Creative Ideas for Writing Your Resume

There are basic rules for writing effective resumes. Those rules are not discussed here - they may easily be found on the Internet by looking for “advice for writing resume” or “resume tips” on any major search engine.

Rather, this article focuses on making your resume stand out among thousands of other resumes that employers see.
You should follow the basic rules of resume writing, and then use the following tips for giving your resume that unique twist.
Hope this advice helps you land your next great job!
You are also welcome to contact me if you have some questions on the subject.

Write “Case Studies” of your successful projects:
Even if you include all the basic information needed in a formal resume, there are bound to be other good applicants competing for the employer's attention.
Writing one or two “case studies” of projects or achievements you've been a part of can help you demonstrate the qualities and skills that you bring to the workplace. It will also enable the reader to become more familiar with the person behind the formal data, and give them something to remember you by.
Commit to achieve specific results for the prospective employer:
You should take care not to boast or seem like you think too highly of yourself. However, if you are able to research the company you are applying to and the specific job and its requirements, you may be a bit more bold by writing down some of the things you believe you can achieve on that job.

Try to be specific about results and timetables - e.g. - “I intend to increase the sales of the product in existing markets, and explore to 2-3 new markets within six months“.
Stress your ability to learn from everything:
In almost every profession and organization today, the ability to learn and improve is one of the most important traits, if not the most important one.
You may show how you, too, consider learning to be a major objective by adding lines to the resume that detail major things you've learned on past jobs, through your hobbies, travels, etc.

It will also make your resume more personal and interesting to read - e.g. “One of the major things I've learned from this job is how to be an effective team member, and how to be open to the ideas of colleagues”.
Begin with your favorite quote or motto:
A short sentence adds a touch of your personality to the resume. Be sure to choose a quote or motto which is in line with the values and requirements of the company and position you apply to.

Make it as honest as you can - it will look more credible if you just pick one to please the reader.
Fun idea - recommend great websites: Add a section on the end of your resume which is titled: “My favorite websites“. This is especially appropriate if you are applying for a job that is related to the Internet.
However, you can also make it work if you choose websites that are related to the application - make a list of your choice of marketing advice websites for a marketing professional job, for example. Make sure you pick high quality sites and check that they are active - or you will be seen as unprofessional.

Amir Elion is a management and innovation consultant and facilitator. His Practical Creativity website on http://www.best100ideas.com includes numerous creativity and innovation tools. The ideas on this article as well as other creative ideas in many fields and creativity tools, may be found on the free monthly Creative Ideas Newsletter: http://www.best100ideas.com/newsletter.shtml

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