The document outlines effective strategies for career coaching, emphasizing the importance of tailored resumes to secure interviews. It provides principles for crafting achievement stories, responses to selection criteria, and highlights key content to include or exclude in a resume. Additionally, it stresses the need for research and understanding of the target role and organization to stand out among applicants.

1. Barry Horne
Executive Career Coaching
T: (0425) 308 625
November 2016 E: barryjh@amnet.net.au
L: http://au.linkedin.com/in/barryhorne

2. Search Strategy
Application Principles
Resumes
Achievement Stories

3. Apply for
Advertised
Positions
Approach (e.g.
Graduate)
Recruitment
Consultants
Network to
Identify
Emerging
Opportunities
and Decision-
Makers
Directly
Approach
Qualified
Target
Companies
and People
Horne (2016)

4. All [4Cs] : Concise, Clear, Correct, Courteous
Resumes [3Rs]
• Relevance
• Recency
• Results
Letters [SWUC]
• Show Interest
• Why Me
• Unique Sales
Proposition (USP)
• Contact Me
Responses to
Selection
Criteria (STAR)
• Situation
• Task/Tactic
• Actions
• Results
Career
Solutions (2012)

5.  What is the Primary Purpose of a Resume?
 In Preparation, What Should You Focus On?
 What are Your Goals?
 What Content Should be Included?
 What Content Should be Excluded?
Horne (2016)

6.  Primary Purpose is to Secure an Interview!
 A Resume Markets You - Does Your
Resume Do YOU Justice?
 TAILOR to Target Role
 NO Magic Format/Style
 (Robot or Human) Recipient’s Goal is to Quickly
◦ SCREEN OUT Majority of Applications
◦ DEVELOP INTERVIEW Short-list
Horne (2016)

7.  Meeting Challenges/ Needs of Organisation
 Research
◦ Industry, Organisation, Role
 Information Sources
◦ Job Specifications / Criteria
◦ Nominated Contact
◦ Public Documents (e.g. Annual Report, Press Releases)
◦ Internet (Target Organisation Web Site)
◦ Target Organisation and Industry Employees
◦ Professional / Industry Associations
Horne (2016)

8.  Capturing Reader's Attention
 Demonstrating Qualifications for Target Role
 Indicating Potential to Meet Challenges / Needs of
Organisation
 Standing Out from Other Applicants!
Horne (2016)

9. • Career Objective / Profile Statement
• Key Strengths
• Qualifications / Training
Unique
Sales
Proposition
• Employer Profiles
• Key Responsibilities
(Stakeholders, People,
Operations, Financial)
• Role Accomplishments
Employment History and
Contexts
• Professional /
Student
Memberships
• Community
Engagement
• Personal Information
• Referees (if
Requested)
Background (Supportive) Information
Pyramid
Resume
Model
Horne (2016)

10.  Career Objective / Profile Statement
Snapshot Impression to Stimulate Interest
 Qualifications / Training
Relevant to Target Role
 Employment History and Contexts
Employer Profiles (Products, Services, Client / Geographic
Markets, Size)
Role (Purpose, Key Responsibilities, Skills Applied,
Achievements)
Horne (2016)

11.  Student Professional Memberships
Implies Industry Knowledge, Network of
Peers
 Community Engagement (Development
and Application of Skills)
Volunteer Roles
University Life / Leadership
Upper High School Community Contributions
 Recreational Interests
Balanced Person (Active / Passive; Team / Individual)
Horne (2016)

12. Information Likely to Result in Screening Out. In general:
 Age
 Marital Status
 Place of Birth
 Salary Expectations
 Religion
 Political Affiliations
 Health Status
 Photographs
 Referees (Unless Requested at Time of Application)
 Reasons for Leaving Past Roles
Horne (2016)

13. Isolate Key
Achievements
Reflect on 5Cs
(Complexity,
Challenge,
Change,
Chaos, Crisis)
Develop
Detailed STAR
Narratives
(Selection
Criteria
Responses/
Interview
Preparation)
Create Brief
Bullet Pointed
Achievement
Statements
(Resume)
Horne (2016)

14. Situation
When?
Where?
What?
Who (Role)?
Task/Tactic
How ?
Overarching
Approach
/Initiative Taken
Actions
How?
Logical Stages
and Phases
Results
Why (So What)?
Relate to
Business Goals
Horne (2016)
An Achievement Story with
no Results is Like a Joke
Without a Punch Line!