Is Your Resume Landing Interviews for You?

December 16, 2024Wendy Terwelp 2 Comments

If you’ve been sending hundreds of resumes and not getting interviews, here’s how to get better results.

Question: “I have been sending resumes, cover letters, and following up with phone calls, yet I haven’t been called for an interview. Can you help me?”

Answer: Yes, I can help you. Here’s the first step: Are you clear on the job title you want to pursue?

Not “any” job, but a specific job title that aligns with your career goals.

If this is not clearly stated on your resume, you may get passed over by an employer’s applicant tracking system. Or even LinkedIn, when using Easy Apply if the search terms don’t align with your desired job.

Your desired job title is a critical keyword an employer’s applicant tracking system will search for when screening through the hundreds of resumes they receive. Job titles are keywords; when you’re applying online, ensure your resume is specific and meets the qualifications listed in the job post.

Plus, listing your desired job title on your resume tells the reader you know exactly what you want to do and that you’re not expecting the hiring manager or recruiter to decide what position would interest you.

Focus creates opportunities.

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Next, take a closer look at your resume and have two or three friends do so.

Be objective. When you read your resume, can you change your name and put someone else’s name on it?

For example, if you are an instructional designer, does your resume look like every other instructional designer’s resume but with different years of experience? If so, it’s time for an update.

If you wish to use AI to help you with your resume, ensure you are using effective prompts to help you identify the keywords in the job post against your professional experience. Do the job description and keywords align with your experience?

Because AI pulls from multiple sources, it can make your resume generic and not capture your personality or your quantified, specific achievements. Only you can do this because your resume needs to be compelling enough to stand out and gain the attention of your prospective employer.

Differentiate yourself by using strong achievement statements on your resume. When writing achievement statements, use the CAR framework. CAR stands for Challenge, Action, Result. Ensure results are quantified. Did your initiative save money? Make money? Improve productivity? Provide a measurable outcome. This framework addresses the question employers ask when reviewing resumes, “Why should I hire you?” And “Will I get a return on my investment in this candidate’s salary?”

Ensure your resume uses a “what’s in it for them” focus rather than a “what’s in it for me” focus.

Be Strategic With Your Job Search Method

Third, how are you conducting your job search? Are you only answering online job postings on job boards, LinkedIn, and company websites?

Or, this is key, are you sending your resume directly to a decision-maker?

Search strategy matters.

Follow Up the Right Way

Kudos to our Reader for following up on the resumes they’ve been sending.

Your fourth tip is to assess how the follow-up calls are structured and the timeframe for the call.

A good time to follow up is three to seven days from when you sent your resume.

If you decide to make a call, make it intriguing. Do not say, “Hi, I’m calling to check if you got my resume.” Boring!

A better way is to get the name and contact information of the decision-maker for your role. You can then make a direct call using this format:

“Xena Smith? It’s Jo Friday. I’m calling regarding the resume I submitted for the ID position on [date]. I’m very interested in this role.

[Compelling reason for the interviewer to call you back.] When I researched your company, I saw that you have high growth in specific business units, requiring constant hiring for those units. Onboarding is a core area of my expertise. In the past year, I revamped our onboarding process, getting new employees up to speed in 45 days versus 90. I’d like to do the same or better for you. Please call me between 2 and 4 p.m. Tuesday, and I’d be glad to answer any of your questions.”

Using this strategy, you indicate your value, interest in the position, AND the best time to reach you. This technique also helps avoid playing phone tag.

If you’re emailing a follow-up note, use a script similar to the above and include a link to your scheduling app. This saves the back-and-forth. Also, include a backup copy of your resume so it’s fresh in their mind.

When you follow up using either strategy above, you provide a compelling reason for the employer to call you back.

I look forward to hearing your results.

Want More Help?

If you’d like more help with your job search, get my free “Get Hired Faster” guide today.

Wendy Terwelp, Founder of Opportunity Knocks of Wisconsin, is an executive career coach who writes, speaks, and coaches professionals to go from passed over to promoted. She’s helped thousands of professionals land jobs, get salary increases, and earn promotions through her work. Ready for your next big gig? Let’s talk!

Note: A variation of my post first appeared in ATD’s blog.

Rock Your Network®: Never Burn a Bridge

October 18, 2023October 29, 2023Wendy Terwelp 4 Comments

Nick picked up a copy of my book when I spoke to his MBA class. He wrote me an email about the action he took after reading “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers” and his terrific result – a new dream gig!

“Wendy,

I found your book very helpful when trying to find a job that would make me happy and allow me to do something I was “into.” I went to LinkedIn and read my friend M’s profile. In her description, she said she “loved” her job. From there, I was very proactive. Instead of Facebook messaging, LinkedIn, or email, I just picked up the phone and asked M to tell me exactly what she did for a living and how she and her parents started this fundraising company.

[Editor’s note: Woo hoo! See how Nick researched online, then reached out to make that personal connection by picking up the phone and reconnecting with his friend?]

Our phone conversation lasted about a half hour, and from there, she said she’d put me in contact with a local rep. All of a sudden she called me back and had set up a ride-a-long. The ride-a-long went terrific, and from there her parents (the owners) of the company called me and flew me to Minnesota to see the operation and meet me. After two days, I went home with an offer. Within the following week, I accepted the offer…! After I accepted, they flew me in to meet the entire sales group and staff for the end-of-the-season sales meeting (4 hours) and to introduce me to the company!

It was a crazy journey getting this job, but I CAN’T wait to start. I basically just used “networking” as the sole reason I got this job. I kept in touch with an old friend that I was really close with but didn’t see often. That ended up being enough and proved you should never burn a bridge. They also liked that I sought out M, NOT asking for a job, but asking to learn about what they do. From there I acted the part, whether it be dressing for the part when they picked me up from the airport to just being very proactive throughout this process. It’s crazy like you said in your book, how many jobs come from networking, compared to online postings. I guess I just want to say thanks because your book just gave me the confidence to not be afraid to pursue something that I believed in for a career!”

YEAH! You rock Nick! Nick wanted me to share his networking story with everyone – and he’ll be in the next edition of my book, Rock Your Network®. The bold items are my edits.

Here are the exact steps Nick took to land his new gig:

1. Reviewed his LinkedIn connections and read the profiles to identify people with interesting jobs he’d like to learn more about. (Research)

2. Picked up the phone! And reconnected personally. (Reach out)

3. Asked about his friend’s career to learn more about it. He did NOT ask for a job.

4. Shared common interests. This led to the additional connection with a local sales rep.

5. Took action – went on the ride-along and, as he said, “dressed the part.” He acted as if he already had the gig.

6. Never burned a bridge. Maintained relationships.

7. Was a go-getter. Nick took action and initiative, which got him results: a NEW JOB.

Call to action: Which of Nick’s steps can you take right now? Go for it – and share your story! I’d love to have your story in the next edition of my book, like Nick. Let’s roll!

Want more networking tips? Grab a copy of Rock Your Network®.

Wendy Terwelp, author of Rock Your Network®, writes, speaks, and coaches on career management, networking, social media, and personal branding. Need a speaker for your association, company, or private coaching to rock your career? Let’s talk!

Top 10 Secrets to Turn Networking Pain to Career Gain

December 30, 2015April 7, 2016Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

It’s not what you know; it’s who you know that gets you hired or promoted. We’ve all heard this phrase so many times our ears are bleeding, right? Here are the facts: more than 70% of people land new jobs through networking. And, according to CareerXroads Source of Hire Study, 41% land through internal promotions or movement. With that in mind, here are 10 secrets to turn your networking pain into career gain:

Know yourself and your personal brand: Are you hip, trendy, and cool? If you are, then the networking group you join should match your style and your attitude. Sure, you want to meet different types of people to successfully manage your career, but you also want them to “get you.” And you want them to be fun to work with, right?
Know what you want: when you attend a networking event, what is it you want from the event? Contacts? Referrals? Ideas? Notice I didn’t say “job.” Unless of course you’re networking at a job fair. The goal for networking is to create relationships that can help you propel your career in the direction of your overall goals.
Know what you bring to the table that no one else does– what makes you or your qualifications unique among your competitors? “I’m a people person” is not a unique skill set.
Know your audience: who needs to know about you to help you reach your goals? Does this networking organization serve your audience? Does it have members who are your audience? If not, it’s probably not the group for you. What groups should you join? Join at least three types groups. 1) A peer group for brainstorming, education, commiserating, and more importantly for creating referral or alliance partners; 2) Prospects: a group that is your ideal target market or knows your ideal target market; 3) professional business group or leads group. Hiring decision-makers often Google your name before meeting with you. A professional organization can boost your online presence as they often have a membership listing on their website.
Know that the more you give, the more you get. It’s not all about you. You’ve got to fuel your network to fire it up!™ How can you help your new contacts?
Know how to start a conversation. Develop at least 3 open-ended questions you can ask a person in your new networking group. And it’s not: “Hey, know anyone who’s hiring?”
If you’re shy, know that it’s A-OK to team up with a friend to attend events and meet new people. Networking becomes easier when you can introduce your friend first and then yourself when meeting new people.
Know when a group’s a great fit for your career goals – and when it is not. When you think about writing off a group, you want to think about how profitable the group is for you. And I don’t necessarily mean in terms of revenue. With some groups you’ll know after the first meeting it’s not a good fit; others take time to gel. For example, if you’re active in the group and meeting the right people, it may be a good fit. The goal is not to collect business cards; the goal is to build relationships that grow with you, your career, and your business. It comes down to this, if you are not building relationships in the group, and you’re just going for the food, it’s not a good fit. Follow up on those business cards.
Know that in order to make the most of a group you’ve got to take an active role. Networking is more than just showing up. Joining a networking group is a commitment.
Know that networking is simply having a conversation with friends. Following these steps takes away the pain for your career gain.

Keep in mind, networking is a two-way street. A good networker gives to their network, maintains their network, and builds a positive, ongoing business relationship. Enjoy building your network and taking your career to the next level.

© 1998 – 2015 • Wendy J. Terwelp • All rights reserved.
Wendy Terwelp is president of Opportunity Knocks™ of Wisconsin, LLC, a career management and personal branding firm that helps you get hired faster and be a rock star at work. Learn how to rebuild your network 5 minutes a day with Wendy’s book, Rock Your Network® .

Easy 5-minute Tips to Make Your Network Thrive

September 25, 2014December 12, 2015Wendy Terwelp 5 Comments

No time to network? Have you got five minutes?

Here are some quick tips to stay top of mind with your network and make it thrive.

1. Get Social: Set a specific purpose and time limit for your social media activities each day. This helps you avoid overwhelm or distraction (hey check out this link, which leads to that link, which leads to …). In your specified time frame, take a moment and tweet a reply to one of your followers. Have you read a great post on LinkedIn or Facebook? Hit the “like” button and share it with your connections.

2. Repurpose: Are you reading a great blog post or article you feel would benefit your network? Tweet a link or post a link to the story with a brief descriptor on LinkedIn or Facebook. Or if it’s relevant to only one or two people in your network versus the entire group, send a link to the story in an email: “Saw this article and thought you might find it helpful.”

3. Align networking with things you’re already doing: Going to a football game? Whether it’s the pros or your kids, game time is a great time to network. You’re sharing a common interest, which makes starting a conversation easy.

4. Make a plan: Going to a networking event or conference? Set a goal to meet at least three new people.

5. Create a dynamic, branded sound bite: Doing so helps you quickly address, “So, what do you do?” Check out chapter 5 of my book, Rock Your Network®, for a quick three-step formula to create a sound bite that helps you network with ease and confidence. Got a business? Shark Tank’s Daymond John says, you better be able to distill your brand down to two to five words. Are you ready for your next big gig?

Now that you have your networking plan, sound bite, and goals, you’re prepared for networking anytime, anywhere, I’d love to hear your networking stories and tips. Feel free to share in the comment section. Go get ’em!

Recruiter LinkedIn Secret: Follow Companies Where…

January 24, 2013January 24, 2013Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

Guest Expert, George Blomgren,
MRA, The Management Association

The other day, a recruiter colleague shared a tip with me. He told me that when a candidate applies for a job with his company, if that candidate otherwise looks qualified, he looks to see if the candidate is following his company on LinkedIn. If not, he won’t consider that candidate.

Rather an extreme attitude, but it illustrates a best practice. Recruiters assume that the main reason you follow a company on LinkedIn is that you want to work there. Smart recruiters use their company’s followers on LinkedIn as the “low hanging fruit” for their hiring needs. Take a moment to follow the companies you want to work for!

Editor’s note: Great tip George! The same holds true if you want to get on a company’s radar for your business. And if you’re running a business and want to attract great employees, ensure your company has a company page on LinkedIn.

George Blomgren is the Director of Recruiting Solutions for MRA – The Management Association. George has 20+ years of talent acquisition (aka recruiting), MarComm, IT, and operations experience.

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