Don't push submit and wait!

On June 3^rd we talked about customization of your resume.   Now that you have created a version of your resume for a specific job….what next?  Before applying online,  print your resume.  Proofread it  first thing in the morning the old fashioned way:  marking any errors with a pen.  For some reason errors are easier to spot when reading a hard copy.  Make sure your spacing is consistent and the document has a good visual balance.  Check your font size, punctuation, indents and tabs to make sure things are lined up where they are supposed to be.  Check your grammar and spelling.  Spell check is NOT a catch all.  A long time ago I read a resume for a stock room manager that said:  Shit custom packed boxes for inter-store transfers.   Print and proofread.

Resumes should not contain fancy graphics or pictures without testing how they look when sent electronically to both macs and pcs.  Here at Apparel Resource we have received resumes that were beautiful on the sender’s desktop but a hot mess on ours… the formats can get jumbled.  As a general rule graphics should never dominate the text.

Once you have edited your resume and you have a final draft, you are ready to submit.   If you are applying on line, follow up.  Don’t push submit and wait.  If the company you are applying for is well known, based on odds you will get an auto reply and nothing more.  I used to recruit internally for a fortune 500 retailer.  We received more resumes for every opening than we could read.  So we used key words to filter.  Use your professional network, LinkedIn, Google or other resources to find the Corporate Recruiter and or potential Hiring Manager.  Once you have their contact information, follow your resume submission with a direct contact via email, a LinkedIn message, or a phone call.   All corporate headquarter phone numbers are public.  You can call during business hours and go through the corporate operator.  Many have name directories after hours and you can capture the extension and call directly the next day or leave a message.  Practice what you intend to say out loud several times before making this call.  I guarantee it will sound much better.  How many times have you had to re--do your out of office messages because you hadn’t really thought about what you needed to say?  Smile while you speak it gives your voice more energy.

Print and Proofread.  Do some tests and email your resume to friends and family to make sure they transmit as you intend.  Once submitted online…follow up with a direct contact. 

Let us know if as a hiring manager you have ever read a resume with errors.  Did you edit the candidate?  Think about your network.  How could you find the hiring manager or internal recruiter at the employer you are interested in working for?  Do you know someone that works there?   Do you think a direct email or a phone call is more likely to get a response?

To find out what job opportunities we are working on contact:   kari@apparel-resource.com