EVERETT — You’ve sent out dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes.
The response: heart-breaking, mind-numbing silence.
Local consultant Don Burrows hopes to change that. He’s hosting a series of free resume-writing workshops in Marysville. The next session is Thursday evening.
Burrows says these free workshops aren’t a gimmick. Instead, he’s taken the president’s message to heart.
Obama “just really inspired when he spoke about volunteerism,” he said.
Burrows decided to donate his time helping job seekers. With 35 years of experience in human resources, Burrows knows what kind of resumes prompt a second read and which ones won’t get more than a glance. It’s a skill that’s in high demand in this rocky job market.
Burrows believes job seekers are more likely to hear from potential employers if they break away from the standard resume format: reverse chronological work history.
“It’s just a new way of presenting yourself to the world,” he said.
Most recruiters or managers don’t have time to sort through several pages of resume to try to figure out what a job candidate can do, Burrows said. That’s why Burrows advocates creating an accomplishment-based resume.
“You’re leading with your most effective materials,” he said.
Burrows has job seekers write responses to several questions designed to help a person determine his or her skills and achievements.
“Then you can assess what you bring to the marketplace,” he said.
The consultant advises people to keep a running list of accomplishments. During his workshops, Burrows asks people to come up with at least seven to 10 accomplishments for their resumes.
Burrows also discourages people from sticking a generic job objective on resumes. Instead, he advises tailoring the objective to the specific position.
The former human resources manager admits his method isn’t for everyone. Many people simply aren’t willing to put in the effort, Burrows said. Others just won’t let go of the traditionally accepted resume format. Interested job seekers should keep an open mind when attending Burrows’ workshops.
“Do you want your resume to look like everyone else’s?” he said. “In today’s market conditions, you need to stand out.”
This set of workshops is free, with the exception of a $10 fee for the May 11 session. Thereafter, Burrows will offer his services privately for a fee.
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