How important is a good resume . . . really?

Well, look at it this way. Often it's the very first contact you have with a prospective employer. It could be the passport to your next job. It's the gateway to your future. It can ramp up your job search!

And it better be a Blockbuster!

Why? Because you get only one chance at an employer. So you better make it your absolutely best shot!

For example, we know from studies that the average employer spends about 50 seconds scanning it. If you look like an exciting candidate and your capabilities pop off the page you may get a second, more thorough reading . . . and an interview.

But, if it is flat, uninteresting, too long, unfocused, or boring . . . well, you just lost.

2. Accentuate the positive. The person who goes into the job marketplace as a "yes" thinker always comes out ahead.

3. Be willing to think differently. The old way of doing things is, well, old. Don't be afraid to discard the old
fashioned methodologies.

4. Quit doing what you hate. If your job isn't right for you, take steps to make an intelligent change. And do it NOW!

5. Do what you love. You know, something you can wake up to in the morning . . . something that makes you excited about going to work.

Be sure to include volunteer work, military service, internships, summer employment, etc. Then, ask yourself the question, "What did I learn from this experience that would be helpful to my next employer."

Pull out the many marketable assets you derived from your work situations using the three categories above. Distill each list until you have the key marketable assets and strengths that make up the image of you you're going to project.

Remember, job search wisdom starts with a clear-eyed understanding of what you've got going for you. We call it your personal asset bank. It's made up of all your Qualifying and Bridge Skills as well as your Workstyle Values.

Your asset bank is a ready source of focused marketable information about you that you must be prepared to assertively point out to prospective employers. It's what they want to hear rather than a dull recitation of your work history.