How to Get Your Resume on the Top Stack

Getting a job in today’s society is not only tough but is extremely competitive. Employers are tasked with reviewing page upon page of potential employee resumes which are almost all in the same format and include the same general information. Here are five tricks to use when creating a resume that are guaranteed to help your effort stand out among the rest.

1) Insert a Professional Picture of Yourself

Remember, NO SELFIES! If you are a woman, wear a collared shirt or dress and an eye-catching necklace or pair of earrings, but make sure and just choose one or the other because you don’t want to look like you are trying too hard. Choose a darker shade of lipstick as heavier makeup tends to produce better photos. For men, make sure and shave prior to the photo and choose a shirt, tie and blazer within the same color family. The goal is to capture yourself in a professional-looking photo taken in an environment with good lighting and a simple background. Upon taking the photo, I would consider using a photo editor such as Camera+ to edit, save and upload your picture to your resume using simple filters and basic adjustment techniques.

2) Decide Between a Technical or Creative Resume

If you have a stable, consistent employment history working for up to a maximum of three companies in similar fields over a span of several years, you will want to choose a technical resume. This option is the most common, and includes a detailed a timeline of your employment history listing your most recent job first. If you are new to a field or have had many different jobs over a short period of time, using a creative resume format would be a better option. It does not focus on timelines rather covers more general knowledge and experience under categories such as leadership, communications, teamwork and management. Depending on what kind of job you are applying for, a creative resume is always a more interesting option to read for the hiring manager as most resumes are technical no matter what amount of experience the candidate may have. Using a creative resume provides you with the opportunity to discuss the highlights and most significant moments of your overall career history and applicable life experiences.

3) Create a New Email Address for Your Job Search

Choose a professional-sounding username that includes your first and last name along with any other required characters. Make sure and add a detailed signature under the “Settings” tabs which includes your full name, phone number, home address, primary domain and preferred e-mail. These days, Gmail is the way to go when choosing a new e-mail address as the Google+ Profile and Chrome Browser easily manages and syncs all of your personal devices, information, bookmarks and online activity. If your current e-mail address is littered with Spam and E-mail Marketing notifications, I would recommend creating an e-mail specifically for potential jobs and contacting employers to assure that you receive all the updates and direct messages without having to sift through a bunch of irelevent promotional e-mails. Be sure and include this new address on your resume and when transferring your info to online job search engines such as Indeed, Monster and LinkedIn.

4) Don’t be afraid to get creative!

If you search downloadable resume templates online, you’ll find a plethora of creative options to choose from; however, many of these websites require a fee for downloads and other hidden service charges. Most people generally choose the basic technical template in Word as it is easy to follow and has a matching cover letter with similar fonts and headings. While it is perfectly fine to transfer your basic information in each field corresponding to this basic format, don’t be afraid to add some pizazz! You can include a page border or a unique format of the photo you uploaded while using creative ways to format your personal details (Name, address, phone, e-mail, handles, etc.) Basic, personal information should always be listed next to the photo on a resume so that the employer can have an idea of who they are reading about and considering for employment. If you want to use a creative format for your resume, choose a unique Microsoft Word Style and Theme listed under the “Home” tab. This option provides color palettes, schemes, font titles and headings that will instantly make your resume grab the employer’s attention and will give you a better chance of getting noticed.

5) Tell them what you want!

When writing the objective for your resume, don’t be afraid to list some of the things you want to get out of the position you are applying for. It is perfectly fine to include the field or position for which you want to apply, the number of hours you wish to have and the environment under which you would most prefer to work. Here is a good sample objective that lists several applicant requirements:

“Seeking steady, full-time employment with a reputable company in the advertising field offering employment benefits and a creative and fulfilling environment with an opportunity for professional growth and career advancement.”

By listing the conditions and requirements under which you want to work will show the employer that you are a straightforward, decisive and promising candidate who is not afraid to set standards when entering in the workplace.

These five tips will land your resume at the top of the stack without needing to be overly-qualified in a single field or by having tons of employment experience.

A resume provides the opportunity to show those in authority the reasons why you deserve a better chance in life and an improvement of your current situation. Remember to use each word wisely and implement sentences and phrases that are concise and memorable for the reader. Getting a good job is not necessarily about qualifications and levels of experience, but is about congruent, creative and concise presentation.

Using these tricks when creating a resume will allow a potential employer to see beyond the monotony of resume duplicity by your creative display of individual talent and personal accomplishment.