Here’s What People Get Wrong About Resumes

The Momentum Files #19

Here’s what people get wrong about resumes

Get it right by focusing on …

Snagging an opportunity to interview for a new job can be harder than getting your hands on Taylor Swift concert tickets.

You apply for a job. You know that you can bring everything they need (and more) to the role. You meticulously follow the application process and then sit back and wait for that invitation to go in for an interview.

During the days and weeks that follow, you refresh your inbox more times than Taylor has sung about her exes, and …

Crickets.

What happened?
Many factors can come into play during this stage of your job search, but one of the most common is this …

Your resume didn’t click with your potential company (or automated resume-filtering software system).

The key to a resume that clicks is this …

Focus on your MESSAGING!

It’s so easy to get caught up in the rules and regulations of resume-writing.

➡️ How long should it be?

➡️ What should I include?

➡️ How far back in my job history should I go?

➡️ Which skills and accomplishments should I highlight?

➡️ Keywords! I almost forgot about keywords! Which should I use?

And each of these is an important component of an attention-grabbing, interview-getting resume.

But clear messaging that showcases who you are, where you’ve been and what you bring to the job is your biggest advantage. And the best part about all this - you get to control your message!

Next time you sit down to write or update your resume, think about the following:

➡️ Your messaging should appeal to your potential employer. What you create should convey how what you have relates to what they need.

➡️ Create different versions of your resume – each targeting the job you want to land.

➡️ Think about what you know about your potential employer. What is their situation? What would they find relevant, important, interesting? Address these things.

➡️ What story do you want to tell? For example, if you believe you shouldn’t go back further than your last 4 jobs, but an older job is relevant and there is a story to share there, include it!

➡️ Keep your messaging consistent. If you achieve consistency across your resume, emails, social posts, phone conversations, etc. – potential employers will SEE this. And this shows that you are who you say you are.

Trying to land that next opportunity comes with pressure and anxiety that you just don’t need. You want to be selected, get that interview, make a good impression and land that job.

Build a resume that focuses on your messaging (your story, specifics and strategy) and you’ll have created something much more likely to make an impression and … clicks.

Have a question about your resume or messaging? Reply and tell me what’s holding you back. I can help!