Take a personal inventory of your job, “Do you feel tired all the time? Are you burned out or are you bored with your current positions? Those are all indications that you should freshen up your resumé and circulate your resumé. Not certain if getting a new job is the right thing to do. I have been there; I think we all have. There are definitely some telltale signs that suggest seeking employment is the way to go. Before you update your LinkedIn profile and freshen up your resumé here's some tried and true advice for guaranteed success on your journey.
Asking how to format your resumé is like asking someone “How do I get to play at Carnegie Hall?” There are so many internet articles, professionals and self-help templates for resumés that your choices are endless. Ultimately the format of your resumé does not matter as long as it is professional looking, (which is relative by industry), legible and typo free. The point of your resume is to retell your professional story in a way that is appropriate for your industry and beckons the reader to invite you for further discussions.
After I graduated with my MBA and was uncertain where to begin my job search, the best career related advice I got from my mentor was to research job postings that I was interested in, “Review the requirements for the position you’re interested in applying to, and make certain that industry specific language is highlighted on your resumé”. Thus, I created two resumés, one for business analyst positions and another resumé for instructional designer positions. Both resumés highlighted that particular industry’s language, certifications and desired skill set in the exact same format. With the exception of federal government positions, I do not recommend tailoring your resumé to each job posting you are interested in applying to, because that process takes too long, and there is very little return on your initial time investment. In the application phase, you run the risk of discouraging yourself by customizing fifty-two versions of your resumé before you are invited to an interview. It’s been said “Work smart, not hard”, consider having one version of your resumé for each job title and industry to which you would apply, always ready for application. It is always a good practice to have your resumé reviewed by a mentor, trusted colleague or professional for feedback, guidance and tips, but ultimately you are in control and responsible for the content of the final product.
After you have a final version of your resumé completed you can begin to apply to positions. Where can you find jobs? With the advent of the internet the answer is literally anywhere, I am at the point in my career where I have had recruiters slide into my messenger on Facebook: URGH. In the past, when I wanted to begin job searching, I literally always followed the same formula: update resumé, update LinkedIn and then start applying to any and every position of interest thinking “May the best employer win.” Once you’ve started circulating your resumé do not stop until you see results, with the understanding you do not have anything until you have a signed contract from an employer with a negotiated salary and a start date. If you get discouraged, take a break, but do not stop applying for positions until you see results.
In my next blog, I am looking forward to talking to you about salary negotiations.