Why Have Multiple Resumes? Different Strokes - Alter Your Approach
The job search process can be a daunting journey that has to be customized in order to arrive at your desired destination.
Tailoring ones approach is not foreign for any area in life.
You've probably heard the saying, "different strokes for different folks.
" Let me go a step further to suggest for "different strokes, you must alter your approach!" For, example, if you wanted to travel to Alaska, would you board a plane going solely to the Caribbean? How about packing beach gear to go enjoy the outdoors of that icy region? Unfortunately, your one size fit all résumé may not cut it as you travel on your job-search journey.
Remember packaging a product can make a huge difference in how it is accepted.
Rearranging your selling points and accomplishments may not be a bad idea as you venture out to obtain the job of your dreams.
If you have submitted the same resume to multiple companies and have not heard as much of a whisper back, you are probably guilty of the tactics used by the traveler visiting the Alaskan outdoors who packed for the sultry Caribbean weather.
Using the same preparation to go to several unique destinations will only produce a fruitless job search.
Unfortunately, developing one resume and blasting it to one hundred jobs spanning dozens of industries may not be the course you should be taking on your job-search journey.
As a savvy job seeker, you must get into the minds of the recruiters and hiring managers who will review your resume to ensure you get the results you are looking for.
What are the key words and qualifications that they want to see in your resume for that specific position? Use those buzz words.
It will take much effort, but the results will be well worth your time.
Does this résumé meet the qualifications of the open position? While it is not plausible for a top-rated chef with no PC skills to land a job as a computer programmer, a manager may be able to very well work in the human resources profession.
Applicants can present their transferable skills in a manner that can make them marketable for multiple positions in a variety of industries.
Why limit yourself if you have the key qualifications for the job? Think of the unique ingredients on your kitchen shelf that you can use to create a variety of succulent dishes.
Your skills are like those ingredients, and should not be limited to one dish.
It is your job to show the recruiter that you have what it takes to get that specific job done.
As the recruiter scans your resume, there is one major question in mind? Is this applicant qualified to fill this position? If you have the qualifications, but they are obscured in your current resume, it is your duty to make your skills visible so you can affirm that you are the perfect fit.
You can accomplish this by designing a strong marketing tool that essentially forces the reviewer not to pin you down to a mere job title.
This will greatly improve the probability of your resume being selected to pursue a face-to-face interview.
Researching to Craft the document Sending the same resume may work for jobs that align perfectly with your background.
However, there are other positions that will require you to tweak your document with facts not fiction and fluff.
Even if you are qualified, you may not be able to sell your skills if you do not write your selling points as to create a match.
This is called tailoring or customizing your resume.
Your first step will be to read the job description of your desired position several times to ensure you understand what they are looking for in the candidates.
Next, make a detailed list of the experience, skills, and even education and training you have that fits that description.
Again, you should not confine yourself to a past position title.
While you worked as a sales agent, you may have developed valuable skills in customer service or even management.
Who said you had to be a manager to have leadership skills? Likewise, the hiring manager is not interested in your certificate in real estate if you are applying for a job as an accountant.
As a matter of fact, by listing irrelevant information, you may send the message that you are confused and elicit additional questions.
Why are you in so many different careers? Are you unsure of what you want to do? How long will you stay with us before returning to your previous career? To avoid generating these questions, only list what is relevant.
If there are irrelevant items in your Experience section, convert those into transferable skills.
By emphasizing your skills, you have ceased limiting yourself to a small pocket of jobs and shutting yourself out of a realm of possibilities.
When you extract your skills acquired at your various positions, you have begun to unravel the fabric that make up your unique abilities that can be an asset to potential employers.
This broadens your horizons.
Along with those skills, you will need to show some examples of resulting achievements.
Voila! You have taken the beginning steps to customize your resume to get the results you want.
Putting it all together - Is your objective clear? Now that you have taken an inventory of your relevant skills, it is time to incorporate what you have uncovered into your existing resume.
You should position your most relevant experience where it is easily noticeable.
After all, the recruiter does not have time to read your document line by line to determine if you are a fit.
Summarize your qualifications that are unique to the position in the Summary of Qualifications section to spark immediate interest.
Your job is to make the reviewer's job easier.
If you are not trying to get in the restaurant business, put your waiter position that you performed at the local diner over 15 years ago at the end of your resume.
More importantly, while you do not have to include an Objective section, make sure that your purpose for sending that resume is clearly understood as the reader scans it over.
What Resume Type? Arrangement of the contents on resume is critical especially when you have unique situations.
For example, do you have noticeable gaps in your resume that you don't want to stare the hiring manger in the face? Then you may want to steer clear from a chronological resume.
Use a functional resume that highlights your knowledge, skills, and abilities instead of being position or title focused.
By using this format, you will guide the resume reviewer to your high selling points.
Your gaps may be for a legitimate reason and not because you are a job-hopper.
Let the hiring manager and recruiters see what you want them to see.
Of course, the information must all be true and you still have to be prepared to explain questionable items once you get the interview.
Before you submit your next resume, you must take the necessary measures to ensure you stand out.
Alter your approach.
Make sure your resume is tailored to each job you are applying for.
By using careful strategy, you can get the coveted call for an interview once you hit the send button, the fax number keys, or licking that stamp before sending your resume in the mail.
Tailoring ones approach is not foreign for any area in life.
You've probably heard the saying, "different strokes for different folks.
" Let me go a step further to suggest for "different strokes, you must alter your approach!" For, example, if you wanted to travel to Alaska, would you board a plane going solely to the Caribbean? How about packing beach gear to go enjoy the outdoors of that icy region? Unfortunately, your one size fit all résumé may not cut it as you travel on your job-search journey.
Remember packaging a product can make a huge difference in how it is accepted.
Rearranging your selling points and accomplishments may not be a bad idea as you venture out to obtain the job of your dreams.
If you have submitted the same resume to multiple companies and have not heard as much of a whisper back, you are probably guilty of the tactics used by the traveler visiting the Alaskan outdoors who packed for the sultry Caribbean weather.
Using the same preparation to go to several unique destinations will only produce a fruitless job search.
Unfortunately, developing one resume and blasting it to one hundred jobs spanning dozens of industries may not be the course you should be taking on your job-search journey.
As a savvy job seeker, you must get into the minds of the recruiters and hiring managers who will review your resume to ensure you get the results you are looking for.
What are the key words and qualifications that they want to see in your resume for that specific position? Use those buzz words.
It will take much effort, but the results will be well worth your time.
Does this résumé meet the qualifications of the open position? While it is not plausible for a top-rated chef with no PC skills to land a job as a computer programmer, a manager may be able to very well work in the human resources profession.
Applicants can present their transferable skills in a manner that can make them marketable for multiple positions in a variety of industries.
Why limit yourself if you have the key qualifications for the job? Think of the unique ingredients on your kitchen shelf that you can use to create a variety of succulent dishes.
Your skills are like those ingredients, and should not be limited to one dish.
It is your job to show the recruiter that you have what it takes to get that specific job done.
As the recruiter scans your resume, there is one major question in mind? Is this applicant qualified to fill this position? If you have the qualifications, but they are obscured in your current resume, it is your duty to make your skills visible so you can affirm that you are the perfect fit.
You can accomplish this by designing a strong marketing tool that essentially forces the reviewer not to pin you down to a mere job title.
This will greatly improve the probability of your resume being selected to pursue a face-to-face interview.
Researching to Craft the document Sending the same resume may work for jobs that align perfectly with your background.
However, there are other positions that will require you to tweak your document with facts not fiction and fluff.
Even if you are qualified, you may not be able to sell your skills if you do not write your selling points as to create a match.
This is called tailoring or customizing your resume.
Your first step will be to read the job description of your desired position several times to ensure you understand what they are looking for in the candidates.
Next, make a detailed list of the experience, skills, and even education and training you have that fits that description.
Again, you should not confine yourself to a past position title.
While you worked as a sales agent, you may have developed valuable skills in customer service or even management.
Who said you had to be a manager to have leadership skills? Likewise, the hiring manager is not interested in your certificate in real estate if you are applying for a job as an accountant.
As a matter of fact, by listing irrelevant information, you may send the message that you are confused and elicit additional questions.
Why are you in so many different careers? Are you unsure of what you want to do? How long will you stay with us before returning to your previous career? To avoid generating these questions, only list what is relevant.
If there are irrelevant items in your Experience section, convert those into transferable skills.
By emphasizing your skills, you have ceased limiting yourself to a small pocket of jobs and shutting yourself out of a realm of possibilities.
When you extract your skills acquired at your various positions, you have begun to unravel the fabric that make up your unique abilities that can be an asset to potential employers.
This broadens your horizons.
Along with those skills, you will need to show some examples of resulting achievements.
Voila! You have taken the beginning steps to customize your resume to get the results you want.
Putting it all together - Is your objective clear? Now that you have taken an inventory of your relevant skills, it is time to incorporate what you have uncovered into your existing resume.
You should position your most relevant experience where it is easily noticeable.
After all, the recruiter does not have time to read your document line by line to determine if you are a fit.
Summarize your qualifications that are unique to the position in the Summary of Qualifications section to spark immediate interest.
Your job is to make the reviewer's job easier.
If you are not trying to get in the restaurant business, put your waiter position that you performed at the local diner over 15 years ago at the end of your resume.
More importantly, while you do not have to include an Objective section, make sure that your purpose for sending that resume is clearly understood as the reader scans it over.
What Resume Type? Arrangement of the contents on resume is critical especially when you have unique situations.
For example, do you have noticeable gaps in your resume that you don't want to stare the hiring manger in the face? Then you may want to steer clear from a chronological resume.
Use a functional resume that highlights your knowledge, skills, and abilities instead of being position or title focused.
By using this format, you will guide the resume reviewer to your high selling points.
Your gaps may be for a legitimate reason and not because you are a job-hopper.
Let the hiring manager and recruiters see what you want them to see.
Of course, the information must all be true and you still have to be prepared to explain questionable items once you get the interview.
Before you submit your next resume, you must take the necessary measures to ensure you stand out.
Alter your approach.
Make sure your resume is tailored to each job you are applying for.
By using careful strategy, you can get the coveted call for an interview once you hit the send button, the fax number keys, or licking that stamp before sending your resume in the mail.