We’ve all been a part of a job search before where you put so much effort into writing an effective resume that you want to send it out to as many companies as possible. This is actually one of the worst things you can do, since the resume is most likely generic in nature. Hiring managers can easily identify a generic resume and will toss it out as soon as it’s identified. For the best results, the top resume writing services suggest tailoring each resume you send out to the actual company you’re sending it to. This may seem like a huge time investment, but when you know exactly what to change, it’s not as daunting of a task as you think. Here are some of the main things to consider changing when you apply to multiple jobs.
Locate Appropriate Keywords
The same types of jobs will have different job descriptions. In a world where every resume has to pass through ATS to get into the hands of a human, you have to use the right keywords for each job posting. Read through the entire description and pick out all the soft skills, hard skills and job-specific skills you can find. Then look at your resume and incorporate as many of them as possible without making it sound unnatural.
Add Statistics
Take these keywords to the next level and add an eye-catching statistic whenever possible. Hiring managers like to see percentages or dollar amounts on a resume because it puts your words into perspective and makes you sound much more credible and specific. Simply saying you boosted your company’s bottom line the past three years doesn’t have the same type of impact as saying you increased the bottom line by 10% one year, 13% the next year and 15% the following year. Your executive resume service will ask you to provide them with these statistics so they can incorporate them throughout the resume as appropriate.
Tailor Your Skills To The Company’s Requirements
Do some research on the company’s website before altering your resume. You may be able to identify their areas of need and be able to point them out. Companies and hiring managers don’t necessarily care what you did at your previous jobs. They just want to know what value you will provide their company. The top resume writing services can help you with using your past experience to demonstrate how your skills will transfer to their company and create similar results. Professional Resume Services helps executives with writing an effective resume every day. Having a unique resume for every job you apply for is extremely valuable and well worth the time and effort. Many times you don’t have to significantly change your resume. A few tweaks and additions here and there can make a big difference. If you ever need assistance with your resume, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for tips or advice.
It’s only natural to feel hurt and get down on yourself when receiving a job rejection. However, it’s also very possible to rebound, get rid of the negativity and find better opportunities. Rejection is a part of every successful individual’s past, and this job rejection is only going to make your success story better. As difficult as it may seem in the moment, you will get past the initial negative feelings of being rejected and can move forward. Ask the top rated resume writing services and they will tell you plenty of stories of clients who came to them after being rejected and ultimately ended up in a better situation. Here’s how you can use a job rejection to discover new opportunities.
Use Negative Thoughts As Fuel For Positive Actions
Some people get motivated to do better after they lose a game, get rejected from a job or experience any other negative emotions. If you fall into that category, use the negative thoughts to fuel positive actions. Visit professional executive resume writers to enhance your resume, pursue new opportunities or do whatever helps you get rid of the negative thoughts.
Create Learning Opportunities
Making immediate knee-jerk reactions after a job rejection is never ideal. Take a couple of days to think about what happened and discover how you can improve from the experience. Whether it’s talking to the top rated resume writing services, practicing your interview skills or doing more research about the company of interest, you’ll be able to come up with logical learning opportunities once the initial sting of rejection wears off.
Never Burn Bridges
No matter how badly you want to, it’s never a good idea to write a harshly worded email or make a phone call bashing the employer for rejecting you. You never know where your career will be 5-10 years from now, but burning a bridge last forever. It’s completely acceptable to express your disappointment in not getting the job, but keep it brief and thank them for the opportunity. Many employers will keep resumes of legitimate candidates and reach out to them if the position opens up later.
Understand Failure Is A Part Of Success
Having the mentality of accepting failure as part of success is difficult for anyone. The reality is failure and rejection will happen to everyone at some point. Being at peace with rejection can help you move forward, even though it’s understandably challenging to keep going after multiple rejections. You can always talk to professional executive resume writers you trust to help you get back on your feet, make some tweaks to your job search approach and continue moving forward. Professional Resume Services is here to help professionals find the opportunities they desire. Whether you need assistance writing an effective resume, learning about personal branding or even if you need someone to talk to after a job rejection, we are here for you. Never hesitate to reach out to us if there’s anything you need help with in any aspect of your job search or career aspirations.
Critical Details to Include on a Senior Level Executive Resume
If you’ve been on a job hunt for any amount of time, you likely have heard about the importance of details. But how do you know which details to include on a senior level resume? The formatting, length and other similar aspects can be corrected by the best executive resume writers, but even the experts don’t know the details of your work history. When you’re applying for a senior level position, consider including these critical details when writing an effective resume.
Don’t Hide Your Credentials
You don’t want your credentials to be buried in your resume or be hard to read, especially if they are a requirement for the job. Display your credentials with the rest of your Education section. If you have letters to display after your name, proudly do so! Don’t be shy. Show the reader what degree(s) or certifications you have! Recruiters and hiring managers will look at the top of the page first, so the top resume writing services always suggest putting them there.
Clearly Show Your Areas of Expertise
The next thing the best executive resume writers will suggest is demonstrating your areas of expertise clearly. All of your skills from your previous job may not correlate exactly to the position you’re applying for. If this is the case, then only list the areas of expertise most relevant to the position you desire. You can do this by looking at the job description and matching certain keywords from it on your resume.
Focus on Recent Experience
When writing an effective resume, your experience should be listed in chronological order. However, most of the time it’s not as important to put detailed information about places you worked at 15 years ago. Instead, focus on the most recent and relevant experience you have. And be sure to quantify your accomplishments, since numbers generally tend to make more of a significant impact on hiring managers.
Provide Your Online Profile Information
Most employers will search for your online profile before contacting you for an interview. You could make their job a little easier by providing them with a link to your LinkedIn profile or any other profile you would like them to view. Just be sure to clean up your profile beforehand, so only the information you want to be visible will actually be seen. Nowadays how an online profile is displayed can make or break your status as a candidate, and you can guarantee the employer will look for it. Professional Resume Services has the best executive resume writers to help you craft the perfect resume. We will ask you all the right questions in order to understand your job history, so the information can be presented clearly. The details make a huge difference in the effectiveness of any resume, and we won’t overlook anything. Feel free to contact us at any time if you are unsure about whether certain details are needed or if you are struggling with any aspect of your job search.
Executives can work diligently and do extensive amounts of research to know what to put on a resume, only to struggle with landing a job. There’s a lot of contradictory information on the internet regarding the best executive resume format, the content that should be used in a resume, and more. When you can sort away the myths from the facts, you’ll be in a better position to have success in your job hunt. Here are a few of the most common myths you may have heard.
A Good Resume Guarantees A Job
There are no guarantees in life, and writing an effective resume won’t guarantee you a job either. In fact, many times a resume won’t even ensure you get your foot in the door for an interview, especially if sending out emails to people who don’t know you or haven’t heard of you. Numerous factors go into sorting through resumes for recruiters and hiring managers, so the only thing you can do is your best when writing a resume. However, it’s important not to get discouraged, because it could be factors other than your resume preventing you from landing an interview.
Include As Much Information As Possible on One Page
Another myth is your resume has to be limited to one page, so you should cram as much information as possible on it. The top resume writing services will tell you a two-page resume is perfectly acceptable and even better, especially if you have many years of experience and a significant list of accomplishments. The worst thing you can do is try to fit it all on one page. The best formats are easy to read and incorporate white space throughout the document, so avoid the temptation to stuff as many words as you can onto a single page.
You Can Never Overuse Action Verbs
Action verbs are important when writing an effective resume. What many people don’t realize is there is a difference between a weak action verb and a strong action verb related to resume writing. Weak action verbs include words like “managed,” “supervised,” and others. They are weak because everyone uses them. The overuse of these verbs make them less important, so it is entirely possible to make your resume sound boring when you incorporate them. Instead, focus on actual results rather than the process you went through to achieve the results.
Resumes Aren’t Too Important Anyway
There may come a time when you hear resumes simply aren’t important anymore. The old saying “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is true to an extent. However, no matter what your connection is with someone, a poorly written resume isn’t going to do you any favors. A quality resume may not land you a job on its own, but a bad one can definitely put you out of consideration quickly. Further, the human resource department will need to have a copy of your resume on file, so thinking you won’t need one won’t help you. Professional Resume Services knows about every myth there is regarding executive resumes. We are one of the top resume writing services because we focus on the facts and research exactly what employers want to see. If you have any questions about crafting your resume, or about a possible myth you may have heard, feel free to contact us at any time for advice.
Avoid Using These Words and Phrases In Your Executive Resume
If you’re like most executives, you choose your words carefully when crafting the perfect resume. However, depending on when the last time you updated your resume was, some of the words you think sound good may actually be diminishing your chances of landing an interview. Due to the limited amount of time a recruiter spends looking at a resume, you have to know which words to include. And most importantly, the key to writing an effective resume is knowing which words to avoid. Here are some of the most common words and phrases used that should be avoided.
Team-Player, Passionate, and Detail-Oriented
These words may accurately describe you, but they also describe many others. Since these terms have been so overused in the past, the value has decreased significantly. An executive resume writer may suggest getting rid of these words and replacing them with actual achievements. Shift your wording to show what you’ve done instead of telling about it.
Weak Action Verbs
Common weak action verbs include “managed,” “handled,” “led,” “supported” and many others. Again, these may be true, but they aren’t actionable and can bore the reader. A professional resume writing service can help you be creative with your action verbs, since they’ve seen every weak one imaginable.
Objective Statement
The objective statement is a thing of the past when it comes to resumes and will make you seem as though you aren’t current on the way resumes should be. Most applicants have the same needs and desires when applying for a job, so most objective statements are similar as a result. Instead, an executive resume writer will suggest ditching the objective statement in favor of a professional summary demonstrating your qualifications and experiences briefly.
“References Available Upon Request”
The common assumption recruiters have today is applicants will be able to provide references if asked, so don’t include this on your resume. As with the Objective Statement, this will make you seem out of touch with resumes today.
Outdated Information
At a certain point, a professional resume writing service will tell you experience is more valuable over certifications or education. If you have more than about 5 years of experience, you can likely relocate any mentions of your certifications or education to the end of the resume since employers are more interested in what you’ve accomplished. Professional Resume Services provides detailed critiques of resumes to ensure these words, phrases and information are used to your advantage. Many executives aren’t aware these words could be hurting their chances at landing their next job, so we are happy to assist in any way we can. To learn more about how we can help with your resume preparation, feel free to contact us at any time.
Most executives have the same job for numerous years, which means new resume trends have developed in the meantime. Even if you’ve only been at your current company for a few years, chances are your resume is already outdated from both stylistic and content perspectives. An executive resume writer can get your resume out of the past and modernize it to give you a better chance of being recognized. But before you hire one, here are some tips you can follow to determine on your own whether your resume is stuck in the past.
Ditch The Resume Template
Did you use a resume template for your last resume? If you did, it’s time to start over from scratch. The key to writing resumes that get you hired is making it stand out by using easy-to-read formatting, styles and effectively using white space. Plus, a vast majority of people will write their resume using a template, making it difficult to stand out. Do yourself a favor and ditch the resume template, and work with an executive resume writer instead.
Cut Out Wordy Text
The best way to eliminate wordy text is by having a clear direction with targeted content throughout your resume. You have about six seconds to impress your reader, and they won’t even take that long if they look at your resume and see more text than white space. Touch on main points, achievements, accomplishments and use concrete statistics wherever appropriate to eliminate wordiness and present meaningful information.
Remove The Objective Header
People used to think writing an effective resume meant starting off with an objective section. This used to state why you are applying for the job. This an obvious statement, because you are indirectly stating your objective by applying for the position in the first place. All it does is take up valuable space on your resume that can be used for more meaningful content instead. Check with an executive resume writer if you’re unsure how to effectively remove the objective section of your resume.
Don’t Mention References on Your Resume
Nowadays it’s understood you can provide references upon request. Don’t waste space on your resume by providing references or saying they are available. The interviewer may ask you for references, so it’s important to always have them available. Having a list of references at the bottom of your resume is a sure way to tell your potential employer that you’re not up-to-date with the latest resume trends. Professional Resume Services knows what goes into writing an effective resume, no matter the industry you work in. Modernizing the style of your resume is important for being recognized, but so is the type of information provided. We can help you with both aspects if needed, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’re having a hard time getting your resume up to date.
Could Your Executive Resume Benefit from a Professional Resume Service?
Many executives make the mistake of believing their experience and expertise speaks for itself on a resume. However, you aren’t the only one with similar experience, so writing resumes that get you hired isn’t as easy as it sounds. This is especially true if you haven’t crafted a resume in a while. There are many reasons why your resume could benefit from professional executive resume writers, and here are some of those reasons.
Your Aspirations and Goals Have Changed
When you last applied for a job, your goals and aspirations may have changed between then and now. Updating your resume from this standpoint goes beyond just removing and adding a few sentences here and there. When writing an effective resume, your goals and aspirations have to be clear and supported by your experience, which is more difficult to portray if you aren’t experienced in writing resumes.
Your Last Job Search Was Several Years Ago
Things change quickly, and your resume could be outdated if you haven’t updated it in a few years. You may have written great resumes in the past, but recruiting practices constantly evolve, meaning your older practices may no longer be effective. Everything from the format, the layout, keywords and the general content used in your resume can be addressed by professional executive resume writers.
You Aren’t Sure What to Include in Your Resume
You never want to include too much information on a resume, but you also have to make sure there’s enough information to highlight your attributes. Professional executive resume writers will critique your resume and determine what should be removed or added to give you the best chance to be noticed by a recruiter.
You Have a Bumpy Work History
Everyone’s employment history is different. In many cases today, employers aren’t worried too much about a bumpy work history as long as there is some sort of explanation about it. The key to writing resumes that get you hired is filling in employment gaps or other complications. You can’t change your past, but you can shape your future by writing an effective resume. Professional Resume Services is here to help you in any way regarding your executive resume. We bring years of expertise to the table and always keep up with the latest job search trends. If you’re in need of a resume critique or just need to start from scratch, feel free to reach out to us at any time for a consultation.
There’s always a right and wrong time to negotiate salary, but there’s also things you should say and shouldn’t say. When you’ve made it through the interview phase and have an offer on the table, your method of negotiating will go a long way in getting the salary you believe you deserve. Saying the wrong things could lead to some tension and possibly having your offer pulled, regardless of how strong your executive profile is. Here are some things you should never say when negotiating salary.
“This offer is insulting”
The art of negotiation involves keeping a conversation going until you receive the result acceptable to you. If you are very blunt about an offer being insulting, the conversation could end right there. Consider other alternatives instead. If the employer states they can’t pay any more than what they offered, then negotiate for vacation or other benefits to make up for it. The employer may end up budging on the salary, but if they don’t, then you can respectfully decline.
“That’s not enough money for me to live my desired lifestyle”
You worked hard on writing an effective resume to get the job you want in the salary range you need. However, your potential employer doesn’t necessarily care what your desired lifestyle is. All they care about is what you bring to the table and bringing you on at the lowest cost possible. Make your negotiation about them instead of you, and you’ll likely end up with a better result.
“This may not be the right time considering the budget, but I need a raise”
Let’s assume you’ve already visited a professional resume writing service, accepted a job and now believe you should be in line for a raise. Instead of just flat out asking for a raise, present different points to your employer to backup your case. Coming in with confidence instead of being hesitant will give you more credibility. Plus, you never want to give your employer an easy opening to say “no,” which you can do if you acknowledge budget constraints upfront.
“Thank you. I accept your offer”
Negotiations can’t happen if you accept an initial offer. Any professional resume writing service will tell you an employer always leaves wiggle room when offering a salary. They want to bring you on at the lowest price possible, so you’re leaving money on the table if you don’t at least make one counter offer. Just don’t be too outlandish with your offer, and your employer will likely consider it. Professional Resume Services not only will help you with writing an effective resume, but we can also provide tips on the negotiation process for your salary. Getting into an interview is the first step we help executives with, but then the real work begins when you have an offer on the table. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any advice throughout the process of searching for a job, or if you’re in an active negotiation with your current employer.
Include As Much Information As Possible on One Page
