A lot of resumes have errors on them – unknown errors to job searchers seeking new careers!
A friend and I were discussing his job search. He proudly stated that he sent out over one hundred resumes. When I asked him what happened, he not so proudly stated, “nothing.”
Resumes can be powerful tools in your job search, but saturating the market with your not so well written curriculum vitae can cause you a lot of frustration and not a lot of positive results.
Remember this, your resume is a marketing tool.
It’s role? To land you the interview. That’s it.
It should not be an autobiography including all your experience or, for you recent grads, every course you ever took.
If, however, you have:
- Packed your resume with meaty accomplishments that distinguish you from the crowd.
- Targeted your resume to the market, geographical locations, employer and position you are applying for.
- A resume that engages the reader, has impact and delivers a vivid verbal portrait of what you can do for the employer
Your resume will rise to the top of the recruiter’s stack….and you will land an interview.
Unlike the employer’s employment application which is a legal document and should be treated as such, your resume is yours. You can include or exclude whatever you wish. You can cut your experience or give a little more…remember most employers today do not even consider experience over ten years old. Your resume is a snapshot of you professionally and it’s only purpose is to convince the reader that they want to meet you. If it does this, it can be one of the most valuable tools in your job search tool box. Prepare it carefully, use it wisely and it will work for you.
Has your resume opened doors for you? Does your resume sell? If you are not landing interviews, your resume may not be working for you.