5 Critical Areas of Weakness With Your Resume
Posted By: Jessica Holbrook On: 1/27/2011 10:17:16 AM In: Job Seeker - Resume Each week, I critique a new resume on-air. And over the past couple of months I’ve started to notice some of what I like to call “terrible resume trends”. They’re common mistakes that everyday job seekers are making—and they have no idea that they’re making them! (How can you fix what’s wrong if you don’t even know what that is!) Well, I’m here to open your eyes and (hopefully) start getting you some interviews. Below is a list of weaknesses (the five most common) that people tend to overlook on their resumes. Each week, I critique a new resume on-air. And over the past couple of months I’ve started to notice some of what I like to call “terrible resume trends”. They’re common mistakes that everyday job seekers are making—and they have no idea that they’re making them! (How can you fix what’s wrong if you don’t even know what that is!) Well, I’m here to open your eyes and (hopefully) start getting you some interviews. Below is a list of weaknesses (the five most common) that people tend to overlook on their resumes. THE FONT You may not think the font you choose for your resume is very important, but it communicates more than you think. Use a font that’s too small, and the documents will be too hard to read—and the hiring manager won’t even invest any time in it. Use one that’s too large and you’ll seem inexperienced and juvenile. Use Times New Roman and you’ll send a subliminal message that you’re boring—a mediocre lemming—that you’re just like everyone else. Just as the outfit you wear to the interview provides a first impression for the hiring manager, so do the font and design on your resume. SUBPAR SUBTITLES Using the terms “SUMMARY”, “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE”, and “WORK HISTORY” are becoming sorely overused. Not to mention they waste space and don’t tell the hiring manager ANYTHING about what you’ve really accomplished. Instead, use very specific subtitles. At the top of your resume, instead of using the term “CAREER SUMMARY”, use your target job title. That way, every time you apply for a job, it’s customized to that particular position. Do the same with “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE”. If you are in IT and work as a project manager, change the title to “PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE”. One more thing: If you’re an executive, do not use the header “PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE” on your resume. This is a HUGE mistake. You’re sending a mixed message; in one portion of the resume you’re stating you’re an executive, but in another you are stating you’re professional. Be consistent throughout the resume. POWERFUL PERSONAL BRANDING If the world realized how powerful a personally branded resume was, everybody would use one. But the majority of the population is clueless. So here’s your insider tip: GET A CLUE! Underneath that shiny new job target/title that you’ll be putting at the top of your resume, include a brief one-liner about why you’re the best (insert job title here) there is (or ever was)! Use the opportunity to briefly highlight why you’re the perfect fit for their opening. GENERIC COVER LETTERS What a waste of space and time! Do you want to bore the hiring manager? Or engage him and give him a reason to read your resume? Your cover letter should NOT be a reproduction of your resume. Spend some time researching the company to which you’re applying, find out what their needs are—then specify in the cover letter how you can help them meet their needs. It will certainly set you apart from all the other candidates. While you’re at it, don’t start your cover letter with the predictable “Please accept this … ” “In response to … ” You’re not a mainstream candidate; you don’t run WITH the crowd—you STAND OUT! So … show the hiring manager! REFUSING TO THANK How many people miss the boat on this one! Take the time to thank the hiring manager for his time and to reiterate why you are excited about (and the best fit for) the opening. I can tell you right now, most people don’t send a thank you letter. In fact, in more than 10 years of working as an HR manager and recruiter, I can count on one hand the number of thank you cards or letters I’ve received. Make your mark; be memorable, be polite, seal the deal—write and send the thank you letter. Take a more strategic approach to your job search and start thinking about what sets you apart—instead of just doing what you’ve always done—or what everyone else is doing.

Why Branding Your Resume Produces a High ROI

Posted By: Jessica Holbrook On: 2/10/2011 11:45:13 AM In: Job Seeker - Resume Learn how to brand your resume and produce a high ROI. It has been no secret in advertising and marketing for some time now that you need to know your target audience. And it really isn’t any different in a job search. You need to know who your audience is, what their needs are, and how to communicate the benefits of what you offer. Last autumn I jumped head first into a huge conversion rate optimization project. I was doing hours of research and work to figure out everything I could about Web site optimization and conversion rates. One of the most interesting points I discovered was about communicating to your audience the benefits that come with your service, product, etc., or how the person will benefit - not just selling the “features”. I was very intrigued by this notion and how applicable it is to resume development. As a job seeker, it’s so important to know your audience and to communicate to them the value and benefits an employer will receive from HIRING you. The benefits they get from hiring you are unlike hiring any other person—you are a rare commodity. I have news for you—you ARE the only person out there just like you! It’s critically important that your resume transparently articulates the BENEFITS you bring to the employer—because THEY are unlike any other. The best way to do this is by branding your entire resume with these benefits—not just a short branding statement at the top. The remainder of your resume needs to support the branding statement and precisely detail the most pertinent benefits the employer can expect upon hiring you. Constructing your resume in this manner produces a clear picture for the hiring manager and makes it an easier decision for him or her to interview you—thus securing you more interviews. You can’t afford not to brand your resume, cover letter, or any other element of your job search. Partnering with a professional resume writer can secure interviews more quickly, decrease your job search time (and frustration), and save you lots of money (from lost time being unemployed or working for a lower salary).

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Tips

 When preparing for an interview, it never hurts to have a mock interview with a friend or family member. Most employers will want you to tell them about yourself and how your experience can best serve the "needs of the company" If you have done your research your answers should always correlate with the ad t...hat describes the position and your personal experiences. Remember 

"PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT"...

 

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