Fuel Your Job Search With A “Resume Renovation”
Changing jobs, or entering the job market for the first time, can be a stressful and daunting experience. The stakes are high, of course, but the path to a successful outcome seems to become more and more confusing every day. It can be a challenge to navigate your way through the process because the landscape is ever-changing, from the places to look for opportunities to the most appropriate ways to apply for them.
One thing that hasn’t changed, is the crucial role that your resume plays in helping you earn consideration and that all-important interview. Unfortunately it can be confusing as there are different points of view about exactly what information that resume should contain and how that information should be best presented. I’ve done a little research into the best current thinking about the creation and submission of resumes, and in a three part series on fueling your job search through resume renovation, I’d like to share a few of the tips that stuck with me.
Part 1 – Send It? Attach It? Deliver It? Yes!
Before we get into the actual contents of your resume, let’s talk about how you will get it into the hands of those who will make the hiring decision, or at least those who will choose what resumes those people will see. The first and most important rule here is simple – do what the position posting asks you to do. If there’s a mailing address and you are asked to “mail” it, then do that, of course. If you see the ad on line and it requests that you email the resume, or follow the prompts of a web-based application system, then follow those instructions exactly.
But what if the ad leaves that question open to interpretation? Many times the information will include a street address and an email address, and no “preference” will be evident. What do you do then? Well, perhaps you do both, just to make sure. Just make sure to indicate clearly that you are doing so, to avoid confusion.
If you are applying for a position near your current location, or in a city you will soon be visiting, there’s another tactic that can pay real dividends. Why not dress up nicely and deliver a professional and nicely polished hard copy of your resume and cover letter to the prospective employer? You just might get a chance to meet the decision-maker, and you will almost certainly interact with other employees like the receptionist or a human resources assistant. A friendly and polite encounter will leave a positive image in the minds of those you meet. By demonstrating this kind of initiative and adding a personal connection, you could move from “letter # 63” to “that nice young fellow that stopped by.”
Check Back In For 5 Things To Remove From Your Resume
Looking for a job can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. But you can go into it with a little more confidence when you know your major weapon –that resume – is doing everything it can for you. Next time in my three part series, I will cover 5 Things To Remove From Your Resume so be sure to check back in.
