Getting your resume noticed by a prospective employer is an art, especially in a down economy. As a result, you have to find a way to stand out from the stack of resumes, which is something I’m quite adept at doing.

After my employer laid me off in February 2009, one of the first things I did was create an online resume on Monster and CareerBuilder; however, I also prepared a Word version of my resume. I have learned that recruiters always ask for a Word version of my resume, so I make sure that presentation is everything in the one I provide. Here are a few guidelines I suggest when preparing your resume for a prospective employer:

Customize/Create Your Own Look & Feel

I realize that not everyone is adept in Word or designing templates from scratch, so some people use the standard templates available in Word. Unfortunately, many use those same designs and never change anything to personalize the look of the resume. A prospective employer will not discard your resume if you use standard Word templates; however, if you have a personal stamp to your resume’s design, it is likely to stand out.

If you are using a standard Word template, take time to tweak the design. If you are a proficient Word user, try creating your own resume template. You can always refer to the templates as a guideline. Look at different resume template styles, and mix and match the things you like to create your own look for your resume. While you should keep your resume’s design professional, you can also be a little creative. For my resume, I used a clip art design in the header to designate my profession. When I interviewed with my prospective employer (now my current employer), the hiring manager commented on the impressive design and structure of my resume. Therefore, how your resume looks matters and creates a lasting impression if designed well.

Use the Active Voice & Passive Voice Appropriately

If you are currently working and seeking a new position, use the active voice to describe your current responsibilities. List your responsibilities for previous positions held using the passive voice. If you are currently unemployed, write all of your previous positions using the passive voice; you will not use the active voice since you are currently unemployed.

If you need a refresher in language arts on the active voice vs. passive voice, let me give you a couple of very easy examples:

• Active Voice: The barrista is making fresh coffee.
• Passive Voice: Fresh coffee was made by the barrista.
• Active Voice: The team will decide how to proceed with an issue.
• Passive Voice: The issue will be decided upon by the team.

For more information on active voice and passive voice, check out the Owl website, or refer to a writing guidelines reference book.

Use Action Words to Describe Roles & Responsibilities

Use action words (verbs) as the very first word when describing your roles and responsibilities for each position. To provide another language arts refresher, let me give you examples of action words.

• Example One: Prepares flyers, postcards, brochures, and other marketing materials
• Example Two: Develops executive presentations

The word “prepares” is the action word in example one, and the word “develops” is the action word in example two. These examples also use the active voice rather than the passive voice. To reiterate, use the active voice for the action word if you are currently employed and seeking a new position. You would only use passive action words for previously held positions.

• Example Three: Prepared flyers, postcards, brochures, and other marketing materials
• Example Four: Developed executive presentations

The word “prepared” is the action word in example three, and the word “developed” is the action word in example four. These examples use the passive voice rather than the active voice. Use the passive voice for the action word if you are currently unemployed and seeking a position and/or have previously held that position.

Update Your Resume Regularly

I usually update my resume template once a year to give it a fresh look and feel in the design and layout. The look and feel of my resume often does not change drastically, unless I spot a new template design style I want to try. However, I do change the font styles, bullet types, and other design elements to give my resume an upgrade.

I update my resume every three months to add new responsibilities, skillsets/software, etc. If you wait for long time periods before updating your resume, you might forget a new skill, award/honor, etc. you’ve acquired. Additionally, you will spend less time reviewing your resume for a job opportunity if you keep it updated every three months. You never know when a new opportunity comes your way, so it is beneficial to you to keep your resume updated regularly with new information.

Other Resume Tips

• Use font styles and sizes appropriately – Do not use more than three font styles in your resume, and if you mix and match font styles, make sure they complement each other. If you want to use a sans-serif font (i.e. Arial, Tahoma, or Helvetica), use a standard font that other users are likely to have on their PC. The same applies for serif fonts (i.e. Times New Roman, Palatino Linotype, or Georgia). The key is to stick with a font style that looks professional. In addition, your font size should not be smaller than 11 pts.
• Proof, proof, and re-proof your resume – Check for typos, discrepancies in font sizes/font types, and misused words. If your resume has errors, it creates the impression that you are not attentive to details.
• Check for spelling and grammar issues – Use Word’s built-in spell and grammar check feature; however you should also refer to a writing guideline (online or in a book).
• Make sure your electronic resume is in a compatible format – By default, Word 2007 uses the .docx file format when saving files. Not everyone has the ability to download the compatibility pack if viewing your resume at the office. Therefore, save the file in a Word 97-2003 compatible format (.doc) if you’re using Word 2007.
• Send a cover letter with your resume if initiating contact with a prospective employer – If you didn’t initiate the contact, be sure to include a short cover letter with your resume.
• Use 1-inch page margins for all margins, and use .5 inch spacing for your header and footer.
• Print your resume on 8.5×11 inch white paper that does not smudge (if providing a hardcopy of your resume).

Download:

• View sample resume.
• Download my custom resume template.

I was laid off for 48 days after getting laid off on February 2, 2009. On March 23, 2009, I walked back into an office complex as an employee. In this economy, I consider finding a job so quickly a miracle. As I chronicled on Twitter, I’m extremely grateful and thankful to be working again. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of me during my layoff. I appreciate you.

On February 2, 2009, I was terminated by my employer due to business considerations. In short, I was laid off due to cutbacks, which was an effect of the economic downturn hitting everyone, everywhere. I can’t say that I didn’t see this coming, so I wasn’t overly shocked when they told me. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had been mentally preparing myself for this possible outcome for several months. I tried to stay positive and hoped that the down economy wouldn’t grab me in its clutches, but I couldn’t evade its hungry claws.

I worked for my former employer for nearly two years. I left my Fortune 500 corporate job due to the corruption and craziness going on around me for an opportunity at a small firm. I felt I would be relatively safe from the corporate politics which plagued me previously, which I was, and somewhat safe from the huge, annual layoffs that the Fortune 500 company I worked at. All in all, working for my former employer was not a bad experience. I appreciated them for rescuing me from my corporate gig and gave my all (and then some) the two years that I worked there. Yes, I had my frustrations like anyone would at any job, but other than my own desire to change careers in recent months, it wasn’t a totally miserable experience working there.

Still, I wasn’t blind to what was going on around me. I didn’t ignore the decision by my former employer to forgo raises last year. I paid attention to the warning signs at the last employee meeting last month. I was getting ready to prepare. I was going to start looking for a new job. I thought I had at least a few months before the axe dropped; however, I was all wrong about the timing. Way wrong.

When I was called into the conference room for an impromptu meeting, I already knew what was coming. I could see it on the managers’ somber faces when they looked at me as I sat down. I could see that they did actually regret terminating my employment due to cutbacks. I also could see that they expected me to react badly to the news, and when I didn’t, I could also see the surprise in their faces. Why the surprise?

• Because I took the news with class and didn’t have a freak out
• Because I told them that I understood
• Because I kept my head up and told them that I will land on my feet with a smile on my face
  
• Because I remained cool when I should have been hot before packing my things and taking that long walk towards the elevator

I know I left a good impression that my former employers won’t forget. I know that one day they will regret letting someone as talented, sharp, and intelligent like me go. But one person’s loss is another person’s gain. In the mean time, I’m just trying to deal with a new and totally foreign experience…being an involuntary free agent.

I have worked steadily since I was 15 years old. Finding myself involuntarily unemployed is an entirely new situation for me. I never have been unemployed unless I chose to be during some of my college years. Otherwise, I have always worked and taken care of myself. I prided myself on being financially dependent at an early age and relying on myself for anything I needed or wanted. There have been times in the past when I have been down to my last few dollars, but I would rather suffer in silence until a check arrived rather than ask anyone for financial assistance. It’s not that no one would help me because they would. It’s just that I have this thing called pride, and the need to be dependent on myself has been ingrained in my soul for many, many years. When it comes to helping others financially or in any other capacity, that’s easy for me to do. When it comes to others helping me in terms of financial assistance…well, I don’t do so great in that area. Again, I have this thing about taking care of myself without anyone’s help. Letting someone else take care of me is not something I’m good at doing. However, I realize there may be a point that I have to depend on someone else…at least for a little while. It’s not something that’s easy for me to deal with by any means, but I will have to learn to swallow my pride if and when it’s necessary.

If you have been following me on Twitter, I described some of the emotions I was feeling throughout the past few days: shock, numbness, disbelief, calmness, depression, and even some positivity. I’m not bitter, and I’m not really angry. I think I have spent about an hour this week being really upset, but I pulled myself together and tried to look on the bright side because there is one.

I had been unhappy for months at my former job. I had more than a few days where I felt like quitting on the spot because I felt like I was suffocating. I was suffocating because there was an artist trapped inside the business clothes that’s been screaming to get out. I reached a point where a career change was in order – one that involved doing something artistic and something that I had passion for. I still feel that way, and maybe what happened to me was a wake up call to really pursue my dreams with fierce determination and sharp focus. So in a weird way, I equate being laid off as being set free from my cage after banging my head against the bars all these years. Nothing happens without a reason. I don’t feel like I was set free only to fail outside of the zoo. There is something good out there in the wilderness, and I will wander upon it.

I’m a big documentary fan who has grown to love Netflix’s collection of documentaries over the past few months. With the availability of the streaming service, I often “pull up a chair” to my PC and watch films/documentaries. In fact, I’m a sucker for documentaries, and after watching Overnight (great film) and another documentary recently, Netflix recommended Fall From Grace. After quickly reading the description, I became curious, added it to my instant queue, and began to watch something that totally blew my mind.

Fall from Grace discusses Fred Phelps (and his family clan) who is a fiery “old school” Baptist minister that preaches against gays/lesbians in Topeka, Kansas. And believe me, the word “preaches” is putting it way too nicely. Phelps, cocks, locks, and continuously reloads a giant bazooka gun filled with anti-gay messages – one that he fires off at every opportunity he gets from the pulpit of his church, Westboro Baptist Church. As the film unfolds, I’m surprised and often appalled at his ranting and raving, dropping the word “fag” in his hate-laced sermons as often as other ministers use “Jesus” or “God” in their sermons. But it gets worse…a lot worse.

Fred’s family – his children and grandchildren – take their anti-gay message to the street…literally. With colorful signs that read hateful messages I don’t want to share, Fred and his family put on anti-gay demonstrations around the world. They march, they yell at the top of their lungs about how “God hates the fags,” and they even drag the American flag on the ground because they believe “the gays are in control of the country and thus, ruining it.” It’s bad enough that Fred and his family target gays/lesbians with their hate-filled messages and signs, but they also target soldiers who fight and/or die in Iraq and Afghanistan by demonstrating at the funerals of dead soldiers. Why? Well, you watch the film and try to figure that one out because I’m still scratching my head over that one. While the Phelps’ have the right to protest, there is a way to get your message out without using disgusting signs that will completely polarize you. Yes, the signs definitely get your attention, which is what Fred wants, but the anti-gay hate and “death to the soldiers” messages are so dehumanizing and disrespectful. There is a better way to state your message without making people want to jump you.

What’s most sad to watch in the film are Fred’s grandchildren. Simply put, he has indoctrinated his grandchildren (and children) with anti-gay hate. While watching interviews of the younger children, it’s clear they don’t really know why they hate gays and lesbians based on their responses. Children just repeat what they hear, and it really made me personally upset to hear the things these kids said. They don’t really know why they think they feel that way. They don’t really know why they’re carrying hateful signs that hurt people. They can’t know what they’re doing is wrong because they’re in a dysfunctional environment that won’t teach them anything but hate. And it’s sad to see that well after Fred Phelps is long gone, his message will continue through the generations of his children (sans several who snapped out of it) and grandchildren.

Fall from Grace also has a handful of interviews from other individuals – a scholar, a minister, figures in Topeka who dealt directly with the Phelps’, and a soldier’s wife, for example. Largely, you get these individual’s perspective (an opposite one) on the Phelps clan. It’s clear some of these individuals are disgusted with what the Phelps’ do by watching their expressions and hearing the weariness in their voices. For me, it was a relief to see these people when they were onscreen because the Phelps’ fiery anti-gay hate messages are emotionally draining and upsetting. Seriously, I was unsure if I would be able to finish the documentary at times; however, watching this film was like watching a train wreck. You want to look away because you see what’s coming, but you can’t take your eyes away from the carnage.

Of course, anti-gay messages are nothing new as many churches, especially in the South, preach against homosexuality. Growing up as a Christian and raised in a Christian home in the South, I was taught that homosexuality was wrong and that gays and lesbians will burn in hell for eternity. Despite what I’d heard in the church as a child, I was fortunate enough to be open minded and didn’t blindly accept everything I heard. I never had gay/lesbian friends that were out growing up, but I had one friend later in high school that I knew was gay but never came out to me. I understand his decision to keep his sexuality hidden in school as kids can definitely be mean. Even when I realized he was closeted in high school, I didn’t end my friendship with him or look at him as a “sinner who will burn in hell.” I did not judge him. He was still my friend that I liked and respected, and his sexual preference was of no consequence to me. You see, I was also taught something else in the church: that it wasn’t my place to judge anyone and that it was God’s place. I’m not going to condemn someone else because they sleep with another man (or woman) and they’re the same sex. I personally don’t care who you’re with as long as you’re happy.

As a Christian who has “fallen from grace” by not attending institutionalized churches anymore, I was deeply offended by the things I heard/saw in this documentary. In fact, it made me downright ashamed and saddened. I was ashamed because I hate the fact that the Phelps’ call themselves Christians; they’re a vicious cult. I was saddened because I really don’t want some gays and lesbians thinking that all Christians feel that way. While some may feel similarly to Phelp’s (minus the straight-talking hate message) about gays/lesbians and how they’re an abomination against God, I’m not one of them. I follow one simple rule: what would Jesus do? And I’d like to think that Jesus would not want Christians or non-Christians to go around hating or condemning people because they have same sex partners. Maybe it’s because I associate with and formed friendships with many gay/lesbian individuals over the years. Maybe it’s because my gay and lesbian friends/associates are just good people who have been there for me just as much as my straight friends have. Maybe it’s because I don’t concern myself with who they’re sleeping with at night because it just doesn’t matter. I just know that the Phelp’s vices for getting their message out should offend any Christian who follows the “what would Jesus do?” principle.

I just want to say one final thing to the gay/lesbian community out there. Jesus also said we should love one another and I do, no matter who you are. As a Christian who is probably a lot more open minded than others, I support you in your civil rights quest. I understand your needs for equality, and I fully support that in every way. If I burn in hell for supporting you, then so be it. I guess we’ll just be in hell together, but I really don’t want to believe gays/lesbians will burn for simply being who there are. Being gay or a lesbian never hurt anybody – unlike killers, rapists, and morally bankrupt people who do evil and spread collateral damage (like Bernard Madoff). 

You can check out Fall from Grace via Netflix. Good luck on not throwing things when Fred Phelps and his children spew hateful venom.

I’ve been writing since I was in middle school. The first fictional piece I ever wrote was a play for my English class. We were given an assignment to come up with ideas, write a play, and perform the play in front of the class. None of the classmates in my group wanted to take responsibility for writing the play, so I decided to do it. Other than my English assignments for class, I had no kind of writing experience or interest in writing. But I took up the task of writing the play and eventually ended up directing it as well. I guess I did a pretty good job at it since my group got an “A” and a standing ovation from our fellow classmates. Even though my English teacher pulled me to the side and told me that she saw me becoming a great writer one day, that career path wasn’t in my future. I struggled against the idea of being a writer vs. the career path my parents had drilled in me for years: college and a good job that would make me lots of money. Even though I continued to write fictional stories, I kept going down the path my parents wanted for me for the most part. I dropped out of college but did end up landing a good job where I make “lots of money.” The problem is, I don’t want a job anymore. That’s just not enough for me. This 9 to 5 crap just isn’t working for me, and I’m struggling with it more and more cause I’m suppressing my artistic nature for a lifeless career in IT.

I’ve been pursuing my writing career off and on for the past several years. I admit that I haven’t been agressive enough in sealing the deal. I feel like I’m inches away from grasping the golden ring, but something (life) trips me up, preventing me from finally taking it. I know I have the talent and drive needed to be successful as a writer…as a published author. I just need to really be persistent this time and not let anything else get in the way. Every day at my 9 to 5 gig makes me suffocate. I litterally have to motivate myself every Monday not to call in and get up and go to work. When I’m writing, I don’t have that problem because I’m doing something I love. So I’ve decided, I want a career doing something I love rather than one where I’m suffering being at a cubicle every second of every workday.

Screw the 9 to 5 gig.

Screw the same boring IT crap.

Screw the world of conformity.

I’m a writer. I’m going to get a book deal. I’m going to have a book on the shelves. I’m going to say one day, “I quit this b*tch!” and live my life as a full time artist. I have to be who I am.

I have been staying tuned to the constant news of an economic bust where people are losing homes, jobs, and retirement savings. In my city, there is a definite squeeze where costs are being cut to try and avoid some job losses. In some cases, it isn’t because of a lack of revenue; it’s to save money for a nuclear winter in the event that money is not available in the future. It’s a mode that many businesses are operating under, and from my radar, it’s most visible in the tech sector.

While I don’t pay attention to tech blogs like I use to, I still hear about the effects of the down economy on tech companies, primarily Silicon Valley startups, via my regular tech podcasts. One company that was recently affected was Revision3, a new media company that focuses on IPTV shows. On October 27, Revision3′s CEO, Jim Louderback, announced show cuts and layoffs, which included axing popSiren, Internet Superstar, and Pixel Perfect. Later, the GigaOm Show and The Revision3 Gazette were also canceled from Revision3′s lineup after the original blog post. Revision3 also ended its distribution deals with Wine Library TV and EPIC FU and laid off approximately 10 of their staff, which included popular hosts Sarah Lane and Martin Sargent. This wasn’t a surprising move to me since many startups are announcing cuts. What also wasn’t surprising was the comments left by Revision3 “fans” on the blog post and message boards.

The familiar toxic environment that I grew tired of at the Digg community spilled over to Revision3, which is unsurprising considering Digg’s Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson are two of Revision3′s founders. Many commenters started off berating Louderback’s “crazy” decision to axe the wrong shows before they eventually starting denouncing the man himself. The mob then turned their attacks on Rose for “hanging Sarah Lane out on a limb” by promoting their joint appearance on an upcoming Digg Reel via the TWiT podcast. They seem to think that Rose knew that Lane would be getting laid off yet promoted a joint appearance on the number one tech podcast. While I don’t know Rose, I find it hard to believe he would embarrass himself, Lane, and his company by promoting their appearance on TWiT if he knew she would be laid off the next day. Now, is it possible Rose knew cuts were coming? Probably, but it doesn’t mean he knew who would be getting cut until the Revision3 board made their decisions. The tidal wave of backlash coming at Rose even prompted him to make an official post on his blog and not just his Twitter feed. After the mob ceased their attacks on Rose, they once again turned on Louderback and some of the recent business decisions at Revision3. It is the latter that I will focus on.

After sifting through the noise, I finally found some comments that I agreed with. Those comments include Revision3′s decision to build a studio in San Francisco and allegedly make shows relocate their production there (to use the new studio) or get canceled. When I watched Lane show off Revision3′s construction efforts on their studio (in a Revision3 Gazette episode), I was surprised that they were spending their venture capital money on that. I felt that building a studio at such an early stage of the company was unnecessary. In hindsight, it seems that Revision3 may be regretting it as well since they’re renting it out and only producing a couple of shows (Tekzilla, Systm, and the Digg Reel) in the studio at this point. Had Revision3 not built a studio, perhaps they could have retained the people and/or shows they had to cut. Shows like the Totally Rad Show (taped in a garage in Los Angeles) and EPIC FU (taped in a room in Los Angeles) prove that you don’t need a studio to produce a really good show. New media viewers won’t care where a show is produced as long as it has good content, good hosts, and is edited professionally. This is something that Revision3 seemed to understand in the early days of its life but forgot over the past year with the launch and failure of several new shows.

Under Louderback, Revision3 was growing and expanding fast with a goal to launch new shows each quarter. I found this goal ambitious but flawed. Instead of launching new shows every quarter to find out if one (or none) would stick, I think Revision3 should have focused on making the shows that were doing well better. I have watched some of the new shows under Louderback’s reign and found some pointless and/or tweaked copycats of shows they already had. Sometimes, less really is more. I’d rather have a smaller stable of well-produced shows with good and distinctive content over a large number of shows with bland or overused hosts and redundant/pointless content.

I also found that a few of the show hosts just weren’t good on-screen personalities – a must if you want people watch a weekly video podcast. This is one of the reasons why I think Revision3 should have stayed in Los Angeles. There are plenty of out of work (or trying to work) actors/actresses, cameramen, editors, etc. looking for gigs, and Revision3 would have had a bigger and better selection than what’s available in San Francisco (based on some of the hosts/editors, etc. they’ve had). While I enjoy some Revision3 shows, some of the camera work and editing has an unprofessional slant written all over them. This was fine when Revision3 was still a very small operation without office space and only had a few shows. However, if they want to convince the rest of the world that they’re the next hot thing in new media, then they need to show it by hiring professionals with experience. Hint: if Steve has camera/editing friends, hire them.

I have been cheering for Revision3 ever since I discovered Diggnation in 2006, but over the past year, the little IPTV company that could took a wrong turn with unnecessary spending and odd business decisions. Hopefully, they’ll get back on track after learning some hard lessons on what not to do to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

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