Posted By Amanda Collins on September 10, 2010

When it comes to résumés, one size does not fit all. Sure, any résumé writer (myself included) can give you general hints and strategies, but they apply to the masses, not to each person. As any woman can attest, if a garment says “one size fits all,” it likely is too big in some places and too small in others. You need to get the right size to look fantastic.

That’s where your strategy and goals come into play. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up (or at least for the next year)? I so often see clients who want to leave their industry because it’s dead. Or they’re looking for a more junior position because they have to start over at a new company. The worst-case scenario is the person who says, “I’ll take anything!”

But the truth of the matter is that you have to be specific in your job search. Even if you have 10 different goals, that’s much better than not having one. There is a strategy behind a well-crafted résumé, and I cannot write that golden document without a career goal. Just today, I had a client in my office with more than a decade of experience in constructions who is considering being a product representative. But I could tell there was no passion behind his drive. He expected I would just be able to write something up based on what he did in the past, but a good writer always looks to the future.

If you’re not sure what you want to be in the next phase of your life, look at available positions, do some informational interviews, and get that research in (read a past blog on how to do that). You may also consider hiring a career coach / counselor to help give you a road map moving forward. Believe me, you’ll be a lot more focused and have a better chance of finding that perfect fit.

Category: Job Search
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