Title: Create the right "look" to brand your candidacy

Content:

Dear Sam: I am struggling with the design of my résumé. I'm trying to make it look a little different than the standard templates, but I'm scared it won't be well received if it looks too different. How do I know if what I want to do is okay and will support, not hurt, my chances of getting an interview? - Linda

Dear Linda: First, I applaud your willingness to do something different. Can you imagine how bored hiring managers must get when so many résumés virtually look the same? Infusing your résumé with personality can go a long way to differentiating it from the hundreds of others. In order to know whether the more unique look to your résumé will be well received, just think about whether it is appropriate for the type of job you want and the audience reviewing it.

Creating the right "look" for a résumé is really vital to its success. I am a firm believer that the most successful résumés are both great to read and great to look at. Think about it, if your résumé looks boring, it won't attract the reader, so even if the content is superb, who will read it? Take a look at the example I have presented this week. I developed this résumé for an art teacher who came to me with a plain text black and white résumé which did nothing to differentiate his talents from the countless art teachers in his market competing for the same jobs. The "after" version is stronger in content and design, propelling the recipient to read more. While your field may not allow you to be quite so creative, you can still infuse your résumé with personality by adding a little color, selective imagery, or even client or supervisor testimonials, doing so will surely yield additional time in front of the hiring manager.

Dear Sam: After 26 years working with the same company, I find myself a casualty of the economic downturn and am forced to look for something new. What are your recommendations on setting up a résumé where there is only one employer, but numerous facets of one's responsibilities covering a few different functional areas? - William

Dear William: I'm so sorry to hear of your layoff, if at all possible, try to stay positive during your search, it really is vital in making the most of the opportunities out there. So, to tackle your situation...to demonstrate diversity in your career and to overcome the potential disqualifier of having only worked for one employer, I would suggest the use of a combination résumé. In this format, you would open with a qualifications summary based on your current career objective. Don't try to make this too broad, as it won't end up speaking the language of any hiring manager. Instead, be sure you spend some time searching the job market and seeing what is out there that you are interested in and qualified for; then tailor your résumé in that direction.

Next-and the critical element of a combination résumé-would be the presentation of your career highlights. In this section, I would suggest you organize highlights of your career within functional areas. For example, you might list subheadings such as Global Marketing, Business Development, and Technical Sales. Then you would place key achievements related to each subject underneath the subheadings. The key in this section is to make these functional subheadings relate to what you now want to do, so at a glance, the hiring manager can get the idea that you are qualified for the position in question.

Following the career highlights would be a professional experience section. This section should take the hiring manager through what you did in each position, probably spanning the last 15 years or so (of course this is dependent on the level of position you are currently seeking). I'd start questioning the value of experiences that occurred in the 1980s; so when you get back that far, only include the positions if they are relevant and valuable based on your current career objective. Presenting 26 years of experience is typically not recommended, as it would likely unnecessarily age your candidacy and possibly make one assume you will be too expensive.

When you follow this format, you will not only satisfy your need to present a diverse career, but also the hiring manager's desire to know what responsibilities you held in each position and how your career translates to what the company is looking for in a new hire. Best of luck!

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Do you have a question for Dear Sam? Write to dearsam@semissourian.com. Samantha Nolan owns Ladybug Design, a résumé writing and interview coaching firm. For more information, call (888) 9-LADYBUG (888-952-3928) or visit www.ladybug-design.com.

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