Which Resume Writing Technique Will Get the Job?

To answer that question, I'd like to ask another: Why should any resume writing technique be the qualifying factor for "getting the job"?

The fact is, there may be no resume writing technique that will ever get the job. How do I know this? From my own experience of sorting through hundreds of resumes and attempting to choose which of these well-manicured specimens might represent a worthy candidate for the position I needed to fill.

At the time I was looking for more editors and proofreaders. As a publisher (my publishing company is Dandelion Books), I pride myself on producing quality books that are edited well and proofed several times before they are set up for printing.

Formats were variations on the same theme: contact information, chronological history of employment and description of services performed, education, degrees and other pertinent information.

Many of the resumes were impressive and several of the candidates had graduated from Ivy League schools or comparable institutions with degrees in English, Communications, Journalism, etc.

If I were to judge which writing technique impressed me most, I honestly couldn't say. When I finally did select 20 candidates, I knew it would not be the resume that would get the job anyway… nor would it be a personal interview. I had to have proof they could proof!

I sent each candidate 5 unedited, unproofed fiction and non-fiction writing samples and asked them to choose 2 to edit and/or proof, as a test of their competence.

Most of the candidates did not respond, and of those who did only 1 qualified for the position.

So… how would you best advertise yourself as a qualified editor or proofreader? You would send your potential employer a sample of edited and proofed work, confirmed and notarized by the individual who contracted your services.

It's so simple, isn't it? No one's going to buy a product that doesn't work, or services from someone who can't perform.

I invite you to send me your latest resume and I will assess it, free of charge.

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