A Remarkable Resume – Recommendations

With the advent of social networking sites, recommendations have become a more common part of our workaday world.

But when was the last time you saw them used on a resume?

I’m making a distinction here between a recommendation and a reference. To a certain degree, a recommendation helps the reader get a reference without having to make the call that a reference requires (at least of the beginning of the recruiting dance). It’s a way for the job-hunter to be proactive, assuming the recommendation has been written well. Also, there’s a tacit assumption in the use of these recommendations that these people can be called on and they will stand up for you.

Susan has listed her recommendations at the top of her resume, just beneath her Statement of Qualifications (Personally, I'm not big on Statements of Qualifications, preferring to simply state your Objective, which is the title of the job you're applying for). Choosing the top of the resume for her recommendations is very important - this is the section that has the greatest impact on the reader’s mind. You will either turn them on or off to your candidacy right here!

In looking more closely at Susan’s recommendation section, she starts it off with a great line, “What others are saying about Susan…” This is resume jiu-jitsu – she’s shifting the focus from telling her story to having others tell her story. And what’s more powerful than someone else tooting your horn?! It’s the resume equivalent of ‘I recommend that you buy this product - it's great!'.

In sum, a Recommendations section at the top of your resume can set you apart from the crowd. But not all recommendations are created equal, and that’s what we’ll explore next.