Appearances Count

Keep those resumes coming my way, because I learn as much about improving my craft from critiquing your resumes as you learn from me about how to improve your resume’s presentation and apply /interview ratio. For a FREE resume critique submit your resume to perry@perrynewman.com.

Also before I delve into today’s topic I’d like to offer congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on winning the Super Bowl; and my condolences to the Colts who lost a great game. Now for all of you job seekers (football fans or not) there is a lesson to be learned here. The goal of a football team is not to get to the Super Bowl it is to win it. Conversely the goal of your resume is not to just generate job interviews; it is to get and accept a great job offer.

Talking about resumes, which is something I love to do, when I read ‘Dress to get the job!,’ Harry Urschel’s Career Rocketeer blog piece last Wednesday, it struck me how much the information and advice he offered is interchangeable with how to write a winning resume.

So pardon me Harry if I take what you wrote and put a different spin on it. After all imitation is the best form of flattery.

To begin his blog Harry wrote, “From time to time I get asked about what’s appropriate to wear to a job interview, networking meeting, or other event. The answer varies based on the circumstances and type of position. The key to keep in mind at any time, however, is that first impressions do matter and dressing appropriately and professionally is a prime component of that first impression.”

Well I too am asked a very similar question all the time concerning how to make a favorable first impression with a resume, and what information, style and format is appropriate too accomplish this. Just like Harry, I answer this query with “One size does not fit all. A resume must be made appropriate depending on the position and company you’re applying to.” Moreover, just like job seekers need different outfits to present distinct images on interviews, many of you will need more than one resume to appeal to different companies and decision makers who will judge the resume you submit.

Harry then continues with the following advice to his readers, to which I’ll substitute some words to make clear my point on how interchangeable our advice about dress codes and resume writing are.

HARRY: The way you dress (the way your resume looks) can tell someone a lot about you:
Do you pay attention to detail (Did you research your audience and what they want to know about you before you began to write)
Do you think this meeting (resume) is important
Do you care about the impression you (your resume) make/s
Do you care about being current (is your resume format dated or inappropriate)

Harry then goes on to say, “Some rules apply across the board. Regardless of the role you’re pursuing, certain rules apply to every situation:”
Clothes should be clean and unwrinkled (your resume should contain only useful information)
Pants (your resume) should be neither too long nor too short
Shoes (the wording and visual appeal of your resume) should be clean (crisp) and polished
T-shirts and jeans (writing too casually on your resume) are almost never appropriate
Neatness counts! (did you proofread your resume to make sure it contains no errors)

Harry closed his piece by saying, “Appearance does matter, and dressing appropriately and professionally regardless of the position you are pursuing can have a tremendous impact on your success. Don’t make the mistake of not taking your appearance seriously enough!’

When it comes to your resume I offer the exact same advice. “The visual and professionalism and appearance of a resume is tantamount to its success… and it is imperative that you take this advice seriously.” After all as I said about the Saints and Colts, the goal is not to get to the Super Bowl or just get interview after interview. Your only goal is to have the winner’s ring on your finger – YOU WANT TO START A GREAT NEW JOB ASAP!!!