Sign up for 5280's weekly e-newsletters. Want the latest restaurant scoop? The latest happenings around town? Access to exclusive events and deals just for 5280 readers? Laura Smith-Proulx is a local resumé expert and job-search coach with a national reputation.
I called the 11-time global award nominee to find out about new trends in resumé writing, as well as how to stand out in a market where every job posting yields a stack of applications.
Ignore the rules you learned. Smith-Proulx encourages people to challenge rules they have heard about resumé writing; they may be outdated: “A lot of people have a level of fear and misinformation. [It's] not one-size-fits-all.”
An online search can reveal what current resumés look like in your field, she adds, warning against Microsoft Word’s resumé templates: “Everyone has that same template. It doesn’t do you justice, and it forces you into a box. Instead, think of what presents you in the best light—who are you, uniquely?”
Pay close attention to the top one-third of the first page of your resumé; it’s the portion you can count on the hiring committee to dissect.
Get personal. Smith-Proulx says she hears a lot of buzz about personal branding—meaning the new game in resumés is ditching bland corporate-speak and getting more specific: “Make a list of your top selling points.” She recommends imagining the interview question, “I have five others like you, what makes you stand out?” Your answer to that question should be on your resumé.
Also consider noting what comes easily to you: “We might have strengths that we don’t think are any big deal. Ask yourself, ‘What’s a breeze to me but people say I’m really good at?’”
Finally, she recommends sharing your resumé with a few trusted colleagues, asking if they get a sense of who you are as a co-worker.
Get your resumé into the right hands. Smith-Proulx advocates sending your resumé to a specific member of the company’s staff, as well as to the generic e-mail address listed in job postings: “You want to send your resumé in a way that it gets in front of someone.” She recommends using LinkedIn to find a specific employee and to send them a note with your resumé, asking them to pass it on to the right person.
She says you can make your follow-up e-mail or letter stand out by reiterating why you would benefit the company.
“A lot of people hire someone they’re not happy with,” she says. “So you want to stay on their radar.”
Posted 9/8/2009 at 12:30 pm by Jennie Dorris
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How to write a resume? I always think that you have to individualize it to fit to your employer’s company. You could also use other social media to keep in touch with the network.