A few months ago, when I gave my then-employer notice I would be leaving, they posted my position… and received floods of resumes. I looked on, noticing obvious, glaring advice I wanted to give those who applied.
What makes a resume stand out?
- Sending your resume in two formats: a Word document as well as a PDF. Typefaces and spacing may be different on each computer, throwing off the well-balanced look you worked so hard to achieve. However, do let your potentially future employer know the copy is the same (preventing them from spending time they don’t have looking for the differences), and you’re doing so to save them time.
- Attaching your cover letter instead of simply embedding it in the body of an e-mail. Again, spacing in e-mail is much, much different than in a Word document, causing the letter to print in a funky, funky way.
- Cutting the clip art. That cheesy graphic of a pen and paper won’t get you hired. Neither will the fact that you put your name in WingDings, for that matter.
- Keeping it short. As in one page, possibly two if you’ve been in business for more than a dozen years. Sometimes, less is more.
- Sending the resume through a personal contact if you have them, or even through LinkedIn if you can detect who the hiring manager is. Don’t be afraid to use the fact that you know someone who knows someone who knows someone to your advantage!
a witty tale of life: Mara Shorr 