What Is the Purpose of Resume?
Every time you submit a resume, do you always ask yourself, what is the primary purpose of writing it? If you think that the main purpose of a resume is to get you a job, you are wrong.
A resume is more than a document that gets you a job.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at the three primary purposes of a resume. These purposes increase your chance of getting an interview and landing a job. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
Personal purpose: What resumes do for you
- They tell your story
Who are you? What have you done? A resume gives you an opportunity to write your own narrative. You can include your past experience, achievements, and anything else you feel is valuable to recruiters.
The best thing is that you have full control of what you want recruiters to see, and of course, it is the best in you.
- They facilitate self-discovery
A resume allows you to see how you have performed in the last few years. How? When you describe your past work and experiences, it becomes possible for you to see how far you have come, and that can help you project about tomorrow.
For example, when writing your resume, you may discover how you built many skills that are giving you an edge today.
- They act as a representation.
Your resume is the first thing recruiters get to see before meeting you in person. It is going to speak more about you, and if you have tailored it well, you may get an opportunity to meet the recruiting team.
To help employers understand you better, consider adding a personal summary and useful links recruiters can use to learn more about you. Just make sure your resume at first glance represents you well.
- They give you a reference for future applications.
There is a possibility you will write several resumes before landing a satisfying job. Resumes will also come in handy when applying for scholarships, volunteering, and more.
Having a draft will help you tailor other resumes seamlessly. In other words, a drafted resume acts as your reference and makes your work easier when preparing other resumes.
Business purpose: What resumes do for the recruiters
- Serves as an introduction
Employers don’t know you. A resume not only allows you to introduce yourself to potential employers but also gives them a reason to research more about you. By telling recruiters who you are and what you will bring to the table, you simply provide them with an insight into your value.
- Provides a snapshot of your career
What have you done that is relevant to the job you are applying to? A resume gives employers a sneak peek into your career even before meeting you in person.
Just that increases your chances of been considered for the position.
- Filters unsuitable candidates
Recruiters use resumes to pick the best candidates. This is true for companies that receive a lot of applications. Make sure to tailor your resume well to increase the chances of your resume standing out.
- Allows them to identify opportunities
Recruiters are always looking for ways to improve the performance of their companies. They do this by analyzing previous skills, talents, and experiences.
Resumes help them know who possesses those talents and skills. Additionally, through reviewing resumes, recruiters get to know potential candidates who can help leverage specific opportunities.
The true purpose of a resume
To help you understand the true purpose of a resume, let’s have a look at the relationship that exists between business purpose and personal purpose.
We shall compare the personal purpose of telling your story and the business purpose of spotting for opportunities.
When telling your story, there is a lot to say, some of which you cannot fit in a resume. You only include what is more relevant. On the other hand, employers see so many opportunities from your resume.
But to really understand why you are a good fit, a further discussion is required, which results in an interview and eventually a job if you stand out to be the best candidate.
That said, the true purpose of a resume is getting an interview because without landing one, there is no job for you. So always make sure your resume is well-tailored to land you that job interview.
Here is what you can do to get that job interview
Answer the key questions
Make sure to answer them in a brief and specific way. These questions are:
- Who are you?
- Why are you applying for this role/position?
- What experience do you have?
- How will you make an impact?
If you nail these questions well, you are almost assured of getting an interview and probably landing the job.
Solve problems
Businesses hire once a need arises, often when faced with a problem. If you can address the problem well, there is a guarantee you will get a job interview.
This means you must tailor your resume in a way that shows you are ready to provide a solution.
Include something unique
Add something that will help you stand out from the crowd. For example, show how you achieve a better work-life balance. By just doing that, you increase your chances of landing a job interview.
Answering the job description
Another way to get a job interview is by answering all the recruiter’s questions in the job post. For example, if the employer is looking for a person who is good at solving problems, make sure to show how you are good at that.
Scanning the job post several times before writing your resume helps answer the job description well.
Conclusion
A good resume addresses both personal and recruiter perspectives. These two perspectives are what define the real purpose of your resume.
They also increase your chances of landing an interview and of getting the job. So, before you hit the submit button, make sure your resume purpose is clear; otherwise, you may never receive a job interview invitation.