| m-link"> | | | | to play down your prior responsibilities, list only |
| If you are getting nowhere fast in your job search, | | | | relevant education (don't list a Ph.D. if you are |
| it’s time to find out why. Read to learn five | | | | applying for a mid-level management position!), and |
| reasons recruiters might be ignoring you—and how | | | | emphasize tactical experience over strategic planning |
| to fix the problems. | | | | when appropriate. |
| You've been hoping for a new job, but your phone is | | | | 3. Your resume is crammed with information, but not |
| silent. No recruiters calling, no job offers; it's so quiet | | | | the right kind |
| you can almost hear the crickets outside. Maybe it's | | | | Pity the poor recruiter who must get through 200 |
| time to reassess. | | | | applicant resumes before lunchtime. If your resume is |
| Does this sound like your job search efforts? | | | | in the pile, it will get a quick scan and pass over if she |
| * You've sent out hundreds of resumes to countless | | | | can't find what she is looking for in less than 30 |
| job postings but received little or no response. | | | | seconds. If you have a resume that is disorganized or |
| * You've left dozens of voicemails to recruiters | | | | full of dense blocks of text, how will the recruiter |
| explaining why you are a perfect fit-and they never | | | | learn anything about you? |
| return your call. | | | | You'll catch the recruiter's attention if you have a |
| * You've tweaked your resume so many times you | | | | clear, easy-to-read resume that highlights your skills |
| no longer recognize it. | | | | and accomplishments, even at a glance. The first rule |
| If this describes your situation, you are not alone. | | | | of resume effectiveness is relevancy, so edit out the |
| Many talented, qualified job seekers get ignored by | | | | past data and redundant facts that aren't relevant to |
| recruiters and hiring managers simply because their | | | | your current career path. Fill your resume only with |
| resume has one or more of the following problems. | | | | the skills needed for that particular job, and you'll go |
| 1. Your resume highlights your lack of industry | | | | a long way toward getting a recruiter's attention. |
| experience | | | | 4. Your resume has too little information |
| Most recruiters are looking for a point-by-point | | | | While the "strong, silent type" may be attractive in |
| candidate match when screening resumes. Industry | | | | men, it just plain flops in a resume. A resume that |
| background usually ranks high on the list of qualifying | | | | looks more like an outline just doesn't give the reader |
| issues. If you don't have experience in that industry, | | | | enough to work with. Recruiters don't want to guess |
| your resume is going straight to the circular file-unless | | | | what you did at your last job. You need to include |
| you can give them a compelling reason to keep your | | | | enough information to give prospective employers a |
| resume in the stack. | | | | vision of the possibilities if they choose to hire you. |
| If you lack specific industry experience, but you | | | | If you struggle with what to include in your resume, |
| know you have the basic skills for the job, try | | | | use job descriptions to help you understand what |
| highlighting your transferable skills instead. Job | | | | recruiters will want to find in your resume. Then |
| seekers who lack industry experience can make it | | | | review your previous jobs to determine what skills |
| past the resume screener by proving their ability with | | | | you have that will be a good match. |
| skills they have that transfer from industry to | | | | 5. Your resume doesn't include accomplishments If |
| industry. Examples of transferable skills include | | | | you haven't thought lately about how your employer |
| expertise gained in sales, customer service, finance, | | | | has benefited from having you as an employee, it's a |
| accounting, negotiation, cross-functional | | | | sure bet that your resume is lacking in |
| communications, and/or team building. Look at the | | | | accomplishments. Remember, as a job seeker you |
| skills they need, then figure out how your | | | | are selling your talents, and you are competing with |
| background is a match. | | | | many others who have the same qualifications as |
| 2. Your resume shouts "Overqualified!" | | | | you do. Accomplishments give recruiters a reason to |
| Nothing scares off a recruiter faster than a candidate | | | | choose you over others for the interview short list. |
| who is obviously overqualified for the job. The two | | | | Give screeners ample reason to select you for |
| main concerns are (1) that the candidate would soon | | | | interview. Highlight how you have saved time, |
| get bored and leave at his earliest convenience, and | | | | increased efficiency, cut cost and increased client |
| (2) that the candidate would be too expensive to | | | | satisfaction. After all, if you don't tell them, nobody |
| hire. Even worse is the assumption that the over | | | | else will! |
| qualified candidate is on a downward career slope-a | | | | If you use this five-point checklist to restructure your |
| has-been with all his best years behind him. | | | | resume, you'll soon hear back from recruiters who |
| There are, however, many valid reasons job seekers | | | | appreciate qualified, articulate and confident |
| wish to downsize to jobs with fewer responsibilities. | | | | candidates. The time you spend enhancing your |
| Whatever your reasons, tailor your resume to fit | | | | resume could shave off months of fruitless labor and |
| your current career objective. This means you'll want | | | | frustrating effort in your job search. |