Many people wonder why they are not reaching the next stage of the job application process after sending in your resume for consideration. A resume is a necessary tool to help you land your next job but firing off the same resume to multiple job listings because you want a job does not help with the success rate. If you are wondering why the job market is so difficult at the moment, you are not alone, however, there are steps you can take to increase your opportunities and stand out from the crowd.

A resume cannot give you an advantage unless it relates directly to the job you are applying for. Think about it for a second, if you are an IT professional and the job application for a Desktop Support role requires experience with Citrix and Software distribution in SCCM, then you would want make clear in your resume and emphasize experience with working with Citrix and SCCM. Likewise, if you have all the safety training as a furniture mover and wanting to apply for house movers Auckland positions that require mandatory health and safety knowledge, you need to be direct and state in your resume that you are the right person for the job because you have invested time and money in gaining the required health and safety certification. Think about what other skills that would are essential to the job that you can highlight? Perhaps highlighting the fact that you have a good driving record and knowledge of how to safely move difficult items such as pianos could be the difference between your resume and the rest.

Follow the following tips and mastering these skills on your resume may be what you need to land your next job.

1. Take the time to carefully read the job description to find out what the company you are applying for is looking for, what qualities do they require? What is the overall feel for what they are looking for?
2. Take a highlighter and highlight words and descriptions on the job ad that represents what the company is ideally looking for, you would want to emphasize by directly using the same words and descriptions to show you are a direct match. You want to showcase your experience and help the employer see how it relates to the job description.
3. You do not want your resume to go on and on with irrelevant information, keep it direct and if you feel some experience do not relate to the job description, there is no harm in that and focus more on what closely matches the job you are applying for.
4. Many job descriptions list ‘preferred but not essential’ qualities the employer look for, make sure you take the time to see how your experience or accreditation you have match this area. It is always a bonus for an employer to see you possess qualities on top of what they are initially after.
5. Once you have the basis of your resume on paper, it’s time to make notes with a coloured pen, reading through your resume to see where you can add and what you can edit.
6. Get to work making all the changes that you noted to come up with the newly edited resume, ensure you format it and proof read to make sure the grammar and spelling is ok.
7. Now read through the job description and compare it to your resume. Do you think it highlights what the employer is after and you find the resume is a good match for the job you are applying? You will most likely see how directly you resume is related to the job description which will dramatically improve your chances of landing an interview for the next stage.