Resume Writing

Is Your Resume Landing Interviews for You?

Wendy 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.

Recruiter Secrets to What Employers Want

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

George_Blomgren_med - picGuest Expert, George Blomgren,
MRA, The Management Association

What are employers looking for in candidates these days? That depends a lot on the company and the jobs for which they are hiring. Here are two common trends:

The first won’t come as a surprise. Companies are hiring because they are swamped. They are so desperately in need of additional staff they have  limited resources to train new staff. With this in mind, employers look for candidates who can hit the ground running — or as close to that as possible. This means they aren’t willing to deviate much from the requirements defined in the job description or posting. It also means they are looking for evidence that candidates can adapt to change and to new challenges. (Today 20 years in the same job at the same employer is no longer viewed as a good thing!)

The second trend may come as a surprise. Employers aren’t looking to hire superstars – that is, candidates who distinguished themselves as star performers in previous positions. They assume those candidates have peaked and now it’s all downhill. Rather, they are looking to hire candidates who have yet to peak. The candidate who is really ready to take that next step in their career and take things to the next level. For candidates with diverse backgrounds, who may have felt defensive explaining how their background fits together, this can be especially beneficial. If you can create a compelling case to an employer on why your diverse work experience makes you uniquely qualified for the position, you may get the job!

As a recruiter, I look for evidence of these things in your resume and your cover letter, and of course during interviews. But first and foremost, I look for it on your LinkedIn profile.

George Blomgren is the  Director of Recruiting Solutions for MRA – The Management Association. George has 20+ years of talent acquisition (aka recruiting),  and operations experience. Prior to joining MRA, George ran the advertising and marketing department for a fast-growing network of local employment websites.

Resume Tip: Accomplishments Rule

Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

What are employers and recruiters looking for on resumes?

Accomplishments. Accomplishment statements grab an employer’s attention.

Recruiters say, “Past performance predicts future productivity.” Accomplishment statements also demonstrate that an employer will quickly recoup their investment in your annual salary when the company hires you.

Do not fill your resume with fluff such as weak summary paragraphs (“20 years’ experience”), unsubstantiated adjectives (“significantly increased”), or clichés (“dynamic, results-getting professional”).

Instead, use specifics. Employers want to see numbers, specifically numbers that demonstrate cost savings, revenue increases, productivity improvements, etc. Numbers that contribute to the company’s bottom line in some manner.

One staffing firm CEO said, “Put a BENEFIT STATEMENT into your resume – something that speaks of how you 1) made the company money, 2) saved the company money, or 3) streamlined procedures. Years of experience are immaterial and may indicate that you are just “old.”

Companies want to know what kind of contribution you can make to their success – not how many years you’ve been working.”

Here are some questions to ask yourself about each of your jobs, special projects, and other activity beyond standard job duties:

  1. How much additional revenue was generated?
  2. By what percentage did productivity improve?
  3. How much money was saved? (Describe the project and the savings.)
  4. By what percentage was turnaround improved?
  5. How many labor hours were saved?
  6. Onboarding improved by ________ percentage?
  7. Improved employee retention by ______, through ______________.
  8. 6. _________________ went from ___________ to _______________ after employees completed ____________________ training program.

The ability to provide “before and after” results is a strong way to demonstrate and communicate your value.

Challenge: Review your current resume. Have you provided specific information about your results? If not, get the numbers and add them to your document. Track the responses to your new, accomplishment-driven resume.

Need more help with your resume and your job search? Check out “Rock Your Job Search.”

©1998 – 2023 Wendy Terwelp | All rights reserved.

Wendy Terwelp is an award-winning career coach and personal branding strategies whose clients regularly win raises, promotions, and jobs. Want to advance your career? Let’s talk!

Job Search: Make it Simple

Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

I saw this article in today’s JSOnline and something clicked:

Boys’ invention is worth its salt

November 11, 2008 12:35 a.m. | Why didn’t we think of it? That’s how Ariens Co. engineers reacted when they first saw the snow-thrower accessory invented by sixth-grade students Matt Moran and Sam Hipple. »Read Full Article

———

Now that you’ve read the story, think about your own job search. Have you made things too complicated? Here are 5 tips to simplify your search:

1. The Networking Monster: Have you created a networking monster? “Hey, know anyone who’s hiring?” – that’s the monster I’m talking about. Check out our newsroom for tips to tame the monster and make your networking efforts simple, easy, and FUN.

2. The Long Boring Resume: Is your resume filled with complex language, industry jargon, and other non-essentials that make it 5 pages long? Pass it around to your friends. If they ask you to explain things or look confused, it’s too long, too complex, and too boring. Trim the fat. Focus on results. Accomplishments demonstrate your value and the employer’s potential ROI on their investment in hiring you.

3. The Drama Queen — or King: Are you whining about your situation to everyone? Remember attitude is everything. It’s OK to express your opinion and grieve for your job loss, but then turn it around. “I always hire attitude over experience,” said one human resources director. “Skills can always be learned.”

4. The Over-Engineered Process: Are you making the job search process so complex that you’re afraid to start? Are you making excuses? (You can’t start until you’ve completely updated your contact database… You can’t start until you have the perfect interview suit… You can’t start because…) Take action and do one thing for your search now! A baby step is better than no step.

5. The View from the Pigeonhole: Target your career focus and your search, but don’t limit yourself to the methods you use in the process. Networking is the No. 1 way people land new gigs. BUT there are many ways to tap your network – both online and off. Contact companies cold. Talk to recruiters. Post your resume online – and follow up. Snail mail your resume to decision-makers – and follow up. Paste your resume into company website application forms – and follow up.

Now is the time to simplify. Take action. One small step in your job search is one giant step toward YOUR new dream gig!

Let us know your favorite – and simple – job search step. Share your stories with us – and inspire others!

Copyright 2008 * Wendy Terwelp