Why Resumes Fail
I've been knocking around the business world for over 20 years now and I've seen many, many resumes. And It never ceases to amaze me how so many of them just flat out fail! Why do you think that is?
Is it because most people simply don't know how to put a resume together? Hmm, maybe. But most people never submit just one resume in their job search. So shouldn't there be some improvement from one to the next?
I think there are three main factors that work against the average job seeker when it comes to building a proper resume. Think of them as three obstacles that each of us has to overcome. Here they are.
The Time Obstacle...
We live in extremely busy times. When we're not rushing off to work, rushing home from work, rushing to soccer practice, choir practice, or piano practice, we're trying to catch up on the bills, emails, or chores. How can we carve out the time to put together that killer resume?
Well, the hard truth of it is there's no special pill you can take to create more time in your life. If you want time for something, you'll have to take it away from something else. And that's usually a painful choice. My advice would be to start small and try to do it in small increments. For instance take a little bit of your lunch hour to do something related to your resume. If you stick with it for a few days, it will get to be a (good) habit. Once you've gotten it going, look for another place you can expand it. You'll be surprised at how those little slices of time add up into achievement.
The Skill Obstacle...
Writing a good resume takes certain writing skills that aren't really learned in school. Even people with true writing talent struggle with resume writing so don't feel bad. This is one skill you have to learn by doing.
I've picked up my resume-writing skills over the last 20-some years by writing, reading, and being exposed to perhaps thousands of resumes. If you have some natural writing skill, take a shot at writing your resume...work through it...you'll get a little better with each draft. But if you can't "write your way out of a paper bag," then you need to get some help.
Get your hands on some resume templates and try to squeeze your experiences and achievements into their formats. Purchase an inexpensive resume builder to get you going. Ask an experienced friend or family member to mentor you. In other words, "reach out" for help...you'll be amazed how many people will want to give you a hand.
The Dedication Obstacle...
Writing resumes, sending them out, tracking them, and following up on them is real work! It?s a shame we don't get paid for it. Hey, wait a minute...we do get paid for it. Because if we stick with it, we get the job.
Try not to get discouraged. Finding a job is a numbers game. The more resumes you put out there, the better your chances. Get in the habit of "doing the next one." Even if you've landed an interview...especially if you've landed an interview! Keep cranking them out, getting better with each one, and one day...POW...you'll have that job offer. In fact, I'll bet that if you get into the "crank-em-out" mindset, you'll get more than one job offer.
Good luck with your job search and thanks for reading
Ed Sharp is a semi-retired independent business consultant who lives in sunny Southern California where he loves getting paid to tell Fortune 1000 managers how to do their jobs better. He is a regular contributor to several websites and is the founder of ResumeBlue.com.
|
|
 |
 |
6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume
1: Keep It ShortConsidering that initially HR personnel only spend approximately 10-20 seconds on a resume, the shorter your resume, the most desirable it is. Aim for one page.
Resume Writing Service Marketing
Marketing A Resume BusinessWhen starting a resume business, your marketing campaign is the most important aspect of your business plan. Without clients being able to find your services, you will not have orders! We suggest starting out with local advertising.
Writing a Student Resume
If you?re still in college, chances are you haven?t had the opportunity to hold down many impressive jobs in between late-night studying and late-night socializing So if you?re putting together a resume for a potential employer, you may wonder how in the world you can create something that will get you hired for that coveted internship or even a part-time job at your favorite music store
Resume Writing - Tips and Advice
Job-hunting is not the most exciting thing in the world but you can make it easier. The key is organization.
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment Success
Electronic Resume Writing Tips That Boost Your Interview Appointment SuccessBefore you write your resume in a word processor, print it, and hand out copies to prospective employers, you should consider formatting it for easy scanning and retrieval from a computer database.As you can imagine, dozens, maybe hundreds of resumes bombard employers for a position they would like filled.
Free Resume Examples: Use Them, But Dont
There are lots of free resume examples (or free resume samples) on the web.Try searching for "free resume example" at Google and take a look at the almost 5 million pages that come back (the less restrictive "resume example" gives you 7 million pages, if you've got more time on your hands).
Applying For Jobs Which Suits Your Resume
Everytime I enter the interview room and got puzzled with the question asked by an interviewer regarding my resume, due to some inappropriate stuff Thus, applying for a job with correct resume is to research on what the formal expert?s comments
Common Resume Mistakes - Results from the Palladian International 2008 Resume Benchmarking Survey
After conducting an extensive benchmarking survey of resumes, Palladian International identified several trends, including common mistakes most job seekers make.
Posting a Resume to Online Job Board
The first step to securing a position by via an Online Job Board is writing a professional resume that stands out from your peers and does not include any major gaffes. Although most candidates know this, many still do not write and post a resume that is mistake free. Here are ten top mistakes to avoid.
Professional Resume Writer Offers Overtime for Favre
Resume Writer promises pass protection for Superstar Quarterback.
YumYumjobs.com Releases the First Video Resume Database
Not just another job posting board. This one stop resource center for restaurants, night clubs, bars and hotels located at YumYumJobs.com, allows employers and managers to streamline the hiring process and allows job seekers a more efficient way of promoting themselves. This is a first mover with an industry targeted - industry specific solution that will revolutionize how restaurants, nightclubs and hotels manage the interviewing process.
Writing a Resume: To Template or Not To Template?
Are free resume templates a viable answer to preparing a
killer resume?It's a fact that if your resume doesn't stand out--both in
terms of content AND appearance-- you'll find it very
difficult to get the job you seek.Hiring managers get hundreds of resumes for every open
position, but usually have time to interview only a handful
of applicants.
Good Resume Karma for Hospitality Workers
So, you've done your turn in the trenches. You've been a busperson, head waiter, bartender, host, and what-not. After ten to twenty years, many hospitality workers, feeling burned-out at the late shifts and long hours, yearn to break into the ranks of higher management. Yet they find themselves in a kind of 'glass ceiling' situation. They can't get a recruiter to look twice at their resume, even when the qualifications are more than a match for the job.
The Art of the Resume
Step One: Targeting Your Career & Audience In order to maximize the impact of your resume for your targeted audience ? the hiring manager? you must have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish.
TalentDrive's TalentMatch Resume Sourcing Service Now Fully Automated for Small Businesses
With the Click of a Mouse, Small Businesses Can Now Build a Customized Job Description and Search Over 40,000 Online Locations for Quality Resumes.
|
 |
|
