Today’s topic is the importance of a clear job target in a fast job search.
I’m surprised at how often I see others’ resumes that either have no job target or an unclear job target. Either the job target is completely missing, or it is extremely vague as in “Business Executive.”
When I follow up and ask them what job they are targeting, they share with me about 10 different possible roles they would be willing to fill.
The problem is that a generic resume is going to be ignored, and will not land them an interview.
When I was on the hiring side, each time I reviewed resumes I had a SPECIFIC job to fill. Director of Marketing. Social Media Analyst. VP of Communications. For each position, we had hundreds of resumes to review.
How much time did I spend on the resumes that had no clear job target – that either left the job target blank or stated something vague such as “Sales Professional”? I pushed these aside.
A hiring manager simply doesn’t have the time to read through and try to figure out what type of position you’re going for.
On average, a resume is glanced at for 6 seconds the first time, when someone is trying to see if you should be in the “keep” pile or the trash.
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The resume should be written with the readers in mind, which includes 3 audiences:
· The ATS – The Applicant Tracking System – which is the computer which scans resumes looking for keywords and qualifications.
· The HR Clerk – This person will spend around 6 seconds glancing at your resume. It needs to have a clear job target and a visually appealing format.
· The Hiring Manager – This person will first glance at the resume. Then, they are ready to read the resume, they will first quickly skim it. Your value has to be able to jump off the page and entice them to pick up the phone and call you for an interview.
The LinkedIn profile title also must have a clear job target outlined. Recruiters will often search for the job title of the position they are trying to fill, such as “Manager of HR IT Analytics.” Therefore, list all possible variations of the titles of jobs you’re going for.
If you’re stumped on good job titles, go to indeed.com or linkedin.com and search open jobs. Find out what the titles of jobs are for which you’ll be a good fit. Those titles should be at the top of your resume and in your LinkedIn title.
You should go for jobs for which your level of experience and skill set are a good match. If you’re going for 10 different positions, narrow it down to 2 or 3. Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile targeted to those specific jobs.
It may not make sense, but being focused actually does lead to more opportunities. We can see this in the business world. A generic photographer might have a hard time drawing in clients. However, a photographer for newborns has an easier time drawing in clients, as he or she can be more focused when marketing.
In summary, ensure that you have a very CLEAR job target in mind and write the resume and LinkedIn profile to that specific target. I’ve seen clients with clear job targets and focused resumes land much faster than those who are not clear about their intentions.
Looking for help in accelerating your job search? Contact Rebecca today to see if she is a good fit in helping you to reach your goals.
Rebecca Bosl is an Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach located in Cleveland, Ohio with a virtual client base throughout the United States. Armed with a stunning resume, an optimized LinkedIn profile and the ability to articulate their brand, her Executive clients regularly land offers, often in as little as 4 weeks.
www.dreamlifeteam.com
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