What Could Be the Reason That a Graduate of Four Degrees, Who Has Also Worked Diligently Alongside Her Studies, Is Not Receiving Invitations to Interviews? My client sits next to me, puzzled, and I start to investigate. As I review her application materials, the first thing that stands out is the overwhelming amount of information. Every training course, every internship she has ever completed, has been meticulously listed. And the cover letter is definitely too long. The abundance of information makes it difficult to discern what she is truly good at. And herein lies the issue. Here are a few tips on how to do it differently.
Present Important Information Attractively
It is the applicant’s job to present their competencies for the next job in a way that makes it easy for recruiters and employers to recognize their ideal candidate in one person. A mere listing of qualifications and experiences is not enough; in fact, if recruiters cannot see a clear narrative, you’re out. Especially if you have pursued various fields of study and worked in different areas. For every piece of information included in the resume, consider whether it helps the reader recognize your potential for the company. If not, either omit it or rephrase it to be more beneficial. When omitting, ensure no gaps are created that might lead to further questions or a “no thanks” from the reader.
Examples for Your Resume:
- Misleading Terms: If “NLP Training” might have a negative connotation for the reader, write “Training in Coaching Techniques” instead.
- Underestimated Jobs: If you have worked part-time as a sales assistant for ten years but are looking to enter project development in the cultural sector, consider whether this sales experience should take a prominent place in your resume. It’s positive to show long-term employment and appreciation, but cashier and sales roles may not be very appealing or relevant for your desired position. Instead, you might phrase it as: “Pursuing my passion for ‘customer interaction and satisfaction.’” We need to learn not just to list our duties but also to convey what we enjoy and excel at.
- Multiple Internships: If you have completed many internships, list the essential ones clearly after your education and summarize the rest under “Professional Experience During Studies.” For those internships relevant to your next job, highlight the areas of activity that the reader is likely to look for in your resume to gauge your competency for the position. For instance, instead of just “intern,” specify “Intern in Application Management” or “Intern in Marketing,” etc.
- Interests: Often, interests lack relevance to work. If you are genuinely interested in your job, list activities you engage in during your free time. For example, if you work in the cultural sector, add “Researching new cultural projects worldwide.” This makes you appear more authentic, but only if it is true.
- Skills from School Projects: One of my HTL students included exercises from the school workshop under “Professional Experience.” Great idea! Assuming that everyone knows what students learn in workshops is a mistake. It helps department heads understand where they can place students during internships.
- Discuss Your Achievements: Either in the cover letter or resume, you should also mention your achievements. Listing tasks alone doesn’t create a must-have impression. We are hired for our successes, not just for completing tasks. In the professional experience section, list your position, the employer, and then your tasks. Follow this with a specific achievement in that position, such as “Successful establishment of a new product line,” “Increased sales,” “Successful projects,” “Market entries,” “Branch openings,” etc. Achievements create the hope that we can replicate them in their company and highlight our competencies.
In Summary: The key is to approach your resume as you would a product application. The most important keywords that signal the product meets the needs should also be clearly presented in the resume. Everything that is not crucial should be omitted or minimized to make it easier for the reader, rather than overwhelming them.
If you also have an idea on how to write a resume “differently,” please let me know at office@doria.at.
Tips for an Effective Cover Letter can be found HERE!
