mc kinsey resume workshop
DESCRIPTION
Resume WorkshopTRANSCRIPT
Working Draft Last Modified 11/12/2005 9:53:12 AM India Standard TimePrinted 11/11/2005 3:17:19 AM India Standard Time
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
Resume Workshop
November 12, 2005
This report is solely for the use of client personnel. No part of it may be circulated, quoted, or reproduced for distribution outside the client organization without prior written approval from McKinsey & Company. This material was used by McKinsey & Company during an oral presentation; it is not a complete record of the discussion.
IIT Kharagpur
AGENDA
Discussion on best-practice resume writing in general
Discussion on key elements of resume for McKinsey
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
4. Evaluate yourself
1. Plan your message
5. Review by a third party
2. Structure
3. Write
MAKING AN EFFECTIVE APPLICATION CONSISTS OF FIVE STEPS
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
Target group
YOU HAVE LESS THAN 10 SECONDS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION –PLAN YOUR MESSAGE
Content Attention
”Why do they need me?” “Show what you can!”
• Make it relevant – sell your skills
• Focus on results – not ”activities”
• Prioritize, prioritize, and prioritize
“Attract attention”
• Persuade your reader
• Make it exciting
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
STRUCTURE YOUR CV
CV
Experience
• Work and leadership experience
• Specific examples (including titles, places, dates, responsibility areas, necessary skills)
Education
• Education, date of graduation, thesis
• Prizes/distinctions, athletic feats
Personally
• Talents, interests, language skills
Emphasize the Emphasize the most important most important aspects of the aspects of the educationeducation
Experience from Experience from sports clubs, sports clubs, housing co-housing co-operatives, etc. operatives, etc. should also be should also be includedincluded
Don’t make it too Don’t make it too personalpersonal
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
6
WRITE THE CV
• Analyze the job advertisement (the company, the job, the requirements . . .)FocusFocus
Be brief and Be brief and preciseprecise
ConsistencyConsistency
Action Action termsterms
Visual Visual impactimpact
• Use bullet points to describe the your skills and results• Highlight key words
• Uniform format• Opposite chronological order in CV
• Use concrete and effective expressions, which are easy to understand
• Avoid jargon, slang and pretensions
• Overview in less than 10 seconds• Limit the extent – avoid close and abstruse writing• Use margins and space• Avoid distraction from the message
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
7
EVALUATE YOUR CV THOROUGHLY
Does the whole CV support the position applied for?ConsistencyConsistency
CatchingCatching
ConsistentConsistent
FlawlessFlawless
Would I read it myself – does it seem interesting for the reader?
Is format and words consistent in the entire document?
Has it been thoroughly proofread and checked for grammar, spelling, dates, facts, etc.
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
MAKE A THIRD PARTY READ YOUR APPLICATION
Does my CV emphasize all my skills?
Does CV emphasize my potential contributions?
• Is it easy to identify and understand my skills?
• Does it give a good impression of my skills?
• Is it easy to understand and appreciate my contributions?
• Are the skills demonstrated relevant for the job?
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS
Write only to the extent that is relevant
Remember the visual presentation
Proofread it thoroughly – also by a third party
Remember all details
AGENDA
Discussion on best-practice resume writing in general
Discussion on key elements of resume for McKinsey
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
THREE BROAD THEMES MAKE A GOOD McKINSEY RESUME
Parameters evaluated Overall impact
• Problem solving/ analytical ability
• Drive
• Personal impact and presence
• Leadership ability
• Make your resume crisp
• Organize your resume
• Articulate impact
• Does your personality come out clearly in your resume?
• Would you be distinctive in some manner as compared to your colleagues?
• Has your resume touched upon the key evaluation parameters as appropriate?
“Powering” your resume
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
WE USE FOUR KEY PARAMETERS FOR EVALUATION
Parameters evaluated
• GPA is sometimes used as a dummy measure, but is not a necessary condition for shortlisting
Description
• Problem solving/ analytical ability
• Drive
• Personal impact and presence
• Leadership ability
• Demonstrated by continuous and persistent pursuit of things you are passionate about
• Evaluated mostly in interviews – extra curricular activities give an indication
• Positions of responsibility you held and achievements therein; sometimes through work experience (if relevant)
DEL-ZXT168-20051011-(SS)(SG)
YOUR RESUME SHOULD BE CRISP, ORGANIZED AND HIGHLIGHTING IMPACT
Parameters evaluated
• Focus more on end-product and impact than activities
Description
• Make your resume crisp
• Organize your resume
• Articulate impact
• Organize into logical groups – e.g., Academics, Work experience, Extra curricular activities
• Don’t say: “Did a project on sales stimulation”
• Rather say: “Led a team of 4 people on a sales stimulation project for Product XX that yielded 5% increase in sales over 6 months