The days of a resume simply listing past jobs and education are long over. In today's competitive job market, your resume must do much more if you are going to secure an interview for the position and land the job. The resume is a marketing tool for job seekers and should be treated accordingly.
Every resume that is sent out should be written for the specific position that you are applying for. This means carefully matching your qualifications for the job with the requirements posted in the job listing. Give specific examples of how your past experience makes you an excellent candidate for the position. Career advisors will tell you to document your "home run" accomplishments. Instead of saying you were sales manager at a certain company; list how you tripled sales at such and such firm while managing a 10 person sales force.
The purpose of the resume is to get you noticed by the hiring manager. The document is your once chance to secure an interview and get the opportunity to sell yourself in person.
If you have any doubt at all over whether your resume is effective, consult a professional.
There are resume writers who can be hired to tell your story. While many of us may be self conscious about bragging on ourselves, a professional writer will make sure that you are portrayed in the best possible light.
If you have been sending out a number of resumes and have not been getting interviews, it may be time to consult a professional. Search for a firm with experience in resume writing and do not be afraid to ask for references. The best services assign a writer to work one on one with you to identify your talents and then put them down on paper. People who use services like resumewriters.org report that they have gone from getting interviews about once in every 20 times to 1 out of every 3. They have thousands of sample resumes on their web site to show examples that have worked for people in a wide variety of careers.
