It doesn't matter what kind of paper your resume is printed on. It does matter how your resume looks to potential employers. Here's a little checklist to make sure you're presenting yourself in the best light:
- Is your experience in reverse chronological order? It's too hard to quickly read a resume in any other way.
- If your resume is electronic, is it in PDF format? Don't use a word processing document for your resume. Too many companies don't let in attachments of a certain size. And, if you're not a pro at the word processing software, you may not be presenting yourself in the best light.
- Leave white space on the resume. Your resume does not have to use all the space on the page. Leave room for the hiring manager to take notes.
- Include a customized cover letter. Research the company and explain why you would be a good choice for the position. Discuss something you saw in the ad in your cover letter and show the hiring manager which parts of your experience directly address their needs.
If you have pointers that have worked for you, email me, and I'll post them in another post.