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Get That Resume Right!

Submitted by Guest Blogger on February 23, 2010
 

Guest Blogger Vicki Bell is a professional recruiter for FedEx Office. She has worked in Human Resources for over 20 years, including 10 years as a recruiter at FedEx.


As a professional recruiter, I’ve had quite a few resumes cross my desk over the years. When sifting through piles of applications – particularly in a tough job market like the last year – a well written and targeted resume always catches my attention. If you’re applying for jobs and need to spruce up your resume, here are a few tips to help you stand out from the crowd.



  • Be Relevant: Make sure to highlight job skills and experience that align with the job description for which you’re applying.

  • Use Bullets: Resumes are often reviewed very quickly, and short bulleted sentences help the person reading your resume to easily scan it.  

  • Include Bold Font: When used sparingly, bold font calls attention to your accomplishments and make them pop.

  • Don’t Forget to Proofread: Grammatical errors and typos may cause the hiring manager to question how much time and attention you’ve put into your resume.

I know creating a resume can be quite a daunting task, but it is necessary. And, fortunately, there are several resume templates out on the Web that can assist with formatting.

 

Many applications today are initially submitted online, so it’s critical that your resume be formatted to look good on a computer screen. But when I get a hard copy resume in my hands it has to be just as visually appealing. You should always print it on resume-quality paper for a professional look. If you’re looking for a job in a more creative field, reflect your style by choosing a lightly colored resume paper. And don’t forget - even if you apply for a position online, it’s always smart to bring hard copies of your resume to interviews.

 

 

Related FedEx Office Solutions: FedEx Office Print Online, Office Supplies
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Comments

Response to Get That Resume Right!

Submitted by Liam Dempsey on February 24, 2010.

Hi Vicky,

You raise some key points about spelling and making an effort to stand out.  Having been on the hiring side of the recruitment process a number of times, I totally agree that what catches the attention is that which is different and easy to read.

I thought it might also be of value to point out that when submitting resumes via email or a website, it's best to do so as a PDF, rather than as a Word document. It's been my experience that the formatting in Word files can sometimes go a bit wonky when printed on different desktop printers. So, failure to PDF before resume submission can mean that all the efforts we made at getting our formating and layout just right will be for naught.

Liam
 

Good suggestion!

Submitted by Kellie on February 25, 2010.

Hi Liam, that's a good suggestion!  Thanks for reading and contributing.

Thanks for that and good

Submitted by william on February 23, 2010.

Thanks for that and good advice. I have been struggling with my resume now for a little while, so it is good to get some advice. What do you think of online resumes, like from www.idlogik.com?

Web site

Submitted by Kellie on March 1, 2010.

Hi William, I'm not familiar with this site, but I know there are a lot of resources for resumes out there that can be very helpful.

Thanks for reading Out of Office!

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