This weeks readings about resumes has only reinforced what I have already learned and have been told, resumes are the most important part about getting a job. Most of the work that needs to be done when trying to get a job needs to be working on the resume. When working on the resume the single most important part would have to be overall appearance. If your resume looks like trash your chances for getting that job will be going there as well. The instructors blog about resumes said it the best, "The HR people should want to marry your resume," and that's what needs to be thought about while writing your resume.
Right along side with making your resume look good, has to be about how you word your sentences used in the resume. Like previously said in this response, your resume needs to look good. Helping with how your resume looks is how you use of parallel action verbs. The instructor blog made a good point by saying you should use bullets with action verbs. While your employer is looking at your resume you need to try an catch their eye and keep their attention, and one of those ways would be the proper use of action verbs.
The last part of an easy way of catching someone's attention while trying to get a job through a resume would be tailoring it to fit the job that you are applying for. You wouldn't want to put in irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the job that is being applied for. A prime example would have to be you wouldn't want to put down you have experience working on airplanes if you are applying for a nursing job. This is especially true when you would have more important information to include. The overall point is prioritize what is important for your job when writing a resume.
Tailoring
I also took a lot out of the information concerning tailoring your resume to meet the requirements and the desires of the potential employer. As you reinforced, this includes an understanding of what is, in fact, relevant information to the position, and what actually isn't. I haven't taken this concept into too much consideration in the past, but will definitely do so from now. This will include leaving out information that won't give me the edge or show that I'm the one for the job. I don't think the importance of this, especially in the instance of constructing your resume, can be over looked.
The Struggle with Appealing Resumes
I’ll start by saying that I agree with the majority of what you’ve authored here. For instance, as you’ve recapped, “making your resume look good” is imperative. Submitting one that is poorly constructed, in regard to design and overall appearance, will not be advantageous for any applicant. The tips presented in the “Instructor Blog #2: Resumes” post, as well as in the other suggested readings will help to make a resume more appealing, if implemented correctly. I also agree that tailoring each resume to the position one is applying for is not only wise, but necessary. Potential employers will have no interest in an applicant that submits an irrelevant resume or one so general and vague that it lacks support as to why he or she is the best candidate for the job. Where I have to disagree with your post is in your opening argument; that resumes are the most important part about getting a job. Although first in the order of applying, I think an appealing resume is only half of the struggle, where the interview represents the other half. Still, I believe you are correct in emphasizing the importance of producing a resume that will “spark an interest in the employer,” as suggested by Douglas Richardson of CareerJournal.com.
In the Door
The resume is very important, as it has the potential, if perfect or near perfect, to get you in the door. After that, things such as your portfolio and the interview become even more important. The resume is just the tool HR people and managers use to initially screen candidates. With that said, the resume still has to be good enough to get you noticed in a pile of hundreds of others. The resume's looks are important, but so is the content within it, and how it captures the attention of the reader. All of these elements have to work together to get you from unemployed to employed.
In the door
I agree that the resume is very important. After reading the excerpts required this week, I can't help but wonder how much credence recruiters really put on the resume. Aside from making sure there are no typos or seemingly other simple errors, how can we really make our resume any different or more exciting than the next guy? It is my personal belief that whether or not your resume gets picked is up to 'luck of the draw'. If the person who happens to be reading your resume is a fan of the style you chose, then you are lucky and this doesn't happen all the time.
Resume
I agree with you. It seems to me that whether or not your resume is chosen is completely decided by whether or not your resume is pretty. This is especially evident after reading these articles. From what I gathered, I know that I have to use key words and make sure I am using a unique format. I am not even sure on which sections are actually relevant. The whole resume process is completely up to the whims of the person that is actually reviewing the resumes.
Instructor Comment
You write, "The whole resume process is completely up to the whims of the person that is actually reviewing the resumes." You are correct inasmuch as there is no one criteria for evaluating resumes. As the results come in from the Resume Extravaganza, however, pay attention to which resumes get the most nods. I think we'll see that the popular resumes have certain features in common.
Formatting and Things
What you've said about resumes being the most important part of getting a job may be true for some people, but I consider it simply as one more hoop to jump through. The interviewing process is arguably more important-to me, anyway-and references are even more important. References can convey to future employers, much more intimate details about how you work-for example. As you've indicated, your resume should at least look good (enough to pass the first hoop). I'm a fan of bullets as well-they are effective for those 'I'm only going to scan this for 10 seconds' reader. The way action verbs are used in this context is slightly new to me-I'll probably have to work on it a bit.