New Year, New Resume How to Get Creative - FlexJobs

New Year, New Resume How to Get Creative - FlexJobsNew Year, New Resume How to Get Creative 26With the hunt for a new job comes new energy, new goals, and new challenges. For job seekers, this also means a new resume, new cover letter, new interviews, and most importantly, new opportunitiesA great way to get mora job opportunities is to always review and revamp your resume. Serving as your professional calling card, your resume could be what makes or breaks your chances with a specific organization or position. Below weve got some inspiration from a successful job seeker who used a new resume to open up job opportunities, as well as some tips to help you revamp your job searchHeres Jeff Mears story on creating a new resume for new opportunitiesWhen Jeff Mears, a designer and coder, decided to pick up and move to Portland, Oregon, he knew hed have to do something special to stand out from the pack of creative professionals in his new city if he wanted to land a great job. In early Dec ember 2012, Jeff decided to completely redesign his traditional resume to showcase his design skills and personality. (See Jeffs resume here.)I just started applying for work this Tuesday and am already swamped with people contacting me already. I took a risk with a fresh approach to my resume. I also created a companion website to it, says Mears. His website is meant to give employers a more in-depth look at his resume, with samples of his design work, reviews and praise from colleagues and clients, and his career story- all information that is pretty much impossible to include on a traditional resume.One of the most obvious differences in Jeffs new and improved resume is his ability to let his personality and confidence shine through. He comes across as friendly and open, professional but personable, and super-knowledgeable in his field, adding depth and breadth to his professional identity.For his efforts, Jeffs resume and job search were featured onBusinessInsiderin an article c alled, This Guys Resume Says Im Ready To Rock and Hiring Managers Are Lining Up. Jeff toldBusinessInsiderthat in moving to Portland, he knew his competition would be stiff. Therere so many creatives here, and I know I needed to stand out. It doesnt just demonstrate my skills it demonstrates that Ill go the extra mile.Jeff told that since starting to send out his new resume, his job search has really taken off. Mears said, Ive had a face-to-face interview and three phone call interviews today with more scheduled throughout the week. Apparently the resume worked (and theBusinessInsiderarticle didnt hurt).Here are a few tips for a new resume and new job search for the new yearTailor your resume.You dont want to send the same resume to every job you apply for. Make sure to tailor your resume to meet the different formats you will encounter, and tailor it so it matches the job description, the company culture, and mission, as well as industry-specific language.Use differentresume format s.Although the traditional resume is still a safe bet in many cases, dont fear adding a bit of your personality to it or switching up the format. Explore what works for you functional resume, voreingestellt resume, social media resume, creative resume, and morePerfect your personal brand.Then, add it to your resume and other job search documents. Your personal brand, especially when communicated accurately, can be what helps you stand out from the crowd.Clean up that social media.With a clean slate, nows the time to clean up social media and make sure that it stays that way. Clear out any pictures, likes, or status updates that are going to look unprofessional to hiring managers. Then, add your resume where applicable.Learn tolove your network.Well, at least, love on it a bit. Now is the perfect time to reach out and make contact while wishing everyone a happy new year. Your network can be your lifeline in your job search, so make sure to grow it and nurture it.Use your cover letter more effectively.Rather than focusing on the same information that is in your resume, use your cover letter to address other items you would like employers to know about you. Use this area to address employment gaps, major achievements, and to let a bit of yourself shine through as well.Remember to mind your manners.When you are stressed out it can be easy to forget the tiny details that make a good impression. Remember to say thank you, and when following up, be inquisitive and understanding, rather than upset at the amount of time that has passed.We applaud Jeffs creativity and daring-do, and we think more job seekers should start the new year with a brand-new resume and job search that tells the world, Im ready to rock No, you dont have to be a designer and coder to create a new and improved resume and job search- you can start small and create a whole package that communicates yourprofessional brand.Looking for more job search tips? Check out thejob search tip section on the b logAre you making a new resume for a fresh start? Tell us about it below