Back in the day (before Google), a resume was a pretty standard document. You put in an objective statement of what you were looking for. Then you’d list your experience with duties and responsibilities. Next you placed your education at the bottom. Finally you made sure it looked pretty and mailed it and your cover letter in matching envelopes to potential employers. If you lived in a big job market like New York, perhaps you hired a professional resume writer in NYC to do it all for you.

Easy, right?

Now, with the invention of the Internet, many job seekers know that resume norms have changed. But they are drunk on the false assumption that they can write their career documents themselves. They think a quick Google search on “what managers want,” finding a pretty template via Microsoft Word, and having a friend/wife/husband/child who is “good at writing” spell out their duties and responsibilities, makes a good resume.

HR professionals across the U.S. say this couldn’t be further from the truth. Ever since the economic collapse in 2008, hiring managers have become pickier as to who gets an interview. Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, now manage what recruiters used to do manually. Candidates apply for jobs on the internet, not knowing that their application is probably never even seen by a human being. It’s filtered out with algorithms in the ATS. Their resume didn’t contain necessary keywords and information, so it was rejected. However, knowing what hiring managers want to see, and how to navigate the ATS, is just one key to the modern job search.

Professional resume writers in NYC and other large cities cringe when they hear, “Well, if I had the time I would do it myself, but I really need it to look and sound good so I can get this job, and I need it now.” Often, resume writers in competitive metros have advanced degrees in business. They have taken courses through resume writing associations on modern resume norms and what hiring managers look for. The best resume writers are also certified professionals. It is a craft that most people can’t do themselves if they want actual results.

With all that in mind, here are five things a resume is – and isn’t-  from a professional resume writer in NYC, Spring Forward Resumes.

1.  A resume is NOT a magic bullet. It is not a document that, if sprinkled with fairy dust and written by “a good writer,” automatically gets you a job offer. A resume is a key component of your job search. But it works in tandem with your cover letter, online presence, and job search strategy in order to help you be successful. Today’s savvy job seeker understands that 98% of recruiters search for candidates on sites like LinkedIn, and up to 80% of jobs are filled by networking. Most jobs are not initially advertised. So if you think your resume alone will get you a job, you’re missing out on lots of opportunity.

2. A resume IS a strategic job searching document. It summarizes your career highlights and skills as they correspond to a target job and tells hiring managers what you can do for their company. It contains relevant keywords and skills, along with demonstrated accomplishments that provide evidence of the candidate’s abilities.

3. A resume IS NOT a list of every single job you’ve ever had. A curriculum vitae, however is. For most people, a resume should list 10-15 years of relevant experience and not exceed two pages. It should contain a professional summary of your career, a list of skills that correspond to a target job, and details of your experience with specific achievements.

If you’re in medicine or academia, a curriculum vitae is the preferred document. It is a separate format than a resume that includes all jobs and education. Many people use the terms “resume” and “curriculum vitae” interchangeably, however, it’s important to know the difference.

4. A resume IS a document that must get through recruiters, ATS, and the decision-maker so you get a call for an interview. Any resume writer in NYC will tell you that today, resume writing is more than just typing up a pretty document. You are actually assembling a highly strategic puzzle. Many job seekers think they are writing their resume for the hiring manager. They assume the person who reads it understands their career and will read the entire resume.

In actuality, most hiring managers spend on average six seconds glancing at a resume. Also, your resume must be able to survive three distinctly different audiences: HR clerks unfamiliar with the job who have stacks of resumes on their desks to review; ATS that have certain keywords loaded into them to find candidates; and lastly the decision-maker. This person is looking through the resumes trying to decide who to call. A resume needs to grab the reviewer and make that person say, “I’ve got to speak to this candidate!”

5. A resume of any quality IS NOT written in an hour. Thanks again to the internet, there are scams out there that promise a customized resume the same day. In reality, many of these outlets are content mills with their employees located overseas. These workers dump your information into a pre-formatted template. They don’t check for grammar or spelling errors. Whatever you give them is what they use. The template not only doesn’t go through the ATS well, it doesn’t contain anything it needs to be competitive.

A professional resume writer in NYC who is reputable speaks with clients to learn about their career and goals. The industry, job target, level of experience, and desired position are all factors to consider when deciding on a resume format. Are you better off with a traditional chronological format? What if you have gaps in your career history? Perhaps a functional resume focusing on skills would be best. Or maybe you want a mix of both so you can branch into a new industry.

Good resume writers will take the time to treat your resume as the project that it is. Often it takes several hours to gather information, devise a strategy, and create a compelling resume. It’s well worth the investment to contact a professional resume writer in NYC, Rhode Island, Hartford, Boston, or wherever you live. Most offer consultations by phone and will tell you exactly what they will do for you.