Ok, you've tried everything - You've
perfected your resume using a
free online resume builder or
writing resume service.
You've
emailed your resume out and perhaps even used a resume
distribution company, etc..... And no one is calling you
back. It's ok, you're not alone. For every 100 resumes you
mail out, statistically you should get 10 interviews and one job offer.
However, these are rough averages. To stack the deck in your
favor and stand out from the others, below are the top seven tricks we've
found for getting your resume to stand out.
1.) Use a different color paper for mailing your
resumes. Chances are, you're using a cream, white, or gray paper
color. Yes? So is everyone else. Be creative, and use a
non-resume paper. Be original, and stand out. With that
said, should you use hot pink? No, remember you're applying for a
professional career - but do choose something less common than white,
cream, or gray.
2.) Use a different size paper for your resume. Why
you ask? Have you ever shuffled a stack of papers. Do you
ever have one/a few pieces of paper that your shuffling are a different
size than the others. They stand out right? Of course they
do, they stand out from the rest - it's simple, but it does make your
resume stand out.
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3.) Inside contact - If you're interested in a specific company,
get an inside contact. This means proactively trying to meet
someone from the company, or a friend of a friend situation.
People hire people they know - its comfortable.
Therefore, do whatever it takes to get an inside
contact. |
4.) Certified Letter - Have you ever sent a certified
letter? All it requires is going to the post office, and paying a
few dollars to send it certified with confirmation. This means
that the recipient of the letter must sign for it. And I'll bet
that they'll sign - they're curious, and want to know what it is.
By sending it certified to the hiring manager, you're insuring that your
letter has reached its destination - it has reached the hiring
manager. This is a huge plus, as usually the hiring manager's mail
is filtered through a number of gate keepers.
5.) Send your resume with a gift. Yes, a gift. Head
over to the local florist, pizza place, etc - get creative. Pick
out a nice bouquet or lunch, and deliver it to the office with your
resume. If you do the pizza, here's a tip - put your resume in a
zip lock bag and tape it to the inside of the box.
6.) Deliver the resume in person. What do you have
to lose? Walk into the office and ask for the hiring manager (by
name). Just say you need to discuss the current job opening with
him. Sound crazy? It works - they will see you as being
determined, proactive, and outgoing.
7.) The post-it note trick. In larger companies (and
sometimes in medium/smaller companies) a secretary or an office
assistant will open the resumes for the employees. This person is
responsible for screening for junk mail and to weed out non-qualified candidates.
Therefore, here is the trick. Take a regular Post-it note, and
write something like "This one looks good! - J", and attach it
to your resume. Who is "J"? Who cares! The
point is that the hiring manager will get a resume with a Post-it note
on it, stating that it's good. Therefore, they are more likely to
pay close attention to the resume at the direction of another
employee. By the time the person realizes its not a note from
their mail screener, you've already gotten your resume reviewed - is it
deceptive? - no, its effective and innovative advertising.
Still Stuck?
Try using the "The
Job Interview Secret"
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