As a career advisor at Westwood College who assists students in finding and acquiring general employment or internships, I often hear these words from my students: “I sent out more than 100 resumes and I have not gotten a single response. What am I doing wrong?” If this is a question you find yourself asking, here are a few tips to help you find your way in this very competitive job market.
Tailor your resume to the job posting
Oftentimes, this may entail sitting down with the entire job description in front of you with your resume next to it. As you go through your resume, detail the ways in which you applied the skills they are seeking in your previous employment. Be sure to address the core skills, education and experience the employer is seeking while deleting any irrelevant information that might not relate to the job.
Follow all directions exactly
In the employer’s eyes, this is an indication of how you might perform your job. When applying through online application systems, be sure to fill out the entire form as specified. You would be surprised by the number of applicants who do not follow directions. Double check your work or have someone else in your household check for you. Taking your time is essential to the process.
Another important aspect of the application process may be as simple as ensuring that the subject line clearly indicates what is in the attachment. Employers are leery of viruses. If an attachment is sent without a proper subject heading, it will probably be deleted.
Edit and re-edit your resume
The worst thing you can do is send a resume with grammatical or spelling errors. Again, if you are able to have another person review your resume, it could make all of the difference in the world. Some of the most common mistakes seen by employers are in spelling and grammar. (Career Services can help by reviewing your resume.)
There is no need to list the reason for leaving a job on a formal resume. This information may be requested on the application, but it has no place on a resume. Just indicate the name of the company, location, your job title, dates of employment and your responsibilities as they relate to the job you are seeking. Your reasons for leaving may be discussed in the interview.
Also: never, ever lie on a resume. Be sure your dates and facts are correct because problems may arise when employers check your references. Any discrepancy could prevent you from being hired.
Be sure to follow up
Staying in touch can mean the difference between being put into the “Maybe” pile or the “Yes” pile. Your resume should pique the interest of the employer and make him or her want to call you for an interview. You will explain why you are such a great fit for the position during the actual interview.
Sing your praises
Since your resume represents you, be proud of your achievements. Even small accomplishments that might seem inconsequential to you may demonstrate your great leadership qualities or industrious nature to the employer. Perhaps you were asked to mentor or shadow a new employee until he or she learned the ropes; this indicates to the employer that you have great mentorship qualities. So don’t be shy about your skills and abilities.