Career Solutions for Creative People - Essay Example

Resume Planning Obviously content is always the more important if we compare it with appearance in regard to resume development. There maybe instances where the opposite will work but generally, a job candidate is better off with a resume containing good content than one with good appearance. This is the case if we are to prioritize only one. One should remember that a resume functions as a quick overview of a job seeker’s qualification for a position and that its purpose is to provide the employer with a way to identify quickly whether said applicant has the basic qualification for the job.

When these variables are absent or are not given enough attention, no matter how pretty a resume looks like, it will end up in the thrash bin. Substance and not the form will ultimately decide the efficacy of an applicant’s dossier. In line with this, I would like to borrow Linda Ormont’s (2001) criteria of strong resume, one that works and catches attention: 1. It has a specific interest to the individual reading it. 2. It is organized and written so that it is easily read. The resume and cover letter will typically be read in approximately thirty seconds. 3. It speaks in powerful, active terms. 4. It presents informative details succinctly. 5. It is impeccably neat and error-free. (p. 155) However, this is not to say that appearance does not count, because it is also pivotal in achieving a candidate résumé’s objectives.

Its significance lies in the fact that it presents an image to the prospective employer. A carefully laid out resume, for instance, could complement the content to project a competent and professional image. Needless to say, a resume that is sloppy or peppered with typographical errors or badly laid-out, would create for the employer an impression that the job applicant would be careless on the job, too. Appearance also helps in getting the resume noticed. It works best in situations where first impressions count - say, when there is a plethora of other resumes and one needs to stand out.

This is also true in the creative industry wherein the visual presentation is everything. Usually, there appears a very thin line between content and appearance as the form becomes the substance in this field. The bottom line here is that content and appearance work hand in hand to communicate the value of the job seeker to a potential employer. Appearance, play the part of positioning and securing the attention of the employer – getting the resume read. The content will nourish the opening and finally detail competencies, enhanced by neat and concise layout.

Not all employers, however, follow the same standard in evaluating resumes. There are those who would scan the dossier in five minutes, there are those who would set store on the first impression, and there are those who value informative content. According to Michael Howard, the degree of importance of these two aspects in resume development varies. (p. 17) For example, if the content, meaning the qualifications, is so outstanding that the candidate just know the employer will be dying to meet with him or her, then there would not be any need for being creative with the appearance at all.

Or, if the job applicant knows that his qualifications aren’t going to excite anyone, then he or she could benefit from some creativity in the resume. References Howard, M. (not dated). Alternative Resumes. Alternative Resumes. Ormont, L. (2001). Career Solutions for Creative People. Allworth Communications, Inc.