Articles

RSS

This is the first article of a new column that will discuss careers in the medical device manufacturing industry. Twice each month, executive recruiter Todd Moore will offer suggestions on how to shape your career and find your next job.

By Todd Moore

Most people know that their resume is important in finding that next job, but an unfortunate number of people assume that what their resume lacks they'll make up on the interview. These people are commonly referred to as "unemployed." While your background may be critical, the fact of the matter is that you probably won't get the chance to dazzle your recruiter or prospective employer without first impressing them with your resume. In reviewing your resume, stack it up against some of the following critical points that will determine whether your credentials end up on the VP's desk, or in the circular file.

Your resume must be clear and error free. Most executive recruiters receive at least 25 resumes per day, as do most companies of significant size. If you've built a relationship with a good recruiter who knows your background and can get you into various companies based on his/her relationship with that company, great. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and do not assume that the person you send your resume to has the time to dissect it or even read your cover letter. If your resume is not clear and to the point, or (heaven-forbid) has a spelling error, it will not survive the cursory thirty-second glance that decides its fate. I'm still amazed at how often I have to stare at a resume and try to solve it like a puzzle, and for those of you without spell-check on your computer, "Director" only has one "e."

Do not put anything on your resume that isn't true. There is no faster way to end an interview process with a prospective employer and a relationship with your recruiter than to get caught in a lie. If you think your little white lie is hard to detect, just remember that people who review resumes and screen candidates for a living are fairly good at sniffing out the truth. If a job you're interested in is meant for you, you won't have to lie to get it.

Keep it short and simple, but don't skip the details. It's the classic catch twenty-two where you want to flaunt your talents but keep your resume concise. If you can't fit everything on one page don't be afraid to extend it to two (assuming your experience justifies it), but avoid a third page like the plague. Make sure your resume includes where you've been, how long you were there and what your title was, but don't forget to include the details of what your major accomplishments and responsibilities were at each job. Job titles at medical device companies can often be misleading or arbitrary, so make sure that the person reviewing your background can easily decipher what your job entailed and what products you worked with.

Explain any obvious red flags. If you left a company after 6 months or took a step back in your career track, explain why. Keeping in mind that you may never get a chance to explain in person why you've made the decisions you have, put a quick note on your resume to overcome what could be a show-stopping objection.

Include the date of your graduation. Putting the name of a college and what you studied on your resume without your graduation date is like saying, "I didn't graduate and I'm hoping nobody will ask", or "I graduated in 1965 and I don't want to admit it". If you didn't graduate it's misleading to have a school on your resume without clearly stating that you did not receive your diploma. If this is the case, please refer to my previous suggestion to save everyone a headache. If you graduated in '65, it's all right to admit it as long as you show on your resume what you did between 1965 and the first job you listed starting in 1982.

For your resume to receive the final stamp of approval, give it the thirty-second test. Hand your resume to someone who isn't completely familiar with what you do (a casual acquaintance, a recruiter, etc.), and ask them to look over your paperwork for thirty seconds. If they're then able to tell you what you've done in your career and what your major highlights were, your resume passes and is ready for the world to see.

About the author…
Todd Moore is a principal with ExecuMED, a national executive search firm that specializes in the medical device industry. Experienced in executive searches focused on the regional, director and VP level, Todd works with a variety of companies from pre-IPO startups to Fortune 500 firms. He can be reached at 1519 East First Avenue, Chico, CA 95926. Phone: 530-898-9019; fax: 530-898-8789; e-mail: Todd@ExecuMED.net. Or visit ExecuMED's employer spotlight on Medical Design Online.