The qualifications statement can do more than any other section to create a favorable impression of you and will set the tone for the rest of the resume. It can greatly strengthen your perceived worth since employers reading your resume will constantly be asking what you can do for them. Give them positive answers in those first few seconds by creating a qualifications section which truly sells you. This section should capture the essence of what you want to sell. Any point which is not crucial should either be eliminated or considered for inclusion in your cover letter.
Studying the following examples will help you understand the function of the qualifications section. A job has been included with each qualifications example to help you see how they fit together.
Example 1:
OBJECTIVE: Marine Sales
QUALIFICATIONS
Outstanding sales record. Highly knowledgeable in all facets of sailboats, powerboats, commercial fishing vessels, and marine hardware. Strong ability to introduce new product lines to distributors, dealers, and boat builders. Top-selling rep in the country for four major marine manufacturers.
EMPLOYMENT
Bellkirk Marine, San Diego, California 6/87 to Present
MANUFACTURERS' REPRESENTATIVE - Represent 27 lines covering California, Nevada, and Arizona. Increased the number of accounts with distributors, dealers and boat builders from 35 to 96 and increased sales 85%. Since 1989 have been the top-selling rep for four major manufacturers.
Qualifications section example 1 includes a summary and an accomplishment. It starts off with a simple but bold statement: Outstanding sales record. It then goes on to describe the areas of expertise. The top accomplishment (being the top-selling representative in the country for four manufacturers) has been included twice-in qualifications and the job description. It is a valuable statement worth repeating.
Example 2:
OBJECTIVE: Grocery Store Management
QUALIFICATIONS
Strong management background. With a 21-store district, increased profits 32% and oversaw the construction of four new stores. During 17 years in management, coordinated the grand openings of 13 stores and produced some of the most profitable new stores with three different chains.
EMPLOYMENT
Fine Food Centers, Tulsa, Oklahoma 5/85 to Present
DISTRICT MANAGER 9/88 to Present. Responsible for profit and loss analysis, wage and salary administration, merchandising, store layout, advertising, and buying for 21 stores in the district. Supervised the remodeling of five stores and the construction of four stores. Developed in-house cleaning and repair services, saving $150,000 annually. Through improved merchandising and customer service, increased sales per store 28% and profits 32%.
Qualifications section example 2 begins with a bold statement: "Strong management background" and then proceeds to back it up with proof. Immediately you realize this person has been very successful and you want to know more about her. One fact comes right out of her current position (the 32% increase in profits). The second statement (concerning the success of 13 store openings) is a summary that comes from her entire management background. If this summary had not been stated so clearly in a qualifications section it might have been easily overlooked, even during a careful reading of the entire resume.
Writing Your Qualifications Section
Write your qualifications section last. It is the most difficult section to write and requires the most care. Once you have the employment section completed you will know better what needs to be included in your qualifications.
As you prepare for writing the qualifications section, review the resume and determine what points should be covered in it. Use qualifications to introduce yourself to the reader and to give an overview of why you are qualified for your stated objective. To do this, ask yourself, "Why would I be good at this occupation?" Or if you already have experience ask yourself, "What makes me successful in this field?" Re member, in qualifications it is permissible to repeat or paraphrase points made elsewhere in the resume.
If you have strong work experience, you will probably want a short qualifications section. If you are seeking to break into a new field, showcasing your qualifications is usually the best vehicle for bringing in related experiences and selling an employer on your potential.
While relatively short, the qualifications section is often the most difficult to write. Because it can strengthen the overall effectiveness of the resume, it deserves a great deal of attention and effort. An hour spent writing and editing your qualifications section is not too much. As a result, most qualifications sections we must write are one paragraph with three to five lines. If there are two distinct areas which need to be sold then we may have two paragraphs with three to five lines each. People making career changes, or those seeking positions without having the traditional background, may need three or four paragraphs to bring out all of their related experience. Even so, the emphasis should still be on conciseness and impact.
Opening with a short statement often provides impact. It surely hits the reader and often makes the person want some evidence, which you must provide in your very next sentence. You must surely need be able to verify things you say, such as "Consistently obtain high productivity from employees," either in your personal interview or in other sections of your resume.
Essence is not easy to achieve, but the impact of your resume will be significantly strengthened when you succeed. Identify those qualities and areas of experience that an employer absolutely needs to know about you-those critical points. While there may be many points you want an employer to know about you, usually only two or three are critical. Sell those effectively and the employer will feel he or she must meet you.
