Those questions represent the most common reasons why someone would begin to look at their resume and decide if it needs to be updated. What most people discover over time is that their resume should always be update-to-date as job changes can happen suddenly and without any earlier warning. But most people wait until a resume is needed and it is at this time that a decision is enabled to try to improve and update it, or leave it as is and hope that it will be sufficient enough to gain a recruiter or hiring manager’s attention facial recognition system. There is a disbelief that because resumes are rarely shipped out any longer, they are not that important. Yet many online application forms still request that a resume copy be published for review.
A challenge for many people is finding out how to create an effective resume. You can conduct an Google search and discover literally hundreds of online articles and resources offering fairly standard methods of creating a resume; however, that can become overwhelming in time. In addition, few people are highly trained as a writer, and badly written sentences with numerous punctuation and grammatical errors can create an undesirable impression. You have to bear in mind the fact that when you send out a resume it is taking your home and represents you as a person, without the guarantee of securing an interview — and that means your resume can make or break your job prospects before you ever get to speak to someone about it.
Typical Misconceptions
One of the first misconceptions that people hold about the use of resumes is that they are never actually read, particularly when there are online application forms to be completed. While this cannot be proven either way, I do know from my own experience as a professional writer that most employers do look at the resumes received because it gives a general summary of the candidate’s awareness of, or lack thereof, details such as the style and type of writing.
Another common disbelief is that a resume must be one page in total length. I am not certain I know how that idea became popular or why it has always been so engrained as it ultimately serves little purpose for most candidates and it can work to the detriment of a job finder. The reason why is that a one page resume, for a individual who has fairly extensive experience, can sell them short. This type of resume will either leave off critical information or it will be keyed in a font size that’s not easy to read.
Other misconceptions include the use of a target on the resume and writing detailed job descriptions. A job objective is usually a statement of what the candidate would like to do or the particular job they are seeking. The reason why this is not needed is that the job application letter should express interest in the positioning and there is no need to convey it again. In addition, many objective statements are so specific that the candidate would be ruled out from other potential positions that may be related to the advertised job. In addition, many jobs I have seen listed on resumes includes wording and terminology that either originated in job descriptions or have been written like standard wording and terminology from these types of descriptions, and that doesn’t necessarily explain the skills the candidate has and may contain vocabulary that’s not easily understood by everyone reading it.
Another important decision that has to be made about the development of a resume is the format it should follow and the most common approach is use of a chronological style. This method lists each job in chronological or date order and the most current job is listed at the top of the page. The inherent problem with this type of resume is that the focus is defined on the the candidate does now without drawing awareness of the skills which have been acquired throughout their entire career.
My approach to resume writing involves the use of an art set based approach and that means when a recruiter or hiring manager opens the resume they first read skill sets which have been acquired throughout the candidate’s career. More importantly, the skill sets listed are directly related to the job or career the candidate is interested in. This can change the entire perspective of the candidate when viewed by a potential employer as now they are viewed beyond the current job they hold. This is an especially helpful approach in case you are interested in changing jobs or careers.
What provides a resume impact, with regards to standing out among other resumes submitted? It is a resume that can be easily read, displays skill sets that are immediately well-known as being related to the advertised position, and highlights important triumphs and achievements. A chronological resume highlights what you were doing now; whereas, an art set resume represents what a person can transfer from their entire career to this new role. A resume with impact also lists a professional summary at the beginning, rather than a job objective, and this provides career highlights that are relevant to any position. Finally, a powerful resume will be well-written and formatted, with meticulous attention fond of every minor detail.
Most people are not fully equipped for the task of developing a resume that meets all of the criteria in the list above and that is why a professional resume writer is needed. However, my experience has found that a professional writer is not contacted until an attempt has been built to mentorship it, as we say, and the results sought haven’t been obtained. In other words, there have been few or no job calls received. There is a uncertainty to pay for the cost of a resume writer, particularly when you were jobless — and I certainly understand the financial limitations of these situation. What I’ve found is that anyone who needs a job should also make this investment as it is an investment in a career that can yield long term results.
Finding a reliable resume writer is the next challenge for anyone who decides it is time to make the investment. A good resume writer needs to have a history of writing and editing experience, along with familiarity with prospecting and hiring practices. What recommendations determine an effective resume writer? There are resume writing certification available and that certainly demonstrates commitment to the job. My background differs from the others than that as i have advanced education and experience as an instructor, writer, and author. The most important element is that anyone who works in this type of industry needs to have some proof of writing experience.
Another distinct feature is the fee that a resume writer charges. I know of many writers who charge exorbitant fees and then guarantee their resumes will produce jobs or job calls. I really do not believe that anyone can guarantee results solely based on the resume; however, what a resume can do exists the best a candidate has to offer and help generate interest. My clients have laughed and said that after finding a resume I’ve written they started receiving more job calls. It was then up to them to speak well and encourage the potential employer to consider them further. I have also found that another benefit from having a resume professionally written is that it gives a boost of confidence as the person sees themselves in a better light, as they are reminded of the skills and qualities they possess.