Help - My Resume Is Not Working!

You are about to pull your hair out. Why? You have been diligent at your job search, targeting your ideal jobs and yet after weeks, there have been no positive results.



Where could you be going wrong?



Could it be that your professional resume is not making that great first impression or lacks that "wow" factor effect on employers and recruiters?



I am going to keep reminding you that your professional resume is a career marketing tool. However, I want you to keep in mind that it is both a tool and resource that will only open interview doors when it is used as part of an effective job search strategy plan. If you have been revising your professional resume only based on your career "wants" and the employers' "needs", your career document is useless and will keep missing the mark.



The answer is not found in hours and hours of resume revision, instead take a close look at the following list to make sure you are not inadvertently making these mistakes.



Job Search Mistake #1: You are only marketing your professional resume through online applications and Internet resume databases.



Solution: Launch a multifaceted job search campaign that allows you to maximize the use of your professional resume through online, in-person and social media tools.



Job Search Mistake #2: Your online resume profiles lack a consistent theme of achievements and qualifications.



Solution: The minimum you should have in your job search portfolio include standard resume, VisualCV and LinkedIn, Google and Twitter profiles. Important strategy - they should all have the same, consistent brand message about your background and qualifications.



Job Search Mistake #3: Your entire career and supporting achievements have been squeezed and confined to a limiting, one-page resume.



Solution: Unless you are recent college graduate or entry-level professional, you should have a two-page resume that provides a succinct yet compelling summary of your career background and achievements that are most relevant to your target companies.



Job Search Mistake #4: Your professional resume boasts a generic career objective that tells employers and recruiters what you want and not the value you offer.



Solution: Avoid "me-oriented" resume objectives that do not demonstrate how you add value to potential employers; instead a strong, personal brand statement will give you a much better "sell" for your dream jobs.



Job Search Mistake #5: Your professional resume is missing a personal brand and unique value proposition, so your talents, strengths and differentiating value do not stand out from other candidates.



Solution: Qualifications alone will not get your professional resume at the top of the pile, make sure that you are marketing a document that shows employers how you add value and what differentiates you from your colleagues.



Job Search Mistake #6: Your professional resume is a basic document that “tells” your work history instead of a compelling, story-telling career marketing document that “sells” you as the ideal candidate.



Solution: A simple rehash of your work history is not enough to break through the "noise" in today's highy competitive job market; select relevant experience, credentials and qualifications that paint the picture of you as a real solution for the company's immediate needs.



Job Search Mistake #7: You have not properly re-weighted your resume content to match your job search and career goals.



Solution: If you held a position ten years ago that is more relevant to your current job target, then find creative ways to bring that information to the front of your resume. If your most current position is irrelevant to your career target, limit its real estate on your resume.



Job Search Mistake #8: Your professional resume covers your entire work experience with no regard to its relevance and correlation to your ideal, targeted positions.



Solution: Let go of existing emotional attachments to any work experience and do not allow it to determine your resume content; follow this rule of thumb, if it is not related or relevant to your immediate job search goals, either minimize it or eliminate it from your professional resume.



Job Search Mistake #9: You have done a fantastic job of describing your daily tasks and responsibilities on your professional resume, but you robbed the document of valid your career achievements.



Solution: By only showing employers your tasks, you are telling them half of your career story; make sure you balance the information with quantifiable, standout achievements that show how well you have done your job.



Job Search Mistake #10: You are seeking a career change and have limited to your professional resume options to functional resume formats.



Solution: Don't turn off employers and recruiters with a functional format resume that often screams "I am changing careers" - use a combination format that merges the best elements of a chronological resume with partial functional content.



About The Writer:



Abby M. Locke is a career marketing strategist and leadership brand coach who partners with 6-figure executives and professional MBA women to help them achieve true career mastery and success through cutting-edge, career branded communications, innovative job search campaigns, and proactive career management tools.