Refer to my post, "How It* Works." (It* is the hiring process.)
In that post, I gave you an insider's view of the hiring process. Now, let's learn how to make the process work in your favor.
You need to know this:
"Recruiters or HR weed out applications/résumés of applicants who do not meet the position's basic requirements. Screeners look for key words and qualifications that match the job description."
Gone are the days when you are selected for an interview because your résumé's objective states that you wish to "grow in your career and expand your skill set." In those days, the company probably needed warm bodies and didn't have many in the applicant pool. By contrast, in today's market, you absolutely, positively, MUST target your résumé toward a particular opening or a specific position. If you do not, I can guarantee that your résumé will land in the weeds.
Just what are the key words and qualifications that you need to highlight? How can you be sure that you incorporate the words that demonstrate your qualifications?
First, use the company's own words to customize your résumé where appropriate. Read their website, the job descriptions, and their group's description on LinkedIn.
Two additional and helpful resources are www.salary.com and the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. At salary.com, you can find job descriptions for thousands of positions. And the OOH gives you occupational details as well as required skills and training. Use those descriptions to strengthen your résumé so that it is obvious that you meet the position's basic requirements.
Need help? Contact me. I love helping clients produce résumés that work for them.
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