If you don’t know what you want, how can you find it? The floundering that job seekers do in terms of not knowing what they really want to do in life takes them off on some time-consuming tangents. If you don’t know what you’re good at or what you want to do “when you grow up,” then get tested. Many state unemployment offices and colleges offer career testing so you can know what fields might be a good match for you.

If you’re one of those people who applies to any job you can find, you’re never really going to find what you want. Rather, you have to go with a clear cut goal of what you’re looking for. Think of it like digging for oil. If you know the oil is there and you dig five wells that are shallow, you’re probably not going to get to your goal no matter how many holes you dig. But if you take that same energy and dig one really deep well, then you’re going to hit black gold.

Fluttering around dilutes your energy. And energy management is so important when looking for a job because job hunting is depleting of your psychic and your physical energy, particularly if you have a family and you’re depending on that income.

Build a Resume that Stands Out

No matter what kind of position you’re applying for – from entry level to executive level – the resume is important. These days a resume can be either hard copy or electronic. Which you send depends on what the company has asked for in their employment ad. Whether they say to email or mail a resume, or to apply online, do exactly as they say. And when you do apply online, be sure you fill out every box and complete every field. Do every single thing the prospective employer asks for. If you don’t, you’ll get automatically disqualified because the potential employer will think you can’t follow directions. In fact, that’s the number one first test of many employers – “Do they follow instructions?”

If you’re mailing in a resume, pick a white or off-white paper. Unless you’re in the arts, don’t do anything wild with your resume. Make sure your font choice is readable both on and off screen. Font that is too tiny or too elaborate will not get read. Finally, there is never any excuse for an error on your resume. So if you’re not good at proofing, find someone who is…and then find someone else who’ll proof it again. You just can’t be too cautious.

Dear Jean:

I am a college graduate and I’m desperate to find a job, but I can’t seem to write a decent resume.  What should I do?

Reply:

You are absolutely right to be concerned.  A good resume may be instrumental in determining the rest of your career.  You have three choices.  You can go to the library or a bookstore and get a book; have a resume professionally prepared; or go online to get information.  (I have a new download available at www.getajobkeepajob.com.)

There are many different resume styles.  When you are picking a style, remember one thing:  a resume is not intended to be a sheet of facts about you.  It is intended to be a marketing tool, a brochure, and an opportunity to tell the world how good you are.

Writing your resume is tricky though.  Write it in the third person and omit the pronouns.  For example:  “supervised four data entry clerks,” or “introduced a new purchasing program which saved the company 25 percent.”  This will keep your resume from sounding like:  “I did this.  I did that.  Look at me.  I’m so great.”

If you choose to have your resume professionally designed, picking out a good resume service is almost as important as picking out a good dentist – a wrong decision in either area could result in discomfort.  Some resume services are not creative.  They won’t dig into your past experience or education to help you find things to highlight in your career.  The goal here is to make you look as good as possible while still telling the truth.  If a resume service suggests that you lie about your background, shop around.  A good service will be able to do a good and creative job without lying.

Your Goal:

You want the employer to literally be captured and swept away by your talents.  The response you want to elicit is, “WOW, I want to interview this person”!