It might seem counterintuitive to owning a business founded on writing résumés, but I’ve got to be honest. It’s not all about the résumé.
I tell you this not to encourage you to neglect your résumé — your résumé truly is your first impression when applying for a job, and it’s vital to make sure everything is in precise order. But I don’t want you to put all your eggs in the résumé basket. My goal for this community has never been about doing all the work for you and leaving you in the dark — it’s been about sharing what I’ve learned about helping people find the space to create success for themselves.
Many people I see get stuck in perfecting the résumé revision process, spending so much time on their résumé that they aren’t focusing on actually going out and finding the job that is best for them.
Here are some of the reasons you may not be getting called back:
- With online job postings, the pool of candidates grows exponentially. It could be that your current résumé doesn’t stand out in comparison to other candidates’.
- Not aligning your interests and skills with what’s available. What does your community look like and need in terms of health care services? This should be reflected in your résumé.
- If you’re getting interviews but no offers, you could be interviewing poorly. Practice with a friend, in the mirror, or book a mock interview with a career expert or mentor. Be prepared to answer commonly-asked questions (things like strengths/weaknesses, an obstacle you’ve faced at work, etc.), and come prepared with a few questions of your own about day-to-day responsibilities, what it would take to succeed in the role, and how performance will be measured.
There’s a way to approach the process that effectively tells your story, showcases you as a strong candidate, and looks beautiful. I even have a program that you can enroll in that teaches you that exact process. You can read more about my self-paced program Résumé Makeover PRO here.
In this episode, I talk about the things to spend time on in addition to your résumé, things like networking and pinpointing your professional goals.
1.) Networking and nurturing connections
- Use LinkedIn to your advantage to create new professional relationships.
- Tap into your network. Does anyone you know work where you’d like to work? That person could potentially introduce you to someone at the company.
- Make an effort to keep up with relationships even if you’re not in the job market right now.
2.) Decide what will leave you personally and professionally fulfilled
- You do not need to accept whatever comes along. Take some time journaling, reflecting, and figuring out what type of job you actually want. You owe it to yourself to spend time figuring out what it is you want.
- Make a list of what’s important to you. Decide what your non-negotiables are. That will give you clarity to then go out and find a job rather than any job.
3.) Reach out to the hospitals/organizations and inquire about positions
- Let the hiring managers know you’re interested and why.
- Follow up with your applications to stay top of mind with the hiring team.
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED TODAY:
Résumé Makeover PRO – *previously known as Weekend Résumé Makeover, my self paced program that teaches you the exact process of writing an amazing résumé and cover letter
LinkedIn – THE networking site for professionals
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