Many recruiters won’t look at you if you don’t have recent experience. So instead of waiting for them to never call back, read this instead.

One of the big myths I hear time and time again is you need a great resume to help you find a job.

And yes, no doubt this is true.

A great resume can really help you define your value and clearly market that value to the world.

But there are times where a great resume is simply not enough.

The truth is that recruiters don’t tend to look at you when you don’t have recent relevant experience.

So if your background is out of the box somewhat, there’s really no point in waiting for them to call after you’ve submitted your resume.

Chances are they won’t.

And while I might be shooting myself in the foot when I say this, if you’re about to come to me for the miracle pill to help you get over the line, there are times when a great resume can only ever be your starting point to finding your next job.

Here’s why I say this.

Most recruiters and employers are risk averse.

They work from the perspective that your most recent experience is a reliable indicator of:

1. What you can do
2. What your skill set is
3. What you want to do

We all know that’s not necessarily the case.

For example, you can work in a profession for many years, and not enjoy it or not be invested in excelling in it.

So, if you’ve got a great resume, typically you’ll find you get the highest strike rate when you look and sound like the last person who was in the role that’s being advertised.

Tough hey?

Frustrating too.

via GIPHY

Tell me if this is you. 

If it is, you need to do more than just fire off a resume. 

You’re wanting to change sectors – but not getting interviews.

You’re new to Australia, told you need local experience, and are not getting interviews.

You want to take a career u-turn and return to a job or previous career you loved a few jobs back.

You are a parent returning to the workforce from a lengthy break.

You want to get your first break just out of university or when you’re newly qualified in something else.

You want to change career direction.

You want to tap into the hundreds of jobs you suspect are not advertised.

If this is you, the simple truth is – you need to do more networking and never rely on applying online.

“Sure Karalyn”, I hear you say – “everybody tells me that, but how few people show me how to do that?”

Well…. if you did not join my live webinar, I want you to watch this recording where I talk you through what to do.

In it I’ll tell you that you need to stop spraying and praying getting your resume out there, and to follow this formula.

It’s the method we use in the Straight to Shortlist Challenge.

And it goes like this:

1. Identify what you want to do and why you want to do it
2. Identify employers who could offer you that opportunity
3. Identify people who can give you advice about employers or refer you to those employers
4. Set your LinkedIn profile up so it represents you in the most powerful way
5. Directly approach these people for help

This is essentially the method we use on the Straight to Shortlist Challenge.

Here’s what’s happened for my clients on the Straight to Shortlist Challenge and where together we have applied the same tactics…

1. A SAP Consultant with no local experience coming from Singapore and India arriving in Melbourne, found a job at the same level in NZ, then back in Melbourne

2. A Project Manager in Oil and Gas from Singapore and China found a job at the same level as a Project Manager in Victoria

3. An executive CFO who had just turned 50 who had spent 28 years in the one company (all his professional career) found a strategy consulting gig with one of Australia’s big 4 banks

4. A parent, who had been in Australia for 14 years, wanting to return to the workforce in the UK (who had 6 years out of the workforce, and 15 years from her last HR gig) found a dream part time close to home role back in the UK in HR administration (the right re-entry level for her)

5. An Australian based Risk Manager who had experience in Management Consulting overseas 5 years before his current job, started getting Management Consulting interviews with the Big 4 consulting firms

6. A Swiss Mechanical Engineer found his first break in Australia as an Mechanical Engineer

Now my challenge to you, is if they can do it – why not you?

Instead of waiting for rejection or never hearing back from recruiters and wondering what the hell you’re supposed to do next to find your job – make an investment that will get you a whole lot closer – if not exactly where you want to go.

Join the Straight to Shortlist Challenge!

Click here to find out more.

I love running this program, and I’d love to see you there.

Call me on 0439 595 687 if you need to.