Losing the Job Before the Interview

Your resume could be costing you that job and with up to 91 million Americans ‘on the sidelines’ there are plenty of people to fill it. But, there are a few things you can do to make your resume stand out in order to avoid missing the mark on your next job application.

First, choose a format for your resume.  By using a format, your experience and skills appear more organized and structured.  But what format should you use?  The three best formats for a resume are chronological, functional, and combination.  

• The chronological resume organizes your education and experience starting with the most recent.  It is also the best format to use if you are seeking a job related to your previous work history or if you want to highlight your achievements.  
  

• The functional resume highlights your skills and achievements and lists your education and work history as a secondary item.  This resume is the best format to use if you have different types of job titles listed in your work history or gaps between employment. 

• The last format is a combination of the chronological and functional formats and works best if you want to highlight both your work history and experience as well as your skills and attributes.  Also know that there are templates available online to use as a starting point for your format when writing your resume.

Next, start your research.  Research, research, research. Read the job description for the position you are applying for and learn as much as you can about the company. What does the organization do?  What is their mission, vision, and goals?  What would your responsibilities be in the position for which you are applying?  Make a list of words that stand out to you in the requirements, preferred skills, and overview sections of the job description and match those words to your own experience, education, and work history. 

Lastly, sell yourself.  Now is not the time to be modest about your achievements.  If you have accomplishments that you are proud of, list them on your resume. Add things that they may ask you to elaborate on in your interview.  Interviewers pull questions directly from what you list on your resume so make it interesting.  Make sure you are incorporating the words you wrote down from the job description.  Employers often look for those key words in your resume before reading it through.  What better way to stand out than to show them exactly what they asked for in the job description, right? 

For additional help with resume building contact Goodwill Industries of New Mexico to learn more about  job readiness programs and how you can make your resume showcase  your best self.                                                                                                                        


About the Author
Christina Chavez is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a degree in Communication.  She works as a blog writer in Albuquerque, New Mexico and enjoys writing for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico as she takes an interest in and job development and community service. 

---