- Clearly define your objective. “We don’t have time to be career counselors,” said Tim Moran, Hallmark’s Director of Human Resources, at a recent Career Masters Institute conference, “so please, help us out a little. Let us know what you want.”
- Be specific when recounting your achievements. “Dollarize” them says Jeffrey Fox in “Don’t Send a Resume.” Qualify and quantify them in some manner that demonstrates what you can offer a prospective employer. Use the CAR method to help you recall your achievements: Challenge, Action, Result. Achievements are the most important part of the resume say recruiters and human resource professionals. “Past performance predicts future productivity,” said Lynn Williams, President, Prestige Placements.
- Use action words and statements. “Responsible for”… is out, “Developed; Directed; Achieved; Coordinated, etc.” is in.
- When responding to an online ad, e-mail your resume in WORD. PDF and other formats aren’t easily scanned into existing HR and resume-management software. “We want Word,” said an HR Director of a local manufacturer. Moran said, “We can easily zip Word documents to all areas of our company.”
- When responding to any ads, either online or in the newspaper, be sure you clearly read the ad and assess your qualifications. Companies don’t have time to meet with unqualified applicants. According to one recruiter, “Companies are cherry picking now. Candidates must be an exact match before a company looks at them.”
- If you know someone at a company, give them a call. Networking is the No. 1 method used by candidates to get jobs. According to a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5% of people found jobs through advertisements (online and in print) while 48% of employees landed their jobs through referrals (networking).
- Think creatively in how you distribute your resume. According to the above survey, 23% of newly hired employees found jobs through alumni (professional associations and/or employers), employment agencies, and temporary placement firms and 24% found jobs through cold calling companies (no job advertised).
(Editors Note: When you upload your resume onto this site from Word, the PDF sent to the employer is accompanied by a text file, making it scannable into most systems, including the resume database on this site. However, if e-mailing a resume directly to a company it is best to send it in Word format.)