Home TRG BLOG 2008 ARCHIVES Why Some Candidates GET the Interview – and Why You May Not
Professional Resume Writing Service Signup

TRG Blog - Resumes Revealed

Resume Tips and Job Search Strategies for Today. Create Excitement Around Your Unique Brand.
nrwa_logo_official

parwcc_logo

Testimonials

  • “In my opinion, every NSHMBA member should consider using The Resume Group as a strategic partner in helping to move their career forward in 2010. They develop a positive relationship that begins with really understanding your professional objectives. They then take the time to work with you to create a high-impact resume and well-defined search strategies that position you well, distinguish you in the market, and help you to achieve your career goals.”

    Ramiro A. Ramirez, Regional Development Executive, National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)

    Read more...
  • "I wanted to share some good news with you. I accepted a Regional Manager position with an...endoscopic spine company that is currently setting up their US distribution. It's a great opportunity for me. With my new resume, it took less than 3 months from start to finish to find my new position. In this job market......that is huge. Thanks for all your help."

    JM Shepard - recent client

    Read more...
  • "The presentation Sue Sarkesian     gave to our members at the NBMBAA - Washington, DC Chapter 2009 Pre-Conference Career Expo was extremely well-received! Members were greatly impressed by her knowledge, the career development information she shared, and the quality of the session content.

    After Sue's session, members felt armed with relevant career development tools to help them find and land the right career opportunities. I highly recommend Sue and Elaine at The Resume Group to anyone who is pursuing a career change or looking to further enhance their personal brand."

    John L. James II -- Career Network, NBMBAA - Washington, DC Chapter

    Read more...
  • "Sue Sarkesian's session at the NBMBAA - Washington, DC Chapter 2009 Pre-Conference Career Expo was invaluable in helping our members prepare to market themselves effectively and to move their careers forward in very positive ways.  She not only provided vital information on how to prepare distinctive resumes that will make members stand out as job candidates, she also provided important strategies to help our members find the right career opportunities. In this tough job market, that's pure gold."

    Oscar W. Mardis -- President, NBMBAA - Washington, DC Chapter

    Read more...
  • “A good resume is not a list or a work history, but rather, a story. The way we tell stories about ourselves really reveals who we are, but it's very hard to craft a story about our work when we are so close to the details. Elaine Basham expertly crafts resumes that tell her clients' stories for them."

    Penelope Trunk, Author, Brazen Careerist

    Read more...
  • “I highly recommend Elaine and also her business partner Sue to any one who may be job hunting. My expectations were blown away! I had no idea how incredible a service I was getting at the time. Well worth every penny spent. I experienced Elaine's amazing talent to be able to speak with me about my past work history, take that conversation and create an extraordinary resume. Her business partner Sue was able to give me direction in terms of web sites and resources for my job search."

    JG Aubrey - recent client

    Read more...
  • “I have used Elaine Basham's services for enhancing my resume and related documents such as, cover letters, thank you letters, and resignation letters. I was impressed by Elaine's writing abilities. The documents she provided were of high quality and had a positive impact on me and my employers. Further, Elaine and her partner Sue Sarkesian from 'The Resume Group' were very helpful and pleasant to work with. I highly recommend their services, in case you are looking for effective resume and related documents.

    Raghuveer Basude, Ph.D.”

    Read more...
  • “When Elaine Basham and her business partner Sue Sarkesian started The Resume Group, their vision was to deliver high-quality resumes with high integrity. They have achieved that! Their client service is unparalleled in the industry and has helped me increase the placement rate of many of my clients...Elaine is a generalist with very strong knowledge in a broad range of industries and has worked with candidates across all sectors, at all organizational levels. I highly recommend using The Resume Group if you want to stand out above the crowd!”

    Portia Kibble Smith , President & CEO , PKS Executive Search and Consulting

    Read more...
Why Some Candidates GET the Interview – and Why You May Not PDF Print E-mail
Written by Elaine Basham   
Saturday, 14 June 2008 08:30

Writing a resume that tells a hiring manager about your credentials, experience and accomplishments is the easy part. Writing a resume that forces a hiring manager to pick up the phone - NOW - and invite you in for an interview - PRONTO - is a much tougher assignment.

What are hiring managers looking for?

They want:

  • Clarity – they want you to tell your story clearly, concisely and in a format they can easily read.
  • Criteria - they want a candidate that meets their hiring requirements. They want to see the qualifications, education and experience needed for the job they’re trying to fill.
  • Correctness – no “gilding the lily”. They want a truthful, accurate picture of who you are, what you can do, and where you did it. They don’t want typos, spelling errors or grammar mistakes.

So, if all things in the resumes of two job applicants were essentially equal, why would a hiring manager contact one candidate for the interview over another?

It’s all about how you sell your personal brand. It’s all about how you differentiate yourself in the market. It’s the WOW. It’s the things that make you the “must-have” candidate that everyone wants to interview.  You have to create a sense of excitement – a buzz – around your brand. Remember, a resume is a marketing tool. It has to highlight your strengths and your contributions in a way that make YOU the standout applicant. You have to tell the story of your professional life in a compelling and powerful way.

When I work with clients on rewriting their resumes, I ask them to run the “so what” test on every single sentence. Here’s how the “so what” test works: read each line in your resume, then ask yourself, “so what? Would someone hire me because of this?” If the line is a reason to hire you, great – leave it in. If it’s not, you should probably take it out.

Your resume has to show that you’re up on the latest technologies, trends and issues in your industry. Show that you’re knowledgeable about the hot-button topics that everyone in your field is talking about NOW.  Let hiring managers know that you’re ahead of the curve. You’re up on the latest developments in your field. You know what the latest and greatest products. You know what’s coming on the horizon. Tell the hiring manager that you’re up on what’s “IN” and what’s “OUT” in your professional arena.

Hiring managers and recruiters see and scan thousands of resumes every month.  Make your resume the one they actually READ – and GET the interview!
 
client_login
client_success
resources