Unemployment Statistics - A True Reflection of the Situation?

Every month when the unemployment statistics come out, the government wants to put the best spin possible on the numbers. That is why what they say doesn't always mean what we think it means, because there are some important numbers left out of the reports.

What's happening is that there are a lot more people out of work than they say, meaning more competition for jobs than we think. It is why your resume has to stand out from the rest. Your resume should stop the employer in mid-read and have her ready to pick up the phone to call you in for an interview.

When the unemployment statistics come out, the number represents the number of people without jobs who have actively sought employment and are able to work. These statistics do not include people who would like to be working but have given up actively seeking employment.

It doesn't include people have taken so-called "bridge jobs" to earn a wage while they are seeking employment in their chosen professions and it doesn't include people who are working part-time but wish to be working full-time.

How does this affect you? It should serve as a reminder to you how many people are trying to get the same job you are. Not only are there thousands of unemployed potential applicants, there are hundreds more who want a better job than the one they have.

Your resume has to stand out. And it has to get you in the door. It needs to be unique and not just another fill-in-the-blank from the same resume guide everyone else is using. It should showcase your talents and sell your experience and enthusiasm to the person who makes the decision as to whether you even get to come in for an interview. Think of your resume as your introduction or as your "sponsor." If it doesn't present you in the best light, you will not even make it through the door.

A well-written, error-free resume is your best chance to beat the odds of an economy with unemployment figures that are rising, especially when those figures are not completely accurate in what they are reporting. The government reports unemployment in black and white, but there is a great deal of information that goes unreported or under-reported. Your resume has to be powerful enough to push through those statistics.

There are some professionals out there who have turned resume creation into an art-form, like Jimmy Sweeney, who has put together some great programs for the creation of cover letters, resumes, and successful interview techniques.