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We all worry about first impressions, especially when it means getting or losing that job position we’ve always wanted. It’s harder to make a clear and positive impression online because all you can do is write some words for motivational letter and attach your resume.
Sure there are creative solutions that could drag the attention of the people who you want to reach. You could create an original and creative resume – but only if you’re going to work in a creative field. You can also add a creative photo or video to your resume, but just if it goes along with the job position you are trying to land. Creating a resume that stands out is important especially if you’re going to apply to startup companies as they are very careful in picking people to join their growing team.
So creative or non-creative job position – here are some tips that are valid for all resumes. Here you’ll find a few that will help you create just the perfect version of it.
Search For Templates
Photo credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters
The easiest way to create a good-looking, easy to read and understand resume is to use a template. The internet is full of templates, some of them are free, and for some, you have to pay. Another critical factor to notice when choosing a correct template is trends. Make sure your chosen template is from a trusted website that is continuously updating and releasing new content. Some great resume templates can be found on Novoresume.com. A resume template from 2004 won’t do for our modern world anymore.
View Some Inspirational Examples
Good quality inspiration is a perfect idea for any creative work. By browsing some great resumes that comply with the standards of your business field, you will also discover some trends. Maybe you’ll even notice something that you didn’t even think to mention, but in a right context and argumentation, it could be a real advantage for your resume.
Leave The Unnecessary Information Out
If you have a clear focus on what you want to do and where you want to work, and you have quite a lot of experience in the field – then leave the unnecessary information out. For example, if you are a professional expedition manager, leave out the information about your internship in a creative advertising agency when you were a student and tried to find yourself. There is also a great article on Entrepreneur where you’ll find additional thoughts and tips on what skills to leave out of your resume.
Be As Simple As You Can
Don’t write long letters or sentences in your resume – be bold and straightforward. If you desire to express your motivation for a specific job position – that’s great. But do it in a motivational letter that can be either added as a separate document or written as an email. Being bold and straightforward also stands for the entire format and font of your resume: don’t try to be too fancy or too original, make sure it is easy to read, follow, and understand. Choose a simple font. Also, think about what works for your job position best – then choose a functional, chronological or combination format for your resume.
Customize It Each Time
Photo credit: Ilya Pavlov
Each company and each job position is different, even if it sounds the same. Take notice what the values of the company, achievements, and primary goals are. Make sure your entire resume is related to these virtues or at least strongly mention it at certain points. By customizing your resume each time, you will show yourself as a more valuable and more devoted, oriented employer.
Put Your Best Accomplishments First
Focus on what’s most important for a specific job position: if you want to become a marketing CEO, then your 10 year experience of working in most famous advertising agencies with strategy should really pop on top of your resume, not on the bottom of it just because it was the last thing you did with your career. But, for example, if you have decided to change your career path, and you have also been intensively working as a freelance writer for last 5 years and want to become a journalist, this is the first experience you should mention on top of your resume.
Add Numbers To Your Experience
Showing specific numbers than compliment your experience shows off how precise you can be about yourself, and of course – at work. It’s also a great argument when the talk turns to your salary – numbers next to your achievement are non-negotiable arguments that will help you to settle on a better job offer.
