Most people know better than to wear the same style of clothes they did 10 or 20 years ago, especially to an interview. But every day even experienced executives send out résumés that are the equivalent of wearing disco fashion in a digital age.
Getting your résumé in order is always a satisfying first step. It makes you feel like you’re already on your way to a new job. But if your résumé is missing a profile and isn’t loaded with achievements, you won’t be landing that dream job soon.
If you haven’t been in the market for awhile, you might be surprised to find that you are now the entrepreneur of your career. Your résumé is a marketing tool that needs to reflect and express your executive brand.
Whenever possible, your résumé should demonstrate what you do. If you’re a creative professional, you should have a creative résumé. The HR department might need your job history in a standard format, but that will be a formality. What will capture attention is a résumé like Jake Kahana’s.
TheLadders.com is a great place to find contemporary corporate résumé examples. They run a regular feature called “Does My Résumé Stink.” This will give you a sense of the format and features for standard corporate résumés.
You have to use your own judgment as to whether stepping out of the format is right for you, but start by making sure your résumé is at least this side of the millennium.
