Wouldn’t it be nice if there were just one “right” way to look for a job? Everyone would be able to look at the manual (it would be free online) and know what font and style to use on a resume, how long it should be, whether or not to list a graduation date, if a cover letter is really necessary, which keywords to use or not use, what online tools to incorporate, how and when to follow up and at what intervals, what answers to prepare for an interview…I could go on and on here!
Well, I’m here to tell you that there is no manual to follow that ensures you’ll appeal to every employer all of the time!
I recently worked with a client whose resume I totally redesigned using a very modern style. Her reply, “I thought it was going to look more like the one I sent…Will this appeal to recruiters, since they read resumes in a Z pattern?”
Not an unexpected question, and also interesting, since I know recruiters who just skip the top section and look for the resume’s “meat!” I explained that the best resume professionals are not writing “your mother’s resume” anymore. Times have changed, and we need to change with them. My client showed her new resume to an (older) recruiter who admitted it wasn’t what she expected to see, but that she liked the format and how it outlined the candidate’s skills and made her stand out! I couldn’t have been more pleased!
But, remember, no one can say, “This is the way to go…It will appeal to EVERYONE and win you the interview every time.” If you meet a professional who has all of the answers and does not acknowledge the fact that there are many shades of gray when it comes to the job hunt, be skeptical. Stay tuned tomorrow for a sardonic, but funny look at why there is no one “best” way to job hunt!
So, are you ready to get in the search? To grab the keys and climb the stairs to your own career bus? Let me help get you started ahead of the pack. Learn more about what I can do for you – and WHY you should hire me to help you.
photo by loopweaver
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
There may not be a perfect way to do a job search, but there is a model of best practices that job seekers can and should follow which will yield very high results.
The issue of why most job searches fail (it takes too long, it results in the wrong job, desperation sets in, the job seeker settles for something less) is that they don’t follow the best practice steps, they skip key steps, and they fall victim to the most common job search mistakes.
After 25 years of executive search, 1000 successful search assignments, interviewing over 100,000 people, and looking at over 5 million resumes, a pattern has emerged of why some candidates quickly complete their job search and land an ideal opportunity — and other candidates languish and flounder in their job search.
Barry – Absolutely! There is no doubt that job seekers who follow good advice and put best practices into motion land jobs while others keep looking. Those of us who are in the business of teaching people how to go about a successful search see how transformed materials, new directions and improved confidence levels impact our clients successfully.
I’m glad you agree that there is no “one size fits all” for job seekers and appreciate your input!