Daily Archives: May 23, 2014

Is Your Resume Holding You Back?

3 ways to get to the top of the stack.

Resume_HoldBack_May2014_webNow that you’ve graduated it’s time to put that knowledge to use and get a job. But, with a degree and little to no real world work experience, you’re just a blip on a radar that is full of blips. So, how do you distinguish yourself from the rest of the graduates flooding the job market? Aside from picking out appropriate interview attire, having a strong resume is a must. Use these three quick tips to get your resume bumped to the top of the stack.

Googling isn’t just for cute cat videos.
Google and other search engines are great resources that can give you a massive advantage over the playing field. A little research will give you valuable insight into what you are applying for. Find out what you can about the company and the work they do. Look also for descriptions of the job you’re applying for. With a little knowledge on what you’re jumping into, you can tailor your resume to reflect the qualities you have that make you the best fit for the job.

Appealing or appalling?
According to Careerbuilder, 38% of hiring managers spend less than two minutes looking at a resume. That time may be even less if your resume is unpleasant to look at. A good place to start is to research best practices and find examples to emulate.  With a clean and well formatted resume, you’re professionalism and talents will shine through your lack of experience or skills.

Be discovered by your cover letter.
The dispute on whether or not cover letters are important anymore has been long fought. Regardless of its usefulness, having one isn’t detrimental to your efforts. Writing a good cover letter is a great way to get ahead of the competition. But, be sure you don’t write a letter that is generic and blast it all over the place as it’ll be a dead giveaway to a seasoned hiring manager. Be precise and write a cover letter with each specific company and position in mind.

There are no absolute fool-proof ways to guarantee an interview, but a little effort can go a long way when trying to convince an employer to take a chance and consider you. Always put your best foot forward and remember to brush up on your interview skills before rushing to meet with the face of your potential employer. If you have some tips to keep your resume from holding you back, let us know in the comments section below.

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