The Winning Buyer Resume

Those who know me well are aware I come from a background in corporate Human Resources, about 16 years give or take. Of the many roles I played as an HR exec was helping companies hire the right people for key jobs.

Not an easy task.

A key part of the hiring process is reviewing resumes (i.e., skills, experience) of qualified candidates, or those who feel they are. In my HR career I saw tens of thousands!

A good resume is a work of art, and consultants make plenty of money helping potential employees craft resumes that capture the best of their experience and grab the attention of would-be employers. While there may be other ways to get in the door for an interview, passing muster with a stand-out resume (and of course the experience behind it) is essential. Good HR people know how to screen in, or out, candidates whose resumes don’t fit the bill for the job.

Perhaps we ought to do the same for hiring buyer clients.

So what would a winning buyer resume look like?

Like any GOOD resume, you would need accurate contact information (it must be legit, otherwise how else do you get in touch?), and an objective that make sense and is realistic (who wants to hire someone who can’t decide what they want, or who wants to be the Director of ____ but has the skills and experience of an entry-level employee? Same for unrealistic buyers).

Objective: Pre-approved buyer with 20% down conventional mortgage and proof of funds for closing costs wants to purchase first home with 3 or more bedrooms for $500K to $600K in the Calavera Hills community. Willing to consider foreclosures and short sales, and will take on cosmetic work including painting, flooring, landscaping and replacing/adding appliances

You also want to see a set of skills that will contribute to success in the job, and areas of knowledge.

Skills and Knowledge: decisive, problem solver, strong verbal and written communication skills, able to meet strict deadlines, strong computer and Internet skills, works well with others, manages credit well, flexible, knowledgeable about the areas they wish to live in, able to clearly communicate wants and needs

Lastly, the prospective employee must have some specific experience gleaned from 1 or more jobs that is relevant to the position s/he is applying for. Big gaps in employment raise red flags, as do lack of detail and specific information. In this economy many seeking a new job are not currently working and that may be OK for a prospective employer, depending on time frame

That’s probably not so for a home buyer, unless they have plenty of cash, a trust fund, or a family member who is providing the funds. I don’t know of a bank that will loan money to someone who cannot verify current employment. And buyers will also have to verify either home ownership information including financials, or proof of their rental situation.

A key component in hiring is checking references to verify some of what the candidate you want to hire has said.

Can we do this with buyers? Sure.

That pre-approval letter and a conversation with their lender will help. Some pointed questions about living circumstances and related information is reassuring. Meeting buyers face-to-face before starting the process help to cement a relationship, or not, verify some information again, and so on. And a Google search can help verify that they are who they say they are and where they work. We know potential clients check us out, as they should and we should do the same.

Employees typically want to be successful in their jobs. I imagine most buyers do too!

If they have the skills, knowledge and qualifications they can be, with our help to educate, coach, counsel and assist them in solving problems.

Make sense?