Your first impression isn’t often the one you make in the interviewer’s office. More than likely it’s going to end up being the one you make on a piece of paper that is either emailed or placed into a secretary’s hands. Your resume is one of the few things that sets you apart before the interview even starts. Here are a few things help you make the biggest impact with your resume. There is no perfect resume, and different situations and jobs will call for different approaches. However, we’ve done our best to come up with a list of suggestion that will help make any resume more effective.
- Be Creative
- Borders
- Color
- White Space
- Be Brief
- Know the company
- Decide what’s important
The best way to get noticed is by representing on paper that you do standout. Even just adding borders, colors and white space are simple ways to shatter the monotony of the average resume. Be as creative as the position your applying for. If you’re trying to become an accountant, you don’t have to stand out as much as a graphic designer.
Using lines to break up sections and draw the reader’s eye to certain sections and contain their focus.
A touch of accent color is a great way to get your resume to catch attention. It’s not a bad idea to use the company’s color to which you are applying. Think about only adding color to things you want to stick out, a particular award, your name, the URL to your personal Web site or online portfolio are all waiting for a little color.
Too often, people try to cram as much information as they can on their 8″x11″ sheet. Though you may have numerous accolades, scholarships and jobs that would look great on a resume, it might be better to keep it concise and clean on the page. Succinct bullets and loads of bright white space is easier on the eye and more likely to be read.
The writer Anton Chekhov once said that brevity is power. Limit your words on the page to the bare essentials. Eliminate every unnecessary word.
Find out what the company expects, what they like. Use resources like LinkedIn to try to contact employees, find company trends and learn what’s important. Knowing what the company expects will help you tailor your resume perfectly.
This is really an addendum to the last point. After doing your research, put the most relevant information on your resume. Learn what’s important and include that on your resume. Is the CEO a former student at your alma mater? Is he or she involved in a service organization that you were once a part of? Find out what is important to the employer and use that in your resume. Finding a common ground with an employer will help you get the chance to come in for an interview.
Are you interested in learning how to make yourself a more qualified job applicant? The experts at Classes and Careers.com will help you develop the skills you need for free. Contact them today to learn how.
]]>The purpose of this article is to outline how you can create, beautify, and even airbrush your resume in order to make a lasting impression.
Getting Started - Begin your resume by constructing a framework that includes your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Make sure the information is current and accurate. Most good resumes locate this information at the top (so that it’s easy for employers to read) but keep it relatively small and low-key. You don’t want to detract from the real meat of your resume.
Objectives & Statement of Purpose – Once you’ve completed the heading, you may want to write a simple “objective statement” or “statement of purpose” that clearly indicates the work you want to do. This is the thesis of your resume — the single statement that every other part of the resume will attempt to support. Try to tailor it to each employer and to each job. Avoid the grandiose “philosophy-of-life” objectives. Just be direct and keep it simple.
Education – Typically, the section that immediately follows the objective statement deals with education. At the very least, education should include any degrees or certificates earned, as well as when and where it was received. Many job seekers also include their GPA (if it’s worth mentioning), and any academic honors they may have received.
In some instances, you may also want to include a list of courses that would apply to a specific job. For instance, if you’re applying for a computer programming job that specializes in JavaScript, and you took three classes in Java, put it down.
Work Experience – Relevant work experience is perhaps the most important section of the resume and one that employers study closely. Most resumes list jobs chronologically, with the most recent — or current — job listed first.
In addition to the job title, name of company or employer, and the length of time you’ve held this job, you should also indicate your work responsibilities and any awards or recognition you’ve received. Don’t be modest. A resume is one of the few places where people expect you to toot your own horn.
That being said, it’s important to quantify and qualify your work experience. Exaggerating or misrepresenting your work experience or skills is professional suicide.
Other Categories – Once you have the basic components of a good resume, you may want to include other categories as well. Recruiters and career counselors agree that not every resume needs to look exactly the same, so feel free to take some liberties.
For instance, your resume might include a section on special skills, such as fluency in a foreign language, or proficiency in specific computer programs. You could also include sections on leadership experience, service, or even hobbies. The important thing is to customize your resume so that it emphasizes your individual strengths and shows what makes you interesting and unique.
Layout & Typography – Finally, a word on the look and feel of your resume. As mentioned earlier, a resume is like your professional headshot. As such, make sure that its overall appearance compliments and strengthens its content.
Use a simple, legible font and standard margins, and be selective about using excessive bolding or underlining. Avoid graphics or photographs. Proofread carefully for errors, as mistakes communicate to employers that either you are uneducated or careless — neither of which is good.
Finally, print your resume on white or off-white paper and make sure it looks clean and crisp. Resumes are now an indispensable part of recruitment and hiring. The question is not whether you need a resume but whether your resume will be an advantage or a liability. Remember that a well-conceived and well-executed resume can secure an interview, influence discussions of salary and benefits, and even secure your dream job.
Follow these basic guidelines and you’re well on your way to creating a more striking and more memorable resume.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Kari Whitaker is a technical as well as creative writer. In addition to articles on education and careers, she also enjoys writing short stories, essays, and poetry.
Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.
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It would be wise to continue your studies because an adult education such as a bachelor's degree is practically essential in this day and age. Of course, it’s possible to acquire a decent paying job without going to college for four years. However, most of the people who land these jobs are not really doing something they really want. How about you? Do you want to land a job that you truly love?
There are a lot of advantages in attaining an adult education. You will dramatically increase your chances of being employed if you have a bachelor’s degree or higher. You will also become much more desirable in the corporate world if you earn a college degree. This means that a college degree will give you a better chance of getting that position you truly want. The higher salary or income is also a benefit of acquiring an adult education. If you go on to college and achieve a four year degree, then there’s a good chance that you will make a better salary.
Getting a college education can also give you a career or job that you really want. We know that it’s possible to find a job without a college degree, but it may not be a job that you would want to spend your life doing. This is really a big concern for many people. Getting a bachelor's degree to do what you enjoy would really make it all worthwhile. Sometimes it has more to do with enjoyment and less with income. It’s a fact that you can't acquire certain jobs without a college degree.
We have also established an adult education is important. Now, it’s up to you to weigh your options. You can choose from a few options in this day and age such as online schooling. You can keep your current job and take care of your adult education from home in your spare time at the same time with this option.
I really try and push the concept when it comes to acquiring adult education and college degrees. In my opinion, we should improve our lives by striving for a higher education. I simply can't see why anyone wouldn't want to because it has been made so convenient these days.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Adult Education. Visit our site for more helpful information about Innovation in Adult Education and other similar topics.
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