YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESUME CHECKUP
Like
millions of people coast to coast, you have probably resolved to start 2004
with renewed job-search enthusiasm. If
it has been a while since you brushed up your old resume, you’ll want to begin
your job search with a New Year’s resume check up.
These
five questions will help you focus your resume for even better results in the
new year.
1. Has your career objective changed since your
last job search?
More
specifically, are you attempting to change your industry or profession? If so, your resume requires a new marketing
message based on your transferable skills.
This will help potential employers see you outside of the context of
your current industry or profession.
Remember,
a resume is more than just an historical document; it is the print ad of your
job-search campaign. For peak
effectiveness, your resume should be based on the buying motives of your new
target audience. Communicating your
transferable skills is an excellent way to tap into employer buying motives.
2. Does your current resume reflect your
professional growth—or are still using the same resume format that got you your
first job out of college? As you grow
professionally, you’ll need a resume that reflects your level of
professionalism. The more sophisticated
“hybrid” format allows you to showcase your best accomplishments based on the
strategic “selling points” of your career.
3. Does your resume feature accomplishments from
top to bottom?
The
best way to capture employer’s attention and create a strong first impression
is with measurable accomplishments.
Accomplishments are most significant when they demonstrate your
contribution to an employer’s bottom line.
If your resume focuses more on what you did than on how well you did it,
it’s time to rewrite those “features” into “benefits.”
4. Was your last job search prior to 2001?
That
may seem like an odd question, but if this is your first entrance into the job
market since before 2001, you’re in for a shock. The job market of the late ‘90s was fantastically in favor of job
seekers; resumes were less important in attracting employer attention. Today’s job market, however, is fiercely
competitive, and a polished, professional resume is critical to winning an
employer’s notice. If your last job
search was a “walk in the park,” look objectively at your resume. Does it have what it takes to compete
against an avalanche of candidate responses or will it likely get lost at the
bottom of the resume pile?
5. Most important—are you getting responses
from your resume?
Here’s
the real proof. Your resume has only
one job: to get you interviews. If that isn’t happening, don’t just blame
the job market—improve your message. Think
of your job search as a professional marketing campaign in a saturated
market. The tougher the competition,
the more vitally important it is to have a resume with a strong marketing
message that sets you above the crowd.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deborah
Walker, CCMC
Resume
Writer ~ Career Coach
For
more in-depth information on resumes, job-search strategy and interview skills,
check out the article archive at my website: www.AlphaAdvantage.com
Email:
Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com
Toll-free
phone: 888-828-0814
Thank
you
Deborah
Walker, CCMC
888-828-0814
Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com