Wednesday, 23 March 2011

The Perfect Resume - The Job Search Killer

One of the causes of failure for start ups is failing to get to market soon enough. That same issue affects job seekers. Developing the perfect resume gets in the way of getting yourself to market - getting interviews. Sometimes, good enough is good enough.
I'm not telling you to send out a bad resume. Just identify the employer's need and focus your resume on that need. You could put all kinds of accomplishments and skills in your resume. 

Much of it has no relevance for a specific employer no matter how proud you are of the achievement. Don't waste a single line of your pages on anything that is not relevant. Get the things the employer told you they are interested in into the resume, spell check it, and deliver it.
For decades, I've worked with people who found their dream job in the want ads, on a bulletin board, or posted online and struggled with trying to put together the perfect resume and the perfect cover letter for that job. Most of the time, that was a story they told me after they missed out on a job they really wanted. They just couldn't get their effort in a perfect enough state to let the employer look at it. They didn't want their resume to be rejected because it wasn't perfect so they never got in the race.
The employers take the time to let you know what they're looking for. All you have to do is let them know that you have what they're looking for neatly and correctly. No one was ever rejected because their resume was not perfect. They were rejected because their resume didn't look like a match or it had a coffee ring on it or it was full of typos. They get an interview with an imperfect resume that clearly communicates their value in the terms the employer told them mattered to them. The employers do part of the work for you. If you were the developer of a product or service, you would have to do research to see if there was a need. In the job market, the buyer defines the need for you - no effort on your part at all. You are the product or service. If you match the requirements, get yourself to market as soon as you find a buyer who's looking for you.
Conclusion: Relevant, clear, concise communication of the position is the first step toward a good enough resume. Since the employer did the first step for you, just respond showing how you match and prepare for the interviews.

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