Resumes

Well-written resumes are your doorway to an interview. Don’t miss an opportunity to get the job you want! Your resume must reflect your achievements and potential contribution in a positive way. You need it to get past the gatekeeper and get them interested enough to invite you to an interview.

The ‘Gatekeeper’ Has Power!

The main goal of your résumé is get you an interview. The ‘gatekeeper’ (the person who goes through the resumes initially) will recommend a number of applications. Then it often happens that someone else will look at the résumés of those still being considered and will choose those he or she thinks should be interviewed.

In larger companies the ‘gatekeeper’ is often scanning software that is looking for keywords (included in the position description). The problem is that the computer can reject your application for reasons other than its content. Keep your layout simple to avoid this problem. Never use online templates for resumes.

Your Marketing Campaign

Your resume and cover letter (and sometimes your LinkedIn profile) are your entire marketing campaign! You are judged by the way you have presented yourself. Unless someone has recommended you, your chance of having an interview is not based on how nice you are as a person or even how good you are in your work role.

The length of an ideal résumé differs between countries. In some countries one page is appropriate whilst in Australia a résumé is usually two to three pages.

Your resume needs to show you to the best possible advantage, so use the keywords the recruiter or company is looking for and outline your achievements clearly.

Read our blog posts for job search help.

Read our many blog posts about how to write a good resume. Even resumes go through different trends. Don’t submit a resume that gives the impression you are old and out of date. Find out how best to shine the light on what you have to offer.

Articles

Common job search mistakes made by older workers March 31, 2021
There are 10 job search mistakes often made by older workers which cause them to miss out on opportunities for work that they want. This article will outline them for you but first, let’s not blame everything on age discrimination
Things Not to Include on a Resume September 27, 2019
The purpose of writing your resume is to get the prospective employer to invite you to an interview. However even people who understand this still try to capture their entire career-life history. This makes the really relevant information disappear into the background….Not a good idea! Your resume is your marketing. Only include in your resume what you ...
Resume Help for Baby Boomers September 12, 2019
If you are an older worker you may need some resume help to make sure you get that job that you want. You don’t want your resume to wreck your chances of job success.
Turning 13 Most Overused Resume Phrases to Achievement Statements August 17, 2019
Learn how you can give life to your resume by adapting the overused resume phrases into lively achievement statements. Giving examples of what you have already achieved provides much more impact in a resume than just listing your duties or responsibilities.
How To Change Jobs – 6 Tips That Will Help You Get a Better Job August 10, 2019
Your current job may not be giving you the satisfaction you want or your company may be undergoing a workforce reduction and you need to get another job fast. Changing jobs can be an overwhelming experience, but if you do it the right way, it will not cause stress to you. Learn how to change ...
5 Important Tips To Guide You In Writing Professional Resumes August 9, 2019
As an experienced professional, searching and getting another professional job with better benefits would be easier if you draft an impressive resume. You resume should be without any mistakes or faults and it should sell your skills to the person reading it even before the person meets you. Your resume should portray you in a ...
How to Write a Good Resume That Grabs Attention August 3, 2019
Your resume has two purposes: to get past the ‘gatekeeper’ and to get you an interview. Read on to find out how to achieve both these goals to get the job you want.
Executive Job Search? You’ll Need More Than a Resume July 25, 2019
Tips for Doing an Executive Job Search It might intrigue you to learn that you’ll be judged by more than just your resume during your executive job search. A full resume is most likely not going to be the only source of information that recruiters use to decide if you are the right person to be interviewed. Surprised? ...
Mastering The Job Search Process June 30, 2019
To master the job search process you need to understand how it has changed over the years. In the last two decades job seeking has changed. Competition for every role seems more competitive than ever. The prosperous decade of the 1990s, when jobs were plentiful and money (not to mention credit) was seemingly free flowing, was ...
Are Paper Resumes Dead? September 2, 2018
Today’s world is basically run via e-mail, text messaging and instant messenger. The advancement in such technologies has turned things that were traditionally printed on paper, like resumes, into digital forms as well. Most large companies even bill their clients via the internet, also known as online billing. According to a recent national survey, the ...
The 15 Most Deadly Resume Mistakes to Avoid August 13, 2017
What resume mistakes should you avoid doing? One of the most frequent question I receive is about resumes. More specifically, how to write a winning resume and what mistakes to avoid. So here I have gathered the 15 most common resume mistakes to avoid. Treating your resume as your life’s story and not as a sales document A ...
4 Tips to Prepare For Your Most Effective Job Interview June 27, 2017
It is so very important now, more than ever, to have yourself well-prepared for an interview. Here are some tips on how to prepare for job interview to help you present yourself in a positive light and get your prospective employer’s attention. Being well prepared will show interviewers your self-confidence and give you the opportunity ...
Career Portfolios – What it is and How it Can Help Land Jobs May 31, 2017
Why do you need a career portfolio? A career portfolio provides prospective employers with a tangible sample of accomplishments acquired across an individual’s employment life. Presenting a well prepared portfolio during an interview enhances a job candidate’s professionalism, and provides evidence of stated achievements. What should you put in your career portfolio? Education Educational items included in a career ...
6 FAQs and a Sample Template for Your Resume Reference Page May 5, 2017
It’s important to write a strong resume reference page, and to learn how to manage your references with ease. References on resume will ensure that you get what you need from them – their solid and unwavering recommendation for the job you want. 6 FAQs for Your Resume Reference Page Here are 6 frequently asked questions from ...
7 Outdated Myths That Will Kill Your Career Change Before You Start May 4, 2017
If you’re a career-changing Baby Boomer, you may feel like you’ve gotten lost with Dorothy in Oz. You’ve achieved success in your career. You’ve built skills and a strong work ethic. And now you’re ready to move on…and it’s not working. Many of my own clients tell me, “I haven’t had to look for a job ...
Let Your Resume Tell Why You Left Your Last Job April 8, 2017
It’s never fun to think about the awkward situations that you will run into when you reach the interviewing stage of the job application process. You never know exactly what will be asked, but you can anticipate – and sometimes that anticipation leaves you biting your nails off to say the least. This sentiment is ...
Know How and Why Using Keywords for Job Search is So Important April 1, 2017
Did you know that almost all of the popular job search websites will let users input keywords into the search engine while looking for job postings? How about trying to find a job in an area of the country or the world for that matter, did you know you could do your searches by entering ...
How to Write a Resume After a Career Break March 29, 2017
Even after a two week holiday, it can seem as if a lot has changed when you return from work. So it’s no wonder that most women returning to work after a career break feel that it is a daunting prospect indeed. Of course, you know that this time off has been anything but a time ...
How to Keep Your Age a Secret in an Executive Resume January 1, 2017
When you’re looking for an executive level job, chances are good that you’ve been working at your career for quite some time. As you know, when competing for work, especially in a strained economy, some employers choose to go with candidates who present a greater promise of longevity – something a seasoned professional may not ...
Words to Avoid in Your Resume March 18, 2016
What are the Words to Avoid in Your Resume? If you want to avoid being passed over for an interview, stay away from the dozens of “boilerplate” phrases littering thousands of resumes. Recruiters and H.R. reps are likely to move on to the next candidate’s resume after spotting a couple of terms like “results-oriented” and “go-to ...