The consensus in our region is there are no jobs and for the jobs that are out there, employers are not offering well-paying salaries.
 
While that is somewhat true, the fault additionally lies in those who are seeking those jobs.
 
In my career as a corporate recruiter and executive search consultant, I have reviewed hundreds of thousands of resumes, and written thousands more. So, when I ask a business owner or hiring manager about their top hiring frustrations, one thing that always comes up is that most of the resumes they see either are for candidates who are not qualified for the position or the resumes are just awful to read.
 
A bad resume can be due to a number of things, so let’s walk through a few of them.
 
First, remember this, your resume is worthless unless you can back it up. And more and more companies, especially in this market, are leaning to creative interviewing techniques and the overall culture fit to find their next employee.
 
Your resume must stand out to gain the attention of employers in one of the most competitive job markets in the entire south. So, let me help you make it stand out so you get the chance to make the face to face impact.
 
The number-one issue is information… too much or the lack thereof. Information on your resume should be detailed, attention-grabbing, clear and concise. You want to ensure that the reader knows who you are, what you do and what you are capable of, leaving them wanting to know more about you enough to call you in for the interview.
 
Layout and format is the next big issue I see. In my classes, I teach the basic principle of simplicity and to not get “cute.” The resume I teach and write is called The Simple Resume©. It starts with a simple MS Word Doc with a simple format and layout. Do not go overboard with online formats, boarders, layouts, fonts, etc. Stay simple; stay basic. Unless you are a designer, artist or other creative, your resume should be in it simplest form. To help you with what categories to have, read my blog post “Your Resume: What Sections are Necessary?”
 
Lastly, who has heard of the 7-Second Rule? This is the unwritten rule that states that it takes professional recruiters seven seconds to review a resume and determine if the candidate is qualified to move on to the next step in the process. As an experienced recruiter, I am looking at a few different things in my seven seconds. Because I pretty much have the client's job description committed to memory, I am looking for skills that stand out.
 
So, I:

• Read the summary (you should have one) so I know a little about you
• Skim your list of skills (which should be next in order on their resume)
• Look at job titles and, lastly, work history

And yes, job seekers, we can do that all in seven seconds. After that, it goes in one of two piles.
 
Remember that your resume is the most important document you will ever create professionally, but it does not get you the job. Think of your resume as a movie trailer. Stimulate your audience's interest and leave them wanting to know more about you.
 
If you want to learn more about creating The Simple Resume, I’m happy to help. Costs are listed on our website. And when you are ready for interview day, give me a call and my team and I will ensure you are not only ready but will also stand out from your competition.

Corey Lewis has more than 20 years of management, business development and project management experience across the retail, construction and staffing verticals. Entering into the recruiting industry in 2007 as an Executive Recruiter, Lewis spent the next seven years honing his recruiting skills and leading a local agency in developing the manufacturing sector of the company. With the support of his wife, Corey started his own boutique firm, Alliance Career Group based in Wilmington, while designing the basis for the company that would come to be known as Cape Fear Jobs. Corey found his passion for helping a struggling jobs economy in the Cape Fear Region and in 2016, Cape Fear Jobs was born. Visit the Cape Fear Jobs website or call (910) 782-2142.