|
Even
as we move faster into the
virtual world of video résumés
and web-based form résumés,
there is still nothing more
telling to a hiring organization
than a well-structured résumé. So
if constructed properly from the
ground up (not by allowing Word
to do it all for you), you can
tell a story almost convincing
enough for a company to hire you
without an interview. Okay,
they'll most likely want to meet
you, but you have to start
somewhere.
Here's
our quick five-point crash
course on getting your paper to
the top of the stack:
(1)
Objective statements. This is
your first opportunity to engage
your future employer with the
reason they should hire you.
Your objective statement tells
the reader exactly what you hope
to gain in your next job...in
ONE SENTENCE. That's right, keep
it short and sweet. To the
reader, if you can't say it
quickly and clearly in one
sentence, then you most likely
do not know what you want to do
or why you are changing jobs.
(2)
Structure & Form. Forget
about the pre-fabricated tables
and gigantic font selections in
those Word libraries, all they
do is distract your reader from
your main point. And besides,
most companies use résumé
extraction tools that have
problems rendering the heavy
macros and format from these
templates, so try to avoid them
altogether and create a nice,
consistent layout with no more
than 2-3 font sizes and effects.
When using fonts for jobs,
titles, and dates, be sure and
remain consistent throughout,
because a sloppy resume could
spell a sloppy hire to your
reader.
(3)
Size matters when it comes to résumés.
Not too small, not too lengthy,
but just right...porridge
anyone? Résumés
that
are less than two pages fail to
include enough about you and
those beyond five pages better
have a caffeine patch to go
along with them. Recommendation:
3-4 pages with the following
sections:
- Objective
Statement
- Skills
Summary
- Experience
- Education
- Affiliations,
Awards, Certifications
(4)
Versatility. If you have the
interest and ability to perform
well in more than one type of
job or level of job, then be
sure to have a couple of
variations of your résumé
ready to go out. Just be sure
that your overall experience and
dates remain true and
consistent. (5)
Memorize your background. I know
it seems silly to think about,
but most people never think of a
résumé like a cue card. When
it comes time to interview, use
your résumé as a presentation
guide. Not only does it cut down
on the stress of interviewing,
but it shows your audience that
you actually wrote the thing
yourself and that you know
yourself well enough to know the
job. For
more information about creating résumés
that create opportunities, contact
your iSpy Consultant today!
|
