Competency-Based Resumes: How to Bring Your Resume to the Top of the Pile [Paperback]

Robin Kessler (Author), Linda A. Strasburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2005

Do you want the key to the best jobs with the best employers? It's time to play offense instead of defense. Competency-Based Resumes shows today's job candidates a new, more targeted way to write resumes to get them back on the same playing field with the best employers and improve their odds of winning the job they want. The system an employer uses when filling jobs has changed significantly in the past few years, and it is still evolving. Rather than simply looking at an applicant's past jobs, companies are instead looking at candidate's experiences in certain key areas-including measurable work habits and the personal skills, known as competencies, used to achieve objectives at work. Competency-Based Resumes offers you a new and effective way to create resumes that emphasizes the knowledge, skills, and abilities that you have and employers need. Many sophisticated U.S. and international organizations are using competency-based systems to recruit, interview, select, and promote. Corporations such as American Express, Coca-Cola, Sears, and MetLife are all looking for specific competencies.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Best nonfiction books for 2005 - Cincinnati Public Library

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Career Press; 1 edition (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156414772X
• ISBN-13: 978-1564147721
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robin Kessler is currently president of The Interview Coach, a human resources and career consulting firm in Houston, Texas. She has more than 20 years experience improving interviews, resumes, presentations, and organization communications as a human resources professional, consultant, career coach and adjunct professor. Kessler is author of Competency-Based Interviews and Competency-Based Resumes, the first books to teach people to write their resumes and prepare for interviews considering the competencies employers are looking for. She has trained managers and employees to write effective, competency-based statements on their performance reviews and to communicate about competency-based accomplishments. She has her B.A. and M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Career Development, December 12, 2004

By 

Lindsay Bruse "Lindsay S" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Competency-Based Resumes: How to Bring Your Resume to the Top of the Pile (Paperback)

As a current Career Development instructor for a propriety school, I have been searching for a book that better describes the changing environment in the job hunting process of today. Competency Based Resumes gives a thorough overview of the current corporate hiring process and teaches the reader how competency based resumes are the best way to get the interview. I have used several books on how to write resumes in my Career Development classes but have recently started ordering this book for my students. This is the most up to date comprehensive text on writing resumes for the current economy. 5 Stars!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a book that really helped me write a good resume!, December 11, 2004

By 

Lisa Farrell "Lisa" (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Competency-Based Resumes: How to Bring Your Resume to the Top of the Pile (Paperback)

I love this book because it gives before-and-after samples of real resumes. This book doesn't just talk about how to write a successful resume. It shows how by giving specific examples.

There are resumes for many types of jobs. It's easy to copy the parts that apply to my experience and there are many unique ideas. Writing a resume based on competencies - what I'm good at - makes sense. I'm in the over-50 group where competition for jobs is intense. When changing jobs over the years, I talked in interviews about things I've done well but didn't describe them in my resume. Recently, I wasn't getting interviewed. But after switching to a competency-based resume, I am now.

I was offered a high level government job using this technique. I didn't accept it because it wasn't what I wanted. Writing down what I've accomplished gave me the confidence to continue to look for a job that will be more fulfilling and give me more opportunities to help people.

This is a truly helpful book, written by people who obviously have extensive experience in helping people find jobs. I want to thank them for helping me.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource, April 27, 2006

By 

Joe Bruce (Somewhere) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Competency-Based Resumes: How to Bring Your Resume to the Top of the Pile (Paperback)

The competency based approach has been common overseas but is now becoming more common here in the U.S. Fortunately, wise recruiters realize that instead of focusing on standardized test scores, schools that folks have attended, or whether or not a candidate has ever stepped foot in China or India, it is much more important to consider what a candidate CAN ACTUALLY DO - AND DO WELL. I have been fortunate to hear Robin present her framework live and in person and I believe that she has done an excellent job assembling this valuable resource. The examples in the book are excellent and provide very clear guidance on "how to do it". Highly recommended.