Resumes are a powerful tool. They tell your professional story in a succinct and easily digestible way. But don’t think that they are built for the single purpose of setting you up for an interview.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS YOU CAN LEVERAGE YOUR RESUME BEYOND THE INTERVIEW.

1) NETWORKING

The importance of professional networking hardly needs to be reiterated but your resume can be a helpful foot in the door when it comes to connecting with other professionals. While networking used to be all about attending meetings and mixers arranged by employers, today’s professional networking is much more flexible and innovative. Your networking strategy should be a balance of digital networking and personal connections.

When reaching out to new connections, send them a copy of your resume. That way they know who you are and why you are interested in building a relationship with them. You could even go so far as to ask for advice on how to write a stronger resume or what experience you should pursue to be in a situation where they would consider hiring you. The information you can receive based off a conversation around your resume can be very valuable. You might not get a job offer out of the conversation, but there is still plenty to learn from your professional network is you have the guts to ask.

2) SOCIAL MEDIA

If you don’t already, you should consider LinkedIn as the necessary digital equivalent to your resume. In fact, your LinkedIn profile should be structured very similarly to your resume. It should highlight your most impactful achievements, the results you have gained from your experience and hard work, and the value of your work for employers. It can build off those basics to supplement with links to other content, conversations with industry and interest groups, and also, of course, your connections with other professionals in your industry. If you are not actively building your network online, through social media, your resume is the perfect place to start. From there you can build a social media profile that gets you the industry attention and respect you deserve.

3) ONLINE PORTFOLIO

Your portfolio of previous work is one of the most engaging pieces for employers reviewing your professional marketing material. An online portfolio is a more visual representation of your resume. You can add video and photos, or other graphic elements to make the reading experience more interesting. You can build off the bullets and basic information to really tell the story of who you are on the job. If your resume tells employers what they need to know to interview you, your online portfolio shows them why they should hire you. Buffer a bare-bones portfolio with the interesting personal projects and volunteer work that help add depth to your resume. Make sure that just like you would in your resume, the projects in your portfolio are the best examples of the work you are capable of, and keep your portfolio updated as new opportunities come along.

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For more advice on building a career in these and other top industries, connect with a recruiter at USPRO today.