Make Your Resume Stand Out!

Even though the economic and job reports still seem dismal, there is evidence that things are getting better and companies are beginning to post jobs again. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of unemployed that want to compete for those new jobs, you are going to need all the help you can get. I recently worked with a young man in the hospitality industry that wasn't getting any interviews, and needed some help. Through the discovery and coaching process, I was able to extract from his past experience a solid, dynamic resume that got him at least six interviews, resulting in a new position with a five-star hotel. The market may be tough, but there are jobs out there for the taking, only if you have the right tools and strategy.

Great education, work experience and cutting-edge skills won't get you anywhere unless you can communicate effectively to a prospective employer why YOU are the one that they can't live without. As an HR Director for over seven years, I reviewed thousands of resumes. The first thing that I would look for was a summary statement -- the prospective candidate would have 30 seconds or so of my time to impress me and make me want to read further. Sadly, not many made the cut. Now, more than ever, your resume has to be able to be clear, concise, and effectively market you in 30 seconds or less. Otherwise, it's on to the next one.

A resume won't get you the job...its purpose is to get you an interview. It has to prompt someone to make a phone call to get more information. If your phone hasn't been ringing despite sending out all those resumes, these tips may help:

1. When you email your resume, put your name and the position you are applying for in the subject line. Companies post a lot of jobs at one time, and this helps Human Resources (HR) identify you with a particular job right away.

2. Always, ALWAYS, send a hard copy of your resume after you apply online. You can usually find the address of the company online, and address it to the contact identified in the job post, or if no one is specified, to Human Resources. Use the person's name if you can locate it. The hard copy reinforces the email, and if HR didn't see your email, it may make them go back and look for it.

3. Put the date that you emailed your resume in your cover letter. It makes it easier for HR to locate the email version. Your name in the subject line will make you stand out.

4. Start out with a dynamite summary statement. No canned phrases cut and pasted from some Internet site. After looking at hundreds of resumes, HR professionals can spot boilerplate resume content immediately. Take some time and write your own. Three sentences is all you need. The first gives an overall statement of your experience. The second drills down to your particular areas of expertise. The third is all about you as a person -- traits and values that make you the right person for the company and its culture.

There is much more to a dynamic resume that gets results, and I'll continue in future posts. If you are not a writer, or have been unsuccessful in your search, stack the deck in your favor and get a professional to work with you on your resume. The investment will deliver results and cut down on the time it takes to get that first paycheck. A great resume is an investment from which you can expect a great return.