Ask-A-Recruiter: Add-ons to the Resume

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

Last week I wrote about what recruiters are looking for in interview responses. Another area that a lot of candidates ask about is the resume. While a resume is the main way candidates market themselves, you may want to add these marketing materials to your toolkit:

Short bio. A bio should include your current position and highlights of your career. Your bio reflects your career aspirations. If you want to be perceived as an industry expert and you have worked for the top companies in your field, you want to list these specific names. If you are currently in one position but aspire to another, you want to highlight skills relevant to where you want to be. The bio is a sound bite that focuses you and the readers to your unique value proposition.

Elevator pitch. While some people associate this only with entrepreneurs trying to sell their work, an elevator pitch is useful for any type of networking interaction. You need to be able to convey who you are and what you want in a brief and engaging way. Remember to have a different pitch for situations where you have 20 or 30 seconds v. 1-2 minutes.

Portfolio. For artists, a portfolio is often more important than the resume. But a portfolio of work is useful outside of the creative arena. A business portfolio may include samples of presentations you have written, deliverables or summaries of projects you’ve completed, or a client list. My portfolio includes clips of my work for The Glass Hammer, as well as CNBC.com and others. While I am not a journalist, the published work helps establish my expertise in the career development sector.

Headshot. This is particularly useful if you speak at conferences or write for trade publications. Some organizers and editors want a picture to include with your bio or article. A professional-looking picture readily available demonstrates that you are ready for career exposure.

Caroline Ceniza-Levine is co-founder of SixFigureStart, a career coaching firm comprised exclusively of former Fortune 500 recruiters. Prior to launching SixFigureStart, Caroline recruited for Accenture, ABC, Oliver Wyman, Time Inc, and others. Caroline offers a half-hour Complimentary Coaching Consultation to individuals who are interested in experiencing coaching. To schedule a consultation, contact her at caroline@sixfigurestart.com.