It can be tempting to dispatch a resume as soon as you hear about an opportunity you believe fits your career goals and ambitions. Even more so if it is your dream job. However, hold back.
Patience is a virtue, as the saying goes.
Today’s jobs are normally posted for 21 or 28 days. You have time. So rein in your enthusiasm and excitement to plan an optimum application, supported with a dynamic, performance-driven and ATS-friendly resume.
Recently I read in an online article that 9 times out of 10, a human resources manager will discard an application received within an hour or two of a new job posting, simply because the resume is incomplete and appears to be a rush job.
A lot is at stake when you are applying for a job. You are measured on your professionalism and how well the resume tells a true story about exactly who you are and the skills you can bring a potential employer.
You only have one chance to impress and you must make the best use of that chance. There are many ways to diminish the impact of your job search documentation. I am astonished at how many people fail to proofread their resume. I have even seen people misspell their own name! How would you assess a job candidate who did that?
Ensure that you’re using a 2016 resume format that will be easily scannable by both the human eye and the ATS scanning machinery so prevalent in the hiring process today.
One mistake in the form of a typo, punctuation, grammar, or improper formatting will count you out of the job search, even though you may be a perfect candidate. So don’t rely only on your own eyes. Engage some close friends or other confidantes in critiquing your application documents before submitting.
The next time you see a posting for what sounds like the perfect job, eliminate your eagerness to apply immediately and take time to calmly review your resume to ensure all is correct.
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