In my conversations with clients I hear a lot of "I've applied for so many jobs but I have yet to get a call for an interview," or "I'm confident I can sell myself, if I can just get an interview."
The truth is a lot of people have felt the sting of being overlooked for jobs and I can tell you from experience that it really does hurt. Yet what I have learned is that no matter how many times they feel that ouch, most people keep committing the same mistake; submitting a résumé that does not market their skills and accomplishments against the needs of an employer.
Now don't get me wrong, there are a number of reasons why you may have been overlooked for positions, and some of those reasons you will never know. What I will say is that a résumé that is targeted to your intended position and incorporates visual appeal increases your chances of catching an employer’s attention and landing you an opportunity to meet with them for an interview. The following are a few common mistakes people make when submitting their résumé to potential employers.
1. Applicant tracking systems
As an applicant, you must first realize that a number of employers are depending on some sort of computerized system to sort through the countless résumés they may receive in reply to an open position. These systems are more commonly known as applicant tracking systems and they screen application documents for keywords in order to identify applicants who closely match the requirements of a position. If your résumé does not include keywords for the position you are seeking, then it is likely that a live person will never review it.
2. Sea of sameness
Here is something to think about, if you had a choice between two items that looked identical on first site and both could accomplish the same job, which would you choose? Some people might play Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe. Some might choose the first item they saw, and a few might try to find some different characteristics between the two. The truth is the decision is left to chance and that is the predicament you face when your résumé looks like everyone else's.
Most résumés follow a basic reverse chronological outline with block style formatting and no pizzazz whatsoever (click for an example). An employer shifting through résumés will skim over the document about 15 seconds before deciding whether to place your résumé in the trash pile, maybe stack, or yes group. As an applicant in a world of fast-paced visually stimulating media, your résumé must strategically incorporate formatting and design elements to help you stand out from the crowd.
3. Tradition is not working
I hear a number of clients say that they have been taught to stick with traditional guidelines when writing a résumé. Usually this means a one or two page résumé with a laundry list of job duties on white paper with black letters. I'm here to tell you, if tradition is not working and you are missing out on job after job, then it is time for a change.
If you do not feel comfortable incorporating color, using graphics, changing your résumé format, or drafting hard hitting marketing statements, then by all means consult a professional résumé writer. Think of it as an investment in your career that will pay for itself once you land that new job. If that's not enough to motivate you, keep in mind that someone out there got over that discomfort and they are now interviewing for your job.
Click for examples of marketable résumés by gM.
The truth is a lot of people have felt the sting of being overlooked for jobs and I can tell you from experience that it really does hurt. Yet what I have learned is that no matter how many times they feel that ouch, most people keep committing the same mistake; submitting a résumé that does not market their skills and accomplishments against the needs of an employer.
Now don't get me wrong, there are a number of reasons why you may have been overlooked for positions, and some of those reasons you will never know. What I will say is that a résumé that is targeted to your intended position and incorporates visual appeal increases your chances of catching an employer’s attention and landing you an opportunity to meet with them for an interview. The following are a few common mistakes people make when submitting their résumé to potential employers.
1. Applicant tracking systems
As an applicant, you must first realize that a number of employers are depending on some sort of computerized system to sort through the countless résumés they may receive in reply to an open position. These systems are more commonly known as applicant tracking systems and they screen application documents for keywords in order to identify applicants who closely match the requirements of a position. If your résumé does not include keywords for the position you are seeking, then it is likely that a live person will never review it.
2. Sea of sameness
Here is something to think about, if you had a choice between two items that looked identical on first site and both could accomplish the same job, which would you choose? Some people might play Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe. Some might choose the first item they saw, and a few might try to find some different characteristics between the two. The truth is the decision is left to chance and that is the predicament you face when your résumé looks like everyone else's.
Most résumés follow a basic reverse chronological outline with block style formatting and no pizzazz whatsoever (click for an example). An employer shifting through résumés will skim over the document about 15 seconds before deciding whether to place your résumé in the trash pile, maybe stack, or yes group. As an applicant in a world of fast-paced visually stimulating media, your résumé must strategically incorporate formatting and design elements to help you stand out from the crowd.
3. Tradition is not working
I hear a number of clients say that they have been taught to stick with traditional guidelines when writing a résumé. Usually this means a one or two page résumé with a laundry list of job duties on white paper with black letters. I'm here to tell you, if tradition is not working and you are missing out on job after job, then it is time for a change.
If you do not feel comfortable incorporating color, using graphics, changing your résumé format, or drafting hard hitting marketing statements, then by all means consult a professional résumé writer. Think of it as an investment in your career that will pay for itself once you land that new job. If that's not enough to motivate you, keep in mind that someone out there got over that discomfort and they are now interviewing for your job.
Click for examples of marketable résumés by gM.
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