By Heather Eagar
Are you highly skilled in your profession, yet seeking a job that for which you are probably overqualified? It is never bad to come into a position already encompassing a boatload of skills. However, some employers are intimidated by applicants who they feel are overqualified, which means you may have your work cut out for you.
If you know you have high qualifications, but think this could stand in the way of the job you want, you can use your cover letter to change minds. Let's look at some ways you can get this done ...
Explain Your Motivation
If you've been in a top position for many years, you may feel that it is time to lower your level of stress and get back to the basics of your profession. For example, you may have been the director of a non-profit for many years, working diligently to write grants and develop initiatives to bring money into your organization. However, the strenuous lifestyle has left you ready to step into a smaller role as a non-profit event coordinator, something that will offer time to relax and be with your family.
While this is good motivation, an unknowing organization only seeing your background might question your decision to downgrade. So when writing your cover letter, it's good to focus on how taking this step will offer fulfillment in your career - and life. Many hiring managers will understand your motivation, and appreciate you bringing your advanced knowledge to the table.
Remember that Your Experience is a Plus
By being overqualified, you're coming with an overwhelming amount of experience - something the organization or company can truly benefit from. So when writing your cover letter, try to stay away from any verbiage that makes your level of experience sound like a handicap. Instead, try explaining some of the ways that your experience can enhance their mission. Take some time to research what they are striving for then incorporate your skills and advanced knowledge in a way that can present thought-provoking ideas for making a difference.
For example, you can explain how as coordinator you would like to create events to entertain disadvantaged children, or bring in business professionals to help homeless individuals prepare for the work world. It's no secret that your expansive experience gives you a wide and beneficial perspective. But letting them know that your only agenda is using that experience to enhance their goals could positively affect whether you're considered for the job.
Let Them Know You're Not Going Anywhere
When writing your cover letter, it's good to assure the employer you're not going anywhere. Some hiring managers may fear that with your experience they may fall victim to an employee "hit and run." That is, you may depart prematurely if you get bored. Even worse, you might ask for money outside of their budget, or suffer from a superiority complex. None of these behaviors are desired by employers. But by highlighting your commitment to all previous jobs, you can express that they have nothing to worry about.
Remember, being overqualified for a job is not the end of the world. So by focusing on your passion in your cover letter, you can overshadow any doubts prospective employers may have regarding your sincerity, and possibly secure that position you want.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume service in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Eagar
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Should I Tell Resume and CV Lies?
By Catherine Z Jones
In today's world, the search for employment is extremely competitive. So how do you present yourself most favorably to a potential employer? Some people think the simplest way to present yourself in the best light is to lie on your CV or resume.
Studies show that up to seventy-five percent of all CVs and resumes reviewed contained some type of deception in them. Many people think that it is alright to exaggerate the truth or state an outright lie when looking for employment. Most feel that an employer is too busy to check all the facts and they will get away with falsifying information.
The largest group of people that submit CVs and resumes containing false information is women in their thirties. They make up at least thirty-three percent with young men in their twenties coming up a close second.
So why tell resume and CV lies? Many people feel that almost everybody does it to make a better impression than others competing for the same position. However, if they are discovered they run the risk of losing out on being hired. Also they run the risk of ruining their reputation and future job opportunities.
Not only are we dealing with a moral issue, we are dealing with a legal issue as well.
Should an employer find out about misleading information found in a resume, CV, or application form before a person is formally hired, they have the right by law to withdraw the offer of a job.
If the deception is found out after a person is already working for an employer, then the employer can dismiss the person. If that employer is listed as a reference, they can state the deception as a reason of termination, potentially ruining chances of being hired by another employer.
What kind of information is most commonly falsified? Most often a resume or CV will have dates of employment that have been exaggerated so that it looks like a person was with an employer for longer than they actually were. Sometimes dates are exaggerated so that gaps in employment are wiped out or decreased for whatever reason. Salaries are often disclosed to be up to thirty-five percent more than what was actually received.
More serious false information involves stating or producing phony degrees. Unscrupulous people can find and even produce false documents that are very official looking, giving a potential employer the impression that the person has received higher education when in reality, the person may have only attended a few courses or worse yet, never even attended the institution in question. This is a serious offense and could result in conviction and time in prison.
The bottom line is that if you do not know how to represent yourself in a positive light, ask a professional resume or CV writer to write a resume for you.
Or another option is to speak with someone that you admire and ask them how they wrote up their CV or resume. Telling resume and CV lies, or lying on your job application form should be avoided so that you do not have to worry about defending yourself or you employment if the misleading information is discovered.
There's more information on resume and CV lies here and advice on getting a professional resume or CV writer to write a resume for you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Z_Jones
In today's world, the search for employment is extremely competitive. So how do you present yourself most favorably to a potential employer? Some people think the simplest way to present yourself in the best light is to lie on your CV or resume.
Studies show that up to seventy-five percent of all CVs and resumes reviewed contained some type of deception in them. Many people think that it is alright to exaggerate the truth or state an outright lie when looking for employment. Most feel that an employer is too busy to check all the facts and they will get away with falsifying information.
The largest group of people that submit CVs and resumes containing false information is women in their thirties. They make up at least thirty-three percent with young men in their twenties coming up a close second.
So why tell resume and CV lies? Many people feel that almost everybody does it to make a better impression than others competing for the same position. However, if they are discovered they run the risk of losing out on being hired. Also they run the risk of ruining their reputation and future job opportunities.
Not only are we dealing with a moral issue, we are dealing with a legal issue as well.
Should an employer find out about misleading information found in a resume, CV, or application form before a person is formally hired, they have the right by law to withdraw the offer of a job.
If the deception is found out after a person is already working for an employer, then the employer can dismiss the person. If that employer is listed as a reference, they can state the deception as a reason of termination, potentially ruining chances of being hired by another employer.
What kind of information is most commonly falsified? Most often a resume or CV will have dates of employment that have been exaggerated so that it looks like a person was with an employer for longer than they actually were. Sometimes dates are exaggerated so that gaps in employment are wiped out or decreased for whatever reason. Salaries are often disclosed to be up to thirty-five percent more than what was actually received.
More serious false information involves stating or producing phony degrees. Unscrupulous people can find and even produce false documents that are very official looking, giving a potential employer the impression that the person has received higher education when in reality, the person may have only attended a few courses or worse yet, never even attended the institution in question. This is a serious offense and could result in conviction and time in prison.
The bottom line is that if you do not know how to represent yourself in a positive light, ask a professional resume or CV writer to write a resume for you.
Or another option is to speak with someone that you admire and ask them how they wrote up their CV or resume. Telling resume and CV lies, or lying on your job application form should be avoided so that you do not have to worry about defending yourself or you employment if the misleading information is discovered.
There's more information on resume and CV lies here and advice on getting a professional resume or CV writer to write a resume for you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Z_Jones
Five Things You Should Never Put in Your Resume
By Tom McBroom
So much has been written about what you should include in your resume that it's easy to overlook the things you should not put in your resume. These can send your resume to the trash can just as fast as the things you omit.
Here are five things to never put in your resume.
One
Any statement about a "job objective" or "career objective".
I know this is completely counterintuitive and contradicts much of what you've read about how to write a good resume, but hear me out. I've been a hiring manager for over 25 years at several Fortune 500 corporations and have interviewed and hired hundreds of people in my career.
My advice to you is don't bother putting an objective on your resume - it's meaningless to the hiring manager who will be reading your resume and simply takes up space without contributing anything. Instead, focus your efforts on customizing your resume for the specific job to which you're applying.
Read the job description in the job posting. Pay attention to the experience and qualifications they are seeking and highlight those things in your resume. What the hiring manager wants to read is how good a fit you will be for their job opening, not what your general "objective" is for a job. Including a job objective will not help and may very well hurt your resume. Your time is better spent tailoring your resume for each job.
Two
The date you graduated from college.
By all means, include the fact that you did graduate, the school you attended, and any honors you received. But leave your graduation date off. If it's too far in the past, you may be stereotyped as being too old. If it's too recent, you may be stereotyped as being too young. Yes, questions about age can't be asked in an interview and age discrimination is illegal, but let's face it: if you give a big clue about your age in your resume you run the risk of being typecast.
It's better to sell your experience and accomplishments and take age out of the equation.
Three
Personal information such as hobbies, how you like to spend you time, etc.
The hiring manager only wants to know about your education, experience and accomplishments as they relate to the job for which you're interviewing. Personal information adds nothing to your resume and you run the risk of stating something that the hiring manager doesn't like. For example, if you state that you're an avid hunter and the hiring manager is into animal rights, you are sunk before you even leave the dock.
Four
Experience that isn't backed up with accomplishments.
Yes, the hiring manager wants to know you have the specific experience the job requires. But simply listing your experience without also giving example of accomplishments that show that the experience was successful puts you into the same league as all the other mediocre applicants.
It's one thing to say that you have five years of marketing experience. It's quite another thing to say you have five years experience at XYZ company and increased sales in your territory by thirty percent. Which statement do you think will lead to an interview?
Five
Page three and any page after that.
Your resume should never be more than two pages. And it should only be two pages if you have more than ten years of experience at more than three employers. Then, it's okay to have a second page, but never more.
Actually, the hiring manager will almost always make a decision as to if your resume warrants an interview after the first page, usually after the first half of the first page. If you can't convince me you are the right person for the job in two pages or less, I won't be convinced by the third or fourth page and in fact will probably not read that far. I'll usually have dozens of resumes to read and long resumes are absolute deal killers.
Force yourself to make your resume no longer than two pages, preferably one. Your resume will be much more focused and powerful.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
So much has been written about what you should include in your resume that it's easy to overlook the things you should not put in your resume. These can send your resume to the trash can just as fast as the things you omit.
Here are five things to never put in your resume.
One
Any statement about a "job objective" or "career objective".
I know this is completely counterintuitive and contradicts much of what you've read about how to write a good resume, but hear me out. I've been a hiring manager for over 25 years at several Fortune 500 corporations and have interviewed and hired hundreds of people in my career.
My advice to you is don't bother putting an objective on your resume - it's meaningless to the hiring manager who will be reading your resume and simply takes up space without contributing anything. Instead, focus your efforts on customizing your resume for the specific job to which you're applying.
Read the job description in the job posting. Pay attention to the experience and qualifications they are seeking and highlight those things in your resume. What the hiring manager wants to read is how good a fit you will be for their job opening, not what your general "objective" is for a job. Including a job objective will not help and may very well hurt your resume. Your time is better spent tailoring your resume for each job.
Two
The date you graduated from college.
By all means, include the fact that you did graduate, the school you attended, and any honors you received. But leave your graduation date off. If it's too far in the past, you may be stereotyped as being too old. If it's too recent, you may be stereotyped as being too young. Yes, questions about age can't be asked in an interview and age discrimination is illegal, but let's face it: if you give a big clue about your age in your resume you run the risk of being typecast.
It's better to sell your experience and accomplishments and take age out of the equation.
Three
Personal information such as hobbies, how you like to spend you time, etc.
The hiring manager only wants to know about your education, experience and accomplishments as they relate to the job for which you're interviewing. Personal information adds nothing to your resume and you run the risk of stating something that the hiring manager doesn't like. For example, if you state that you're an avid hunter and the hiring manager is into animal rights, you are sunk before you even leave the dock.
Four
Experience that isn't backed up with accomplishments.
Yes, the hiring manager wants to know you have the specific experience the job requires. But simply listing your experience without also giving example of accomplishments that show that the experience was successful puts you into the same league as all the other mediocre applicants.
It's one thing to say that you have five years of marketing experience. It's quite another thing to say you have five years experience at XYZ company and increased sales in your territory by thirty percent. Which statement do you think will lead to an interview?
Five
Page three and any page after that.
Your resume should never be more than two pages. And it should only be two pages if you have more than ten years of experience at more than three employers. Then, it's okay to have a second page, but never more.
Actually, the hiring manager will almost always make a decision as to if your resume warrants an interview after the first page, usually after the first half of the first page. If you can't convince me you are the right person for the job in two pages or less, I won't be convinced by the third or fourth page and in fact will probably not read that far. I'll usually have dozens of resumes to read and long resumes are absolute deal killers.
Force yourself to make your resume no longer than two pages, preferably one. Your resume will be much more focused and powerful.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
Lonely Resumes
By Judi Perkins
Several times each week I receive resumes. Well, that's obvious, of course I do. It's one of the things I do: fix resumes. But these resumes just land in my inbox. There's no note of explanation, no introduction, no polite request to look at it and see what I think, no paragraph on the problem. Just....the resume.
My point isn't, "If you're going to send me your resume, don't do that." I'm not an employer, so I don't care. I just email back and ask if they wanted me to look at it or what. Sometimes it's one of those resume blasting services and somehow I got on their list. That means some person has paid good money to have their resume blasted all over the place to who know who and who knows where.
But the employers, now that's a different story. They're deleting the email. The same people who wouldn't dream of sending their resume by snail mail without a cover letter, will do exactly that by email.
A cover letter is a courtesy. It's also a sales piece. So it should introduce you and it should sell you according to the requirements of the job.
Why doesn't the resume get read anyway? Just to see if there's something meaty in there? Because not sending a cover letter is rude. It's egotistical. It's assumptive. It's very impersonal. That's for starters. Not sending a cover letter becomes a qualifier for screening out. No cover letter = delete email. It makes the resume a moot point.
From the company's point of view, anyone who would skip a fundamentally, basic step as not sending a cover letter is lacking in good judgment and basic protocol. Even a poorly written cover letter is, at least, a cover letter. It won't get you far, but it will at least get your resume a glance.
I take that back. For very entry level positions, this isn't necessarily true. For minimum wage jobs, this isn't true. For anything else, it's true. And the higher up you go, the more egregious it is to send a lonely resume.
The other reason lonely resumes end up in my inbox is because someone paid money to a resume blasting service. How did I get on their list? Obviously the service isn't qualifying its recipients. I do something with finding people jobs, so they send it to me. If I'm getting it, who else is getting it that isn't interested and doesn't care? Good money for no results.
Besides, getting a job isn't about you. It's about what the company wants and whether or not you fit that profile. That means the company can focus on themselves to the exclusion of you, but you can't focus on yourself to the exclusion of the company. Companies looking to hire need to be wooed - like a prospective partner. Blasted resumes - usually email spam or fax spam, by the way - are about as impersonal as you can get.
For those companies who subscribe to a service like that, you want to ask yourself, how particular are they? How urgent could that hire possibly be? The deal sounds good to you, but what's in it for the company? If you owned a company would you give attention to whatever came through one of those resume blasting companies?
None of those firms are worth what they ask you to pay. Don't be fooled by the numbers and think the odds are in your favor. Instead, do your due diligence on companies that are hiring. Research the company, pay attention to the ad, use its requirements and phrases in your cover letter, and don't send a lonely resume.
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
Several times each week I receive resumes. Well, that's obvious, of course I do. It's one of the things I do: fix resumes. But these resumes just land in my inbox. There's no note of explanation, no introduction, no polite request to look at it and see what I think, no paragraph on the problem. Just....the resume.
My point isn't, "If you're going to send me your resume, don't do that." I'm not an employer, so I don't care. I just email back and ask if they wanted me to look at it or what. Sometimes it's one of those resume blasting services and somehow I got on their list. That means some person has paid good money to have their resume blasted all over the place to who know who and who knows where.
But the employers, now that's a different story. They're deleting the email. The same people who wouldn't dream of sending their resume by snail mail without a cover letter, will do exactly that by email.
A cover letter is a courtesy. It's also a sales piece. So it should introduce you and it should sell you according to the requirements of the job.
Why doesn't the resume get read anyway? Just to see if there's something meaty in there? Because not sending a cover letter is rude. It's egotistical. It's assumptive. It's very impersonal. That's for starters. Not sending a cover letter becomes a qualifier for screening out. No cover letter = delete email. It makes the resume a moot point.
From the company's point of view, anyone who would skip a fundamentally, basic step as not sending a cover letter is lacking in good judgment and basic protocol. Even a poorly written cover letter is, at least, a cover letter. It won't get you far, but it will at least get your resume a glance.
I take that back. For very entry level positions, this isn't necessarily true. For minimum wage jobs, this isn't true. For anything else, it's true. And the higher up you go, the more egregious it is to send a lonely resume.
The other reason lonely resumes end up in my inbox is because someone paid money to a resume blasting service. How did I get on their list? Obviously the service isn't qualifying its recipients. I do something with finding people jobs, so they send it to me. If I'm getting it, who else is getting it that isn't interested and doesn't care? Good money for no results.
Besides, getting a job isn't about you. It's about what the company wants and whether or not you fit that profile. That means the company can focus on themselves to the exclusion of you, but you can't focus on yourself to the exclusion of the company. Companies looking to hire need to be wooed - like a prospective partner. Blasted resumes - usually email spam or fax spam, by the way - are about as impersonal as you can get.
For those companies who subscribe to a service like that, you want to ask yourself, how particular are they? How urgent could that hire possibly be? The deal sounds good to you, but what's in it for the company? If you owned a company would you give attention to whatever came through one of those resume blasting companies?
None of those firms are worth what they ask you to pay. Don't be fooled by the numbers and think the odds are in your favor. Instead, do your due diligence on companies that are hiring. Research the company, pay attention to the ad, use its requirements and phrases in your cover letter, and don't send a lonely resume.
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
Why to Avoid Resume Distribution Services
By Judi Perkins
Resume distribution services are the biggest scam going. But they're seductive, aren't they? Only fifty bucks to reach thousands and thousands of recruiters and employers! How can you miss? Easily. What the blaster services have going for them is that potential customers, like you, respond to their marketing from your purely assumptive point of view, rather than applying logic or viewing it from the recipient's.
To you, the odds sound tough to miss. Thousands? If even a few hundred respond, think of all the interviews you'll have! You've also assumed that the service has done their homework, carefully researching the validity of each address. And perhaps even that they've forged relationships with these recruiters and employers, who are each, in turn, eagerly awaiting the next "blast" of resumes from the service. Fallacy, fallacy, fallacy.
The email addresses aren't qualified. Usually they've been harvested, even if it's from a legitimate source like The Kennedy Guide to Executive Recruiters. Consequently a large percentage bounce back, and for those addresses that are legitimate, your resume is viewed as spam, and more often than not, simply deleted.
Let's start with a look at the Kennedy Guide, an extremely valuable tool, and one, by the way, that you can find in the reference section of any library, or purchase on line access to for $60.00. Got that? For about the same price, you can have the real thing and not the imitation. And even so, you need the most recent edition because the info in it goes out of date quickly.
Additionally, I know one retained search firm that put a general catch-all email address in there. They received so many resumes from it - many from blasting services - that every day or so, they just deleted the entire inbox. Better you use the guide for the other wealth of information it provides, and call them to qualify their specialties and geographical area of concentration. You can get the guide here: www.kennedyinfo.com. It's absolutely worth the $60.00 online access price.
Employers who are actively hiring, receive enough unqualified resumes from their ads for specific positions without having to take the time to look at ones that come through a blind service for which they didn't pay. These companies already know that those resumes have nothing to do with their business or their hiring needs of the moment, 99% of the time. For the other 1%, it's not worth bothering to look.
Recruiting firms too, receive massive amounts of resumes each week. And while many firms cover multiple industries and disciplines, their data base is still probably 75% unusable. I know; I was a recruiter for 20 years and was at several firms, both contingency and retained. While it's possible that some firms download the resumes from services, they simply go right into the database. If you're thinking the recruiters actually see them and study them when they arrive, you're wrong.
As a further example, because of my URL and email address, I'm on the list of many of these services. So a few times per week, I get these resumes. I'm not a recruiter. I don't collect them, send them, or have any interest in them, unless they're my client, and my clients are job seekers, not employers. So if I'm fooled enough to open the email, once I see what it is, I delete it.
Faxing your resume is no different. Fax spam is almost as insidious as email spam. Roofing companies, mortgage refinancing firms, stock tips, local restaurant menus, it goes on and on. Who looks at the fax spam? It's usually tossed right in the trash with nary a glance, unless, perhaps, you're standing there waiting for a fax.
This is what you're paying for. Your resume is being sent to addresses that aren't valid and aren't qualified. It's being send to, and received by, people who didn't ask for it, don't look at it, and don't care. If it still sounds too good to be true, remember what your mom told you when you were a kid: if it's too good to be true, it probably is. File resume distribution services under that heading.
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
Resume distribution services are the biggest scam going. But they're seductive, aren't they? Only fifty bucks to reach thousands and thousands of recruiters and employers! How can you miss? Easily. What the blaster services have going for them is that potential customers, like you, respond to their marketing from your purely assumptive point of view, rather than applying logic or viewing it from the recipient's.
To you, the odds sound tough to miss. Thousands? If even a few hundred respond, think of all the interviews you'll have! You've also assumed that the service has done their homework, carefully researching the validity of each address. And perhaps even that they've forged relationships with these recruiters and employers, who are each, in turn, eagerly awaiting the next "blast" of resumes from the service. Fallacy, fallacy, fallacy.
The email addresses aren't qualified. Usually they've been harvested, even if it's from a legitimate source like The Kennedy Guide to Executive Recruiters. Consequently a large percentage bounce back, and for those addresses that are legitimate, your resume is viewed as spam, and more often than not, simply deleted.
Let's start with a look at the Kennedy Guide, an extremely valuable tool, and one, by the way, that you can find in the reference section of any library, or purchase on line access to for $60.00. Got that? For about the same price, you can have the real thing and not the imitation. And even so, you need the most recent edition because the info in it goes out of date quickly.
Additionally, I know one retained search firm that put a general catch-all email address in there. They received so many resumes from it - many from blasting services - that every day or so, they just deleted the entire inbox. Better you use the guide for the other wealth of information it provides, and call them to qualify their specialties and geographical area of concentration. You can get the guide here: www.kennedyinfo.com. It's absolutely worth the $60.00 online access price.
Employers who are actively hiring, receive enough unqualified resumes from their ads for specific positions without having to take the time to look at ones that come through a blind service for which they didn't pay. These companies already know that those resumes have nothing to do with their business or their hiring needs of the moment, 99% of the time. For the other 1%, it's not worth bothering to look.
Recruiting firms too, receive massive amounts of resumes each week. And while many firms cover multiple industries and disciplines, their data base is still probably 75% unusable. I know; I was a recruiter for 20 years and was at several firms, both contingency and retained. While it's possible that some firms download the resumes from services, they simply go right into the database. If you're thinking the recruiters actually see them and study them when they arrive, you're wrong.
As a further example, because of my URL and email address, I'm on the list of many of these services. So a few times per week, I get these resumes. I'm not a recruiter. I don't collect them, send them, or have any interest in them, unless they're my client, and my clients are job seekers, not employers. So if I'm fooled enough to open the email, once I see what it is, I delete it.
Faxing your resume is no different. Fax spam is almost as insidious as email spam. Roofing companies, mortgage refinancing firms, stock tips, local restaurant menus, it goes on and on. Who looks at the fax spam? It's usually tossed right in the trash with nary a glance, unless, perhaps, you're standing there waiting for a fax.
This is what you're paying for. Your resume is being sent to addresses that aren't valid and aren't qualified. It's being send to, and received by, people who didn't ask for it, don't look at it, and don't care. If it still sounds too good to be true, remember what your mom told you when you were a kid: if it's too good to be true, it probably is. File resume distribution services under that heading.
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
Why Resume Objectives Are Dead
By Judi Perkins
The resume objective is dead. Objectives are either too limiting, because they're written very specifically, or they're bland and generic. When your resume should sell you why compromise your sales pitch? A Profile or a Summary, essentially the same thing, has much more impact, because properly done, it heightens the potential employer's interest.
Although they're more difficult to write, your resume is your marketing brochure. An objective fails because it's about what you want, and marketing is about what the buyer wants, not the seller. The profile describes the product - you - and gives the hiring authority an idea of why you'd be beneficial to the company.
Here's an example of an objective limiting in both title and function:
* Director of Marketing with fifteen years experience creating, developing and implementing revenue-producing marketing campaigns.
The title needs to go. Leaving the function in there is fine, if marketing is the only goal. But if you're going to be applying for a similar position, you risk shooting yourself in the foot. A company won't hire someone focused on marketing when they want a person in public relations.
When you subtract the limitations and add the benefit to the employer, you've not only changed the objective to a profile, but you've dramatically increased the chances of being invited to interview:
* Seasoned team leader with proven ability to quickly understand the needs of the market and create strategic marketing plans. Experienced in successfully defining and executing profitable nation-wide marketing strategies. Adept at consistently increasing growth and enhancing company profits while developing brand awareness and recognition.
The following objective is not only limiting, it's generic, egotistical and uses job speak:
* To obtain a challenging position with a market leader that utilizes my experience in sales, account management, and product understanding.
For a hiring authority, the whole paragraph is a turn off. Would someone admit to wanting an unchallenging position? And how does one define a market leader? What if the company is a smart, growing one like Avis and busy trying harder? It also leaves the employer thinking, "So what? What's in it for me?" An even worse objective is this:
* A position in Financial Management.
Traditionally the objective was used for very targeted job searches. But remember a resume is a marketing piece. So even in these instances the statements should imply how hiring you will have a positive impact on the company. For that reason, the following example is slightly better than the previous examples:
* Pharmaceutical sales rep with extensive background and excellent history of closing sales seeking opportunity as same to increase sales in an existing territory or develop new territory to its fullest profit potential
Even so, it can be enhanced by inserting two additional sentences and a lead-in phrase so it reads like this:
* Top producing pharmaceutical sales rep with extensive background and excellent history of closing sales. Skilled at interacting and working with people, and in understanding human behavior. Comfortable with asking questions, listening and building rapport. Seeking opportunity as same to increase sales in an existing territory or develop new territory to its fullest profit potential.
Now, not only does the paragraph tell the hiring authority how this person will be an asset to his sales team, but the lead-in phrase will catch his attention, perhaps immediately differentiating this sales rep from others applying. The added sentences provide clues as to the rep's personality and why he's a top producer. After all, not all successful sales people have identical personalities. Then put the title of the position you want above it - you can vary that with the ad.
The paragraph at the top of your resume isn't there because it's supposed to be. It's there because it's a valuable chance to entice the hiring authority into reading the remainder of your resume. If your summary doesn't whet his appetite, why would he think the rest of your resume will?
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
The resume objective is dead. Objectives are either too limiting, because they're written very specifically, or they're bland and generic. When your resume should sell you why compromise your sales pitch? A Profile or a Summary, essentially the same thing, has much more impact, because properly done, it heightens the potential employer's interest.
Although they're more difficult to write, your resume is your marketing brochure. An objective fails because it's about what you want, and marketing is about what the buyer wants, not the seller. The profile describes the product - you - and gives the hiring authority an idea of why you'd be beneficial to the company.
Here's an example of an objective limiting in both title and function:
* Director of Marketing with fifteen years experience creating, developing and implementing revenue-producing marketing campaigns.
The title needs to go. Leaving the function in there is fine, if marketing is the only goal. But if you're going to be applying for a similar position, you risk shooting yourself in the foot. A company won't hire someone focused on marketing when they want a person in public relations.
When you subtract the limitations and add the benefit to the employer, you've not only changed the objective to a profile, but you've dramatically increased the chances of being invited to interview:
* Seasoned team leader with proven ability to quickly understand the needs of the market and create strategic marketing plans. Experienced in successfully defining and executing profitable nation-wide marketing strategies. Adept at consistently increasing growth and enhancing company profits while developing brand awareness and recognition.
The following objective is not only limiting, it's generic, egotistical and uses job speak:
* To obtain a challenging position with a market leader that utilizes my experience in sales, account management, and product understanding.
For a hiring authority, the whole paragraph is a turn off. Would someone admit to wanting an unchallenging position? And how does one define a market leader? What if the company is a smart, growing one like Avis and busy trying harder? It also leaves the employer thinking, "So what? What's in it for me?" An even worse objective is this:
* A position in Financial Management.
Traditionally the objective was used for very targeted job searches. But remember a resume is a marketing piece. So even in these instances the statements should imply how hiring you will have a positive impact on the company. For that reason, the following example is slightly better than the previous examples:
* Pharmaceutical sales rep with extensive background and excellent history of closing sales seeking opportunity as same to increase sales in an existing territory or develop new territory to its fullest profit potential
Even so, it can be enhanced by inserting two additional sentences and a lead-in phrase so it reads like this:
* Top producing pharmaceutical sales rep with extensive background and excellent history of closing sales. Skilled at interacting and working with people, and in understanding human behavior. Comfortable with asking questions, listening and building rapport. Seeking opportunity as same to increase sales in an existing territory or develop new territory to its fullest profit potential.
Now, not only does the paragraph tell the hiring authority how this person will be an asset to his sales team, but the lead-in phrase will catch his attention, perhaps immediately differentiating this sales rep from others applying. The added sentences provide clues as to the rep's personality and why he's a top producer. After all, not all successful sales people have identical personalities. Then put the title of the position you want above it - you can vary that with the ad.
The paragraph at the top of your resume isn't there because it's supposed to be. It's there because it's a valuable chance to entice the hiring authority into reading the remainder of your resume. If your summary doesn't whet his appetite, why would he think the rest of your resume will?
Prior to starting Find the Perfect Job, Judi was a search consultant for 20 years in the contingency and retained markets. She now teaches job seekers how to find their perfect job through renegade methods that entail doing the opposite of the traditional methods. Understanding of the psychology of the process, coupled with increased awareness, results in the excitement of a rewarding job instead of increasing frustration and despair as months continue to pass with no results. Sign up for her free newsletter and learn how to take control of your job search: http://www.findtheperfectjob.com and submit questions for the next teleseminar at http://www.askfindtheperfectjob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judi_Perkins
Resume Tips For Military Spouses
By Krista Wells
My friends came over for the weekend and brought two small gifts for my kids. One gift was a small stuffed animal and a book, the other a small puzzle; but what stood out was the presentation! Clear cellophane wrap around the book and beautifully tied rawhide ribbons tied in a bow that was so beautiful I didn't even want to open it, or at least I wanted to somehow save it for re-gifting purposes. Presentation does make a difference! So I keep this in mind when I am looking at clients resumes. I like a resume printed on a good quality printer with no smudging, thick ecru paper, and if you are delivering it via email no italics and I like a little white space. If you are delivering the resume in person to a company or passing it along at a networking event, make sure you have a fresh manicure and a good haircut to boot. Clients often want to know a savvy way of combining their chaotic work history and how to package the gifts they have obtained throughout their military lifestyle. Should they go for "spouse-friendly employers" or hide the fact that they are a spouse on the run; they remember the hiring managers making comments on why they should or should not hire a candidate. Consider these tips as you go after the job of your dreams and remember that the law of attraction also applies to resumes, so regardless of my tips, if you love your resume others may love it as well!
1. Looks matter.
First impressions count so make your resume pretty! Consider limiting any bold or italic font as it often looks messy if the resume is scanned; better yet, try creating a clean PDF version of your resume as well so that it can be submitted to jobs electronically and not lose its professional appearance. Hiring managers are turned off by hard to pronounce names so if you have a difficult name put a nickname in parenthesis next to it for the job hunt-they can learn how to pronounce Vandana after you are hired. If you have an equally exquisite email address, consider changing that too. While friends may enjoying sending email to lovemymilitaryman@aol.com consider revamping the email listed on your resume to your initials or your first and last name and the internet provider; it will appear much more professional. You never know if a hiring manager is spying on MySpace or judging your personal address. In addition, make sure your home and cell phone voice mails are short, professional, and clear while you are job hunting.
2. Don't play hard to get:
You don't want a potential employer to call your house and be scared off by your sarcastic recording. Bottom line, make sure that you include a correct name, email, and mobile phone number that you can access at all times. Try to send resumes when you will have time to interview as well. If you are working full time, taking night classes, and about to have a baby you may not be free for potential interviews, and if a company calls you to come in and you postpone the date, another candidate may be hired on the spot just because they show up first. Perhaps postponing sending the resume until your summer holiday or three months postpartum will up your chances of being picked.
3. Making up for lost time:
Spouses often struggle with the proverbial gaps in their resume. Stop worrying about it so much and just think of what you did during that time that would still be worth listing. When you have a career gap it is ok to include those part-time extra jobs you took just to earn some money, and remember to word them as professionally as you can and include transferable skills such as customer relations or multitasking so your future employer sees some benefit to the work. You can also fill a gap with any volunteer work or schooling that may have been completed, especially if it is relevant to the job you are after. If you do have a lengthy gap in your resume try filling the gap with a few bullets rather than a lengthy explanation in a cover letter that should be focused solely on your strengths. If the gap is so big that you can't even fill half a page, then go take an intro to computer class and volunteer at organizations associated with the type of work you want to do, join some professional organizations or attend a conference so you have something current to brag about.
4. Boldly define benefits:
Job selection experts are not mind readers so don't assume they will understand military-spouse jargon; make sure your resume is clear and to the point. Write the resume with the company's needs in the forefront of your mind rather than highlighting what you are seeking. Resumes are not job descriptions of what you did, but rather a personal press release that displays accomplishments in clear succinct bullets highlighting your strengths, your transferable skills, and past contributions that will cause you to stand out and pique their interest rather than a recap your entire employment history. Companies should be able to quickly see your credentials and spot highlights that make you a good match for their company.
5. Size doesn't matter:
While one really good page is better than two so-so pages, don't cut back or start shrinking text to comply. Remember that short and sweet is all you need; and I say go for the trendier "profile" instead of a generic objective (description of the job you are after). The company knows the objective if you are applying for a job and a profile summarizes your selling points. One page resumes are back in style so consider moving some of those accomplishments to the cover letter and pairing down the resume content to look more like a sales brochure than a dissertation. In addition to choosing a clean simple typeface, have your resume professionally edited, and avoid any jargon. Keep in mind that a positive tone and active first-person tense reads more attractively.
6. Don't fake it:
Some spouses hire a fancy resume writer that rewords what they have done in old jobs to percentages and dollar signs of what they have accomplished, but then get stumped during interviews when they are quizzed on their own resume. Don't list that you are an expert at databases if you have never worked with one. And instead of scattering resume buzz words and clichés throughout, make the resume authentic. First think of your top strengths and then use a strong verb that describes where you really excel rather than what looks good on paper. Not only will your confidence shine through, but once you are hired for the job it will end up being a much better match than if you exaggerate in your resume and end up being placed in a job that requires the "attention to detail" work you abhor.
7. Peeking isn't cheating:
Go have a coffee at the library or local bookstore and peek at the resume book section. Do an online search, or better yet ask friends who are in good jobs if you can use their resume as an idea template. I am not saying to plagiarize a resume manual word for word, but as you read others' resumes it may "remind you" that you also were awarded something that slipped your mind. It can even be useful to go back to your old employee handbook that describes your past job description to help jog your memory about your skills and successes. As long as your ideas come from enough different sources and really resonate with who you are, it isn't cheating.
8. Tell your friends to brag:
As with everything else in military life, it never hurts to be over prepared. When you go to an interview bring a few extra copies of your resume in case you need to pass it along for a second interview-you never know. If you wrote "references available upon request" make sure that you actually have references and have a pre-typed one pager of these references and their contact information ready and on hand. Don't forget to let folks know you have used them as a reference so they don't blow your cover and say "Sara who" when a future employer actually calls.
9. Don't assume:
Don't assume the hiring manager knows how you are connected. If you know someone in the organization well, include your "contact" in the cover letter's first paragraph. Some spouses assume that an employer knows they are proficient at the computer or that they have references available upon request. It never hurts to include all relevant job skills. Another assumption people make is that the human resource professional reviewing your resume knows all the jargon associated with each job. You want to stay away from abbreviations and jargon no matter how common you think the word is.
10. Show off your stuff:
A beautiful resume that stays on your computer isn't going to get you that job. Contact all the military-spouse job resources and post your polished resume. In addition, print some extra copies and bring them with you so as you network you can pass them out. Try traditional job-search sites as well and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, and the same goes for job hunting. Buy some nice folders and place a few resumes in them to drop off at your idea organizations. If an organization isn't hiring, ask them if they can keep your resume on file just in case something opens up.
Now let's get started!
• Write down everything you have done in the past about your work history from your first job until now. Include relevant volunteer work, seminars, and training you have received, and next to each item list the skills you acquired, such as answered a 5-line phone, presented to a group of 50, brought in X number of dollars in revenue, etc.
• Create a skeleton resume with the main content you want to share with potential employers, and then save this as "resume skeleton" on your computer; and then you may want to create two different resumes for the two directions you are headed. For example, one resume may include all your military volunteer work and be terrific for applying for that perfect position with a spouse-friendly employer, and the other resume may look more corporate and include only your work history, a P.O. box, and that "great" corporate contact in the cover letter.
• Have mentors (outside the military) review your resume and give you honest feedback. Consider the resources available to you on base or e-mail me at Krista@militaryspousecoach.com to schedule a resume consultation, which includes editing, discussing your resume, and lots of support, coaching you to take the next step in your career!
Krista Wells is a professional career coach; she ensures that her military spouse clients consistently reap the benefits of her proven expertise in dealing career and life transitions. Through powerful support and encouragement, her clients achieve greater balance and fulfillment, and embrace military life with passion! Visit http://www.militaryspousecoach.com today!
Please visit The Military Spouse Coach ® at http://www.militaryspousecoach.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krista_Wells
My friends came over for the weekend and brought two small gifts for my kids. One gift was a small stuffed animal and a book, the other a small puzzle; but what stood out was the presentation! Clear cellophane wrap around the book and beautifully tied rawhide ribbons tied in a bow that was so beautiful I didn't even want to open it, or at least I wanted to somehow save it for re-gifting purposes. Presentation does make a difference! So I keep this in mind when I am looking at clients resumes. I like a resume printed on a good quality printer with no smudging, thick ecru paper, and if you are delivering it via email no italics and I like a little white space. If you are delivering the resume in person to a company or passing it along at a networking event, make sure you have a fresh manicure and a good haircut to boot. Clients often want to know a savvy way of combining their chaotic work history and how to package the gifts they have obtained throughout their military lifestyle. Should they go for "spouse-friendly employers" or hide the fact that they are a spouse on the run; they remember the hiring managers making comments on why they should or should not hire a candidate. Consider these tips as you go after the job of your dreams and remember that the law of attraction also applies to resumes, so regardless of my tips, if you love your resume others may love it as well!
1. Looks matter.
First impressions count so make your resume pretty! Consider limiting any bold or italic font as it often looks messy if the resume is scanned; better yet, try creating a clean PDF version of your resume as well so that it can be submitted to jobs electronically and not lose its professional appearance. Hiring managers are turned off by hard to pronounce names so if you have a difficult name put a nickname in parenthesis next to it for the job hunt-they can learn how to pronounce Vandana after you are hired. If you have an equally exquisite email address, consider changing that too. While friends may enjoying sending email to lovemymilitaryman@aol.com consider revamping the email listed on your resume to your initials or your first and last name and the internet provider; it will appear much more professional. You never know if a hiring manager is spying on MySpace or judging your personal address. In addition, make sure your home and cell phone voice mails are short, professional, and clear while you are job hunting.
2. Don't play hard to get:
You don't want a potential employer to call your house and be scared off by your sarcastic recording. Bottom line, make sure that you include a correct name, email, and mobile phone number that you can access at all times. Try to send resumes when you will have time to interview as well. If you are working full time, taking night classes, and about to have a baby you may not be free for potential interviews, and if a company calls you to come in and you postpone the date, another candidate may be hired on the spot just because they show up first. Perhaps postponing sending the resume until your summer holiday or three months postpartum will up your chances of being picked.
3. Making up for lost time:
Spouses often struggle with the proverbial gaps in their resume. Stop worrying about it so much and just think of what you did during that time that would still be worth listing. When you have a career gap it is ok to include those part-time extra jobs you took just to earn some money, and remember to word them as professionally as you can and include transferable skills such as customer relations or multitasking so your future employer sees some benefit to the work. You can also fill a gap with any volunteer work or schooling that may have been completed, especially if it is relevant to the job you are after. If you do have a lengthy gap in your resume try filling the gap with a few bullets rather than a lengthy explanation in a cover letter that should be focused solely on your strengths. If the gap is so big that you can't even fill half a page, then go take an intro to computer class and volunteer at organizations associated with the type of work you want to do, join some professional organizations or attend a conference so you have something current to brag about.
4. Boldly define benefits:
Job selection experts are not mind readers so don't assume they will understand military-spouse jargon; make sure your resume is clear and to the point. Write the resume with the company's needs in the forefront of your mind rather than highlighting what you are seeking. Resumes are not job descriptions of what you did, but rather a personal press release that displays accomplishments in clear succinct bullets highlighting your strengths, your transferable skills, and past contributions that will cause you to stand out and pique their interest rather than a recap your entire employment history. Companies should be able to quickly see your credentials and spot highlights that make you a good match for their company.
5. Size doesn't matter:
While one really good page is better than two so-so pages, don't cut back or start shrinking text to comply. Remember that short and sweet is all you need; and I say go for the trendier "profile" instead of a generic objective (description of the job you are after). The company knows the objective if you are applying for a job and a profile summarizes your selling points. One page resumes are back in style so consider moving some of those accomplishments to the cover letter and pairing down the resume content to look more like a sales brochure than a dissertation. In addition to choosing a clean simple typeface, have your resume professionally edited, and avoid any jargon. Keep in mind that a positive tone and active first-person tense reads more attractively.
6. Don't fake it:
Some spouses hire a fancy resume writer that rewords what they have done in old jobs to percentages and dollar signs of what they have accomplished, but then get stumped during interviews when they are quizzed on their own resume. Don't list that you are an expert at databases if you have never worked with one. And instead of scattering resume buzz words and clichés throughout, make the resume authentic. First think of your top strengths and then use a strong verb that describes where you really excel rather than what looks good on paper. Not only will your confidence shine through, but once you are hired for the job it will end up being a much better match than if you exaggerate in your resume and end up being placed in a job that requires the "attention to detail" work you abhor.
7. Peeking isn't cheating:
Go have a coffee at the library or local bookstore and peek at the resume book section. Do an online search, or better yet ask friends who are in good jobs if you can use their resume as an idea template. I am not saying to plagiarize a resume manual word for word, but as you read others' resumes it may "remind you" that you also were awarded something that slipped your mind. It can even be useful to go back to your old employee handbook that describes your past job description to help jog your memory about your skills and successes. As long as your ideas come from enough different sources and really resonate with who you are, it isn't cheating.
8. Tell your friends to brag:
As with everything else in military life, it never hurts to be over prepared. When you go to an interview bring a few extra copies of your resume in case you need to pass it along for a second interview-you never know. If you wrote "references available upon request" make sure that you actually have references and have a pre-typed one pager of these references and their contact information ready and on hand. Don't forget to let folks know you have used them as a reference so they don't blow your cover and say "Sara who" when a future employer actually calls.
9. Don't assume:
Don't assume the hiring manager knows how you are connected. If you know someone in the organization well, include your "contact" in the cover letter's first paragraph. Some spouses assume that an employer knows they are proficient at the computer or that they have references available upon request. It never hurts to include all relevant job skills. Another assumption people make is that the human resource professional reviewing your resume knows all the jargon associated with each job. You want to stay away from abbreviations and jargon no matter how common you think the word is.
10. Show off your stuff:
A beautiful resume that stays on your computer isn't going to get you that job. Contact all the military-spouse job resources and post your polished resume. In addition, print some extra copies and bring them with you so as you network you can pass them out. Try traditional job-search sites as well and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, and the same goes for job hunting. Buy some nice folders and place a few resumes in them to drop off at your idea organizations. If an organization isn't hiring, ask them if they can keep your resume on file just in case something opens up.
Now let's get started!
• Write down everything you have done in the past about your work history from your first job until now. Include relevant volunteer work, seminars, and training you have received, and next to each item list the skills you acquired, such as answered a 5-line phone, presented to a group of 50, brought in X number of dollars in revenue, etc.
• Create a skeleton resume with the main content you want to share with potential employers, and then save this as "resume skeleton" on your computer; and then you may want to create two different resumes for the two directions you are headed. For example, one resume may include all your military volunteer work and be terrific for applying for that perfect position with a spouse-friendly employer, and the other resume may look more corporate and include only your work history, a P.O. box, and that "great" corporate contact in the cover letter.
• Have mentors (outside the military) review your resume and give you honest feedback. Consider the resources available to you on base or e-mail me at Krista@militaryspousecoach.com to schedule a resume consultation, which includes editing, discussing your resume, and lots of support, coaching you to take the next step in your career!
Krista Wells is a professional career coach; she ensures that her military spouse clients consistently reap the benefits of her proven expertise in dealing career and life transitions. Through powerful support and encouragement, her clients achieve greater balance and fulfillment, and embrace military life with passion! Visit http://www.militaryspousecoach.com today!
Please visit The Military Spouse Coach ® at http://www.militaryspousecoach.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krista_Wells
Message From Employer to Job Seekers - Learn How to Communicate
By Brandon Cornett
I have screened hundreds of job candidates for various positions over the years, and one thing I've learned is that basic communication skills are becoming extinct. This is especially true among the younger generation.
Maybe it has something to do with all of the electronic exchanges that are replacing face-to-face communications -- the text messages, the instant messages, the hastily written emails full of typos and esoteric acronyms.
It's one thing to communicate with your friends this way. I was young once, so I get that. But when it comes to job hunting, applications and interviews, you need to learn how to communicate effectively in a business manner. It can make the difference between a job offer and a "thanks anyway" letter.
Four Chances to Make It or Break It
In most interview scenarios, you will have three or four opportunities to demonstrate your communication skills (or lack of them):
1 - When you respond to the initial job posting.
2 - When you receive a prescreening phone call.
3 - During the actual in-person interview.
4 - When you follow up to thank the interviewer afterward.
Here are some ways to impress employers with your communication skills at each step of the way. If you do these things, you will stand out right from the start. Trust me on this. A little effort goes a long way.
1. When Responding to the Job Posting
This is your first opportunity to make a good impression, so don't blow it. As an employer, one of the things that annoyed me the most was when applicants took a "shotgun blast" approach to this process, by sending a standard resume to hundreds of employers without tailoring their correspondence to the job posting.
When hiring for a graphic design position, I once received a resume that listed no design experience whatsoever. Nor did it have a personalized message in the body of the email. The email simply said: "See resume attached." My initial response was, "Are you serious? You can't be bothered to write a note along with your resume, but you want me to consider you for the job?"
In fact, I would estimate that 80% of the emails I've received in response to job postings over the years have lacked a personalized message from the sender. So if you take the time to write such a message in the body of your email (the modern equivalent of the cover letter), you will outshine 80% of the competition right from the start.
2. During Pre-screening Calls
If you receive a phone call from a potential employer who wants you to come in for an interview, you are already being interviewed. You may not realize it, but that's what is taking place. I have done this many times myself. Calling a person on the phone is a great way to evaluate their communication skills, especially when they are not expecting the phone call.
So while you're in the job-hunting process, it's a good idea to keep a copy of your resume near the phone (or at least a few talking points). And if you have a humorous message on your voice mail, you may want to replace it with a straight message until you land a job.
3. During the Actual Interview
Entire books have been written about how to conduct yourself in an interview, so I won't go into this much. I want to focus on the often forgotten points of communication, like items 1, 2 and 4 on this list. So let me offer this small but powerful bit of advice on the subject. Don't try to be something you're not just to get a job. The truth will come out eventually. You want to be hired for the person you truly are, not the person you're pretending to be.
As for communication tips, just be polite, professional and straightforward. But don't be afraid to show your personality at the same time (in business-appropriate ways).
4. When Following Up Afterward
You should always follow up after a job interview, even if it's a quick email to say thanks for the opportunity. When I was job hunting in Austin years ago, I would keep pre-written thank you notes with me. After an interview, I would fill in the name of the interviewer and drop it into the nearest mailbox. When I got home, I would send a thank-you email as well.
I've been on the other side of this as well, and I can tell you that it makes a good impression. This is something else that most people forget to do. So it's another great opportunity for you to set yourself apart.
The Bottom Line
Here's what you should keep in mind when job hunting. When it gets down to the final handful of candidates, their skills will be similar. By that point in the screening process, any one of the candidates could probably handle the job. So an employer is looking for other things that set the candidates apart. If you do a better job communicating with the person who is hiring, you will set yourself apart and probably get a job offer as a result.
Brandon Cornett is a professional business writer who creates tutorials on job hunting, Internet communications, online degree programs and more. Learn more or contact the author by visiting http://www.onlineequalizer.com/degrees
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Cornett
I have screened hundreds of job candidates for various positions over the years, and one thing I've learned is that basic communication skills are becoming extinct. This is especially true among the younger generation.
Maybe it has something to do with all of the electronic exchanges that are replacing face-to-face communications -- the text messages, the instant messages, the hastily written emails full of typos and esoteric acronyms.
It's one thing to communicate with your friends this way. I was young once, so I get that. But when it comes to job hunting, applications and interviews, you need to learn how to communicate effectively in a business manner. It can make the difference between a job offer and a "thanks anyway" letter.
Four Chances to Make It or Break It
In most interview scenarios, you will have three or four opportunities to demonstrate your communication skills (or lack of them):
1 - When you respond to the initial job posting.
2 - When you receive a prescreening phone call.
3 - During the actual in-person interview.
4 - When you follow up to thank the interviewer afterward.
Here are some ways to impress employers with your communication skills at each step of the way. If you do these things, you will stand out right from the start. Trust me on this. A little effort goes a long way.
1. When Responding to the Job Posting
This is your first opportunity to make a good impression, so don't blow it. As an employer, one of the things that annoyed me the most was when applicants took a "shotgun blast" approach to this process, by sending a standard resume to hundreds of employers without tailoring their correspondence to the job posting.
When hiring for a graphic design position, I once received a resume that listed no design experience whatsoever. Nor did it have a personalized message in the body of the email. The email simply said: "See resume attached." My initial response was, "Are you serious? You can't be bothered to write a note along with your resume, but you want me to consider you for the job?"
In fact, I would estimate that 80% of the emails I've received in response to job postings over the years have lacked a personalized message from the sender. So if you take the time to write such a message in the body of your email (the modern equivalent of the cover letter), you will outshine 80% of the competition right from the start.
2. During Pre-screening Calls
If you receive a phone call from a potential employer who wants you to come in for an interview, you are already being interviewed. You may not realize it, but that's what is taking place. I have done this many times myself. Calling a person on the phone is a great way to evaluate their communication skills, especially when they are not expecting the phone call.
So while you're in the job-hunting process, it's a good idea to keep a copy of your resume near the phone (or at least a few talking points). And if you have a humorous message on your voice mail, you may want to replace it with a straight message until you land a job.
3. During the Actual Interview
Entire books have been written about how to conduct yourself in an interview, so I won't go into this much. I want to focus on the often forgotten points of communication, like items 1, 2 and 4 on this list. So let me offer this small but powerful bit of advice on the subject. Don't try to be something you're not just to get a job. The truth will come out eventually. You want to be hired for the person you truly are, not the person you're pretending to be.
As for communication tips, just be polite, professional and straightforward. But don't be afraid to show your personality at the same time (in business-appropriate ways).
4. When Following Up Afterward
You should always follow up after a job interview, even if it's a quick email to say thanks for the opportunity. When I was job hunting in Austin years ago, I would keep pre-written thank you notes with me. After an interview, I would fill in the name of the interviewer and drop it into the nearest mailbox. When I got home, I would send a thank-you email as well.
I've been on the other side of this as well, and I can tell you that it makes a good impression. This is something else that most people forget to do. So it's another great opportunity for you to set yourself apart.
The Bottom Line
Here's what you should keep in mind when job hunting. When it gets down to the final handful of candidates, their skills will be similar. By that point in the screening process, any one of the candidates could probably handle the job. So an employer is looking for other things that set the candidates apart. If you do a better job communicating with the person who is hiring, you will set yourself apart and probably get a job offer as a result.
Brandon Cornett is a professional business writer who creates tutorials on job hunting, Internet communications, online degree programs and more. Learn more or contact the author by visiting http://www.onlineequalizer.com/degrees
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Cornett
How to Write a Winning CV Or Resume Objective
By Catherine Z Jones
When preparing your resume or CV for potential employers you may find that the hardest part to write is the "Objective".
Although it is difficult to write, the objective is a very important to your resume. It is also considered to be important because it is what the employer will see first and you know what they say about first impressions!
In this article you will find some tips for creating a successful resume objective. Take your time with this section so you do not ruin your chances of getting that interview.
What is the Resume Objective?
This is the small, three to five sentence paragraph that is traditionally at the top of the resume directly under the header. The resume objective needs to include:
* the job you are applying for
* why you would be great in this position. and
* what assets will you be able to bring to the company if you should get hired.
You will always want to make sure that your objective is tailored to fit the job that you are applying for. It should never be too general or vague - employers do not like to see this. They need to know that you are interested in and qualified for the position you are applying for.
Here are three examples of what a successful resume objective should look like.
"I am interested in the Service Manager position you recently advertised. I am confident that while in this position I will be able to make the most of my management and leadership skills along with my abilities to create work schedules for employees and deal with any complaints that customers may have."
"I am a retired elementary school teacher and am interested in the day care staff position that has recently become available. I held a kindergarten teaching position for more than 25 years and early childhood education is my passion. I would be a great asset to your center because I love being around young children and helping them discover and develop."
"I am a certified RN who has used my skills for the last five years as head of nurses at a local assisted living facility for the elderly and disabled. I am interested in the nursing position you have available in your hospital and would love to become a part of your staff. I am very confident in my nursing abilities because it is my life and my passion. I believe that with all that I have achieved and learned throughout the decade I spend at the assisted living facility that I will be a great addition to your nursing staff."
Here's more resume objective help including 5 more resume objective examples.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Z_Jones
When preparing your resume or CV for potential employers you may find that the hardest part to write is the "Objective".
Although it is difficult to write, the objective is a very important to your resume. It is also considered to be important because it is what the employer will see first and you know what they say about first impressions!
In this article you will find some tips for creating a successful resume objective. Take your time with this section so you do not ruin your chances of getting that interview.
What is the Resume Objective?
This is the small, three to five sentence paragraph that is traditionally at the top of the resume directly under the header. The resume objective needs to include:
* the job you are applying for
* why you would be great in this position. and
* what assets will you be able to bring to the company if you should get hired.
You will always want to make sure that your objective is tailored to fit the job that you are applying for. It should never be too general or vague - employers do not like to see this. They need to know that you are interested in and qualified for the position you are applying for.
Here are three examples of what a successful resume objective should look like.
"I am interested in the Service Manager position you recently advertised. I am confident that while in this position I will be able to make the most of my management and leadership skills along with my abilities to create work schedules for employees and deal with any complaints that customers may have."
"I am a retired elementary school teacher and am interested in the day care staff position that has recently become available. I held a kindergarten teaching position for more than 25 years and early childhood education is my passion. I would be a great asset to your center because I love being around young children and helping them discover and develop."
"I am a certified RN who has used my skills for the last five years as head of nurses at a local assisted living facility for the elderly and disabled. I am interested in the nursing position you have available in your hospital and would love to become a part of your staff. I am very confident in my nursing abilities because it is my life and my passion. I believe that with all that I have achieved and learned throughout the decade I spend at the assisted living facility that I will be a great addition to your nursing staff."
Here's more resume objective help including 5 more resume objective examples.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Z_Jones
Writing a Great Resume - What You Should Follow in Order to Write a Great Resume
By Pete Miguel
Writing a great resume requires planning, and the ability to bring out the best that the person has to offer. It is a skill and an art, and a science. There are ways to write the resume so that the employer gets to understand the person's strengths and winning attributes from the very first few lines.
Writing a great resume entails an understanding of the employer mindset. As mentioned above, the employer reads a resume in order to find out who among the many applicants for a job can benefit the organization the most. The science helps to structure the resume to make this possible. At the very top of the resume, the potential employer must be able to understand what the person has to offer. He must be able to answer the question - 'Why should I hire you?" right from the very first few lines. Employers screen through maybe thousands of resumes a day, and simply have no time to go through a resume where the value proposition of the person applying for the job is not clear.
Writing a great resume, moreover, also entails making sure that the fundamentals of composition are sound, from the grammar, to the overall formatting and presentation of the resume. The resume must be readable, easy to understand, and easy to navigate through.
There is the science of resume writing, consisting of a winning structure and form, and which covers the fundamentals of good composition. On the other hand, there is also the art and the skill of the craft. Interviewing is part and parcel of the great resume process, and is a valuable and indispensable skill necessary. In the interview, the resume writer gets to understand what the client's motivations and personality are, what makes that person stand out. Those insights then make writing a great resume possible.
How badly do you need to get your own professional resume?
Pete Miguel has good passion of helping other people in achieving their goals toward career advancement. Go visit his site now, where he provides professional assistance in selling your skills and qualities effectively.
http://www.ResumeServicePlus.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Miguel
Writing a great resume requires planning, and the ability to bring out the best that the person has to offer. It is a skill and an art, and a science. There are ways to write the resume so that the employer gets to understand the person's strengths and winning attributes from the very first few lines.
Writing a great resume entails an understanding of the employer mindset. As mentioned above, the employer reads a resume in order to find out who among the many applicants for a job can benefit the organization the most. The science helps to structure the resume to make this possible. At the very top of the resume, the potential employer must be able to understand what the person has to offer. He must be able to answer the question - 'Why should I hire you?" right from the very first few lines. Employers screen through maybe thousands of resumes a day, and simply have no time to go through a resume where the value proposition of the person applying for the job is not clear.
Writing a great resume, moreover, also entails making sure that the fundamentals of composition are sound, from the grammar, to the overall formatting and presentation of the resume. The resume must be readable, easy to understand, and easy to navigate through.
There is the science of resume writing, consisting of a winning structure and form, and which covers the fundamentals of good composition. On the other hand, there is also the art and the skill of the craft. Interviewing is part and parcel of the great resume process, and is a valuable and indispensable skill necessary. In the interview, the resume writer gets to understand what the client's motivations and personality are, what makes that person stand out. Those insights then make writing a great resume possible.
How badly do you need to get your own professional resume?
Pete Miguel has good passion of helping other people in achieving their goals toward career advancement. Go visit his site now, where he provides professional assistance in selling your skills and qualities effectively.
http://www.ResumeServicePlus.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Miguel
How to Write a Resume - What You Should Know First Before Writing a Resume
By Pete Miguel
The first thing you need to do if you want to know how to write a resume is know what a resume is and what it is supposed to do for you. Simply put, a resume is a summary of professional experience and personal information that serves to market you to a prospective employer. It is supposed to introduce you, justify your application and elevate your application status to having an interview with that employer.
There are a few things you need to know on how to write a resume. First of all, you need to know what its contents are. Basically, you need to include a statement of your career objective, your contact details and personal profile, your educational background, your employment history and a qualifications summary. You may also include a list of character references, your interests and hobby, and a formal ID picture. Second, you should know how to organize the information you have. You may use a chronological format, where you write the information in reverse chronological order, or a functional format where the information most relevant to the position you wish to be considered for front the resume regardless of when they were attained. Third, you need to know how to layout your resume. There should be the main header with your full name and contact details, then sub-headers for every other category. You should be mindful of margins and indents, as well as of typographical details and spacing. Finally, you should not forget to sign your name at the bottom.
Proofread your resume before you submit it. It should be as flawless as possible, for it will make the impression for you. Keep it factual and informative, you do not want to make them believe your capabilities are beyond what you can actually do or to sell yourself short. Knowing how to write a resume is a major accomplishment for anyone who wishes to climb that ladder of career success.
How badly do you need to get your own professional resume?
Pete Miguel has good passion in helping other people achieve their goals toward career advancement. Go visit his site now, where he provides professional assistance in selling your skills and qualities effectively.
http://www.ResumeServicePlus.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Miguel
The first thing you need to do if you want to know how to write a resume is know what a resume is and what it is supposed to do for you. Simply put, a resume is a summary of professional experience and personal information that serves to market you to a prospective employer. It is supposed to introduce you, justify your application and elevate your application status to having an interview with that employer.
There are a few things you need to know on how to write a resume. First of all, you need to know what its contents are. Basically, you need to include a statement of your career objective, your contact details and personal profile, your educational background, your employment history and a qualifications summary. You may also include a list of character references, your interests and hobby, and a formal ID picture. Second, you should know how to organize the information you have. You may use a chronological format, where you write the information in reverse chronological order, or a functional format where the information most relevant to the position you wish to be considered for front the resume regardless of when they were attained. Third, you need to know how to layout your resume. There should be the main header with your full name and contact details, then sub-headers for every other category. You should be mindful of margins and indents, as well as of typographical details and spacing. Finally, you should not forget to sign your name at the bottom.
Proofread your resume before you submit it. It should be as flawless as possible, for it will make the impression for you. Keep it factual and informative, you do not want to make them believe your capabilities are beyond what you can actually do or to sell yourself short. Knowing how to write a resume is a major accomplishment for anyone who wishes to climb that ladder of career success.
How badly do you need to get your own professional resume?
Pete Miguel has good passion in helping other people achieve their goals toward career advancement. Go visit his site now, where he provides professional assistance in selling your skills and qualities effectively.
http://www.ResumeServicePlus.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Miguel
Thank You Letter - Successful Writing Tips
By Siddharth Singh
It is a mistaken belief that the interview ends as soon as you wish the panel good-bye and get out of the room. For an interview to be truly successful, some measure of follow up is necessary. And what better way to follow up than a well written thank you letter!
True, it is the age of the internet and the mobile phone. Yet, an e-mail is impersonal and official in nature, and a phone call is too run-off-the-mill. A personally written thank you letter will provide the much needed personal touch. Hiring managers across the board tell that a thank you letter is very much noticed and remembered, just because it is so very rarely received! It is the perfect method to influence your interviewer after you have left the interview.
Besides this, a thank you letter gives you the following advantages-
1) A thank you letter is used to express appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position.
2) Besides demonstrating your courtesy and professionalism, it reminds the employer that you are genuinely interested in the position. This is very important, since it is logical for the employers to believe that a person will perform better if he is really interested in the position.
3) If the employer is considering more than one person for the position, a good thank you letter can help influence them in your direction. If they have already decided in your favor, it will endorse that they have made the right choice.
But before you sit down to draft a thank you letter and dash it off, take care about a few things-
1) A thank you letter should be sent immediately after the interview, preferably within 24 hours.
2) It should be addressed to a specific person. Don't address it to "Dear HR Manager". Take care to collect the interviewers' business card and other contact information at the time of the interview only.
3) An informal hand-written written letter will create a much better impact than a faxed letter or an e-mail.
4) Follow impeccable professional standards. Use good quality stationery. Avoid use of emoticons and shorthand.
5) KISS. Yes. Keep It Short and Simple. Avoid verbosity, use simple words.
These days, even a single good vacancy will attract hundreds of applications, and many candidates are interviewed for the position. A well written thank you letter will create the much needed personal connection with the interviewer, and will pitch for you long after you have left the interview. So, the next time you complete an interview, come back home, and send a thank you letter to the panel. See the difference for yourself. Wish you all the best!
Hi, my name is Siddharth Singh. I invite you to my blog for your suggestions, feedbacks, bouquets and brickbats. Click here to learn more about effective resume writing and interview techniques.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Siddharth_Singh
It is a mistaken belief that the interview ends as soon as you wish the panel good-bye and get out of the room. For an interview to be truly successful, some measure of follow up is necessary. And what better way to follow up than a well written thank you letter!
True, it is the age of the internet and the mobile phone. Yet, an e-mail is impersonal and official in nature, and a phone call is too run-off-the-mill. A personally written thank you letter will provide the much needed personal touch. Hiring managers across the board tell that a thank you letter is very much noticed and remembered, just because it is so very rarely received! It is the perfect method to influence your interviewer after you have left the interview.
Besides this, a thank you letter gives you the following advantages-
1) A thank you letter is used to express appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position.
2) Besides demonstrating your courtesy and professionalism, it reminds the employer that you are genuinely interested in the position. This is very important, since it is logical for the employers to believe that a person will perform better if he is really interested in the position.
3) If the employer is considering more than one person for the position, a good thank you letter can help influence them in your direction. If they have already decided in your favor, it will endorse that they have made the right choice.
But before you sit down to draft a thank you letter and dash it off, take care about a few things-
1) A thank you letter should be sent immediately after the interview, preferably within 24 hours.
2) It should be addressed to a specific person. Don't address it to "Dear HR Manager". Take care to collect the interviewers' business card and other contact information at the time of the interview only.
3) An informal hand-written written letter will create a much better impact than a faxed letter or an e-mail.
4) Follow impeccable professional standards. Use good quality stationery. Avoid use of emoticons and shorthand.
5) KISS. Yes. Keep It Short and Simple. Avoid verbosity, use simple words.
These days, even a single good vacancy will attract hundreds of applications, and many candidates are interviewed for the position. A well written thank you letter will create the much needed personal connection with the interviewer, and will pitch for you long after you have left the interview. So, the next time you complete an interview, come back home, and send a thank you letter to the panel. See the difference for yourself. Wish you all the best!
Hi, my name is Siddharth Singh. I invite you to my blog for your suggestions, feedbacks, bouquets and brickbats. Click here to learn more about effective resume writing and interview techniques.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Siddharth_Singh
The Top Ways to Get Your Resume Sent to the Shredder
By Tom McBroom
Hiring managers are a harried bunch. I know because I am one.
In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, they have to read resumes and interview people whenever they have an opening to fill. And this is becoming increasingly more time consuming with the advent of online job sites and electronic applications. It is much easier today for applicants to electronically apply and electronically send a resume, rather than going to the trouble and expense of mailing a paper application.
This means that hiring managers are reading more resumes per opening than ever before, which means we see more bad resumes than ever before. It should thus come as no surprise that a hiring manager will very quickly put your resume in the "to be shredded" stack if you commit any of the following resume sins.
More Than Two Pages in Length
Even if you are a seasoned executive with many years of experience, you should be able to keep your resume to two pages or less. Remember: your resume should only go back 10 years with your job history, and you should include only your most relevant experience and accomplishments. The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, so keep it succinct and make every sentence powerful.
In fact, many hiring managers won't read past the second page of your resume anyway, and they certainly don't care much about experience that is more than ten years in the past. They want to know what you've done recently and they don't want you to take several pages to tell them.
Actually, unless you truly are a seasoned executive, you should be able to keep your resume to one page. This forces you to ruthlessly cut out the unimportant details and focus on your best traits. This is what makes a powerful resume and this is what gets interviews.
Remember: resumes three pages or more in length frustrate hiring managers and have a high likelihood of a short trip to the shredder.
Using Colored Paper and Other Cute Tricks
Whenever I receive a paper resume that is printed on colored paper, or heavy cardboard-like paper, or printed using several different colors, I automatically think of one word: "unprofessional".
True professionals do not rely on tricks to get their resume read. They spend their time tailoring their resume for that specific job and let a clean, well-written format do their selling.
Yes, there are some creative type positions where this sort of thing may be appreciated, but even then you still must have the experience and qualifications for the job. For all other positions, these cutesy resume tricks will simply start you off with one strike against you.
Here's the bottom line: Use 20 pound, good quality white paper for your resume. Use black ink only and at the most two typefaces. This makes your resume look professional and will get the hiring manager's attention far better than colored paper and rainbow ink.
Little White Space and No Bullets
There are few things that will make a hiring manager cringe more when reading a resume than long paragraph after long paragraph, with no space or bullets to break it up.
This sends a signal that you were too lazy to spend the time recapping your experience and skills for the hiring manager. Instead, the hiring manager has to plow through long narratives trying to uncover those qualifications that may match the job opening. Most of the time, these long, wordy resumes don't get completely read and seldom result in an interview.
If you want to catch the hiring manager's attention, you have to make your resume easy to read and easy to see what are your significant qualifications and experience. Don't make the hiring manager dig for this. You should have far more bullets than paragraphs, and never have paragraphs longer than three sentences. This shows you respect the reader's time and will get your story across far better.
Bad Grammar and/or Spelling
This should go without saying and is certainly included in every article ever written about how to make a resume. In spite of this, I will see at least two out of ten resumes with serious grammar or spelling errors.
While you may say that this shouldn't matter unless you're applying for a job as a writer, it does. Bad grammar and spelling demonstrates one of two things: either you have poor writing skills, or you were simply too lazy and careless to properly proofread your resume. Either way, you look bad.
If you are not an excellent writer, and many of us aren't, then have your resume proofread and corrected by someone who is. It's surprising how many hiring managers are absolute sticklers when it comes to grammar and spelling and won't read past the first or second mistake before (you guessed it!) sending your resume to the shredder.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
Hiring managers are a harried bunch. I know because I am one.
In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, they have to read resumes and interview people whenever they have an opening to fill. And this is becoming increasingly more time consuming with the advent of online job sites and electronic applications. It is much easier today for applicants to electronically apply and electronically send a resume, rather than going to the trouble and expense of mailing a paper application.
This means that hiring managers are reading more resumes per opening than ever before, which means we see more bad resumes than ever before. It should thus come as no surprise that a hiring manager will very quickly put your resume in the "to be shredded" stack if you commit any of the following resume sins.
More Than Two Pages in Length
Even if you are a seasoned executive with many years of experience, you should be able to keep your resume to two pages or less. Remember: your resume should only go back 10 years with your job history, and you should include only your most relevant experience and accomplishments. The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, so keep it succinct and make every sentence powerful.
In fact, many hiring managers won't read past the second page of your resume anyway, and they certainly don't care much about experience that is more than ten years in the past. They want to know what you've done recently and they don't want you to take several pages to tell them.
Actually, unless you truly are a seasoned executive, you should be able to keep your resume to one page. This forces you to ruthlessly cut out the unimportant details and focus on your best traits. This is what makes a powerful resume and this is what gets interviews.
Remember: resumes three pages or more in length frustrate hiring managers and have a high likelihood of a short trip to the shredder.
Using Colored Paper and Other Cute Tricks
Whenever I receive a paper resume that is printed on colored paper, or heavy cardboard-like paper, or printed using several different colors, I automatically think of one word: "unprofessional".
True professionals do not rely on tricks to get their resume read. They spend their time tailoring their resume for that specific job and let a clean, well-written format do their selling.
Yes, there are some creative type positions where this sort of thing may be appreciated, but even then you still must have the experience and qualifications for the job. For all other positions, these cutesy resume tricks will simply start you off with one strike against you.
Here's the bottom line: Use 20 pound, good quality white paper for your resume. Use black ink only and at the most two typefaces. This makes your resume look professional and will get the hiring manager's attention far better than colored paper and rainbow ink.
Little White Space and No Bullets
There are few things that will make a hiring manager cringe more when reading a resume than long paragraph after long paragraph, with no space or bullets to break it up.
This sends a signal that you were too lazy to spend the time recapping your experience and skills for the hiring manager. Instead, the hiring manager has to plow through long narratives trying to uncover those qualifications that may match the job opening. Most of the time, these long, wordy resumes don't get completely read and seldom result in an interview.
If you want to catch the hiring manager's attention, you have to make your resume easy to read and easy to see what are your significant qualifications and experience. Don't make the hiring manager dig for this. You should have far more bullets than paragraphs, and never have paragraphs longer than three sentences. This shows you respect the reader's time and will get your story across far better.
Bad Grammar and/or Spelling
This should go without saying and is certainly included in every article ever written about how to make a resume. In spite of this, I will see at least two out of ten resumes with serious grammar or spelling errors.
While you may say that this shouldn't matter unless you're applying for a job as a writer, it does. Bad grammar and spelling demonstrates one of two things: either you have poor writing skills, or you were simply too lazy and careless to properly proofread your resume. Either way, you look bad.
If you are not an excellent writer, and many of us aren't, then have your resume proofread and corrected by someone who is. It's surprising how many hiring managers are absolute sticklers when it comes to grammar and spelling and won't read past the first or second mistake before (you guessed it!) sending your resume to the shredder.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
The Top Ways to Get Your Resume Sent to the Shredder
By Tom McBroom
Hiring managers are a harried bunch. I know because I am one.
In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, they have to read resumes and interview people whenever they have an opening to fill. And this is becoming increasingly more time consuming with the advent of online job sites and electronic applications. It is much easier today for applicants to electronically apply and electronically send a resume, rather than going to the trouble and expense of mailing a paper application.
This means that hiring managers are reading more resumes per opening than ever before, which means we see more bad resumes than ever before. It should thus come as no surprise that a hiring manager will very quickly put your resume in the "to be shredded" stack if you commit any of the following resume sins.
More Than Two Pages in Length
Even if you are a seasoned executive with many years of experience, you should be able to keep your resume to two pages or less. Remember: your resume should only go back 10 years with your job history, and you should include only your most relevant experience and accomplishments. The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, so keep it succinct and make every sentence powerful.
In fact, many hiring managers won't read past the second page of your resume anyway, and they certainly don't care much about experience that is more than ten years in the past. They want to know what you've done recently and they don't want you to take several pages to tell them.
Actually, unless you truly are a seasoned executive, you should be able to keep your resume to one page. This forces you to ruthlessly cut out the unimportant details and focus on your best traits. This is what makes a powerful resume and this is what gets interviews.
Remember: resumes three pages or more in length frustrate hiring managers and have a high likelihood of a short trip to the shredder.
Using Colored Paper and Other Cute Tricks
Whenever I receive a paper resume that is printed on colored paper, or heavy cardboard-like paper, or printed using several different colors, I automatically think of one word: "unprofessional".
True professionals do not rely on tricks to get their resume read. They spend their time tailoring their resume for that specific job and let a clean, well-written format do their selling.
Yes, there are some creative type positions where this sort of thing may be appreciated, but even then you still must have the experience and qualifications for the job. For all other positions, these cutesy resume tricks will simply start you off with one strike against you.
Here's the bottom line: Use 20 pound, good quality white paper for your resume. Use black ink only and at the most two typefaces. This makes your resume look professional and will get the hiring manager's attention far better than colored paper and rainbow ink.
Little White Space and No Bullets
There are few things that will make a hiring manager cringe more when reading a resume than long paragraph after long paragraph, with no space or bullets to break it up.
This sends a signal that you were too lazy to spend the time recapping your experience and skills for the hiring manager. Instead, the hiring manager has to plow through long narratives trying to uncover those qualifications that may match the job opening. Most of the time, these long, wordy resumes don't get completely read and seldom result in an interview.
If you want to catch the hiring manager's attention, you have to make your resume easy to read and easy to see what are your significant qualifications and experience. Don't make the hiring manager dig for this. You should have far more bullets than paragraphs, and never have paragraphs longer than three sentences. This shows you respect the reader's time and will get your story across far better.
Bad Grammar and/or Spelling
This should go without saying and is certainly included in every article ever written about how to make a resume. In spite of this, I will see at least two out of ten resumes with serious grammar or spelling errors.
While you may say that this shouldn't matter unless you're applying for a job as a writer, it does. Bad grammar and spelling demonstrates one of two things: either you have poor writing skills, or you were simply too lazy and careless to properly proofread your resume. Either way, you look bad.
If you are not an excellent writer, and many of us aren't, then have your resume proofread and corrected by someone who is. It's surprising how many hiring managers are absolute sticklers when it comes to grammar and spelling and won't read past the first or second mistake before (you guessed it!) sending your resume to the shredder.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
Hiring managers are a harried bunch. I know because I am one.
In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, they have to read resumes and interview people whenever they have an opening to fill. And this is becoming increasingly more time consuming with the advent of online job sites and electronic applications. It is much easier today for applicants to electronically apply and electronically send a resume, rather than going to the trouble and expense of mailing a paper application.
This means that hiring managers are reading more resumes per opening than ever before, which means we see more bad resumes than ever before. It should thus come as no surprise that a hiring manager will very quickly put your resume in the "to be shredded" stack if you commit any of the following resume sins.
More Than Two Pages in Length
Even if you are a seasoned executive with many years of experience, you should be able to keep your resume to two pages or less. Remember: your resume should only go back 10 years with your job history, and you should include only your most relevant experience and accomplishments. The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, so keep it succinct and make every sentence powerful.
In fact, many hiring managers won't read past the second page of your resume anyway, and they certainly don't care much about experience that is more than ten years in the past. They want to know what you've done recently and they don't want you to take several pages to tell them.
Actually, unless you truly are a seasoned executive, you should be able to keep your resume to one page. This forces you to ruthlessly cut out the unimportant details and focus on your best traits. This is what makes a powerful resume and this is what gets interviews.
Remember: resumes three pages or more in length frustrate hiring managers and have a high likelihood of a short trip to the shredder.
Using Colored Paper and Other Cute Tricks
Whenever I receive a paper resume that is printed on colored paper, or heavy cardboard-like paper, or printed using several different colors, I automatically think of one word: "unprofessional".
True professionals do not rely on tricks to get their resume read. They spend their time tailoring their resume for that specific job and let a clean, well-written format do their selling.
Yes, there are some creative type positions where this sort of thing may be appreciated, but even then you still must have the experience and qualifications for the job. For all other positions, these cutesy resume tricks will simply start you off with one strike against you.
Here's the bottom line: Use 20 pound, good quality white paper for your resume. Use black ink only and at the most two typefaces. This makes your resume look professional and will get the hiring manager's attention far better than colored paper and rainbow ink.
Little White Space and No Bullets
There are few things that will make a hiring manager cringe more when reading a resume than long paragraph after long paragraph, with no space or bullets to break it up.
This sends a signal that you were too lazy to spend the time recapping your experience and skills for the hiring manager. Instead, the hiring manager has to plow through long narratives trying to uncover those qualifications that may match the job opening. Most of the time, these long, wordy resumes don't get completely read and seldom result in an interview.
If you want to catch the hiring manager's attention, you have to make your resume easy to read and easy to see what are your significant qualifications and experience. Don't make the hiring manager dig for this. You should have far more bullets than paragraphs, and never have paragraphs longer than three sentences. This shows you respect the reader's time and will get your story across far better.
Bad Grammar and/or Spelling
This should go without saying and is certainly included in every article ever written about how to make a resume. In spite of this, I will see at least two out of ten resumes with serious grammar or spelling errors.
While you may say that this shouldn't matter unless you're applying for a job as a writer, it does. Bad grammar and spelling demonstrates one of two things: either you have poor writing skills, or you were simply too lazy and careless to properly proofread your resume. Either way, you look bad.
If you are not an excellent writer, and many of us aren't, then have your resume proofread and corrected by someone who is. It's surprising how many hiring managers are absolute sticklers when it comes to grammar and spelling and won't read past the first or second mistake before (you guessed it!) sending your resume to the shredder.
Tom McBroom has been a Hiring Manager for over 25 years and manages the website http://www.job-search-steps.com, which is dedicated to helping you find a job quickly. Visit his site for complete information about conducting a job search, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_McBroom
Developing the Right Resume and Attitude For an Uncertain Economy
By Heather Eagar
There is no doubt that our current economy is a little scary to say the least. Companies are laying off in mass numbers while gas, food, and energy costs are reaching record highs. It can be very difficult to maintain sanity in the midst of such uncertainty, let alone think about finding a job. But with responsibilities like bills and family always present, one must learn to keep pushing forward.
If you're trying to find a job in our unsettling job market, you may feel less than excited about your prospects. However, you can find a job...and a good one at that. You just have to develop the right attitude, and an even better resume.
Make Yourself More Marketable
With layoffs on the rise, more people are competing for the same job. So in order to make yourself more marketable, you'll need to perfect your resume. This means, no spelling or grammatical errors. You'll also need to make sure your skills stand out above the rest.
One way you can do this is by conducting thorough research on the company and position to illustrate how you can enhance their goals. When describing your skills, try using action-oriented words like designed, marketed and researched, instead of phrases like "responsibilities included." And also focus on specific achievements, like how much money you made at your previous company, and on which projects, to help employers assess your skill level.
Consider Economic Growths, Declines, and Specific Regions
Before you even apply for a job, it's good to look at which business areas are growing, which are declining, and how your region is fairing economically. For example, a May 2008 Newsweek article reported that finance and accounting, engineering, technology and science are seeing growth, while construction, manufacturing, and automotive seem to be declining. In the same article, it noted that Midwest jobs may be on the decline due to its strong construction focus, while cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Dallas may see a rise due to their professional focus.
After you conduct your research, if you find your field isn't negatively impacted by the economy, you may still want to conduct more research to learn details such as whether managers and administrators, or hourly employees, are keeping or losing jobs. And if things aren't going so well in your industry, you might consider a slight career shift, such as moving from software development to hardware networking, or even switching cities. That is if the prospects for long-term employment seem more promising.
Maintain the Right Attitude
In this economy, it is important to keep a positive attitude about your career prospects. Because the fact of the matter is, if there is a job available, someone must eventually fill the role. So why couldn't it be you? You are just as qualified for the job as you were before the economy worsened. So try not to let the economy's current state negatively affect your job search.
Under stable conditions, getting on track career-wise requires strong determination. But in a weak economy, it takes more. So take time to perfect your resume, conduct extensive research on your field, and keep a positive attitude. You will see that despite the economy, you'll be able to thrive.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume writing services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Eagar
There is no doubt that our current economy is a little scary to say the least. Companies are laying off in mass numbers while gas, food, and energy costs are reaching record highs. It can be very difficult to maintain sanity in the midst of such uncertainty, let alone think about finding a job. But with responsibilities like bills and family always present, one must learn to keep pushing forward.
If you're trying to find a job in our unsettling job market, you may feel less than excited about your prospects. However, you can find a job...and a good one at that. You just have to develop the right attitude, and an even better resume.
Make Yourself More Marketable
With layoffs on the rise, more people are competing for the same job. So in order to make yourself more marketable, you'll need to perfect your resume. This means, no spelling or grammatical errors. You'll also need to make sure your skills stand out above the rest.
One way you can do this is by conducting thorough research on the company and position to illustrate how you can enhance their goals. When describing your skills, try using action-oriented words like designed, marketed and researched, instead of phrases like "responsibilities included." And also focus on specific achievements, like how much money you made at your previous company, and on which projects, to help employers assess your skill level.
Consider Economic Growths, Declines, and Specific Regions
Before you even apply for a job, it's good to look at which business areas are growing, which are declining, and how your region is fairing economically. For example, a May 2008 Newsweek article reported that finance and accounting, engineering, technology and science are seeing growth, while construction, manufacturing, and automotive seem to be declining. In the same article, it noted that Midwest jobs may be on the decline due to its strong construction focus, while cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Dallas may see a rise due to their professional focus.
After you conduct your research, if you find your field isn't negatively impacted by the economy, you may still want to conduct more research to learn details such as whether managers and administrators, or hourly employees, are keeping or losing jobs. And if things aren't going so well in your industry, you might consider a slight career shift, such as moving from software development to hardware networking, or even switching cities. That is if the prospects for long-term employment seem more promising.
Maintain the Right Attitude
In this economy, it is important to keep a positive attitude about your career prospects. Because the fact of the matter is, if there is a job available, someone must eventually fill the role. So why couldn't it be you? You are just as qualified for the job as you were before the economy worsened. So try not to let the economy's current state negatively affect your job search.
Under stable conditions, getting on track career-wise requires strong determination. But in a weak economy, it takes more. So take time to perfect your resume, conduct extensive research on your field, and keep a positive attitude. You will see that despite the economy, you'll be able to thrive.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume writing services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Eagar
5 Reasons You Should Learn How to Make a Resume
By Corvan Reynolds
Reason 1: The Cost For That Resume Is Significant
Unless you learn how to make a resume, it will cost you lots of money for a skill that you really need to know first-hand. With the right reference materials, the essentials of resume writing can be learned in an hour or two. I offer an excellent book on this topic at my website, if I may say so myself. Of course, as you know, you can also visit almost any bookstore to find several other books that will bring you up to speed.
In the end, you should expect to pay between $100 and a few hundred dollars for an experienced resume writer to write a resume for you. You can find advertisements that post a lower price, but the saying "you get what you pay for" applies here, too. After all, the professional resume writer wants to make a good living, too. If the cost to you is exceptionally low, chances are it will be farmed out to a less experienced writer.
Reason 2: It Will Cost You Even More Money Later
Let's say that you pay someone to prepare your resume for you. A bit painful to your pocketbook, but maybe not so bad depending on your budget. The problem is, in today's highly competitive job market, you will need to do everything you can to increase your odds at landing a job favorable to your career. That includes tweaking and tuning your resume as the situation dictates.
As an example, let's say at your current job you have been called on to handle a wide range of tasks - and you have carried them out exceptionally well. The problem is, you may not want to list all of those responsibilities in a single resume. That might give the impression that you are not focused on any particular expertise and that may put you at a disadvantage. Better to research what skill sets and what role the company you are interested in is looking to fill. Then, tune your resume accordingly. Takes more time? Yes. Gets better results? Absolutely.
If you paid to have someone write your resume the first time, you will no doubt lack the confidence to make significant changes to fit each situation. Sometimes you may just need a tweak - and you will handle that. Other times, it may take some serious changes to put your background and capabilities in the most favorable light. Going back to the professional writer to get this done each time is going to cost you!
Also, don't forget cover letters. This the single best way to showcase how you would fit each job opportunity. Even if you decide to stick with one version of your resume, each cover letter must be customized to be effective. Here again, you will start to feel pain in your bank account if you don't master the skills to tailor your own resume and cover letters accordingly.
Reason 3: You Will Have To Do Most Of The Work Anyway
Even the best professional resume writer is not a mind reader. He or she cannot assemble the raw materials - the details of your background - without significant input from you. What you will soon discover is that this can be the most time consuming task of all. In other words, you are going to be put to work by the resume writer. And among the resume writing stages and tasks, this fact collection process can be the most time consuming.
So, let's see...you will wind up doing the grunt work of collecting and organizing the "raw materials" for writing your resume. Then, you are going to pay someone else the big bucks to turn it into a concise summary. Not that great of a trade-off, if you ask me.
Reason 4: You Know Yourself - The Resume Write Does Not
Speaking of mind readers, who knows you better than you know yourself? You will have to convey your career aspirations, your likes and dislikes, your motivations, etc. This may take some deep thinking and reflection on your part. So here again, the burden is on you to shape this into your career objectives...all so the resume writer can simply summarize this critical information in a few bullet points.
Reason 5: You Need To Know Exactly What Is On Your Resume And Why
Obviously, you know what is on your resume, right? Not necessarily if you had someone else write it and you don't review it very carefully. Keep in mind that many facts large and small went into the shaping of your winning resume. When the time comes to sit in front of a hiring manager for a face-to-face interview, you should not be hesitant about which facts made it onto your resume and which ones did not. Chances are your words will not be in sync with your written resume if you are not thoroughly familiar with exactly what your resume says. The best way to be on top of those details is to write your resume for yourself.
Don't put yourself at a disadvantage, learn the art of writing a good resume now!
Worried about a recession? You are not alone. Now is not the time to send out a weak "me too" resume. Learn to turn your resume into a crisp, hard-working personal representative of your talents here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corvan_Reynolds
Reason 1: The Cost For That Resume Is Significant
Unless you learn how to make a resume, it will cost you lots of money for a skill that you really need to know first-hand. With the right reference materials, the essentials of resume writing can be learned in an hour or two. I offer an excellent book on this topic at my website, if I may say so myself. Of course, as you know, you can also visit almost any bookstore to find several other books that will bring you up to speed.
In the end, you should expect to pay between $100 and a few hundred dollars for an experienced resume writer to write a resume for you. You can find advertisements that post a lower price, but the saying "you get what you pay for" applies here, too. After all, the professional resume writer wants to make a good living, too. If the cost to you is exceptionally low, chances are it will be farmed out to a less experienced writer.
Reason 2: It Will Cost You Even More Money Later
Let's say that you pay someone to prepare your resume for you. A bit painful to your pocketbook, but maybe not so bad depending on your budget. The problem is, in today's highly competitive job market, you will need to do everything you can to increase your odds at landing a job favorable to your career. That includes tweaking and tuning your resume as the situation dictates.
As an example, let's say at your current job you have been called on to handle a wide range of tasks - and you have carried them out exceptionally well. The problem is, you may not want to list all of those responsibilities in a single resume. That might give the impression that you are not focused on any particular expertise and that may put you at a disadvantage. Better to research what skill sets and what role the company you are interested in is looking to fill. Then, tune your resume accordingly. Takes more time? Yes. Gets better results? Absolutely.
If you paid to have someone write your resume the first time, you will no doubt lack the confidence to make significant changes to fit each situation. Sometimes you may just need a tweak - and you will handle that. Other times, it may take some serious changes to put your background and capabilities in the most favorable light. Going back to the professional writer to get this done each time is going to cost you!
Also, don't forget cover letters. This the single best way to showcase how you would fit each job opportunity. Even if you decide to stick with one version of your resume, each cover letter must be customized to be effective. Here again, you will start to feel pain in your bank account if you don't master the skills to tailor your own resume and cover letters accordingly.
Reason 3: You Will Have To Do Most Of The Work Anyway
Even the best professional resume writer is not a mind reader. He or she cannot assemble the raw materials - the details of your background - without significant input from you. What you will soon discover is that this can be the most time consuming task of all. In other words, you are going to be put to work by the resume writer. And among the resume writing stages and tasks, this fact collection process can be the most time consuming.
So, let's see...you will wind up doing the grunt work of collecting and organizing the "raw materials" for writing your resume. Then, you are going to pay someone else the big bucks to turn it into a concise summary. Not that great of a trade-off, if you ask me.
Reason 4: You Know Yourself - The Resume Write Does Not
Speaking of mind readers, who knows you better than you know yourself? You will have to convey your career aspirations, your likes and dislikes, your motivations, etc. This may take some deep thinking and reflection on your part. So here again, the burden is on you to shape this into your career objectives...all so the resume writer can simply summarize this critical information in a few bullet points.
Reason 5: You Need To Know Exactly What Is On Your Resume And Why
Obviously, you know what is on your resume, right? Not necessarily if you had someone else write it and you don't review it very carefully. Keep in mind that many facts large and small went into the shaping of your winning resume. When the time comes to sit in front of a hiring manager for a face-to-face interview, you should not be hesitant about which facts made it onto your resume and which ones did not. Chances are your words will not be in sync with your written resume if you are not thoroughly familiar with exactly what your resume says. The best way to be on top of those details is to write your resume for yourself.
Don't put yourself at a disadvantage, learn the art of writing a good resume now!
Worried about a recession? You are not alone. Now is not the time to send out a weak "me too" resume. Learn to turn your resume into a crisp, hard-working personal representative of your talents here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corvan_Reynolds
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