Q. What do you do for a living?
A. I’m a Web content copywriter. A writer/producer, really. I do some screenwriting. But I’m sort of a writer/print designer hybrid. I have an art gallery opening this weekend. And I know CS5 really well. Also, I’m an artist/electrician. A plumber/horse-wrangler. I can pretty much do whatever you need! Find me a job!
In the creative services industry, recruiters and hiring managers view and review hundreds of resumes each week. Some resumes are clean and coupled with bold portfolios. Other resumes are all over the place.
So, let’s get right to the point: If you’re looking for work, pick your top two areas of expertise, and stick with them. Wear them on your sleeve. In your cover letter/email, state exactly what you do best. In your resume, do the same. On a phone call, tell them exactly what you do best and NOT what you’re CAPABLE of doing well.
In delivering your message succinctly and repetitively, a recruiter will be able to know what you do and consider you (possibly hire you!) again and again – as long as your work history is solvent. If the position a hiring manager looking at is not for you this time, they’ll know it right away…But, if our conversation is good, they’ll remember you in the future.
So, when you looking for work – remember: we don’t need to know everything you’ve ever done. We need to know precisely what you’re best at doing.
Thanks,
Kevin Kahn for Artisan Creative