprehensive project tested over 30 advertisements in a side-byside comparison.
Summary
When providing information to a potential employer it's critical that you tell not only the result of the actions, but also the initial challenge you faced and the means by which you accomplished your goals. Honing these stories into a clear, concise, and compelling message will serve you in both the resume development and interviewing process. Keep these points in mind:
- Focus on accomplishments, NOT attributes or strengths (attributes and strengths discovery belongs in the brand development stage)
- Provide tangible results of your work.
- Answer these questions: What did you FACE? What did you DO? What was the RESULT?
So go and answer the questions!