Debunking the myth of the general resume

Many professionals believe that their resumes are ignored because they are missing critical skills that an employer is seeking. Believing this to be true, some job seekers use a ìgeneralî resume because they donít want to limit themselves to only one job type.

While wanting an employer to see all of a job seekersí qualifications is completely understandable, this type of resume is often unsuccessful.

ìHiring managers are inundated with resumes, calls from job seekers, and new hiring requirements,î says Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, a professional resume and job counseling firm in Denver, Colorado. ìThey simply do not have time to read between the lines and figure out which job type fits a candidateís qualifications.î

In order to avoid this pitfall, Smith-Proulx says, job seekers should change the focus and marketing angle of the resume, which can easily result in increased success winning interviews.

Smith-Proulx points out that many employers view the resume objective statement as canned and self-serving. This is because it typically describes what a candidate seeks, rather than the skills they offer. Using a professional summary, she says, can turn this problem around to emphasize fitness for the job and produce a visual image of what the candidate can accomplish in the future.

She offers this example of an objective statement for a software engineering role that reads:

ìSeeking opportunity to develop, administer, and maintain project environments.î

This career target, Smith-Proulx says, can be amplified by using a description that showcases the the job seekerís abilities and performance for the next job, such as:

ìConsummate web developer with outstanding reputation for quality, cutting-edge software solutions to enhance business performance.î

Another way to sharpen the focus of the resume is to consider than employers expect to see interest in their companies, their job openings, and their needs. Smith-Proulx recommends that every phrase, keyword, and qualification in a resume, especially in the profile or summary section, should be tuned to fit the position at hand.

She states that, to avoid generalities, job seekers should carefully remove references to skills not needed in the desired position, while adding emphasis on those required for success in the same field. And, she adds, keywords for the target position can be research in in resume books or with an Internet search.

ìI frequently see watered-down descriptions of a candidateís skills in their current resumes,î Smith-Proulx says. ìThese do little to help a hiring manager see the value offered to the company.î She says that since the resume must immediately stand out to a potential employer, job seekers should review the wording they choose to express their talents. A resume must always avoid overused phrases such as ìself-motivated team playerî when there are ample methods to communicate unique skills and accomplishments.

Smith-Proulx cites an example of this with the replacement of ìproficient in customer service with ability to meet quotas and goalsî by ìrecognized for consistently strong sales performance, with 140% of goal attained in aggressive market.î The latter, she says, uses sufficient detail to convey key strengths for a sales professional.

Hiring managers need to see precise credentials and qualifications in order to be motivated to contact a job seeker, Smith-Proulx says. By using specific language and keywords, professionals can greatly increase their chances of being contacted for an interview.