How Important Is a Resume Strategy?

If you're wondering how important it is that you have a strategic resume, then let me ask you this: How important is it for you to be employed? What most job seekers don't realize is that a resume isn't simply a list of your past positions. Your resume is a strategic document that positions you for job search success.

We often tell our clients that nothing about the resume development process is arbitrary. We have a strategy behind everything we do, and no two client strategies are the same. What are some elements to a resume that require strategy? Everything! From the font and header you choose to your personal branding statement, placement of education, number of years you include and the content you incorporate. Every element of your resume should have a purpose-and that purpose should be tied to your job search goals. Let me give you a prime example:

If you're searching for a job and one of the main requirements is that the candidate have an M.B.A., then we're not going to hide this critical info at the very bottom of your resume. In fact, we're going to place it at the top of your resume so the hiring manager notices right away that you meet the qualifications.

A job ad can tell you a lot about what a company needs and you can craft your branding statement and career summary around the needs of the employer. It's very easy to address their desired qualifications in the first third of the resume. You can use this prime real estate to sell them on what great a fit you are, and then use the remainder of your resume for supporting documentation.

Another element of your resume that should be very strategic is the order and placement of your bullet points. The most relevant and hard-hitting bullets should be at the top, and then gradually, the less relevant and impactful ones toward the bottom. You want to make sure that every part of your resume is reinforcing the point that you are the exact match the hiring manager seeks.

When a hiring manager reviews your resume he is looking with a list in his mind of all the requirements that need to be met. If you meet these requirements, chances are you'll pass to the next level of the evaluation process. Make sure your resume is strategic in its message-that you are the right fit, right now.

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or call 1.800.991.5187.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_M_Holbrook

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Does Your Resume Have A Strategy Or Is It Just A Pretty Format and Fluffy Words?

By Jessica M Holbrook Jessica M Holbrook
Level: Platinum

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. She has written more than 100 articles that are featured ...

In the last couple of years resume writing has changed dramatically. We've seen a shift in formats, trends, content, and positioning. Gone are the days of objective statements and lists of duties in short bullet point format. The drive for branding, positioning, compelling presentations, and captivating content have taken over.

I started Great Resumes Fast after 10 years working in human resources and staffing. I saw a desperate need with job seekers-so many had no idea how to develop an interview-winning resume, and I was on a mission to help educate them! I think that's one of the reasons why so much of what we do offers free tips, advice, and resources to job seekers. I'm still on that mission to educate the masses. Be that as it may, I started this journey with a passion to help, and my team has grown by a few people, but they're as equally passionate as I am.

Our writers are some of the most sought after, elite writers in the industry. Highly credentialed and trained by the prestigious resume writing academy, our writers do more than just develop resumes and cover letters. They craft career documents that position our clients as leaders in their industry, they create strategies that produce immediate results, and they develop and incorporate personal branding into each and every resume.

Yes, there is a difference between that $150 resume service and our service. We are not a budget resume service. When you hire us you get quality time and attention. But far more important, you get immediate results. In the past month alone more than 90% of our clients have had 3 or more interviews within the first two weeks of using their new resume and cover letter. Our clients get these results because of our exclusive resume development and branding process. When we craft a resume and cover letter for you, you're not just getting any resume and cover letter-you're getting a branded, bold, and authentic document developed with a customized and targeted strategy catered to your specific job search. Our strategy development and branding process is exclusive to our service; you won't find it anywhere else, and It's the main reason why our resumes and cover letters are significantly more successful than the other guys'.

So my question to you-does your resume have a strategy? If it doesn't, then it's directionless and will most likely stumble, fall short, and be a source of disappointment for you. If your resume has no clear direction, intention, or mission, then you have no edge in the marketplace and will ultimately find your job search taking significantly longer than it should. Take some time to think about what it is you want from your job search, what positions you're looking for, what the requirements are for those positions, and how you can brand yourself. Then develop a strategy for how to best communicate that information in your resume.

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or call 1.800.991.5187.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_M_Holbrook

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Article Submitted On: December 06, 2010

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