3 Resume Tips from a Top Career Coach
Careers are a funny thing. For some of us it’s a straight road: one company or one job path for our whole lives. For the majority, however, our background is more likely to look like a patchwork quilt. We set out in one direction and before we know it, we find ourselves turned around and pointed down another path. Your willingness to reinvent yourself will often dictate the longevity of your path, especially during a recession like the one we’ve been in.
The number one question that comes up for me, as a career coach, is how to incorporate a varied career history into a resume and still have it be effective. This week, I’ll be covering three of the most vital Resume Tips you’ll definitely need to embrace when renovating your resume.
#1. Take the time to tailor your resume for EACH job you want. You’re probably asking yourself, “Does Ms. Palmiere really mean to write a new resume for EVERY job application?” Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Why don’t most people get a call back when they send a resume? Because on paper they’re not the right fit. Taking the time to BE the right fit is the best investment you can make when job hunting. How do you do this? You READ the job ad, and then you read it again. Then, you literally use as many of their words and phrases as possible within the body of your resume (and your cover letter). *Extra Resume Tip: Be sure to save each version of your resume in a special folder on your computer with the company’s name – or simply email yourself a copy as you go along. This way, when a potential employer does reach out for an interview, you are sure to bring the correct version with you.
Finally, it’s absolutely VITAL to have a GREAT core resume to start with, and getting the help of a career coach to create this is easy, it’s often more affordable than you think, and it’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself – whether you’re out of work or not.
To your continued success for 2010!
Catherine Palmiere, CEIC, CPBA, CPCC, CPC, CTS, CSS
Adam Personnel, Inc (212) 557-9150
mailto:cpalmiere@adampersonnel.com