six seconds is the average fourth dimension spent reading a resume

Andrew Friedman

Andrew Friedman

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Published Feb sixteen, 2017

Employers only spend about half-dozen seconds reading a resume. Even Usain Bolt cannot run the 100 meters that fast. But that is all the time y'all take to convince a consummate stranger to determine to phone call y'all for an interview. Even with a "spectacular" resume, the gamble of that happening is alike to winning the lottery.

The vicious truth is that resumes are essentially useless every bit a way for applicants to introduce and marketplace themselves to prospective employers. And yet millions of chore seekers keep to believe to the contrary, equally evidenced by how many still spend most of their time applying for jobs online. They are not deterred past their lack of success, or the common sense determination that there is simply a vanishingly small chance of winning any contest when hundreds or fifty-fifty thousands of others are competing for the same prize.

"Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

There is no "magic" way to write a resume that will guarantee an interview. A good resume is "tailored" for each position, includes a summary argument that highlights selected accomplishments and awards, and quantifies equally many achievements as possible. Simply no matter how well written, employers are even so unlikely to read it for more six seconds.

NetWORKing
"Success is 10% inspiration, and 90% perspiration."
Thomas Edison

The overwhelming likelihood is that even a "spectacular" resume will not produce an interview unless the bidder has a preexisting personal connection with the employer. And that connection can ordinarily simply be established through networking. An employer is much more likely to thoroughly read the resume of someone they take already met, even briefly. That is why applying for jobs online is near invariably a waste material of fourth dimension. Even if your resume is not eliminated by an applicant tracking system, the employer has never met or even spoken to you.

The best way to increment your allotted six seconds is therefore to send a resume later on making a personal connection with an employer through networking. The resume is fifty-fifty more memorable if it is accompanied by a cover letter that summarizes the conversation, and as well includes details about the employer's business organisation and industry.

The tiny number of online task applicants who do receive an interview must as well all the same explain what they take been doing since their last job ended. Those who talk over their job search simply guarantee that they will not be hired. Every answer in an interview must emphasize how your skills can help the employer. And no employer has ever been helped by how an applicant is conducting their job search.

The realization that networking requires an enormous amount of work is why so many people instead spend nearly of their time applying for jobs online. Despite its colossal futility, information technology is quite easy to complete a form or attach a resume, and and then press the "ship" push. It is harder to attend a networking event, or create and maintain the robust online presence that is more likely to produce an interview.

These networking strategies will help you make the personal connexion with employers that should increment your allotted six seconds:

  • Have a consummate profile on LinkedIn. Your contour should include samples of your work, and recommendations from former employers and clients. Write articles, and comment on those written by other members. Sign up for the new LinkedIn service ProFinder.
  • Bring together a networking group or chamber of commerce. Offer to make free presentations about your industry to their members.
  • Utilize the resources of your state workforce agency. Agencies provide gratuitous resume reviews, mock interviews, and often accept personal connections with local employers and recruiters.
  • Register with temporary agencies. Design, marketing, and public relations professionals should consider The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half.
  • Create a website using Weebly, Wix, or Squarespace. The websites offered by these companies can be created without any coding knowledge.
  • Volunteer. I take done volunteer work for two nutrient banks, a kidney foundation, the American Cancer Guild Cancer Action Network, and a chamber of commerce. I currently volunteer by serving on the board of my HOA. VolunteerMatch has a great selection of opportunities.
  • Take courses. I take completed courses in employee benefits, ERISA, government contracts, grant writing, HIPAA, HTML, human resource, real estate, and revenue enhancement. State workforce agencies often offer courses for free, or at a essentially reduced cost.

These strategies work considering they all involve direct contact with people and employers, which is why networking is and then successful. Direct contact with people and employers increases the take chances that y'all will obtain an interview, oft for a position that is known by only a few other applicants. Just networking is work. And if you are unwilling to piece of work hard to find a task, how can an employer trust you to work hard one time you take the job?