How to Overcome Resume Writer's Block and Conduct a More Efficient Job Search

Job seekers repeatedly tell us that the biggest concern when starting on their resumes and cover letters is overcoming their fear of the blank page (or blank screen). Too often they bring a lot of stress on themselves simply because they do not know how to begin and they hear those admissions deadlines ticking.

Top 5 Tips for Overcoming Resume Writer's Block

Here are our top 5 tips to overcome resume writer's block and begin drafting your resume and cover letters:

1. Give yourself a self-imposed deadline. Be aggressive. If you are unemployed or about to face unemployment, then every day you are out of work is very expensive. If you want to switch fields or companies, then every day you are stuck in your current position is one more day of stress-induced anxiety. Remember how much you could write when you were in school and you only had an hour to complete a paper? Trust us. You still have that ability to work under pressure.

2. Talk out your "story." There is a reason you are seeking a new position and there are multiple value propositions you can offer your next employer. If you are self conscious about using a friend for this, stand in front of a mirror and tell yourself why you left or are looking to leave your current job and where you want to be in 5 and 10 years both professionally and personally.

3. Remove any distractions. If you need quiet, go to the library. If you need some fresh air, take your laptop outside. If food is your biggest distraction, stay well clear of the refrigerator and kitchen.

4. Start anywhere. At this early stage, it doesn't matter if you start with your resume format selection, your cover letter introduction, or the list of responsibilities you had at your most recent position. You understand how the inertia works. Once you get started, you should be able to keep going.

5. Do NOT worry about grammar. Encourage your thoughts to flow. You can and should wait until you are much closer to a final draft to begin worrying about comma splices, misplaced modifiers and the like.

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