Tip for the day: A résumé without an objective is like a book without a title.
Dear Connie: I have been job searching for a while, but I have had very few interviews. I want my résumé to grab the attention of the recruiters so I have been thinking about ways to do that. I thought it might be a good idea to put my resume on some fun paper (like hot pink!) and draw some pictures in the margins. What do you think?
Dear Pink Lady: Have you ever heard the phrase “less is more?” This is a good rule of thumb to use when creating a résumé. You do want your résumé to get noticed, but you want it to be noticed for the right reasons. Recruiters will notice a hot pink résumé with flowers in the margin, but most recruiters do not want to interview the person who sent it. Most recruiters will consider this type of résumé to be unprofessional.
It would appear that your résumé needs to be fired. The job of the résumé is to get you an interview. You need to find out why your résumé is not working. Evaluate your résumé to see if the skills and qualifications listed are truly a match for the jobs for which you are applying. Evaluate the format of your résumé to see if you are using the best type of résumé for your skill set and work history. Have someone proofread your résumé to ensure that there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Also make sure you are highlighting your strengths.
The best way to attract attention from a recruiter is to have a résumé that is clear and concise and that shows them on paper why you are the best person for the job. Recruiters often receive a large volume of résumés so they do not have the time to review in depth each one. Design your résumé so that your strengths and qualifications jump off the page when someone is viewing it. This will do far more to attract attention than anything else.
For additional help, you can visit the Career Center and attend the “Helpful Hints for Résumé Writing” workshop. Have others read your resume and tell you what the resume says to them about your qualifications. A NCAC coach can critique your resume and give you feedback on ways to improve your chances of getting an interview as a result of having an outstanding resume.
Getting noticed is your goal but you want to be noticed for all of the right reasons.
Connie Humphreys is the Career Development Manager with Nashville Career Advancement Center serving Davidson County. E-mail your question ccc@NCACWorkforce.org