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Resume Secrets Revealed

Below we will discuss 3 little-known resume secrets that will transform your resume into a strong, to-the-point sales piece that will move you to the "top of the list".

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These 3 secrets, when employed, will do one of the most important things that are almost always missed by the masses; directly couple you to the employers need.

All too often job applicants miss this most simple and basic point - an employer is looking for a specific person with a specific skill set.

You MUST (very quickly) show that you represent the answer to his need.

Most people are in effect saying, "look at me" instead of saying, "look how I fill your need". It is a very subtle difference, however, this one point is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Below are 3 resume secrets that will frame your presentation in this very way.

The 3 Resume Secrets...

Resume Secret #1

"The 5-Second Rule"

The 5-Second Rule simply states that you and your resume have 5 golden seconds to make a positive impact on a potential employer so as to not get relegated to the “circular file”. Does that seem unreasonable to you? It may be, but you must realize that this is a reality of the highly competitive business world we live in. Hiring managers with stacks of resumes on their desks and an already full schedule, make split second decisions initially to determine which resumes they will pursue and those that will be thrown away.

Before you start to picture your resume as #74 in a stack of 100 on some over-worked managers desk who probably won’t even give it the time of day (actually he’ll give it 5 seconds), and before you start to slip into a deep depression wondering, “how will I ever break through this quagmire”; you must know that the 5-Second Rule is GREAT news for you! Here is why…

Your initial success in making it past the first step will be determined by your adherence to the 5-Second Rule.

If you stick to it, you will be one of about 10% of resumes left that will garner further scrutiny – the other 90% will be in the trash. The vast majority of resumes submitted will fail to adhere to the 5-Second Rule, and simply because you are aware of it, you will make it to the “worth reading” list! (for more get the "Insider's Guide")

Resume Secret #2

"The Objective Tie-In"

The Objective Tie-In is really a very simple concept and the first major decision point for the reader of your resume as to whether or not is will be worth his time to read any further. However, this is possibly the most important of the resume secrets.

This critical point is when the reader gets to the very first section of your resume, which should read, “Objective”, or “Employment Objective”. The Objective Tie-In concept means that you are simply matching your objective to the specific needs of the employer. Bottom line: In this moment, with this resume, being read by this hiring manager, your objective is nothing more than - the job being offered!

Let’s be honest, your objective is not: “to gain employment with a growing company in the (blank) industry that would utilize my varied skills and aptitudes in a way that would be mutually beneficial”.

Your objective is: “Administrative Assistant”

Or, your objective may be: “Executive Secretary”

How do you grab an employer’s attention in a split second? Not by giving him flowery overly generalized fluff; you give him what he is looking for. If he is looking for a database administrator, then as he is going through the stack of resumes, giving each one no more than 5 seconds, his eyes will naturally be captured by any resume that begins with the following:

Employment Objective: Database Administrator

Yes, it is almost uncomfortably short, but remember, you are not writing this for yourself, you are writing this for your next employer!

This is short and to the point – something employers value and appreciate. There are no magnanimous overtures stating how you want your skills and abilities to impact the company in a mutually beneficial way.

Believe me, I have read thousands of resumes and nothing turns me off more than this type of drivel – sorry if I am being too blunt about this.

The key point here is that you must use the “objective tie-in” and give the employer exactly what he or she is looking for and nothing more. This concept will support the employers desire to make a very quick assessment (5-Second Rule) on whether or not to add your resume to the “worth reading” pile.

Resume Secret #3

"Use of Power-Phrasing"

People assess you by the words that you use. Every day, with every interaction, each word that comes out of your mouth helps build your persona in the eyes of other people. Of course this can be either positively or negatively!

When constructing your resume, you must consider the words you use very carefully. There are always at least 2 different ways to say the same thing, and generally one of those will come off better. You must always choose the best possible phrase for each concept you are trying to covey. By doing this, you are positioning yourself in the best possible light with respect to how your reader will perceive you. This practice is called Power-Phrasing.

The proper use of Power-Phrasing can take one statement or fact, and using powerful, effective wording, make that fact look all the more impressive simply because of the words chosen to express the fact.

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