Resume and Interview Tips
Thousands of profiles, everyday, flood the desks of recruiters. It is essential to create a different design and an interesting profile that will stand out among the others. All the traditional one- or two-page resumes look similar and have little or no effect on the recruiters. Thus, in order to have an edge on the competitors, applicants need to break free from the "resume box" and start developing resume portfolios that are powerful and effective.
A portfolio focuses on individual expertise and interest areas. It is very helpful in enabling the organization to come to a sound conclusion about a candidate. On the other hand, a resume provides only an overview of the various relevant details and may not be always helpful in reflecting the candidate's actual personality and efficiency areas.
Due to the length of the portfolio, it is believed that the HR personnel might not have the time or interest to go through the entire thing. However, the truth is that portfolios are passed along to the decision-making personnel of the organization, such as the departmental head or the vice president. The portfolio that is well presented, interesting, and matches the organization's requirements, ensures consideration for the vacancy. This approach increases the interview rate and success, compared to the age-old approach of one or two page resumes.
An effective resume portfolio includes in-depth reviews of the applicant's accomplishments, educational, and professional qualifications, responsibilities, and community services. Visuals might be added wherever necessary, including graphs and charts to accentuate key accomplishments. A list of all completed projects is also very effective in evaluating the candidate's expertise. A glimpse of the applicant's personality and career shifts are reflected in the independent study or activities summary that can be added, along with the other information.
