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In the last example above, Corporate Reception / Customer Service conveys much more about that person's communication skills than merely stating that he or she has strong communication skills. Likewise, for someone working in a nursing capacity Nursing Unit / Patient Care Administration conveys more about specific skills compared to the generic term or phrase of Strong Communication Skills.

Examples of how to market the hot, soft skills employers want are provided extensively in my Increase Salaries booklets. Proven Resumes: Strategies That Have Increased Salaries provides over 2,000 skills and skill headings for 45 career fields. It provides lists of the top soft skills employers request for each field and combines them with specific skills for each industry (much like the after examples shown above). Job seekers love the lists because can read down the lists and check off those skills which match their background and experience. In this way job seekers are assisted in quickly identifying top soft skills employers want and respond to in resumes!

As these brief examples illustrate being specific makes a tremendous difference in your image and in the reception your resume will receive by employers. Here are two more success stories from job seekers who succeeded by identifying specific skills each employer would be most interested in! Since most job seekers don't market their skills effectively, those that do really stand out.

I landed my current position as a Computer/Network Specialist which increased my salary by 10% after using these strategies. Prior to reading Regina's book, I had sent out numerous resumes and cover letters with little response. After I used her techniques, I received 3 responses within a week and several more after I landed my job. Regina's book made resume writing enjoyable and that's pretty amazing!  David Brendible, Computer/Network Specialist

As with any testimonial, please keep in mind that your results will vary!

... I applied for two positions ... and got called for interviews on both ads. Today I was hired on the spot for the second one. I knew that if I could just get in for an interview I could get the job. I wouldn't have gotten the interview if not for the strategies presented in your book! You provide an invaluable service and I, for one, am most appreciative.  Karen Brady Smith

Now lets move to the next workshop and take a brief look at the importance of identifying employer needs!

$9,000 Salary Increase
The first resume workshop in this site shows how Fran's after resume resulted in a $9,000 salary increase.  Fran wanted a $33,000 Corporate Customer Representative job but her resume created an image of her being at a $20,000 to 24,000 salary level -- that's $9,000 to $13,000 beneath her goal.

What Level Does Your Resume Market You At?
If you are curious to see what level your resume is marketing you at … then be sure to read and use the graphing techniques in my first workshop.  By graphing the job titles used in Fran's resume it's easy to see why her resume failed … and once you understand this … you will understand why the majority of resumes fail.  You'll then understand how to analyze your job titles and see if you are better off using them or replacing them with skill headings that market you more effectively. 

Most People Have Job Titles that Weaken Their Image
I estimate that at least 85% of all job seekers have job titles unrelated to their current career goals … and that they are much better off using skill headings rather than job titles to land higher salaries and double and triple their interview rates.

For example, Fran had been a Directory Operator but in most people's minds that doesn't sound like she's at the level of a Corporate Customer Representative making $33,000 … that's because most people don't view directory operators as providing true customer service.  Most people say that Directory Operator sounds like someone making only $20,000.  However, by using the 12 Questions in my Proven Resumes Series, Fran wrote a new description of her duties as a Directory Operator that described her being selected out of 100 Directory Operators to provide specialized Customer Service to the Governor's Office and Political Dignitaries in the Washington State Capitol … now that information begins to change our image of Fran doesn't it?  That makes her sound much more like someone being able to command $33,000. 

Which sounds like a better match for the $33,000 Corporate Customer Service Representative goal… her old job title of Directory Operator  … or a skill heading like Customer Service Representative to State of Washington Account.  In Fran's actual resume we used the heading of Customer Service Representative but you can see how you can play with skill headings to control and elevate your image … this is one strategy I explain in detail with examples throughout my book, Proven Resumes: Strategies That Have Increased Salaries, and one of the strongest things I can offer you as a resume writer … just in case you don't have the time or patience to write your own.

Going from 0% to 100% Interview Rate
By using skill headings that matched her goal, Fran went from a 0% interview rate to a 100% interview rate -- meaning none of her prior resumes had landed an interview but her new resume landed an interview for each position she applied for.

Click here to learn other ways we improved Fran's resume and landed her a job paying $9,000 more click here to read my first set of resume workshops!  If you've entered my site via this page, be sure to go to my home page for an overview of more than 60 Free Resume & Job Search Workshops that include tons of Resume Tips for 45 Career Fields, Job Search, Electronic Resume, Cover Letter, Interviewing, Networking and Confidence Building strategies. 

The testimonials at the top of this page and throughout my site describe salary increases ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 and more.  Here's one of my most recent ones: 

In Summary
If you are in the process of writing a resume---or have already written one but not gotten the results you want it may be because your titles or skill headings are creating a weak image of your skills---if so consider purchasing the booklet series Strategies That Increase Salaries series written for job seekers in the $20,000 to $100,000+ range. This powerful trio shows you how to create resumes and cover letters that use powerful skill headings that control and elevate your image to match the jobs and salary you want---and there are no other books available that teach you this! You can then learn how to carry these powerful strategies into your interviews by using my interviewing booklet so that you position yourself as a top candidate!

You may also want to supplement the Strategies That Increase Salaries booklets with one of the Career-Specific Resume Booklets described below in order to obtain resume samples written just for your career field.