Resumes and Career Planning - Stand Out From The Crowd

​In a competitive job market where everyone is trying to get the edge over the next person, what will make you and your resume stand out from the crowd?

Is it a jazzy design, or some ‘jump off the page graphics’, or even a video resume on YouTube?  The answer is probably not!  In fact, in the modern world of recruitment, resumes, and screening software, too much ‘bling’ in the document can be detrimental to your shortlisting prospects.  Not that a sharp resume that’s easy to read together with a good design isn’t helpful, in fact it’s very important.  However, recruiters and employers are more interested in your qualifications and skill set, and what you ‘bring to the table’ as a prospective employee. 

Not everyone is a perfect 100% fit with the requirements of a new job and its position description.  In fact, most aren’t.  So, what’s important is your ability to show how your experience and skillset links up with the primary responsibilities of the job or roles you’re chasing.    

In our experience over many years writing career documents, roughly 50% of clients are looking to continue or advance their careers in the same industry, whilst the other 50% are looking to do what we term a ‘career left turn’ and head in another direction.  Whatever the motivation for seeking out new employment opportunities, the need to connect your skills with the requirements of the job is equally important.

That’s where an experienced professional resume writer crafting a document specifically to your needs and work history is worth every dollar!  There are plenty of low-cost template style resume writers around, and whether you're chasing a job as a cashier, bank worker, admin officer, doctor or anything else, their resumes all appear, feel and sound the same.  That places you at a disadvantage in a competitive job market, and especially when the prospective employer is using screening software to shortlist applicants.  Job seekers need that resume to be specifically crafted to their skill set and experience to help achieve better results.  

Let’s briefly diverge into the topic of qualifications.  Completing a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade ticket is a great base level qualification that will open the first door of opportunity, but sometimes it isn’t enough.  Some people go on to develop their base level skills through practical ‘on the job’ experience that’s been taught to them over time.  In fact, we don’t have to go back too many years to when that was the norm.  People entered a company or industry doing one job and through an opportunity that popped up then transitioned into a new role.  In fact, it still happens today.  

This example highlights how exploring and teasing out your skill set in a resume adds to its impact where experience is what you bring to the table, rather than directly relevant qualifications.  

The world of Resume Writing and the broader recruitment market continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and you need to consider all the strategies to achieve success.  That’s where a professionally written resume pays dividends.

Present Professionally – Be in safe hands and Power Your Career with the Right Words!

Anthony Ferro

Present Professionally provides career services to clients across Australia.

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Written and Published by  www.presentprofessionally.com.au