What Your Resume Says About You

There was a time when the resume was nothing more than a one- or two-page outline of education, job experiences, and references. You might have also landed a job because someone else in the company vouched for you, and the interview was nothing more than a formality, and a resume was never required of you.

Though you may certainly find a job through a friend of a friend, or stumble upon something through networking at your local Toastmasters' meeting, in today's job market, you need a well-written resume to advertise and sell yourself and the skills you offer to a potential employer.

Yes, I said, "sell."

Your resume is a sales presentation, prepared with the intention of persuasion. You want to persuade those looking to hire that you are the best one to do the job.

When you can effectively write skills statements, which highlight your abilities and accomplishments, you give the employer a glimpse of how you view yourself and how you communicate with others. You sell your interpersonal communication skills, attitude, and ability to bring solution-based answers to the company's problems.

When an employer is looking for someone to fill an open position, you are the product. If you want consideration as a possible "purchase", your resume will need to make a convincing impact on the employer so that there is a benefit for him or her to call you in for an interview.

The potential employer wants answers to several questions: What skills do you bring to my company? How are you better than the other potential candidates for this position? Can you solve the problems we have in this department? Why are you worth my paying you any salary, let alone what you think you deserve? These are the questions that are on the top of the list for any employer who might be considering you as an addition to their team. A properly crafted resume will begin to paint a picture for them.

A resume is not a stand-alone document to get you a job. It is a tool to support you in your job search. It is a document, which is necessary to use in tandem with your networking efforts. Most employers will ask for one, even if you have "wowed" them with your personality and ability to talk about your skills and accomplishments. Again, the resume opens doors for you.

There are literally hundreds of ways to approach writing your resume and marketing your skills. There is no right or wrong way to prepare a resume. Select the style and format that best suits your needs and goals.

The important point is that you write it, because you are the one who will need to be able to sell yourself. I highly discourage hiring someone else to write it for you, because no one knows you like you! Once you have a good draft resume completed, that will be the time to make an appointment with a career coach or other professional to help you fine-tune and polish what you have written.

Your resume should be a dynamic document, always evolving, as you continue on your career path. One size does not fit all. Learn what you can by reading, researching, and asking for guidance from industry experts.

The more you do these things, the more likely it will be that you will get your foot into the doors of many potential employers.