Don't Blame the Resume

"I am not getting any job offers and so I need to change my resume." Those of us who work in career management or human resources often hear job seekers blame their resume when things are not going well in a job search.

Of course in some cases it is legitimate to blame the resume if it is not well written and doesn't showcase skills and work experiences effectively. Once we begin walking through the steps of the job search, however, we often find that the resume is not really the problem. For example, if a job seeker is distributing resumes, getting job interviews but not getting job offers, rewriting the resume is likely not going to improve the outcome.

Job seekers should consider some of the following issues, before blaming the resume and launching into a major resume rewrite.

What resume response rate should be expected in a tough economy?

A quick rule of thumb I learned from a career planning supervisor is to expect a 20-30% response rate to a resume. If 10 resumes are distributed, the job seeker should, expect 2 or 3 calls. This will vary based on industry, profession and qualifications and on the state of the economy. In a bad economy, job seekers can expect lower response rates. However, the focus has to be on applying for jobs rather than burying one's self in rewriting your resume.

What impression is the job seeker making during a telephone screening?

Rather than blaming the resume, think through the kind of impression one is making during the telephone screening. Is the energy level high or low? Does the job seeker remember to ask for the face to face interview in the telephone phone screening? Does the job seeker sound disinterested in the position. These are all reasons why a recruiter might screen out an applicant.

Are you aware of the potential weak points in your resume?

If you are on a telephone screeing and don't have a solid explanation, for why you have had 3 jobs in 2 years, why you had an extended absence from the workforce or why your GPA is low, the recruiter might pull away. In other words, know the potential weak spots in your career history and be ready to speak to those in the initial telephone screening. The goal of many recruiters is to actually verify what they have seen on the resume in the initial telephone screening.

Resources:
3-Step Job Search Strategy
Telephone Interviews as Easy as 1, 2, 3
Associated Content articles on Resume Writing