The Resume: Things Your Application Doesn't Say But Wishes It Could

In many cases employers, especially regarding entry level positions, are only receiving applications from prospective employees.  And, as you've read from my previous posts and tweets, employers are often receiving hundreds of applications for a single opening. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a quality resume.  I know you have heard that resumes are important, but I don't think many people realize why.

• It Helps You Stand Out

When you submit an application to a prospective employer, you are handing in a few sheets of paper almost identical to everyone else who is vying for the same position.  The format is always the same.  All the little lines and boxes that you have painstakingly taken the time to enter information about your distinguished career line up with all the other little lines and boxes everyone else has filled out.  Basic information about your education and employment experience neatly overlaps with all other applicants in a pile of applications.  It's monotonous.  Hiring managers are trying not to doze off or zone out while reviewing the same information over and over again ad infinitum.

A good resume, on the other hand, can make an employer pause.  They stop flipping through the monotony and spend more time on who you are and what you might be able to bring to their business.

• It Paints A Better Picture

A resume should NOT be identical to your job application.  The application you filled out already has the dates of employment, addresses, and why you left.  A good resume gives a prospective employer more information about your skills and experience.

Use your resume to tell specific details about your experiences.  Were you a supervisor?  That might look fine under "Previous Job Title" on an application, but what does that really mean?  Use your resume to show how you managed X number of employees, how you covered shifts when employees called in sick, and how you generated monthly reports, etc.

• It Shows Effort

A good resume shows that you take this job seriously.  You have taken the time to develop a narrative about what kind of employee you have been in the past.  You want this job, and you are willing to take extra steps that an applicant without a resume may not be willing to take.

There are other things to keep in mind when drafting a resume.  What better highlights your employment experiences, a traditional or a functional resume?  Personally, I prefer to use a functional resume.  Take the time to research sample resumes on the internet and find which one works best for you.

Be concise:

Tell your reader pertinent information about your experiences but don't bore them.  Is it really important that one of your job responsibilities was to take out the trash in the office at the end of the day?  If you are applying for a position as a janitor, then yes, if not, leave it out.

Tailor your resume:

I alter my client's resumes and help them tailor it to fit the job description.   Did you answer phones and  answer customer questions at the restaurant you worked at?  Highlight that experience for the administrative assistant position you are applying for.  Make it seem that, even though you didn't work in an office, you still performed the duties of an administrative assistant.

Be careful about embellishing:

It's okay to brag a little on a resume, and it can be okay in some cases to highlight some of your smaller duties to tailor your resume to fit the position you are applying for.  But beware of what you write.  Employers are very inclined to verify your previous employment.  Although most corporate employers will only verify a previous employee's job position, salary, dates of employment, and eligibility for rehire (for fear of being wrapped up in a law suit), mom and pop shops sometimes go in detail about previous employees.  I have, at times, heard stories about my clients when I perform employment verifications.

Are you tech or social media savvy?

Do you have a Linked In profile?  Do you have an interesting blog or twitter feed?  Use this to your advantage.  I like to add a QR code to mine or my client's resumes that links to a URL that better markets their capabilities.  There are two advantages to adding a QR code.

The first one goes back to helping you stand out.  QR codes grab peoples attention.  Not everyone has a smart phone, and those that do don't necessarily have QR code readers.  But, if a hiring manager does have a QR reader, they may be compelled to see what it links to.  Sometimes I find myself curious about scanning a QR code even though I know it will lead to a website that won't interest me.  If an employer does manager to scan your code, you are given another opportunity to show them more about who you are and what you are capable of.

The second advantage to using a QR code is that it already shows that you are tech savvy. Although large corporations have already jumped on the social media bandwagon, smaller corporations and employers are starting to realize social media can be advantageous for them.  I'm finding out that, at least in my region, many of the small business owners and executives in small corporations do not understand social media and do not have the time to figure it out.  They are starting to ask their employees for help, and many of them may not know how to use social media. Being savvy can show an employer you have a skill they may be able to utilize that may be unrelated to the position you are applying for.

Beware of your digital footprint:

That being said, make sure the social media you use will benefit you as a prospective employee. Your sports blog may be a great link for the journalism position you've applied for, but the blog about how hard you party may not go over so well.

Well, that's it for this blog.  I will blog soon with information about what makes a good cover letter and how to prepare for an interview.

Good luck out there, and don't give up trying.

Matt Cortez

Job Developer

Make a mistake on an application? It may cost you a job.

Most employers require job seekers to fill out a custom made job application.  If not accompanied with a in-house reference (i.e., your friend works there), a resume, or a cover letter, this is may be the only chance the potential employer will give you to make an impression.

I have heard anecdotes about how employers see the tiniest mistake on an application and have thrown it away. I don't believe this to be true in most cases.  Many businesses have a policy of keeping applications on file for a certain period of time.  But when an employer is faced with hundreds or even thousands of applications, mistakes on an application can preclude an otherwise qualified candidate.

I spoke to the manager of a hotel recently about this.  She told me that spelling errors on an application reflect negatively on the applicant.  "It show's that they really didn't take the time and effort in applying for the position.  Are they going to put a lot of time and effort in their job?" she asked.  Although I am a firm believer that a mistake on an application is not a true representation of a person's abilities, it still makes for a bad first impression.

There a few things to keep in mind when you are filling out an application:

• Make a photocopy of the application

I always make a photocopy of each application I pick up for my clients.  In the event that my client makes a mistake, I have a backup (which I will photocopy again in case of another mistake).  Do not cross out mistakes or use whiteout.  I know it's a pain to start all over again, but it looks better.  Be mindful, though; make sure that the photocopy is identical to the original application (if it's in color, make a color photocopy; if its a generic form, it may be best to have someone else ask for another application for you)

• Make sure the information is accurate

Try to be as accurate as possible.  Look up your previous employers' addresses and phone numbers instead of trying to recall by memory.  Try to state the starting and ending dates as accurately as you can.  Try to put down the full name of your last supervisor instead of just a first name, or a made up one.  If you need to, contact a former coworker you might be friends with to verify old information.

In some cases, when my clients are unsure about previous employment facts, I will contact their former employers and say I'm calling on behalf of my organization and I would like to verify my client's employment.  I typically ask when they were employed, I may ask to verify the name of the supervisor, and if the former employee is eligible for rehire.  I like doing this because it gives me an idea of what they will say to other potential employers.

When a potential employer does follow up on the information you stated in your application and it turns out to be false or the information is not accurate, it can prevent you from being hired and you may not be given a second shot at the job.

• Take your time

After filling out countless applications, I often see that my clients grow impatient and just want to finish up.  They become mistake prone, and their writing becomes less legible.  Taking your time can help prevent minor errors.

• Ask someone you trust to proofread your application

A second set of eyes can be very helpful.  It is very easy to make a simple spelling error or an error in the accuracy of your information.  A second person might be able to catch it and give you a chance to redo your application.  

• Be mindful of your appearance

One manager told me that when one of her staff is on duty when an application was received, she will ask about the applicant's appearance.  Although it may not be necessary to drop off the application wearing the utmost professional attire, handing one in wearing a t-shirt, sweatpants, and flip-flops and being poorly groomed is probably not a good idea.  You may be judged on how serious you are about the job by the clothing you wear and your appearance.  

Competition in the job market is fierce.  When evaluating two equally qualified candidates, an employer might scrutinize their applications.  An application really gives very little information as to who you are or what you are capable of doing for an employer.  Consider giving them a bigger picture by including a resume and a cover letter (to be discussed in future blogs).

Good luck out there, and don't stop looking!

Matt Cortez

Job Developer

Hiring for the Holidays?

I am constantly looking for any leads I can find to place my clients with stable jobs.  Most of my clients want at least part-time employment, but none of them truly want seasonal or temporary employment.  However, in this dismal job market where unemployment is hovering around 11% in California, the unemployed find themselves willing to take a job that may offer very little in the sense of long term stability.

As I spoke to different people in the last few months, I kept hearing that retailers were "hiring for the holidays".  I saw job postings online that reiterated the same.  Occasionally, I would see a big box store with a sign claiming they were hiring seasonally. So, I optimistically assisted my clients in filling out applications and submitting resumes for these sure to be temporary jobs.   I then went to follow up with these employers in person (and without my clients) and found many of them to be too busy or unable to discuss applications.  "We have too many applications at this point and will call back those that are qualified," I often heard.  My clients rarely received calls for seasonal employment.

Why was this?  I mean, everyone tried to convince me that my clients will be employed soon since so many retailers are hiring for this time of year.  It turns out that the retailers were indeed hiring, but only for a select few positions.  In many cases, these businesses were receiving hundreds, or even thousands of applications for a few jobs that would inevitably be terminated a few months later.  One manager at a pharmacy/convenience chain told me that although there was a posting that his store was hiring a short while ago, he has filled all positions and expects to be laying seasonal employees off shortly.

Although the holiday season is coming to an end, we should be mindful of the employment situation as we search for jobs.   I won't sugar coat it for you, it's pretty bad out there.  If you follow my Twitter account @Matt_Cortez1, you will see that I have recently posted that an HR manager at a local hardware chain currently has over 5,000 applications on file.  Their policy has been to keep applications on file for more than 1 year.  After the end of this month, however, they are mulling over not accepting applications unless a position is actually available.  Also, a new restaurant is currently preparing to open up in the North County area of San Luis Obispo county.  They posted a job notice online stating that they were hiring for all positions.  As of now, they have received more than 2,000 applications for these entry level positions.

These numbers are dismal, to say the least.  However, heed my words: DON'T GIVE UP!  The reason why multiple employers might be receiving thousands of job applications is because unemployed and underemployed folks are submitting applications to multiple employers.  Do the same.  If you think you have an "IN" with an employer you are applying to, don't fully depend on it; take the time to fill out applications with other employers.

Good luck out there.  Take the time today to enjoy Christmas, friends, and family.  It can be very emotionally taxing to seek employment and have little or no success.  I will blog more about the current state of the job market, and what I have been finding out that makes a successful job seeker.

Matt Cortez
Job Developer