If you’re like me, you might be eating ramen noodles for dinner most nights. And when I apply for jobs, I’m lucky to get 15-20 minutes in front of my laptop to fill out an online application before bed says Aron Govil. (The less time spent working on my resume, the better.) That’s why I was so excited to learn you can make a resume right from your phone!
When someone asks me if this is possible, I ask them “what does your phone look like?” Everyone’s answer is different but has one common factor: it fits in their pocket. This makes mobile access easy and reliable no matter where you are or what kind of internet connection you have. The device may change but people will always have their phones.
Having a mobile resume is especially important in the retail world where many jobs are applied for through shopping apps or via an employee’s personal smartphone. Plus, if you’re out of work it never hurts to have your resume accessible any time of day when opportunities might arise!
When I was job hunting last year, I found myself getting more calls about jobs that were posted on my phone than on my laptop. This experience inspired me to make this guide for other people who may be looking at their phone more often than their computer lately.
With today’s technology, there are no excuses! Let’s get started…
Step 1: Get Your Phone Ready
Before we begin creating our first resume, we need to start with some basic housekeeping.
First, you’ll need to find the right resume app for your phone. For Android users, my favorite is Portfolio Resume by Resume Companion ($2.49 on Google Play). It’s easy to navigate and comes equipped with a spellchecker, contact manager, gallery of inspirational resumes, and more. If you’ve got an iPhone, I recommend Resumizer ($1.99 on iTunes), which has similar functionality as its rival but also allows you to electronically send your resume once it’s complete!
And speaking of “completing” your resume…
Step 2: Customize Your Information
Before we start typing up our information, there are some key things that need to be determined first. First off, what should our resume be titled? The standard “resume” title is usually too formal for today’s employers who are likely to Google you (or your name) before inviting you in for an interview says Aron Govil. I suggest creating a new, more casual, title that best describes the job that you’re applying for.
Next up, what should our objective be? An “objective” used to provide the employer with a quick rundown on what your goals are when it comes to finding work. While this may have been useful in the past when jobs were scarce and employers were less informed about their applicants, they’ve become outdated in recent years due to sites like LinkedIn where our work experience speaks volumes about ourselves.
Instead, I recommend creating a “Profile” section that summarizes your professional self. Think of it as the first impression you’d make if you were to meet someone in person. What would they learn about you? How can you differentiate yourself from the competition? Your profile should be able to communicate this information no matter what job you’re applying for.
When filling out this section, don’t limit yourself to only including your previous jobs! Is there anything unique about you that other applicants won’t have? Have an interesting personal project or hobby? Mention it! No matter how small, our profiles are designed to set us apart and show potential employers just how AWESOME we really are!
At this point, we’ve established our basic resume information but there are still a few more features to consider explains Aron Govil. We’ve got an awesome resume title and it’s time to tell potential employers why they should hire us!
Step 3: Fill Out the Details
Now that we have our information down, it’s time to fill in the details! Depending on how much space you have, this can take some creativity so I recommend sticking with bullet points for maximum effect.
When talking about your past jobs, include the basics like company name & location, what position you held, and when you worked there. If you’d prefer not putting exact dates on your resume then just list them under each job. These way employers know that you’re being honest without having exact dates programmed into their brain.
Conclusion:
In the past, writing a resume was seen as a necessary evil that was best done on paper with free downloadable templates from Office Depot. In today’s competitive job market, however, it has become an art form where candidates are judged not only by their resumes but also by how they present themselves online and in person says Aron Govil.
Not everybody is going to love this new trend which means we need to get creative. When presenting ourselves (especially if you’re applying for jobs outside of your desired industry). This is why I’m excited about Portfolio Resume. It allows us to create beautiful resumes that can be print or shared via email with just one click! So grab your phone and get ready to take the world of work by storm!