Sample Resume 2 for a Chief Financial Officer - Critique
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About this Sample Resume Critique
In this sample resume critique, the certified professional resume writer at
ResumeEdge explains
the process of creating the client's "after" resume from the client's "before" resume.
So that you may easily compare them to judge the quality of
ResumeEdge's work,
both the "before" and "after"
sample resumes are linked below. They are also linked from the Sample
Resumes page.
Sample Resume Critique
Dear Paul,
Given your impressive background and your targeting a CFO position,
I chose an "executive" style format for your resume.
The executive-style format employs the Times New Roman font and
is organized for conciseness and clarity, while also retaining
an airy, uncluttered look. The resultant document is easy to read
and quite elegant in appearance.
I began the resume by centering & bolding your name, then
increased its size for emphasis. Next, I separated your contact
information, with your phone number flush left and your email flush
right, so a hiring manager could easily locate this data.
In the body of the resume, I began with the tag "Chief Financial
Officer." A hiring manager instantly and clearly sees your target.
Beneath that, I included your skill areas of "Management Development,
Strategic Planning, Financing, and Investments."
In the brief paragraph that follows, I emphasized your success
in operations management to achieve the organizational mission.
I also emphasized your communication skills, your technical proficiency,
and your membership with the AICPA.
In the bulleted section, I used noun phrases taken from the body
of your resume to further present your capabilities. Next, I listed
your Certifications & Licensure. I feel these are critical
in your job search and quite impressive.
In the following section, I listed your Professional Experience.
I began each bullet point with the strongest action verb possible,
while also rewriting the text for maximum impact.
For example, you wrote:
"Directly involved in setting up financing for turnkey manufacturing
and implementing new ways to track and improve profitability."
I rewrote this to read:
"Secured financing for turnkey manufacturing; implemented new
methods to track and improve profitability."
In another example, you wrote:
"Conducted extensive audits at subcontract locations for both
schedule and contract performance. Critical member of negotiating
team on new contract due diligence activities."
I rewrote this into two bullets to read:
"Performed comprehensive schedule & contract performance audits
at all subcontract locations."
"Functioned as point person for new contract due diligence activities
as part of the negotiating team."
You'll notice that I separated your teaching experience at Georgetown
University from the Professional Experience section. There are
two reasons for this. One, a resume should be in reverse chronological
order -- because of this, it would have been necessary to place
the teaching experience directly beneath the Electronics Edge,
Inc., job with that breaking the flow of your CFO / Director positions.
Secondly, it's your only teaching position, therefore, it fits
better in a section by itself. It doesn't break the flow of your
other financial / management experience, and it stands outs because
of this placement.
I ended your resume with the education section, rather than beginning
with it as you had. Being a seasoned professional (and not a new
graduate), a hiring manager is more interested in your performance
than your educational achievements. This is especially true as
your Master's was awarded in 1987.
The only information I left out were the references to graduating
at the top 10% of your class, putting yourself through school,
and your A.A.S. degree. Because you're a seasoned professional,
it's unnecessary to add the top 10% data or that you put yourself
through school. A hiring manager can easily see your dedication
and experience in the first paragraph of this resume. Additionally,
in the industry, only Bachelor or Master's degrees are listed.
As a rule, hiring managers aren't interested in every school you
attended, just that you did get that Bachelor's.
All decisions to modify or exclude data were in keeping with the
guidelines and standards set forth by the Professional Association
of Resume Writers (PARW).
With this resume, you now have a powerful tool that's well-organized
and aesthetically pleasing.
It was a pleasure serving you, Paul. Good luck in all your future
endeavors.
CyberEdit Editor
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
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ResumeEdge give
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