Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope!)

Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope)Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope)Your resume is a tool, and like any device, you want to know that youre using it in a way that makes the most impact. But, how can you tell if your resume is doing all it can? Theres one easy test Did you get the interview that you really wanted?If bedrngnis, theres probably mora your resume can do for you. A resume cant get you the job, but it can get you an invitation to peek into the door of the job if its optimized, that is.The Power of Your ResumeA very real misconception that exists in the minds of many job seekers is that a resume is meant to be biographical, or worse, encyclopedic. But it takes a lot mora than just regurgitating names and dates to make an impression in todays job market. Writing a professional resume means selling yourself, and no matter how dirty the thought of sales makes you feel, thats the world we live in. So, next time youre considering applying for a job, look at your resume w ith fresh eyes and ask yourself these questionsWould I Hire Me? Its as important to be personable as it is to be skilled, after all, no one wants to hire the most talented jerk in the room. Instead of coming off as a lot of swagger wrapped in a degree (or not), tune your resume to make yourself seem approachable and experienced. Youll win a heck of a lot more friends that way and when you make it to the short list, you wont be cut for appearing intolerable.Is My Resume Tailored to the Job I Want? Instead of sending out a bunch of resumes willy-nilly, carefully choose the companies and job titles you want to be considered for and take your time to craft a resume that fits that specific job title at that specific place. Use your resume to show how you can solve the problems that employer faces instead of throwing it to the wind and hoping it catches air.Does My Cover Letter Highlight My Resume? Professional resume writers the world over know that your cover letter is as vital, if not more so, than your resume itself. Instead of just repeating whats on your resume, use your cover letter to point out specific experience useful to the company you hope to work for you can, and should, flesh out the story of your resume in your cover letter for an added punch.Before you send off one more resume, make sure its doing all it can for you. The time you spend building the right resume is time invested in your future, not time wasted on another job you might not land.