So you've looked up the latest positive buzzwords to describe yourself and your work ethic and typed up a professional-looking resume. You email it to the hiring manager at a job you really want and are more than qualified for.You know what most hiring managers say when they read that resume? "Oh gimme a break, not another 'results-oriented, hard-working, team player.'"
Self-descriptions like these turn up in so many resumes that they don't serve to differentiate candidates anymore. In fact, they have the opposite effect by making the job seeker appear generic and cookie-cutter.Stop trying to describe yourself. The most important rule in marketing writing is to start with the audience, your customers. Keep them in mind, not the product. Your resume is a marketing document. It should not describe you -- it should sell what you can do for the employer.Know your audience Do your homework. Read the company website. Research the industry. What does your audience need? Employers are hiring because they need something done. Adding a new member to the team will make them more successful or make their lives easier. Understanding what the challenge is that the employer is trying to solve will help you market yourself as the right candidate for the role.Know what you're selling Think about the things you have achieved in the past that have made you stand out on the job. Then write these down as they relate to the job you're applying for, closely matching the language used in the job description. The key message: Here's what I have accomplished as indicative of what I can do for you. You are selling your ability to excel in the role above on beyond what rival candidates may be able to achieve.