Write a Resume that Gets You Hired
Today’s economy is tougher than ever. Hiring professionals are deluged with resumes for qualified applicants. And they have less and less time to sort through all of them. Does your resume grab a hiring professional’s attention in less than 15 seconds? If it doesn’t, you may be missing out on valuable opportunities.
So, how do you write a resume that not only tells the story of your career but also separates you from the crowd? One option is to hire a professional, such as Resume Services Online. Although there is a fee for the service, the investment will bring you additional interviews and potentially get you hired at more advanced positions.
When reviewing your resume, look for the following key elements:
1. Focus: Know the position you want. Then, carefully sift through your resume and eliminate all the detail that doesn’t relate to that position. Hiring professionals don’t want to know every detail of your job history. They do want to know why you’re the right person for the job.
2. Brevity: Less is more. Hiring professionals do not have the time to mine through pages and pages. As a general rule of thumb, if you have less than ten years of experience, your resume should not be more than one page. And no professional should have a resume that exceeds three pages.
3. Keywords: Before hitting a hiring professional’s desk, your resume often goes through computer screening systems. Avoid having your resume being screened out by ensuring it is full of keywords. It only takes a small oversight to lose out on a potential opportunity.
4. Attention-Grabbing: Does your resume really captivate the reader? Does it convince the reader that you are the best candidate for this position? If it doesn’t, it should.
Not sure your resume has all these elements? It may be worth your while to invest in a professional resume writing service. Not only will it get your more interviews, it will help you land the ideal job faster.
If you choose to hire a professional resume service, make sure to keep these points in mind:
1. Their service should include a cover letter. A cover letter is your opportunity to bring out skills that are difficult to highlight in a resume. And it’s the first thing a hiring professional sees. It’s important that it conveys the same style and sense of professionalism that your resume does.
2. They contact you personally. A good professional writing service will want to discuss your background and skills. They should ask you probing questions to illicit your best qualifications and ensure they are highlighting all of your skills.
3. They’ve written a lot of different resumes. There are no one-size fits all. They should have written resumes for other candidates in your field, as well as at different levels of experience. This experience will help them write a strong and personal resume for you.
4. They guarantee their work. Most credible resume services will guarantee you an interview within 30 days or they will re-write your resume for free. Avoid services that don’t offer this type of guarantee.
5. They send thank-you or follow-up letters. A follow-up or thank-you can be the difference between getting a call back and falling through the cracks. Make sure your writing service is doing their best to help you get a job.
Candidates often ask us to recommend a hiring service. We recommend Resume Services Online (http://www.resumeservicesonline.com). Not only have we received excellent feedback from other candidates on their services, they also have reasonable prices.
In today’s competitive market, it doesn’t make sense to risk a job opportunity with a resume that is just “ok”. Make sure your resume helps get you hired!
