markewicken in Myths and RealitiesResumés

Customizing your resumé is important

Myth: The employer will be smart enough to realize that your experience is very close to what they’re looking for, just by reading your resumé.

Reality: Often, the first “reader” of your resumé may be a software application programmed to scan resumés. Specific resumés with high keyword counts usually get read. If there is a job description, look at it for keywords and customize your resumé to each employer’s wording. Your resumé should look like you are a good fit and worthy of an interview. This won’t happen with a ‘generic’ resumé.

Next Read: How do you research for your interview? »

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markewicken: Mark Wicken is a marketing professional with over 30 years of advertising, communications and strategic planning experience within the retail and packaged goods industries. He has been a senior member of agency management teams with both account and brand management responsibilities. His strengths have always been on innovative thinking, solid organization and strong interpersonal skills. Starting in the advertising agency industry, Mark held senior account management positions at several multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Foster, Caledon, Vickers & Benson and Saffer Advertising, and has been responsible for the management of accounts like IBM, McDonald’s, Esso and General Motors. Mark moved from his agency roles to the Client side and held the position of Divisional Vice President of Marketing for Domino’s Pizza International and Director of Marketing for KFC, Hardee’s and Sbarro restaurants in the Middle East. In 2002 he established The Mark Wicken Group, a business specializing in executive search, training and consulting within the marketing, advertising and communications industries. In addition to executive search, Mark has devoted much of his lifetime to teaching, education and youth development. He is President of MusicFest Canada ‘The Largest Annual Music Festival in North America’ and has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design and The Toronto Film School since 1998. Mark graduated from The University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, and is married with two sons.