The following post was written by Jenny Treanor, career advisor and job search expert with LiveCareer providing consultation for staffing firms, hiring managers and job seekers for hiredMYway.com. Read her bio after the post.
A few of your friends are looking for work, just like you, and all of you seem to be going through the same ups and downs as you edit your resumes and scan job boards for open positions.
But there’s one word that your friends use in conversation far more often than you do: Interview. It seems like your peers are scheduling and attending interviews at least once a week, and they’re constantly talking about how they aced this interview or fumbled that one. Meanwhile, you’ve been called in for one interview in the past two months.
What’s going on? Are you doing something wrong? Try these tips to increase your odds of catching employers’ attention.
1. First, fire your resume. Your resume is like an agent, and it’s your resume’s job to sign you up for auditions and wrangle opportunities on your behalf. If these opportunities aren’t taking shape, it’s because your resume isn’t working hard enough. It’s just going through the motions. Take a fresh look at your entire document. Stop searching for typos and dotting I’s…It’s time for a complete tear down.
2. As you rebuild your resume from the ground up, look at it through an employer’s eyes. Would you hire this person? If the Summary section is full of empty buzzwords and the Work History is just a laundry list of basic job requirements, you probably wouldn’t get excited about this candidate. You might not even remember him as you move to the next resume in the stack.
3. Delete meaningless, generic self-descriptions. Don’t call yourself a “highly motivated change-driver” or a “results-oriented success addict.” Focus on specific accomplishments that apply to you and you alone.
4. Now tune into the rhythm and register of your language. Writing is an art form, and if your sentences are smooth, your resume and cover letter will sound articulate, intelligent, and confident. If they aren’t, some employers may give you the benefit of the doubt, but most will just move on. If writing doesn’t come naturally to you, get help from a professional editor. Meanwhile, go online to study examples of great resumes. As you read through these examples, think about how each sentence flows into the next and how quickly the writer gets to the point.
5. Get busy. Employers don’t like to be overwhelmed with generic resumes that were obviously sent out in a mass mailing, so tailor your application at least a little for each job you pursue, but don’t spend hours on each one. Do some quick research on the company, make sure you hold the minimum requirements for the job, tweak your resume and letter so they fit the position, and send. Then move on. Spend more time on the jobs you care about the most, but don’t sink hours or days into a single application. This isn’t a wise or practical use of your time, and responsible employers know this.
6. Stay in control of every move you make, but move fast. Apply for jobs you are serious about and qualified for, and when you aren’t applying, be networking. Get on the phone, make lunch appointments with mentors, and stay in constant motion. When you’re in front of a screen, you should be looking for work. If you’re not applying for jobs, get away from the screen for some face-time with people who can help you.
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