Resume Tips from Our Famous Prep School

Common Resume Myths

Most candidates have been brainwashed into believing that their resume should look exactly like a boring Application, a work Diary, or even a Journal of exactly where they were from year to year with dates and times, titles, reference information and such. Others have been instructed to keep their resume to just One Page. At Couture Staff, we are here to tell you the exact opposite. Your resume is all about Curb Appeal and attracting employers upon first glance. Think of your resume as the sizzle that sells the steak!  Does your resume have sizzle? If not, here are some rules to follow so that employers get excited when they open your resume in the mail:

5 Rules for Creating Curb Appeal on Your Resume

• Rule #1 – Go for the 2-Page Resume
  Do not be shy. It is imperative that you add major detail to your resume. Unless you are a recent college graduate from this year, there is absolutely no reason for having just a 1-page resume. Most employers want to see Sales Numbers, Computer Skills, Titles of the Executives you supported or managed. Do not always assume that your brand is known or that the reader is familiar with your role. If you worked for a brand that is not famous, it is important to add a line defining exactly what that brand does. If you are a Public Relations Director, it is important to list the specific celebrities, magazines, and events. If you are a Buyer, it is important to list all of the brands you buy and the total volume. Again, add as much detail as possible.
   
• Rule #2 – Make Sure Your Resume is Readable on a Blackberry
  Let’s be honest. Most Senior Executives and Hiring Managers are reading their email first on their Blackberry. And if your resume is not viewable on a Blackberry, you are at a major disadvantage. Last year, the CIO of one of our major Luxury Brand Clients asked us to search for an IT Director. We sent him our top two resumes and the one that was not viewable on his Blackberry was immediately eliminated from the process. The CIO’s response: “Why would I ever hire an IT Director that does not send his resume out in a universally readable format?” Again, having your resume viewable on major PDAs is a huge advantage in creating that initial curb appeal.
   
• Rule #3 – Show Your Specific ROI and Personal Progression
  Return On Investment. How will hiring you today help a struggling Brand recover immediately? CEOs are asking this question to their HR Executives on every hire. If you are in the Front Office, it is important to show specifics on your resume such as numbers and percentages that detail the difference you made in Sales Volume. If you are an Operations or Back Office executive, you need to show specifics on how much you helped the company save.  Additionally, companies want to see that your role has Progressed and Evolved over time and so you need to be specific about your increase in responsibilities.
   
• Rule #4 – Tailor Multiple Resume Versions to Be an Expert, not a Jack of All Trades
  Companies are asking us for candidates who are Experts at Something. Unless you are seeking an opportunity at a very small brand that is less than 10 people, being a Jack of All Trades in this economy is a huge disadvantage.  Most brands are looking for candidates who are Masters of Specific functions, not Generalists. So if you are a Public Relations Director who does it all, you should have various resume versions highlighting individual areas of expertise. Perhaps one version highlights Events, and another highlights Media and Press Relations. Again, the goal is to promote your resume as being a Master of Your Field, but most importantly an Expert at Something Specific in your field. And that Specific Expertise is what will give your resume Curb Appeal over others in your category.
   
• Rule #5 – Pay Attention to Grammar, Spelling, Font, and Spacing
  The physical look of your resume will matter upon first glance. So when a Senior Executive in Human Resources opens your resume and the spell check highlights lots of errors in green and red, and you have an unattractive font, or spacing issues – you can be assured that your resume will be immediately deleted.  Take the extra time to run your resume through the spelling and grammar check. Also make sure that titles and dates are formatted consistently in terms of bolding, underlining or italics. An overall clean look is ideal, and very attractive to those scanning resumes for Curb Appeal.