Five strategies to make your resume shine

Here are some sure-fire strategies to grab your future boss's attention:

1. Recognise your special skills.

Don't list swimming, singing, typing or using computers as your special skills, advises Suwanna Wiriyasathien, the assistant manager of the Nation Multimedia Group's personnel department.

"The weakest point most new grads have is not knowing what their special skills are," says Suwanna, who screens 25 to 35 resumes every day.

Most companies are looking for personality-oriented skills like creative thinking, decision-making expertise, leadership or public-speaking abilities, she says.

Many recent graduates lack work experience, so they think they don't have special skills.

Wrong.

"Think about the activities you did during your studies," Suwanna says.

"If you were head of some clubs in the university, then you do have leadership skills. If you felt you did very well presenting your final report or thesis, then you have presentation or public-speaking skills."

These skills may not be directly applicable to the position you want to land, but they show who you are.

"The key is to sell yourself. So take some time to think more deeply about what you can offer," she says.

2. Use top-tier software when attaching files.

Companies print out the resumes of promising candidates. Attach your resume with Brand X software and your prospective employer might not be able to print it out.

"Many companies, including ours, keep resumes in hard-copy form," Suwanna says.

"And if they cannot be printed out properly, they're likely to be looked upon as trash."

Suwanna suggests using Adobe Acrobat when formatting and attaching files. Practically every computer has it, so printing out resumes - as you composed them - is a snap.

"Employers don't have enough time to correct the formats," Suwanna notes.

3. Have specific goals for each job you want to land.

"Focus your goals, making them pertinent to each particular job," suggests Paradee Ganokroj, marketing manager of JobDB.com.

"Having the same old goal for every resume isn't the right way to attract prospective employers if you want to be chosen for an interview."

4. Show your creativity.

"If you're looking for graphics or design jobs, be sure to design a really outstanding resume. Your one-of-a-kind resume should be visually appealing, allowing you to present your creativity," says Paradee of JobDB.com.

5. Don't send your classwork.

"Anybody can do a tutorial," says Kriengkrai Supornsahusrungsi of Imagimax Animation & Design Studio. Looking for cartoon designers, Kriengkrai screens about 60 resumes a month.

"What sets a demo reel apart from everybody else's is the logic of the demo reel's story or game and the use of unique camera angles," he says.

By Aree Chaisatien

The Nation