Thinking Out Loud

This literally applies to me right now as I am revamping my resume as we speak. I am already changing several things after Googling “unique resume ideas.”

Here’s several things I found:

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  One page. Yep. One page. Keep it clear and keep it short. Your list of accomplishments is important but the inability to keep them short and to the point will say more about your ability to edit. You can imagine how many resumes people have to scan through.

  
  


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  You might get filtered. I learned a very disconcerting fact from one of my professors; that many HR departments of larger companies will use applicant-tracking systems that search for certain words on resumes. Look at the job description; does your resume include most of the key requirements?

  
  


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  Hone your skills. Really point out your strongest assets. I found a really cool resume that listed skills and then added a bar graph next to each skill. This added a terrific visual reference (particularly for myself who is extremely visual.)

  
  


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  Don’t exaggerate. If you put down that you’re fluent or at least conversation level Spanish, make sure that you are. Don’t be surprised if the interviewing employer switches to Spanish half way through the interview.

  
  

It can be a daunting task to stand out. Especially if you don’t already have a connection with your hopeful employer. If you’re able, create a video resume to accompany a written one. Be relevant, be creative and stand out!