Now that you had a nice long Memorial Day weekend and are totally rested, it’s time to give your job search a shot in the arm. Our Top 10 Tips continue….

8. Poll your friends. Sometimes we work on our Résumé, Blog or Personal Statement so closely we lose our objectivity. Circulate your work to those you respect and trust for a fresh perspective. In today’s online world, this is an easy task! We are all connected in the online community and people are generally all too happy to help. Typos and omissions are so common, so make sure you spell-check and don’t be afraid of your word processor’s toolbox! Utilize your thesaurus and use words that show that you are a person who generates profits and contributes to your employer’s bottom line.

Words like “implemented (some innovative, life-altering policy or procedure)”, “reduced (expenses)”, “increased (profits)”, “streamlined” etc. tell a prospective employer that you are an Agent of Change and can make a valuable contribution to their organization.

Another Tip from Mutt Media NY

3. When creating your résumé, be mindful that not everyone is working off of the same software you are. What looks perfect on your screen or when you print at home, may come out quite different if your prospective employer has an older version of the same software or a different software altogether.

You’ve seen these files – margins are wrong, indents are off and the overall alignment just doesn’t look right. Sometimes you can even lose your font! Your best bet is to save the file in both a .DOC format as well as a .PDF. PDF documents cannot be altered after they are saved and will come out just the way you intended. If you absolutely must save your document in .DOC (Word) format, use a universally accepted font such as Ariel, Helvetica or Times New Roman. This will ensure a higher likelihood of compatibility once your document is received.

Needless to say (I hope!), make sure you spell check your document and use proper and consistent punctuation throughout. Don’t blow it before you even get the interview!