First, you get excited about new job opportunity. Maybe you were looking, maybe you weren’t – but there it is! You picture yourself in the golden light that all job postings should paint. You imagine your wonderful colleagues and think of all the contributions you can make to the success of the organization. Who thought you could get so excited about work? You have to apply!

Now reality sets in. Is your resume up to date? Is your resume relevant? Yes, you might be delusional in regards to your vision of this position, but don’t screw it up before the interview. Make sure your resume is in check otherwise you are wasting your own positive energy.

A few things from a person who sees thousands of resumes on a regular basis (might be a slight exaggeration, but this post is for the dreamers).

• At least look like you care a little. I’m not saying you need to hire a graphic artist or anything. (Although let me know if you want to explore that path!) There are plenty of simple templates that take no time to find.
• If you have an objective statement in your resume, double/triple check it every time before you submit it. I would suggest only incorporating specific positions in the cover letter to save you time in the future.
• Cover letters! Where have they gone? Stand out and go back to tradition when it comes to the cover letter. Far too many people will only submit a resume. Depending on the submission method this could be attached with your resume or the body of the email itself. This is your time to explain your added value to the culture of the company.
• Proofread, proofread and find a friend to proofread. There are few job openings for “someone who doesn’t pay attention” or “someone who cares only a little”. It’s painful, I know, but you got to do it.
• Save As – PDF. This could just be a weird me thing, but I’m not looking to make edits or critics to your resume. I just want to know if you are professional, qualified and any different from every other resume I have on my desk.

You desire your dream position! Let’s make sure they call you first.