The Resume... What is it really?

• A resume is your calling card or request to get an interview. Nothing more, nothing less.
• A resume is NOT "the job getter." It is "the interview getter."
• A resume is your audition piece, your sales pitch, and your advertisement you send others to get business.
• A resume is what makes the phone ring… or not ring… depending on what you submit to prospective employers.
• A resume is the Grand Barometer as to whether you'll be invited to the big party or thrown into the dumpster!

As you begin to read my information, it may seem bit harsh, to which I apologize if I come off as such. However, we live in a cold and cruel business world, these days. If your current "calling card" isn't getting you invited to The Grand Ball, don't lose hope! Apply some simple changes and you will get more invites than you know what to do with!

In reality, your resume is really only "a piece of paper." It's your electronic sales pitch to make the phone ring with interview invites. A resume is not a "job getter," it's an "interview getter." Change the sales advertisement to a winning formula and change your fortune! It's that simple. It's easier than winning the lotto and once you find the right audition piece for yourself, it will be much smoother sailing for you. Take this free advice from someone with many years of experience in business, Human Resources, and in hiring people. There are tricks to the trade that can enhance your chances of getting that phone call for the interview you are seeking, but it will take a little bit of work and study. It's really not all that hard, once you do the homework, know what you want to create, and get into a groove with it.

Like it or not, life is a business. Life is sales. Life is all about perception. Whether you are a doctor who saves lives, a customer service representative who helps consumers, or a small business owner who makes and sells products, everyone has to sell their talents to someone else, in exchange for money. That is just the way life is. Until humanity develops into some kind of Star Trek utopia, it is what it is!

With that said, do your best to learn and apply some of these concepts and you will increase your chances at getting that interview phone call you're waiting for. Here are my 50 Resume Tips for your review:

1. Define Your Resume's Purpose:
Remember, the objective of your resume is to land an interview, not "land you a job." The resume is your calling card - your "sales pitch," if you will. It's the document (or website, which I highly recommend building) that "makes the phone ring." The goal is to get that face-to-interview you strongly desire. Be clear on what you want and how you want your resume to resonate with an employer. Remember that resumes are not just for people looking for jobs. Small business owners can benefit from some of these ideas, too! Everyone has something to sell.

2. Your Resume Must Have Clear Focus:
Make sure that everything listed on your resume conveys a successful, buttoned-up, creative image. Employers also like decisive, confident people who know what they want, and know how to communicate. For example, if you're seeking a job as a nurse, no one really cares all that much about your work experience at McDonald's when you were attending college (which I discuss later on). If it doesn't support the job or career you are seeking leave it off the resume. It will turn employers and HR people off.

3. Leave The Reader Wanting More:
You will hear me mention this over and over. You are not writing a novel, you are selling yourself as a product. I know this harsh, but it's the absolute truth, and a part of today's reality. This may sound really weird to you, but you could really think of courting an employer like courting a date! This may sound silly, but it's quite accurate. You want to whet the reader's appetite not the the employer your life story. You are selling a glorified sales pitch, nothing more, nothing less. You want to offer enough information to make the reader want to drop everything and call you! You do not want to bore the to death with trivia, which happens to employers all the time. Don't become a part of the "Sea of Plain Vanilla." You won't get called for an interview and you won't make any money that way. Learn how to excite and how to sell. That is how one makes money in today's challenging economic landscape.

4. Break the Resume into Two Main Sections:
In the first section, you should create this to be your "abilities, qualities and achievements" section... your "brag section," if you will. This first section is where the magic really happens with the employer. The goal is to write powerful, but honest, advertising copy. (Yes, I said ad copy). Your sales pitch , if written properly, will make the reader immediately perk up and realize that you are someone they want to meet. Think of it as dating, like I said above in tip #3. You are selling the "sizzle" on the steak. If you write a good sales sizzle, it will make the employer reach for the phone to call you. Once your resume is in front of the employer's eyeballs, you only have about 10 seconds to grab and excite the person. That's it. It is obviously not easy to do and I sympathize. But, don't get discouraged! There are many creative things you can do to catch someone's attention if you set your mind to it.

The second section is your "body of evidence" section. This is where you list and prove "all the cool stuff you've done" so-to-speak. This is where you list and describe your jobs you have had, your education, etc. This is the "red meat," from the employer's perspective. Most resumes don't offer the sizzle before the steak, which is good for you, and why they never get an interview call.

Think of it this way... if you're an insomniac, try reading a handful of really boring resumes that all look alike, in the middle of the night. You'll fall asleep instantly, believe me! In defense of the HR person and employer, it is truly exhausting work. This is why you need your reader to be interested and excited in your pitch, otherwise, you lose. Create a little bit of mystery and intrigue, and they'll come back for more, guaranteed! Really see it through the eyes of the employer and/or HR staff. Many of these people are forced to read gazillions of resumes on a regular basis, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or whenever there are jobs to fill. Contrary to popular belief, HR people really are human beings! They usually have tremendous stress on them to perform, they get very tired, they get overworked, and after reading hundreds of resumes, they get bored - even blinded by a sea of white pages with black text. After a while, everything begins to look the same! Honestly, would this really excite you day in and day out? Probably not. Could you find yourself going crazy in this scenario? I'm sure you could. Your mission as an applicant or job candidate is to change and defy all of that, so the reader isn't bored and your phone rings off the hook with interviews! Apply some of my suggestions and you will have greater success if what you're doing now isn't working for you.

5. Review Resume Samples & Templates for Ideas:
While I am not necessarily a huge fan of using resume templates or samples, these things do come in handy, especially if you are suffering from writer's block! Before you start working on your resume, try reviewing the various samples and templates that exist online and in books. This will help you get the creative juices flowing. This doesn't mean you should "copy" everything you see. It's just a good way to see what others are doing. Make sure to check a wide range of ideas covering all sorts of careers. Don't pigeonhole yourself to one way of doing things because a book tells you to. Open your mind and be creative! Once you find something you like, go for it! It will be much easier to start the process.

6. State Goals & Objectives Clearly & Specifically:
While it's not mandatory to do feature on your resume, it can be prudent to list goals and objectives. This all depends upon the nature of the career or job you are seeking, and it is entirely up to you to decide if it's necessary to add in. If you decide to add them, make sure to state everything simply and clearly, and also ensure your goals and objectives match or mesh with the job you are applying for. Keep your points short and sweet, and don't try to impress with long tongue-twisting sentences. This will turn off the reader instantly. You really only have about 5-10 seconds to make a good first impression, so make it count with an easy-to-read resume!

7. State Job Specifics Clearly:
Try to avoid vague ambiguities like, “contributed to project design.” This tells the employer absolutely nothing about your experience or contribution, and can serve to annoy the person reading your resume. You don't want your resume to wind up in the trash, so try to focus on more specific descriptions like: “Conducted market analysis for XYZ Project to determine design and mechanics." You could also indicate something like this: "Led and supervised 5-person design team to successful project completion." If you helped bring in company dollars, you could say something like: "Received critical acclaim for work performed. Project created $7.5 million in annual revenue.” Be brief but specific. The keywords you use can be the difference between a call back or being dumped in the "round file" meaning the trash!

8. Follow Directions When Submitting Your Resume:
If you are asked to submit specific information, or if you are asked to submit your resume in a specific format, do not ignore these requests! You will annoy the reader and most likely be removed from consideration. Remember, you are selling yourself to the employer, not the other way around. If you want to be invited to an interview, make sure to follow the directions provided. You'll get much farther in doing so.

9. Ensure Your Resume Fits the Job Posting:
Often times, job seekers will submit a resume that just doesn't fit the profile, which is a big turn-off to the reader. Make sure you know what exactly you're applying for and that your resume meshes with the job description. Otherwise, you will be removed from consideration.

10. Proofread Thoroughly Before Submitting:
Typos, poor writing and sloppiness are a huge turn off to prospective employers and is the biggest reason applicants don't get call-backs. A poorly written resume will knock you out of the running instantly. Keep in mind it is VERY difficult for most people to proofread their own work. Even the best of proofreaders need help! Because it is so easy to make mistakes, don't hesitate to ask for help. If you can't afford to hire someone, ask a friend, colleague or loved one for a hand. Most anyone you know will be happy to help you out. If you are not good at writing, there are countless websites and books that can offer guidance. Make sure to take advantage of these free tools! Never underestimate the importance of good writing.

11. Get a Second and Third Pair of Eyes Involved!
It's always a good idea to survey others and get feedback from more than one source. Be open to the idea of asking others you know and trust view your resume, and have them offer you ideas and insights as to how you can improve its appeal. I am always huge a fan of hiring a resume expert to help you, mainly because they will observe you and your experiences so much differently than we view ourselves. It's kind of like trying to see the forest through the trees, which is no easy task when it comes to creating an image or "marketing persona." An outside opinion may offer suggestions and ideas you never thought of before. Don't be shy, ask for help! You'll be very glad you did.