Plenty of job hunters spend significant time adding content to their resumes, showing career progression and detailing their strengths. So why does the average resume get only a minimal response?
Most people don't realize that when it comes to touting their own skills, presentation is EVERYTHING... and that ignoring its significance is the #1 resume mistake.
When you choose that canned Microsoft Word template for your resume, you are laying the foundation for lackluster results.
Now, opening a new document and choosing a built-in template might work fine if you're sending a quick email message. However, it ISN'T a good way to sell your competencies if you're an aspiring professional, ready to take on the world and boost your salary in the process.
When it comes to writing the most critical document of your career, consider the message you are sending with the actual STYLE of your resume, not just the content.
Read on for 3 key points regarding resume presentation that just might enhance your success rate:
1 - Commonality doesn't distinguish you from others.
There's nothing wrong with using that Word template... but it's made for EVERYONE. Can all professionals relate to your level of achievement? I doubt it.
For hiring managers reading these template documents, it's even harder to assess the candidate's strengths. The look-alike, cookie-cutter feel to the document makes it tougher to highlight your achievements.
2 - Employers need more detail to make a hiring decision.
This type of template allows for only minimal wording to be used, with very short lines.
While it's difficult for most professionals to even convey their value on a resume, it's nearly impossible to give sufficient detail when you try to fit it into the confines of a template.
Hiring authorities want to know as much as possible about your skills in order to decide whether to select your qualifications. It's best not to miss your opportunity to convey a strong set of credentials!
3 - You deserve a stronger presentation.
Most important of all, the template doesn't convey status or prestige--the very components that drive careers and open doors to top jobs.
If you wouldn't show up at a job interview in less than a suit, do you really want to deliver a resume presentation that equates to wearing jeans?
As an example, I recently worked with an operations manager skilled in guiding large construction firms through periods of sizeable growth (in the millions, to be exact).
He had tried to stuff 30+ years of experience into the standard Word template. Not only could he barely fit his achievements into the tight spaces allowed, the grid-like format required a font that didn't represent his stature.
As it turned out, he could control costs, hire top-producing teams, and institute practices that made his employer very profitable, and this was great fodder for his new resume.
You can bet that the style was customized to his achievements, career level, and industry--and that it produced substantially more RESULTS.
Consider this--the detail of your career story can be lost inside a template that doesn't suit your needs!
Give your resume style the same attention and focus that you would apply to any business presentation, using a professional style that speaks to your status and level of achievement.
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