In years past, it wasn't uncommon to land interviews based on a resume that didn't really tell a potential employer SPECIFICALLY why you were a great candidate for a job. Part of this had to do with a less competitive marketplace: recruiters and hiring agents had the luxury of bringing a candidate in for an interview to garner these details. Unfortunately, in today's environment where hundreds of candidates are competing for a limited number of interview spots, an overly-general resume will almost always result in rejections. Here's why:

1) Hiring Agents Need Concrete Proof of a Candidate's Abilities

A great resume SHOWS more than it TELLS. Having a "Key Accomplishments" section listing quantifiable bullets for every relevant position you've held in the past 10-12 years is a surefire way to establish industry expertise. Take the time to dig up details on major projects and challenges you've tackled. Consult with former colleagues. And, wherever possible, insert metrics! Successes are the single biggest factor in landing job interviews.

2) The Market is Currently Flooded with Soft-Skill Heavy Resumes

Nothing makes a reader's eyes glaze over like a resume filled entirely with soft skills. Nowadays most jobseekers know to include terms extolling their leadership and communication skills, etc. What many forget to note is that soft skills should serve as an INTRODUCTION to actual accomplishments. Every relevant position in your work history should begin with a brief paragraph outlining unique responsibilities. Those skills which are stressed in this paragraph need to be DEMONSTRATED in the "Key Accomplishments" section that immediately follows for maximum impact. Keep the focus on 3-5 skills which are touched upon in different fashion throughout your resume. This will help to create a "theme" for your resume and demonstrate your ability to succeed in a role, even when your resume is viewed at-a-glance.

3) Overly-General Resumes Sabotage the Interview Process

Resumes actually serve 2 purposes: differentiating you from the competition and helping you succeed during the interview. Resume accomplishments will essentially form the talking points of an interview, offering you a chance to elaborate upon them. This will SIGNIFICANTLY increase the chances of a successful interview. An overly-general resume forces a potential employer to start from scratch and lessens the odds of success.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

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