Friday, December 6, 2013

Resume: Don't be Boring

It seems like a no-brainer: don't write a boring resume or cover letter. But it's a lot harder to do than to talk about.

On the one hand, you want to present yourself as unique. You stand out from the competition as the best fit for the job. You are the most accomplished, best skilled, and serendipitously attuned in temperament to the demands of this particular position.

On the other hand, you don't want to seem like a freak. You wouldn't go to an interview dressed like a circus clown (unless you're applying to Ringling Brothers); nor would you put together a resume that screams "oddball!"

How to achieve a balance? Here's a handful of websites that can give you ideas about how to pitch yourself. Of course, don't forget to apply your own good judgment about what "goes" and what is "kooky-looking" in your industry. For instance--the last website I've included from Pinterest has some eye-popping graphic resume examples. But if I'm hiring someone to teach in the English Department, I would be skeptical that the pretty pictures cover up some fundamental lack in the candidate.

Two websites that show you how to get rid of boring text content:
A website with oodles of sample resumes and cover letters for various kinds of jobs, from entry-level to CEO; mostly text-based, some examples better than others:
A website with eye-popping graphic resumes:

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