It’s go time. You are about to hit the send button and submit your resume on yet another job that you know you are perfect for…but that nagging voice in the back of your head is screaming:
Don’t do it!
You have been repeating this cycle for months and not getting any results… Even worse, you know that once you submit your precious document to “the powers that be” and they DON’T call you for an interview, you can’t submit again with a better version.
Now what?
With so many candidates flooding the market, you have to have a strategy to get your resume noticed.
Not just ANY strategy, but a proven methodology that generates consistent results.
That means if your resume ISN’T consistently:
✓ Booking job interviews
✓ Generating views of your LinkedIn profile
✓ Enticing recruiters/headhunters/HR to pick up the phone and contact you
It’s time to change your strategy. It’s that simple.
Without taking the time to revamp your resume to meet the ever-changing times of digital submissions, you are throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it will stick.
After over ten years of working with hundreds of professionals in various industries, below are the top steps I have found that are crucial to creating a high-performing resume.
STEP 1: Stop submitting a subpar resume.
If your resume meets ANY of the following conditions, it is most likely subpar:
● You have been adding to it year after year and haven’t taken the time to trim the fat and revamp the content.
● You have been copying and pasting bullet points from other resumes or job descriptions online.
o A copy-and-paste approach can make your resume appear undeveloped and impersonal (as the content could apply to anyone).
● You use any of the following phrases (there are countless more like this): detail-oriented, driven, hard-working, works well with others, strong communication skills, etc.
o These generic and vanilla terms are space-wasters. Always use terms that separate you from the competition versus ones that any adult in ANY position should possess.
● You are NOT excited and proud of your resume. All that means is that you are not capitalizing on your strengths and perhaps too emotionally attached to the content to articulate what makes you the ideal candidate.
Remember, you can’t go back to a company after you realize your resume didn’t make the cut.
SOLUTION 1: Take the time to go line by line, trim the fat, and replace it with concise results AND performance-driven content.
SOLUTION 2: Hire a professional to help.
● Make sure the resume writer you choose has extensive knowledge of your industry, has HEAPS of testimonials proving their clients are landing jobs, and is dedicated to spending two or more hours on the phone with you (versus just a few minutes and email correspondence).
STEP 2: Get clear on the EXACT job title you are looking to land.
A resume that caters to several different titles can come across confusing and unfocused. By targeting your resume toward your dream job, you are able to detail specific duties where you went over and above what was expected of you and how they directly relate to the title at hand.
● This means taking out short-lived jobs/contracted positions (typically a year and under) that are outside of your industry and/or don’t showcase your skills as a qualified candidate for the job you are applying to.
o Example: If you aren’t going after a job in the hospitality industry, delete all restaurant positions (bartending, waitressing).
o Example: If you aren’t going after a position in the entertainment or arts sector, delete your summer gig/side company as a photographer.
o Example: If you are looking for a career in sales, your resume needs to be sales-focused (review your roles in other companies where you increased revenues, improved customer service, grew market share, generated leads, etc.).
STEP 3: Optimize your resume using SEO-rich keywords.
Around 80 percent of companies are using online filtration systems (based on industry-specific words) to siphon out underqualified candidates. These keywords are your golden ticket to meeting the requirements of ATS (applicant tracking software).
First things first… Make sure you are addressing all applicant tracking software guidelines:
● List your employment dates as your length of experience (this is a determining factor for some job qualifications).
● It is best to keep your resume in a Microsoft Word document versus a PDF. PDF documents are not easily read by the software systems and submitting in that format could prevent you from getting your resume in front of the decision-maker.
Where to find and place SEO words:
● Find three to five job links/postings you are interested in applying to and pull out the keywords.
● Using these words several times throughout your resume is imperative to getting your foot in the door.
o Insert these SEO words in the following sections: executive summary, job duties, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter.
● Don’t just list these words. Make sure your resume utilizes these words using powerful bullet points that are both performance- and results-driven.
Keywords: #executiveresumewriter #resumes #resumewriter #careers #jobs
STEP 4: List any innovative strategies/systems/processes that you have created or executed throughout the life of your career.
This allows the reader to see you as a leader and innovator who steps outside of the box and takes initiative to rectify issues and solves challenges in a productive way. Plus, it indicates that you most likely will exhibit the same level of excellence in your next position.
● Write down all the strategies, processes, models, etc. that you created and executed.
● List the quantifiable results that they garnered and the impact they had on your company/department/staff/teams.
Congratulations… You now have a high-performing resume!
By following the above steps, you are well on your way, climbing to the top of the pile of candidates and landing the job of your dreams.
To find out MORE WAYS TO SELL YOURSELF ON PAPER and create high-converting content, please email lisa@lisacafiero.com
To your career success,
Lisa 😉
