If you are going to take the time to send your resume to an employer, you have to take the time to adjust it to the specific requirements of the job posting. Please!
My Nightmare Reviewing Bad Resumes
I posted two jobs and have been so dismayed, confused, disappointed, even angry by what I’ve received. I skimmed through the resumes, sometimes 3 pages, searching for a reason why this person would be a good match for the job. In most cases, I couldn’t figure it out.
Why would a physical fitness coach for a high school be a good admin? Why would an electrical engineer make a good trainer? I don’t know, because they never told me.
One job posting requested Excel skills. I seldom saw any concrete evidence in the bullets under their work history that these applicants had ever used it. Sure, some resumes listed Excel under Computer Skills, but that was all. Under the job, I didn’t see the proof or specific examples of demonstrated skills.
The other pet-peeve is that both postings asked for a cover letter. I wanted to see one. About 3/4 of the applicants followed that instruction. And of those 3/4, only a couple resumes were memorable enough to put on the top of the stack. None of them mentioned why they would be interested in working for the company or project stated in the posting. So sad. Let me be clear:
- I am not looking for a “perfect” format. I am looking for the right demonstrated experience.
- I don’t want to figure out why someone is interested in the job, I want them to tell me. (connect the dots for the reader)
- I don’t have time to pick up the phone and ask them questions about their experience, there are too many resumes and not enough time.
Everyone who reviews resumes has a different set of preferences, but in the long run, they all want to know the same thing, why is this person interested and qualified for the job?
I am not a resume writer. In fact, I despise resumes. However, you do need to know how to write a good one. There is lots of help out there. Go learn how to write a resume.
Here are some posts that might help you.
3 Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Resume Critique
THE reason to use a Chronological Resume Format
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
