Here’s why your resume can make or break your job prospects

Are you looking for a job? Or do you plan to look for work in the near future?

Those questions represent the most common reasons someone would start looking at your resume and decide if you need to upgrade. What most people discover over time is that your resume should always be up to date, as job changes can happen suddenly and without warning. But most people wait until a resume is needed and that’s when the decision is made to try to refine and update it, or leave it as it is and hope it’s enough to catch the eye of a recruiter or hiring manager. . There’s a common misconception that because resumes are rarely mailed out, they’re not that important. However, many online application forms still ask for a copy of the resume to be uploaded for review.

A challenge for many people is knowing how to create an effective resume. You can search the internet and find literally hundreds of articles and resources online that provide fairly standard methods of creating a resume; however, that can become overwhelming over time. Also, few people are very skilled as writers, and misspelled sentences with numerous spelling and grammatical errors can leave a bad impression. You should be aware of the fact that when you submit a resume, you are taking your place and representing you as a person, with no guarantee of getting an interview, and that means your resume can make or break your job prospects before you do. get to talk to someone about it.

Typical misconceptions

One of the first misconceptions people have about using resumes is that they are never actually read, especially when there are online application forms to fill out. While this cannot be proven in any way, I know from my own experience as a professional writer that most recruiters look at incoming resumes because they provide an overview of the candidate’s attention, or lack thereof, to details such as the style and type of writing

Another common misconception is that a resume should be one page total. I’m not sure I know how that idea got popular or why it has stayed so entrenched, as it ultimately doesn’t work for most candidates and can hurt job seekers. The reason is that a one page resume, for a person who has quite a lot of experience, may fall short. This type of resume will omit critical information or be written in a font size that is not easy to read.

Other misconceptions include using a resume objective and writing detailed job descriptions. A job goal is usually a statement of what the candidate would like to do or the specific job she is seeking. The reason this is not necessary is that the cover letter should express interest in the position and it is not necessary to indicate it again. Also, many mission statements are so specific that the candidate would be ruled out of other potential positions that may be related to the job advertised. Also, many jobs I’ve seen listed on resumes include text that comes from job descriptions or has been written as standard text for job descriptions, and that doesn’t necessarily explain the skills the candidate has and may contain jargon that is unacceptable. it is easy to understand by all who read it.

Skill sets or a chronological list?

Another important decision to make when developing a resume is the format it should follow, and the most common approach is to use a chronological style. This approach lists each job in chronological or date order, with the most current job listed at the top of the page. The inherent problem with this type of resume is that the focus is on what the candidate is doing now without drawing attention to the skills that he has acquired throughout his career.

My approach to resume writing involves using a skillset-based approach and that means that when a recruiter or hiring manager opens the resume, they first read the skill sets that have been acquired throughout the recruiter’s career. candidate. More importantly, the skill sets listed are directly related to the job or career the candidate is interested in. This can change the whole perspective of the candidate when seeing a potential employer, as she now sees him beyond the current job she has. This is an especially useful approach for anyone interested in changing jobs or careers.

The anatomy of an impactful resume

What gives a resume impact, as far as standing out from other resume submissions? It’s a resume that’s easy to read, showcases immediately identifiable skill sets as related to the advertised position, and highlights important achievements and achievements. A chronological resume emphasizes what a person is doing now; while a skillset resume represents what a person can transfer from their entire career to this new role. An impactful resume also includes a career summary at the beginning, rather than a career objective, and this provides career highlights that are relevant to any position. Ultimately, a highly effective resume will be well written and formatted, with meticulous attention to every minor detail.

Why invest in a professional writer?

Most people are not fully equipped for the task of developing a resume that meets all the criteria listed 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 made to improvise, so to speak, and the intended results have not been obtained. In other words, there have been few or no job calls received. There is a question about paying the cost of a resume writer, especially when a person is unemployed, and I certainly understand the financial limitations of that situation. What I have discovered is that anyone who needs a job also needs to make this investment, as it is an investment in a career that can pay off in the long run.

Finding a reliable resume writer is the next challenge for anyone who decides it’s time to make the investment. A good resume writer should have a track record of writing and editing experience, along with knowledge of recruiting and hiring practices. What credentials determine an effective resume writer? There are resume writing certifications available and that certainly shows commitment to the job. My background is different than before, as I have an advanced education and experience as an educator, writer, and author. The most important element is that anyone working in this type of industry should have some evidence of writing experience.

Another distinctive feature is the fee a resume writer charges. I know of many writers who charge exorbitant fees and then guarantee that their resumes will produce jobs or job applications. I don’t think anyone can guarantee results based solely on resume; However, what a resume can do is present the best that a candidate has to offer and help generate interest. My clients have told me that after they received a resume I wrote, they started getting more job calls. It was then up to them to speak up and encourage the potential employer to consider them further. I have also found that another benefit of having a professionally written resume is that it provides a confidence boost as the person comes to see themselves better as they are reminded of the skills and qualities that they possess.

I’m often asked for resume examples and that’s another way I can distinguish my resume writing service from others, as each resume written is custom made, rather than using templates. What I can do is describe my approach to resume writing and provide an overview of the new resume process and format. I’ve also gone a step further and certified my business by the Better Business Bureau, as it confirms when the business was founded and provides an overall rating. This does not provide a guarantee of the quality of the services provided; however, it does offer a degree of security when someone is interested in hiring me to write their resume.

If you’re interested in building your career, regardless of what type of industry you’re currently in or what job you’re currently holding, you need a resume that best represents you. Once you submit a resume, you don’t get a second chance to resubmit it, and what the potential employer sees determines their initial impression of you, your career, and your background. Whether you fill out an online form and upload a resume, or submit a resume directly, you need to connect you with the potential job by showing that you’ve acquired the necessary skills, training, education, or other similar qualifications. Your resume can help your prospect get considered or cause them to be disqualified. That’s the power a resume has for you and your career.

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