As I am trying to find the right candidate for a job opportunity, there are hundreds of applicants that respond to the job postings. Who should I choose? Who should I call ? Who should I pass?
If you apply for a job, keep in mind there are millions of people now looking for the job that they lost during COVID-19 and the oil-gas downturn. Everybody is looking for a job to pay for their bills and to keep their career from being stagnant. Will your resume get some attention?
Recruiters are looking for the right candidates according to the job description, requirement and experience of the industry. The first twenty five resumes are the easiest ones that will be read word by word, but after those reading, the eyes are strained and resume will be skimmed.
To lessen the likelihood to pass on your resume, be sure to put an effort to list specifics of what they are expecting to be in your resume. Here are the three specifics you should have on your curriculum vitae:
1. Experience
If you are in the right industry and you are the right fit, be specific in what you know. If you are in construction, be sure to list keywords such as foundation, civil, structure, piping, electrical, sewer and roofing. If you are in accounting, write down Financial Analysis, Revenue Recognition, EBITDA and Cash Flow management. When recruiters glance at these words, they stay to read some more.
2. Job Description
If the posting is seeking someone in sales, do not put that down on vague terms that you help foster relations, conducted budgeting and penetrate market. Explain how you have been finding hot prospects. How you sell the company products and offerings. List out the revenue that you usually bring on a quarterly segment. Elaborate how you perform your sales sparkle on daily basis.
3. Requirement
If they need someone with design capability, that is a broad field to cover. Therefore, explain in your resume what kind of designer you are. Adobe Illustrator, Vectorworks, AutoCAD 3D and Corel VideoStudio are software that describes who you are. Be detailed even more what you have created using the software whether it is a rocket, an automobile, a refinery or an animation.
Recruiters can make mistakes too. Instead of inviting the fittest candidates, they could be inviting the ones whose specifics are found in the resume albeit only one or two keywords.
Writing a resume can be tiresome, but if it is worth you are getting out of the house and being paid on a biweekly period, do yourself a favor and make that effort. The more specifics are found in your resume, the higher the likeliness that it will be picked from the stack. The more chances you have of getting that call. Good luck.
Here are some unedited resume examples of vague job descriptions that you should avoid.
They do not include specifics such as products, services and magnitude of the work. They can be used to fill in the blanks on any company worked for, and they do not attract any recruiters' attention.
Account Manager
Effectively sell completion products and services to new and existing oil and gas customers while providing technical knowledge of our company’s products and applications to meet customer requirements. Successfully implement sales strategies to increase sales and revenue growth through major accounts while promoting overall customer satisfaction. Attaining short and long range sales goals and developing solutions to resolve customer issues and improve customer reliability/profitability.
Business Development Manager
Responsible for promoting the organization's products and services to major accounts in multiple markets across the country. Also responsible for maintaining established customers while developing new prospects within our oil and gas facilities construction business, with an emphasis on tank and terminal services.
Business Development
Responsible for developing a pipeline through identifying business opportunities, and building key customer and partner relationships; negotiates and closes business deals and maintains extensive knowledge of service solution and competitive market in order to expand [company's] learning improvement and operational excellence services.
A well-written resume is essential for landing your dream job. But with so many resumes out there, how can you make yours stand out? Here are 10 resume hacks that will help you get noticed:
Use keywords throughout your resume. When you're applying for a job, take the time to read the job description carefully and identify the keywords that are used. Then, use those keywords throughout your resume, in your skills section, and in your work experience descriptions. This will help your resume get picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and ensure that it's seen by hiring managers.
Quantify your accomplishments. Don't just say that you're a "hard worker" or that you have "excellent communication skills." Instead, quantify your accomplishments by using numbers and metrics. For example, instead of saying "I'm a great communicator," say "I increased sales by 15% through effective communication."
Use action verbs. When describing your skills and experience, use strong action verbs that will show hiring managers what you can do. For example, instead of saying "I was responsible for managing a team of 10 employees," say "I led a team of 10 employees to achieve a 10% increase in productivity."
Use a professional font and format. Your resume should be easy to read and scannable. Use a professional font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and use a consistent format throughout your resume.
Keep your resume concise. Your resume should be one or two pages long, unless you have a lot of relevant experience. If you're a recent graduate or have less than five years of experience, one page is usually enough.
Proofread carefully. Before you submit your resume, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling. A single typo could cost you the job.
Tailor your resume to each job you apply for. Don't just send out the same resume to every job you apply for. Take the time to tailor your resume to each specific job, highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position.
Get feedback from others. Once you've finished writing your resume, ask a friend, family member, or career counselor to review it and give you feedback. This can help you identify any areas that need improvement.
Use a resume builder. There are many resume builders available online that can help you create a professional-looking resume. These builders can also help you identify keywords and format your resume properly.
Don't give up. The job search process can be tough, but don't give up. Keep submitting your resume and eventually you'll find the right job for you.