After recently reviewing the resume of a potential client I noticed again, common mistakes that lead to an ineffective resume. In order for your resume to do its’ job – which is to obtain interviews for you – your resume must be attention-grabbing and powerful. What makes a resume really jump out at the reader…is focus.
Each resume you send out should be targeted to match the type of position you are looking for or even the actual company that you are intending to send it to. It may seem unrealistic or impossible to target your resume for each position but it is a sure way to get noticed in today’s struggling economy.
5 Tips to Keep Your Resume Focused include:
Use actual jobs to focus your resume – Job descriptions are an invaluable source of information when developing your resume. Find several job descriptions that fit your goals and qualifications to keep you on track when developing the different parts of your resume. If unsure of what to add or leave off refer back to your job descriptions for guidance.
Include training and associations that are relevant – Some careers have taken job seekers through many different types of training. If you have an extensive list, keep it relevant by using training and associations that are relevant to the current position you have set your sights on.
Focus your experience and achievements on your new job target – I spoke with a recruiter earlier today that informed me he is receiving over 400 unsolicited resumes a week. There is no way he can review this many resumes. The ones that will catch his eye are ones that highlight experiences sought for a specific job and don’t just ramble on about every job responsibility or task ever experienced.
The same is true for the achievements you choose to use in your resume. The achievements used need to be specific, offer qualitative information, and demonstrate your usefulness or potential value to a company. Dig deep in your research and find out which of your achievements will be most valuable to your target company.
Point readers of your resume in the right direction with a focused header – With the above example of the recruiter receiving 400 resumes weekly, it is very difficult for him to separate the resume out. An easy way to give immediate definition and recognition to your focus is by using a header such as, Quality Engineer, Director of Operations, or Senior Marketing Manager. The reader will need to look no further than the title to know that you are seeking a particular position.
Develop a laser-focused Qualifications Summary. This is the most important part of your resume. It is the first and often only section read by recruiters and hiring managers. If your Summary area doesn’t catch the reader’s attention, nothing will.
Again, refer back to the description of the job you are targeting and make sure to include the skills, experience and expertise being asked for. Use examples of your experience to showcase the requirements the company is looking for.
When deciding on the focus for your resume make sure to point each paragraph, sentence and even word toward your target. Having a focal point makes it easy to see what should stay and what should be removed as you develop your resume. The more targeted the resume – the more powerful and effective. So stay focused and get noticed!
