getting the job – TP Javeton WebNet

You, your resume and the job

Job hunting can be one of the most exhilarating, and yet agonizing experiences in an individual’s life; and while many of us, as young adults, look forward to opening a new chapter in our professional lives, finding a way to stand out from other job applicants who are at least equally qualified for a given position, is often a difficult task. If you’ve been in the job hunt recently, you can probably relate directly to this sentiment.

You understand that your resume is the first contact potential employers will have with you; and as such, a well formatted and well-written resume will often make a difference between getting an interview followed by getting the job, and being passed over. Most employers receive a stack of resumes from qualified candidates and scan them relatively quickly before they decide whether or not they want to read further.

Therefore you only have a few seconds to make a positive and/or lasting impression; but don’t panic! Instead, focus on the design of your resume as it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, whether the resume is on paper or in electronic form.

Avoid using outdated templates

The most commonly made mistake in resume design pertains to using ready made templates that are available in Microsoft Word. While these templates are resume tools designed for quick formatting and consisting of easy to follow instructions on how to create your resume, they are often outdated and will make your resume appear generic and uninviting. Additionally, such templates, while well formatted in Microsoft Word, will not translate well when emailed or uploaded to job search engine web sites.

The second most commonly made mistake in resume design is the inclusion of graphics on the page. Your picture and/or other graphics are not appropriate for a resume, because including anything outside of plain text will make you stand out in a way that could cause the employer think that the seriousness with which you take yourself as a professional is sorely lacking, and this is certainly not the first impression you’d want to make.

That having been said, however, you might wish to obtain a few resume samples which can easily be done with a quick search on the Internet under the particular industry in which you’re pursuing employment, or under the category that makes the most sense for the job you are seeking. After that you can work on a blank page to replicate the look and feel of the resume you like. Take a look at the following basic formatting rules for your resume:

The resume features list

Limit the length of the resume to two pages.
Page margins should be one inch; top, bottom, right and left.
Use left justification only as a rule, and resume content should not be centered.
The font and font size should be consistent.
Bullet points should be basic. Use circles or squares, but never any symbols that may not translate well when sent electronically.
Headlines can be in all caps; but the remaining text should not have special formatting.
Do not underline any of the information in your resume since it could be mistaken for a hyperlink.
Headline font size should not exceed 14 points; and font size for the remainder text should not exceed 12 points.
Use the Tab key instead of your Space bar to create spaces between the text in your resume.

Check and recheck resume for errors

As a last formatting check point, ask your friends or family members for help in reviewing (critiquing) your resume. Simply email resume file via email to a few of your friends and ask them to review it resume to make sure nothing seems out of place. Print out the resume and review it to make sure that margins are accurately set, and the content doesn’t appear crowded on the page. Keep in mind that when it comes to your resume, a sleek simple appearance, and great writing will help you obtain your sought after job.

Shun the “unfit” label

When applying for a job, it is paramount that you identify your strengths and weaknesses in addition to being prepared to address them in conversation. By knowing your attributes, chances are that getting the job you really want will surely get easier.

However, you should not be too confident since overconfidence is one of the common mistakes that plagues job applicants. Appearing too confident, or giving the impression that you are somewhat of a know-it-all, will only get you labeled by the interviewer as unfit for the job.

Identifying your skills

That having been said, let’s begin with first things first: Identify your skills. This is your ticket to get that job, and you should be able to articulate your abilities and expertise as best as you can. Many people have a hard time communicating their skills and abilities as this is sometimes seen as bragging when done socially. But you should not be shy or afraid to discuss your skills when pursuing a job; especially one that requires such skills.

In fact, it is important that you convey to your potential employer what your talents are; and in that situation be able to sell your abilities to that employer. Your ability to do so will be instrumental in getting the job that you really want. Just as important however, is that you do not appear arrogant or condescending while being careful to avoid selling yourself short.

If the interviewer asks you about your strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you should be able to readily give a suitable or acceptable answer. So before you even go to the interview part of the process, your resume should highlight your skills and talents for the prospective employer to take a look at.

Types of skills

There are two main types of skills: Hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are tangible in the sense that these are things you do like. For example, knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type fast, skills on using various types of tools, credentials regarding special crafts, etc.

Soft skills on the other hand, are skills that tend to be rather abstract in nature, like personal qualities. This may include, for example, being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organizational and decisive.

The Steps to Follow

List your previous jobs and acquired experience

First thing you’d want to do is make a list of all the companies you worked for and the things you learned from those jobs. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful enough not to forget even the smallest details of activities you participated in or organized. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities you participated in.

Include a list of your hobbies

Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very helpful to list all your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list, a list which might also provide some insight into your personality.

For example, if you were part of the school’s debating team, your employer may deduce that you have good analytical skills. If you were a champion chess player, your employer might interpret this to mean you are good at making critical decisions.

Think of your daily routine and the things you do and often take for granted. Are you an organized person who always keep your things in proper order? Are you an extrovert who can easily make friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary to normal things to you, but your future boss might think otherwise.

Your decisions

Deciding what career you want – After listing all your skills and all the things you do well, it is then time to decide what field or career you want to pursue. Select the skills outlined on your list and partner them with the employment you are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job which you are aspiring toward.

Don’t worry if you have to remove some of the skills from your list. It is also important to include on your “skills list” any abilities the prospective employer will likely value, depending of course, on the particular employer.

Stand by what you write – You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise you are capable of. For example, if you indicate that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your interview.

It is important to know your skills every time you go job hunting because you should always put your best foot forward. Good luck!

Tag: getting the job

Resume Design Grabs Employers’ Attention