5 Reasons Why Your Resume Is Crucial

Believe it or not, many people still think that having a great resume isn't that important. Here are 5 reasons why your resume should be your best work.

When you are looking for a job, your resume is your first, and sometimes only, marketing tool. I have been talking with other job seekers lately, and I keep hearing them say that they don't understand why it matters so much if their resume isn't tailored to each job. I mean, they are supposed to be looking for the best employee, not just the best resume writer. Right?

Actually, that couldn't be further from the truth. When hiring managers are sorting through a pile of resumes, they are forced to make judgments about your ability as an employee bases on just this documents. If your resume and cover letter are filled with errors, are sloppy or just don't make sense, then they will assume that you have the same issues.

Here are 5 reasons why your resume is cruical:

1. Your livelihood depends on it – If you make careless errors on your resume or don't want to invest time and energy into making it perfect, you are basically telling an employer that you can't produce a document that gets results, even if your livelihood depends on it. That doesn't make you a great candidate.
   
   
2. You are demonstrating that you know how to use a computer – The process of preparing the documents and emailing them to an employer shows them that you are familiar with how to send office correspondence via a computer. Even if the job doesn't require huge computer skills, most companies will require you to at least be familiar with how to attach files and send email. Sending files that are in the wrong format or not using a subject line in your email all show that you aren't someone who can handle those tasks.
   
   
3. It shows that you can get things done, and ask for help – If you aren't a great resume writer or don't have good computer skills, get someone to help you. There will be times at any job when you are given a task that you don't feel capable of doing on your own. These are the times when you will have to ask for help. So, if you don't think that you are able to make your resume stand out on your own, hire a resume writing service or ask friends for help.
   
   
4. Your resume and work experience shows your flexibility – Your previous experience shows how capable you are at adapting to new situations. When you apply for a job, customize your resume and cover letter to the job. This way, the employer will get the most relevant information about you, but they will also see that you are able to change your presentation to match the circumstance. This is a great quality in an employee.
   
   
5. Your resume and cover letter are your first project for an employer – Every time you send in a resume and cover letter to a potential employer, you are completing a sample project for them. Of course, you want to show them that you are able to give them what they asked for without making any errors. Presenting them with a half-hearted document that isn't targeted to what they asked for just shows that you didn't read the job description, or that you didn't care enough to give them the results they wanted.

In today's job market, your resume and cover letter are more important than ever. Think of it as a sample project and do your best to deliver the information they need to make an informed decision about you as an employee.

Do you tailor your resume to each job? Have you used a resume writing service? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

10 Ways To Raise Your Chances Of Landing The Job You Really Want

Everyone wants to raise their chances of standing out from the pack and landing the job. Here are 10 ways to be a better candidate.

The job market is starting to turn around, but it is still an employers market out there. For every job opening that gets posted, there are hundreds of applicants. So, how can you raise your odds of standing out among such a large group of professionals?

There are several things you can do to be a better candidate. Some of them are fairly easy, while others might take a little more work. But if you are serious about finding the job your really want, here are 10 things that you can do to gain a competitive edge:

1. Practice public speaking – How difficult this one is depends on how comfortable you are with speaking in public right now. If the thought of it causes you to sweat and feel like you might be sick, then you will have a little bit more work to do. A good public speaker exudes a capable confidence. You can look for books on public speaking techniques at your local library, and if you look around, you may be able to find classes or workshops that can give you more hands on help.
   
   
2. Know what you want, and what you're willing to accept – You aren't going to be able to find a job that will give you everything you ever wanted. There are going to be some compromises, it's just a fact of life. Make a list of the things you absolutely have to have and then decide what things you are willing to compromise on, and how much. This will give you confidence when negotiating things like salary or benefits.
   
   
3. Create a website – Add a link to your website on your resume and your business card. This way, if the employer wants to find out more about you, they can easily access the information. Keep you page simple and professional, remember that they could be looking at your site to determine if they want to invite you to interview.
   
   
4. Be enthusiastic – This one doesn't take time or money, it just takes a positive attitude. Enthusiasm is catchy, and your interviewer won't be able to help being a little happier after having met an enthusiastic candidate like you.
   
   
5. Update your resume – Do a web search on what a new resume looks like. The format has changed a whole lot over the past 5 years or so. Now, the resume is a marketing tool. Make sure your resume shows that you are current on the latest business trends.
   
   
6. Practice, Practice, Practice – Before your interview, you should practice answering interview questions in front of your friends and family or even a webcam. Role-playing the interview with a partner is a great way to be more confident during the interview.
   
   
7. If you are overqualified or are taking a step down, address it in the cover letter – For some reason, it seems that many people think that the employer will understand that they are willing to take a lower level position. The truth is that unless you address the fact that you are overqualified and give a brief reason for it, you resume is probably not even going to be read.
   
   
8. Copy your interviewer's body language – This is one of those tricky things that actually work. It you want to create stronger rapport, mimic the interviewer's body language. When then lean in, you lean in. This is a psychological technique called mirroring, and it is shown to increase trust.
   
   
9. Smile – Especially during a phone interview. When you get ready to pick up the phone for a scheduled interview, smile big before you say hello. If you have to, place a mirror near you so you can make sure you are smiling throughout the call. When you smile, people can hear it in your voice and it makes you instantly more like-able.
   
   
10. Don't be afraid to fail – It happens to all of us at some point of another. If you never fail, it is because you never really take a risk. You may not get offered the job, but it's good practice for the next interview.

What do you think about these easy tips for increasing your odds of landing the job you really want? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.