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Joy Montgomery -- While your resume is a marketing piece for you, its contents should convince the recruiter that your goal is all about meeting their needs. It's an important point that job seekers should not lose sight of.

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A while back, I self-published a book about resume writing called "Hand It to 'em on a Platter." I made that effort because it seemed as if I had to tell everyone who came to me for help with their job search that their resume was not a historical document.

A resume is a marketing document. You, the job seeker, are a product in a competitive market.

Often, the person I said that to would respond in frustration that they were not a "marketing person." Everyone, when they're looking for a job or a promotion, is a "marketing person." You have to stand out from the crowd and get yourself in front of the person who's going to decide about hiring for that position you know you're perfect for.

It does no good to hold back or to present the wrong information when you're after that perfect job. You have to show that you're the right person or, at the very least, someone they want to examine more closely.

You want to move from marketing to sales. The interview is your sales call and your resume is how you get there. The "buyer," in this case, tells you exactly what they're looking for. It could hardly be easier for you to do the marketing. All you have to do is show them that you match the requirements that they've said matter to them.

Don't fill space with irrelevant information. Don't tell them about things that they didn't mention. Don't ramble about projects that are unrelated to their needs.

Look at what they want. Look at what you have. Develop a resume that shows that you're a fit. Whether experts say an objective is in style or out of style, an objective of the job title that hiring manager is trying to fill will make it easy for screeners to put you in the pile that does not land in the waste basket. Make it easy for a screener to know that they have, in their hands, a "keeper."

It's NOT about you; it's about meeting the employer's needs.

Good luck!

Source: Ezinearticles.com.

Joy Montgomery has been helping people manage their careers for more than 20 years. She teaches a strategy for getting interviews for the kinds of jobs job seekers are qualified for, not jobs they have to settle for. Clear, concise communication is the key.

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