Why “general” Resumes Are Generally Wrong

By Author: JewelBracyDeMaio JewelBracyDeMaio
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By Jewel Bracy DeMaio
Job Search Strategist

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, even Saturdays, a jobseeker who’s stuck asks me, “Isn’t a general resume better so I can just cast a great, big net?” Let’s see…how should I put this? No. No. 1,000 times: no!

Think about this: your executive resume only needs to lead to one job. You actually would not be at your best trying to work every place under the sun. That’s not a solid approach to career advancement. Instead, focus on
what you really want to do, and the skills with which you really shine. Highlight those in your resume, and send your presentation to employers most likely to need those particular skills. Here are three easy steps:

1) Ask yourself what you want to be when you grow up. You probably don’t want to be five different things. Your skill set may be suitable for jobs X, Y, and Z. But in your heart and soul, only one job is ideal. What is it in your case? Target that. Only that. All other possibilities are secondary.

2) Find out what your perfect job’s requirements are. Once you know what ...
... your skill set it, the onus is on you to fit that skill set into the available opportunities. It’s a grave mistake to leave that up to the employer. So, present a resume that emphasizes your strongest skills, and make sure you present it to the employers that require those skills.

3) Get as specific as you can. If the skills on your resume say “Global Marketing Strategy” and “Campaign Development & Launch,” you will fare much better than your competitors who say their skills are “organizational abilities” and “team leadership.” Those terms may be listed in the ad, but they’re fillers. Don’t reflect them in your resume.

When it comes to resume writing, focus and specificity will put you on top every time. That’s how to get employers and recruiters to call you for that job you really want.

Jewel Bracy DeMaio specializes in getting employers and recruiters to call you (instead of you chasing them).
For 15 years, has helped 6 and 7-figure executives land in the jobs they love. Learn more in her free online master class at http://goo.gl/xjGBz.