on NBC, Jan speaks frequently at libraries, universities, and conferences nationwide, and is quoted in the media regularly (from the New York Times and Entrepreneur to USA Today).
Since 1992, Jan has written seven books, five in the entrepreneurial field for Globe Pequot Press and two for JIST Publishing. In 2006, JIST published Executive’s Pocket Guide to ROI Resumes and Job Search (co-authored with Louise Kursmark). In 2007, One-Hour College Application Essay was published by JIST.
John Marcus, award-winning author whose books include The Resume Doctor: How to Transform a Troublesome Work History Into a Winning Resume (Harper Collins), The Resume Makeover (McGraw-Hill) and The Complete Job Interview Handbook (Harper Perennial).
Ph. 941-363-0340
Email: [email protected]
Your local library will likely have a copy of these gems for you to peruse. The Wall Street Journal’s career website hailed The Resume Makeover as, “The authoritative guide to resume writing.”
C-Level executives always ask me what type of resume format I prefer: the chronological format or the resume featuring skills and accomplishments. I prefer the chronological resume. Should you worry about whether your resume is one page, two pages, or three pages? Again PEGs are due diligence-oriented deal makers. If you need three pages to incorporate your credentials, skills, accomplishments, and experiences, then three pages it is. I favor a black and blue and white resume with blue highlighting featured metrics, sales, numbers, and data.
If you feel confident that you can produce a legitimate attention-getting resume as opposed to a Barnum & Bailey version, go ahead and create one. I suggest you consult a professional resume and cover letter veteran expert writer. I recommend, in this highly competitive job market where there are many C-Level job contenders and fewer C-Level jobs, that you make a modest investment in your next SITG career move. Bob Bronstein has more to say in support of that at the end of chapter 9.
A final suggestion regarding your missing yet desirable credentials. If you lack an MBA, I suggest you look into local MBA programs online where you can study according to your schedule and time availability. While you are seeking an SITG job with a PEG, your time will be otherwise occupied for the most part. Securing an MBA takes longer that way, but I have seen instances where my SITG C-Level candidate enters an online MBA program, say in Operations Management, and lists it in his resume as currently enrolled in an MBA Operations Management degree curriculum. That will look better than your “lonely” undergraduate degree on your resume. The PEG client who hired this manager was impressed that this VP Operations, twenty years out of college, was continuing his education part-time and staying current in his career focus. It’s not a make or break issue but could be beneficial to you in more ways than just educationally.
CHAPTER 6
FOUR EXHIBITS OF C-LEVEL HIRES FROM SKIN IN THE GAME SEARCHES
Below are the Indiana Jones Bio, resume, and cover letter exhibits of four skin in the game senior executive functions: hired CEO, CFO, VP Operations and VP Sales and Marketing.
*Read only the Indiana Jones Bio, resume, and cover letter exhibits pertaining to your own particular functional job title.
N.B. stands for Nota Bene or Note Well. All names of candidates, companies and locations have been changed for confidentiality purposes. Any similarity of fictional names used to actual names of persons, employers, and locales is purely coincidental.)
Below are the Indiana Jones Bio (IJ), resume, and cover letter exhibits of Tom Frederick, a skin in the game CEO hired as Architectural Building Products Manufacturer CEO.
Indiana JonesEarly Background
Tom Frederick was born at Altus Air Force Base, Altus, Oklahoma. When Tom’s father completed his military service, the family settled in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until the family moved to Denver, Colorado when Tom was thirteen. Tom’s father worked as a mining engineer consultant in the domestic oil and gas mining sector. His mother was a stay-at-home mother for most of his early childhood. After moving to Denver, CO, his mother went to work in the library of the local school. Both parents are currently retired.
Tom is the second of three siblings. He has an older brother who now resides in Houston, Texas, where he directs marine operations for an international engineering and construction company. His younger sister graduated from The University of Oklahoma. She resides in Tulsa, OK, where she teaches high school algebra and trigonometry.
During high school, Tom was very active and achieved a high degree of academic and athletic success. He was the valedictorian of his class and received several merit-based scholarships. Tom also lettered in football, wrestling, and track. Tom was the East High School football team captain and earned All-District honors.
Secondary Education
Tom attended The University of Texas, Austin. During the school year, he worked twenty hours a week at various jobs including tutoring in calculus and substitute teaching at a local high school. He was also a leader in the Residence Hall Association and active in intramural sports. Tom was recognized as a Distinguished Student and graduated cum laude in August 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering concentration). He was awarded membership in the Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, and Phi Eta Sigma national honor societies.
After a few years of work experience, Tom returned to school to broaden his understanding of business operations. He attended The University of Chicago. Under a graduate assistantship program, he worked thirty hours a week as a career counselor in the Business Placement Office at The University of Chicago. Tom graduated in May 1984 with a Masters of Business Administration in Finance.
Throughout Tom’s career, his professional education has been continually enhanced through attendance in numerous seminars and short courses in topics including leadership development, strategic planning, corporate development, sales and marketing, communication, lean manufacturing, recruiting, safety, and software applications.
For several years, Tom served as the Diamond APG industry representative to the Remodeling Futures Program of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. This program was based at the Kennedy School of Harvard University.
Entry Level Work and Early Work History
Transocean, Inc., Houston, TX – summers (two years)
While attending The University of Texas, Austin, Tom worked during the summers on offshore drilling rigs. He started as a roustabout and was promoted to roughneck and derrickman. Work hours were long, sometimes requiring thirty-six-hour shifts. The compensation was good, but the job was hard, dirty, and dangerous. This experience gave Tom a great appreciation for the value of a good education.
McGregor International, Inc. ($6.6 billion - revenue)Houston, TX and New Orleans, LA - 1980 to 1982Title(s): Structural Design Engineer - 1980 to 1981Field Engineer - 1981 to 1982
McGregor International is a market leader and worldwide provider of engineering, construction, and project management services to offshore oil and gas developments. Tom was hired as a Structural Design Engineer in McGregor’s Houston office. Initial projects included the design of a compressor station, flair boom tower, deck extensions, and jackets for offshore platforms. He was a lead engineer on a unique jacket replacement for a storm-damaged structure.
In 1981, Tom was selected from a pool of over twenty candidates for a one year reassignment to McGregor’s New Orleans office. In his new capacity as a Field Engineer, Tom supervised offshore construction and subsea