Is This the Key to Hearing Back to Employers?

Gina Deveney
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In our interactions with job seekers, we’ve found that their biggest frustration by far is not hearing back from employers after they’ve submitted their resume. In a perfect world, every applicant for every job would receive a notification about whether they were being considered for the position. But until that day, there is one surefire way to hear back from a prospective employer – make them want you.

You’re probably thinking, “Well, sure… But how do I get their attention? What’s the secret?

At this stage in the job search game, your resume is the key. This one simple document is an employer’s first – and maybe only – source of information about you. A well-written, powerful resume gives you the best possible chance of making a great impression and getting called in for an interview. And, you’re 40% more likely to get noticed with a professionally written resume. Which is why, whether you have a tried-and-true resume or you’re still in the process of creating one, you may want to consider enlisting the help of a professional.


Get a Professional Resume You Can’t Wait to Send Out with the Help of a Beyond Resume Expert >>


Not sure it’s the right choice for you? There are a many reasons to go the professional route, but here are 4 of the most common ones:

You’re busy. If you’re currently employed, you already have limited time to devote to your job search. Even if you’re not working at the moment, there are a lot of other valuable job search activities to focus on. Perhaps your time could be better spent networking or building your online presence. If you find that you’re simply not finding the time to dust off that resume and make the necessary improvements, it’s probably worth outsourcing the job to a professional.

You have trouble writing about yourself objectively. In world outside of job search, we’re trained to avoid boasting about our accomplishments. Yet effective resume writing is all about calling attention to your strengths. If you feel awkward about this, or you struggle to identify your top skills and talents, a resume expert will provide valuable perspective and help you strike the right balance of confidence and class.

You’re looking to change careers or work in a very specific niche. If you’re not intimately familiar with your desired field, or you’re seeking a position that’s extremely specialized, seek out a professional writer who specializes in that niche. They can make sure your resume has the right focus and keywords to speak to hiring managers in the field you’re targeting.

Your DIY resume isn’t getting the job done. There’s a reason we call a plumber when the faucet is leaking and head to the mechanic when that clanging sound under the hood won’t go away. Sure, it’s cheaper to fix these things yourself – but not if the bathroom floods and your car breaks down on the side of the road. Calling in a professional can save you time and money in the long run, and that goes for your resume, too.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full resume re-write, try starting with a simple resume critique to get an idea of how much work your resume really needs. You may find that you can improve it yourself. Or, you may realize that a professional resume may be just the thing to get your phone ringing.

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  • J Peterson Rogers
    J Peterson Rogers

    I'm registered with a state run employment agency. The problem is this, my career advisor has diluted my resume several times. Those changes do not reflect the available jobs and my skill set. In short, I'm frustrated for every appointment with her, as she directs me to the state job bank, and not the decent paying state jobs either.

  • Timothy Carter
    Timothy Carter

    I agree with Annette. Too often a professional service will not hit the right tone. This website offers a free resume course and is a great starting point: http://www.blueskyresumes.com/.

  • Sidney Klinksiek
    Sidney Klinksiek

    I agree that a professionally done resume will help. Every writer has their own angle to writing, their own thoughts as to what style will work. With cost ranging from $395.00 to $700.00 it just doesn't make sense that they won't offer some type of guarantee, that if you don't get a certain number of interviews with their resume you can get a re-write or adjustment to the resume they developed for you. Once the resume is done now you have to hire someone to help you get past the software that your resume is run though to get into the hiring persons hands and past the stack of many other professionally written resumes. It is a cycle that never ends. Networking for the non-published jobs makes it easier to use resumes because you have gotten past the gate keepers. Good luck to everyone that is out searching for the right resume that will help land their next job

  • Martin Mosley
    Martin Mosley

    Getting a new job is a full time job. The resume is just one part of that. Networking, posting your resume, applying for jobs, targeting specific companies and sending your resume to recruiters are all needed. Most people will tell you it is all networking, but I have found any of the above to be successful. Good luck!

  • Samar Misra
    Samar Misra

    Despite hearing always it's who you know, one thing that really got to me was when this uncle I have said, "Having contacts is a blessing, but you shouldn't just rely on them and need to keep applying to various places on your own and qualification is the main thing." That angered me and seems a bit abnormal to hear and what to say next time to this arrogant, overbearing uncle who can make one uncomfy and have him come to his senses? Thanks again!

  • Samar Misra
    Samar Misra

    Thanks Nancy. One of the crucial questions I have is what to do in the worst case scenario even if we research companies we are interested in on LinkedIn and reach out to people associated with them, but never hear back from them? This is the big issue which I wish was addressed always and how to deal when one person associated with a company won't respond despite sincere interest from our part and the other party responding back is the backbone of networking. In these unfortunate cases, anything you recommend as a sidestep? Thanks for your patience and support.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    I hear your pain - all of you. It is really tough these days that's true. @Maria - living and eating come first. As for your resume, have some friends take an objective look at it and see what they think. Read it out loud; how does it sound to you? Maybe, as @Annette suggested, it's too wordy - has too much fluff or the layout is confusing. Every person you talk to is going to give you a different answer. Take them all with a grain of salt - take what you think will help from suggestions and try to apply it to your resume. @Annette, the HR of old is no longer. Everything today seems to be done over job boards and social media. Do you have a Linkedin account? 80% of hiring managers look for social media accounts - LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and so on. Make sure that you are active and that there isn't anything on your social media pages that would keep you out of the running for a job. Finding a job today IS a job. You have to take it seriously. You have treat is just like a 9-5 job. Research companies that you would consider a great place to work. Check them out on the Internet and in LinkedIn and FB. Dig into it and find someone within that organization who is in the department that fits you and try to network with them. Tell them why you are contacting them. Make some new friends along the way. Look @Goldie - started in the mailroom and moved on up. It can happen. It is unfortunate that ATS seems to lead the way but do the best you can. Don't just throw resume after resume out there but be selective and go for the job you want. In many cases it is true that it's not what you know but who you know. So start networking. Look - the worst a person can say to you is No or they may not even respond. Just keep on keeping on. The jobs are out there.

  • Christopher G.
    Christopher G.

    every time my resume is posted, I get harassed by schools wanting me to sign up! what happened to the jobs calling you directly without the middlemn?

  • GOLDIE G.
    GOLDIE G.

    i took my resume to a writer, like 10 years ago, then headed to a temp agency and they gave me their opinion of it,because they have to find u work, spent a few years doing temp work, adding to my resume, started out in the mailroom of the bank i am with now, got worked up thru the next 7 years, to where i am now supervisor accounts receivables, didnt go too badly.

  • ANNETTE HELLINGRATH
    ANNETTE HELLINGRATH

    I personally think that the problem these days is that job ads are placed through agencies. Very few go directly to the potential employer. These agencies are for the most part like useless middle men. I am registered with five of them and have had one job offer sent to me. This job offer was to work on an assembly line for two days washing cafeteria trays.

  • ANNETTE HELLINGRATH
    ANNETTE HELLINGRATH

    On the other hand, I have been told by every employment agency I have registered with that I should change my resume. I have been told that I am too wordy. I have been told that I need to give more information. I have been told that the layout is too unusual, or that the layout is great. I have been told often to come in to a seminar or meeting to discuss resumes. I have even gone on line to see what they recommend - none of which helped. In the end I am sticking with what I think an employer wants to see.

  • ANNETTE HELLINGRATH
    ANNETTE HELLINGRATH

    I have had many interviews in the seven months I have been searching for work. I have been told by almost every one of these people that they were impressed with my resume, the information as well as the layout - they all say it's different. I have even been hired, but not for jobs that suit me. This is because I am now going for jobs anyone can do.

  • Joan M.
    Joan M.

    good article

  • Samar Misra
    Samar Misra

    Good article! The pressing question is what to do when even you have made your resume excellent, but it is not getting noticed with hundreds or even thousands of other applicants? Such as when you unfortunately in reality do not have a connection inside the company or when your competitor applicants have a more known relationship with the hiring manager when you still have a known relationship?

  • SUNDAR B.
    SUNDAR B.

    Most resume writers I have dealt with have hardly any experience but the worst is that they are trained not by industry but rather how to "beat' the ATS software.. very sad plight in our industry.. Where are those HR professionals who lived in the industry they work in and can articulate the company, its products, the culture and most of all why you should work in that company

  • Brent Mills
    Brent Mills

    ill choose eating first before wasting money on resume writers

  • Joseph C.
    Joseph C.

    "There’s a reason we call a plumber when the faucet is leaking and head to the mechanic when that clanging sound under the hood won’t go away. Sure, it’s cheaper to fix these things yourself – but not if the bathroom floods and your car breaks down on the side of the road."

    Thing is, when I fix the bathroom faucet, I make sure it's fixed right and won't fail after the water is turned back on. Same thing when fixing my own car (or motorcycle).

  • MARIA L.
    MARIA L.

    That is all great advice but what are you supposed to do when you are living paycheck to paycheck and seeking a new job. Rent vs professionally written resume?

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