What's the goal of a well written résumé?
The goal is to get a response in the form of an interview. We'll incorporate our secret "interview attracting" style in your résumé for maximum response.

What really happens when I apply for a job online?
Most résumés are scanned and evaluated by a computer. Therefore, it's critical to include job specific keywords. Computers reject résumés unsuitable for the candidate pool long before a human ever sees them.

Are advertised jobs filled before an ad even runs?
Sometimes. Company policies often require hiring managers to post to the outside world even though they may have a strong, internal candidate already in place.

Should I respond to an ad when very little information about the job is listed?
It's probably OK - just realize recruiters may place ads to gather résumés for prospective job candidates, even when no position exists.

Why are advertised jobs sometimes cancelled, almost right after the ad runs?
Sudden changes happen to all employers. Budget cuts, hiring freezes and layoffs remove the need to fill the position.

Why does it take forever to hear back from an employer about a job I applied for?
Employers, especially large ones, are extremely inefficient. They can sometimes take months to move from advertised job to hired candidate.

Do some employers really avoid candidates from rival colleges or even competitors?
You want to keep unnecessary information off your résumé. But some hiring managers are very close-minded. You probably wouldn't want to work for this type of organization anyway.

I've sent my résumé directly to the hiring manager but I never got a reply. Why?
Don't get discouraged - keep working on your career goals. A simple lack of formal civility is usually the case when you don't receive an acknowledgement of your résumé.

For more information and pricing, please call Brian, our senior writer, at .