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As the boss's trusted resume reader and adviser, Suzy or Jim may decide your future career when s/he first scans your resume in seconds and later, when s/he is asked his/her opinion.  But in 2010, Suzy or Jim may screen out your entire application in only 10-15 seconds or less! Frankly, s/he can afford to lose you because there are many other qualified candidates with better resumes.

Did you know that AMATEURISHLY WRITTEN resumes are the main reason why the best suited or most qualified candidates fail to land a job or even a single interview?   The awful truth is that many strong applicants FAIL to impress on paper and get screened out by Suzy or Jim in Round 1.  They have only themselves to blame.  I have seen hundreds of executive and management resumes that were obviously done by a well-meaning secretary, spouse, daughter or friend.  Such parties are NOT qualified to assist you to create an EFFECTIVE MARKETING DOCUMENT!

Sadly, many senior-level candidates are so confident of their own ability that they DON'T bother to market their value strongly.  They often write a lackluster profile that may have been copied from sample resumes.  For example, ten resumes that I received this week, start in identical fashion as follows: "Highly motivated and results-oriented ...."  That is an immediate turnoff!  Next, they state their job titles, names of companies, and write a few lines about their responsibilities.  But their wonderful ACCOMPLISHMENTS are all over the place or worse, lie hidden or buried in the text.  No KEYWORDS "jump out" at the reader.  Worst of all, their VALUE STATEMENT or proposition is either weak or has been omitted entirely.  Only Bill Gates of Microsoft or Michael Dell can get away with that!

Instead, a "winning" resume should be carefully designed and written to help you impress both Suzy or Jim and his/her picky boss.  It's aim will be to market your value as effectively as possible on paper.  "A resume is still your MOST VALUABLE CREDENTIAL," says John Lucht, the veteran executive search expert.  Who can disagree with that?

Always remember that when your resume arrives on a recruiter's desk, it will NOT be read from A to Z.  Instead, it gets skim-read or scanned in 10 seconds or less – NOT by the boss but by "Suzy" or "Jim", a secretary, assistant or clerk.   

Even in fairly big corporations, Suzy or Jim might only be 20 years old but are given a pile of 100-300 resumes to look at – quickly – because in 2010 the hiring authority wants to see only 10 resumes (or less) and plans to interview only 5 or so of the candidates.  Expect them to be more critical of your resume than their "upstairs" boss.  To them you ARE your resume, warts and all.  Frankly, even if you're the best, they can afford to screen you out. You have been warned!

"When in doubt...screen out!"

In Round One, the typical secretary is NOT interested in hiring you, but in FAILING you.   His or her task is to find any reason to eliminate you as quickly as possible: "When in doubt...screen out!"   Accordingly, they will search for one or more "RED FLAGS" or potential negatives in your resume.  That's why you need to be so careful.  It is Suzy or Jim who will be making the first decision about your future career – NOT the person you really want to talk to and impress!  

Employers want to see whether or not you are a good "fit" for the position you are applying for.  Resumes should be TAILORED to address their specific needs.  The idea of one-resume-that-must-fit-all-jobs is OUTDATED. A generic resume will NOT work in 2010.  

Here are a few tips for impressing Suzy or Jim in Round One:

Don't expect recruiters to read your resume from A to Z to find out what they need to know about your skills and abilities.  Tell them UP FRONT –in the FIRST 10-15 lines.

A good SUMMARY of your experience, achievements, skills and abilities is crucial.  If well-written, it will increase your perceived worth or VALUE to employers.

Writing a good resume involves much more than being able to write good English.  How to present yourself in the most effective manner is the ART OF SELF-MARKETING!  What to include, what to emphasize and what to omit are important decisions you have to make.