Easily Make your Resume Stand Out

One of my first responsibilities when I started at the marketing firm, before I got into internet marketing, was to find potential hire's, review their resume, and conduct an interview with them. I'll tell you straight out, if the aspects of your resume didn't really impress me, your resume went straight to the bottom of the pile. I'm sure every employer does the same thing. So if you want that position, you've got to make your resume illuminate!

Luckily enough for me, I learned how to make my resume stand out before I applied for the position at the marketing firm. I understood that employers receive hundreds of resumes and only the strong will survive. However, my job positions before I applied included working at a pharmacy, a restaurant, and being a Field Service Representative at a vendor company.  The responsibilities I had at those jobs seemed to no where near rival those of my competition.  However, I learned to really illuminate my responsibilities at each job to secure the position at the marketing firm.

How I enhanced your resume and how you can too:

• First, I went to all of my former employers and wrote a list of all the model's and model numbers of every piece of equipment and software I ever used while I was there.  I remember using a software called "Intermac systems," it was an easy to use software which I trained my self how to use and became very proficient at it.  On my resume I would then put, "trained in and proficient with Intermac systems."  Seems like a really complicated piece of software that requires a high level of expertise to understand doesn't it?  Even if you only used a cash register at your last places of employment, write down the model of the cash register and put "familiar with (model name) equipment."  In the interview if they ask about it, don't lie, tell them it was a type of equipment you guys used to record transactions.  The key aspect of your resume is to get you in the interview chair, once you're in the interview chair, you can then let your personality and attributes secure your campaign for the position.
• Next, write down a complete and comprehensive list of every responsibility you ever had at your former places of employment.  When I say everything, I mean everything!  My list included everything from getting coffee, to cleaning up the office, to participating in million dollar business proposal meetings.  Highlight the responsibilities you are most impressed with and include them in your resume.  If you feel that your responsibilities aren't impressive, add some spice.  Were you responsible for keeping an eye on the shoppers to make sure they weren't stealing?  Congratulations, you have just added the responsibility of "loss prevention" on your resume.  Were you ever told to find a good spot on the shelves to place a new product?  You were taking part in the marketing of a new product.  Have you ever had to contact a manufacturer or supplier for your job?  You've just maintained a successful line of communication between your company and the manufacturer/supplier.
• Finally, expand on your hobbies.  When you list your hobbies on your resume, make sure you give a brief explanation as to how you got into the hobby, what you like about it, and what attributes does it enhance about you.  After going through hundreds of resumes, employers are not looking to break down the psychological aspects of your hobbies, so you need to do it for them.  Say you're hobbies include carpentry, an employer isn't likely to read that and say "this candidate is interested in carpentry, so that means he is hardworking, creative, and dedicated to his craft."  You have to lay everything out for them so that it doesn't have to be broken down.  If it has to be broken down, it will probably be looked over.

These three simple and easy tips to use on your resume helped me secure my former position at a high profile marketing firm.  Some people are going to read this and say its lying, however, if you follow what I said, your not lying.  Instead, you are being very detailed and descriptive of your responsibilities.