it can be shown that the bad reference is the reason the employee did not get the job. Thus, the applications from some employers contain language that releases former employers from liability for what is said in a reference.
It is worth repeating that prospective employers are very likely to search you out on social media and the Internet in general. It is therefore imperative that you do not post embarrassing photos or texts on any of your social media sites!
Figure 6‐1 shows a poorly written student resume. Figure 6‐2 shows this resume corrected to display a more appropriate presentation of material. Figure 6‐3 is an example of a resume prepared by an experienced professional.
Key Words
Key words are terms and words that are part of the profession of interior design. They relate to the skills experiences and knowledge base of the interior designer. Any resume that contains those words will go into the “save” pile whereas those that do not include many of those terms will likely be ignored. Whether sent electronically or on paper be sure you are using key words that will attract attention at the particular organization or job.
Examples of key words that will draw the attention of an interior design firm are: AutoCAD, Revit, and other software titles; project management; LEED® specialist; building codes; and other terms that key into skill sets, knowledge areas, and design tasks that are critical for the firm's staff. A firm may also look for other terms or key words, like sales experience, space‐planning, and product coordination. Fluency in any foreign language will be an important skill for large firms doing global business. Obviously, these are only a small sampling of the kinds of key words and skills employers will be searching for. A tip for establishing important key words in design is to keep a log of the terms that you see within the Web sites of various interior design firms and the associations.
Another point about key words is to think in terms of nouns for your descriptions rather than just verbs. Action verbs are common in resumes but sometimes an employer is not looking for “action” but a noun. For example, he may search for “registered interior designer in Florida” not “experienced designer.” Consider how you are using all your words in a resume to present the best picture of what you CAN do for a firm, not just what you did for someone else or in school.
FIGURE 6‐1. Example of a poorly written student resume. Note the misspelled words.
FIGURE 6‐2. This is a revised version of the student resume in Figure 6‐1.
Physical Appearance of a Resume
The physical appearance of job application documents is important whether they are mailed as a paper version or sent electronically. The appearance of the resume can, by itself, make a good or bad impression. Here's a comment from a design firm manager: “The resume and letter came in handwritten, on lined notebook paper. It wasn't even on letter‐size paper! It sure got my attention—that is, I promptly put it in the do not call file!” claimed a design director.
FIGURE 6‐3. Resume prepared by an experienced professional.
An employer might be impressed by a creatively designed paper resume or even a creatively designed electronic version, but not if the content is lacking. For most employers, creativity in the presentation of resumes and cover letters is mostly an inconvenience. Remember that even a print resume might be scanned, and if it cannot be scanned, it will not be read.
Here are some important tips in preparing a traditional print version of a resume. These tips apply to a traditional print cover letter as well:
Make sure to have perfect spelling and good grammar.
Stick to standard business size paper as they might be filed in a letter size filing cabinet.
The text should reproduce as a dark black image. This does not mean to make everything bold face.
Do not send photocopies if you mail your resume.
If you include a photograph, avoid casual or suggestive ones.
Online resumes are likely to be sent in plain text using Microsoft Word or another word processing software. If you e‐mail your resume as an attachment, there is a chance that the receiver's system will consider it spam and not accept the e‐mail. An introductory e‐mail will help the receiver know that you are sending something and they can look out for it. As for online presentation, here are some important tips:
You can use a similar format as you would the paper version.
Be sure to use headlines to divide up the body of the resume.
Keep sections short. If the resume is too long, it will be harder to download or take too much time.
Bullets and indents are also a good way to format the resume.
It is okay to use bold type especially for headlines, but stick to basic New Times Roman for your typeface. Don't use the creative typefaces, which will make it harder to read and scan.
It is okay to use color, but again consider how it will successfully transmit. Use simple graphics that will not take too long to download.
When you post your resume to a site—whether it is your own site or one of the job Web sites like Monster.com—you want to be cyber safe. Be sure you understand the privacy policies of the posting site.
You can include links to your Web site or your LinkedIn profile.
Check your spelling and grammar—again!
You may want to check the reference list for books that can help further if you wish to prepare an electronic resume. Several are included in the general references.
THE COVER LETTER
Cover letters are a traditional part of the job‐hunt process. It should always accompany a resume whether the traditional paper variety or the online variety. Basically use the same tactics for either expression including using key words in your cover piece. Figure 6‐4 is an example of a cover letter appropriate in today's job market. This cover can then inform the recipient that a resume is attached.
