Submitting resumes and not getting calls can be disappointing. There is the silence after sending the resume out when you thought your chances were good. What happened? Than you start to examine everything from the resume down the advertisement and down to the economy. You don’t get a chance to show the hiring manager what you can do. Corporate jobs receives numerous resumes for a job, sometimes over 200 and more applicants and only several are selected for the interview. The good news is that you can take steps to help you gain the interview.
Examine the format
Is the format of your resume attractive? Is it outdated? Is it colorful or have a headshot? A fancy design is not good for a resume. A headshot is not good either unless you are in the entertainment industry. If you want to show your photo you can simply leave a LinkedIn link on your resume so the employer can see your photo on LinkedIn. The employer needs to focus on your skills and not be distracted by busy elements on the resume.
Make sure the resume passes the ATS
The top resumes are passed on to a human to read after passing through the ATS software system. People are hard pressed for time as it is and they don’t want to read 300 resumes to select qualified candidates. You need to beat the ATS and doing so requires you improve your resume with job related keywords, analyze multiple advertisements that are similar to the one you are applying for, and avoid using graphics, images, charts, and elaborate symbols. Some companies don’t use an ATS but this will still significantly make the resume a lot stronger.
Quantify achievements
Hiring managers want to see achievements so you have to ask yourself if you are describing your daily job duties or highlighting your achievements. Use quantifiable achievements as best as possible.
Tailor your resume to fit the job description
Analyze the job posting and incorporate content from that in your resume. Once you have one solid resume tailoring it will not require a rewrite but small adjustments to match the job opening because if the resume is done right most of the content should already be on there unless it is in a totally different career path.
Proofread your resume continuously. Seek professional resume advice.
Spelling and grammatical errors are a big deal breaker for hiring managers. Even after you proofread the resume it can be difficult to catch errors. Sometimes you need an independent eye to review it because you’re too close to it and may need a fresh pair of eyes.
Seek professional resume help and get a resume review by a professional resume consultant because the resume itself could be the problem.
Be dedicated and persistent
Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day but you can’t wait for Rome to get built. You need the job now if unemployed and you need to get to your destination faster and the best way without wasting time and having doubts. Start applying after improving your resume, brush up on your interview skills, and do an effective job search. The right opportunity will come along.
