Job Descriptions and Your Security Resume - Your Golden Tickets

In the end, YOU want work.....

As someone that reviews a lot of Candidate resumes, I see a glaring pattern related to "job descriptions".

As in...no one seems to read them!

If I can offer some advice here: never apply for a job or position without having thoroughly read the job description.
You may not realize this, but from the recruiter's point of view, that document, and that description are critically important. In fact, that document is the road map they will follow when screening for the role.

The job description is written by the hiring manager and reviewed/approved by the corporate recruiter who generally works under the HR Department.  This is the document that they are trying to match candidates to.

So it would make sense to ensure your resume/CV  matches the actual job description with a lot of the same "buzz words".  If the job description is clearly looking for a Security Specialist, then why would they hire a SWAT Sniper with 25 tactical schools listed at the TOP of his resume?

Take the time to customize your information to make it easy for them to see why you are a great fit for their role. Don't make them have to connect the dots, and figure out how to fit you into their role. Make sure you present yourself as a candidate custom-made for the role they advertised.

Missing the opportunity to customize your resume for a job is a common mistake. I've seen this from really great people that I had previously worked with, and knew well. These were  people who I personally had experience with, and knew that they had what it took to do the job. However, after reviewing their resumes as a courtesy, I was shocked to see that their resumes did not reflect their true experience, definitely would not get past the recruiter, and did not even really fit the job description.

I felt like telling some of them,  "HEY! , we aren't building a "Sniper Unit" or conducting SWAT operations with dynamic entries and flash bangs".

Think of the person, (likely a corporate recruiter who is also filling accounting, graphic design or marketing positions), and what they are going to do with all of the military and LE jargon you throw at them...Do you think that all of those missions and training are going to make sense or mean anything to them? No, they will not.

Not that these skills are not good skills;  but what job are you really applying for? If you are looking for employment with a Fortune 500 company, or a high net worth family, do you really think they want to know about all your cool certifications? Or would you consider instead focusing on some of your great driving training, or high risk threat assessment, skills that they are actually looking for?

Pick and choose what you highlight on your resume based on the role. Don't assume because you have knocked in doors and blown things up that all that jargon is going to mean anything but Greek to a corporate recruiter.

And,  just like in financial investing you want to be DIVERSIFIED.  Your Resume is a small 'White Paper' about you, and should not be a conflicting document with all kinds of crazy jargon. That does not mean your experiences with all of those things is not valuable and relevant. They are relevant. But, there are better ways to showcase that experience, and I will focus on ways to do that in a later post.

If you are able to get your resume in front of a corporate recruiter, or the hiring manager themselves, count yourself very lucky. Most people do not even get the opportunity described in the above paragraphs, so make it count.  I'm not trying to be condescending, but I hate to see people waste an opportunity.  Resumes do not have to read like everyone has a PhD in English, they just need to match the intended job,  and be clearly written.

Focus on the position description's requirements, and leave the last 15 years of training and certs off.  Recruiters will assume that if you were in the Military Special Ops Group or Law Enforcement, your prerequisite/relevant training is a given.  If  you get the opportunity to speak to someone or interview, and are asked about it,  you can touch on the specifics.

Your resume/CV should read as a confident description of you, and not a self bloviating  'I am so great' document. Again, look for some future OPStructure blogs on this, as there are ways to showcase your experience that will make you proud, AND serve the needs of the position you are applying for.

Have an industry professional that is current with the latest hiring practices and profiles review your resume/CV, as hiring requirements do change over time. It's worth it to invest some money into marketing yourself as a candidate. Get some help, and think of any investment in career assistance like buying insurance or the cost of maybe ONE to TWO days work.  Its worth the investment into YOURSELF, as the more polished you come across, the better your chances for employment.

At OPStructure, we want you to present the best version of yourself to prospective employers, and we want each interaction you have with a recruiter to help move your career forward!

For OPStructure resources that can help you with your Security-industry resume, visit our website at OPStructure Resume Review

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