Greg Ryan

5 Reasons You Should Customize Your Résumé

Hi! Welcome to my Blog. I like to use my experience as both a Certified Résumé Writer and administrator in charge of the candidate selection and interview process for my department to share helpful tips that I have picked up along the way. This blog will be updated frequently. I hope you enjoy it! Positive Testimonials and remembering to “Like” my Facebook page are GREATLY appreciated.

5 Reasons You Should Customize Your Résumé

I hear the question all the time: “Can’t I just use one résumé for all jobs openings?” After all, your experiences and education don’t magically change simply because it’s a different job opportunity. I get why people think that way, but the fact is that it’s just not accurate thinking. Even if multiple openings are within the same field, each job listing comes with its own unique responsibilities and requirements. Furthermore, each employer is looking for something slightly different than the next. To further my point, I will use this blog entry to explain my top 5 reasons why you should customize your résumé.

You need to STAND out! A recent study found that the average job posting receives roughly 200 responses within a week of posting. Consider the following two résumés – Which résumé would you be more confident in getting a call back?
1. A generic résumé that doesn’t make any attempt to address the needs of an employer. OR
2. One that highlights your value to that specific company.

It’s worth the time to put in the work if it will help you stand out.

2. Show that you are actually qualified. One frustration that I routinely encounter while selecting candidates to interview is the large number of unqualified candidates that apply. This can happen for two reasons:

1) They really aren’t qualified. OR

2) They are qualified but didn’t do a good job communicating that in the precious few seconds résumés are looked at before gauging interest.

It is imperative that employers can easily see that you are qualified. Don’t let reason #2 happen to you. It might mean you missed out on a great opportunity.

3. Helps to demonstrate genuine interest in the position. Another thing I notice when scanning résumés is that many give the impression that the candidate applies to any and all jobs he/she can find. Employers like to feel that you are truly interested in their specific opening. Whether that is true or not, it should always seem that way.

4. Makes it easier to include keywords. With employers receiving sometimes hundreds of résumés for each opening, they very often use software to filter out unqualified candidates. One way this is done is through the use of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that looks for specific keywords in a résumé. Scanning that specific job posting can help to determine keywords for the position. (This is something that Certified Résumé Writers are VERY good at)

5. Focuses on relevant strengths and successes. By customizing your résumé, you are able to expand on specific responsibilities that may have been listed in the job posting. While they might have been on your résumé anyway, it helps to move them up and/or elaborate when possible. This will help employers visualize how you fit into their plan.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

5 Ways To Build A Strong Resume Before You Know Your Career Path

5 Ways To Build A Strong Resume Before You Know Your Career Path

Are you at a point in your life when you know you need to get serious about finding a good job, but you don’t know what career path you want to follow? That is very common and it can cause a great deal of stress. Fortunately, there are ways to create a strong resume even without knowing exactly what you want to do. Here are 5 ways to strengthen your resume while you are still figuring out your career path.

Universal Strengths: While some skills and achievements are industry-specific, many translate across any field of employment. Have you saved your company money? Or earned them additional revenue? Enhanced customer satisfaction? Demonstrated team leadership? Streamlined operational efficiency? These are just a few qualities that will benefit any employer and should be highlighted on your resume.
Honors and Awards: Even if they are not specifically related to your new field of interest, winning awards and receiving prestigious honors is always a plus. They show that you have the work ethic and ability to stand out amongst your peers.
Quantitative Facts: Anyone can provide a general statement about being skilled in a certain area, but including specific figures and quantitative proof is much more impactful on a resume. Numbers, percentages, direct quotes from previous employers, rankings, profit metrics, etc. Tangible evidence of your success goes a long way toward showing that you are a worthy candidate for any position.
Don’t Be Too Repetitive: Sometimes when people are searching for content to add, they begin to repeat themselves over and over. This will raise and red flag and potentially lose the reader’s interest. Make sure that all information added to a resume increases its impact and enhances its value. If nothing else, at least change the wording enough to show that new information is being provided.
Action & Active. Highlight and emphasize the steps that you take each and every day at work to enhance productivity and improve results. Instead of saying that company production increased during your time at a company, say that you spearheaded performance improvement by developing progress monitoring metrics that resulted in a 35% increase in annual revenue. The latter makes it more about you and less about the company. You employer needs to want you, and showing them that you know how to deliver strong results can only help your case.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

7 Things to Consider When Offered a Job

7 Things to Consider When Offered a Job

We all know the saying, “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side”. Well that is true with job hunting as well. Often, people have an urge to constantly search for new jobs due to the fear that something better is out there. While there usually is something else out there, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily better. Receiving a new job offer is exciting and a meaningful accomplishment, but you still want to make sure that the switch is right for you. Moving to a new job can certainly be a great move for you in terms of future potential and salary, but it’s not a guarantee. Here are 7 things to consider when offered a job that can help you determine if a new job offer makes sense for you.

Room for growth. This is a key topic to consider, especially if you have a desire to move up in the future. Many companies offer a good starting salary, but there isn’t really anywhere to go from there. Often, the easiest place to move up is within your own company, so it’s worth looking into growth potential in the new company.
Stability of position and company. Sometimes a position sounds almost too good to be true. Before leaving a solid job at a stable company, you may want to consider the stability of the new company and position. Has each been around awhile? If there is a risk – which is not always a bad thing – are you in a position to take it?
Does the position spark your interest? If you plan on being at your new position for the foreseeable future, you probably don’t want to be miserable each day. Some items to consider include: Will you be able to learn about new areas, products or programs? Are you truly interested in the field that you are considering entering?
Does the new schedule and commute make sense for you and your family? It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of a new job (and potentially higher salary), only to forget to consider how it will impact your personal life. Everyone’s situation is different, so be sure to consider the new schedule and commute when deciding on a job offer.
Can you envision yourself working with these people for years to come? Most people spend just as much time with their colleagues as their own families. If something gives you a bad feeling about working with the people in the interview, it’s worth thinking about if the job is truly right for you.
Are you simply following the crowd? You’d be surprised to hear how many people begin applying for new jobs simply because their friends or co-workers are changing jobs. I assume this is due to a fear of being left behind. Still, switching jobs or careers is not the right move for everyone. Be sure to find the right opportunity for you, not simply the next opportunity.
Does the actual role match the description? Occasionally, employers will try to lure in applicants with job postings that promise interesting & creative opportunities, travel, etc., but then in the interview the job doesn’t seem to match the description for which you applied. That should be a red flag. Especially if you are leaving behind a solid career, you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse within a few weeks on the new job.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

6 Important Things Hiring Managers Look For in a Resume

6 Important Things Hiring Managers Look For in a Resume

Over the years, I have talked with countless hiring managers, human resource directors and managers. While each industry may be looking for different specific information, there are some common trends that every job seeker should be aware of when preparing a resume. Here are the top 6 things that Hiring Managers will be looking for in your resume.

Powerful Opening. Studies have shown that employers will focus on the top portion of the first page of a resume before deciding if they want to continue reading. Therefore, burying key information lower on your resume may mean that it never even gets read. Opening your resume with a powerful (and brief) professional summary and list of key skills will engage the reader while showcasing why you are qualified for the position.
Significant tangible positive impact. It may seem like employers want to get to know you from your resume, but mainly they just want to know how hiring you will benefit them. That may sound cold, but it’s just the nature of business. That means it is imperative to demonstrate how your skills and experiences will directly benefit your potential employer’s company.
Initiative. Do you wait for someone to tell you how to solve a problem and what to do next? Or do you take initiative to proactively identify and resolve issues before they arise? If you answered the latter, then employers will be interested in you. After all, they pay you to deliver quality results while they are busy with other responsibilities. Make sure your resume reflects your initiative.
Keyword Usage. Keywords usage has become a hot topic in resume writing these days. Employers are hiring you for specific reasons with specific goals in mind. Do your best to utilize the job description and your knowledge of the company to highlight how your skills align with their needs.
Targeted Information. As much as possible, steer your accomplishments and previous responsibilities to match what you will potentially be doing in this new position. That makes it easy for employers to visualize you succeeding in your new role.
Easy-to-Read Professional Layout. Like books, resumes are often judged by their “cover”. That is, an employer’s first impression is determined by how inviting and well-formatted your resume appears. If they like the layout, they are more likely to like the content as well.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!

5 Easy Ways to Strengthen Your Résumé

5 Easy Ways to Strengthen Your Résumé

We’ve all been there before. We want to start searching for a new job but we feel like our résumé is lacking. Then doubt begins to creep in that we will be able to land a quality job in our desired field. Either that, or we continue to get passed over for interviews. While visiting this page and considering enlisting the help of a Certified Résumé Writer is a critical step in the right direction, even we can’t simply make stuff up to put on résumés. Luckily, there are easy ways to add more power to your résumé. Here are my top 5 easy ways to strengthen your résumé.

Get involved in relevant groups or associations. This will show potential employers that you are invested in your work and serious about becoming a better employee.
Attend workshops and conferences. Conferences can be beneficial for multiple reasons. First, the wealth of knowledge shared by leaders in the field is invaluable for improving your potential. Second, the dedication to being a lifelong learner can look great on a résumé. Third, there are immense networking benefits to attending these workshops (always a plus!). Even if you have to attend on your own time, it is usually worth it.
Further your education and/or credentials. Acquiring additional degrees or certifications will make you a more well-rounded employee and open up doors that were previously out of your reach. Often, these degrees and certifications are preferred when it comes time to apply for promotions and management roles as well.
Take on added responsibility at work. If you know that your boss or company needs help in a certain area, ask if you can be of assistance. It will make you look good while simultaneously providing you with new experience and knowledge. Not to mention that you can now include the new responsibilities on your résumé.
Volunteer! Volunteer work implies that you are an integral part of your community, a hard worker and simply a good person. None of those can ever be a bad thing. If an employer is deciding between two candidates, they may lean toward someone that they trust to be a team player and good colleague.

Visit gregryanresumewriter.com to perfect your Résumé and Cover Letter today!!