Getting a job is not rocket science, but the VAST amount of conflicting information published on the internet can make the job hunt confusing. One of the biggest causes of confusion is the dreaded generic form email saying “the position was filled” that applicants receive after they have sent their resume off to a company. Usually, when I coach a candidates who have special skills, are qualified, and meet the additional assets for a position, but are STILL not getting interviews, I know they have left critical information off of their resumes. Instead of reviewing the resume and making suggestions, I review the jobs they are applying for and get candidates to think about the problem backwards. I encourage candidates to scrutinize the job description to determine what the job requirements are and how to craft a resume that highlights their qualifications for that specific position.
Companies include a list of skills they are looking for in each job description. If your resume contains the skills EXACTLY as they are listed in the job description, you are more likely to come up as a match when the company completes a computer scan of your resume.
Consider the following scenario: Your previous job title was clinical data collector, but you are applying for a position as a Telephonic Utilization Management Nurse. The company wants someone with utilization /case management experience. Remember the job has to go through a computer scan and human resources specialists who are probably not Nurses, which means they would not recognize your previous position as a POSITION with SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES based on your job title alone! You need to tailor your resume to the job description in order to land an interview.
So, before you send in your resume, read the job description carefully and make sure your resume includes the skills the company lists as REQUIREMENTS. Once you understand this basic concept, the job search becomes much easier. Let's work through the example on the following page.
RED is the information that qualifies you for a position. If your resume is missing this information, you are probably not going to make it to "review" because you would be classified as "unqualified."
YELLOW is information that will place you higher in the interview pile. It is especially important to include these qualifications since companies often receive a large pool of qualified applicants for a position. Not only do you want the company to see you as “qualified,” but you also want them to see you as one of the most highly qualified candidates so that they will offer you an interview.
GREEN is information that helps to "quantify” or prove your experience and sets you up for a good interview. To get credit for the green statements, you have to explain your accomplishments listed under your jobs.
Curtis Hazel Story...I wrote the curtis Hazel story...
Targeting the Resume:
Analyzing the Job Description
By Amy Rossi
Sign Hazel Partners LLC, Hangs for Veterans.
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