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Resume Remedies...Getting Doors to Open
"I’ve been out of work for six months and I just don’t understand
why I just never seem to be able to get an interview. I know the market’s
tough but I’m qualified."
The above quote has been transmitted to me by email by a Director of
Information Management, Controller, Marketing Manager, Account Executive,
Office Manager, Production Supervisor, Claims Manager, IT Consultant,
Project Manager, Operations Manager, Director of Logistics, Retail Store
Manager, Restaurant Regional Director and Purchasing Manager. In all
cases, the candidates were highly qualified, but they all had one thing in
common...They were outperformed before they ever got in the door. Many
ask,
"What is the big deal with resumes? Why can’t you just write down
what you did on your jobs and hit enter? I’m either qualified or I’m
not!"
Millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of job offers have been
lost because candidates were unaware that they were in the midst of a
major competition. Long gone are the days when one merely had to qualify
to get the job or out-rank all others as the best candidate. To succeed
today a candidate must outperform. Job search is comprised of three
components, search tools, distribution methods and presentation
strategies. Search tools include résumés, e-resumes, cover letters,
portfolios, and all other filings that serve to make a lasting impression.
Distribution methods include the system by which search tools are
distributed. Presentation strategies focus on the art of power
interviewing. While the successful candidate learns to maximize all
aspects of the job search, no distribution method will prove successful
with an inferior resume and no power interviewing will ever occur. Here
are remedies for a weak resume.
Do not "buy" into old wives tales such as résumés can only be one or
two pages. There is no bible for how to create a résumé. Do not leave out
wonderful achievements because you information begins to spill over into
another page. Include everything important and then prioritize. Finally
revise the font and format to accommodate your information. Too many
candidates lose because they revise the information to fit the format.
State an objective not a fantasy. Employers don’t care if you want
opportunity for advancement and everyone says they want to make a
contribution. "Senior-Level Financial Executive" says it all. It provides
an identity for the candidate and also leads the reader to the next step
in the review process, substantiating whether the remainder of the résumé
can support that headline.
Explain the nature of your employer’s business, within which market
segment your employer operates, which division/department you have been
assigned. Only then will a reader understand what you do. Don’t start a
job description with a chorus of "does this...does that" and be sure to
include achievements. Remember achievements don’t have to include numbers.
They can be project-oriented occasions for improvement in which you
participated. You need not have been at the helm.
Be aware of visual résumé presentation. You wouldn’t wear an old pair
of jeans to the interview. Your print résumé should be symmetrical, have
continuity and be easy to absorb. Remember the human eye glances before
committing to read. The advertising community knows just how to attract
and keep our eyes on their ads. A study of print advertising reveals
attractive, easy to understand messages. If your résumé does not send your
message you will be outperformed.
Remember, everyone who receives a paycheck got hired. While today’s
market presents special challenges, knowledge is power and knowing how to
"play the game" makes the difference.
| Janice
Worthington is President of Worthington Career Services,
Ohio’s oldest resume preparation firm and one of the oldest in the U.S.
With 14 years of corporate recruiting experience, Worthington Career
Services opened its doors focused on applicant empowerment in 1973. She is
known for advising some of America’s highest-ranking industry leaders.
Please send Janice your questions at janice@worthingtonresumes.com
. For more information on Janice, please visit her website at
http://www.worthingtonresumes.com/!
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