Creative Resume Writing

Creative writing is an art, and I like to say it is also a craft. Not that I'm suggesting you have to be crafty to be creative with your resume, but… I do advise that you use your intuition and carefully craft a document that will resonate with the needs of your potential employer.

• Settle yourself in your favorite reading chair.
• Sit quietly for several minutes. [Is that so difficult to do? For me it is almost impossible, so you have my sympathy(!)]

You've read the job description and maybe you've even visited the offices. Visualize arriving at 9 AM and performing the various tasks that the employer or human services director has described. Have a notepad and pen handy and write down any questions that might occur to you about that daily routine (you can ask these questions during your interview).

See yourself performing the required tasks and interfacing with other employees.

Now ask yourself why the company is seeking a replacement or additional employee. Psyche out their frustrations. Where are you going to help them solve some problems that have caused (aggravation, loss of sales, loss of quality services and/or products, etc.). How are your skills (special abilities), education and experience going to enhance their business? Do a thorough "interior search" by placing yourself in the shoes of your potential employer.

Here is where you will focus the content of your resume because this is the magnet that will cause the person reviewing the pyramid of documents to cast the rest of the (boring, repetitive) documents aside and focus on you.

Creative resume writing, like any type of creative writing, is a discovery process. Go inside and visualize; ask the important questions about your "target person," target market, reader, audience, etc. It is always about them and never about you!

For a free resume assessment and suggestions for creatively improving your resume, click here.

For more information about Writing a Mission Statement, click here.

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