So you’ve crafted a killer private equity job resume that highlights your relevant skills and experience. Now what? You’ve done a good job at telling a prospective private equity employer that you have the ability and willingness to do the job. But what about that intangible element, that convinces an employer that you would make a good addition to their team?
The folks at Bradley CVs Ltd. recently offered a few suggestions in their blog. However, they were a bit short on specific examples, which we’ll try to fill in here.
The goal with your resume is to persuade people that they are going to like you, even before they meet you in person. Their first fear, says Bradleys, is that even if you have the skills to do the job, will you be willing to work hard and apply those skills? So add personal touches that demonstrate your ability to work hard. Can you slip in the fact that you worked 27 straight days on a particularly tough project? Are there any personal details about you that reveal your work ethic?
The next fear to address is whether or not you will be a team player. Are you able to follow instructions, accept criticism, and work toward a mutual goal? Have you been part of a team in your personal life … sports, debate, science, etc. … that placed well in a competition? What role did you play? If you played a key support role and followed instructions, explain how. If you led the team to a specific achievement, by all means say so.
Be specific. One of the big problems is that people make general, sweeping statements in their resumes, such as being a “good communicator.” Yet fail to clearly back it up with any evidence. If you claim to be a good communicator, prove it with examples of speeches given, published work, or a website you’ve created.
Reveal your values. But don’t simply list them. Again, demonstrate your personal values with evidence. For example, if entrepreneurship is something you value, make sure you back it up with membership in entrepreneurial organizations, time spent mentoring entrepreneurs or working with a start-up, or similar activities.
Finally, there’s another technique to consider, especially if you have to address any negatives in your resume. And that’s to “admit the non-fatal flaw.” This means revealing a small flaw in your background in a way that actually builds credibility for everything else you say. For example, if there’s a gap in your employment history, try to turn that into a positive by mentioning any training or personal development that you acquired during that time period.
What have you added to your resume to give it that personal touch? Add your comments below.
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