Do You Think Your Resume Is Effective?

Did you write a resume, write a cover letter, and spend hours sending them out? Have you been sending out resumes by the dozen only to get no reply? Are you sending out resumes to jobs you know you are qualified for but not getting even a chance at an interview? Do your abilities match up well with every job you have been applying to? If so, you might be wondering how you write an effective resume that gets results.

There are many reasons that this could be happening to you – and no matter the reason, there is no question that a lengthy, unsuccessful job hunt is frustrating. Even if you are still currently employed and just looking around because you want to make a move, it can be disheartening to spend time on applications, resumes, and cover letters only to get no response. This is especially true in today’s job market. It can be extremely frustrating when you do not get a call, whether you are looking for an entry-level position or an executive position.

The answer might not be your resume, but it certainly does not hurt to start by taking a hard, analytical look at the resume you are sending in to prospective employers. Writing your resume is hard, and it does not hurt to take a second look guided by questions from an objective professional resume writer. As a resume writer, I often run across quite a few red flags. Let’s go through a few questions that can help you assess where your resume may be going wrong, and how you can better show a potential employer that you are a top candidate.

Does My Resume Still Have A Career Objective Statement?

If it does, strike it out and replace with either a skills section, a career summary statement or a personal branding statement. A career objective statement talks about what you want from the employer, while a summary statement, a personal branding statement are both geared toward how your skill set and experience are qualifications that can benefit the employer.

Have I Proofread My Resume? Has Someone Else?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, that is a problem. Spellcheck is not God, and what you think you are saying clearly you simply may not be. By the third time you read or rewrote your resume, you are probably sick of it and reading what you want it to say. Have a friend (or two, or three) read it over. If they find typos or grammatical errors that you missed, that could very well be a reason you are not getting interview calls. Even though it’s a phrase I advise you not to use directly on your resume, it’s still important that you are detail-oriented, and errors on your resume are a quick way to let a hiring manager know you didn’t take all the time you could have on this important document.

Is My Resume ATS-Optimized?

If it has been awhile since you have applied for work, this question might make you say, “huh?” and you’re not alone.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, a common method used by employers to weed out resumes based on keywords using a computer program. Before your resume even gets near a human’s eyes at many companies, it has to get through a computer first. There are two important factors make your resume ATS friendly. The first is clean formatting and the second is buzz words.

When I mention clean formatting, I simply mean no crazy fonts, no lines, shaded areas and only one page. When I mention buzz words I am referring to a special list of words that the computer system has been programmed to pick up. Which words are on that coveted list? Depending on the job you are applying for there can be 5 – 25 words that the ATS is looking for. I can assure you that “go-getter” AND “detail oriented” are not on that list. I speak to hiring managers all of the time and I have some key insights into this system. I wrote a previous blog on the subject of the ATS system that you should definitely check out.

Are You Showing Or Telling?

Does your resume tell the story of your experience and your accomplishments along the way, or is it just one long list that tells an employer you have these qualities or that experience? A prospective employer wants to see results; they don’t just want to hear you call yourself results-driven, or successful, or an expert. Use numbers. Share achievements. SHOW what you have done, do not just claim to have done it.

Do you have a sentence in your work experience section that reads something like this: “Skilled at growing revenue within certain product line”?

Good for you – but I could claim that too and no potential employer would know the difference. Instead, write something like this: “Adopted new sales tactics resulting in increased revenue growth by 125% over 5 years.”

If you just have years of experience listed and think that is enough to tell how good you are at your work, you’re wrong. Years of experience do not say anything except how long someone is able to sit behind a desk or stand in an operating room. We have all worked with people just biding their time before retirement. Couple your years of experience with achievements and growth in relevant skills to demonstrate that you are always working to achieve, and in doing so, are helping your employer achieve their goals.

Ready to go? Get Analyzing

Even if you have had a call or two or a couple of interviews, it does not hurt to assess your resume and what might need to be changed. Even if you have a few different versions of your resume, you may find that one is weaker than the others are and small adjustments can make a big difference. A strong resume may reap big benefits from some keyword adjustments that help with ATS optimization, and a weak resume may need a lot more work – but in the end, it is worth it. After all, the time you put into your resume now is an investment in your career.

If you would like a professional assessment of your resume and help writing a resume that is powerful and impactful and gets the attention of hiring managers, contact me at richardfruscione@hotmail.com . My professional resume writing service provides personalized service so that you receive a resume tailored to your career needs. If you have not already done so, please like, follow, comment on and share my Facebook Page:

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If you are actively looking for work or you are preparing for an interview, I strongly recommend you check out my blog at:

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