Most resumes end up at the bottom of a pile, and that happens because most resumes are boring and look the same. Ideally you want to avoid this, but being unique means taking some risks. As co-founder of the resume-analysing web app RezScore Sean Weinberg points out, one risk worth taking is focusing your job title to better suit the job you’re applying for.
Photo by J Wynia.
The idea is to take your boring job title and add a couple of descriptive words to make it sound more applicable to the job you want to get. As previously noted, recruiters only look at your resume for about six seconds and one of the things they notice is your title. This is an important place to communicate your capabilities, as the description is often ignored. Sean offers a few examples:
[T]he word “intern” or “trainee” doesn’t exactly convey how a graphic designer might have spent 30 hours working directly under one of the most prominent professional designers in the country. In this case, “Graphic Design Apprentice to John Designer” may be a better title.
If you have a very specific established job title, however, you can just append more descriptive terms following it. Just make sure that these terms are relevant to the job you are listing and the job you are applying for. For example:
“Staff Writer” vs. “Staff Writer on Web Technology and Social Media” (You stand out thematically from other “staff writers.”) or “Production Assistant” vs. “Production Assistant for Video Editing” (You do more than just make coffee and run errands.)
If you’re revising your resume, be sure to use a descriptive title. It’s a great way to stand out and avoid winding up at the bottom of the pile. For more tips, be sure to read the full post over at SimplyHired.
Smart Resume Risks [SimplyHired]
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