Dear J.T. & Dale: I have sent out my resume to places where it sounded like I fit the job like a glove. I redo the resume to fit each specific job, emphasizing experience in that area. Where I live it’s a tight job market; employers receive sometimes as many as 80 to 100 resumes for one clerical job. I rarely get called, and if I do, I don’t get the job. I have changed jobs a lot and relocated, so I figure that might be the reason. – Harriet J.T.: If I search your resume, I see that you have great professional experience. But I have to search, and most hiring managers won’t. Glancing at your resume, I see a person who has had a string of jobs, but no clear idea of what she is good at. It’s time to revamp the resume and get it down to one page, highlighting your transferable skills in an easy-to-read fashion.

Dale: However, if you’re getting interviews, then your experience can’t be too hard to spot. Perhaps you’re doing something wrong in the interview, but probably not. You’re one of the finalists, just not the first choice, which makes me think of those T-shirts, “Second place is first-place loser.” Instead, if you don’t get the offer, call and thank the hiring managers and tell them that you’d love to be the back-up. After all, a sizable percentage of new hires don’t work out. Meanwhile, you need to find opportunities to show your skills, not just talk about them.

J.T.: Yes, go to the best clerical-placement firm in the area and register. Temporary work is a great way to network, plus, when something clicks, you’ll get offered a permanent job. I realize you most likely want a job with benefits and stability, but honestly, the smartest thing you can do is get temporary work right away. It will give you some money, prove to the local companies that you have the ability to do a good job, and also get you in front of companies who could hire you full time.