The Vet2Work Job Procurement and Advancement Series

Power Punch Your Resume

Clearly Define Your Current Career Goals and Match to Jobs

                   There is a very large amount of nonspecific information on how to write a résumé.  However, it is very difficult to speak to the issues facing older, transitioning, experienced workers who are looking for new employment, to start a business, or are making a midlife or late career change.  All résumés must be both an introduction of the writer to the prospective employer with one purpose - to get an interview.  Essentially, your résumé must tell an employer why you should be hired for a position.     

                    A strong, well written, in-depth résumé used to be the standard, but, by today’s rules, you have 15-20 seconds to get your résumé through the first phase of acceptance by an employer.   That is the amount of time most employers take to quickly scan and review your résumé information.  Because your résumé must be short and to the point, it is important that you define your current career goals in a few well chosen words and then look at the job you are pursuing to see if they are a match and then format your resume accordingly. 

                     You should craft a 15-20 second commercial (also known as an elevator speech or pitch) of yourself which will draw the employer to you. The upper portion of your résumé should be entirely focused on your qualifications and proficiency to do the job which you have applied for without being exhaustively wordy (due to your submission of your possibly vast military experience).  Clarity is one key element to getting your résumé noticed and along with clarity also comes brevity. Make sure your resume's upper one-third packs a power punch!

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