Why Your Resume May Be Costing You Opportunities

"We just aren't getting any qualified applicants!" It's a comment that I often hear from my colleagues as they review 10s or 100s of resumes for a specific job opening.

"I just can't get an interview!" I hear this from far too many students who are up against real or self-imposed deadlines for securing internships or entry-level positions in their chosen career fields.

The Problem AND Solution are Found in the Way that the Resume is Constructed.

Many students will tell me that they have one version of the resume that they submit for every job opening, but they create a cover letter that is customized for each job opportunity and submitted with the resume.

As an employer, I look at the resume FIRST to see if the applicant has the qualifications I'm seeking for a specific position. If the resume doesn't clearly and quickly convey the applicant's qualifications, the applicant is deemed unqualified and there is no need to read the cover letter. (I have confirmed with colleagues that this approach is consistent with the screening processes at their large companies.) A 2018 study conducted by Ladders Inc. revealed that average time that recruiters spend scanning a resume is only 7.4 seconds.

Give the Employer What They're Looking For!

The key to effectively showing your qualifications for a specific job opportunity is to create a Qualifications Summary at the top of the resume. This is easier than it sounds. EVERY job announcement tells you what the specific requirements are for the job. Creating a qualifications summary that highlights the applicant's qualifications and experience that meet the job requirements makes it quick and easy for the employer to see the qualifications. Since this method takes the focus off of job titles and onto qualifications, this type of resume works well for recent graduates and career changers.

Over the past several years, I have taken my senior-level students through an in-class resume workshop that shows them how to add a qualifications summary to their resumes. The workshop has helped so many students (and professional colleagues) secure interviews and positions that I have adapted the in-person workshop into a booklet (available for download) that takes the reader through the step-by-step process on their own.

Job announcements tell applicants exactly what the qualifications are for the job. A resume with a properly written qualifications summary ensures that employers do not overlook that ideal applicant!