Resumes

2. Sending out Resumes
Of course this is a no-brainer and, quite frankly, not terribly effective. Most resumes are never viewed by human eyeballs and instead are scanned by computers for key words or phrases. If you're lucky enough to get passed this round, you still have many opportunities to be eliminated before ever setting a foot in the door of the company. I have read stories of individuals who have sent upwards of 2,000 resumes without a single interview. However, statistically speaking, if you cast enough nets you are bound to catch a single fish (even if it is a minnow).
Obviously, you will waste less of your time by applying to positions for which you are 85-100% qualified for. Any less and you will probably be weeded out in the first round. Any more and you fall into the "overqualified" trap. Nobody is going to hire an individual with a PhD in Economics to be a teller at BofA. You're a risk because you will become bored very easily and, at the first opportunity, will switch jobs. Obviously, my example is exaggerated but you get the general idea. Additionally, you cannot fake a background in Law with a degree in Art History. Experience will ultimately be most important in this economic climate but you need to figure out how to explain in wordsyour skill set and this cannot be conveyed in a resume. The interview is the goal here. As I begin my hunt (job search), I will be tracking my prey (submitted resumes) and demonstrating, via this blog, a sample of the skills I can bring to each open position. Bring. It. On.