Financial News Reveals a Resume Trend With Promise

by Resume-Resource on Sep 16, 2010 in Resume Writing

The Labor Department reported today that new jobless claims this week fell by 3,000 but the total of new jobless claims is 450,000 this week. That amounts to an average of 57 fewer people per state filed claims, but more than 8,600 still did.

Not significant. When 8,600 NEW people hit the unemployment offices in your state in the past week that’s not a good thing.

Here’s what’s happening. Since it’s incredibly more difficult for businesses to sell product and services and borrow money than times in the past, companies are forced to become more efficient. In mass numbers, companies are reporting in as being successful in doing so.

FREE Online Resume Builder - Use Templates to Build a Resume in Minutes!

Consider this morning’s report that is nothing short of the perfect example. The FedEx Corporation (Symbol FDX) reported lower-than-expected revenue numbers today, but doubled their profit. They are becoming more efficient, and plan to become more efficient as they plan to cut another 1,700 jobs by January and February of next year.

So what’s this got to do with your resume anyhow? Of organizations that are or will be hiring, we know that more and more of them will search high and low for workers that have a track record of finding ways to make operations more profitable. Big sellers and high producing employees still hold a firm value, but those that can save a company money have the edge right now. If given the choice right now at any of the companies I have owned, worked for or consulted to – I would hire the most promising individuals that are time-savers, efficiency-makers and cost-cutters while being proficient in their daily work at the same time.

Consider what you have done in your career to help improve efficiency or outperform your peers in ways that saved the company money. Ask yourself what you did in the past that saved your employer a buck. How much money or what percentage of cost or profit did your actions produce? Did you carry the ball when your organization or department was short-handed or fill in for a manager or someone higher up when they were on vacation or sick? Did you help cut waste, reduce damaged goods and materials or did you help save on energy in some way?

Find a way to communicate this information in your resume and you can gain an edge. If you have none of these career highlights to offer and are still working somewhere I recommend getting to work at finding ways to help your organization become more efficient right now. Regardless of how safe your job is or might be, please remember that your career MUST be a continuing quest to build up your resume with accomplishments that beat the normal level of expectation. It will serve you well some day. That’s a fact!