Blog Post: Winning resume tips for telecommuter jobs

Jennifer Anthony had a story (certainly not an article as suggested) “Winning Resumes tips for telecommuter jobs” posted on CareerBuilder.com in June 2006 and was again today May 29, 2008. Her first statement declares that the telecommute resume “really needs to stand out”. OK, I’m thinking “yea, and what resume, doesn’t need to stand out?” Thanks, Jennifer. One good point she makes is that it must be easily read. I don’t care how many “experts” you speak with, and they come by the thousands, they’ll give you rules of resumes…THERE ARE NO RULES FOR RESUMES!!! The only rules for a resume, if you even choose to use one, is that it must be read to be effective, and it must be impeccable. And by that, I mean that there should be no typos and it must be honest.

Another point of Ms. Anthony, “Telecommute resumes are highly scrutinized”, Really?, by whom or what? That is what I would like to know. Online resumes are typically scanned for key words either mechanically or by an assistant. Jennifer goes on to suggest that you will be competing with people all over the country, sorry Jennifer, that is laughable at best. Ms. Anthony please read a little known book, it was only a best seller for quite a while: The World Is Flat - Brief History Of The Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman. If you do not have the time to read, it is also available in audio. WE DO NOT COMPETE WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND OUR GREAT COUNTRY, WE COMPETE WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!! Sorry…I guess Ms. Anthony has never called a customer service number.

Alright, so maybe I have gone a little over board on Ms. Anthony. Please no offense intended, I just believe that if your purpose is to assist others, than do so.

Be prepared. Do your homework. Understand the company you are targeting, what service they are providing, and what value you possess for them. Your cover letter, could very well be much more effective than your resume, but both should be tailored to the specific person, company and position you for which you are applying. If using the internet to respond to postings, you are playing a lottery. And if, your letter and resume are read, the reader is going to know whether or not you have done your homework, that you are prepared. Why? Because, at least 95% of all applicants, at all levels, are not prepared so…the ones that are prepared, stand out! Oh my gosh, did I just say “stand out”…..”oh what a feeling.”

Steve Krohn

TTG Consultants

WWW.ttgconsultants.com