Keeping Your Resume On The Top Of The Stack During A Recession

It's easy to get discouraged right now when looking for a job

. The unemployment rate seems to be stuck near 10% and talk of a jobless recovery doesn't do anything to ease concerns. It's an economy where even a job posting for a low paying job elicits hundreds of responses. How do you compete for jobs when people with Masters Degrees are willing to accept maintenance positions?

Beauty is Only Paper Deep

The best way to hone your competitive edge when looking for a job during a recession is to use a well crafted resume. This doesn't mean only worrying about the beauty of your document. The content is equally important! In a take-off of a common expression...beauty is only paper deep.

When an employer picks up your resume, it does need to look neat and be free of spelling mistakes and bad grammar. It should also be readable and not jam packed with as much information as you can squeeze on a page.

But once the beauty of your resume has been duly noted and appreciated, the reader is going to look for substance. Though there are words of advice to address the fact a recession makes job hunting more difficult, the fact is that resume writing rules should be applied in good and bad economies. That's because the rules are intended to make your resume as appealing as possible when seeking a job.

At the top of the list of rules is the need to show your value to the company. There may be a slight twist added though when the economy is difficult. You want to emphasize those abilities that show you can help a company's bottom line improve. You can pick and choose your particular skills and talents that led to higher sales, increased revenues, lowered expenses, or developed a stronger customer base. That's because these are the types of successes that could help a company thrive during a recession.

Promote Your Interchangeable Skills

Are you applying for a job in a different industry because the one you worked in the last ten years is not hiring or still contracting? There are lots of people looking outside their planned career paths right now hoping to find a job. What you need to do in this case is make it clear that your skills are readily transferrable to the job even if it is in a new industry.

By taking advantage of interchangeable skills, you expand the number and types of jobs you are eligible to apply for which is important when job competition is high.

Ditch the Copy Machine...

Forget the copy machine! Though it is tempting to copy your resume and add a cover letter where only the company name has been changed...resist! It takes more effort to amend the resume and rewrite the cover letter to fit the specific job, but it's effort that can pay off with employment.

Resume readers will recognize submissions that are not customized to the job. Some companies say they get more resumes that don't fit the job than do match the job requirements. You know where those resumes go - in the trash. Your resume needs to make it clear you did your homework, understand the job requirements, and clearly see how your skills match those requirements.

- Use industry jargon

- Show you are a leader

- Show you can multi-task and handle a variety of job requirements

- Create personal value through your resume

Competing for jobs during a recession may be challenging, but it's not impossible. You just need to understand what companies expect from their employees and make sure your resume proves you can deliver.

by: EeLynn Lee

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