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A SERVICE OF YOUR JOB DEVELOPER:
Résumé Trends for the 21st Century
E
very job seeker needs to get their
résumé noticed. “In order to stand
out and get those calls, you really
have to pay attention to what is in your
résumé and who it is going to,” suggests
John Thieman, career development
specialist at Stratford University.
Consider these tips on what
should be included – and avoided –
in today’s résumé:
• Video résumés – Many people are
opting to supplement their traditional
paper résumé with a video version,
giving potential employers the op-
portunity to go online and view a 2-3
minute snapshot of someone introduc-
ing themselves and explaining what
they would bring to the job. While it’s
not mandatory, it certainly can’t hurt
to offer this option.
• Internet information – If it per-
tains to the job, be sure to tout your
knowledge of the Internet. Also,
if you use a social media outlet or
have a blog, avoid anything that a
May 2011 | VOLUME 4ISSUE 5
“Each of us has a fire in our
heart for something. It’s our
goal to find it and keep it lit.”
— Mary Lou Retton
Résumé Tips
potential employer would be turned media, but cute abbreviations don’t
off by seeing. cut it in the working world – espe-
cially when you’re trying to create a
• Objectives – Many job seekers positive impression about yourself.
are opting for a professional summary,
rather than an objective, as the econ- continued on Page 2
omy is forcing people to seek employ-
ment outside of their chosen fields.
Résumés should also be tailored to the
specific employer.
• Email etiquette – When it
comes to things to avoid, start by
not using an email address that
sounds less than professional.
Choose an address that reflects
your name, such as john.smith@
hotmail.com – rather than cute
nicknames or things you like, such
as sweetcheeks@gmail.com or
ketchuplover@yahoo.com. Also,
if you are submitting an email to a
potential employer, pay close atten-
tion to grammar by using complete
sentences, proper spelling, punctua-
tion, etc. IWILSEEULATA ! might
be fine for Facebook or other social
 More Job-Hunting Tips
Use the Right Technology!
Quick Tips
Ideas for
T Recent Grads
echnology is a job hunter’s best words, the tone of the person’s voice, or
friend – but only if it’s used not hear the job seeker’s emphasis on
correctly. The following are a critical question. It IS permissable to
use a cell phone to set up or change an Whether they are college or high school
some suggestions from Richard graduates, young people often have under-
appointment, or to call ahead if running
Bayer, chief operating officer of The developed job-search skills – and are often
late. Cell phones MAY also be per-
Five O’Clock Club, a premier career missable if the applicant doesn’t have a
mystified about how to demonstrate their
coaching network: value when they have limited work experi-
landline. Even then, make sure you are
ence. To combat this obstacle, Wendy En-
in a location with consistently great cell elow and Louise Kursmark, authors of Cover
• To sell yourself to potential employ- phone reception. Letter Magic (JIST Publishing, www.jist.
ers, don’t “cell” yourself. Job seekers
com) and Juj.com offer the following tips:
should never use a cell phone for phone
• Don’t call interviewers on their
interviews or most other communication.
cells either. In contrast to landlines, most • Highlight “professional” skills that
The interviewer could easily miss key you have developed through various
people still view mobile phones as being
private. Texting a hiring manager is also experiences. For example, if you worked
considered rude and should be off-limits. on important team projects while in
Use a landline! school, it should be communicated to the
prospective employer that you know how
to get results in a team environment.
• Network through social media. Sites
like LinkedIn provide job seekers with a • Scour your academic experiences
21st-century way to build a professional for evidence of leadership skills. These
network. Job seekers need to be “out are important in a work environment and
there,” so joining sites like this is a good are evidence of your potential.
idea to “get the word out” about them-
selves. Be tactful and professional! v • Highlight your academic achieve-
ments. They indicate your intelligence
and competitiveness.
 continued from Page 1
• Create several versions of your ré-
sumé. Each one should be tailored to an
• Length – There is no set length to a successful résumé. One page used to be industry or function you’re interested in,
the limit, but that is no longer the case. If you can fit it nicely on one page, great – so you will have a well-targeted version
but going longer than that is now acceptable, too. on hand when you find a position you
want to apply for. One size definitely
• Organization – A good résumé is nicely organized, with contact information does NOT fit all, especially in a highly
at the top, a left margin that includes different aspects of your skills and experi- competitive job market.
ences, work history, and education.
• Apply to jobs selectively. The best ap-
• Cover letter – Every good résumé needs a great cover letter. Many job seekers plications are those that are tailored to the
overlook this aspect, and that’s a big mistake since potential employers will usu- specific job and focus on the needs and re-
ally read a cover letter first, before deciding whether to read the résumé. Make sure quirements listed in the job description. Not
the letter sounds professional and is customized for the position for which you are qualified? Then don’t apply! It’s a waste of
your time and the recruiter’s. Spend your
applying. Have someone – such as a job developer or other employment specialist –
time on the opportunities that really fit, and
proofread your cover letter and résumé before sending it out. If you’re applying for
you’ll get better results.
the ___ “postion” and don’t catch this typo, you can be sure you won’t get the job!
• Know “something” about the em-
• Avoid – There are many things that should be avoided in a résumé. They ployer. You needn’t know what year the
include: lengthy, single-spaced paragraphs, redundancy, pictures, etc. company was founded, or the name of
the CEO, but you should be aware of the
Summary products or services it offers, and anything
“Basically, the résumé should contain information that is arranged to show the else pertinent you can find on a company
person’s talents and skills, both as a unique contributor to help the employer reach his website. In today’s computer age, there is no
goals, and as a person with whom the employer would like to work,” Thieman says. v longer a reason for an applicant to not know
“something” about where he/she is applying.
Source: Stratford University (www.stratford.edu).