FAQ?

[athelind]

Last week, I applied for a job that included a "supplemental questionaire" about my background in cartography. I found that I was able to "sell myself" much more by answering those questions than I ever have writing cover letters or even resumes. I also realized just how much I have done and have accomplished and how much ass Your Obedient Serpent actually kicks.

I should have been writing my cover letters like this all along. I just didn't have the framework to build on. Now that I do, I can sit down and rewrite my "boilerplate" cover letter template -- I have a continually-evolving "stock" cover letter than I tailor for each job.

I should also look over my resume with these new revelations in mind, and revise the phrasing and presentation.

And now, the part where I solicit feedback.

An important part of getting hired, I hear, is to insure that your resume stands out, that something sets you apart from the crowd. Heretofore, I've just tried to create neat, legible resumes, using a clear typeface that faxes and copies well and a format that shows that I spent some time thinking about presentation.

I have, however, heard tales of people who got jobs because they used radically unconventional resume formats.

I'm considering the possibility of drafting a Frequently Asked Questions About EWD, and submitting that as a resume. The idea of an advertising brochure approach (What can EWD bring to YOUR Company?) has also crossed my mind.

So -- what do people think?
[Poll #273811]

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Comments

[cargoweasel.livejournal.com]

It depends on the job and the company. Since most recruiters filter your resume through a database of some kind, and output the same thing for all candidates, the formatting is usually rarely seen by the hiring manager in my experience - putting your resume on fancy paper or doing layout tricks is generally a waste of time. Now, if it is a job at an ad agency or something, maybe.

The content of the resume is more important than the layout. Arial 12 pt is fine. And I'm a graphic designer.