The employment market pendulum has swung drastically.  Professionals across Canada are feeling job volatility and have polished up their resumes.  Despite the cautious business climate, there are still great career opportunities with companies committed to elevating their talent in hopes of taking full advantage of an economy that will see the "cream" of every industry rise to the top.

If, however, you are considering a career change be warned!  The traditional resume format that jobseekers have always used will not work effectively in this economy.  Jobseekers typically submit resumes focused on past accomplishments, experiences and education, however, in speaking with thousands of hiring managers, I have found their priority is set on figuring out what a candidate can do for them in the future.  This  presents a tremendous disjoint between how jobseekers communicate and what hiring managers are looking for.

Job-Search Thought: If you are trying to set yourself apart from your competition why market yourself with the exact same methodology?

It's time to think differently in 2012.  If you want to create a competitive resume and set yourself apart, here are FIVE Do's and Don'ts:

Number One

DON'T state the same things as everyone else.   Employers assume that you are; "honest, loyal and a great team player".  No employer will say, “Hey, this guy didn’t state he was honest, hardworking and loyal in his resume, he’s out!”

DO properly assess your skills, education and experience and DO relate how you plan to use those resources to help the company make money or save money.

DO try and relate and quantify your experiences and accomplishments in dollars terms, time savings or percentages.

Number Two

DON'T assume that your resume needs to showcase all your experiences and achievements.  Most hiring managers look for information that is relative to their needs and corporate objectives. 

DON't make their jobs harder.  Stay consistent throughout your resume with your relative experiences, education and skills as they match the company's needs and goals of the position.

DO write a unique "objective statement" for each application.  Your objective statement should specifically relate to what the hiring manager is looking for and how their needs match your skills, experience and career objectives.

Number Three

DON'T use words that are long-term or process-oriented when describing your achievements.  Words such as; Taught, Learned, Processed, Co-ordinated, Organized, etc.

DO use short-term, action-oriented words  to describe your achievements and experiences, words that attract a reader’s interest and evoke emotion.  Words such as; Created, Closed, Changed, Lead, Secured, Negotiated, Took Charge, etc.

Number Four

DON'T include reasons why you left each one of your past jobs.  It's not relevant and after reading thousands of resumes no one has ever blamed themselves.

DO keep your resume focused on the specific job.  Tailor your past experiences and accomplishments in relation to the specific job description or company's objectives.

Number Five

DON'T forget the end of your resume.  Don't trail off with the typical "references will be provided upon request" or "my hobbies include; fitness, reading and charity".  This leaves the hiring manager bored and reminds them that they've read this before.

DO make the end of the resume count.  Most people remember what they read at the beginning and at the end of any document.  End uniquely and focus on including hobbies, personality traits and outside interests that reflect the personality of the candidate that they are looking for.

Bonus

DON'T under-market yourself.  After 20 years of experience as a recruiter and career coach I have surprisingly found that the vast majority of job-seekers under-market themselves.

DO be bold and creative!  Use your resume to compel hiring managers to see what you can do for them in the future.  After all it's what they are looking for.

Minto Roy is a career management professional and radio personality. Minto brings more than a decade of experience in career management and has worked with thousands of clients advising them on their career search and career plans. Supporting the development of business professionals at all levels of the organization with his unique pragmatic approach to “revolutionizing the world of work”. To learn more connect with him on Twitter, or LinkedIn.

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