Imagine you’re at a pro football game (pick your team, I’m not partial). You’re standing on the field at the 50-yard line, facing the stands. A sea of people face you. Some scream, some cheer, some boo, some watch quietly. Some wear football jerseys, others don’t. Some drink, some eat, some talk to their neighbor.
Now… tell me who’s the biggest fan.
Tough, right? You’re looking at thousands of people that are mostly indistinguishable, looking for small clues that will tell a story about how much they love their team and why.
A recruiter has the same kind of challenge, leafing through stacks of resumes looking for a talented project manager, or an experienced engineer. Each resume forces the recruiter to make a judgment based solely on a first impression. The recruiter doesn’t get to ask questions or do research. He has to look out across the sea of faces and make a call.
How do you stand out from the crowd?
o Show up early. The crowd is smaller early on, so it’s easier to get noticed. If you can get to a job opportunity before it’s advertised, or at least in the first wave of arrivals after its publicly posted, you’ll be much more visible.
o Wear team colors. Show your enthusiasm for the team. Customize your resume for the company in question, reference their unique challenges and strengths in your cover letter. Show that you’re more than just a fair-weather fan.
o Carry a sign. If you have only 6 words to get the attention of the TV cameras, what would they be? Luckily, you don’t have to restrict yourself to 6 words. You get three sentences — your resume summary statement. How can you make an impact in a very short time?
But the absolute best way to stand out from the crowd? Don’t be in it. Connect with someone in the organization and get invited onto the field.
How do you make your resume stand out?
Kristi Daeda is the President of Twin Sparks Consulting, Inc. and the creator of Career Adventure, which shares ideas and insight for connecting professionals with their inspiring work.
