Once I had a client who gave me a handwritten resume! Yes, it stood out… but NOT in a good way. It screamed that the client lacked computer skills.

That said, I must admit that when I was looking for work many years ago, my resume wasn’t attractive either. Here are three additional things I did to improve my resume and get to the interview stage:

1)    Know Your Skills.  

I had to know what I was bringing to the table. I became a master salesperson at selling “Me Inc.” to potential employers. With a stack of overdue bills and a family to support, there was no downplaying my skills or playing small. If I had any hope of getting to the interview stage, I had to be absolutely clear and confident about my skills on paper.

2)    Get Additional Help.

I reached out to a friend who had great writing skills. If you don’t know anyone with writing expertise, you can go to a free community employment program that specializes in preparing resumes. You can also pay a professional writer to create or edit your resume. The point is not to “go solo” on this important task.

3)    Help The Helper.  

I did not simply hand over my dying resume with instructions to, “Just Fix It!” Instead, I was part of the improvement process. In addition to my resume, I gave my helper a list of relevant duties I had found in relevant job postings. I also brought samples of several job postings I was qualified to do. Working with the helper, I was able to create the Master Resume I first mentioned in, How To Look Good On Paper; The Resume-Part 1   

By doing these three additional things I was able to make my resume look great on paper and land more job interviews.

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