By: Eunice Chon
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
Pink and Scented
Those who have watched the movie Legally Blonde may remember the scene in which Elle Woods gives her professor a pink and scented resume to give it “a little something extra.” While her unique choice of design did not cost her the internship, using bold colors or fancy designs are generally unfavorable in the professional circle. For instance, not all companies and organizations use a color printer to print resumes for every single applicant. After all, the resume is only the preliminary step used to determine whether or not you get to interview. Whether companies print a colorful resume in black and white or use a color printer, there is a large possibility that the words will be difficult to read. Unfortunately in those instances, resumes go straight to the trash bin. There may be an exception for applicants in graphic design or another visual art industry, but it is best to let the words speak for themselves and to ensure that there is no difficulty in deciphering those words.
Cheese!
While everyone knows that placing a non-professional, Instagram-worthy selfie is not optimal on a resume, many people are not aware of the fact that photos, even professional ones, do not belong on a resume. The main reason why photos do not belong on a resume is that photos can lead employers to judge you based on your outward appearance. People are subject to hold implicit biases, and you do not want their biases to keep you from landing an interview. You want to be judged solely by your credentials.
One Size Fits All
Obviously, you will apply to more than one job. However, using the same resume for every single position is not ideal, especially if you’re applying to companies in different industries. Therefore, it is imperative for you to tailor your resume to match the job description of every single job. For instance, your experience as a pianist is not relevant when you apply for a lifeguard position. Catering your resume to each job significantly increases your chance of getting an opportunity to interview for the position.
Novels
Many people include every single job experience and detail they can list in order to sound more impressive. In their attempt to do so, their resume fills multiple pages. When they submit the resume they worked so hard on, employers skim through the very first page and then move on to their next applicant. Because employers often go through over 20 resumes for one position, staying concise is crucial. Resumes should be within one page, and applicants should only list relevant experiences.
Duties, Duties, Duties
Applicants who list only their duties in each job they have held are most likely robbing themselves from a potential interview. While we may think that experience only refers to what we did in each position, in actuality, experience means so much more. Write about what challenges you faced during the job. How did you overcome those challenges? What impact have you made on the organization? Did you help it grow? If yes, in which way(s)? Write about any recognitions you earned and how you performed your job more effectively than your colleagues. Testifying to experiences beyond your basic job duties will provide you a significant advantage in the job-seeking process. Answering the questions above will set you apart from the other applicants because employers are looking for the right person who will fit into the company and influence them positively. Since the words on your resume should be the only part of your resume that stands out, it is time to make those words count.