CORNER OFFICE: REAL WORLD CAREER ADVICE

By Angela Lawrence

10 Top Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed As a magazine editor who manages a team of people, one of my ongoing responsibilities is to hire new employees. As a result, I've seen every kind of resume imaginable – and I know what works and what doesn't. These are my key recommendations: 1. DO make it easy to read For me, nothing’s worse than being puzzled by someone's resume. "Huh, what was their last position? Huh, when did they work there?" For each of your past jobs, make sure the position, company and dates of employment are clearly delineated and easy to read. If you don't know what that looks like, you can find great examples of impactful and well-structured resumes on the web. 2. DO customize I’m always impressed when someone makes an extra effort to customize their resume for a particular position. It shows me that they’re really interested in the opportunity. An easy way to customize your resume (and add ease for whomever is reading it) is to structure it with a Related Experience section and/or to customize your Objective. A cover letter is also a good vehicle to set yourself apart. 3. DON'T overdo it Like most managers I’m generally crazy-busy and would rather not even be reading resumes. A long, verbose resume is often more trouble than it's worth. Keep your resume to no more than two pages (if you’re a recent grad with limited work experience your resume shouldn’t be more than a page. Just think, “less is more”. Use your resume to get noticed and land an interview, not to tell us your life story. 4. DON'T list your education at the top Don’t get me wrong. Education is very important, but unless you're a recent grad looking for an entry-level position, there's no need to open with your resume. And, if you have a university degree, or college diploma, don't bother including your high school info...nobody really cares where you played varsity field hockey. 5. DO toot your horn I’ve worked hard, I’m proud of my achievements and I’m not afraid to say so; you shouldn’t be either. Don’t be shy. List your job responsibilities in measurable terms. For instance, if you were a manager, instead of saying that you “managed a large budget,” say that you “effectively managed a $100,000 budget, and in the past year came in under-budget three times, saving the company $25,000.” See the difference? 6. DON’T include clippings…unless asked to I’ve been excited by clippings that I later learned were more indicative of a good editor than a good writer and vice versa. That’s why anyone I’m considering for an editing, or writing position must do a test. If you’re proud of your writing, it doesn’t hurt to bring samples to your interview, but, if it’s not requested, don’t send them with your resume. 7. DO be impeccable In the world of journalism (or in any industry, for that matter), the last thing you want is typos, or factual errors (or, even worse, your contact’s name spelled incorrectly) on your resume. Believe me, it will end up in the wastebasket faster than you can say "Oops!" 8. DON'T include references I’m not exactly sure why, but I’m always a little leery when someone includes a list of references with their resume. I wonder, “What’s the rush?” I request references only when I’m seriously considering someone. So, what I’m saying is, it’s not standard to include references with your resume. Just make sure that you have the consent of all your references well ahead of time so that you can supply this information upon request. Also, just so you know, the best references are people whom you’ve worked with recently, or former supervisors and colleagues. Your mom, best friend or neighbour are good references - for getting an apartment, not a job. 9. DO add style... I always say, “Don't expect to find an extraordinary job with an ordinary looking resume.” Call me shallow, but I’m impressed by good looks. A professional, clean font, such as Arial, or Verdana (save the fancy scripts for your love letters), and quality paper goes a long way. Remember, your resume is your calling card; your opportunity to make a first impression – and, in the working world, presentation is everything. If you’re a total creative klutz, consider getting your resume professionally designed. Also, binding the edges, or using a plastic sheet are nice touches and easy to do. Finally, if you plan to apply for a job online, make sure your resume won't lose it's formatting when printed, which can be disastrous. 10. DO use a cover letter I can’t stand reading long cover letters. Think of your cover letter as an introduction to who you are and why you're a perfect fit for the employer. Make sure to set yourself apart. For instance, include something that says you know more about the company and the position than what's stated in the job posting. Or, if the position is creative, show some creativity. Just don't oversell yourself (more tempting in a long cover letter), which can have a whiff of desperation. Bonus advice… Never under-sell the things you do on your own time. List your volunteer work, outside interests and awards on your resume, especially if you have limited career experience. Over the years, my volunteer work helped me build my communication and leadership skills. Three years ago, when I was hired to be the editor of Style Ideas, a decorating magazine for The Home Depot, I was told that it was my professional experience combined with my volunteer work that set me apart. Good Luck! Founding CABJ president Angela Lawrence currently works at Redwood Custom Communications where she is editor of What’s Cooking, a custom magazine for Kraft Foods.