Writing a resume is not as easy as you think.
If you make it too plain — a list of your education and job experience — some employers might see it as just a “data dump.” Creativity is good, says Maplewood resident and career counselor Lisa Mark, but it needs to be applied properly.
“Some people believe writing a resume is like art. It is subjective,” said Mark. “There is no right or wrong. A resume written with creative designs, no punctuation or unusual formatting can demonstrate individuality and creativity, which in turn will create some interest from a potential college recruiter or employer.”
A common complaint among job seekers is not getting interviews despite submitting dozens of resumes, said Mark. Their resume may very well be the problem.
So what is a resume and what makes it work?
“A resume is an official document that communicates who you are, what your accomplishments are, and describes your experience. It is a marketing tool and it must be engaging to read, promoting your skills, and portraying all of who you are in the most positive light,” said Mark.
Career counselor Lisa Mark
But there are also more mundane considerations.
“A well-written resume needs to be easy to read and scanned, have simple formatting with careful use of bolding, italics, and underlining. It needs to be grammatically correct and editorially consistent and it must include key words for digital search capability and visual scanning.” Mark noted that resumes with different colors, designs, or non-traditional formatting will not work with digital scanners and they distract from the content.
“Writing a resume is a great way to organize and document your experience,” explained Mark. “It’s helpful to include it with college applications as some application forms don’t allow enough room for employment and other experience. It also presents a more professional impression. In addition to job searching, it’s a useful tool for writing your biography or professional summary.”
Mark will be offering a workshop on The Art of Resume Writing on Wednesday evening, August 10. The goal is to have attendees leave the workshop with a professional, well formatted, easy to read, and searchable resume, targeted to each participant’s individual needs. See information below:
The Art of Resume Writing Workshop takes place August 10, 2016, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 96 Harvard Avenue in Maplewood, NJ. The fee for this event is $40. Payment by check or cash. Pre-registration via email or phone call is required. 973-996-0207 or lmark@yourcareerdirectionllc.com.
All attendees should bring a lap top; however, Mark will have three on hand if anyone is lacking.
LISA MARK, MA is a Career Counselor & Employment Coach.
