You've tweaked and crafted your résumé, spell-checked it at least twice. But have you included a "QR code"?
Those are the bar codes that are
popping up in newspapers, on consumer products and elsewhere, that can
be scanned by smartphones. Some people are adding these to their résumés
to direct employers to online portfolios, contact information and other
application materials.
"People are definitely getting
creative," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at
jobs site CareerBuilder.com. "Individuals can create a code and link it
to other information about their background."
Other creative strategies to make a
résumé stand out include using infographics and videos, which highlight
job seekers' accomplishments and communication and technical skills.
Several
months ago, an applicant's video résumé for a human-resources role at
CareerBuilder caught Ms. Haefner's eye. While the applicant didn't win
the position, Ms. Haefner says she was impressed.
"It's great that somebody was trying to do something different," Ms. Haefner says.
However, applicants need to know their
audience and should think carefully before submitting a résumé that
some employers may view as hokey. Furthermore, many employers spend less
than a minute reviewing a résumé—they won't have time for or interest
in videos and charts.
Indeed, unusual content and formatting can backfire.
"If you put your résumé on a
watermelon, that won't get [positive] attention. The substance of a
résumé is what matters. People who do serious work don't have to puff it
up," says Charles Wardell, chief executive of Witt/Kieffer, an
executive search firm based in Oak Brook, Ill.
Job seekers also should avoid focusing
too much on a résumé and too little on networking. In many cases,
networking will get an applicant an interview, and a résumé is needed
only to remind an employer about a job-seeker's background.
Here are two other strategies to make a résumé stand out in a competitive job market.
Go Retro: Some experts recommend job
seekers take a page from the past: Send in a basic application that
includes a well-crafted cover letter with a résumé that highlights
career progression.
A cover letter can be a separate document, or included in the body of an email.
Glenn Shagena, director of
manufacturing human resources at Chrysler Group, says it's common to
receive 10 to 50 résumés for an open spot. He appreciates conciseness
and precision.
"It's surprising how many résumés
you'll see with misspelled words, poor grammar," Mr. Shagena says.
"There really is a war for talent, and a résumé that looks good and
looks crisp and well-written will absolutely get somebody in the door."
Larry Maier, president of Peerless
Precision, a small Westfield, Mass., manufacturer of parts for the
aerospace, defense, and medical-devices industries, says he wants
résumés from technical applicants that highlight training and relevant
work experience—and that's it.
When it comes to reviewing résumés, 30 seconds is enough for Mr. Maier.
"I really don't care what their
hobbies are and their personal life. What I want to see is if they went
to a legitimate school and they have some training and experience," Mr.
Maier says.
Focus on recent accomplishments: To
stand out, a résumé should concentrate on an applicant's most important
work experience—accomplishments within the past five to 10 years—rather
than treating all listed positions equally, says John Challenger, chief
executive of outplacement consulting firm
Challenger, Gray &
Christmas in Chicago.
"Companies are interested in what you
did today, and what you've accomplished over the last five years is
going to be key in how they look at your candidacy," says Mr.
Challenger.
Joanne Pokaski, director of workforce
development at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, says job
seekers who face competition from a large pool of applicants with
similar or identical technical backgrounds should highlight specific
accomplishments, such as improving an employer's operations.
"You want to figure out how to stand
apart from your peers with the same basic skills," Ms. Pokaski says.
"Are you someone who has won awards for excellent patient care? Did you
create a new process for scheduling patients, reducing waste? A résumé
that says 'You can count on me to get things done' makes an applicant
stand out."
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