Let Your Resume Show Prospective Employers That You’re Truly Invested

A common problem that employers have with job seekers’ resumes is that they fail to show how interested the candidate is in working for the specific company.  Instead, organizations often receive resumes offering a long, detailed list of everything the candidate has accomplished but no real explanation of how these accomplishments can help the company.

If you want to impress employers with your resume, it’s a good idea to make a couple of adjustments to shift its focus.  By proving that you’re truly invested in the organization’s mission through your prior experience, you gain a leg up on your competition.

Get Rid of That Objective Statement

You were probably told for years to rely on the objective statement, which gave companies an idea of why you were applying for the job.  But what many experts have found is that objectives are mostly a waste of space because they tell employers what they already know.

Many have recommended replacing the objective statement with a career summary, which touches on why you’re actually qualified.  In it, you can list three to five bullet points that highlight the best moments in your career as they relate to the position you want.  Ultimately, your list should tell the employer why you’re the right fit for the job—and why you should be strongly considered for the position.

Make Your Knowledge About the Company Shine

In the past, you could get by with a resume that simply listed your job history and duties beneath each position.  But the job market is much more competitive now, requiring that you showcase your knowledge of a company and how your history matches up with its needs.

For instance, if you held a job that required you to organize meetings as an organizational development assistant, instead of noting that your “duties included conducting research on various organizational development techniques”, really think about the needs of the future company and how your duties could help that employer now.

You could state that you “organized and conducted organizational development research in order to further the company’s mission of enhancing its work environment and employee morale.”  By showing that you were invested in your previous company’s mission, the prospective employer can assume you’ll feel the same way about it.

Showing a company that you are truly invested can be accomplished with a minimum of effort.  By moving away from the objective statement and showing your knowledge of the company, you have the opportunity to prove you are indeed in line with the company’s mission.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.