Good to be with you again.

This month, I will share with you 6 uncommon tips on how to create a resume that smooths over the following thorny issues. These tips will especially help the unemployed to win more job interviews...and offers.

1. Employment gaps, including lengthy unemployment
2. Age discrimination
3. Too many recent job changes
4. Unusual college degree, or no degree
5. Hard-to-figure-out job title
6. Weak resume objective statements

Before we jump in...

I know most weary job seekers have probably heard the encouraging news that the economy has hit bottom and is slowly turning around.

Well, ain't that a daisy...

Unless...you still exist in unemployed survival mode, and continue to get the silent treatment every time you send out your resume.

If you are living in that world, you simply don't want to hear it.

One way to better survive your unemployment is to stop listening to all of the macro trends spewed forth by the news media...pro or con.

It either demotivates you (What's the use? No one is hiring!); or makes you feel inferior (If companies are starting to hire again, then...obviously there is something wrong with me if I can't get a stinking job interview.)

Both lines of logic are flawed.

The truth is, your job is patiently waiting for you...but it might take one more call, one more resume send out, one more follow up email, or one more tweak of your resume.

Often times a boxing match is won with just one more punch despite 100 punches that just bounced off with no effect.

So, perhaps one of my 6 resume tips this month will be the haymaker you need to finally knock out Murphy.

Before we go there in the next section, here are 2 useful job seeker resources for you:

First: If you, or someone you care about, has been unemployed for 6 months...or longer...my new book could provide you the breakthrough you've been praying for.

You can read the introductory chapter and the table of contents by going here:

Why Don't They Call Me?-Job Search Wisdom to Get you Unstuck

Second: Are you following my daily Job Interview Blog?

I'm on the front lines of the job search war, and want to share with you my latest insights and updates to my website.

Happy Hunting!

Mike Petras

6 Resume Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Screened Out

Solution: Only put the years you worked at each job, not the month and the year. Example: 2004 to 2009. If you were laid off in January 2009, and put this date on your resume, prospective employers will do the math and figure out you've been out of work for 17 months; however, if you just put the years, for all they know you could have been laid off in December 2009...5 months ago. Tons of people have been out of work that long. If your resume looks great, companies will give you the benefit of the doubt and invite you in.

Resume Problem 2: Age Discrimination:

Solution: Only list the last 20 years of your work experience. Beyond that, how relative is that experience? If you worked somewhere for 20+ years, you won't be able to get around this. Also, do not list your college graduation dates. Keep prospective employers in the dark about your age.

Resume Problem 3: Too many recent job changes:

Solution: If these job changes were beyond your control, like layoffs and downsizing, list in brackets beside the company a short explanation. Examples: (50% RIF), (closed plant), (moved to Mexico). You could also include this information in a cover letter, but putting it on your resume guarantees they will be read whereas many cover letters aren't read.

Resume Problem 4: college degree that doesn't fit job opening...or no degree:

Solution: In this case, don't list your specific degree: Geography, Greek Literature, English, History, Music, Philosophy, etc. Just show your degree as: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. If you didn't complete your degree, write Economics Major, or whatever you majored in. That's it. Don't write how many credit hours you earned or how many hours you have left to graduate. For more insights about this topic, here is an article I wrote about this: Why did you choose your major in college?

Resume Problem 5: Hard-to-figure-out job title: Many companies have job titles that no one outside their company has any idea what they do.

Solution: It's OK to change your title to a universal title that everyone understands. The more your title sounds like what you are applying for, the more likely you will be invited in for an interview. Examples: District Sales Manager vs Customer Sales Rep; Program Manager vs Product Manager; Plant Manager vs Site Manager; Buyer vs Materials Specialist.

Resume Problem 6: Weak resume objective statements: Don't put a bunch of fluff at the top of your resume like:

Objective: Looking for a growing company in need of a dynamic leader to help them exceed their goals. Note: Never write in this area...20 years of experience in blah, blah. Anything that dates you is a no, no.

Solution: Resume objective statements are nothing more than the position you are targeting. If you are responding to an ad for a job posting for a Buyer in a manufacturing setting, write: Buyer in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This makes it easy for employers to figure out what job you are targeting or applying for. Also, the more you tailor your resume to the job description, the more likely you will be interviewed...assuming, of course, your skills match the job description.

For more insights on how to create an attention grabbing resume and cover letter, go to these pages on my site:

• Best Outline of a Resume
• Cover Letters for Resume Impact

Well...that's it for this month. See you on my blog.

All the best to you in your job search.

Mike Petras

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