The qualifications sketch of a quality control manager might look like this:
- Ten years in quality control. Familiar with all techniques that have been developed for the electronics industry.
- Saved money and reduced rejects for three different companies.
- I work well with other department heads, particularly production, and coordinate and cooperate well with them rather than work against them.
- I've developed creative programs that really work.
- I like my work and enjoy a challenge.
- I'm always looking for a better method, technique, or system: I'm open to new ideas from others.
- I'm an excellent supervisor. I train my staff well, I listen to them, I maintain high morale, and productivity is always high.
- I'm hardworking, loyal, reliable, creative, and efficient.
QUALIFICATIONS
Strong experience in quality control gained during ten years in supervision and management. For three electronics manufacturers implemented new quality control programs which decreased rejects at each plant by at least 23%.
Develop excellent relations with all department heads and work well with production personnel.
Excellent supervisor. Consistently increase productivity of quality assurance personnel, and through effective staff training, increase their technical capabilities.
If you review the eight points the person originally wanted to cover, you'll notice that everything is included here either directly or by implication (points 5 and 8 were covered implicitly). By reading the qualifications section in the context of the entire resume, you would certainly pick up that he enjoys a challenge and that he is hardworking, loyal, reliable, creative, and efficient.
In writing qualifications sections there is a tendency to use the words 'strong' and 'excellent,' such as "Strong experience in quality control ..." and "Excellent supervisor." Both are excellent words, but try not to overuse them. You can search the thesaurus and can come to the conclusion that you just cannot find many good substitutes. You must rarely use the word good because it just isn't strong enough. You can occasionally use the word outstanding, but it can seem too strong, so use it selectively,
Other phrases can also be used to make a point. If you use "Excellent experience" in one paragraph, you could use "Broad experience," Broad background," or "Excellent background," in the next. Don't be bothered if you use the word excellent three times, but use substitutes to avoid using it excessively. Excellent is often the best word because it is not as humble as good, nor is it too strong, as outstanding sometimes seems.
You can easily start a qualifications paragraph with a short statement, such as "Excellent management experience," then you can back it up with further details. In this case the follow-up might be "Consistently obtain high productivity from employees," or "Consistently implement new techniques and procedures which increase productivity and lower costs." Another effective backup statement would be: "Proven ability to turn around projects which are behind schedule and over budget."
Whatever general statement you make should be explained or reinforced with details. This can be very effective but is not always necessary or possible, particularly if you are making a broad statement about your entire career.
Notice how effective the various back-up statements can be when they are paired with the beginning short statement:
- Excellent management experience. Consistently obtain high productivity from employees.
- Excellent management experience. Consistently implement new techniques and procedures which increase productivity and lower costs.
- Excellent management experience. Proven ability to turn around projects which are behind schedule and over budget.
- Broad banking background with strong managerial and technical expertise. Always a top producer with the ability to establish strong, long-term customer relationships.
- Strong background in trucking gained during 20 years of management experience. Recognized for ability to significantly increase market share and quickly increase profitability. At each terminal achieved one of the best on-time records in the industry.
To write effective qualifications statements study several examples. Analyze them to determine what makes them effective. When you're through writing a qualifications statement, compare what you have to some of the examples. If you're not pleased, set the resume aside for a day. You'll return to it later with a fresh perspective. Let others see it and get feedback from them. Don't use the qualifications section as filler. Include only those points which you really think will sell you. Some people just can't come up with a good qualifications section. If you fall into that category, do what you can to improve the qualifications section, but finish the resume so you can get it out to the right people. In such a case the best recommendation would be that you wrap it up with a short summary of 15-25 words without trying to make any hard-hitting statements. Here's an example.
OBJECTIVE: Programmer/Analyst
QUALIFICATIONS
Excellent background in data processing gained during eight years in programming and systems analysis.
Even though this qualifications section lacks punch, it serves a purpose. As soon as an employer sees an objective, he immediately asks himself what makes this person qualified. By seeing the word QUALIFICATIONS followed by a statement, the employer instantly assumes the person qualified and goes on to seek evidence in the education and experience sections.
You can use this way out if you have difficulty with your qualifications, but use this approach only after you've spent at least two hours working solely on qualifications. Once you've used your resume for a while, try working on qualifications again. You'll probably have some new thoughts, and it may come together after all.
