Have you ever put your resume on a literal stack of other resumes?
I have. I worked in retail while in high school, and when I submitted my resume, there were already 40 others on the table.
Of course, I put mine on the bottom of the pile. This clever trick made sure I would be the first one read, and I got the job that week.
When it comes to getting a more serious job, tricks like that don’t apply. There will be many more resumes in consideration, and no matter how slick your resume is, it is still just a resume–one of many.
A Used CD
Seth Godin’s post about buying used CDs could be cut and pasted with few changes to become sage perspective about resumes. The dozens of CDs in the bargain box, they all look the same. The album art, the song titles, the lyrics book–it’s all going to blend in. The same happens with your resume.
I’m sorry, but this is your resume.
Take Control
While people get hired from resume drops all of the time, there is a remarkable amount of arbitrary decision-making that goes into the process of narrowing the field. It’s inherent in the process of all but the most thorough searches. You have to stand out to be noticed, and unless you want to rely on chance and whimsy, the resume won’t do it. Fancy font and premium paper aren’t the power-moves some hope they are.
Go Platinum With Your Job Search
If you want to get markedly more effective results in your job search, (results that you actually have some control over), you’ll stand a better chance if you think outside the bargain box. Other than a resume, what can you do? Think networking, think personal branding, and think about what it’s like to be the hiring manager with 200 resumes.
Tell me, how do you make an effort to stand out?
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16 responses so far ↓
1 Tiffany // Jul 22, 2007 at 12:57 am
Great post! This is excellent advice. So many job seekers I know trust their resume and cover letter to do magic tricks for them, but in reality, most people still get their first job from FOPs and POFs - as a college career adviser once told me (that’s Friends of Parents and Parents of Friends). But that leap into networking and personal branding can be outright daunting to many people. Which may be one reason it works so well for the people who do it anyway, now that I think about it. Hm…
2 Jason // Jul 22, 2007 at 10:31 am
This post reminded me of a recent conversation I had with some colleagues. In a resumé drop situation, without any networking, how far would you go to brand yourself with your resumé alone?
A coworker brought in her boyfriend’s resumé some time ago, and our resident HR guy and I looked it over. Every heading was in a dark green box with black lettering. When we urged him to change it, he instead made a teal side bar going all the way down the side of the resumé, broken only by (you guessed it) the headings. And it was a good two inches wide. We couldn’t convince him to change it. He claims it makes it stand out better.
I can see his point, but when does trying to stand out cross the line into looking unprofessional?
3 Andy // Jul 22, 2007 at 10:35 am
Of course, just standing out from other applicants is not per se a good thing:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/21/america/NA-ODD-US-Suspicious-College-Application.php
4 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 22, 2007 at 11:06 am
Good comments, thanks. Andy and Jason raise a great question: How should your resume try to stand out, if at all?
Tiffany pointed out one suggestion for escaping the bargain bin, using your natural network: “Friends of parents and parents of friends” in the case of Generation Y. For older generations, your network is probably more broadly defined
Other than your network, having a sharp, relevant blog is a popular and seemingly effective way to get some attention. Just be careful not to do anything that will negatively impact your job search. Writing about hating people’s jobs, for example. ; )
(For the record and while I’m on the subject, I don’t hate companies or jobs or work, I only hate that some people are miserable with their jobs, and unfortunately, that happens to apply to millions and millions of people.)
What are some other constructive ways to stand out? How have you done it?
5 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 22, 2007 at 11:29 am
Reader Andy linked to an article about college applications.
How does this concept of escaping the bargain bin apply to other paper-piles?
RFPs, manuscripts, applications, etc…
6 Rebecca Thorman // Jul 22, 2007 at 3:29 pm
It’s true to get the job that you really want you will have to know someone who knows someone. Keep this in the back of your head when your job is going just fine and you are asking the sixteenth person at a networking event, “So, what do you do?” It will pay off in the future.
7 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 22, 2007 at 4:00 pm
@Rebecca– Good point about being prepared and thinking ahead!
8 Dan Schawbel // Jul 22, 2007 at 8:39 pm
It makes sense that networking is the quintessential piece of your job search because it allows you to cross a bridge that others aren’t able to cross. Also, you have a better chance of getting a job if you’ve built a relationship up already.
Dan Schawbel
Personal Branding Magazine - Publisher
www.personalbrandingmag.com
9 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 22, 2007 at 11:11 pm
@Dan– Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I’m looking forward to the release of your magazine, by the way–definitely one to watch.
10 Michael Werner // Jul 23, 2007 at 2:02 am
How so very right you are! In one of my companies, we routinely receive 200+ resumes per month for a single sales position opening! Over 95% of them are indistinguisable from the others.
We SPECIFICALLY look for more than the resume, and a letter that links the candidate’s background and PASSION to our company and opening will more often than not get a look-see from us.
No something “extra” like that, and your resume gets sandwiched smack dab in the middle of the pile.
Michael Werner
11 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 23, 2007 at 7:23 am
@Michael– There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Verification from the man who makes the decision. Glad you stopped by!
12 Melissa // Jul 23, 2007 at 8:57 am
I think one of the best things you can do is to apply for a job you really are passionate about, that you really really want, and to make that known. When I applied for a position like that, I highlighted my strong interest in the cover-letter attached to my resume; I also emailed that cover-letter directly to the hiring manager.
It seemed to work because they hired me!
13 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 24, 2007 at 9:25 am
@Melissa– If you truly have a compelling story and you know you are qualified, I would imagine that makes for a very promising candidate.
An authentic, deep passion for your subject would certainly qualify as a good differentiator in many cases. Teaching, for example.
14 Eric B // Aug 10, 2007 at 1:08 pm
For me, networking is the best opportunity and best usage of time to meet or get my resume in front of the people that matter.
I tried this through my undergrad alumni association when I was finishing up my grad school, at it worked real well!
It was amazing to discover how willing people were to helping me with my job search! I had one person coaching me on proper job interview techniques while another person spent considerable time with me identifying career paths. Several others accepted my resume and sent them to their H.R. department for review!
Ironically, I got my current job by applying through my organization’s website.
However, I still talked to a few of my newly discovered contacts about their company as well as what type of opportunities may be available a few years down the road.
I could talk a lot more about this incredible experience, but I think you may have heard enough!
15 Randy Robbins // Nov 10, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Chuck,
The resume is nice and all, but what I need is advice on how to help my son make it in the world of musical entertainment. He and my other son are currently traveling the country performing with a group called re-creation. They perform broadway type shows for VA hospitals. He has had several people approach him, but it is hard to distinquish real offers from bogus offers. I would like to have someone hear him one time, and there is no doubt someone will want to sign him. Unfortunately, I live in small town USA, and don’t have the first idea on how to get him out there.
16 Larry // Apr 5, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I got so fed up with not getting any face time resulting from my resume that I sort of took some drastic measures. I put my credentials on my shirt and walked around town. (I also called the news and told them what I was doing). I know it sounds like spam but go check out my story at damnIneedAjob.com (or not).
Larry
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