Stop! Don't Send That Resume!

You already know that the majority of job openings don't get posted. Still, you apply for jobs in the newspaper and online. I don't blame you, because that is the easiest way to apply for a job. But if you do that, your resume goes into the throng along with a zillion others. You have to help your resume stand out.

So, when you see an ad in the paper or online, don't rush to apply for it. Stop! Read the job again. Is there a company url anywhere in the ad? Perhaps it's in the reply-to email address: "reply to hr@xyzindustries.com."

Now, open up a window. Jump over to XYZ Industries' home page. If you can't find it right away, enter "XYZ Industries" into a Google search. You'll find the company. Browse around the website. See who's who and what the company is up to. Read about what they believe in.

Now, go back to your cover letter and incorporate those elements into your cover letter. Check over your resume. Is there anything in the resume that you should tweak, based on what you now know about this specific employer? Here is the watchword for job-searching in 2007 and beyond: no more boilerplate cover letters. No more boring resumes. Talk about them. Talk about how you can help them. That's how your resume gets to the top of the stack.

If you are job-hunting right now or contemplating a career change, write to me with your job-search questions! My email address is liz at asklizryan.com. Two more ideas to consider:

• Join the Ask Liz Ryan online discussion community to share job-search tips with professionals all over the world.
• Visit my website to learn more about my programs for job-seekers, career changers and working people at a crossroads.

Next post: LinkedIn in your job search!