The Resume; The Key To Getting Your Foot in the Door

On a daily basis, hiring managers are often forced to sift through hundreds of resumes in a short amount of time. With little time to spare, hiring managers have to decide quickly who will get the phone calls for interviews and put the other resumes in the trash. Being able to keep your resume from hitting the trash can will mean the difference between getting your foot in the door and possibly getting a job.

In order to have a resume that stands out, you don't have to resort to goofy tactics or gimmicks to catch the attention of the hiring manager. Some people have resorted to sending balloons, wild animals (no joke), and even printing their resumes on different colored paper to get them to stand out (anyone remember the resume Reese Witherspoon had in the movie Legally Blonde?). Having the right content is what will get your resume noticed and help get your foot in the door for the interview.

With great content, your resume has a better chance of catching the attention of the hiring manager when he or she is going through lots of resumes in a short amount of time. Below are some tips on how you can tailor the content of your resume to make sure the hiring manager considers you to be a candidate for a position:

1) Keep your content concise and to the point- having lots of experience is helpful but keep in the mind the person looking at your resume will only have about 10-15 seconds to read each resume in the pile. Having content that is long, lengthy and hard to follow will make it difficult for the hiring manager to grasp and could make it easy to pass you up. Keep your content concise, to the point and easy to read for the hiring manager

2) Don't Be Afraid to Use Bullet Points- using bullet points can make it easier for a hiring manager to look at your accomplishments (more on that later) and follow the content in your resume. It also helps the hiring manager determine whether or not your experience is relevant to the position he or she is interviewing for and makes your resume an easier read.

3) Add Sizzle By Adding Accomplishments to Your Resume- prove to the hiring manager that you can get the job done by listing your accomplishments for each position. If you increased sales at one job, give a percentage of how much you increased sales. If you increased participation or membership, explain and give a number by how much. Make sure your accomplishments show the hiring manager you can make and meet goals and prove you can make a positive difference in the workplace.

4) Tailor Your Resume to the Job You Are Applying For- read the job description and ask how you can tailor you resume so that the qualifications the hiring manager is looking for can be shown in your resume. It's not unusual for someone to recreate the same resume 10-15 times for each specific position. Make sure the content of your resume reflects what the open job is looking for and prove your skills and background match the qualifications.

5) Have Another Set of Eyes Look at Your Resume- you never know what someone else will point out, good or bad, when looking at your resume. While you might not catch it, someone else might catch something that doesn't make sense, spelling errors or anything else that might get your resume thrown in the trash.

Prove to the hiring manager you are right for the job by having content that is concise, to the point and matches what the hiring manager is looking for. By doing that, you will have a better chance ending up with your foot in the door and getting a new opportunity.

The More Skills You Learn, the More Opportunities That Can Arise

When looking to build your career, having a wide set of skills can not only help get your more opportunities but could open up more doors along the way. As they always say, "throwing all your eggs in one basket" in terms of a skill set can limit you at times so exploring different opportunities to learn more will help you out in the long run.

If you are a college student, take advantage of the internship and learning opportunities your school has to offer. Many schools out there have invested a lot of time and money into getting new equipment, networking with individuals looking for college interns, finding different ways for students to study abroad, etc. College is a time for learning and taking the time to take part in different projects, use the different equipment available, and even studying abroad can help lay the foundation for finding your first job out of college. Taking advantage of opportunities to learn different skill sets will make you more marketable to employers and help find what you really want to do.

For those who are already in the workforce, networking can help increase your skill sets and make you more marketable. Taking time to talk with people in your network and sharing your goals can help the people you are talking to point you in the right direction. These people within your network might know someone who can provide the guidance needed to find different ways in which you can increase your skills set.

In addition to networking, taking classes can help increase your skills set and put you a step ahead of other candidates looking for a position. Many professional salesmen take outside sales classes to learn different ways to sell over the phone, schedule appointments, and close the deal. These classes are time consuming but provide these salesmen with additional skills to find and close new business. Having additional training on a resume can help set you apart from other candidates and could be a deciding factor in getting an interview and in some cases, getting hired. Taking the time to learn additional skills can help your career move along and put you ahead of the competition.

Whether you are a college student or seasoned professional, taking the time to learn other skills can help you benefit your career and the opportunities that come with the additional training.

If Someone Has Helped You Along the Way, Keep In Touch

Getting help along the way is key to success but don't lose touch with those who have helped. Many have helped us grow as professionals, find the right network contacts and pass our names along to others who can help and keeping in touch is a sign of respect and could lead to possibilities further on down the line.

With the power of the Internet, keeping in touch with people has become easier and more efficient with e-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn and other tools. Taking a few minutes each month to send a quick message to a network contact doesn't take much effort and keeps you fresh in that person's mind. You don't have to go into too many details and a simple, "How are you doing?" can generate a nice message in return.

Around holidays and important events, sending a card or e-card is another great way to stay in touch. Taking a few minutes to send a simple greeting during an important time in somoene's life can show a network contact you care, are interested in staying in touch and gives them a reason to respond to your messages later on.

Many have helped us get to where we want to go along the way and by keeping in touch, you never know what the door might open up to later on.

When Interviewing and If Needed, Have a Portfolio

Interviewing is an opportunity to prove to a hiring manager you are the best fit for a job and one of the best ways to show you can help this person make more money is to prove what you are capable of. In some industries, having a portfolio of work samples to show a hiring manager can help make you more marketable and appealing in a job interview and prove to the hiring manager what you are capable of doing. If needed, bring a portfolio or samples of your work to the interview to prove to the hiring manager how you can add value to his or her company and prove you are the right fit for the job.

Having a portfolio of material does take time but can set you apart from other candidates in the end. Taking time to look through documents you've written, proposals you've drawn up, pieces you've written, etc. can help you find the proof you will need to show a hiring manager your desire to earn the position. These materials also show a hiring manager your ability to use your skill sets to earn more revenue and money for the company.

Over time, it is difficult to save everything you've created for various jobs so have success stories from inside and outside the business world ready in hand as well. These stories may not be hard copy documents of writing samples, proposals or other materials you have put together at different jobs but can prove to a hiring manager what you are capable of. If you are apart of a non-profit, business, or social group, have a couple of success stories ready to go before that interview. These success stories will prove to the hiring manager you can use different skill sets for a wide range of applications and will set you apart from other candidates. The goal of the interview is to help prove you are a right fit for the company and with success stories, you can sell the hiring manager on how you can make him or her more revenue.

Having a portfolio can help set you apart from other candidates and prove to the hiring manager your talents and capabilities. Make sure you have one ready to go in order to prove you can help the hiring manager make more revenue for the company nd want you to be on his or her team.

Don't Give Up

During a job search, getting turned down for a job or several jobs is no doubt frustrating and can shake your confidence. Feeling like you are getting close to landing a position and then being turned down is difficult to deal with and upsetting. It's hard to get back up after getting knocked down but how are you supposed to get another job if you simply give up?

Getting turned down for several jobs is part of the job-search process and it's no doubt that it can be upsetting and frustrating. There are instances in which you might feel you are a fit for a position only to lose out because someone had more experience, the company decided to promote from within, etc. Sadly, rejection is a frustrating part of the job-search process but giving up won't help you get that next position.

Rejection is hard to take but there are ways in which you can still be considered for future positions with a company that turned you down. At certain times, sending an e-mail to the hiring manager or putting in a quick call to ask why you were not selected for a position could open the door for more possibilities in the future. That shows the hiring manager you are respecting his or her decision and it gives you an opportunity to learn what you could do different in your next interview. Taking a few minutes to find out why you didn't get selected could open the doors up later on for other positions and help you improve your interview skills.

If you find yourself getting rejected for quite a few jobs, don't be afraid to network with other people who could help you improve your interview skills, resume, etc. Take time to sit down with people you trust and explain how you answered certain interview questions, have them look at your resume, and offer them to provide feedback. Feedback isn't always easy to handle but can point you in the right direction on how to improve the way you interview, write your resume and cover letter, etc. Take time to talk with others on how you can improve your job search and get your foot in the door at more places.

Going through a job search is a difficult process and getting turned down can make it easy to give up. Throwing in the towel won't get you the next position and there are ways in which you can learn from getting turned down. Taking time to call the hiring manager to understand why you didn't get selected and seeking advice from others could help you improve your interview skills, your resume and get your foot in the next door. No matter how many doors get slammed on you in the job process, those who keeping looking for the open window to go through instead will find themselves back to work because they did not give up.

Advice for Soon-To-Be College Graduates

Graduating from college and entering "the real world" is a big transition in life and it is not the easiest shift to make. Going from college student to young professional is quite an adjustment and does take time. Making the move from going to class to going to work does take time but can be made easier.

For many, college graduation is still a couple of months away and taking time to plan can help you make that transition. Below are some tips for making that transition:

1) Take Time To Enjoy the Simple Joys of College Life and the Friends You Have Made- Take time to enjoy your friends, take pictures (watch where you post them though), and take part in what made your time on campus fun. Everyone will be going in different directions but the memories you will have with the friends you made will last a lifetime. Friends are what make a college experience great and take time to enjoy them before everyone goes in different directions.

2) Stay True To Your Hobbies- if you are moving to a new city or moving back home, the best way to get involved is to find interest groups related to your hobbies. These groups can typically be found on the Internet and it's a way for you to meet new friends and make that transition. Having people to hang out with will help you make that transition into the "real world."

3) Join Local Young Professionals Groups- a lot of these groups can be found in bigger cities and typically have different types of social events. These events are great ways to meet other people your age and going through the same transition you are going through. These clubs typically have different events during the month and makes it easy to get involved (if you are in Cleveland, check out the Cleveland 20/30 Club. www.cleveland2030.org)

4) Make Time To Keep in Touch With College Friends- these people were with you thick and thin during the college years and take time to send e-mails or put in phone calls. It will give you something to look forward to and a nice diversion.