If You're SO Good, How Come Your Resume's SO Bad?

Earlier today, I received a phone message from a caller who offered this:

A recruiter just said these words to me: If you're so good, how come your resume is so bad? Apparently, the recruiter had gone on to say to the caller that he was having a hard time figuring out the candidate's resume story.

Is your resume working for you, or against you? Is your resume helping you generate interviews or is it hurting your chances of getting hooked up with a potential employer? Are you making it easy for someone to get you and your story, or are you making it hard for yourself to get noticed in a sea of talent?

Small things. Big things. Details. Things you don't even know that you're doing can get you ruled out and the bad news, sad news for you is this: you don't even know it! You don't even know that time and again your resume gets passed over by what you don't say, by what you don't include, by what you don't express. Therefore, it is no surprise that you can't and won't get noticed by virtue of what you are and aren't doing. Here's a quick exercise you can do as a self-check of your resume:

Take a look at your existing resume document, then ask yourself these five simple questions in a matter of five seconds - GO!

1. Will the reader know within one second my name and how to get in touch with me?

2. Will the reader know within one second my target goal?

3. Will the reader know within one second why I can do the job I say I am interested in doing?

4. Will the reader know within one second where I'm currently working (or most recently worked) and my bottom-line contributions and career successes?

5. Will the reader know within one second the nature and extent of my education?

Stop! Time's up -- your five seconds are over. Did you pass go? Are you in or out, from the reader's perspective? Even if you allot five seconds per question, the point is, your resume reader doesn't have a lot of time to devote to figuring you out. Maybe they're overwhelmed with other resumes, e-mails, information, text, paperwork, documentation, meetings, and who knows what else. What can you do to make the reader's life less complicated, not more complicated as it pertains to you and your resume story?

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Will Robinson]

Many (most) have a hard time marketing themselves. One of the problems is that many folks feel that marketing is 'easy'. (It was recently explained to me this way "everyone thinks they can sell, and marketing is like selling, so everyone thinks they can market"). Unfortunately, this results in folks believing that 'the format' of your resume is the same as 'the message'. Too often people simply pick a resume format that they like and do a 'search and replace'. So even if they pass your 'five second' test, the messaging in their resume could still be off/confusing.

Regards,

Will @ virtualjobcoach.com

[Steve]

Great post. Maybe you could help out at our Free Job Search forum http://www.thesameboat.com - You seem to be very knowledgeable about resumes and job hunting.

Thanks!

[Resume Service]

Great article Billie. The recruiter was a little harsh in his response to the client, but I get where he’s coming from. The resume should grab the employer's attention within a few seconds or else it's into the trash! Employers are distracted enough, so telling a good "resume story" right from the very beginning will hook the reader and draw them in. Again, great article and excellent advice.

Resume to Referral
Resume and Career Services
http://www.resumebycprw.com

[Nick]

Very crisp and no non-sense view on how the resume is perceived. I just did a resume for a project engineer, as I read the article I answered all the questions. I think have done an excellent job.

Nick
www.resumesolutions.com.au

[Marsha Keeffer]

The timeline may be too short, but the point is well-taken - resumes are skimmed. If your information is well-presented and the content right, then the resume gets read.

It's important to nail the narrative so the reader understands the achievements and what the candidate brings. This is also how an organized resume helps a candidate tell her story.

[Louisa]

Great post! I work as a recruiter in Boston for Hollister (www.hollisterstaff.com/?=451) and am always looking for some great new resume tips for my clients. I love the 5 questions you outlined, I am going to start asking them to my clients. Thanks again!

[billiesucher]

Will -- good point. No question about it; the resume message has to be clear and credible, regardless of the number of seconds someone devotes to it.

Steve -- thanks for the link to the Free Job Search Forum...will check it out.

Teena -- as always, thanks for taking time to make a comment.

Nick -- sounds like you did a great job for your client; always a good feeling.

Marsha -- amen! to resumes are skimmed! Thanks for your comments.

Louisa -- glad you found the questions helpful! Appreciate your feedback.

~ billiesucher