| People often ask me why anyone would seek | | | | important to write your resume in simple terms that |
| professional help with writing his or her resume. The | | | | someone who doesn't have your background can |
| great part about resume writing is that I often work | | | | grasp. As you develop the highlights from each of |
| with educated professionals who have years of great | | | | your previous positions, ask yourself if a stranger at |
| experience. Unfortunately, they just don't know how | | | | a cocktail party would understand what you've just |
| to get their resumes in front of people with the | | | | written. |
| power to give them a job. Generally, they're too | | | | 3) Experience doesn't always matter |
| busy being a great nurse, project manager, | | | | Let's imagine for a moment that you're looking for a |
| executive, or whatever else to understand one | | | | pet sitter while your family is away for a week's |
| important thing: how recruiters think. | | | | vacation. In looking for a pet sitter, you would |
| 1) They have very little time | | | | generally want to know about the person's |
| While recruiters and hiring managers have many | | | | experience with pets, whether her availability met |
| different philosophies and approaches, one thing is | | | | your needs, and whether your pet liked her during an |
| certain: they all review scores of resumes. Rejection | | | | in-person introduction. The pet sitter candidate would |
| letters often inform candidates that more than 100 | | | | be wasting your time if she told you all about her |
| people had applied for the same position. Faced with | | | | experience roofing houses or preparing people's |
| competition of that magnitude, it's easy to see why | | | | income taxes. It's fabulous that she has those |
| your resume has to be outstanding in order for you | | | | abilities, but all you need to know is whether she can |
| to get any attention from an employer. Most people | | | | walk and feed your dog. |
| reviewing your resume simply don't have more than | | | | The same principle is true for resumes. Because the |
| a minute or two to look it over. | | | | average worker holds more than 10 jobs during his or |
| 2) Know your audience | | | | her career, chances are good that some of your |
| Given the volume of resumes employers receive for | | | | accomplishments may not be relevant to the job |
| each position, lower-level hiring staff are frequently | | | | you're currently trying to get. Use your resume space |
| used to "shortlist" candidates for each opening. This | | | | for the experiences that matter, and don't |
| means that a less experienced HR professional is | | | | overwhelm reviewers with information that they |
| reviewing dozens of resumes in order to weed out | | | | don't need. |
| 6-10 strong candidates. With this in mind, it's | | | | |