What is wrong with your resume?

This story originally appeared on NextAvenue.org.

You’re not getting enough calls.

You’re not getting the right calls.

You’re not getting any calls.

You haven’t had an interview in a month.

What is wrong with my resume?!?!

While it’s important to be patient yet persistent when you’re job hunting, sometimes reassessing your resume is a good idea.

I’ve seen plenty of resumes. Some are pretty good, and some are pretty awful. The following are five reasons why some resumes simply don’t live up to their potential:

No. 1: Your Resume is Too General

Many people try to have their resumes appeal to the widest sector of job opportunities. It seems to make sense; if the resume is applicable to more jobs, the better the chances are of landing a job, right?

The problem with this approach is that you come off as a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. You’re trying to be everything to everyone and, unless you want to be Walmart, you won’t be seen as a standout candidate.

Instead, don’t be afraid to be yourself. There are certain things that you’re good at. They’re your strengths! You’re not limiting yourself by showing you have your own area of expertise, so it’s best to communicate it on your resume, unapologetically.

No. 2: Your Resume Takes Too Long to Read

I’m not advocating a certain length of a resume here. There are some one-page resumes that seem to take forever to read, and some two-page resumes that read very quickly. It just depends on how the resume is put together.

The secret is to organize your resume. Be sure to list your summary first and your skills right up front. Pop in your education and, by the time the reader covers these points, their curiosity will be piqued and they’ll be motivated to read more.

No. 3: Your Resume Doesn’t Promote You

Some resumes do a great job of informing the reader about the places they’ve worked and the jobs they’ve worked, but it lacks a critical piece of information; it doesn’t highlight your professional strengths!

Your resume is not the place to be shy about who you are and what you do. Now is the time to bring out all those achievements you’re proud of, those outstanding skills you have, and all those results that came from your hard work. This is your chance to shine, so take it!

No. 4: Your Resume Only Lists Your Past Jobs

When creating your resume, get out of that job-application mindset and tell your story. Are your former employers not generally known companies? Include a quick description of the company. Was your title not fit with your job function? Then describe the job you really did.

Did you have special training or do you offer special skills? Be sure those are communicated on your resume.

You are much more than your past job title and responsibilities; you are a skilled professional, and an employer will be lucky to have you!

No. 5: Your Resume is Hard to Follow

Your resume should comfortably tell your professional ‘story,’ and like any good story, it has a beginning, a middle, and the present day.

While many careers read like a simple fairy tale, most take some unexpected turns. Your resume needs to handle those spontaneous changes with style, finesse, and ease, as if it were the way you planned it all along.

Many people question their resume when they’re looking for a job, and many people should question it to ensure it’s doing its job.

If your resume needs a major overhaul or just some sprucing up, One Great Resume can incorporate many resume optimization techniques that will make a difference in your job search. Our personalized resume writing service has helped hundreds of clients find the job of their dreams.