Squeaky Resumes Get The Oil Using Strategies

With limited human resources to field thousands of ordinary, if not dreadfully boring and poorly prepared resumes, everyday, it presents a challenge for job seekers to get noticed. So what kind of resume marketing and job search strategies should you use to get better results?

Strategy #1: Develop a branded, creative, and accomplishment-focused resume

Before you write your resume or engage with a resume writer, have must have a vision for the kind of position you are interested in and a crystallized understanding of what you have to offer an employer in terms of tangible skills and transferable achievements that illustrate how you’ve made a difference in past positions. For example, a new procedure that you created and implemented that sped up processing time, ensured quality, or saved money in the short or long run.

Once these things are clear as a bell, setup your resume with their needs and your goals in mind. Start at the top by writing a branding statement that defines who you are (such as CYBER SECURITY EXPERT — Specialized in Protecting Digital Assets for The Financial Services Industry” followed by a narrative that outlines the industries you come from, the types of positions you’ve held, and what you are especially good at doing. Organize the keyword-infused information into small sections with sub-headings to make it visually appealing and organized.

Present your actual experience and achievements in an effective way, either using mini overview statements followed by selected achievements, crafting task-specific sections to establish a theme that will showcase your unique skills or using charts to design a modern looking resume. Regardless of the approach, explain the roles you’ve held providing solutions and the positive outcomes — either situational or measurable (or both!).

Strategy #2 – Pull out all stops to get noticed by leveraging technology

Use a QR Code on your resume so the reader can easily navigate to your LinkedIn page, your online resume portfolio or to a video where they can meet you face-to-face. To create a QR Code, visit https://www.qrstuff.com/

Create a “thank you” video instead of a thank you note. You can email them the link to the video. It will save time and make a great impression. You can use your laptop’s built-in camera and media software to create your video the same way you would create a YouTube video. Then create a blog page or, ideally, a WordPress site specifically for your job search efforts. You can temporarily disable it once you start a new job.

Sign up at LinkedIn and create a Profile that includes a Summary (bio, top half) and resume section (second half) that will attract recruiters and hiring managers searching for talent like you. The will ask for your resume, so make sure you have it ready to go. Be sure the file name is your name + job title. For example, Resume >> John Smith — Director of Cyber Security. Use other job boards too, such as Indeed.com, Monster.com, and Careerbuilder.com.

Strategy #3 – It has been said a billion times, but it never gets old: network, network, network!

Many great job opportunities are hidden or are so competitive that you have to compete with everyone and their dog (just kidding, unless it’s a commercial or print ad for dogs and their owners). Once your resume is ready to go, you need to tell everyone you meet that you are looking for a particular type of job. Notice I didn’t just say any kind of job. You need to make it perfectly clear to them what you do and what you are looking to do. Then, if they tell you about an opportunity at their company, make sure you email them your resume ASAP and follow up.

Nowadays, many job seekers limit their job search to job boards such as the aforementioned. Although job boards are vitally important to your job search strategy, they are not half as powerful as networking. Of course, apply both job search strategies simultaneously to maximize your results!

Last, but not least, is to think outside of the box. This could be as simple as finding local companies from the Yellow Pages directory (book or online) to see if they have a need for a certain type of employee – like you! But first you will need to go get past the receptionist (aka gatekeeper). Be creative, but do not come across as a blatant schemer because it could backfire on you. Instead, use phrasing that could be taken different ways. If you are force to be clear, then be completely honest. For example, call the company mid-morning on a Tuesday (Mondays and Fridays are bad days) and ask for the name of the personnel manager or HR manager. Then call back on Thursday and say, “Hi, this is John Smith. May I please speak with Mary Jones – I’m calling to follow up on my call from Tuesday” If they ask what it is in reference to, say that it is personal, because it really is. Or, say that it is in reference to the IT position (that you are going to inquire about!) and keep it at that. When the HR person comes to the call, be short and sweet. Simply let them know that you appreciate them taking your call and wanted to see if they would be willing to put your resume on file in the event the might need someone to fill the IT position that you are highly qualified for (and which you know their company always needs). It is critical that you are short, to the point, and define the job title that you know they would hire for vs. “a job”.

In short, break the mold, be proactive, and keep the reader in mind!

To your success!

About The Author:

Ann Baehr is a CPRW and President of Best Resumes of New York. Notable credentials include her former role as Second Vice President of the NRWA and contribution to 25+ resume and cover letter sample books. To learn more visit https://bestresumesofnewyork.com