#JobSearch : Crafting a “No Degree” Resume—Focus on Value, Metrics, Branding. No College Degree, No Problem! Great REad!
A common concern I hear from clients is, “I don’t have a degree.”
May executive job seekers got started on a formal education, then got sidetracked and never finished. It’s more common than you think. Or many just never went the route of going to college. They headed straight into the workforce after high school and worked their way up the ladder. Both scenarios are VERY common.
We can argue the merits of a formal education versus clawing your way to the top through grit and hard work. But regardless of how you achieved your corporate success, when it comes to writing a resume for a new position, those without a college degree can find it a stumbling block and a challenge to know how to present themselves professionally without it.
What is important, regardless of education, is having a strategy to present your message.
Here are a few things to consider:
💼 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚.
What departments have you built? How many people did you manage? What did you do to help the company grow? How did your contribution get them to the next level?
Also: What kind of a leader are you? What is the feedback you receive from your boss AND your team? How your team looks to you says a lot. Don’t be afraid to gather up testimonials from people who worked for you. If you built out an exceptional team, you could say something like:
“Led efforts to identify, secure, engage, and retain top-tier talent and cultivated a diversified entrepreneurial team to deliver optimal results; managed succession planning, attaining a 2% annual turnover rate across 102 employees.”
This bullet shows how this client built, grew, and led a team, ending up with very little turnover. He established a culture within the team that made it a place where people wanted to work–and they thrived.
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Article continued …
💼 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙭.
When you rose through the ranks, you increased revenue, your sales numbers skyrocketed, etc. Don’t be afraid to use numbers if you have them. Certain roles (like sales) usually end up with percentages or dollars. Don’t worry about how much or how little. Percentages and sales show your effort and growth. Like this:
“Developed a model to optimize short stay options across the residential portfolio to support a $200M regional capital project; negotiated the rental of 30 furnished apartments, expanded the model to 56 units, achieved 100% occupancy for 5 years, and subsequently transitioned the units to university housing with a 98% annual occupancy rate.”
This bullet is loaded with numbers, proves his success, and also grabs the eye. Numbers and percentages stand out, so add them where you can.
💼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙.
What are you known for? What do people go to you for? What do you specialize in? This is a very common struggle job seekers struggle with, no matter their level. And often, it comes slowly, through time and experience.
For example, when I started writing resumes, I was writing every type of resume I could get my hands on, basically to gather experience. But as time went on, I noticed more and more finance and tech clients started finding me. This built my brand as a finance and tech writer.
Having a consistent brand in these fields is what eventually led to landing the Wall Street Journal contract as their resume writing partner. They heard about me and my team and what we specialized in (at that time), and my brand is what got their attention.
Once you have an idea of what you are known for, that is something you want to lead with on your resume. Make sure it stands out and is front and center. Don’t make hiring managers or recruiters look for it, because they won’t.
💼 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨!
Are you listing your credentials or professional development? These all count in your skills section. Things like:
– Advanced training courses?
– Certifications?
– Did you write anything that became published in your area? White papers? Blog posts?
– What about presentations? Did you speak on your topic? Offer expertise in a podcast or interview?
– Lastly, any awards? If yes, list them.
There are plenty of ways to distract the reader from your lack of formal education and instead get the reader or hiring manager excited about your accomplishments and what you can bring to the role.
While college degrees are required for certain roles, many companies are simply looking for the best candidate for the job.
FSC Career Blog Author: Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.
FSC Career Blog | February 25, 2022
