Alvah Parker is publisher of Road to Success and Parker's Points, e-newsletters providing strategies to advance your business and career goals. Click here to subscribe. Alvah is a Work/life coach, who can be reached at asparker@asparker.com, or visited on the web at www.asparker.com.

By Louise Kursmark, MRW, JCTC, CEIP, CCM

You've spent a lot of time, effort, and maybe even money developing your resume. So what do you do when you find it's "not working" - not generating interviews and job offers? In my many years of working with "stuck" job seekers, I have identified a number of roadblocks that repeatedly crop up for even the most savvy and accomplished executives.

1. You haven't clearly defined "who you are."
   If readers can't tell immediately who you are - the kind of work you do, the functions and industries in which you have expertise, and the level of job you are now seeking - they won't be able to help you. Being unsure means they'll put your resume in the "get-to-it-later" file. And you know what that means … never!
2. Your resume doesn't "sell" you and your accomplishments.
   If your resume focuses primarily on your employment history and areas of expertise, you will find it difficult to differentiate yourself from others who have similar backgrounds and qualifications. What will set you apart is what you have accomplished - the specific facts, figures, and achievements of your unique career track.
3. Your resume is too difficult to read to quickly absorb key information.
   Most people reviewing your resume will spend 20 to 30 seconds looking for key information - who you are, where you have been, and what you have done. If they can't immediately determine this, they may never take the time to figure it out. Make sure readers can quickly identify the key points and highlights of your career to help them determine if you fit their current or anticipated hiring needs.
4. You have blasted your resume to recruiters and companies, posted on resume websites … and that's it.
   The Internet makes it extremely easy to do all of these things, but that doesn't mean they are effective! The vast majority of people find new jobs through personal contacts. Focus your energy on reaching out to your contacts, building your network, making connections to your target companies, and constantly telling your story to people who can give you ideas, information, advice, and referrals.
5. You are not making the best use of your networking contacts.
   Be sure you are letting your contacts know - specifically - what they can do for you. Don't approach them with a vague "how can you help me?" question. Instead, be precise about what you want - the type of position, the industry, the location, and more - so they can help you get it.
6. You are not getting your message across during interviews.
   If you're successful at generating interviews, you can be certain that your resume is working. Interviews are golden opportunities, so do everything you can to not waste them. Spend time preparing for each interview by researching the company so that you can relate your experiences and successes to the specific needs and challenges of that particular company.
7. You don't understand how recruiters work.
   The truth is that recruiters do not act as your agents and do not "market" you to companies. Rather, recruiters fill positions and are paid by the hiring companies. Therefore, they have no vested interest in you unless you are a perfect match for one of their assignments. Recruiters can be an excellent resource during your job search; just don't expect them do the work for you!
8. You don't have a comprehensive, integrated plan.
   Because job search does not involve a straightforward, step-by-step plan, it's easy to lose focus and spend too much time on the easy-but-unproductive things (like surfing the Internet) and not enough on the harder but ultimately more rewarding activities (like targeted search and networking). To keep yourself focused and productive, create a plan with clearly defined goals and hold yourself accountable for your performance. Enlist an "accountability partner" or career coach who will help you move forward in a planned and productive way.

During your job search, try to stay focused and optimistic, but be realistic - most executive job transitions take six to twelve months from start to finish. It won't happen overnight, but you can do it - you will do it. And, in the process, you will master the intricate art of job search and be prepared to manage your career for the remainder of your working life.

Louise Kursmark, president of Best Impression Career Services, is a Master Resume Writer, Job & Career Transition Coach, Certified Employment Interview Professional, and Credentialed Career Master. She has worked with thousands of senior-level job seekers to help them create powerful resumes and manage successful search campaigns. She is the author of more than 15 books on resumes, cover letters, job search, interviewing, and more, including "Executive Job Search for $100,000 to $1 Million+ Jobs" (available at www.wendyenelow.com/bookstore.php).

View Previous Issues