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Write the Outstanding Resume!
from: John GrothMany think that creating an outstanding resume, with great content is what job hunting is all about. Here’s why that myth is wrong and why.
A resume is a marketing tool to be used in a very competitive job market.
There are many times over 150 applicants for every job opening. So someone has to read and sift through the 150+ resumes and almost as many cover letters.
If you expect someone from the prospective employer to read and study every resume and cover letter you are not being realistic. In truth they take short cuts. The resume and cover letter are scanned by an individual on the lookout for basic qualifications. If your resume doesn’t pass this initial test it will go straight to the reject pile, never to be seen again.
The big question is how can you make sure your resume will pass the first test? The answer is right in front of you-your resume layout and overall presentation. Make the resume’s presentation attractive and appealing, with short paragraphs and it will be noticed.
It isn’t that content is not important, because it is; but even more important is the way you present the content. This fact alone will give you an edge over other candidates who may be as well, or even better qualified that you.
The main fact to remember in a good resume is that “less is more.” Do you read the small print in a document? Probably not so don’t try to cram too much information into the resume. The key is to prioritize the information. Examine the job announcement. What is the first desirable qualification they are looking for?
From this first qualification write a sentence demonstrating your top achievement in this area. It should be #1 in your resume. Be sure to quantify each achievement. If you don’t have an exact number don’t put down a round number, like 10%. Try to get as close to actual as you can, for example, 9.8% reads better than 10%.
Next make sure your resume lists your transferable skills as they relate to the qualifications in the job announcement. Always remember, when drafting the resume, to ask and answer the question, “What is the employer looking for? What problem does he want solved?” Factor your answers into the drafting of the resume.
Your goal in writing the resume is to tailor the information to closely match the employers listed qualifications. So if you send out ten resumes this week each will have different content in your attempt to completely bracket the employer’s job needs. The overall layout may remain the same, but with your word processor this approach shouldn’t be too much of a burden.
Leave out the paragraph listing your personal objectives or a write-up of your life history. The prospective employer is not interested in you personally, or what you’re looking for or how your last employer ran their business. Always put yourself in the shoes of the employer. You have only seconds to make a first impression.
Make sure your resume is neat and makes the point quickly. How you accomplished something is not nearly as important as the results. Clearly indicate what you have to offer. If you’ve ever had to wade through several hundred resumes to find the 15-20 to set aside for the initial phone interview, you would realize; clear powerful language, no acronyms or jargon will vault you to the top of the stack.
Allow your resume and cover letter to stand out from the competition by its excellence and clarity. If you frame your message in this fashion, your resume will deliver the desired information, and the next step will be the job interview. Can a job offer be far behind?
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