Résumé Help: Don’t Be Afraid to Shine
Periodically I hear from clients that they don’t want their résumé to look too fancy or stylish. I say, “Why are you afraid to shine?” I am not suggesting anything garish or over-the-top. However, don’t be afraid to shine! The point of the entire job search process is to shine. You want to present a professional image. Today’s featured candidate, Ben, has a résumé that is very plain in appearance. Also, the language undersells him. In fact, it does not sell him at all. We have essentially a copy and paste of his major job duties from his company-issued job description.
My advice for Ben is a more sophisticated look, including a new font, larger fonts for the category headings and name, consistent spacing, and perhaps a nice border on the page. He also could distinguish the category headings with some color or graphic lines. The content is lacking any accomplishments. I am sure if I spend 15 minutes on the phone with Ben, we could uncover details of results he achieved. We also need to show the scope of his responsibilities.
All of these things would benefit Ben greatly. If you are struggling with upgrading your résumé, contact me. We help candidates like Ben on a daily basis. You will see a difference in your document and in your job search results!
For more advice on résumé writing, please follow these links:
Résumé Help: Résumé Blahs to Ahhs
Résumé Help: Be Strategic About Your Content
To see additional résumé suggestions that will help you as you create your own résumé, please click on the image below.
If you would like a résumé critique, please contact Debra Wheatman at debra@careersdonewrite.com or visit us at http://careersdonewrite.com. The Résumé Help blog appears weekly on Mondays.
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