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Dollars & $ense Job Search:

7 Tips for Attention-Grabbing Resumes

Craft Your Resume Like a News Story to Get Attention

7. A Clear & Concise Masthead

One of the main things many people look for in a newspaper (or online news site) is the masthead or header. A lot of thought goes into the design and layout of a header. I like to call this thought process the "friend factor." What colors and information will hook you as a reader? A lot of thought has gone into this design.

Mastheads come in two styles -- those aimed at a specific demographic and those trying to gain traction with the public at large. Who is your demo?

Think of the "Contact Information" on your resume as your masthead. Within this single inch of space you have the opportunity to grab the reader’s attention much more than you might think. Tell them your name, omit your physical address (what value does it really have??), provide your email address and phone number, state whether you are able to travel/relocate, tell them any special qualifications you might have such as being bi-lingual or having a security clearance.

One last thing I always recommend for the header is to tell the reader that you don’t smoke. (Yes, I always get grief for this but the reality is that this is a big deal in hiring circles. I’m just the messenger.) My goal in getting you to think your resume header is to get the recruiter to like you -- the friend factor I mentioned earlier.

 

  • Rick Gillis

    Rick Gillis is an author/speaker/radio and TV host—all with an emphasis on employment and job search. Rick says that job search is no longer about selection. It’s about preventing elimination! Read more...