A one-size-fits-all resume guarantees you’re not going to capture employer attention. Ever. There is even more logic in structuring a resume that’s targeted to an employer need during a recessionary job market where unemployment or underemployment is high.
An interview-generating resume is similar to a 15-second media commercial. The advertising message conveys a reason to purchase the product. Companies spend large amounts of marketing dollars to win you over from their competition. Case in point: There are many beverages you can choose to drink. Your selection will be the result of the targeted advertising message the soft drink manufacturers used to create brand loyalty from you.
Likewise, you’ll be invited to an interview based on a 15-second review by a resume screener or hiring manager. Your resume must precisely speak to their needs and prove your value in overcoming employer business challenges.
Here are three quick tips from R.L.Stevens & Associates, a Career Marketing firm based in Waltham, MA, to ensure your personal brand is bought and you obtain a better job, faster:
1. Research the job market locally, regionally and nationally. Even if you can’t relocate, know the hiring trends and identify growth-oriented organizations.
2. Don’t exclusively rely on open or posted positions. Identify near and future hiring trends. Those "Spot opportunities" give you power to create your own niche.
3. Create a 40-50-word Qualifications Summary to place under your heading (objective) and above your professional experience so that it becomes in itself, a mini-resume showcasing your value and specific key-worded knowledge areas.
An unfocused, generic advertising message will neutralize your competitive advantage. Make sure your resume is relevant and demonstrates strong ability to cost-effectively solve problems.
Provided by R.L.Stevens & Associates, the oldest and most successful privately held full-service career firm in the United States, doing good business well, since 1982
This is great advice! I recently entered the job market again, and while I used to use a generic resume for all jobs, I now tailor my resume to speak to the most pressing questions posed in each job description. I'm finding that the process helps me to more thoroughly understand the intricacies of the jobs I'm applying for and to really dig deep to find examples where my experience is in alignment.
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