I’ve noticed a unique trend in the US and European markets lately, it involves a
nice personal touch that delivers an element of transparency and full disclosure…and it’s so simple.

Add a picture. Obviously a good picture and not a spliced up cut and paste of you
and the Pyramids of Giza in the background.
Although it’s good for employers to know that you are people of the world, that you have traveled and that you must respect cultures etc etc…a professional Executive Summary style pic is really what you’re after. Good lighting, professional attire and a convincing smile are sometimes just the tools you need to separate yourself from everyone out there in job prospect land.

People remember faces, and putting a name to a face is some of the oldest tried and true sales and client relationship management advice I ever learned.

Since we know that there are many factors for calling someone in for an interview and eventually hiring them, using all of
tips mentioned here will help you cover some of those hiring angles.

This blog should definitely eliminate a lot of guesswork from developing your new profile – aka your resume.

… evidence of above-average grades
… leadership capability
… team participation
… work ethic
… other examples of “above-and-beyond-the-call-of-service”

Some no-no’s (and I have seen actual examples of this):

… hand-writing a resume in crayon
… inconsistent grammar and spelling
… unflattering layout
… spraying cologne on the resume
… tired cliches that belong in the Stone Age; e.g., “good interpersonal and communication skills”

Another faux-pas: Using the worn-out phrase “to secure a position where I can apply my skills, abilities, and education while positioning me for advancement.” Is it all about (1) what the employer can do for the job-seeker or (2) the other way around? If you picked Option #2, then you have the right attitude, and employers will indeed sit up and take notice!

What you should do to give yourself a better opporutnity of making the first cut is to put together a technology profile and that is the first thing on your resume.

Programming languages: C, C++, JAVA
Development Plateforms: eclipse, unix,nt

When you are describing what you did during your coop or internship experience make sure you keep in mind that you are telling your story to the hiring manager. Knowing your audience will help you deliver the right message. Give them a bit of meat to chew on, don’t just say things like – I worked on developing a new application for finance. Thjat means nothing – WHAT DID YOU DO? That’s what a hiring manager wants to now and they don’t want to have to spend 20 minutes on the phone with you to figure it out.

Your resume is a work in progress, from now until you retire (oh so many years in the future . Remember to keep updating it regularly and keep it relevant.

Cheers!

If you have the chance to be part of an intership program then do so. The experience you can get is invaluable and will undoubtedly make you stand out from other candidates when applying for a job. Ask as many questions as possible during your internship as this will show your interest in the field and may even make your current employer offer you a permanent job at the end of the internship, or at the very least provide you with an exemplary letter of reference which will once again make your resume stand out against the others.

This post was mentioned on Facebook by ResumeTarget.com: Generation Ys: How To Make Your Student Resume Stand Out Against the Masses http://tinyurl.com/yho5g6s...