A great resume lands interviews, a great interview lands the job. Here's how to go from A to Z seamlessly.
The biggest piece of advice from hiring managers and those who work in career services is often to perfect your resume. It's excellent advice and generally true. However, what happens when you're doing everything right and your resume is great – yet you're still not working? The truth is that a resume doesn't get you a job; a resume gets you an interview. Good resumes will get interviews.
The number of interviews and the frequency obviously depends on your market, the field you're in, and how your skills stack up, but a good resume doesn't get ignored. If you've sent out 1000s and had zero interviews, you definitely need to work on the resume, but if you've sent out 1000s and had hundreds of interviews, something else is amiss.
While the job market right now is tough and some industries are becoming nearly impossible to find work in, there are still elements you can control. Here are four tips for turning a great resume into a great interview (and ideally a great offer!).
Know your resume: It should go without saying, but it's so important that you know your resume. If you've had someone help you or had it professionally written, that's not bad. In fact, it's a sign that you're invested in your future. However, as much as a professional writer can make you sound amazing on paper, you still need to know what your resume is selling. If you arrive on the day of the interview and you're asked about your experience with strategic planning, because it was a keyword that seemed to belong, be sure you're ready to deliver with proof!
Know the company/job: People are always told to research the company before the interview and it's absolutely true. It goes beyond reading their web content, though. Why do you want to work there? How will you fit into the organization and how does this particular position fit what you're promising in your resume? Be prepared to bring them back to the resume and to reiterate your accomplishments, as well as to demonstrate how those will be true when you're hired to work for them. They invited you in because your resume attracted them, so make sure that you remind them why!
Cover the gaps: With that in mind, no resume says everything. You left off skills and achievements that may still be relevant. They likely saw something quickly in your resume, but they didn't memorize it. While you're reiterating what they liked about you as a candidate, don't forget to give them even more. The interview should not be a list of the same information they already know. When asked for examples of results, don't rely too heavily on the ones you included. Make sure to make yourself fully three-dimensional. Use the interview format to your advantage.
The old rules apply: Of course, all the stand-by interview tips still apply. Dress well, be on time, have questions for them, and follow up with a thank you note!
If 500 people applied for the position, and 200 resumes made it to the hiring manager, there are still likely 20 or 30 in the running during interviews. You want to stand out, but you want to do so in a way that enhances your resume, while adding new information that engages and intrigues the people you meet.
While there's no magic spell to guarantee a job offer, bridging the gap between you on paper and you in person can bring you closer to your goal.
Hire a TopResume writer to help you land more interviews, faster.