I recently read an article about why resumes sink to the bottom of the pile in the job search. Often there are tens, if not hundreds of people, applying for the one position, so I thought this title was appropriate. Many people have this sinking feeling when they are continually rejected for a potential new position but don’t know what is stopping them from ‘hitting the mark’.
Let’s start at the beginning…
The first fact is that there is a difference between a resume and a CV! A CV or Curriculum Vitae means ‘the history of your life’ while a resume is the ‘chapter of your life’ that relates to a particular position. The way I see it is that your CV is the master document where you document all your work experience, achievements, study and other relevant information. On the other hand, a resume is a shortened version, tailored particularly for a certain position. No wonder people don’t hit the mark with their resume when applying for a new job because many people do not see the new opportunity from the employer’s point of view. What is it that the employer is looking for in their new person that is written in the job description and ‘between the lines’ of the job description? That is, do you have the skills, knowledge and experience that the company is looking for and the cultural business knowledge to fit in with the company. The only way the employee will see this is that if you express this on your resume.
Your resume is the only chance you have of securing an interview so what you write on paper either entices or turns a potential employer away. Most resumes don’t tell the true story of who the person is, and it is, therefore, difficult to select candidates to interview who might be suitable for the vacant position.
To attract an employer’s attention, think about the first page of your resume divided into thirds. The first third of your resume is the area that will attract the most attention. In this area, list your contact details but also consider an area dedicated to summarising your most important skills, knowledge and experience in a succinct statement that tells the employer why you are the best person for the position. You can call this section a career statement, about me, why I am suitable or something similar. You will have about a paragraph to summarise your skills for this position so what will you say? Read the job advertisement and model the words the recruiter has outlined. Take a blank sheet of paper and write down keywords that you could incorporate in your statement. Use quantifiable measures like five years in project management role, saving $250,000 on a recent project by completing the project in 25 % less time.
This area is the most time consuming to write and needs to be customised for each position. Once completed, you can use this information to transfer to your cover letter to further showcase why you are the best candidate for the position.
Good luck and I hope you are successful next time you try this technique!
Dr Janene Piip
Talent consultant and career practitioner
Australia
www.janenepiip.com.au
janenepiip@gmail.com
