Resume Help Blog

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When applying for a specific position, it’s essential that you include keywords on your resume:

• Keywords that reflect your field of expertise
• Keywords that were used in the job posting, as many companies use software to evaluate how well a person’s skills match with those listed in the job posting

Companies are receiving thousands of resumes each day, so yours needs to stand out among all the others. Here’s how:

1. Be a match. If you are interested in applying for a specific position, be sure to research the company and thoroughly go over the job description and position requirements. If they list specific requirements and you have experience that fits what they are looking for, highlight this information clearly on your resume so the reader can quickly see that you “match” the position. Use caution that you aren’t repeating the exact phrasing from the advertisement—use the keywords that will identify you as a match. Also, don’t rule yourself out even if you feel you’re not a close match. Send the resume and let the employer decide.
2. Be concise. In addition to your duties with current and past employers, it is important to include contributions and achievements, as well as your educational background—but don’t overdo it. A resume is basically an advertisement, and your goal is to create enough interest that the organization will want to learn more about you by telephone or in a face-to-face interview. When a resume contains too many heavy details, you run the risk of overloading the reader, which can result in him or her missing important accomplishments you have achieved during your career. A prospective employer isn’t going to take the time to read a resume that is too lengthy.
3. Be active and persistent. Finally, if you have been part of a reduction in workforce, be assured that you will eventually successfully land a job. Treat your job search like you treated your full-time job—dedicate your time to it every day. Many times when someone is no longer working, they feel lost and unsure, but the key to triumphing over this situation is to commit to beginning the search process and moving forward from there. Get out there and make things happen!
4. If you need professional help – Get It. The question I am often asked is “why should I spend my precious money on a resume that I can write myself?” Then let me ask you a question that I often hear Dr. Phil ask on his show – “How’s that working for you?” If it isn’t, then it’s time to get the help from the professionals at Resume Edge. Don’t put it off any longer, it’s not an expense, it’s an investment – IN YOU!

Hiring managers routinely receive hundreds, perhaps thousands, of responses from applicants for any given job. To avoid having your resume sink into this sea of paper, it’s imperative to stand out from the crowd and make a good first impression. A compelling cover letter that meets five essential requirements will convince a hiring manager to read an applicant’s resume.

Rule #1: Create appealing appearance
The resume and cover letter must be aesthetically pleasing and consistent in appearance. This includes using the same heading and fonts for each.

Rule #2: Target your audience
Always use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation. If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job posting, a bit of Internet research or a well-structured phone call can produce results.

Rule #3: Produce a strong opening
A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture and retain a hiring manager’s interest. Pared down to essentials for a quick and effective read, it should reference the position you are seeking and include a brief statement as to why you believe you are qualified to fill the job.

Rule #4: Showcase accomplishments
Include a bulleted area to emphasize accomplishments pertinent to the targeted job.

Rule #5: Close with a proactive statement
Always initiate further action at the end of a cover letter. A proactive closing indicates that you will call within a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to meet. Then, be sure to follow through on the action you include in your letter.

If your resume is not getting you results, put the experts at Resume Edge to work for you. Is it expensive? Not at all! People who use Resume Edge get hired three times faster than those who do it themselves. Contact them today to find out why.

Rapid Resume Builder – This Product Is Awesome!

With Rapid Resume Builder you create your resume piece by piece using their unique software. You can then move items up and down easily without having to cut and paste – which usually causes the formatting to get screwed up. Because each piece of your resume is a separate item (you even save each position you’ve had as an individual block) you can add, delete and move them with total ease.

And don’t worry about your resume looking cheesy or blocky because Rapid Resume Builder has thousands of professional template styles to choose from!