Let’s be honest: the U.S. job market isn’t what it was even a few years ago. The competition is fierce and for the active resume maker, even getting an interview feels like winning the Boston Marathon.
If you plan on landing a job with that shiny new resume you’re working on, there are a few things you must know. Without this information, kiss your chances of winning that well paying new job goodbye.
Let’s start from the top:
About format
Your dreams of a new gig begin and end with the format of your resume. This is also where the untrained resume maker is must likely to fumble. Here’s a basic guideline; stick to it and you’re already ahead of the game.
- There are plenty of common formats out there. Stick to the known winner: Chronological
- Enter promotions as new entries under your “job experience” section. Flesh out any additional responsibilities this title entailed.
- Keep the format streamlined and to the point. Who you are – What you’ve done – Unique Qualifications – References is a safe bet.
- Don’t get funky on the font and character size. Keep it professional… this is your first impression. If you’re in IT, this may not apply.
- Keep the flowery language in your journal. Everything you write should be specific (i.e. managed 100 employees in various departments vs. showed spectacular coordination in the allocation of manpower.)
- Please… use quality paper for your resume. The photocopied OfficeMax paper doesn’t speak so well for your personal brand.
About “Resume maker” services
There are a myriad of services, both offline and online, that you can commission to write your resume for you. There are both pros and cons for this approach, both of which are beyond the scope of this article.
However, if you of the following descriptions apply to you, I would suggest getting a writer:
- If you are applying for a job outside of your native language, hire a writer. Don’t argue with me about this. Just do it.
- If you’ve been applying diligently and can’t land an interview, hire a writer. Chances are it’s not you they don’t want to meet, but how your resume projects who you are. Or it could just be you… but it makes sense to spend a few bucks to find out.
- If you suck at writing (be honest with yourself), then hire a writer. The cost is well worth the piece of mind that your resume is truly your “best foot forward”.
- If interview begins with or alludes to “well, despite what I thought of your resume…”, then hire a writer.
Make sure to do some price shopping before hiring anybody. Some writers charge exorbitant fees simply because they market better. If you do the legwork of searching beyond the yellow pages, you’ll be rewarded with comparable quality at a much more agreeable price.
On a sidenote – many resume maker softwares available online are fantastic alternatives to professional writers. I would suggest exploring both options and weighing the pros and cons.
About grammar
This technically would fall under the bullet point about “if you suck as a writer”, but it’s important enough for me to rehash it here. I’ve reviewed a mountain’s worth of resumes with grammatical errors, so make sure to check before you send it. Then check again. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker for employers (depending on the position) but you’ll fair much better if your resume is immaculate.
To wrap it up…
Those that know these things get their foot in the hiring manager’s door. Those that don’t get left out in the rain. So keep these things in mind when you’re crafting that knock-em-dead resume. Otherwise, it might be time to get your umbrella ready.
Tags: resume, resume builder, resume format, resume maker