Whether you've been at your current job for some time, or you've been out of the market for a while, simply dusting off your old resume with your last position won't be enough.  While the basic elements of jobs haven't changed, the acronyms and 'key phrases' have.  You'll have to reword many roles to make them sound current and alive.  Take a look at the current jobs on the market (www.smarthire.ca) for some ideas.

When reviewing those postings, probe into why they are written the way they are and make sure you understand why particular skills are either required or highlighted. These answers will help you refocus and to, ultimately, update your resume. For instance, what your old resume refers to as 'managed market research plans' might now be phrased in more detailed terms like, 'ran focus groups to uncover consumer trends'.  Wow. That's more exciting. That's language that makes me want to get in touch.

As you get ready for your interview the 'why' can also be extraordinarily helpful. A qualification like, "was nominated four times for Eastern Sales Manager of the year" is something you could improve upon prior to your face-to-face meeting. Asking yourself the first 'why' leads you to the statement, 'because I increased sales 23%'.  The second 'why' (in effect, 'how') probes you to detail how you accomplished this goal. You might respond, "Because I instituted a new approach to talking to customers".  The third 'why' gets behind the performance issue you identified.  Asking 'why' the fourth, fifth, and sixth time can then help you articulate how you plan to add value to a potential company.  Use the 'why' to qualify and quantify your personal knowledge, skills, abilities, traits, and competencies.  As you can see, by asking yourself to explain further, you can develop more well-rounded, fully fleshed out answers to common interview questions.

In addition, consider the fact that more and more employers are assessing an individuals' traits to determine their fit for the position.  Resumes, in themselves, are dying - you can be hired for your resume and fired because you don't fit into the organization or position.  Some employers have removed the resume option and now require you to list your skills, abilities, and knowledge on an application form (both manual and online).  What can you do?  Consider taking an assessment to determine your strengths and weaknesses - this would assist you in answering those interview questions - find out WHY you do what you do and why some jobs are the perfect fit.

As you hunt for the best fit in your area of expertise, asking why is a helpful tool to position yourself against the pack. 
 
Premise based on an article by Frances C. Jones
 

 

 

 

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