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In today’s job search dominated by online connections, your resume is the key to being seen and heard. For a little investment in energy and extra funds, you have the opportunity to show your style — your very own brand —in your resume pitch.
Content-wise, 1StopResume.com’s Newsletter Archive (left sidebar) includes features on Common Resume Mistakes and Frequent Resume Missteps. Beyond the basics covered in these editions, you can increase your potential for a great job by adding a design component to your final resume presentation.
When you have a resume that you are ready to present to prospective employers, ask a trusted individual to read the resume — proof and check it for the following criteria. And see below, if you are interested, as our 1StopResume.com staff does offer a Resume Critique service.
Here’s what to consider in order to present a job-winning resume:
General editing and proofreading
We cannot tell you how many times resumes are rejected by employers for misspellings. A fresh eye can spot any mistakes you may have missed, and another reviewer may also notice when there is a better way of saying something, a clearer way to make a point.
Resume Parsing Services
In the good old days, someone actually read your resume. Today, many companies have purchased what are called “Resume Parsing Systems.” These computer programs actually sift through resumes utilizing key words to choose resumes that have a set percentage of and / or match the key words.
Key words from the job posting
Since a Parsing Service may be utilized, it is useful to include actual wording from the job posting within your resume. This may require tweaking your resume, but if it gets you noticed, it’s worth it!
Titles are important
Be sure that the job titles on your resume match the job position for which you are applying.
If you list a company that has non-traditional, jazzed up titles, use instead the traditional more widely known job title.
For instance:
“Job Coach” versus the traditional “District Manager”
“Career Coach“ versus the traditional “Manager of Human Resources”
“Educational Administrator“ versus the traditional “Manager of Training”
“Crew Leader“ versus the traditional “Supervisor”Best not to apply for everything
As an employer, we can tell you that it’s annoying to receive applications when people are not qualified, is annoying and wastes everyone’s time — especially yours!
If the job listing says a particular background is required, don’t apply unless you satisfy the specifications. It is frankly an insult if a particular requirement is in the job posting and you apply, without the requirement anyway. Parsing Systems will only select you if the requirements are firmly stated and substantiated in your resume. If a particular condition is listed and you do not have that background, it is not appropriate to apply anyway.
Don’t use the Page Header and Footer Features
Your resume will probably not make it past the Parsing Service if you put your contact information, etc. as a header or footer. Only the text is downloaded into the system. Also, speaking as a recruiter, we have to remove the headers when emailing your resume. Using a page header or footer on your resume is a good way not to get noticed.
Page layout and alternate versions
You now have an ability to turn your resume into a calling card that will serve as a printed press release or advertisement for you and your background. Whether you write your resume from scratch or use 1StopResume.com’s free resume creating service is up to you.
Once you have created your resume following 1StopResume.com’s free resume building tutorial, simply copy and paste it into your favorite word processing program — Microsoft Word, Works, TextEdit, WordPad, etc. You can then easily manipulate the text, spell check and adjust it for delivery to a prospective employer.
And, for those who are computer savvy, here’s how to adapt your resume once completed in the 1StopResume.com system: when your resume is displayed in your browser window, use the “Save Page As” selection (File menu); select “html” format to save it (and to retain the formatting thus far). Then in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, open your resume and re-save it as a “Word document” file (or whatever is the proprietary text format).
It is useful to make alternate versions of your resume, especially if you are implementing words from the job posting into your resume. From that point you can further customize your presentation.
Hint: To manipulate text boxes in Word, simply select the actual text from within the box, as you wish to re-format; “Cut” the selection onto your Clipboard, and then “Paste” it where you want it to go, in your document. Or you can select the entire text box to cut and paste it, intact.
Legible and attractive
Ideas to set you apart and add an inviting quality to your delivery are recommended. In making your font choice select a font size no smaller than 10 point. Also choose a font face that is traditional — Arial, Times Roman, Helvetica. Remember your resume file will be displayed by a different computer. We have seen resumes that look good in one system, but when sent to another computer lacking a particular font, it will substitute the computer’s default font and yours will be eliminated, so the formatting becomes lost.
As for weight and size, with the computer you are able to call attention to words that highlight important elements — including your name and contact information — by sparingly using bold, italic and larger type for emphasis.
Creative white space
Much as with effective print advertising, a relatively simple, uncluttered look best projects your message. In most all cases there is elegance in simplicity, to make your unique qualities stand out on the printed page.
Use of color
For legibility and to keep from being a turn-off, conservative use of color is most appropriate — such as very discriminating use of a dark blue, charcoal or brown. If used, ink color needs to be as easy-to-read as black, and not a distraction from the all-important content.
Use of graphics
We do not recommend the use of any graphics on your resume including logos.
Final formatting
Always check the job posting requirements to be sure you are submitting your resume in the preferred format.
Whether you submit your resume as an email attachment, inline in an email, or hard copy via snail mail or fax, it is important to send it in a format that is simple for the receiving end to use. If more than one method of delivery is listed as an option, it never hurts to send it in all of the accepted ways — e.g., attached to an email, by fax as well as through the Postal Service.
Preferred file format for email attachments
Check to see what attachment format, if any, is listed. The most commonly preferred format is Microsoft Word.
In general, do not send your resume as a PDF. The exception would be when applying for positions in hi-tech or graphic design where there is fluency in desktop publishing programs. Recruiters are unable to manipulate contact information or adjust information according to their needs. And besides, not all Parsing Systems are able to scan a PDF.
Your resume’s file name
As the file name (save as name) of your resume, use your name and the position for which you are applying. VERY IMPORTANT! Employers complain when resumes are not named to identify the applicant. We receive resumes as email attachments, and when saving to review, we have to change the title of the document to the applicant name. This is not only an extra step for the employer, it also leaves room for error which can be avoided entirely by doing so yourself.
Important note regarding margins
Especially for emailing Word documents, it is important to set your margins for a smaller print area rather than stretching to cover the maximum page area. Otherwise another computer may adjust your page breaks and margins, thereby corrupting your page layout.
Formatting to send inline in an email
When this is requested, you can minimize any formatting so that if the employer chooses to receive emails only as text, your resume content will come through looking clean. For example, eliminate indentations and substitute asterisks for bullet point characters.
It’s a good idea to send your resume to yourself as text first, so that you can review it before it goes out.
Printed resumes - paper color and quality
When there is time and you are inspired, choosing a nice-looking paper that “feels” good when held may pay off by adding a subtle high quality to your resume.
Even if you do not have access to a color printer, for your paper you may want to choose a very light color tint. Or white may be your color, this is fine too.
Enlist qualified help
While this is a newsletter and not an advertisement, we at 1StopResume.com are pleased to offer professional Services to enhance your resume. In each of our Job Search Packages, our personal review of your resume and reformatting is the kind of personal attention and tweaking we can provide — starting with the very reasonably priced 1StopBronze Resume Critique Package for just $79.
Whether you perform all the above steps yourself or enlist 1StopResume.com or another qualified third party, we highly suggest you do not overlook this final phase of dressing up your resume. This will communicate and reveal your best professional face to a job market in need of your expertise!
Standing out from all the others submitted resumes takes some ingenuity, but is a worthwhile challenge. By conveying your truth in creating both the look and content of your resume, your unique skills will make it to the desk of the employer. Hopefully the interview will be the next step.
1StopResume.com utilizes several sources to bring you revolutionary and fundamental job search wisdom. While we would like to acknowledge individually those websites, books and articles, authors, and masters, this list would be extensive. We thank these sources for their contributions.