5 Myths No One Told You About Resume Writing

Changing your job or your field of work can be quite difficult. Nowadays, companies are very dynamic, they change from day to day. This dynamism can make the process of finding a suitable job quite long and exhausting. Because of this, people tend to be very skeptical about the recruitment processes used by companies today.

When you want to start applying for jobs, you should consider writing a top-notch resume, thus you’ll have better chances of landing the job you want. Here are 5 myths no one told you about resume writing. If you take note of these myths, you can drastically increase your chances of getting hired.

You can use the same resume for different jobs

 Most of the persons searching for a job are sending tens of resumes to different companies. This might include companies from different industries and very different jobs. After one or two days of sending tons of resumes, they are wondering why they don’t receive any calls.

Every job is different, it has different requirements. The same job can have contrasting requirements in two different companies. You should consider taking a look at each job’s requirements and attributions and you should modify your resume accordingly. A resume adapted to the requirements of each job can increase your chances of getting called.

You should apply for every job and company out there

This is one of the easiest ways of finding a job, but it’s not very efficient. You might end up being called for interviews for very different jobs, but do you see yourself going to those jobs in 5-10 years? When you are applying for a job, you should research it thoroughly. You need to find out everything that is about that job and the company you are sending your resume to. If you don’t feel 100% comfortable with applying for that job, you shouldn’t do it.

George C., Resume Writer and Career Coach at Careers Booster said: "Before sending the resume, stop for a minute and ask yourself - Do I see myself doing this in 10 years?” If the answer to your question is yes, then you should apply for that job. If the answer is no, you should consider looking for another job. If you are not 100% sure you’ll like it, that job might turn into a nightmare in a few months, it will become very stressful.

The resume alone will get you employed

The resume is a very important part of the recruitment process. It represents the first contact the recruiter will have with you, the first information he’ll find out about you. Many people think that a good resume will get you employed. A top-notch resume will boost your chances of obtaining an interview. Once you are called for an interview, you need to sell yourself. If you aren’t able to do that, you might not land that job you like.

The best way of ensuring your success is to practice your speech and learn how to adapt to quirky questions. Ask a friend for help and create an interview-like environment in order to get used to the idea of formal speaking and stressful situations. During these mock interviews, you should focus on the most popular questions asked at interviews. By answering them, you can get a feel of how you should speak during your interview and, also, you practice your speech.

Your resume should include all your professional experience

The resume writing process should always start by documenting yourself about the job you want to apply for. You should find out everything there is about that certain job and you should adapt your resume. You might’ve worked for many companies in the past 30 years and the jobs could’ve been in different industries.

When you start to write down your resume, you should focus only on the relevant information. If you worked as an intern for an automotive company and now, 30 years later, you apply for a job at an IT&C company, you shouldn’t include that information. Recruiters tend to have short concentration. They will not consider gigantic resumes that include lots of irrelevant information.

Your education does matter

Your education actually matters if you are a fresh grad or if you've got an Ivy-League education. Theoretical knowledge gives you only a small glimpse at what you’ll need to do at a brand new job.

For ex-military personnel, the relevant past professional experience and practical skills in that certain industry are more important. These activities will give you the upper hand in the recruitment process.

“In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy.” - Warren Buffett

Conclusion 

Searching for a new job can be quite difficult and it might be an exhausting process. When writing your resume, you should do some research about the job you’re are applying for. Once you do that, you should select only the relevant information for that certain job. If you take note of these myths, your job-finding process should be a lot easier.

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Author's bio: Eva Wislow is a career coach and HR expert from Pittsburgh. She is on a mission to help people find their true calling. Eva finds her inspiration in writing and peace of mind through yoga.