Photo by Karim Ilya. CC Attribution 2.0 Generic License
for ROTC Cadets
14
If you are submitting your resume for jobs that you’re qualified for and still aren’t getting calls… there is probably something wrong in the professional summary section of your resume. Maybe you’ve neglected to provide a biography or a professional summary at all, maybe you’ve
overwhelmed them with information, or maybe there aren’t enough details to get a full picture of who you are as a working professional.
If you aren’t getting calls and you know your qualifications match the job, chances are, there’s something in your professional summary that’s failing to make a favorable impression in six seconds or less.
Try This: Set a timer for six seconds. Give your resume to someone and start the timer… when it stops, asks the person what they remember from your resume. Based on their answer, cut out any unnecessary information within the professional summary section of your resume, and make sure to highlight any information that you wish your reader had remembered (but somehow didn’t).
Your professional summary is a valuable tool in the job market. Don’t leave it to chance—take the steps today to edit and reorganize your valuable skills and work history information with your ideal hiring audience in mind.