Sending Resumes That Get Noticed and Get You Hired
Designing Your Business Communication
There are literally a gazillion articles about resumes that get you hired on the internet. Ok, maybe not quite that many, but they’re all designed to try to get you the job you want. However, unless the resume stands out in one way or another, it will simply be lost in the pile and you’ll never get your qualifications even looked at, let alone get that job you need. So, what do you do to get noticed?
There are lots of articles out there that say to do this or that to have 
the “perfect” resume. They’ll give you pointers on how to lay it out so it’ll attract the eye of the person reading it. They’ll give you hints on how to portray your previous jobs, even if it was simply flipping burgers at McDonald’s in such a way as to make it into a life altering experience. They’ll even show you ways to turn even your worst enemy into a great reference. But for all the great things these articles do, they usually miss the 3 things that will stand out and get you noticed. And getting noticed is 75% of getting hired.
1) Use very good quality, rag paper. Most people use regular bond paper, which is light-weight. It’s designed for daily correspondence and to be filed and stored, not noticed. Not only does good quality paper, especially in an off white tone, feel good, but it has a texture to it that the eye does notice. Those two qualities will get your resume noticed right off the bat.
2) Be concise. Resumes are designed to show your history; it’s not a brag sheet. One page for the resume and one page for education and references. That’s it.
3) Be personable. While that seems totally contrary to #2, in order to be noticed, you have to strike a chord with whoever is reading it. Even though there aren’t very many places in a resume to do that, it can be done
Those tips are what will get you noticed. The first will stand out simply from a quality standpoint. Not only will it give whoever’s reading it a “different” feel for your resume, but it also shows that you’re a “quality” person as well. Attention to that detail will lead them to the knowledge you attend to all details like that. The second works two ways. First, it shows them only what they need to know in terms of past history, and appeals to the fact that they’ve probably got dozens of resumes to sort through. Leaving them wanting to know more about you will give them just cause to call you in for an interview. The third will either touch them for sympathy, empathy or both. It isn’t easy to get that across in a resume, but that personal touch, even if it’s a “thank you very much” or some other sentiment on the cover letter will get you noticed as well.
After that, the other 25% is up to you on nailing that interview!