Endless hours of toil, the struggle and intense focus, attention to every detail, tweaks and rewrites based on multiple rounds of feedback and criticism….. until a version as close to perfection as possible is achieved.
What could we possibly be talking about?
That’s right, it could only be one thing – it’s your resume!
In short, your resume is your initial handshake, your smile, your first impression to potential employers and hiring managers. You really want to make it count.
We all know that the competition to get a new job is intense, and some fields are tougher than others, so the time and effort spent on perfecting your resume is worth it in the end. However, if you think your resume will be the “golden ticket” to your next job, THINK AGAIN!
While it is true that an impressive resume can help open doors and put you in the running for a new job opportunity, even an absolutely perfect resume will not automatically guarantee you the job.
Your resume is a document designed to grab the attention of recruiters, hiring managers and potential employers, but it is up to YOU to seal the deal.
Remember they are looking to hire a person, not a piece of paper, so more than just your resume will be under scrutiny during the hiring process. While it is true that your resume can, and hopefully will, get employers interested, they will want to ensure you actually live up to the initial impression they got from reading your resume.
Furthermore, the competition you will face is just as hungry for the jobs you are going after and you better believe that many of their resumes will be perfect too.
So in a universe of impeccable resumes, the element that separates the winners from everyone else in the job-hunting game is what you bring to the table after your resume makes the initial impression.
If you are lucky enough to get to move forward in the hiring process, you are going to have to continue the job that your resume started. This means:
- Looking your best
- Demonstrating impeccable communication skills
- Instilling confidence that your skill set, experience and innate abilities match well with the job and the company culture
- Providing the impression you will be the perfect candidate to work alongside proving you are a valuable addition to their team
Here is the bottom line: It is definitely worth your time and effort to create a stellar resume specific to each employer you apply to. But if you’re really serious about landing the job opportunity, you need to pay just as much attention to ensuring you make as good of an impression as your resume does.
Don’t forget – your resume will get your foot in the door, it is up to the rest of you to land the job!
For more resourced on interviewing check out our JobSpot website Interview Tips page.