Beyond Folders : resume

Why Be Ordinary? How Unconventional Resumés Get You Noticed

Community Manager — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:11:00 GMT

Hoping your resume gets a second look? Consider building an unconventional resume to stand out from the pack. Gone are the days when career success was easy to chart: start at the bottom and work your way up.

Now, the world's economy is increasingly global and volatile. Knowledge rapidly becomes obsolete and experience often isn't as prized as the ability to be nimble and flexible. In this economy, an unconventional resume can trump a predictable, linear path.

Wondering what exactly constitutes an unconventional resume? We've rounded up some eye-opening resources on the benefits of taking the career path less traveled. Enjoy.

Has your career path been unusual? What are the benefits (and drawbacks) to taking the road less traveled? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Avoiding Resumes Don’ts

Community Manager — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:04:00 GMT

In a crowded job market, standing apart from the pack is a must. But there's a not so-fine line between eye-catching and straight-up crazy. Major resume don'ts would seem obvious: skip the rainbow-hued paper and scantily-clad photos. Yet recruiters see these glaring mistakes and more on a regular basis, says the author of Think Twice Before Sending That Crazy Resume!

Want to avoid resume don'ts that will sand-bag your attempts to rise to the top of the hiring pool? Read on for mistakes to avoid.

Biggest Resume Don'ts: Resumes should be short and sweet; but be careful not to leave out crucial information. Hiring managers see glaring absences as red-flags, so be sure to explain any gaps in work history. Other advice? Skip distracting graphics, type treatments and photos.

Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes: This helpful punch list ticks off common pitfalls including typos and grammatical errors, poorly worded objectives and using a generic, rather than targeted resume.

14 Fatal Resume Mistakes: Never fail to send a cover letter with your resume is the number one piece of advice in this thoughtful round-up. And make sure the letter is well-written, addressed to the appropriate recipient and error-free. Other useful tips? Avoid resume templates and cookie-cutter lingo. Hiring managers, who see a kajillion resumes, will spot these shortcuts in an instant and write you off as lazy and unimaginative.

Finally, we leave you with an amusing selection of jaw-droppingly awful resumes mistakes to avoid: 150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever. We know you'd never make these mistakes, right???

What is a major resume pitfall in your book? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Make Your Resume Pop

Community Manager — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:01:00 GMT

Job hunters know that a top-notch resume is crucial in this tough job market. Ensure yours stands out from the stack with these tips for making your resume pop.

Go Paper

The rise of LinkedIn and digital portfolios may have job hunters thinking the paper resume is going the way of the mimeograph machine. Not so, says a recent Wall Street Journal article. Paper still rules so smart job hunters should invest in premium paper stock: old school is still cool.

Add Punch

Resumes should convey professionalism, so stick to classic fonts and white or cream paper colors. But you can still amp up your attention-grabbing quotient with a personalized QR Code, that directs users to your online digital portfolio, blog or web site.

Be Digital Friendly

Paper is king but digital is a close second so make sure your resume is easily uploadable, downloadable and scannable by skipping formatting with bullets, boxes and indenting. Pepper the resume with rich key words that pop for both computerized searches and in-person.

Tweak Titles

Resumes typically are scanned by hiring managers in a nanosecond. So take time to create eye-catching job titles. We're not talking resume inflation here which is always a no-no, but if your title at your newsroom job was Assistant Production Manager, consider amplifying the information with a title like Assistant Production Manager for News Video. Now your title tells a complete story.

Double Check

Ensure your resume is error-free with exhaustive proofing. Check, check and check again; consider enlisting either a resume pro or an eagle-eyed friend to help you out.

What makes a winning resume in your book? Do you rely on any online resources for resume help? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Stretching the Truth: How Far Is Too Far?

Community Manager — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:40:00 GMT

We all know honesty is the best policy so how come white lies and fibs keep popping up on resumes? Lately, the papers are full of stories about individuals ranging from Congressional candidates to medical researchers to the Notre Dame football coach who have lied about (or distorted) their credentials. What gives?

In a tough job market, people may be tempted to embellish their resumes to improve their chances of getting hired. But HR departments are on to this phenomenon. A CareerBuilder.com http://bit.ly/ajuCTH survey found that nearly half of hiring managers surveyed reported catching candidates lying on their resumes. That's a lot of resumes hitting the trash can.

Ever been tempted to embellish your resume? You are clearly not alone.

Check out the top most common fibs popping up on resumes. They include:

Lying about a degree, education
Playing with dates to hide gaps in work or to appear younger/older
Exaggerating numbers (i.e. inflating sales figures, etc.)
Lying about salary
Inflating titles
Lying about technical ability (claiming versatility in certain software, etc.)
Lying about language fluency
Fake addresses
Padding GPAs

Catching a job candidate in a resume lie or exaggeration is a red-flag for hiring managers. Outright lies and even distortions can sabotage not only your chances of getting the job to which you are currently applying but other jobs down the road. If headhunters find out you're untrustworthy, they won't come knocking on your door again. Professional circles can be small; don't tarnish your reputation.

Honesty is always the best policy.

Have you ever seen a white lie or a whopper on a resume you've been given? How does your company conduct background checks on prospective employees? Post your thoughts here or at the Beyond Folders Facebook page.

by Candie Harris