We are now going to move into a new module for our 30 day job search challenge. Hopefully, by now you have a better understanding of what your natural strengths are and how that fits into your ideal working environment. If you have not completed these exercises, then I strongly urge you to go back and do them. They will provide a ton of clarity for you.
Also, if you are brand new to this challenge and would like to take the 30 day job search challenge from the very beginning, you can sign up for free here: Get a Better Job! 30 Day Challenge
As a quick recap, here are the 4 sections of our job search challenge:
Module #1: Know Yourself (Day 1-7)
Module #2: Brand Yourself (starts today!)
Module #3: Market Yourself (coming soon)
Module #4: Sell Yourself (coming soon)
Each section has a specific purpose and outcome. Now, we will move into personal career branding and why it is so important. I will also teach you how to do it.
Module #2: Brand Yourself (How to Build a Compelling Career Brand)
When done correctly, personal career branding can feed your career for years to come. For example, once you learn how to correctly build your Linkedin profile, you will have hiring managers calling you about open positions even when you aren’t looking for a job. Now that is a powerful place to be, my friend! Before we get into some online branding strategies, we are going to first focus on your most important branding tool, your resume.
Day 08 – How to Write a Resume That Gets Results
There is a big difference between completing your resume and having a resume that gets results. I want to focus today’s post on exactly how to write a resume that gets results. Too often, I see great candidates with bad resumes. To be honest, it is a recruiter‘s dream. The recruiter knows they have a good candidate that is not getting to job interviews on their own. I usually take the time to go over their resume and show them areas where they can improve. Here are 5 timeless tips to help you build a winning resume.
1. The top half of the first page is the most important. Most job searchers place way too much white space at the top of their resume. Now, there should be a balance here as well. You should not cram too much text onto the first page either. That being said, the info that appears on the top half of the first page should grab your attention. Whether you have a bold job title, several easy to read short bullet points, or listing your certifications or software experience, do what you can to make your resume look more attractive.
2. Use keyword rich content. It today’s technology age, your resumes are being automatically imported into resume databases. Employers or recruiters use a search feature to see what potential candidates might exists in their database. It would be smart for you to try to use both an abbrevation and the long tail phrase where appropriate. For example, if you have experience with Sarbanes Oxley (SOX), then you should list it similar to the way I have it in this sentence. That way, no matter how the term is searched your resume gets in the search results.
3. Your content should be easily understood. There is a written presentation that you are making. If you have fragments and other confusing sentences, your resume will be set aside.
4. Not only list “what” you did, but also “how” and “why” you did it. This is an important point related to accomplishments. Do not just list what you did, but try to work in the how and why to what you accomplished.
5. Proofreading is essential. Like I have mentioned before, some Human Resource Professionals will throw out resumes with misspellings. Print out your resume and read carefully. Also, be sure that you are using the correct word too. For example, there is a difference between “then” and “than.”
This list should get you started. If you already have an existing resume, look over it in light of the tips mentioned above. If you are not happy with the lack of results, then I have a few places that I would recommend.
DO IT NOW Task – Build a Professional Resume Brand
One of the most important branding tools that you have is your resume. Yet, I am shocked at how many leave this essential tool to chance. They put their entire resume branding into a Microsoft template or even just making one off the top of their head. I want to strongly encourage you to do what you need to do to get your resume brand right. It will free up your mind. Too many job seekers wonder if their resume is holding them back. Get it done right the first time and you won’t have to wonder.
- ResumeEdge – I was a freelance resume writer for them in the past. I know the type of high quality resumes that they produce. They are not the cheapest, but you will be happy with the result. Save $20 when you purchase a Resume and Cover Letter at ResumeEdge.com
- ResumeCompanion - This is a great service for those of you that want to build a professional resume on your own. I love how simple and easy this online resume builder is to use. It will supply for you bullet points related to your experience. This is highly useful for those of you who do not consider yourselves to be writers. You can also pay a small fee and have a certified resume writer review your resume. Click here to start building your resume for free.
- ResuMark - They have a unique business model that I find to be fascinating. They actually pay you every time someone looks at your resume. Instead of making employers pay thousands of dollars for monthly access to a resume database, they pay per view. Then, ResuMark pays you for every view. Start making money with your resume! Upload your resume for free today and start earning.
- Resume Rabbit - This is another unique service for job seekers. If you want to get your background in front of 1,000′s of recruiters and employers in a short period of time, then this is the way to go for you. Besides getting your info directly in front of decision makers, you can also have your resume uploaded to over 86+ top job sites. This would take you days to create separate accounts for each of these sites. Some of the top job boards you can get your resume posted to include CareerBuilder, Dice, and Job.com.
- CPACareerCoach - I do accept clients to work with on a limited basis. If you want the experience of an Executive Recruiter that has worked with thousands of workplace professionals for the past 8 years, then you can check my availability here.
