Here's the thing about resumes: everyone from your mother's brother's cousin to your best friend's hair stylist has an opinion when it comes to resumes. Most folks believe they know how to address this issue, believe me, they don't. If you get caught in this quagmire, dig your way out and turn to a professional resume writer for help. In this job market, you can't take any chances with something as important as your resume.
Why is your resume important? It is the first impression a potential employer has about you. Your resume speaks volumes about your professionalism and abilities. If your resume doesn't contain the correct keywords or proper form, the employer will most likely discard it and turn to the next one in the pile. Second, a popular, albeit erroneous notion, exists that resumes are merely a tool to get your foot in the door. This is only partially true.
The right resume can certainly help open the door to your dream job, however, this is not its sole purpose. The right resume highlights a certain skill set the employer seeks, but it also portrays your work ethic, your stability, and your confidence level.
Your confidence level? Yes, your resume must contain certain keywords and action verbs which indicate your level of self-confidence and esteem. This, in turn, assists the employer to form a portrait in his or her mind of an assertive, confident, self-assured and self-directed individual, in other words, the perfect candidate for the job. Your resume should not only be utilized as a tool to obtain an interview, it should be an accurate assessment of the stellar employee you are.
The typical HR representative will only spend anywhere from 15 seconds to a minute and a half eyeballing your resume. If certain keywords are not present or your resume fails to indicate your potential as the ideal candidate, you will not be contacted for an interview.
Keep in mind your resume will most likely be retained in the company's HR files for the length of your tenure with the firm. It is a document that not only signifies your work history or skill set, it is also a document that represents your work ethic and character. Most employers are seeking individuals with a well rounded and diverse skill set; if your resume fails to indicate these qualities, it may prohibit you from earning certain promotions. Employers will refer to your resume after hire to determine if you are a managerial candidate or ideal for inclusion in targeted strategizing sessions with other managers.
Don't kid yourself; your resume will shadow your career path for the length of your employment. If it is not representative of your abilities, it can potentially hinder your progress in the organization. Getting the interview is important, and obviously vital to a subsequent job offer, however, that is only half the battle. Give yourself every advantage by ensuring your resume will be noticed and remembered.
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