A Nice Thing Happened Today

I just finished working on thoroughly enjoyable a resume update for a client I first worked with 2 years ago. Why enjoyable?

Well, at that time my client was just finishing college and wanted to start working in the video game industry as a junior marketer. Those jobs are hard to come by, and my client had no experience other than an internship at a financial services company.

To generate interest when you have little or no relevant experience, you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Most graduate resumes - in fact most resumes from anyone - are dull and boring affairs. From the recruiter's perspective, everyone sounds the same.

So with David, I focused on showing what made him the perfect fit for busy company in a creative industry - his energy, bright personality, and passion for the video game industry. To help convey this, I used a number of different strategies, including using a direct quote from David which expressed the value he would add and the energy he would being to any new position. Every word of his resume was designed to show why any video game company would benefit from having him on their team.

As with most clients, I didn't hear from David again once the resume was complete. People always promise to let me know how their search went, but usually they forget in the rush and excitement of a new job. So it wasn't until I started to work on David's update today that I discovered he has spent the last 18 months working in marketing for a video game company!  He got the job almost as soon as he left college.

This is one of those things that makes my job so rewarding. Much of the success is David's, but a little of it at least is due to my resume. Having spent too many years not really enjoying my work back when I was in HR, I like that feeling of having added value.

Comments

[Marcia Robinson]

I worked in college career center operations for several years helping new graduates make successful transitions and develop good career habits early. I remain in touch with many and it really does make my day, when I get an email or a phone call from one of them who is now taking their career to the next level.

It has been really fulfilling for me to be able to see these new professionals get into their career zone and do well!

I love to read your blog.

Marcie

[Saran]

Hi Louis, this is a very useful blog. I came across this during a search for effective resumes. I received a lot of compliments for my presentation visual resume at http://www.slideshare.net/saranyan/visual-resume
I was thinking of new ways to stand out among other candidates. Good blog.

-Saran

[L. roberts]

I also used to work in a career center and while i did not work on the career advising side of things I was able to see some of what you mentioned. All of the resume/cover letter advising would end with a let us know how things turn out and just as you stated few ever return to let you know how things turned out. But in our office they always figured that when someone didn't return that was good news. I have since left that area and started my own site(www.myislandjob.com) and it is more so to facilitate the individuals in that job seeking process. Its more so to bridge that divide between employers and job seekers. But as i said great post.

[QuestingElf]

Wow! I really liked David's story. That's great, to find out that some employers really do believe that enthusiasm is marketable.