What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses? Work experience? Awards and accomplishments? Oh, and can you keep that all under 700 words?
If those questions sound familiar, you’ve probably toiled over creating the perfect resume before. Although only one or two sheets of paper, resumes often provide your only chance to gain a company’s attention or lose an opportunity. In fact, WorkPlaceLit4Adults reports that while hiring managers often first look at resumes for only 10 to 30 seconds, 75% of candidates are eliminated solely because of their resume.
I know what you’re probably thinking: “I’m more than just my past jobs, what school I attended, and what technical skills I can whip out. Knowing those won’t let you know me.” At the very least, though, a resume can earn you an interview – where you can show off that killer personality and talk about your big dreams. How to make sure your resume is ready to beat the competition? Here are some quick tips to crafting an interview-worthy resume any girl would be proud of!
No, you probably don’t want to follow Elle Woods’s lead from Legally Blonde and print your resume on scented pink stationary. However, you want to make your resume appealing to the eye. Keep your resume one page or less. Not only could the second page get lost, but employers will also appreciate being able to scan it quickly. The phrase “short and sweet” has remained in use for a reason. You also want to show off your education – at least in terms of avoiding basic spelling and grammar mistakes. Read your resume once, twice, thirty times and then have someone else check it. Perhaps most importantly, apply for the job you are actually applying for. This means including information that pertains to that specific job. A law firm doesn’t need to know about your infamous burger-flipping abilities at Wendy’s 15 years ago.
The first portion of your resume is your chance to dive deeper than the technical jargon. Who are you? What are your dreams – career and otherwise? Use this space to grab future employers’ attention and hearts. Other applicants may boast more experience, but if you can show that you’re extremely passionate about the field, love volunteering with special needs children just like the owner or hope to open your own pizza parlor one day, you might just rise above the crowd.
In this case, you want to follow the Spice Girl’s example and “tell them what they want, what they really, really want.” What do I mean? Mention how you meet the qualifications specifically asked for in the job description. If they are looking for great speakers, share how you presented in an academic conference as a college freshman. If they want flexible workers, describe how you juggled a part-time job and full-time college schedules. Employers want to see that you fit the position they are looking to fill, not that you’re just a generically awesome person (though that’s a plus!). Be careful, though, to not say anything that isn’t true. For example, don’t say that you are extremely punctual and arrive to the interview thirty minutes late.
When you walk into a room, which girl do you notice first? The one wearing earth tones and talking about going to the beach over summer…or the one with a bright blue Afro sharing pictures of her trip to Alaska? Consider your resume with the same perspective. Multiple – if not hundreds of – people will likely apply for this same position, so why not add a little sparkle to make yourself shine? Don’t embellish, just add something different and unique. For example, maybe you visit the local old folk’s home every weekend, or you take in stray animals. That little bit of info may not be pertinent to the job, but it turns you from a name on a piece of paper into a complex human being. Who knows? They might call you in for an interview just to hear more.
While you can find plenty of good resume advice on the Internet, in books or from teachers and friends, none of it can guarantee you a job. But taking the time to put as much of you on paper as possible has two guarantees. First, you’ll prove to future workers that you care. Second, you’ll prove to yourself that you are worth the work and have the dedication to succeed. Be sure to mention that in your first interview!
Metatags: Resume, Job Search, Interviews, Applications, Advice, Career, Elle Woods, Spice Girls, Legally Blonde, Career,
