How Resume Writing Impacts Your Job Search

By Darryl Strosnider

 Resume writing (specifically poor resume writing) is the second most common reason that people are not hired for positions regardless of their skills. The only reason that it comes in second is because the #1 reason people do not get the jobs they want is because they do not apply. Whether they doubt themselves or do not have the time, many people cut themselves from the running before they even get started by not applying to jobs.

Once you have gotten past self-doubt and are starting with the resume writing process, there are many different things to remember. There are dozens of different types of resumes, endless ways to write them, and thousands of gurus out there who will tell you that they have the secret to great resume writing. The big secret: there is not any. You simply need to approach resume writing with an informed mind and be willing to invest the time to master resume writing. Do this well and you will be on your way to career success in no time.

It does not matter what level you are at in a career; not having a unique and flawless resume almost guarantees failure in your job search. There are so many resume books and websites that there is no reason you could not prepare a proper resume that fits your career field. It is essential to remember that every resume will be different. If 111 people apply for a job and every resume looks identical, the employer will not be impressed and might not hire anybody. However, if one person takes the time to make his/her resume stand out from the rest, he/she will probably be first in line for an interview.

How do you make your resume stand out when you do not know what your competitors are doing? While you cannot know how others are approaching resume writing, you can however do everything you can to make yours as flawless as possible. First, avoid grammatical errors and use simple formatting with clear fonts and adequate spacing. Then work on other elements that will make your resume writing a success. For example, look for keywords in the job announcement and include them in your resume. That way, you will catch the attention of the employer. Also, if you use headlines and bold fonts (carefully) to emphasize central elements of your resume, you will create a way to stand out.

It does not matter what style of resume you are creating or what career you are at. All applicants must provide polished resumes that stand out from the crowd in order to make the best impression on a employers.