Is YOUR resume "just" a piece of paper or a Golden Ticket?
Photo by Joe Osterloh
One of the reasons people struggle in their job search is somewhere along the way, they heard a resume was “just” a piece of paper.
If something is “just” a piece of paper, it seems like it can’t possibly have a price tag on it, right? No value, right?
Things change when we look at them differently.
When my sons were younger, they loved the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. For those of you who never saw the original movie with Jack Albertson and Gene Wilder, go rent or buy it. I found this delightful homemade reenactment of the movie song, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.” Take a moment and watch, it starts slowly:
The Golden Ticket opens the doors for Charlie and his Grampa to so many things.
Read what G.L. Hoffman, founder of LinkUp.com (the job search engine), says in his post: How to get a Job: Step-by-Step:
#9: Finding a job is just like sales. Here are the key steps in most sales situations: Find out the current situation (what problems are they having), enhance the pain they are experiencing with these problems by good open ended questions that demonstrate you know their business, present your solution (You) to those painful examples, and then ASK for the order (to work there).
You will struggle in your job search
As long as you see the resume as “just” a piece of paper and not worth you spending your time to delve into the benefits and advantages you bring to the next employer, you will struggle in your job search. A resume crafted with value-infused phrases depicting your accomplishments is much more than “just” a piece of paper. Like Charlie’s Golden Ticket, that resume can transport you to new opportunities and new focus on life.
Armed with that accomplishment-focused, targeted, value-rich resume, you can explain why you will be the key player and game changer to the company you are targeting and the employer will want you!
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Julie Walraven
Professional Resume Writer
Here are ways I can help you land your dream job.
You may be halfway across the country or the world. When you work with me, we share coffee, laughs, and concerns. This turns the scary job search into creative, consultative writing and learning sessions.
GREAT post, Julie! Love the video (energizing).
Just yesterday, in conversing with a new client, I remarked: “Your resume CAN be your ‘magic bullet'” (and then went on to explain the pragmatic layers of job search that must occur to effectively apply this ‘magical’ tool).
Of course, as a professional resume writer, I’m biased in my STRONG belief in resumes, but bottom-line, this IMPORTANT communications platform is “not” just a piece of paper. You articulated it so well: “A resume crafted with value-infused phrases depicting your accomplishments is much more than ‘just’ a piece of paper.”
Indeed, it “can” transport you to new opportunities.
Excellent message!
Jacqui
Thanks, my friend! We’re both biased but we wouldn’t have so many years in the industry without hearing the success stories. Some job seekers tend to think that with online applications, you no longer need a resume – just a piece of paper – but filling out the online applications is pointless unless you fill them with value and keywords.
Julie—Thanks for the shout out. You provide SUCH a valuable service and are a true helper out there.
Keep up the great work. We appreciate it.
Thanks, G.L.! and you inspire me! Thanks for stopping by and come again.