Make this SMART resume and get an interview today!
Today we will cover “SMART”
- SMART basics.
- SMART resume tactics.
This is part two of a three-part series on writing a winning resume. This series begins with a short article on ATS software and ends with creating an “above the fold” resume. If terms are unfamiliar, article one will help.
1. SMART basics
SMART goals are a great way to articulate job accomplishments.
The acronym consists of five letters which stand for important goal concepts. These goals can be shared on your resume and in job interviews.
SMART goals help share a story of how you are a successful achiever and the right person for the job. These goals can also be used in your “above the fold” resume (part three of this three part series goes that concept in detail).
2. SMART resume tactics
Use the below acronym to tell a story about the kind of projects you did and the positive outcomes you obtained through each goal. Older jobs should get less attention and therefore have shorter goal stories or less of them.
S — Specific
What specifically did you accomplish at the job you had (beyond assigned job functions)? Think about this as your mission statement and the reason why you initially took that job. Consider the W’s:
- Who — Who was involved in achieving the goal (try to share this as a team effort when possible).
- What — Share details about what you (and the team) accomplished together.
- When — Job time frames help articulate your treatment of deadlines and potential pressures but you’ll get into this more specifically in the “time-bound” T-section of SMART.
- Where — If you had a deadline was it for a product that was going to be shown somewhere or a launch with a crowd? When relevant, share the location leading to why it was a big deal.
- Why — Why was this goal necessary and important? What value did it add to your company’s advancement or your own career development?
M — Measurable
Metrics can be qualitative or quantitative. This means that the work you did can be measured with the positive outcomes that were achieved (quality) or a measured statistic or goal (quantity). How you made customers feel good which caused them to buy more is an example of quality. Quantity may focus on how many units were sold. Although both are measurements for higher sales some companies like numbers and percents. You can always save the quality aspects when you are in your interview.
Milestones can also help share and measure the way you organize yourself on larger projects and how you think.
A — Achievable
How did you attain the required skills to do your job? What skills did you need or tools did you use to reach that success? Taking on extra work as practice or attending special conferences can raise your knowledge level toward achievements at work.
R — Relevant
It is important to relate your story and jobs goals back to the job you are trying to get. This means that your content must be relevant to something that mirrors the business objectives of where you want to work. (Examples are given in article three of three on “above the fold”). Two common ways to share relevant information are by:
- Sharing how you completed a project.
- Sharing how you improved your performance.
T — Time-Bound
Show that you set realistic goals and how you succeeded. Provide a target date for what was due or how you organized yourself or your team to insure you would reach the necessary deadline. If you did not reach a goal this maybe an experience worth talking about in an interview but it should not be placed in your resume.
Conclusion
SMART is a way to help you show your story through accomplishments and outcomes on a resume and in an interview. Your goal is to create and share clear and short statements that show value to your potential future employer.
This is part two of a three-part series on writing a winning resume. If you find this information easy to understand please read the related articles about successfully using ATS software in your resume and creating a resume using “above the fold” concepts.
Kristina Rudolph | www.linkedin.com/in/kcandy/
