Where Are You Going Wrong: Is It The Resume or The Job Search Techniques?

It has been three months now and you have been faithfully sending out executive resumes, making new contacts, and networking like crazy, but in the end – your phone is not ringing, you don't get called for interviews, and no-one is compelled by your unique value proposition.

Taking into consideration that economic changes, corporate downsizing, globalization, and technology have all impacted the number of viable job opportunities that exist, are there still effective strategies you could be missing that are hurting your job search?

Absolutely. It doesn't matter how diligently you respond to job openings, if your executive resume is not properly targeted, too short/long, has irrelevant content, and lacks achievements, it will end up in the trash pile.

On the flip side, how are you looking for job opportunities? If you are glued to computer ten hours a week, responding only to positions you find online or waiting for job postings to appear before contacting your target companies, you will be spinning your wheels for months and months to come.

So how do you determine whether the job market is slow or where you are making all the wrong mistakes? Take a close look at these recommended strategies for resume development and job search techniques and then determine – is it me or is it the economy?

Resume Mistake #1: Resume is Too Short

Can your really effectively sell yourself if everything is squeezed onto one page? Granted, there are innovative, one-page career marketing documents like the Critical Leadership Initiatives and Career Biography that gives readers an overview and quick summary of your background, but your "you-need-to-interview-me" executive resume will need to be more than one page.

While your goal is to keep the resume content succinct, concise and brief, if your career story is compelling and accomplishment-focused, then developing a two-page resume is more than acceptable.

Resume Mistake #2: Developing A Career Obituary

Your executive resume is a marketing document that needs to "sell" you – a resume that contains everything you done in your life it is career obituary. So unless you plan on dying sometime soon, make sure executive resume has relevant, compelling, achievement-driven content that will catch the eye of potential employers. Add a strong personal brand like the one below and start "selling" yourself right from the beginning.

SENIOR OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE
Start-Up, Emerging & High-Growth Companies

The Profit Builder: Systematically improving internal systems, strengthening operational processes and mobilizing vital resources that propel companies into stable, profitable entities.

Resume Mistake #3: The First Page Does Not Stand Out

Generally, you have about 30 to 60 seconds to make a great impression to a potential employer. Don't make the mistake of filling your resume's first page with heavy detail that does not support your qualifications, experience and expertise.

Information like education, certifications, associations, and volunteer work take up too much valuable real estate on the first page. Instead, use the first page to strategically draw the reader with strong personal branding statements, career highlights, and core competencies. Try using a compelling resume profile like the one below:

SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Accessories – Intimate Apparel – Luxury Brands – Beauty Products

SEALING THE PRODUCT'S BRAND INTO THE HEARTS OF CONSUMERS
Orchestrating integrated, multimedia marketing communication campaigns that propel brand awareness, accelerate customer traffic, secure customer loyalty, and increase bottom-line sales

Pioneering, strategic-thinking executive with dynamic record of delivering marketing solutions that transform interested consumers into loyal customers. Reputation for consistently introducing new, "first-of-its-kind" marketing and advertising concepts that result in product differentiation and competitive advantage for leading retailers.

Resume Mistake #4: Resume Has Too Much Fluff

Your executive resume should be a strategically written story about you and how you can add value to potential employers. If your resume is saying the same thing like every other executive, what makes you stand out in the crowd?

If you have opted to include a summary of executive qualifications, key achievements or an executive profile, avoid adding "fluffy", superfluous statements that don't add value like these:

• Great problem solver concerning customer relations, inventory management and cost containment.
• Demonstrates superior leadership through conceptual thinking and strategic planning.
• Articulate communicator with expertise in professional presentations and key professional relationships.

These statements are very general, they can be used by anyone, and they really do not communicate any differentiating value between you and your competition. Try powerful statements like these:

• Forward-thinking strategist able to structure contract agreements, financial investments, and joint ventures that increase business growth and minimize financial losses.
• Broad-based expertise with marketing to diverse cultural and ethnic groups in untapped, domestic, and international markets.

Job Search Mistake #1: Only Using Resume Distribution Services

When your executive resume is blasted to hundreds of recruiters or other career websites, there is little opportunity for actual customizations for individual jobs and how do you really know who has seen your executive resume? Many recruiters automatically dump resumes sent to them through bulk email resume blast services because they know that competing recruiters are also "shopping" your resume.

Job Search Mistake #2: Using One Resume Format For Online Submissions

Imagine sending your resume into a company and the hiring manager cannot read the document because it is distorted or the email has been blocked. Pay close attention to the application instructions especially when applying directly from the company's database – often you may be asked to send an ASCII (text) resume instead of the standard Word document and unless the employer's website or job board specifically asks for separate e-mail attachment, do not automatically send document attachments.

Job Search Mistake #3: Applying to Only Advertised Positions

The success rate of jobseekers who apply to advertised positions online is less that 3%. Why? Because technology allows jobseekers in your city, state, the country, and even around the world to apply for the same position with a click of the mouse. Your ideal, "it-was-created-for-me" job is also the dream job for thousands and thousands of executives in the same industry.

Instead of waiting for advertised positions to appear, start pro-actively reaching out to target companies with your executive resume and broadcast cover letter. Take advantage of LinkedIn to connect with former associates, friends, fellow alumni, and key contacts who can be instrumental in helping you to land a new position.

Job Search Mistake #4: Posting Resumes Online And Waiting For Responses

Getting tons of call backs for all the jobs you are not interested in does not sum up to be an effective job search technique. Your goal is to get interview calls from target companies for positions that you are interested in – if you are simply posting resumes and waiting to be found, you are in for job search heartbreak.

Instead of waiting to be found, make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to find you by developing a strong online identity. Frequent studies have shown that 75% of recruiters use online research to learn more about a candidate's background – simply said – you must be Google-friendly.

Developing an online brand identity is not complicated; the key is to use tools like blogs, professional networking sites, articles, and industry associations to consistently display facts about your career progression, certifications, speaking engagements, and industry-related articles. Let the jobs find you!

Abby M. Locke of Premier Writing Solutions (www.premierwriting.com) is an executive career marketing strategist who partners with senior-level professionals and C-level executives to achieve personal success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career communications and innovative personal marketing/job search services. Her distinctive resume samples have been published in national career publications including Top Notch Executive Resumes, Same-Day Resume, Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book, 30-Minute Resume Makeover, Happy About My Resume, and Sales and Marketing Resumes for $100,000 Careers.