Posted By Amanda Collins on November 23, 2010

In this digital age, your résumé is probably online: on Monster, LinkedIn, Jobing, or your own site. And, just like anything else online, you should be making your résumé SEO-friendly to attract more hits. Here are some simple tips you can implement to boost your online ratings.

Keep the Keywords Coming!
In the SEO world, you hear about keywords, metatags, and the like. Although you won’t have tags on your résumé, you most definitely will have keywords. If your document is well written, you’ll naturally include some key phrases in your summary, job descriptions, and accomplishments, but there’s an even more direct way to add those much-needed keywords: your core competencies. Located just below the summary, this section is only keywords. Not only do they make your résumé pop in scanning systems, but they also jump off the page to the human reader, who can clearly see your transferable skills.

Have a Brand
More than anything else, a résumé is a marketing tool—and you are the product it’s selling. Your brand may not be as obvious as “Coke is it,” but there are a few ways for you to stand out from the crowd. First, be sure to have a visually appealing layout to the document. Keep it clean with appropriate white space. Next, add a title and branding statement. Nothing makes you stand out more than sharing a great branding statement that sums up what a great fit you are in just one sentence.

Use the Right Format
If you’re able to upload your résumé, a .doc or .pdf file will be great, and it will also maintain format. But if you’re asked to cut and paste your résumé, a better approach is to change it to a .txt document prior to pasting. It’s not pretty, but the systems can scan it easily and it looks a little more consistent than cutting and pasting a .doc file.

Add Links
Social media is here and now, so why not add links to your online résumé? The most common one is your LinkedIn profile, but if you have a professional website that supports your job search, that can be a great addition as well. Of course, steer clear of Facebook and Twitter unless you are only using them solely for professional purposes. In other words, be sure you don’t have pictures of your drunken adventures on anything you link to your résumé.

Watch That Tone
Although résumés are naturally business professional in tone, you can liven it up a bit with a little personality. Try some minimal color, graphs and charts, or a picture when appropriate (of you or something else). I’ve seen some really fun résumés for folks in the advertising world, but remember that you need to know your audience. A “fun” document will fall flat in a “serious” profession, such as banking.

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Posted By Amanda Collins on November 10, 2010

One of the big issues I see on résumés is that they are essentially vomit on a page, if you get my meaning. People are afraid that if they don’t tell everything, they will be overlooked. Back in the day, that was the way it was. You wrote everything you did at previous jobs—in chronological order—and the employer determined where you would best fit. Now, however, it’s a bit more competitive.

It starts with a title. If you remember, résumés used to lead with an objective: “To obtain a position in which I can utilize my experience for the best needs of the company.” Really, does that say anything? Instead, tell the employer who you are for them. Be super clear. If you want to racket it up a bit, add a subtitle or branding statement.

The rest of the résumé should follow the lead of the title. If you say you’re an HR expert, don’t clutter the page with information about your time in logistics. It only serves to confuse the reader. There are many tricks and marketing strategies to highlight your talents while still getting all of the pertinent information on there—without lying (no, never lie on your résumé). I’ve written a number of different types of résumés depending on the goals of the client, which is where strategy comes into play.

And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? The idea behind being clear on your résumé is that you have a strategy. Without it, you’re back to over-sharing and making the reader try to figure out where you fit in the organization. I guarantee you, they don’t have time to do that. So make your résumé crystal clear and you’ll improve your chances of being invited for an interview.

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Tags: how to write a resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on November 8, 2010

A résumé’s main goal is to secure an interview by sharing enough information for an employer to want to know more. But what if the résumé works, yet you’re still not landing a position? The answer may be in the interview, and by applying these simple tips, you may find greatly improved results.

Balance the Power
In an interview, the employer typically leads the conversation; however, your strong personality could be vying for attention. From time to time, of course, that’s perfectly fine, but remember to share the spotlight. Your goals is to be assertive yet yielding.

Avoid Distractions
Your focus during the interview should be on the business at hand. Checking your watch or allowing a cell phone to ring may signal to the interviewer that you lack focus and concentration. And why would they want an employee who doesn’t prioritize their company?

Just the Facts
Some people really like to talk, and they can talk about all kinds of things. If you’re one of those people, remember to censor your comments. Certainly, you want to share some topical things about yourself so you are more than two-dimensional, but be sure to not start talking about superfluous information—that may actually knock you out of the running.

Listen
How do you know how to respond if you aren’t listening to the questions being asked? It’s nearly human nature that we are busy considering what we’re going to say while someone else is talking, which can keep us from actively listening to the other person in the conversation. In an interview, it’s fine to take some time after a question is being asked to consider the response, so listening is always a better choice.

While a résumé is a vital part of a job search, the interview is the gateway into a new company. Take some time to prepare ahead of time and stay in the game during the actual event and you’ll see your success rate increase.

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