July 2009

Looks Count
Don't turn off employers with an ugly resume

What is Beauty?

You may think this is more a question for ivory tower philosophers than for job seekers in the trenches looking for practical advice, but I assure you the topic is relevant.

According to the latest report on the US economy, there are 6 ½ million fewer jobs than since the recession began. Competition is tougher than it's been in 26 years, so even if you graduated from an Ivy League school and have a sterling work record, you could be in trouble. Failing to pay serious attention to your resume's appearance may mean that your key marketing tool isn't getting a second look.

While you needn't run out and sign up for a course in fine arts, aesthetics, or graphic design in order to prepare a proper resume, it is crucial that you understand these two points:

• The human brain perceives harmony in symmetry and proportion as reflection of something good, pleasing and desirable.
• Conversely, the brain perceives a jumble of mixed elements in an unbalanced framework as discomforting, distracting, or just plain ugly.

Although the content of the resume will always be the most critical factor in an employer's decision, poor design and sloppy execution will detract from the best written resume, by the most qualified candidate for as long as hiring officers come equipped with human brains.

The Resume Beauty Pageant

Think of the job market like a beauty contest. In your mind's eye, picture your resume strutting down the runway in its swimsuit, every asset and every flaw equally on display. Now imagine you are a contest judge.

To play along, print a hard copy of your resume; grab a ruler, a pen or pencil and prop the document up next to the computer screen. Study its appearance only; ignore what it says. Use the prompts that follow as guides and be sure to scrutinize every line.

Choose the answers that best apply to your resume and mark the corresponding numbers in brackets to the right. When you reach the end, sum up the figures and take care when adding plus (+) and minus (-) point values.

1. MARGINS: Measure the white space at the top, bottom, right and left of the text.
• At least ¾ inch [+5]
• Narrow - ½ inch [+3]
• Equal on all sides [+5]
• Top & bottom differ from right & left [+3]
• Measurements differ on more than 2 edges [-5]


2. ALIGNMENT: Lay a ruler at the points as indicated.
   • Left sides of all lines match up [+5]
   • All bullet points match up [+5]
   • All tabbed lines match up [+5]
   • More than 1 line is out of whack [-5]
   • Paragraphs are even on right and left sides (justified) [+5]
   • Only some paragraphs are justified [-5]
   • Text wraps so some lines contain only 1 word [-5]
   
   
3. SPACING: Use your eyes and a ruler to check.
   • White space exists between all topic sections [+5]
   • White space between topic sections is equal [+5]
   • White space separates all bulleted lines [+5]
   • Spacing between bulleted lines is equal [+5]
   • There is no white space between lines [-10]
   • There are space gaps between some words [-5]
   • Spacing between sentences varies [-5]
   
   
4. FONTS: Just look at the text on the paper.
   • Used no more than 2 font types [+5]
   • Used business standards, like Times and Arial [+5]
   • Used 1 or more unusual / novelty fonts [-5]
   • Used 3, or fewer styles for emphasis (bold, italic, etc.) [+5]
   • Font sizes are 10 points and larger [+5]
   • Used 9 point and smaller sizes to fit everything in [-10]
   • Color is black, or a dark shade on white / light paper [+5]
   • Colors look great on computer, but barely show on paper [-10]
   
   
5. CONSISTENCY:
   • All heading styles match [+5]
   • Design formats / elements are uniform [+5]
   • Page breaks keep format elements together [+5]

If you've diligently completed the exercise, you've gained a basic understanding of ways the physical appearance of your resume may evoke delight, or horror in the eye of the beholder. How did your beauty measure up?

85-90 Points: Approaching perfection. Your resume exhibits harmony in form and proportion and it puts hiring officers in a positive frame of mind to assess your qualifications. Keep it circulating.

60-84 Points: Producing negative vibes. A reader may not consciously think, oh, those mismatched margins, but he, or she, will sense something is not quite right. Take immediate steps to shape up problem areas.

60 Points and Less: Scaring employers away. Your resume is hideous and requires an extreme makeover. Now is not too soon.

What is Truth?

When your resume's got it going on in the looks department, it gives you a leg up on the competition. Take the time and care necessary to make your resume a triple threat that shows off brains, talent and beauty. Employers will fall all over themselves for a chance to hook the whole package...in any economy.