As spring awakens and days become longer, there is certainly a lot of hope in the air. Mix in the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, and some may be feeling an added pinch of luck. Although it’s great to have the holiday spirit, it is a good time to remind job seekers that landing employment is not necessarily something that is found through good luck alone.
Instead of wearing green, kissing the Blarney Stone or searching for four-leaf clovers, job seekers who rely on luck alone may want to consider ramping up their resume this St. Patrick’s Day. In the spirit of this Celtic celebration, here are a few tips to consider when crafting your next CV:
- Focus on the Green
While there are many things to be addressed on a resume, it is essential to show potential employers what you can bring to the table as a professional. Detailing any specific achievements is great, but listing accomplishments with quantifiable numbers is even better. For this reason, it is important to dress your resume up in green—the color of money.
This is particularly important if you have helped save other employers a considerable amount of money or have increased profit margins through sales. Make sure to highlight these successes, as they will certainly gain the attention of employers looking to boost the revenue of the company.
- Do Not Be the Elusive Leprechaun
St. Patrick’s Day lore involves the ongoing search for the elusive leprechaun in exchange for his pot of gold. While many may celebrate this hunt by making leprechaun traps, it is important to remember that hiring managers are not going to make the same effort in trying to find you.
It is essential to make sure that your contact information is not only up-to-date, but also clearly listed at the top. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to call or email you, should they want to inquire about your abilities any further. In addition, it is recommended to provide a link to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio—it is a convenient way for recruiters to get more familiar with who you are as a person and as a job candidate.
- Show Them All Your Charms
Lucky Charms may be a cereal that many delight in all year round, but the brand becomes of certain significance during St. Patrick’s Day given its many reminders of what the holiday represents. Of course, we all know that the best part of the cereal is the charms themselves—the magically delicious marshmallows.
Providing a “Core Competencies” section on your resume is a way of showing off your skills like the Lucky Charms box displays its sugary treats. Whether you specialize in Project Management, Financial Reporting or are a Cross-Functional expert, it is important to highlight everything that you may consider your hearts, stars and horseshoes, clovers and blue moons, pots of gold and rainbows, and your red balloons.
- Avoid the “Sloppy Drunk” Resume
While the historical meaning of St. Patrick’s Day is one rooted in Irish heritage and religious significance, most have come to associate the 17th of March as a night to dive into pints of Guinness, chase down Irish Car Bombs and soak up Irish Whiskey drinks. From the myriad of DUI checkpoints that line the streets of America on St. Patrick’s Day, it is clear that this is one night that is infamous for its sloppy drunk qualities.
Take cue from the St. Patrick’s Day hangover and avoid crafting a resume that looks like it was written by someone who partied a little too hard. Formatting is incredibly important when attracting hiring managers, as many will throw resumes out if they are too cluttered, long or use ridiculous fonts. Crafting a clean, crisp resume will certainly impress recruiters and make it easier for them to sift through.
- Lead the Way to the Gold at the End of the Rainbow
When unemployed, job seekers are likely to only focus on the “now”—as in, they need paychecks and jobs right now. While this may be the case, it is important to also display a long-term outlook in a resume—and cover letter—as this is a quality that will win over many employers.
Although every professional will offer up different skills, it is important to address the ways that one can take the company forward if employed. In both the cover letter and resume, it is essential to state where your career is headed and how your advancement could improve the hiring party. Showing them the gold at the end of the rainbow is simply a great way to make your employment a more tangible idea.
If you want to land a job that will earn you some true green, it may be worth considering a professional resume review. Chic Resumes by Grammar Chic, Inc. offers a wide range of professional resume and cover letter writing services that are aligned with current hiring trends and have helped many stick out among their competition. Call (803) 831-7444
(803) 831-7444 or email resumewriting@grammarchic.net today to push luck aside and put some real value in your job search!
