Almost every client I work with has some nuances to their search. Really, aren’t we all a little diverse in our experiences? Interestingly, for the ones who are not, that’s always the biggest roadblock in their pursuit of happiness…they are stuck in a box and can’t get out.
For the rest of you, the challenge is this. How do I create a resume that will allow me to apply to lots of different jobs? Do I need lots of different resumes?
It’s a doozy, right?
Here’s the deal. Applying to jobs is time-consuming. No one is organized enough to maintain 7 different resumes and keep track of changes you make, then apply that across each. If you are, you should immediately change your career focus to professional organizer!
What I do with my clients is work with them to identify their professional brand. Figure out that particular brand of awesome that makes them different, what sets them apart from the competition, and then – most importantly – how to sell it and to whom.
It can be daunting (torturous, even) to work on things like this alone. Endless evaluation and self-examination, comparing yourself to the competition, figuring out the competition, back to the self-evaluation. It’s exhausting!
Then how do you apply to different jobs – what are the keywords from the job description that need to be in your resume to attract the right recruiters?
Before you know it, you’re stuck on a hamster wheel, running around and around in circles.
How do you get off? Simple! Stop focusing all your attention on the online job market.
- Differentiate yourself with a powerful resume. Create a resume that is unique and that clearly articulates your value, then quantifies the results that come from that value.
- Start building a strong network. Once the job hits the open market, it likely has already been filled. Only 20% of jobs are filled through online application.
- Don’t apply for jobs that you are not qualified for! Just because you “could” do that job, doesn’t mean someone you have never met will contact you to interview you for it. If your dream job is a reach job, you need to work that from another angle. The job boards will not work for you.
- Stop obsessing over your resume. Work with a certified and proven expert, invest in yourself, and then focus your efforts on your search strategy. Instead of tweaking your resume every hour, spend that same 15 minutes on LinkedIn, using the powerful search feature to find 5 hiring managers. Reach out to them!
While your resume is always a work in progress, it’s only 1 component of your search. If done right, it should be very easily customized for different opportunities. The trap that many people fall into is focusing only on the resume because it feels controllable.
I challenge you to flip the script! Take control of EVERY aspect of your job search. Start building a rich network with connections that will enable you to access jobs before they hit the open market. Take control of your personal brand – don’t let others interpret what you are and what you can do. Make it easier for people to help you find your next opportunity by getting clear on what you are great at and where you can add the most value.
Book an intro call to learn more so we can get started creating your story – https://calendly.com/rhresumes
Most of my advice is around “how to’s”. How to write a resume. How to optimize LinkedIn. How to demonstrate your value to an employer. While all of this is very important, like anything else, the “how not to’s” can be equally as critical.
