Writing Resumes
The purpose of a resume is to get you exposure and then an interview for a job. It is to show your credentials and skills to potential employers in a positive light. Unfortunately many employers see so many resumes that they just scan and file them, looking for someone qualified that looks interesting. If your resume looks different and interesting, the employer will read it a bit. If it is really intriguing, they will enjoy reading it, and that means the interview is almost a certainty. Now the question arises of how to create a resume that employers want to read? That is not easy to do.
First, your resume needs to stand out from the rest and grab the readers attention, so make it different. Most resumes are white paper with black ink, make yours unique. Change the ink color to either dark green or a dark blue. This is easier on the eyes and yet still makes yours stand out from the others. Yellow is very different. but fades and can be hard for some people to read. Red in writing has negative connotations. Green is many a person's favorite color, but be warned that some people are green color-blind!
Instead of using the standard font, Ariel or Forte, with a 10 pt size, increase yours to 12 pt and change the font to something slightly different, Comic Sans works well. The larger size is easier to read and causes less eye strain, which is important after the reader has just gone through 302 resumes, and the Comic Sans is rounder characters and also more pleasant to read. Important? Most definitely!
Now that they have realized that your resume stands out and is different upon first viewing, now you need to make it interesting to read for the employer. First, put in all the essential information. This includes education and work experience. If it does not have this they will feel you have wasted their time and no body enjoys lost time when they are busy. Put the details there in simple, easy to read print and they will be happy.
To make your resume more interesting, put in an appropriate quote or two. Something that is short yet intriguing right at the top "No man is an Island" shows you understand the important of teamwork. "These are the times that try men's souls" will let them know you are aware of the importance of hard work. You can also add a quote at the end. The quotes break the monotony of the resume and that will make it easier to read, more memorable and show that you are a bit of a philosopher at heart.
Ink, font and a few quotes may sound simple, but they will attract attention and make the employer want to read your resume instead of just scanning it. Now if you can just make it through the interview!
