I'm Gonna Wash that Gray Right Outa my Resume..

How many of you are looking for a job? What does your resume look like? What impression does it make?

I think the career books are wrong most of the time with regard to what makes a resume great.

They say: There are three formats......

I say: Don't do any of the formats, they don't stand out.

They say: don't use color.

I say: boring! Don't come across like a three-year-old (unless your are 3), but color is great.

They say: You must use our online submission form.

I say: OK, go ahead and do that, but you need to find another way. Find a human! Connect with a voice. Put paper in hand. Spend 41 cents. Personally, I hate inflexible online submission systems.

Sidebar: Hey HR people! The best candidates won't play games with your mandatory rules. what does this mean? The people who comply are not the ones you want.

They say: The order of information on your resume should be X, Y, Z.

I say: Communicate your essence. Share the reasons they ought to hire you. Do this in any way that makes sense.

Fine print: If you are out of work and need a job to pay the rent and buy Mac and Cheese, don't follow my advice. It will turn some employers off and perhaps you should not do that. If you are employed but curious, give this irreverent approach a try - you never know!

Report back.

Comments

[deb]

there's one question to keep in mind. if you do these things, and that disqualifies you in the eyes of the ones reading the resume, is that a company you really want to work for? probably not.

follow lisa's advice and you might not get a lot of calls, but you'll get calls from companies that are right for you.

all the best!
deb

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yes, Deb, this is a great point. Particularly if you are gainfully employed and looking to see if the grass is greener. It would be a shame to jump ship for the same old same old.