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Testing your resume

Your resume has to be good enough in a blind test to get past the trash can.

Getting past the trash can

When is your resume being thrown away? In my last post I gave the 4 major trashing points in your resume’s life.

You have two ways to break through the cycle:

1. Have someone give your resume directly to the boss with their recommendation.
2. Have a resume that passes all 4 trash points.

Networking will get your resume directly to the boss with a recommendation.  Outstanding networking will get you an interview without a resume.

For the rest:

Do you pass the idiot test and the expert test?  Assume an idiot and an expert will each try to find a reason to throw away your resume.  Assume they have too many resumes and want to throw away as many as possible.  They are proactive trashers.

Pass the idiot test

The secretary has to see an obvious, undeniable fit with the job description.  She won’t understand all the acronyms, but she knows they have to be there.  She knows how much experience is required.  She knows it has to be a manager or a worker. She trashes resumes that don’t shout that they fit the job.

Pass the expert test

The boss has a lot to do.  He wants a great person to work for him, but doesn’t have enough time to talk to everyone.  Like the secretary he throws out the obvious problems.  The difference is that he understands the resume.  He also throws out the resumes that just don’t feel right.  Time is critical to him.  The first person he calls has the accomplishments he needs in his company.

How you can test both ways

Run a test.  Take your resume and the job ad you are responding to.  Hand both to someone who doesn’t know the field.  Do they think you pass?  Do the same with an expert.  Do you pass?

Hoping is not a plan

Stop wishing and hoping.  Either network your way in or find your own screeners.  You need other people to help you get your resume out of the trash can.

Something To Do Today

Who do you know that is up front and brutally blunt?  Take your resume and the job ad you are responding to.  Ask them read the job ad thoroughly.  Then give them your resume.  Ask them to decide in 10 seconds if it looks like the resume passes.  Then ask them to take 45 seconds and look closer.

Do you pass the test?

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Later:              Slavery and recruiter ownership

Non-competes

Coyote traps – when to gnaw off your arm

Glass ceilings

The hours game

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Since your resume may be first reviewed in 5.7 seconds and thrown away or kept, you have to make sure it can be read blindfolded.

No.  Don’t use Braille.  Instead use bullets, placement of key words, white space and numbers (which also attract the eye) to make reviewers quickly see you meet the basic requirements.

Test one – the famous test:

Give your resume to a friend.  Take it back after 12 seconds.  Ask him what your resume says you are qualified to do.  If he can’t tell you, it fails.

Test two — the plus:

Get some resumes from friends or coworkers.  Tell them you need them for this test.  Or go to www.agicc.com/resumeideas.htm and download the resumes linked there.  Put your resume somewhere besides first in the pile.  Now, give the job description for the job you are applying for to a friend. Have him read it carefully.  Give him the stack of resumes.  Tell him he has 10 seconds per resume to decide if it fits the job.  As he goes through the stack, time him on each resume.  If he goes past 10 seconds, take the resume away and ask if it passes or fails.  Does your resume pass or fail?

If your resume passes both tests, you have got a fighting chance.

Something to do today

Test your resume.

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Later:               The stripper in court

When your brain stops

It’s the manager

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