In my career coaching business, I've discovered a common mistake that may be causing your résumé to be brushed aside and never considered.
In my career coaching business, I've discovered a common mistake that may be causing your résumé to be brushed aside and never considered.

Simply put, if the key components of your résumé are too broad, you will mostly likely be dismissed as a person who doesn't know what he or she does best.

If you can't communicate what you do best, and how that will specifically benefit a company, how can you possibly expect a recruiter or potential employer to figure it out?

Although you may be skilled in several areas, and your experience and accomplishments may span several companies or industries, the worst mistake you can make is to present yourself as a generalist.

This is the job search kiss of death!

For example, I recently reviewed a résumé for a client who stated he has "an excellent mix of skills" in the areas of: • Strategic planning

• Organizational analysis

• Business process improvement

• Change management programs

• Team building

• Training, coaching and mentoring

• Verbal and written communications

• Sales and marketing

It may well be that he is highly-skilled in all eight of these areas. However, you want to avoid appearing to be a jack-of-all-trades for three reasons.

First, when you claim to be "excellent" in too many areas, you may give the impression that you think you're some kind of super employee or know- it-all. When you try to be all things to all people you can actually dilute your perceived value to a potential employer, rather than strengthen it.

Second, although it's desirable to have a well- rounded background, when you show too much diversity, the implication may be that you've never really taken the time to become an expert in any one area. This may unintentionally communicate instability or a lack of focus in your business life.

Third, if you had a heart condition you'd want a specialist to treat you, rather than a general practitioner. It's the same way in business. The better you can match your specific skills and experience with the specific requirements of a position at a specific company, the better chance you'll have of landing that position.

When stating your career objective and summary of qualifications, it's best to have a specific position at a specific company in mind.

Ideally, your career objective should address a key problem the company has and should briefly state how you can solve that problem.

I call this your "overt benefit." It's the equivalent of a headline for your résumé. Stating a strong, relevant overt benefit will get your résumé read and put on top of the pile, instead of being summarily ignored and filed away.

Your summary of qualifications should include three examples of how what you did solved a similar or related problem at one or more organizations.

Again, the more precise you can be in matching what you did with what a company needs, the better your chance of getting hired.

This means you'll have to do your homework. It means you'll have to have several versions of your résumé. It also means you'll differentiate yourself from the other people who apply for the position so effectively, you'll stand head and shoulders above them.

This will get you noticed as a person who has the company's best interest in mind. And this, my friend, is the most important factor in getting hired in today's world.

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Nick Nichols helps frustrated job seekers get interviews for desirable, rewarding, high-paying positions. Visit ResumeRescue.com to learn how you can get Nick's "Guaranteed Job Search System" as a free gift with the purchase of a résumé makeover.

About the Author

Nick Nichols helps consultants, coaches and freelancers get more long-term, high-paying clients in less time, with less effort and frustration than ever before. Click here: GetSalesNow.com to learn how to do this.