| Laura Smith-Proulx An Expert Resume 877-258-3517 http://www.AnExpertResume.com Meet Your Writer |
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Most people realize by now that a resume is a marketing document that can, if written with an effective strategy, compel an employer to contact you. But did you know that a resume must stand out for its style as well as the content?
Most of the resumes I receive for review use the standard Microsoft Word document template. Yes, it is a clean design. However, do you really want to force your unique, compelling value proposition and shining achievements into the same tired document used by nearly everyone?
I thought not.
Give some thought to the zing behind your message when catching an employer's eye, showcasing your career history with these tips:
Remember the one-third rule.
Where does the eye wander when quickly scanning a document? The top one-third of the first page. not that drawn-out paragraph that you used to contain all the "important" information about your job duties.
Make sure this area is clean and easy to read with a brief summary, career title, and keywords relevant to your desired field. Not sure what information to include? Check out "2500 Keywords to Get You Hired" by Jay A. Block and Michael Betrus for inspiration.
Don't make employers guess what you want.
I've said it before: the resume objective is dead (and it never was objective!). Thousands of people have copied the phrase "To seek a challenging position." Do you want to be one of them?
Strengthen your resume both a profile summary and a title that states your goal: "Controller," "Business Development Executive," "IT Project Manager," etc.
Bring your format into the new millennium.
Jazz up your presentation-but just a bit-with bullets or borders. Be careful not to mix fonts, as this can make your document unreadable.
Need more inspiration? Sample resumes on the Internet and professional resume books offer a wealth of powerful and effective resume formatting ideas.
Remember, you don't have to settle for the "average" document, which can only secure an "average" job! It can be easy-and effective-to stand out with a few changes, format tricks, and visual improvements.
If you like this article, please consider sharing with a friend or colleague. They'll thank you for it!