Tips for Job Applicants
The job application game has changed.
It used to be like this for the applicant:
You would look in the newspaper for jobs. After you found some that interested you, you would open a file on your computer called something imaginative like “resume.doc” and you’d print it out. Then you’d open your catch all cover letter (cover letter.doc, maybe?), change a few details like the date, recipient and the position desired, and you’d print that out, too. You’d stick both in an envelope and mail them out.
It used to be like this for the recipient:
The human resources person – or, for a smaller company, the actual person you would end up working for – would receive your resume, along with a huge stack of resumes for other applicants. They would take a day or five to go through each one, painstakingly evaluating, maybe even taking notes. The ones that were even slightly interesting or somewhat relevant would receive a call for a phone interview or maybe, just maybe, an in-person interview.
Here’s how it works today:
You send your resume the same way. It is received by a low level human resources person. This lowly clerk most likely discards your generic cover letter and then runs your resume through a scanner. From there, software written specifically for the task of evaluating resumes goes to work, searching your resume for key words and phrases. Resumes that hit above a certain percentage of key words are passed on to an actual human. Those that don’t are sent to the dustbin. If a company doesn’t have scanning software, the low-level human resources person scans for the same key words and phrases, taking maybe one minute (if you’re lucky) per resume. If your resume is good enough after this cursory glance, you might get a call. If not, dustbin again.
If you don’t know what the software or busy human resources clerk are looking for, you need resume help. Regardless of how well-educated you may be or how qualified you are, if you can’t express this in a manner that works for today’s fast-paced resume evaluation process, you’re out. Professionalresume.com.au is your site for resume help, including tips for writing resumes and cover letters that make the grade in today’s environment and even professional writing help is you need it. Here are some tips you had better remember if you don’t want your resume dismissed in 10 seconds flat:
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS YOU ARE WRITING
You need to know the true purpose of a resume. You are not writing your life story. You are also not writing the biography of a great employee or an accomplished scholar, a story that will be passed down through the ages. You are writing a sales pitch. You are selling yourself to a company. Tell them what you offer, not your whole story.
BE CONCISE
Keep the “sales pitch” comparison in mind here. The best sales pitches are short and memorable. Get to the point quickly by using short, bulleted lists summarizing employment, education, accomplishments and other categories. There is always a way to boil a whole sentence down to its essential idea.
BE TARGETED
Again with the sales pitch idea. A sales pitch is always designed for a certain demographic. You need to know exactly what the company needs (hint: it’s right there in the job listing) and you need to list the qualifications (experience and education) you have that match these needs. Evaluate your generic resume before you throw it out (and you WILL throw it out and never use it again) and pick and choose the pieces that apply specifically to the one company you are applying for.
BE QUICK ABOUT IT
Those “targeted” points need to be the very top points of your bulleted lists. Other things can come later, but the essential points that apply directly to a company’s needs listed in their posting must come first. This way, humans who scan the resume who may not read the whole thing will definitely see your key points (the ones that apply to them directly).
THROW OUT THAT GENERIC RESUME
We told you. Generic resumes and cover letters are insulting. They tell companies “you’re not worth my time.” Instead, write a resume tailored to their needs and you will reap the benefits. Instead of a generic resume, keep a master list of all past job responsibilities and accomplishments. Then cherry pick from this list the specifically relevant points when writing your targeted resume.
GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT
You’re a busy professional or student. You may not have the time to research what key words are important or write a perfect, targeted resume for every job. If you’re just not up to the task, consider a professional resume writing service.