There is nothing more frustrating that spending hours on developing your resume, but not getting the response you need. Try this simple exercise, take a close look at your current resume.
Is it weighed down with outdated industry jargon, irrelevant job content and pages and pages of task-driven statements?
It is critical to carefully de-emphasize (not lie or embellish) non-related job tasks and responsibilities; this strategy can make a big difference between a vague and a target-focused resume.
-- Your professional resume is a strategic marketing document, more importantly, it is a living document. All this simply means is that you write for the future and keep your target audience's (employers) needs in mind.
-- Make sure that every word, sentence, phrase, and statement on your resume should support and promote your candidacy for your ideal positions.
-- Tailor your resume content to match your career goals and guide your content inclusion decisions on who you want to be (director of marketing, senior accountant, public relations manager) and how you want to be perceived (rainmaker, technology guru, finance wizard).
-- Once you have advanced in your career, there are certain basic skills and areas of expertise that you will be expected to have. For example, if you have been a CPA for the past ten years, it is no longer necessary to indicate that you have “strong analytical skills” or that you are “very knowledgeable of the GAAP rules”
-- Release yourself from any degree of emotional attachment when launching a job search for first time in a long time. You have to write your resume with hiring manager/employers’ needs at the forefront of your mind. Don’t be swayed or influenced by the fact that it was your best job ever or your really had a great time at the company.
Use these questions as a guide for screening out irrelevant content from your resume:
Are the skills, qualifications, and expertise listed on your resume inconsistent with what the employers and recruiters are looking for?
Can you provide a reliable reference that can support your career achievements and/or performance from a job you held 20 years ago?
Have you listed any technology tools and software programs that are no longer in existence today?
Did you include a lot of detail and content related to previous positions that are the opposite of your career target?
Is there a long list of certifications and licenses that are outdated or expired?
Do you have your high school diploma, college-related activities, honors and awards even though you are NOT an entry-level professional?
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You Cannot Have A "Brilliant" Resume Without A "Brilliant" Target
