You spend hours perfecting your resume, but how can you ensure that all that work culminates in your potential employer thoroughly reading it? Here is a good starting list of ten tips to get your resume read and not casually thrown in the garbage.

1. Make it believable.

If someone is reading your resume and they see something that seems to be out of place, they are going to think you are not credible. If for some reason you went from working tables at the local diner to managing a team of 100 at a major corporation you are going to need to explain that. It would be best to put this in your cover letter. The last thing you want is someone to question you, because you will not get a call back or the job. Why would an employer call back a question mark when they have other solid applicants? Be one of the latter.

2. Add a way for someone to find more information about you.

This is where Brand-Yourself.com comes into play. You want a way for employers, once they are interested in you, to be able to find out more about you. A website is a great tool for that. Video resumes were never a good fit for this market because they require unusual equipment and they take a lot of time. A website will take an employer two minutes to find and browse through. Besides, 80% of employers are already searching for you on Google before the interview.

3. Stay within the norm.

You will see people out there that are pushing different types of resumes and ways to really jazz up the traditional format. This can be a great thing, but only to an extent. The truth of the matter is that when a resume comes across an employer’s desk, they want to be able to scan through it and not have to spend an extensive amount of time to get the gist of it. Hopefully the main points that they see in their quick scan will land you a more in-depth scan later on, but if they cannot get the information they are looking for immediately, they are not going to call you in to find it. Add a little flare here and there, but be aware that a resume for an accounting position and one for a graphic design artist should look different. One is not better or worse, but they definitely need to fit the market they are applying for.

4. Make it interesting.

If you let out a yawn or two as you describe your last job, so will the potential employer. You want to put information on your resume that reflects your work ethic, performance and ability to complete jobs assigned to you.

5. Use proper grammar and spelling.

There is no excuse for a spelling mistake on your resume. Multiple people should have read it and proofread it before it gets to your potential employer’s hands. This goes along with the make-it-believable rule above. If an employer can easily see a spelling mistake they are not going to think that you are going to represent their company well. There is nothing worse than an important document going out with spelling mistakes – don’t do it.

6. Put the most important information at the top of the page.

Your reader is going to start at the top of the page and work down. You want them to hit your biggest accomplishments first. Remember, first impressions mean a lot and the sooner you get them to thinking you’re are a good candidate, the better, because it is much easier to maintain that mentality than to try to establish it in a non believer.

7. Customize it.

The same resume is not going to work with all companies. Successful job seekers have a couple of resumes available and ready to go should any opportunity arise. Each one should highlight different types of work, skills, and experiences that they have amassed in the past.

8. Be remarkable.

Just cruising through the day and not applying yourself is not going to help you when you are applying for your dream job. You need to be active in the community, and you need to be doing notable things at your work place. This increases the chances that you will be hired quickly and be viewed as a valuable addition to the company. No matter what the market is, there are ways to stand out and do outstanding work.

9. Keep it to one page.

A large number of people feel the urge to push their resume to two or more pages. If you are amazing, then let your accomplishments speak for themselves. There are certain industries, such as academia, where it is more acceptable to have longer resumes, and you will know if you are in one of these. But for the majority of career fields, one page is the only way to go. Don’t make the font so small they can’t read it either – that won’t help your cause.

10. Make it personal.

They don’t want to read about an android, they want to read about a human. If you have other activities that round you out as a person, then include them. They can work in your favor and be conversation starters during the interview and, if the person reading the resume can connect with you over one of these topics, you are much more likely to get hired.

Next: The Key Components of a Resume

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During the past few years, it’s become easier to create and share videos. But one thing that hasn’t translated well onto video is the resume.

Why haven’t video resumes become massively popular? First, the individual reviewing your resume – let’s call him Bob – is overworked and underpaid. Bob sifts through hundreds of resumes on a daily basis and has has about 30 seconds to judge you. You are a sheet of paper on his desk – one that he needs to move through quickly and efficiently.

Video resumes do not fit well into Bob’s world.

The two main problems with video resumes are:

1. Bob can’t jump to specific parts he wants to see. He’s hard-pressed for time and doesn’t want to slog through parts that don’t help him make a hiring decision.
2. Video resumes are only effective if they are truly impressive. Unless you’re a professional filmmaker, your video may actually diminish the strength of your brand. It requires all four of the following:
   1. A high degree of professionalism or creativity
   2. Excellent editing
   3. Proper lighting
   4. Crystal clear audio

If you don’t have all of these, your video will seem unimpressive and won’t help you stand out from the next guy.

Is there a place for video anywhere in the job market? Absolutely. Take for example actors, specializing in commercial talent. A video resume is by far the best way for these individuals to show how they can add value to a company.

Should you create a video resume? If you truthfully believe it will better articulate your strengths and help get you hired, then a video resume may be a useful tool for you. But if a video can’t show your unique value better than, say, a website, then put the lens cap back on and don’t take the risk of hurting your image.

Remember that there are other, simpler methods you can use to set yourself apart. Like creating a personal brand-building website at Brand-Yourself.com. Now that is exactly what Bob wants to see: a clearer picture of who you are, tangible proof of your performance and the ability to go right to sections that interest him. You’ll make Bob’s job that much easier when deciding to hire you.

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