Your Career Starts with a Resume

The job market is slow and with things seemingly bleak in the immediate future, great care must be taken at each step of the job application process. The resume is extremely vital in this process as it is the document that most employers use to determine whether or not to provide you with an opportunity to interview with the firm and if you can succeed in the advertised position.

Human resource departments in large and medium sized companies across the globe have developed stringent hiring policies that require each job opening to be advertised in newspapers and on online job boards. This is an attempt to make the process a just one and to minimize the negative impact of hiring the wrong candidate as a result of networking or favoritism.

The response, once jobs vacancies are advertised, is almost immediate and enormous. Resumes are received in the hundreds, with lower posts receiving far more applications that higher posts which require specific expertise and skills. It is an overwhelming task for employers to sort and select the best resumes in a limited period of time, with resumes being scanned in less than a minute before deciding who gets a shot at an interview. Although this may not seem efficient, in reality trained individuals perform a great job in selecting resumes based on language and formatting. Only a few resumes are selected for a second review.

To avoid any unnecessary mishaps, make sure you check your resume thoroughly for simple mistakes in spellings, syntax and punctuation. A simple mistake can cost you heavily. Use a business template for your resume, keeping a simple and clean layout that permits company personnel to detect key information about you at a glimpse. Remember your resume will get a minute’s consideration and you don’t want the reviewer to waste time on looking for details.

The achievements and strengths you include in your resume should tie in with the requirements of the advertised job opening. Organizations are looking for individuals with the experience and ability to execute their duties efficiently and productively. Give importance and time to examine each job description and adapt your resume to fulfill your prospective employer’s expectations and requirements. Use keywords that relate to the job and industry and use important past achievements to prove that you are indeed an ideal candidate for the job. If you are applying for a jobs in accounting highlight your analytical and focus towards details versus a job in marketing where you would focus on your exceptional networking and social skills.

Before submitting your resume ask yourself the question “If I were the employer would I give this resume a shot at the interview?” If you’re convinced that the answer is “Yes” go ahead and hand in your application. Remember there are no opportunities to undo what you’ve written in your resume once it’s sent and your career depends on it.