Can You Pass This Test?

Every candidate has a different job search strategy in mind when it comes to landing the perfect job. Some people love mining their network, while others get a thrill out of searching online for the job listing that's the diamond in the rough. Take this six-part test to see if your job applications stand up to current hiring trends.

1. Do You Spend a Lot of Time Submitting Online Job Applications?

Online job boards are great sources for information regarding what's available, qualifications needed and a possible salary range, but they may not be the best way to apply for a position. Tons of people put in applications, and just one detail out of place on your resume sinks your chances. Try a different job search strategy by networking with other people instead. Having someone who works in the company vouch for your abilities is key to getting a good reference for the hiring manager.

2. Do You Still Have an "Objective" Section at the Top of Your Resume?

Everyone knows your objective when you submit a resume for consideration. Perhaps you should have a "Career Summary" section that highlights your top three or four qualifications for the job rather than a one-sentence statement saying you want a position.

3. Does Your Resume Contain Words Such as "Results-Driven," "Team Player" or Other Fluffy Stuff?

A great job search strategy gets rid of these overused terms and replaces them with action verbs, concrete evidence of your past experience and numbers that show your skills. Try saying, "Enhanced Acme Brick's customer service software and saved the company $50,000 annually." This statement proves you're a team player and driven by results.

4. Does Your Resume Have Dense, Compact Paragraphs?

Recruiters only spend about six seconds looking over your resume, which means you need dedicated sections that highlight your best skills. Forget about formatting, italics or bolding words. Make bullet points in a few sections to draw attention to relevant points of your professional background. A good job search strategy includes some white space on the page to make your resume more readable to human eyes.

5. Do You Submit the Same Resume for Every Employer?

If you fail to tailor your resume to each position, the applicant tracking system may rank you lower than others even if your skills, experience and qualifications make you the perfect candidate. Use keywords from the job posting to get past the digital overlords that rank your resume automatically within the computerized database.

6. Do You Use the Same Cover Letter for Each Opportunity?

Much like your resume, a cover letter should be tailored to each employer. As part of your job search strategy, your cover letter should explain your passion for the job, your highest qualification and why you're a perfect fit for the role or company; it should also ask someone to contact you, all in about 12 sentences. Because each employer is different, your professional introduction to the hiring manager should vary among firms too.

If you answered "yes" to any of these six questions, try a different job search strategy for your next opportunity. See what happens when you try something fresh to land a few more interviews than you did before.

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