I work with a fair amount of candidates that hope to find work based on not wanting to “limit” themselves. Consequently, the resumes they expect me to produce will have no focus and no clear message that conveys: this is how I will create value for you.
Consider this issue from the employer’s perspective. You are presenting yourself as a one-size-fits-all solution to whatever problems the employer has. Are you sufficiently knowledgeable about that employer’s workforce needs? Do you have any idea what drives the employer’s business, whether or not the associated industry is in decline, or what unique competitive pressures the company is facing?
When you go to the grocery store in search of ingredients for a special recipe to impress someone, do you stroll up and down the aisles, throwing whatever you find on the shelf into your shopping cart? Or do you carefully read labels, consider pricing and make an effort to discover which products are best suited for the purpose?
Understanding the employer’s needs is the first step in winning the job. What do you do that creates value for an employer? This is likely to be different for whatever functional role you perform. If you are in sales, then relationship building is key. Being able to convert some of your current customers to the new employer’s account base will be a huge asset.
If your specialty is marketing communication, are you articulate and persuasive? How do you know? Do you have measurable results that confirm the proposition?
Focusing on the unique combination of strengths you offer to solve an employer’s specific problems is a strategy that is much more likely to result in an interview and a job offer!
Ellie Vargo, MRW, CCMC
ev@noteworthyresume.com