When candidates think about resume writing, they rarely think further than documenting their previous roles and responsibilities in an effort to persuade a hiring manager to call them for an interview. To many candidates, a resume is simply a document that

details their progression from school and university through

each different role to date in their career. While it is quite true

that this is the ultimate purpose of the resume, it is also true to

say that it can secure for the successful candidate a new role

at a salary that far surpasses your immediate expectations.

The reason that your resume can make this possible is

twofold. Firstly, a strong resume will offer you an opportunity

to demonstrate the many ways in which your employment will

yield results and enhance company success. Secondly, smart

candidates understand that by quantifying the percentage of

growth, sales, profitability or cost reductions that they have the

ability to make within an organization will prompt an employer

to sit up and take notice. Hiring managers understand that

candidates who can transform operational success and

generate more sales or decrease costs are certainly worth an

additional $10,000 or $20,000 in salary expenditure. An

additional salary hike is obviously a far more cost effective

method of spending money as it requires considerably less

operational spend than losing thousands of dollars in

operational inefficiencies or down turned sales and profit

margins.

Employers will agree to pay highly competitive salaries to

candidates who prove themselves an asset to the company

and who demonstrate an ability to increase overall profitability

whatever form that may take. This doesn't mean that you have

to be a master sales person or a highly successful operations

manager with a unique ability to reduce costs. Whatever your

occupation and background, you simply must demonstrate an

ability to enhance company success and effect the bottom

dollar whether it is through customer service, administration,

marketing etc. Whatever your skills or area of expertise,

successful businesses rely on employees who have the ability

to shape the organization.

With rising costs and increased expenditure, companies and

organizations find being in business more challenging than

ever before. Investment in new employees needs to generate

a return if it is to prove viable, and for this reason employers

are prepared to pay top dollar for highly talented candidates.

Your resume is the only forum that you have when it comes to

making an initial impression. You may be the most

personable, charismatic candidate that has ever walked

through the doors of an interview, but no one will get the

opportunity to find out if you don't present your candidacy and

market your skills and experience effectively.

We cannot stress enough how vital it is to make an employer

want to hire you. You have to demonstrate your level of

expertise, proven record of success, accomplishments,

achievements, experience and the personal qualities and

characteristics that are integral to your career success. All of

these factors play a part in profiling your candidacy. You

cannot be happy to simply sit back and wait for an employer

to knock on your door. We all live in the real world and

understand that things like this don't happen. The cold harsh

reality is that the job market is highly competitive and the

business world highly challenging. To ensure that both

employers and employees find a common ground, there has

to be a need and a solution. The employer has a need to

make money and develop a successful business. The

employee has a need to make a good salary and find a role

that challenges and fulfills them.

Because every single candidate submits their resume with the

same mandate, it is critical that you provide an employer with

the kind of information that makes them want to meet you

personally. Your resume is your 'Golden Ticket'. It is the only

way that you can secure that all important meeting and give

yourself an opportunity to demonstrate on a face to face basis

the certain contribution you can make for a new employer.

Understanding an employer's requirements is of paramount

importance when creating a resume and cover letter. That is

not to say that you develop a resume that only responds to a

specific job specification or advertisement. It means that you

need to understand the employer's requirements and

demonstrate where your experience and expertise has met

each of these requirements for a previous employer. It means

matching your knowledge and abilities to the position and

demonstrating an ability to make an immediate and

significant contribution.

Employers want to hire employees who can think on their feet

and who have a proven ability to hit the ground running. Your

resume must reflect this. It must blend your professional

experience with the very characteristics that are inherent to

you personally. It is this mix that will market you as a

candidate of choice and generate that all-important interview.

Remember, your resume really does count so you have to

take it seriously. Don't underestimate the power of your

resume in your job search or salary negotiations. The salary

negotiation is obviously the most unpleasant part of the job

searching process. It is difficult to negotiate terms for both

salary and benefits as you strive to create a positive

impression with a new employer. The hiring manager

undoubtedly holds the cards in this situation as they can afford

to set terms without losing face. The candidate who argues or

stubbornly refuses to move within the negotiation process

risks the wrath of the hiring manager before setting foot inside

the door. For this reason, it is critically important that your

resume determine a solid baseline. If your resume sets your

salary at a higher rate than expected the negotiations can only

go one way, as you will have nothing to risk. You will be in a

position to start at a higher dollar amount and can therefore

secure a higher salary without conflict.

You maintain strong professional relations with your potential

employer and secure a better salary. It makes for a good

working relationship and great career prospects!