Back in 1984, 81-year old retired Chicago manicurist-turned-disgruntled old lady Clara Peller asserted that a Wendy’s Hamburger served up a comparatively bigger value by asking the fast food competition, “Where’s the beef?” Today, Clara’s iconic words could become the voice of Applicant Tracking Software which, when it rejects an estimated 70 percent of the resumes submitted because of low keyword matches against the desired qualifications or it can’t figure out the formatting, analyzes a spectrogram to generate a voice that asks itself, “Where’s the résumé beef?”
Think of a job posting as a gift. The prospective employer has literally shared with you the experience, skills, and education being sought in qualified candidates. The greater the match between your résumé and the job description, the higher the probability of being selected for an interview. And, keywords narrow the qualifying gap.
The one-résumé-does-all with the generic cover letter, like Elvis, have left the building. You have to:
Always tell the truth. Even if you make it through the Applicant Tracking Software, aka ATS, there are other credibility check-points for dates of employment, job titles, and gaps, to name just a few. Use a cover letter, not a cover-up, to address in a positive way any job candidacy issues.
Nothing tests a hiring manager’s patience more than those often seen résumé mistakes which, for just a little bit of time and attention on the writer’s part, could lower the reader’s stress level and further the candidate’s cause. Here are some of the most annoying résumé cringe factors that don’t seem to go away:
When we start the day we want to feel excited and motivated and inspired about what’s in store for us. We want to feel energized by the work we’re going to do, where we’re going to do it and who will be impacted by the value we bring. We want all our cylinders burning to fill the day with meaning and accomplishment. Unless those feelings are present in us when our feet touch the floor as we get out of bed, it’s a sure thing that the day will be unrewarding…and the one after that…and the one after that.
Although the current economy favors job seekers, grads will still need to do everything they can to set themselves up for success.
CNBC careers reporter Courtney Connley suggests four things first-job seekers should do as they try to land their dream job in 2019. Read the full article here
Whether you are looking for a job or are feeling secure in your current position, you should always have a resume ready, just in case. The thing with resumes is that we often create one and leave it for years, only to add a new position now and then, but never to consider how modern and effective it is in telling our story. Read the suggestions by Hillel Fuld in the Chicago Tribune
"You've had such a varied and impressive career. It's awesome to read about your adventures and reinventions and how you're now helping others do the same," branding expert Dorie Clark, author of Reinventing You, Stand Out and Entrepreneurial You
