| Are You Searching for a Job? Following the crowd on | | | | position then that is how long it should be. |
| this one can work against you. While most people | | | | Whatever sets you apart from the other 1938 |
| think they have a good chance, they are mostly | | | | resumes on the stack the HR department has to |
| following old advice for a job market that no longer | | | | consider is something you want to do. None of your |
| exists. After a lot of research I have found that | | | | efforts will pay better than this. If you can't think |
| there are 3 fundamental mistakes people make that | | | | about how you are different in a good sense then |
| keep them from getting interviewed and hired for | | | | find someone who can to write it for you. Pay |
| positions for which they are excellent candidates. | | | | whatever money they are asking for. This is not that |
| What I am about to tell you is the result of crunching | | | | time where you try to save money. If you got a |
| data from hundreds of HR managers and recruiters | | | | severance package from your other job, use a good |
| who voluntarily contributed many reasons why | | | | chunk of it in loosing weight, a great haircut, a scuba |
| people could short their chances of landing a job for | | | | trip and even do your nails; but of far more |
| which they are fully qualified. This study conducted | | | | importance, hire a good...NO...hire an "excellent over |
| early 2010 contains 12 main reasons; because of the | | | | the top" resume writer. Don't skimp on this if you |
| terms of the survey I can only reveal 3 of them | | | | can't write it yourself. You can thank me later. |
| without having clients who paid $499 dollars for this | | | | Myth #1: Skill sells itself, I can trust my experience. |
| information get deeply upset about me giving it for | | | | Everyday hundreds of skilled experienced workers |
| free. | | | | are ignored and passed over to someone who could |
| This recruitment survey covered all communication | | | | present themselves as a better candidate. Please |
| aspects of the hiring process; from responding to ads | | | | don't let this surprise you. Human judgement is |
| to cover letters, from resume quality to interview | | | | flawed; if it wasn't we would not need to fire anyone |
| responses. The survey was conducted by a mayor | | | | and the economy would be a lot better. Job hunting |
| HR consulting firm and covered HR personnel across | | | | is a public relations gig--that is all it is and all it can |
| a large spectrum of the job market. | | | | possibly be. No one can judge you correctly from a |
| Myth #3: Print hundreds of excellent resumes and | | | | resume; it's impossible. All people can do is pick out a |
| mail them out to everyone you are interested in. | | | | reasonable choice and it will almost always be based |
| What a destructive force this is! Nothing will put an | | | | on whatever superficial clues you happen to give that |
| end to a job opportunity faster than this. While | | | | you are the "right hire". |
| people that were targeting this opportunity took care | | | | I know people are going to be mad at me for saying |
| to include all the requirements of this position, you | | | | this but this is true: You will be hired because they |
| are coming in with a resume that was written for | | | | liked you and they will find reasons to justify their |
| another that in the best of cases was remotely | | | | decision. Hiring is based on trust; you will never hear |
| similar. A resume like this shouts desperation and lack | | | | "I sure didn't trust that guy but we had to hire him". |
| of attention to a person's career. HR managers are | | | | It don't work that way, you will not see people hired |
| turned-off by this shotgun approach, one of them | | | | who are a threat to the job security of the person |
| called it "resume SPAM". | | | | making the hiring decision regardless of how much of |
| Take the time to write a resume for each job you | | | | an industry star that person is. |
| apply for, it can keep the same format but take the | | | | People will always act in ways that preserve their |
| time to change what your objectives are; which will | | | | own sense of security and pleasure and will reject |
| inevitably change depending on the position (unless | | | | anyone who does the opposite. When the moment |
| your objective is to rule the world because then you | | | | comes to justify their decision they'll come up with |
| can start from anywhere). The quality of the paper, | | | | something. Do whatever you can to charm the |
| the format and conciseness matters nothing at all if it | | | | person doing the hiring, don't ever let them think |
| isn't RELEVANT. Relevancy is the key to find a | | | | they have you, nothing is more coveted than looking |
| match between a job and a candidate. | | | | like you got other options (an old girlfriend once said). |
| Do not create mountains of resumes and don't pay | | | | If you look desperate you will loose to the one that |
| anyone who does to do this for you. It is a waste of | | | | has 2 more offers every time. |
| time that in the best of cases will get you a job you | | | | Well there they are, the 3 myths keeping you from |
| hate and in a few years you'll be right where you are | | | | the job you love. It isn't a numbers game, it's a mind |
| now. | | | | game so play to win. The greatest thing in the world |
| Myth #2: A Good Resume should be a 1 sided page. | | | | is the availability of other human beings who can do |
| Let me tell you what a good resume is--it's an | | | | what you won't. Hire someone to write a resume |
| interview magnet. That's it, nothing else; well maybe | | | | and cover letter for a job you have researched and |
| a conversation starter, a document that sparks the | | | | are prepared to take on. Even if you don't get it you |
| interest of who read it to see if they can imagine | | | | will get better, and getting better help your chances |
| you within their organization. The real danger with | | | | for winning the next game. |
| boxing yourself into quality definitions that are tied to | | | | How do you think you are going to feel about those |
| format is that they will inevitably leave behind the | | | | $175.00 you paid for a great resume and cover letter |
| legitimate and most important purpose of the | | | | when you show up for new hire orientation. I know |
| resume--to show you as the right person for a job | | | | that you will say that it was the best money you |
| you want. If that takes 4 pages because of the | | | | ever spent. |
| numerous requirements the company has set for the | | | | |