You have a job search that is going nowhere, nothing is happening, and it’s making you increasingly unhappy. You’ve tried a few different tactics to get things going, but without much luck. You might be in a bit of a pickle.
Whether you’ve been unemployed for a while or you’re just now hitting the job market, it’s never easy to write a resume when you have a dead end job. You don’t have much experience to fall back on, and even your education isn’t going to help you land the job you want. Unless you want to become a teacher or a nurse, in which case, you might have some options.
The Dos And Don’ts Of Resume Writing
Now is the perfect time to pick up a copy of How to Write a Resume for Professionals, by Michael Arthur. This book will teach you the dos and don’ts of resume writing, and it’s one you’re definitely going to want to read. Let’s dive in and find out what we can.
Do Research On The Job Market
Before you even begin to write your resume, you need to figure out what kind of job you are looking for. There are thousands of different jobs out there, and unless you know exactly what you are looking for, it’s hard to choose a resume that’s going to land you the job. You also need to research the average salaries for each position. This way, you will have some idea of what you can expect to earn once you get the job.
Don’t Forget The Basics
Even with all the fancy tools and skills you might have picked up in school, your resume is still going to be judged on its basic contents. This is not a bad thing, because even if your resume is perfect, it’s not going to matter if it’s not applied for the right job. When you’re applying for a job, make sure to match the requirements of the position to your background. For example, if you’re applying for a data entry position and you’re a software engineer, make sure that your resume highlights your software engineering experience.
Use Language That Is Familiar To The Recruiter
Depending on the company you are applying to, the recruiter might not be highly educated on the subject matter you are bringing up in your resume. For this reason, it is of the utmost importance that you use language that is familiar to the person reading your resume. You want to make sure that they understand you, and that you don’t have to explain yourself repeatedly. Some suggestions include:
- For technical positions, you can use terms like ‘software engineer’, ‘network engineer’, ‘database administrator’, or ‘cyber security engineer’.
- For non-technical positions, you can use terms like ‘marketing administrator’, ‘finance director’, ‘director of sales’, or ‘product manager’.
Take Care Of The Little Details
Some employers will give you points for being able to show that you’re taking care of the little things. Things like:
- Being neat and clean
- Being well-groomed
- Being able to follow instructions
- Taking good care of your possessions
- Being able to travel internationally
Doing all of these things will make it seem like you’re a reliable and hard-working individual, which could help you land that all-important first interview. Even if you don’t end up getting the job you applied for, you’ll have gained some valuable experience, and that is always a good thing.
How To Write A Resume When You Have A Dead End Job
So, you’re feeling a little stuck, and you’re not sure where to go from here. You’ve done all that you can, and now it’s up to you to take the initiative and write the resume that will get you that job. Although it might not seem easy at first, writing a resume when you have a dead end job isn’t as hard as you think it is. With a little bit of preparation and research, you can land yourself a nice new position, maybe even a dream job. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to securing your new position in no time.
Doing a little bit of research into the average salaries for different professions might help you decide which field you want to go into. For example, if you’re looking for a career in marketing, you might want to consider how much money marketers make. Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to one field. If you’re passionate about something, go for it! Just make sure that you’re aware of the average salaries for the different professions, so that you don’t set yourself up for disappointment when you don’t get that job you want because the person reading your resume didn’t have any experience in your area.
Summary
In today’s world, a well-written resume can mean the difference between landing a job and continuing to look. When you’re writing your resume, keep the general guidelines above in mind, as well as the fact that you’re trying to make yourself sound as appealing as possible to someone who doesn’t know much about you. Make sure to leave time for the person reading your resume to digest all that information, and have some fun with it while you’re doing so.