People have character--so do brands.

How can I make myself stand out amongst the crowd? That is a question many of us have been pondering. In a stack of resumes, how can I get MINE to be noticed and remembered?

1. Branding. I think ts important to "brand yourself" on everything that you associate yourself with (like business cards, resumes, Blogs.) By creating an eye-catching logo, employees will associate that design with your name, which will help them remember who you are. Personally, I would create a brand that reflects your personality. If you are a fashion guru, you could somehow create a brand with a fashionable design or trendy article of clothing. If you are big on "going green" you should definitely incorporate that in your brand. You could use shades of green in your name or add a leaf lightly in the background. If you are an artistic person, you should definitely draw/design your own to show off your talent! Remember, people have character--so do brands.

2. Color. Adding color in a resume can be a controversial matter. Obviously If you are an accounting major, the business world would probably dislike an artsy resume. In the PR world, or any creative field, adding a tasteful bit of color could be the slight leverage you need to stand out. Take this random Google page of resumes. Which one or two stand out to you?? To me, the one with the splash of blue on the left side stands out in my mind. Also, the Libra scales background design caught my eye. All the others sort of blend together in my opinion.

3. Paper. Make sure you choose a paper that will stand out in a professional way. To me, using pink or purple paper is NOT the most professional way to stand out, but I can't speak for all employers in the world. Take Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, for example. The professor wasn't too thrilled about her choice in paper color, but it definitely made her stand out amongst the crowd. I would print a resume on either card stock or on a professional tan color. (P.S. Make sure your color wont look distorted on a colored paper!

Well that's it for now... I should go work on my brand!