Our last post taught you what should be in your resume; this time we focus on the layout of that resume.

In these changing times, your resume has to stand out and fit all manner of medium (meaning it has to look good printed, as well within email and on various websites). So, how do you ensure that yours stands out amongst all others? Take a look at any newspaper for direction. Not only do they have to fit all mediums, they now have to compete with blogs, opinions and keep both readers and advertisers happy on a daily basis.

First thing you should notice on the newspaper is the layout. I can take one quick look and know where to find what I need. Make sure your resume is clean and easy to navigate. It may be fun to create a funky resume, but don’t go too far – if you’re not a graphic designer, you could be asking your reader to work too hard to find your information.

The most important spot on any resume is the top left corner. We read pages, regardless of website or printed piece, from top to bottom and left to right. The top left spot on a newspaper usually includes the company logo and should showcase the most important piece of your resume: your contact information. When I am scanning resumes, I always look at contact info first to see if the person is located in the correct area (more often than not, I want somebody to start immediately, so I can’t consider someone looking to relocate). Don’t use fancy fonts for your name or address (Georgia is always a good choice, easy to read and available on all computers). Again, unless you are showcasing design skills, make reading the resume as simple as possible.
The second most important spot is the rest of the top bar. This should house your objective. Hopefully you know which specific job you are applying for, so you should tailor this one sentence to that job and answer the question, “Why are you the best fit for this job?” If you are posting to a site and not for one particular job, answer that question about your ideal job.

Next, the actual content. When journalists write they use the inverted pyramid, meaning the most important information is at the top with more minor, more detailed information at the bottom. This way, editors and readers can understand the entire story from the first few sentences. Below your objective and contact information, your qualifications are next on the list of importance. Start with your most recent job and work your way backwards. If you are fresh out of college, use any positions you may have had on student government, campus newspaper or within your fraternity. Try to show how this has enhanced your education. Did you win any awards, learn organizational skills, did you have to stick to strict deadlines or come up with fresh ideas? Put this info here.

The next thing I like to put actually steps away from the newspaper layout. Put your additional info next: any volunteer work, community groups, any articles printed. The reason I put it here is habit. It’s habit to expect a newspaper’s contact information in the footnotes and it’s habit to expect education to be at the bottom of a resume. There’s a good chance that a reader will read the top of your resume and then skim to the bottom to see your education.

So, last on the list is your education and any awards or accolades (restate them if you have them in the detail of your previous jobs). Start with the highest level.

Thinking of your resume like a journalist might think of an article or an editor might think of the newspaper puts you in that competitive mindset, which in these tough times you need. To get the job you want, your resume is your lead story – make it easy to read, interesting and intriguing.

Stay tuned, next we will discuss how to Search Engine Optimize your resume.

Cover letters can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a company that you want to work for.  A cover letter is usually sent in the body of your email with an attached resume when applying for a job.  They tend to be of great importance in this stage of your job search because it highlights your qualifications, skills, and why you would be an asset for the company.  Career Columnist Eve Tahmincioglu, says that cover letters are even more important for social media and tech job seekers. “Today companies want tech employees who are critical thinkers, well-rounded and do more than just tech speak, these things are hard to convey in a résumé.” 

Hiring managers prefer a customized cover letter for a position, because it shows that you are actually applying for thatposition.  Often, job seekers blindly send their resumes out , so taking the time to write a cover letter specific to the job you are applying for shows that you are truly interested in that position!  Also, a lot of times, the first person to see your application is a human resources manager, who may not know much about the computer programs and technical projects on your résumé.  The cover letter can be an opportunity to draw them in with a personal touch.

Cover letters are more important now than ever before because of all the social media platforms out there.  A study shows that 45% of employers are screening social media profiles, and another 11% plan to do the same in the near future.  According to this study, roughly 35% of candidates have not been hired due to content found on their social networking sites.  Due to these statistics, many career experts think sending a cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job these days. 

Mark O’Connor, staffing manager at oil company Tesoro, says he doesn’t read much into cover letters, particularly for tech jobs — but adds that it doesn’t mean applicants shouldn’t bother to send them. “They should be short functional summaries of their relevant experience,” he says.  O’Connor’s team of recruiters focuses on developing relationships with candidates via social networks.  From there, they’re more concerned about the details that lie within the résumé and try to learn more about their past experience.

Here are a few cover letter tips:

• Make sure it’s brief and to the point
• Tell all about your accomplishments
• Be creative and don’t just summarize your resume
• Your letter should serve as an introduction to your resume

In my opinion for all you job seekers, whether you are looking to get a job doing Social Media, IT, or in any other industry, it is important to set yourself apart from everyone else.  Although it’s not necessary to send a cover letter, I do think that is important that you sell yourself by sending a cover letter and tailor it to the specific job you are applying for.  A cover letter is still valuable and can help you by setting you apart from everyone else trying to get an interview for the same position.  Make sure you take the time to research writing a cover letter and do it the right way! 

 If you are interested in career opportunities, make sure to check out our website.

Sources:  http://mashable.com/2011/02/05/cover-letter-tech-jobs/#

                  http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/job-search-secrets/#

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”

–Russell Baker, American journalist and humorist

Monday marked the official start of the summer and while most of us may be concerned with losing a few extra pounds around our midsection or toning up our pecks before hitting the shores this season, this might not be the only shaping up that needs to happen.

This summer, treat your resume like you do your bathing suit bod and you will find much more ease with your job search! You may want to evaluate your current situation and determine the best strategy to boost your chances of getting a call back. Depending on where you stand, you may find yourself bulking up, slimming down or simply just toning up your resume a bit over the summer:

Need to bulk up: Is your resume looking a little bare? Need to beef it up? If you need to add to your resume, you may want to consider doing some volunteer work at local charities, alumni associations, community groups, professional interest groups, etc.