Our Experts | Karen Damm
You just hit the send key and your resume is on its way toward your next career opportunity, you’re sure to get an immediate callback, right? The hope is that the employer will read between the lines to see you are a perfect fit. But ultimately, it’s still just a resume and you’re not speaking directly to the position.
In today’s competitive job market, you really need to stand out from the thundering herd of people applying for the same positions. Don’t ever assume that the person on the other end can read between the lines and determine that you are fit.
With that in mind here is one tip that is sure to set you apart from the rest. It’s something I call a “profile questionnaire.” Here’s what you do:
Read through the job description and pull out all of the keywords and major requirements
Open up a new word document and take a moment to address the “when, why and how” of each requirement. Give as many details as you can about how you’re a great fit for the position.
Attach it to your resume, like a cover letter or any other supporting documents, and send it on over.
It may sound daunting at first, but if you are niched in your space you will see that most employers in your industry look for the same qualifications, which means with minimal tweaking you will be able to use this tool over and over.
This truly is your opportunity to brag about your expertise. It’s better to define everything you’ve done in detail because the one thing you leave out could be what’s most important for the position. Ignoring that one specific skill or experience could cost you the job, and especially when you’re applying to a large company that’s searching through thousands of resumes for specific keywords.
Do this, and you’ve elevated yourself to the next level. You’ve tailored your experience and made it completely relatable to the job you’re hoping to land.
