Your Most Important Marketing Tool—Your Resume

If you’re searching for a job, of course you want to get the word out with a resume and a cover letter. Maybe you wrote a resume a few years ago for the position you now hold or one you’ve just left. You dust it off, make a few changes, then begin sending it off to hiring managers of organizations you’re most interested in.

STOP right there! Don’t rely on the past. Take the time to create a brand new resume that reflects the person you are today. A resume is much more than a list of companies you worked for and the jobs you held. It is a key marketing tool.

Better Than a Business Card

A business card is a handy item to give to people so they’ll remember you. But if you’re serious about landing an interview for a job, a resume that ‘markets’ your strengths, that showcases your achievements is a much better choice. Have copies ready to show individuals you come in contact with.

Use the PAR [Problem-Action-Results] system to maximize its marketability. How do you put that on paper? Use language that shows the problem you faced, the action you took, and the results you achieved for the company you worked for previously. Notice that such an approach focuses on you. Hiring managers read resumes in order to get a sense of the person behind the words.

Following is an example of how the PAR system can transform an ordinary resume into an effective and polished marketing tool that can lead to a great interview.

 “Totally reorganized the ineffective and poorly designed front office of a large accounting firm, creating an efficient functional-coding file and retrieval system, a new communication center with computers, phones and Fax machine in one location, ergonomic furniture for reception staff and clients, and added new paint and art work to the walls for a balanced and attractive setting, thereby improving the company’s image, the flow of work each day, and a pleasant environment in which to carry out one’s tasks.”

Words Make the Difference

P – Problem  [ineffective and poorly designed front office of a large accounting firm]

A – Action     [Totally reorganized . . . creating an efficient functional-coding file and retrieval system, a new communication center with computers, phones and Fax machine in one location, ergonomic furniture for reception staff and clients, and added new paint and art work . . .

R – Results  [thereby improving the company’s image, and increasing the flow of work each day, all in a pleasant environment in which to carry out one’s tasks.]

You can do the same. So decide today to create a dynamic resume—a marketing tool that will put you over the top with a prospective hiring manager and win you the interview you want and deserve that will lead to the job of your dreams.

 

© Written By Jimmy Sweeney

President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,

Amazing Resume Creator

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, “Amazing Resume Creator.” Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”

Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your “instant” resume today. In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.