but which is the most effective? Personally, I prefer full color and design. When reviewing a stack of 100+ resumes, anything to set a candidate apart from the pack is helpful. I value design/presentation skills in all roles. Cover letters are an excellent differentiator too.
When you look at 100+ resumes with different formatings, do you ever find it hard to navigate them & find the info you need?
Also, what are your pet peeves when it comes to resumes?
Yes, but that's part of the test. Good creative > basic > bad creative.
I don't really have pet peeves because everything about how someone presents themselves is useful, either in qualifying or disqualifying.
✅ Tailored cover letter & resume
❌ Generic/canned application
People should apply online dating skills to the job search.
Think of yourself as your own representative, responsible for getting the attention of a suitor in a sea of competition.
Copy/pasted messages are easily spotted and ignored. You have to show that you've done some work.
If you think the job search is a numbers game, you're going to be looking for a long time.
I recommend people apply for fewer roles but really take the time to do research on the co & write a strong cover letter, demonstrate that you've already done the work to evaluate the fit.