Resume tips that get the job done

Lots of good resume writing advice in this post from Daily Writing Tips. A sample:

10. Do not include “no kidding” information

There are many people that like to include statements like “Available for interview” or “References available upon request.” If you are sending a resume to a company, it should be a given that you are available for an interview and that you will provide references if requested. Just avoid items that will make the employer think “no kidding!”

Also recommended: proofreading. So if you're tempted to follow Penelope Trunk's advice, don't.

A Trunk-load of bad advice

Penelope Trunk, the self-proclaimed Brazen Careerist, has some advice about typos that goes beyond brazen right into just-plain-bad territory. After making some good points about how typos in blog posts and reader comments aren't a big concern, she has this follow-up in the comments:

I actually think that a few typos in a resume are fine. It’s too hard to not have typos if you’re customizing your resume to every job. And, it takes such insanely careful proofreading to catch typos in your own resume, that maybe an error-free resume is a sign that someone is an obsessive-compulsive and not a good hire. Just a thought.

"Just a thought." But not a very good one.

The problem with Trunk's advice (spelled out more completely in her 2006 post, "You sent your resume with a typo? Get over it") is that it encourages people to be lazy with a key first impression. Her post was likely a response to a 2006 study (or one like it) concluding that 84% of executives won't consider candidates whose resumes have a typo*. Trunk's erudite response?

I don't believe it.

That's great. When the research doesn't agree with your need to say something controversial, just ignore it. More good advice.

I may be more sarcastic than others, but I'm not alone in my criticism of Trunk. One of the best arguments against her advice, for example, comes from Vigorous Writing:

[I]f Trunk simply argued that commenters on blogs shouldn't worry about correcting the author's grammar, I'd be in her corner. But, she took this legitimate argument and ran with it to an unattractive and dangerous place, namely that it's okay to use incorrect grammar in most kinds of writing because the only thing that really matters is the argument.

As a career advice columnist, Trunk certainly has to know the importance of a job interviewer's appearance and presentation. A candidate may be highly qualified (similar to a strong idea) but if he doesn't present himself very well (similar to a post with several grammar typos), then he's hurt his chances at getting the job (similar to people ignoring your great idea because they're distracted by your typos).

The bottom line is that you can believe Trunk, and take risks with your resume, or you can do the difficult work it takes to get it right, which includes:

1. Running spell check before you print/send. Sounds obvious, but still worth mentioning.

2. Having someone else proofread it. As mentioned in a previous post, good writers know that they can't catch all their own errors, so they have a trusted proofreader give it a second look. It's a step worth taking, even it means you can't send your resume right away.

3. Striving for perfection. You may not always get there, but it's an important target to aim for when you're sending a resume. Why? Prospective employers are looking for an excuse to put your resume in the "no" pile. A typo doesn't guarantee that's where it will land, but it sure doesn't help your cause.

4. Or, hiring someone to do it for you. I do agree with Trunk on this one: if you can't write a resume that's error free, you might be better off leaving the details to a professional. In fact, this is one the best arguments against Trunk's claim that details don't matter. If they didn't, why not just wing it yourself?

As Trunk states, "not all typos are created equal"--and that's why it's so important to avoid them on your resume. If you're a blogger, typos won't completely ruin your rep. If you comment on blogs, people probably should cut you some slack if you include a few typos. But remember, in most cases, your resume acts as your surrogate, a first impression designed to get you in the door. As such, there are few pieces of writing that demand a higher sense of urgency with the details. (And as one commenter mentioned on Trunk's blog, Seth Godin's post last week about "scraps" is worth keeping in mind.) After all, if you can't get it right on your resume, why should an employer expect that you'll get things right if he or she gives you the job?

*The post this links to is signed by an "Anthony J.," but it's a guy named Anthony Meany, not me. Why does Anthony Meany go by "Anthony J."? I dunno, but you can ask him.

More cool business cards

If Monday's post didn't quench your thirst for awesome business card design, check out Inspiredology.com's "Cool Business Cards." They've even included a lil' sumpthin' from Indiana's own Lodge Design (see image above), which will make agency creatives throughout the Hoosier state experience a combination of envy and pride. Mostly envy, though.

Or, maybe don't settle for a resume at all

Hard on the heels of my post about some cool resume tools, Seth Godin has this to say about marketing yourself to employers:

Great people shouldn't have a resume.

Here's why: A resume is an excuse to reject you. Once you send me your resume, I can say, "oh, they're missing this or they're missing that," and boom, you're out.

[...]

If you don't have a resume, what do you have?

How about three extraordinary letters of recommendation from people the employer knows or respects?
Or a sophisticated project they can see or touch?
Or a reputation that proceeds you?
Or a blog that is so compelling and insightful that they have no choice but to follow up?

[...]

Great jobs, world class jobs, jobs people kill for... those jobs don't get filled by people emailing in resumes. Ever.

Your business card doesn't have to be boring, either

Yesterday, I linked to some great resume designs that can help you stand out from the crowd. Now, here are some business cards designed to get noticed.

Don't settle for a boring resume

Here are 36 layouts you can use, or adapt from to create your own unique, standout resume design. Remember, using a Microsoft Word template pretty much guarantees that your resume will look exactly like everyone else's. And that's not a good thing.

And if you want to take it to a whole 'nother level, check out VisualCV. The site is in Beta mode right now, but I just created a resume page on VisualCV for free and the results are pretty cool. You also can add a portfolio with audio, video, and documents, and--maybe best of all--you can download your VisualCV page as a PDF.

Hats tipped to: Lifehack.org, Springwise

Would you interview this guy? I would.

A very reliable source sent me the following cover letter, along with evidence to show that it's 100% genuine (personal information has been removed, however, to protect the sender's true identity):

Hello,

I have three middle names: Sterling , David, and Freeman. My favorite food is chili on rice. When I was 6 years old, I discovered at a Denny's that I could say the alphabet backwards. I was grounded for being a "sass-mouth" during the entire 8th grade. Orienteering, backpacking, and skiing are my three favorite activities and they keep me anchored while afloat in the chaotic sea of life.

I believe every person should step foot on all 243 nations in the world before they die. So far I've been to 9. A mere 3.7% but it's a start. My disinterest in being stalked and or tracked prevented me from signing onto Facebook, however the need to network in today's world has forced me to see the light.

I have a major sweet tooth (gummies, not chocolate) but I brush a lot. I like writing rhymes and taking pictures. I'm definitely an outdoors person, which I attribute to constantly being told to, "go outside and play." I'm a drummer, but lack rhythm on the dance floor (I tend to flail).

I possess a willingness to help others and do at least one good deed per day. I also possess great patience and a high tolerance of annoying people. I have a very open mind, but finicky when it comes to toilet paper. And when I die, I either want my epitaph to be an available ad space, or I'd like to have a Norwegian Viking style funeral, I haven't yet decided.

Be it e-mail, phone, or carrier pigeon, I look forward to hearing from you.

Indubitably,
[redacted]

The problem with most cover letters is that they're boring. Most are repetitive to the resume they're packaged with, and they're written in a language that sounds nothing like human speech. Few make the reader laugh (for the right reasons) or even smile, and fewer still give you sense of the sender's personality. And that's what makes this one stand out. It's the one thing that most cover letters never are: unexpected.

Now, this approach definitely wouldn't work for everyone. If you're a wallflower, or you're an inherently somber person, your cover letter is no place to play the wacky card. The key is to leverage whatever makes you unique and whatever strengths you believe best compliment what's in your resume. If that's humor, go with it. If you have a great story to tell, why not use the cover letter to give an example of one time when you really came through for your employer, a customer, or a friend? Maybe you could use your cover letter to draw an analogy between a hobby and a workplace skill.

Your other option is to do the same same thing as everyone else. And while that might not hurt you, it's probably not going to help you, either.

Maybe you think your prospective employer would be turned off by too unique a pitch--and you might be right. But here's the thing: as long as you're authentic to your true personality, being unique is actually much less risky than submitting a blah-blah-blah cover letter that's nothing more than word processed camouflage. After all, if you pretend to be someone else in your cover letter, you're going to have to fake it during the interview, too (assuming, that is, that you get the interview at all). And on the outside chance that the interview gets you the job, you may have to keep faking it for a long, long time. Maybe a better approach is to stop worrying about offending people you probably don't want to work for anyway.

So, would you interview this guy? (It depends upon his qualifications, of course, but let's assume he has the skills to do the job.) I probably would give him a call--and here's why: he sounds like someone who might be smart and fun to work with. You wouldn't know until you met him, but you'd probably want to meet him. He's done something that's a little risky, sure, but he's also set himself apart. Most of the time, that's enough to get your foot in the door. And when that happens, then your cover letter has done exactly what it's supposed to do.