What’s wrong with your resume: 5 Things to consider

Okay, you have now polished your resume in the best way that you know how after you have: (a) Finished that job training program/school (b) Completed the internship (c) Preparing to leave the military (d) Started to search for jobs after gaining some practical experiences in an entry level position. You’ve put your best foot forward as you have applied for jobs that you believe you can perform and offer value to the corporation. Yet there is one problem – You have received no call backs, no email confirmations, no requests for interviews and no responses. After about 6 months, 8 months or longer, you begin to ask yourself, “What’s Wrong With My Resume?
Let’s look at 5 Potential Areas of Concern:

1) The appearance of your resume looks like a Microsoft word template and the information on your resume looks like a job description. See template ideas with Evelyn at http://careercatapult.com/CareerCatapult.com/Designer_Resume_Templates.html.

2) The grammar and wording is non-traditional for those types of wording and grammar usage commonly expected to be seen on resumes. See Grammar Tips @ http://www.thegladiator.info/grammar/grammar1.phtml.

3) Your resume has an objective that has nothing to do with the needs of the corporation. It does, however, discuss your goals and your needs. Your resume should have a branding statement on it. See http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/

4) Your latest, greatest trainings and advanced technologies acquired over the course of your career are not listed in a format that is easily identified. See Job Zones @ http://www.onetonline.org/find/zone?z=0&g=Go.

5) The dates listed on your resume are not listed in a way that demonstrates that you have held a good attendance record at work. See Resume Tips @ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/699/01/.

If an employer or HR decision making cannot see the value that you have brought to a job, one of two things will occur. You will not receive any attention from the corporation or you will be asked to come to work and you will be underpaid. The key to presenting your skills on a resume is to understand that it is the job seekers responsibility to understand the workforce. The hiring administrator will not take time to ‘understand’ what you mean by that awkward phrasing on your resume. Develop acceptable career competence. Rest assured that if you are not receiving feedback, there is something wrong with your resume.