When speaking with job seekers individually and during Q&A sessions in seminars and webinars the #1 question I am asked is “what can I do to improve my resume?” Since each resume is a unique marketing document the best universal advice I can offer job seekers or any aspiring resume writers for that matter is this – “When preparing a resume do so as if you are preparing for a job interview, because that is what a resume really is.”
Think about it, this is just common sense since a resume is the initial introduction of a job seeker to a perspective employer. So it stands to reason that a resume is in actuality a mini-interview without any questions being verbally asked by the employer or verbally answered by the job seeker.
You’ll notice I said the questions and answers are not verbally communicated. But indeed employers have them in mind as they screen a resume. This is why it is so important to succinctly answer them in writing throughout the resume.
This is why for me the first exercise in preparing a resume is to anticipate exactly what an employer wants to know based on my research and understanding of the responsibilities and desired qualifications of the position.
However in verbalizing the answers in a resume I find unskilled resume writers tend to dwell on the minutia of how the job seeker’s background aligns with the position. This is not what employers will dwell on during an interview, for this same reason this minutia does not prompt them to place this resume in the “contact for an interview’ pile.
Improving Any Resume - 4 Points To Consider Before You Make Your First Keystroke
1: I have said this many times over, the bottom line is people hire people not skills or qualifications. This is why it is imperative to establish a personal brand right off the bat, one that defines an individual as opposed to the employer viewing the resume as belonging to just another pretty face in the crowd.
2: Tell the employers you fully understand what they’re looking for in this hire and that your can you do the job they are hiring for.
3: Show employers several concrete examples why you are the person they should interview and hire?
4: Portray to the employers that you are well suited to succeed and thrive in their culture.
Now that you know the #1 mindset in writing a resume here is the #2 mindset
Before you start writing you must know that a resume is not a static ‘One-Size-Fits-All document. So in order to hit all 4 points in every resume you send out you must be required to make minor and sometimes major customization changes in order to be the perfect position for specific positions.
Consequently it is also imperative to use a modern 21st century style and format for your resume that can be easily edited for a specific job, and in some cases it pays to begin your job search by having two resumes, or one resume and a bio or professional dossier for different uses.
About Perry Newman:
Perry Newman CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized career services professional – an executive resume writer and career transition coach, certified social media strategist, AIPC certified recruiter, and an original member of the Career Rocketeer team.
Perry is passionate about all things related to career management and is dedicated to helping people get hired and back to work ASAP in today’s marketplace where the average job search lasts 285 days.
As a resume writer he understands how a resume is perceived and therefore how it should be written. He is best known for choosing the perfect style and format to make a candidate standout in a crowd and identifying their key selling points and artfully integrating them into their resume, bio and dossier.
As a coach and social media strategist he helps individuals including CXO’s, professionals and career changers in all fields to understand and master the job search process form A to Z. He coaches and mentors them on relevant topics such as understanding the role of social media in a job search, developing and using a network to get known and generate interviews, how and where to submit a resume and cover letter, as well as how to interview for a job, and evaluate and negotiate a job offer.
As a recruiter he has long standing contacts with employers and other recruiters in numerous fields can introduce you to decision makers seeking top talent in the continental USA.
For a no cost/no obligation critique of your resume and Linked-In page you are invited to email your resume to perry@perrynewman.com
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