How to Write a Resume Step #4 Design Well!

How to Write a Resume Step 4 Design Well How to Write a Resume Step 4 Design Well Most published resume writing advice is focused on content. In this 4th post in my How to Write a Resume series, I want to get you to focus on something I think is every bit as important resume design.Its not just what you say, its how you say itHave you ever been to the website of someone you consider an expert and found an ugly, outdated, template-based site that looks like the experts 12 year-old nephew designed it on a rainy weekend? Whenever that happens to me, I instantly think less of that persons expertise. The bad design screams out of date to me. If their web design is so outdated, what am I to make of their advice?First impressions count. We all know that. You wouldnt go to a job vorstellungsgesprch in a t-shirt and sweatpants, so dont send a resume that is badly laid out. It makes exactly the same impression.Design with the Strategy in MindBut theres another aspect to a well-designed resu me and that goes back to what I discussed in my last post strategy.If youve followed my steps. You have developed a strategy for your resume. You know your value proposition and you have decided on content that will help you communicate that value proposition. This is where design comes in now you must choose a resume design that reinforces your strategy.If youve decided that the most important thing employers need to know is that you have developed successful brands for leading Fortune 500 packaged goods companies, then perhaps you should create a bold headline that communicates exactly that fact. You might also choose to bold the names of the Fortune 500 companies whenever they appear throughout your resume.If a ausverkauf rep decides that his consistent ability to increase sales is his value proposition, then he should make sure that sales numbers jump off the page all the way through the resume. That can be done with selective bolding or colors and lots of white space. (White space is key to making sure that key information is visible).Content is Not King When it comes to resume writing, content is only one piece of the puzzle. The best content in the world wont work if people cant read it easily, or if information is bunched up on the page so that they dont even see the most important facts. Writing a great resume is a challenge. Balancing design and content, knowing exactly what to include and what to leave out, targeting every word to your selected audience all these are tricky. But when you get it right, the rewards come in the form of phone calls and interviews. Its worth spending some time to get to that pointIn my next post, Ill talk copy writing and show you how to choose (and arrange) words that sell. If youd like me to send you an schmelzglas notification when it goes up, just leave me your email address here.Meantime, if you want to follow my resume writing system to create your own resume, check out my self-study course The DIY Guide to Writ ing a Killer Resume. You get a 170+ page eBook along with detailed, step-by-step instructions, 25+ resume samples and 20 resume templates.Photo by ArtComments