What would you expect from an employer if you are applying for a job? Would you expect the employer to write a glowing recommendation letter for your resume? Would you expect the employer to give you a sample of their work or offer guidance on how to write your resume? Well, guess what? Your resume does not qualify as evidence of your abilities as a writer, and neither does your job application. This should not come as a huge surprise to you since resumes and applications are not designed to showcase your creative ability as a writer. They are designed to get you the job. Therefore, they need to match the employer’s expectations in this regard. This is probably the single most important rule you need to follow when applying for a job. Do not expect your resume to talk about your creative writing skills. It is not for that purpose. Your resume is a sales tool to get you the job. Once you get the job, you can decide whether or not you want to work there. In the meantime, your resume needs to follow the rules and match the requirements of the employer. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your resume does not need to be brilliant to get you the job. It just needs to be perfect.
The Importance of Grammar and Spelling
In addition to following the rules and matching the expectations of the employer, you also need to make sure that your grammar and spelling are correct. Many people do not realize how much spelling and grammar errors can hurt their application. If you are applying for an administrative job, you do not need to be a professional writer to get the job. However, even if you are applying for an entry-level position, you still need to make sure that your grammar and spelling are up to date. Since your resume is probably going to be read by a computer algorithm or a human worker, you do not want to risk falling into the wrong hands simply because of spelling and grammar errors. This is why you need to have a writing sample for your job application. Most employers do not have the time to look for spelling and grammar errors throughout your entire application. Therefore, they are only going to focus on the parts that are closest to the spot where they are reading it. When it comes to your resume, the last thing you need is for it to be marked down because of spelling errors. This will surely turn off any future employer who has the misfortune of reading your resume. In addition, you should avoid any slang or colloquialisms. They are not going to help you stand out to a potential employer. In the same manner, you should avoid using all caps for emphasis. This is also a bad practice because it makes your writing difficult to read. This is why you should never write in all caps. Finally, you should not use contractions when writing your resume. For example, you should not write “I am applying for this job” instead of “I am applying for this job.” You should use the full phrase because it makes you sound more natural and also prevents your writing from seeming too much like a contract. The last thing you want to do is to throw off an employer who may be willing to give you the job just because of your grammar and spelling.
Do Not Use Social Media
While you may be tempted to use social media to show off your writing skills, you should not. An employer does not need to see your Twitter feed to determine whether or not they want to give you a job. However, they may see your Facebook page and think that you are a little too casual about your work. Do not put your social media on your resume. If you really want to show off your writing skills, then you should consider doing something like writing a blog post on your personal website. This is something that is completely under your control and does not have the risk of looking like you are trying to trick the employer. In closing, remember that your resume is not a platform for you to show off your creative writing skills. It is a very limited space, and you should only include the bare essentials. This is why you should avoid using all caps, slang, and any colloquialisms because this is not what an employer is looking for. Following these guidelines will surely help you match the expectations of a future employer. You may also decide to try out a new resume format specifically designed for creative types such as digital nomads, designers, and others who are passionate about their work.