Your Resume Must Tell Employers What They Want to knowWhen you attempt to craft a resume, there is always the danger that you will fall in love with your own creation. While it stands to reason that you would want to produce a resume that reads well to you, your opinion doesn't count as much as a prospective employer's viewpoint.
As a result, it is vitally important that you turn out a resume that tells employers exactly what they want to know. If your resume is deficient in any way; if it fails to inform a recruiting manager where you worked, how long you worked there, what your educational background is, what skills you possess, and your general qualifications for a specific position, then your resume will quickly end up in the waste bin.
THE INTERVIEW CAN’T FIX YOUR RESUME A number of job-seekers are satisfied with producing a resume that's less than perfect because they hold out the hope that they can make up for their resume's flaws through a stellar performance during a job interview. The problem with this line of thinking is that, unless your resume is top-notch, it is unlikely that you will be selected for any interview at all. Therefore, it pays to devote time and attention to fine-tuning your resume so that it meets the needs of prospective employers.
PUT YOURSELF IN THE EMPLOYER’S PLACE In order to write an effective resume, you need to put yourself in the place of the hiring manager. The employer's eyes may be glazing over from all the resumes he or she has had to review. As a result, the employer is probably skimming through the stack looking for potential employees who fit some key criteria: the criteria being that they will perform the job effectively and efficiently; they will benefit the company; and they will be dedicated to their position.
COVER THE BASICS While it is certainly wise to make your resume as brief as you possibly can, it is critically important that you include the basic information a prospective employer wants to know. You might be surprised at the fact that a number of job-seekers forget to include their e-mail addresses or cell phone numbers-two key ways for employers to get in touch with them. Also, be sure to include your residence address, in case the employer needs it for any reason.
Your resume should include a complete job history (at least, post-college), information about skills you have that are applicable to the job you're applying for, a list of the degrees you've earned and the colleges, universities, and relevant training programs you've attended, and your references. A prospective employer wants to know what your references have to say about you-he or she doesn't want to take the time to call you and track down names and phone numbers at the last minute. The more complete the information you provide about your references, the better. Providing reference information as an addendum to your resume is a positive option.
WHY YOU’RE SPECIAL Once you've covered the basics, it's highly important that you provide the employer with information that will distinguish your candidacy from the rest of the job applicants. If your resume is overly broad in focus, it will not attract the interest of a corporate recruiter. Instead, consider narrowing your focus by including information about special skill sets you possess, leadership roles you've held, and evidence of your team-building abilities. This information, like the rest of the information on your resume, must be presented in a clear, concise manner.
PROFILE Employers are definitely interested in your key accomplishments, evidence of your professionalism and your pursuit of excellence. These achievements can be easily encapsulated in a profile section at the beginning of your resume. Recruiters can read through the profile quickly, giving them an immediate impression of your suitability for the position that's been advertised.
WHAT EMPLOYERS DON’T WANT TO KNOW It is also important to pay some attention to what employers don't want to know-or, at least, what they would prefer not to read on your resume. While each prospective employer is unique, there are certain common viewpoints that most share when it comes to resume appraisal.
In an effort to set themselves apart from the pack of other job applicants, a number of job-seekers make the mistake of making their resumes "too personal." For instance, one individual who was seeking a position in government tried to portray himself in a unique light by including the names of his three dogs. Rather than making him appear intriguing, his decision to include dog news on his resume proved to be a deal-ender.
Also, for the most part, your resume does not need to explain in detail why you left a particular position. You can leave the discussion of that for the eventual job interview. It is far better to talk about the pitfalls in your job history in person rather than to try to explain them on paper.
THE INTANGIBLES There are certain intangibles that employers want to know about you-information that you can convey in your resume. For instance, by proofreading your resume carefully and making sure that it is error-free, you are showing a prospective employer that you have a keen eye for detail. By presenting your resume in a professional, easy-to-read manner, you are demonstrating that you have excellent written communication skills. By listing your community and volunteer activities, you show an employer that you have a sense of commitment to bettering the world around you. These intangibles can often determine whether or not you are called in for an interview-or whether your resume is kept on file-never to be seen again. |
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YOUR RESUME MUST CONVEY YOUR CAREER GOALS
When drafting your resume, it is easy to fall into the habit of focusing on the past. After all, much of your resume will consist of a list of things you've done-from positions you've held to special awards you've received to degrees you've attained. A resume is, in fact, a compilation of your professional and, in some cases, personal history. Therefore, admittedly, much of your resume will have sentences and clauses that are in the past tense.
And yet, a resume should also be a forward-looking document. In other words, it should not simply indicate where you've been-it should also inform a potential employer about where you're headed. As a result, in order to craft a truly effective resume, you must be somewhat futuristic in your thinking. This means clearly articulating your career goals within the text of your resume.
DEFINE YOUR GOALS Placing your career goals on your resume can be quite a challenge if you do not have a clear idea of what those goals are. If you are in this position, you're certainly not alone. Many of us have difficulty visualizing where we would like to be five or ten years down our career path. In a number of cases, this may be the result of selling ourselves short, thinking that the highest levels of achievement in our chosen field are closed to us because we are lacking in some area-interpersonal communication, written communication, decision-making ability, or other job skills which are critically important for managers.
However, if you talk with someone who has made significant progress in his or her career, you might be surprised to learn that this individual also faced feelings of inadequacy or believed that he or she was ill prepared for the job now held. Even sons and daughters of business owners often have to start out in entry-level jobs before they master the skills and expertise needed to run a company. In other words, it would be wrong to assume that a corporate executive is inherently more talented or more intelligent than you are.
Through research-interviewing executives, reading business magazines, and talking to members of professional organizations that you belong to-you should be able to develop a clearer idea of what your career goals are. Perhaps you would like to secure a managerial position, teach at the college level, or perhaps even own your own company some day. Jot both immediate and long-term goals down on paper so you have some idea what kind of information you'd like to convey on your resume.
SHOWCASE YOUR GOALS Once you have defined your career goals, it is important that you showcase them on your resume. Of course, there are various schools of thought about how to highlight career goals most effectively. Which approach you ultimately decide to take depends on a number of factors: what your colleagues and mentors consider to be most effective; what you yourself are comfortable with; and what is the most appropriate approach for the position you're attempting to pursue.
One effective means of spotlighting your career goals is by placing them under a "Career Objective" category in your resume. This category affords you the opportunity to clearly articulate the direction in which you'd like your career path to go. If you have more than one career goal to list, it's perhaps most effective to list your goals in bullet-point format.
But there are also some other creative ways you can indicate your career goals on your resume. For instance, in the supplemental information you provide for each position you've held, you can indicate how that particular job-or the duties that came with it-helped to move you toward your career goal. As with all the other text in your resume, this information should be stated clearly and succinctly. A simple phrase can inform a prospective employer about how a position aided you in developing the skills needed for achieving your career goals.
AVOID THE TEMPTATION OF OMITTING CRITICAL INFORMATION Unfortunately, some job seekers become so focused on their career goals that they feel that they have to radically alter their resumes in order to demonstrate their dedication to their goals. Such an approach is sure to backfire because it creates a resume that is misleading. When an employer discovers that you have omitted key information, he or she may be understandably reluctant to hire you.
For instance, consider the following scenario: You've just learned about a position that is available at a highly-respected company known for its fantastic promotion policies, benefit packages, and other perks. This is exactly the type of job you'd like to have-not only because of the opportunities it presents, but also because it would help you immensely in accomplishing your long-term career goals.
You decide that a resume re-draft is absolutely essential. However, when you begin the re-writing process, you decide to give a major makeover to the "Experience" section of your resume. You eliminate every job that does not directly relate to your career goal. By "streamlining" your resume, you hope to increase your chances of securing the position you desire.
Unfortunately, things in the business world are not that simple. By omitting references to certain jobs in your resume, you are doing a disservice to your employer-and to yourself. You are making it appear as if you've been headed in the same direction throughout your career when, in fact, your career might have taken a number of twists and turns. In addition, your streamlining has resulted in the appearance of serious gaps in your work history. If a would-be employer believes that you were unemployed for long periods of time, he or she may simply place your resume in the reject pile.
BE OPEN-MINDED Recognize that your career goals can change throughout your employment. As a result, you may need to tinker with the career goals text in your resume every so often. This is not an admission of defeat-rather, it is simply an indication that, as your work experience broadens, your ultimate objectives may evolve, taking you along paths you never dreamed possible. |
Why Employers Want an Employee with a DegreeYou wake up in the morning, head to work, and find out your company is downsizing and you are being laid off. No big deal you think, you have experience, you've worked at the same company for years. You think companies will WANT to hire you. Guess what, your wrong. It's a new day and age, while you may potentially find work. It's a lot more difficult than you may think to get a job these days. Most reputable companies are looking for qualified people who also have an education.
Through the companies eyes, they see an education as a sign of dedication to a career/field. Without an education, you are liable to get up and move to a different career in a heart beat as you don't have years of education backing you up. A company knows that when you have an education you are in for the long haul.
People with an education are a commodity these days, if you don't have one, many companies won't even go beyond glancing at your resume. So what can you do, to prevent a situation like the one I've outlined above from happening? If you currently have a job, you can start working on attaining some form of education at one of the many accredited online schools. |
