Here's why your resume isn't landing job interviews.

There is nothing worse than spending several hours updating your resume only to submit it and not get a callback. It's a demoralizing feeling because you've spent time acquiring new skills and being a model employee. Yet you can't get past the gatekeeper to share how you can add value to their company. I've been there before. I have been so frustrated that I have acquired more education and certifications just so my resume would stand out. Through experience, I learned that it wasn't the certifications and training I had on my resume that got me the callbacks; it's how I presented myself that made all the difference. 

If you are interested in learning why your resume doesn't seem to pique the interest of recruiters and hiring managers, keep reading. 

Your resume is like every other candidate

When you are submitting your resumes, you are competing against many other people who showcase great experience. What's interesting about this is we learn to write our resumes uniformly. When I was entering the accounting profession, folks who were teaching us how to write our resumes impressed upon us a specific format that we had to follow, or else our resumes would end up in the "no" pile. This thought process has evolved, and now a resume that looks like others often ends up being rejected. It's essential that your resume stands out, is easy to read, and immediately illuminates your value. 

Your summary is vague

When you are writing your resume, keep in mind that recruiters spend less than 10 seconds reviewing each one received. If the first couple of sentences on the page don't scream, "tell me more," your resume won't receive much attention. You must have a summary that makes the reviewer want to continue reading. Unfortunately, when your outline is vague or uses jargon that doesn't plainly explain who you are, what you do, and how you can add value, your resume will inevitably end up in the "no" pile. 

You have not adequately communicated your value

Showing your value is the most challenging aspect of writing a resume. It's not easy summing up every accomplishment you've made at every company you've worked for succinctly and engagingly. It sucks to spend so much time recalling everything you've done at your current and former employers, then submitting your resume to a hundred companies and not getting a callback. Your resume explains a lot about what you've done and not how you've added value. Recruiting managers aren't looking for someone qualified to do the job for which they are interviewing. They are looking for how you can add value to their team and contribute to company goals. When building your resume, make sure you include your accomplishments when describing the work you've done.

You don't present your skill sets clearly

When receiving resume writing advice, someone once told you to use overly complicated language in the resume to make you sound more qualified. What you don't realize is your resume is ending up in the "no" pile because the recruiting manager can't de-code all the fancy words you've used to describe your work experience. Increase the likelihood of your resume landing in the "yes" pile by using language similar to what's written in the description of the job you are seeking. By doing this, you will complete the work portion of your resume and ease the recruiter's burden of trying to determine if you have the experience for the job. 

Writing a resume that converts to callbacks and interviews is a skill. The great thing is that once you've mastered the craft, you will begin to see better results. I challenge you to document the accomplishments and value you've added at your current and former company before revamping your resume.