Yes, they are. But you wouldn’t think so if you watch or read the news. In fact, with all the doom and gloom being reported these days, it’s a wonder that anyone looking for a job bothers to get out of bed in the morning.

I’m here to tell you that there is a reason to get up in the morning, that people are in fact finding jobs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s easy, but there are jobs out there and finding them means taking a strategic and aggressive approach. Today’s competitive job market requires you approach the job search with a well thought-out, targeted marketing plan.

The foundation of the marketing plan is an outstanding resume. I often speak to HR professionals and they tell me that they’re not finding quality, talented applicants. How can this be with the number of people available? Perhaps it’s because there are good people, they just don’t know how to get their message across with a well-crafted resume that highlights what makes them stand out.

Your resume should be targeted to they type of position you’re seeking. Not only should it show how you’re a perfect match for the job, it should also illustrate how you’re special. I often run into people who say they don’t like to “blow their own horn.” Well if you don’t, who will? Writing a resume is the perfect time to brag about your accomplishments and if you can’t, find someone who can.

Even when people do include their accomplishments on their resumes, they’ll often fail to put in the results. For instance, they’ll talk about improving a process but fail to mention how that reduced costs or how much it decreased production time. Another example, they’ll talk about building a sales team, but not include how much more revenue that team brought in. In other words, how did you help improve the bottom line?

Quantifying your accomplishments with dollar amounts paints a vivid picture for the reader and adds credibility to your success stories. These important details are what makes the difference between a resume that gets over looked and a resume that generates calls. Besides getting the attention of hiring managers, a well-crafted resume also helps build your confidence and that comes through the moment you pick up the phone or walk in the door for your interview.

Remember, don’t get caught up in the media madness, make your own headlines by starting off with a positive outlook, a marketing strategy and a winning resume.

~Linda