All posts by jen

When it comes to formatting your resume, LESS is MORE! Use bold, italics, and underlining sparingly. Use formatting to draw the eye to the most important information like your job title and not the dates of employment.

When given the chance, if an employer gives you the option to send an electronic copy of your resume or send it in through the mail, I recommend emailing your resume and cover letter.  Most employers will have to scan the paper copies into .pdfs anyway, so this helps them eliminate a step–plus, you can follow up easier with an email asking if they received it a few days later.

After you’ve written your cover letter, make sure you get it proofread by another set of eyes.  If you can’t find someone willing to read it for spelling errors and punctuation, at least read it out loud.  You’ll be able to identify errors easier that way.

If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job, remember this important strategy: tell everyone you know and everyone you meet that you are looking for a job and what exactly you are looking for. Increase your job searching ability exponentially with additional eyes!

Make sure you are using a clear, scanner-ready format for your resume.  Today’s HR departments don’t want flair; they want clarity in an uploaded document.  Fonts with serifs (Times New Roman, Cambria, and Goudy Old Style are good examples) are essential.

Confusing file folders strewn throughout your home?  Find a local copy center that has an industrial scanner.  They can scan and securely shred all your documents leaving your house feeling light and free, without decades of old receipts or tax information.

Having a tough time speaking in front of groups?  Organizations like Toastmasters International can give you safe, guided practice until you too can orate masterfully!

If you are just starting a small business, be sure to connect with your local chamber of commerce! They have resources and networks that can help finance your endeavor.

People often underestimate the importance of the cover letter. Use it as your chance to showcase one or two things that are unique and not on your resume!

Never write a resume using words you do not know; the thesaurus is a tool, not a crutch. Be sure you understand both the connotation and denotation of your word choices.