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by Becky Cole
To be successful in finding a job in the current economy, take a second look at your resume, and learn to re-think what you are saying in it. Use your resume to market your skills and abilities, rather than just a listing of where you have worked over the past few years.
List your accomplishments, instead of the job functions. Following are some examples of how to re-word your resume:
| If it states this: | Consider This: |
| Answered Phones | Answered an average of 15 calls per hour. |
| Cashier | Rang up sales of 20 or more customers per hour. |
| Project Management | Coordinated workflow for three projects simultaneously. |
| Sales | Acquired three new customers per month for 12 months in a row. |
| Learn Quickly | Successfully learned proprietary software system in two months. |
Make sure what you put is truthful information, but think about it from the employers perspective. Which person would you rather consider hiring - the one who just worked in sales or the one who brought in three new customers every month?
Learn the language
An increasing number of employers are using software to scan resumes to help them determine who to consider for an interview. The software looks for specific words and phrases that are important to the employer, and then ranks the resume according to the set criteria. However, even if there is a human who will do the initial screening, using their language will show them you are serious about wanting the job.
Even if you are applying within the same industry, it is a mistake to assume that all employers use the same word to mean the same thing. For example, take the job title, "administrative assistant." To one employer it may mean someone who schedules appointments and types correspondents. To another, it means the person runs the office.
Learning the language will also help you to decide whether or not you want to apply for the job, as well, especially if you are crossing industries. Say you were a clinic supervisor in the healthcare field, and now you want to apply for an office manager position in an IT consulting field. The new job requires you to handle payroll, something your previous job didn’t. Are you interested in learning how to do this, or will this be a deal-breaker for you?
Speak to the needs of the employer
Get rid of the idea that there is a "one size fits all" resume. Each resume you send out should be addressing the needs of the employer to whom you are sending it. If you are interested in that job, it is up to you to market yourself to them. This means including only those things that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. Don’t include that you can run a three-minute mile, unless you are applying for a position as a track coach.
To help you sort this out, take a look at the job description they have provided. Make a column for each of the functions they have listed. Then in each column, list where and how you have accomplished that with a previous employer. The things you have listed in these columns are what should be on your resume for that particular job. If you have a gap under one of the headings, decide how you are able and/or willing to address this. Are you comfortable with learning a new skill? If not, then this might not be the right job for you.
Be honest about it, too. Don’t just make up something because you think it is what they want to hear. If you shine in all the other areas, they may be willing to call you in for an interview anyway.