Where are all the Jobs?: Use Marketing to Develop an Interview-Winning Six-Figure Resume

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Use Marketing to Develop an Interview-Winning Six-Figure Resume | Career Rocketeer

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Use Marketing to Develop an Interview-Winning Six-Figure Resume

Posted: 13 Sep 2011 03:30 AM PDT

At the six-figure level, you’ve probably used some level of marketing to sell aspects of your business to clients—or even sell a prospective employee on why they should join a company.
But have you thought about using these same marketing techniques to sell yourself as an executive candidate?
If you haven’t, now’s the time to consider some tips on ways to get this done.
Strategy 1: Who-What-Why Job Target
As you likely know, the first piece of information that any hiring manager will see when reading your resume is the headline/job target. This is your chance to create an amazing one-sentence summary that will entice the reader to learn more about you.
Your target should not only address who you are (e.g., top accounting executive), but also what makes you highly qualified (e.g., you’ve won awards, have 20 years of experience, etc.). Finally, this target should address why the manager should hire you for the job (e.g., you are targeting an accounting executive position).
Strategy 2: Qualifications in Your Career Summary
A career summary is a fabulous addition to a six-figure resume in that it allows you to choose 3-5 of your greatest career highlights that showcase why they make you the best person for the position. The career summary typically takes the form of a bullet-point list, making it easier to read.
Similar to selling a product or service, you want to use this section to elaborate on your headline/job target. By aligning your achievements with the requirements of the position and the role the company wants you to play in helping it excel, you are sure to build a great case for why you’re the best one for the job.
Strategy 3: The Most Newsworthy Info Moves to the Top
Also consider moving the best information about yourself to the top of the resume, as well as within each section of the resume. For instance, your headline and career summary should rest at the top of the resume. Within your career summary, you want to list the best highlights at the top as well.
Within each of your job summaries, it’s good to follow the same rules. Doing so works wonders in ensuring that the busy hiring manager who has time to only skim your document can still find your greatest qualities.
Earning a six-figure salary is not easy. It requires hard work while on the job, and of course, even harder work to obtain the job. This is why it’s great to treat your resume like a marketing piece—using yourself as the product. You’d be surprised by just how well this approach works in getting you the callback.
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Author:
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.