Submitted by cwcollin on
in
Forums
I think a big strength of my resume rests in the clients that I have worked on. Without these specifically in the resume, I think it would lose impact.
Is this taboo, and if so, what are some ways to make sure I get this communicated without the use of specific names?
Use of client names within a resume ?
Depends almost entirely upon who the clients were, what you were doing for them, in what industry you were delivering it (yours, not theirs) and at what level.
Can you share that? Then I can answer.
Mark
Use of client names within a resume ?
While we're waiting... just to piggy back on this question... Specific to business process outsourcing, some clients prefer to keep the vendor-client relationship confidential. Confidentiality agreements are signed by employees of the BPO which I would imagine would cover what you write in yur Resume in the future. Instead of the actual client name you could include the industry or field the client belongs to and the type of work being done for them. For example:
American Express = credit card services for a Fortune 500 financial institution
SBC Yahoo = technical support for a broadband internet provider
In this case, what would you guys think about keeping confidentiality on paper but communicating the information verbally during an interview?
Carlo
Use of client names within a resume ?
We do HR BPO ( more specifically Benefits ). Without explicitly mentioning names....most all of the accounts I have worked on are Fortune 500. The level has varied over time, but in most instances I have been visible to the client and for the last 4 years or so have been a primary technical contact for our services.
I was thinking along the lines of stroker in terms of categorizing the companies according to size and industry and only mentioning them specifically in an interview.
Use of client names within a resume ?
Okay... NO names in the resume, and I would argue none in the interview either. (Hey, sharing a name is sharing a name. If a client wants confidentiality, they don't want "mostly" confidential behavior).
It won't matter. if you characterize it correctly, you get all the punch you need.
Mark
Use of client names within a resume ?
That characterization is precisely what I've done when consulting and pitching my team. "John just got off an engagement with a National Passenger Railroad Company implementing system X". Everyone knows who you're talking about.
Some markets don't offer that absolutely clarity (I can see banks falling into this category) but you can usually find a key word or two to make it all but transparent.
Use of client names within a resume ?
I've been following this conversation and wondering to myself, is it really about who specifically you did work for or the profile of the project and the effective delivery of results.
I would simply state the scope of the project in terms of the financial, operational and human impact and then discuss how your involvement delivered measureable, positive results. Quantifying those things will distinguish between $10 projects and $10M projects. That way you can spend less time and fewer words beating around the bush about the name on the front door and more time talking about your impact on the client.
Use of client names within a resume ?
Well... but there IS a difference. It is not just cache that comes from a big firm as a client. Their requirements are the toughest, their systems have to meet the highest standards from reliability and customer sensitivity, and the utmost in client care from the provider.
I can completely understand the desire to name names. Were it possible ethically, working for those companies ABSOLUTELY suggests a different level of skill.
Nevertheless, you can't.
Mark
Use of client names within a resume ?
Mark,
You nailed it, plus not of all of my work is project / implementation based. Much of it is an ongoing client and managing the delivery day to day. But the bigger names absolutely do demand more and come to the table with more complex problems.
I went back through and categorized the clients by size and industry. I think that not only will this allow be to give the impact but might actually help me consolidate some space ( e.g. if serving more than one F 500 client for a time period I won't have to list them both. I can just say "Managed Delivery of X for 2 Fortune 500 companies"
Use of client names within a resume ?
Bingo.
H