SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - September 2, 2010) - Your resume is often the first, and sometimes the only, chance you have to make a positive impression on a prospective employer. That's why PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship stores want to help job seekers put their best foot forward during Build a Better Image Week, September 19th - 25th, by offering to fax their resumes for free throughout that week and by sharing some important tips on creating and presenting a professional resume.
"Our stores are proud to be a part of their local business communities and want to do everything they can to help the business professionals in their area who have been impacted by these difficult economic times," said Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. "During Build a Better Image Week, our stores will fax jobseekers' resumes to prospective employers for free. We know that faxing a resume, as well as mailing, emailing or telephoning the company, may help an application stand out from the crowd."
Today's job market remains one of the most competitive in recent memory. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in July 2010 stood at 9.5 percent. Almost 45 percent of the people looking for a job have been unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
"You have only a couple of seconds to capture the interest of a recruiter," says Goble. "That's why it's more important than ever to present a professional, effective resume. Following these tips will help you create an attention-getting resume."
- Follow Directions -- You may not be considered for the position at all if you don't get your resume into the right hands. Don't just assume that a human resources representative is the best choice; follow the directions provided by the employer. Failure to do so identifies you as someone who can't follow directions.
- Start Strong -- You may have only a few seconds to capture the attention of a reader, so lead off with your career objectives and a concise summary of your skills. Striking the right chord here will encourage the recruiter to look more closely at the details of your track record and accomplishments.
- Appearance Matters -- When you mail a copy of your resume, the look and feel will set the tone of your application. Your resume should be freshly printed on high quality paper and should contain plenty of open space. And, this is not the time to indulge your creative side. Use a standard font style that is easy on the eyes -- such as Arial or Times New Roman 12 point.
- Highlight Important Points -- Attention-getters such as borders, bullets, bolds and underlines, used sparingly, can be effective when a live recruiter will be reviewing your resume. Increasingly, however, resumes are being previewed electronically with programs that use keywords to search for key skills, education, and product knowledge. When you detail your background and experience, be sure to use the keywords contained in the job posting where it's appropriate.
- One Size Does Not Fit All -- Your resume needs to be tailored to each opportunity. You need to convince each prospective employer that you are interested in their specific job opening. Simply sending out a "standard" resume increases the risk that your application will get lost in the shuffle.
PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship business services centers are one-stop-shops for professional business services including document binding, laminating and Website template design. "We offer a wide range of services for everyone from budding entrepreneurs to established local businesses. No matter what your business is, we can help you enhance your business image," states Goble.
For more information about Annex Brands and to find a list of services at each location, please visit www.AnnexBrands.com.
About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California. Its brands offer shipping and business services such as moving van, freight shipping, small parcel and overnight document delivery services, private mailbox rental, notary service, high-speed copying in black & white and color, office supplies, web site/e-commerce services, faxing service, printing, stationery, rubber address stamps, key duplication, greeting cards and assorted gift items, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment. To find out more about the company, visit www.AnnexBrands.com.