Why You Shouldnt Use an Audit Resume

Why You Shouldn't Use an Audit ResumeMost people that do business outsourcing for a living are familiar with the acronym, 'Audit Resume.' That's the title of a white paper from an accountant recently published in the Cornell Review. It was a short, thoughtful treatise on the pitfalls of outsourcing audit jobs.The truth is, there is no 'audit resume' by definition, except for the one that mentions hard numbers. That's not a bad description, and many accountants love to use hard numbers as part of their resumes. The problem is that it can get pretty hard to get them listed correctly. You have to decide whether you want just the bare bones facts, or if you want a little more.Let's begin with a brief outline. The audit resume is a document that contains information about an individual. The part you're looking for is the objective. What does the individual want? Is it a clear 'I want more money'I want a better job'?An important distinction is between objectives and wishes. The person must be aware of how he wants things to change and why. At this point it's very possible that you think this is a personal wish. That's fine, but you should also realize that it's important to provide a paper trail to support it.So how should you write your objective? This depends on the nature of the task you're doing. You'll need to offer evidence of some kind. If you're making recommendations, that evidence should include supporting case studies or surveys. If you have some hard facts to back it up, then a PowerPoint presentation is sufficient.While the objective is vital, it's the individual's profile that will help you most. It helps to know what the needs are and what the skills are that make the person unique. Then you'll be able to structure your resume around the person. Avoid the obvious gaps in your resume, such as the person's first or last name.The bottom line is that this white paper was written for those in the field of accounting, specifically on why it's smart to avoid things like a 'Audit Resume' in favor of a 'Special Audit Skills Profile.' In fact, I would suggest that you omit that particular word in all circumstances. It's just that this white paper illustrates why you shouldn't use them at all.Overall, it's a good point, but you have to be careful. Your objective must be supported by enough supporting data.