Resume Secret

Resume Rabbit - Tons of Job Offers or Waste of Money?

2009-07-01T01:31:00.001+07:00

Job Hunting is really all about a numbers game, the more "eyes" you have on your resume, the more likely you will have success getting the calls for the interviews, and the more job offers you will get that will ultimately lead to the job. Most people just try to do it themselves or rely on those "Free" posting services that produce, well, usually nothing. That's right, NO results! You remember the old saying. "You get what you pay for." But when it comes to your Job, the thing that puts food on the table, a roof over your head and the clothes on your family's back it is not wise to take a cheap way out especially if it will not produce the desired outcome!

Is there really a fast and easy way to get your resume in front of millions of employers without slaving away all day long in front of a computer, day in and day out? And are there any good resume posting services out there? Of course there are! As with anything else, along with the bad, there are successful and reputable companies that do what they are supposed to, on time with results that will get you excited about this job search thing again! The service my clients use and have had really excellent results with is Resume Rabbit. A really good resume posting service can give you an edge in the job market just because your eggs are spread out over many baskets, not just the few you happen to know about.

There are 6 Things Your Resume Posting Service Should Offer:

1. Quick, Easy Set-up in Minutes with Push Button Features - A True One-Stop Time Saving Process, if your resume doesn't need updating it should feel like you have submitted your resume once.

2. Real Time Reporting so you always know Where, When & What! Auto-Logon links to the various Career sites so anything you need to do will happen instantly.

3. Virus Protection and Spam Filtering because as if you didn't already have enough on your mind with a major job search, who needs to be dealing with what is floating around out there on the Internet. And with all the job scams and non-job related garbage trying to get to you, a little peace of mind goes a long way.

4. Ability to Organize and Keep Track of Large Scale Job Searches, this is a must!

5. Have Access to ALL the Hot Job Banks & Job Search Engines without missing potential employer openings because the job was posted on a smaller more specialized site.

6. And most importantly, Identity Protection, this is key for a lot of reasons, if a particular site doesn't offer that feature, the resume posting service should have their own anonymity solution in place. There you have it, with these key components, a resume posting service can be the answer to your prayers, just make sure you do your due diligence so that you are not relying on getting jobs in a way that will get you nowhere fast!

In today's Job Market, you need to add every trick in the book to help get the job offers rolling in. You cannot wait 30, 60, 90 days or more and still pay your mortgage and take care of your family. Vow to get serious today about finding a job!

About the Author

Does this intrigue you? If you are ready to step away from the computer and really get serious about finding a job then check out - Resume Rabbit Review

*** Be sure to pick up your Free Ebook - Top Ten Secrets of the...World's Greatest Cover Letter...attract job interviews like a magnet! while you're there. It's the Free Resume Cover Letter How to Guide!

How to Choose a Professional Resume Writer.

2009-06-30T00:09:00.002+07:00

If you are looking to hire a Professional Resume Writer, you have two choices. You can hire a local resume writer- where you go to their home or office (or meet in a public space) or you can hire one that is online, or internet based. So how do you know which one is right for you? There are several factors when considering your options, mainly credibility, convenience, turnaround time, and price.

Many people are leery about hiring a resume writer online because of their fear of scams. While that is certainly a consideration, it is really just as simple for someone to take your money in person as online, especially if you pay in advance, as most resume writers require. There are several ways to check their validity though. First, choose a resume writer that is a Certified Professional Resume Writer or a member of the National Resume Writers Association. Also, a key factor in their reliability can be determined by how easily you can get in contact with them. Another way is to ask for samples. Online Resume Writers will usually have a samples page for you to see different styles of resumes they have created. You can also ask for references, but I hesitate to suggest this for a couple of reason. One is being client privacy. While I have numerous clients that I have worked on various projects with over the years, and I know they would give stellar references, I always hesitate to provide their information, although on rare occasions I do. Another reason is that although I know I am honest, some writers may give out the names and numbers of friends or family to serve as references. The customer would never know the difference. So, just because a resume writer hesitates in provide references, in this industry, that does not necessarily mean anything negative. It's a matter of privacy, just as you would like to have your privacy protected.

Reputable online Resume Writing Services will have a phone number and email address they readily give to clients. If the resume writers respond within a few hours (keep in mind time zone differences and sleeping hours!) to answer inquiries and you do not get an answering service or a switchboard, that is a good sign that you are working with a resume service that writes resume full time as their primary profession and not part time as a secondary income.

It is becoming harder and harder to find Local in-person resume writing services. Phone book and traditional advertising methods are expensive, and space is limited. Therefore, you could end up visiting several local resume writers and out of exasperation choose one simply because you are tired of driving all over town. Many recruitment firms offer resume services (some free for clients, some paid) but I can tell you from first hand experience, some of the worst resumes I've seen were written by recruiters. I am sure there are good ones, but given my line of work, I see a lot of bad ones! The advantage in finding a resume service on the Internet is that you can view their work, services, and fees online before calling them, and possibly wasting your time and theirs!

Be wary of people who call themselves Professional Resume Writers' that do not have much experience or charge a low price. Remember, you are paying an expert, and that comes at a cost. On the other hand, there is no reason to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a resume, either. Large services contract smaller writers to do their work. How do I know? Because I happen to work with two of them! That's right. You are paying me and two other people in between me and you. It's much more affordable to go straight to the source! Generally speaking, you can find qualified competent professional resume writers for between $100-200. Anything less than $100 may be someone who is not truly qualified or an expert in the resume writing field.

If you visit an online resume service that has great resume samples, excellent credentials, and communicates with you to answer any of your questions via phone or by email within a few hours, you should seriously consider using them. If they are in another state or country, don't let that stop you. Working by email and telephone is a convenience that you should embrace. The main thing to consider is their ability to write a strong resume for you and your budget!

About the Author

FishBowlResume.com has over 20 years combined experience in Human Resources and as a Full Time Professional Resume Writer. She is married with two children, and lives in rural North Carolina.

Cover Letter - 13 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid.

2009-06-27T01:19:00.002+07:00

Confusion over cover letter style is rampant because survey after survey clearly shows that no one style stands out as the "best" or "most effective" to use. Unfortunately, most job hunters worry about the style of their letters when they should be focusing on the content. The majority of cover letters have at least one or more of the "13 biggest mistakes to avoid."

1. Lack of focus to a particular position or function - Cover letters must be tailored for each position and each company. A cover letter that is all things to all people won't score the points you want to make.

2. Rehashing what's on the resume - Cover letters should compliment your resume, not be resume-redundant. One concept to keep in mind is that the resume must give potential employers the facts; the cover letter must give them the person.

3. Not spending enough time on the cover letter - Job seekers tend to lavish attention to resumes while treating cover letters as a nuisance to be done quickly. Remember, many companies use cover letters as a writing sample.

4. Getting too cute or clever - A cover letter should be a professional exchange, not an intimate tour through the writer's psyche. Write potential employers the kind of letters you would like to receive, letters that clearly make their point. Treat cleverness with caution and professionally address the reader as you would any intelligent adult.

5. Informal salutation - You should address people, especially those you don't know, by their last names. Job seekers who fail to use proper etiquette are labeled as unconventional from the outset.

6. Not addressing your letter to a specific individual - If you want to stand out from the herd, send your letter to a specific person. After looking through scores of letters addressed to "Dear Hiring Executive" or "Good Morning", the interviewer will take notice when his or her name is mentioned.

7. Not knowing anything about the company - Do research. Know about the company to which you're applying. There's no harm if your letter tactfully reveals that you're acquainted with the company or know someone who works there.

8. Request for salary history - To avoid the salary history trap, don't include it, even when requested. But don't ignore the request, either; it could be viewed as a failure to comply with one of the company's first requests. A better approach is to explain that your "salary requests" are open and flexible, and that you look forward to discussing compensation after you have a better idea of the position's responsibilities.

9. Not personalizing your classified ad letter - When answering want ads, address each one using exact words from the ad that closely matches your abilities to the company's stated needs.

10. Attention-getting devices - Don't bold, underline, or italicize anything for emphasis not consistent with good English grammar. Many job seekers do this to draw attention to certain key points. The only two permissible ways to emphasize key points in cover letters are the use of quotation marks or bullets.

11. Typos - Cover letters must be perfect. Some hiring professionals won't even look at your resume if your cover letter has some typos. Your cover letter should show the quality of your work, your attention to detail, and the results you expect from yourself and others. Therefore, your cover letter must be perfect, nothing less. Pay close attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling. In this age of technology, there is no excuse for typos.

12. Overuse of the personal pronoun "I" - Use "I" sparingly. Your name is across the top of the cover letter and you signed the letter on the bottom; they already know whom the letter is from. Think about how boring and impolite it is when people constantly talk about themselves and never ask you how you're doing. The same holds true for cover letters.

13. Indulging in mini-lecture leads - Leads such as "You may not realize it, but..." or "The world's economy..." or "In today's competitive business world..." or "Never has managing costs been so important..." have the potential of talking down to the reader.

About the Author

I am Md. Wahiduzzaman, a professional career counselor, specialist CV Writer and Career Management Consultant providing a unique and highly personalized career counseling, CV and Resume Writing Service for more than last 12 years and also providing training for job seekers who want to brush up on their interview skills.

Md. Wahiduzzaman Management & Career Consultant

Top 3 Job Search Tips.

2009-06-26T01:09:00.002+07:00

There are so many people seeking work right now. I am a certified career coach, but these following tips are not just intellectual ideas, they are extracted from the lessons I learned recently during my own job search process.

1. Intentionally target your ideal work situation and pursue them even if they have no Job Listings.

The truth is that most jobs are filled via "internal" connections within an organization before they ever get posted to the public. (internal meaning the friends, family and colleagues of those already working at the company) By the time a job gets posted on Craigslist or a job board, job site, or in the newspaper, it becomes victim to an overwhelming pile of resumes. Due to this huge load of qualified and overqualified resumes, your chances of standing out are pretty slim. So try another approach altogether. Ask yourself who you really want to work for and what you want to do. Choose what you have the most qualifications or the most passion for and get as specific as possible about your ideal job situation. Then do your research and single out a small group of target jobs and gather relevant information about the company and people in leadership. If possible, deliver your resume in person and make a friendly positive impression on anyone and everyone you meet during the process. Perhaps they have a position opening up in the near future, or are open to hearing what you have to offer. In any case, you have shown yourself to be pro-active and flattered them by choosing them specifically, so you have already set yourself well apart from the majority of the competition.

2. If you can't find a job, Create one.

If you get depressed looking at the list of available jobs and feel like you would not fit into any of them, then maybe you should try custom making a job to suite you. There are many ways you can go about creating a job. As is often true, the only limit is your imagination. Some Possibilities: Volunteer for your favorite organization and offer to creatively fundraise to pay for your salary. Propose a position for yourself and then make it risk free by offering to work the position for a period of time for free to let them feel the benefits it will generate. Turn a hobby into a side job. Teach a class or workshop in something that you love/are good at. Basically, look for needs and opportunities everywhere and then get creative.

3. Create a simple Follow-Up System.

It is very easy to attach a resume to an email and hope for the best. But it is relatively rare to be organized and persistent enough to actually follow-up. This is an easy place to set your self apart from the masses. Example of a very simple system: Create a Follow-Up List on your desk, and document the relevant info about the position you applied for and date you applied. Then schedule 2 or 3 follow-up communications in the week or two following your initial application. You want to be persistent in a friendly way and not become a nuisance. There are software applications and calendars, and phones and coaches and friends and many possible elements to utilize in customizing a system that works for you. Get creative in making your own follow-up system- and make sure to use it!

Best of Luck to you in finding or creating a great job!

About the Author

Audette Sophia is a multi-modal artist and certified coach specializing in helping creative entrepreneurs synthesize their offerings into dynamically successful career strategies. She is also an educator and branding/promotional consultant.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com Audette_Sophia

Snagging a Great Internship: 3 Resume-Writing Tips.

2009-06-25T02:05:00.003+07:00

It's not uncommon for an intern-hopeful to feel shocked after realizing that they need to create a resume in order to apply for a position. Because many on-campus jobs are obtainable without a resume, some students never assume they will need it to apply for an internship. They're wrong.

The truth is many large companies require that their internship candidates submit resumes and cover letters just as job candidates are required to do. This can feel intimidating to the student who has no experiences to list. If you fall into this category, take a look at three ways that you can bring what experience you do have to life so that you can snag that great internship.

Tip #1: Think from the Employer's Perspective

The first tip to consider when writing your internship resume is thinking from the employer's perspective. This means considering what the employer would want to know about a person they want to hire. Doing this requires that you study the internship description so that you can determine what the employer is really looking for, as well as looking at the overall goals of the company. Afterward, you can take a look at what you have to offer and how - from the employer's perspective - what you know and want to accomplish can truly aid its mission.

Tip #2: Consider all of Your Experiences

Next, after you've looked at what the employer is likely looking for in an intern, you can round up your experiences to see how well they mesh with their goals. What is it that you have to offer? If you haven't held a job, what experiences have you had that have helped you build essential skills for the role? How organized are you? Do you work well with people? It's good to think about everything you've done that has required responsibility to show how great an intern you're going to be.

Tip #3: Educate Yourself on Resume-Writing Rules

Just because you're a newbie resume writer doesn't mean you're off the hook when it comes to creating a flawless resume. It's your job to learn the information you don't already know. For instance, you'll need to make sure to include the essential sections: objective, education, relevant coursework (good for students), experience, activities (include this section if you have relevant extracurricular activities), and special skills. But these are not all the rules you'll need to consider. Here are a few more.

First, you'll want your resume to be brief - one page is usually long enough to highlight your essentials. Second, the resume should be error-free. No typos or grammatical errors allowed. Third, it's recommended that you write your accomplishments as actions rather than duties. In other words, instead of explaining that you were responsible for something, it's good to say you "implemented …" or "managed …" something. And finally, if possible, try to stay away from "cutesy" fonts, flower-print backgrounds, and anything else that stops your resume from looking professional.

It's not always easy to write a resume, especially when there may not be much to list. But don't let that deter you from writing a great one. The more time you spend on creating an employer-specific, action-oriented, error-free resume, the greater your chances will be of snagging the internship you want most.

About the Author

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. Need resume writers? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com/.

Salary Negotiation: Compensation Advice From A Recruiter.

2009-06-24T01:47:00.003+07:00

As a recruiter, I'm used to negotiating salary and compensation on behalf of my job candidates with the hiring manager of the company they are interviewing with.

Salary and compensation negotiation is one of the things a recruiter typically does when helping someone get a job so if you're not a good negotiator this can be one of the things they can help you with if you decide to use a recruiter.

Here are some tips that I've learned in my time as a recruiter that might help you next time you're negotiating salary for yourself with a potential new employer.

1. Let the employer bring up the issue of money first. Ideally, you should let the interviewer broach the issue of money (ie. "How much money are you looking for?") not you. Employers generally don’t want money-motivated staff whose main concern is salary since people can easily switch jobs if they can get more money elsewhere.

Certainly, if you're working with a recruiter you can let them know what salary you're looking for since they need to know what range is acceptable to you and avoid wasting your time with jobs that don't match your requirements.

2. Don't state a desired salary range. The problem with saying "I'm looking for a salary of $30,000-$40,000" is that while you might be thinking that you're showing flexibility by stating a wide range, you could actually be low balling the salary you end up getting offered.

While you might be thinking that you'd like the higher end of this salary range (ie. $38,000) the hiring manager might be thinking you'd be happy with $30,000 since you did state that $30,000 was in your acceptable range! While the hiring manager hopefully wants to be fair, some might not offer you $40,000 if you state that $30,000 would be acceptable, which is basically what you're saying with this stated range.

Ideally you want to go into an interview knowing the salary range that the company is offering. A recruiter can definitely get this information for you. Knowing the salary range being offered ensures that you don't price yourself out of range and don’t lowball yourself either.

3. Don't state a salary that you won't be happy accepting. If you tell a hiring manager you'd be happy with $30,000 do not expect to be able to go back to them later in the interview process and then ask for $35,000. It can be difficult to get a higher salary agreed to once you've verbally mentioned a lower one. As we spoke about in Point 1, let the employer bring up the issue of money first and try your best to understand the job fully before committing to a stated salary figure.

While you don't want to evade the question if you're asked "how much money are you looking for" during a job interview, you also don't want to ruin your chances at getting a better figure by making a mistake handling the salary question.

The longer you can delay the issue of money in an interview process the better.

A good recruiter should be able to help you with salary negotiation since that's part of their job and since as the middleman, they can negotiate on your behalf without the emotional aspect that can come along with this issue if you were doing it yourself.

Plus, they should have a solid understanding of exactly what parts of the job offer might be open to negotiation especially if this is a hiring manager or company that they've successfully dealt with before!

About the Author

Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com

Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management "secrets" that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com Carl_Mueller

7 Tips for Surviving A Layoff.

2009-05-21T23:42:00.002+07:00

1. Ask for more projects. I know this may sound like a crazy idea, and you might already be overloaded, but I knew a colleague in IT that had asked for additional projects and she survived three rounds of layoffs and still is working at her company.

2. Don't have the "It won't happen to me mentality". I'm not suggesting that you walk around scared that you have no job stability but take the boyscout motto to heart. Always be prepared.

3. Start Saving Now. Most financial experts will tell you that you should have 6 months salary saved up in case of emergencies or unexpected job loss.

In this economy, I say if you can save 8 months salary.

4. Pay down debt. I know one woman that said she wished she would have paid down her credit card debt while she was working. She said now that I'm unemployed and money is tight, making those extra $30 and $40 monthly minimum payments are causing her to struggle.

5. Be prepared. By this I mean have your resume and cover letter ready. Don't wait until you are unemployed to start working on it. Better yet, while you're still employed have a professional resume writer do an evaluation of your resume for you and make updates and edits accordingly. A stellar resume can go a long way in a tough job market and save you potentially weeks or months of being unemployed.

6. Be proactive. Start sending your resume out now. Even if you don't think you'll be laid off go ahead and post your resume to all those top job boards. It can't hurt to have it out there. Think of it as your back up 'just in case' plan. Your emergency parachute so to speak.

7. Know that you'll be all right. When a colleague of mine was laid off he found his true passion. He was in finance but has always wanted to be a Chef.

So he used the time away from the office to hone in on his cooking skills. Now he's a Chef for a very upscale restaurant in the City. He told me one day, that he wished someone would have told him the day he got laid off that he would be alright. "In fact, I feel better then alright. It was the push I needed to pursue my true passion."

For additional job search tips, resume writing advice or to find out how to have your resume evaluated and written by a professional resume writer visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/

About the Author

Jessi Holbrook is author of this article on resume writing service. Find more information about professional resume writing here.

Choosing a professional to write your resume - seven questions you need to ask.

2009-05-20T00:40:00.001+07:00

1. What are your qualifications and experience in writing professional Resumes?

A provider who simply uses a Resume format that looks professional (laser printing and thermal binding) is no more qualified than you are to write your Resume. The content of the Resume is what counts, so choose a provider with qualifications and experience, preferably in marketing or human resource management.

2. Do you provide forms for me to fill in?

If you need to fill in forms, you’re basically writing your own Resume. Walk away.

3. Do you provide a face-to-face consultation?

You need a face-to-face consultation to discuss all aspects of your qualifications, work history and achievements (it usually takes 1-2 hours to do a thorough job). This is where the skill of the consultant is vital in knowing the right questions to ask you.

4. What is your success rate in getting clients to interviews?

If the providers don’t know, you can assume there are no follow-up and no interest in your future success.

5. Can my Resume /CV be supplied by email?

You should be able to get your CV supplied electronically for future updates and additional copies.

Some Resume companies offer low-priced Resumes with a consultant calling to your own home. This sounds convenient, but think about it. What's the catch? Does your solicitor come to your home when you need your will written? These companies make their money by charging you for every copy you order…. and you’ll probably need quite a few if the content is poor.

6. What do I get for my money?

Think of your Resume as an investment and look for value for money. Regardless of whether it costs $90 or $900, your Resume won’t get you a job if it fails to 'sell' your skills and achievements to the employer.

7. Do you provide any support with interview skills and jobsearch?

Good providers offer ongoing advice regarding interviews and jobsearch strategies. Your success is important to their success.

N.B. The best way to choose a provider is to get personal referrals from friends who have been happy with the provider.

About the Author

Dawn Richards is a career coach and author of best selling career books 'Selection Criteria Toolkit', 'Get That Government Job' and 'From Fired to Hired.' For further free career resources go to http://www.smartstartmarketing.com.au/

Tips for Grads Looking for Employment During the Recession.

2009-05-06T01:20:00.002+07:00

Being a college grad in the middle of a recession is one of the toughest times to try to find a job. Unfortunately, there are thousands of students who have recently graduated - or are about to cross the stage - who will be looking for employment with 4 million others who have recently been laid off. So how can someone with very little experience compete against candidates who have years of know-how and education under their belts? There are a few tips to consider that can help to make the job search a little simpler. Let's take a look at what they are …

Take Advantage of Your Youth

One benefit that recent grads have over professionals who have been in their chosen industry for years is youth. While it's true that many employers like to play it safe with an employee who has tons of experience, some employers understand the need to stay ahead of the curve in most all industries due in large part to constant technological advancements in the business world. This gives a great advantage to the recent grad. One reason for this advantage is that students who have recently graduated have been "raised" in these newer technologies and know them like the backs of their hands. Also, by having recently studied them, recent grads are able to take them and move forward with fresh perspectives that veteran employees may not offer. So as a recent grad, it's good to amplify any technological expertise you have, as well as any other fresh perspectives you can bring to the table when applying for jobs. If you do, your youth may just offer you a major advantage in your job search.

Describe Your Experience Creatively

In addition to focusing on the fresh perspective your youth can bring to a company, it's good to put a creative spin any experience you have. This is especially true if your list of jobs and skills stops halfway through the first page. Unfortunately, your competition will have tons of expertise under their belts, so it's your job to spruce up your experiences to make yourself more competitive. For instance, if you have yet to hold a job, but you have volunteered for a number of organizations, you can focus any skills acquired from these experiences (along with extracurricular activities and other events you've participated in that can be added to the list) to heighten your chances of being hired.

Make Use of Your Contacts

Another tip to consider when conducting a job search during a recession is making use of your contacts. Sometimes, when there aren't many job openings in comparison to the number of talented individuals applying for them, who you know means much more than what you know. So if you have good relationships with professors, campus officials, or employees from various internships, now is the time to start networking. Also, joining social networks and organizations geared toward your field can help you create new professional contacts.

Finding a job in the recession can be difficult for anyone, but even more so for a recent grad. But don't give up hope that you'll find that great job. With a fresh perspective, creativity and some confident networking skills, you'll snatch up a great job in no time.

About the Author

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. Check out reviews of the top resume writers in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com/.

Top 7 Reasons Resumes Fail to Get the Interview.

2009-05-03T01:01:00.003+07:00

The number of job seekers sending out resumes is growing exponentially with each passing day. It's unfortunate that the vast majority of these job seekers will end up sitting at home wondering why the phone doesn't ring with a call for an interview. Some will simply not be qualified, but just as many will have submitted a resume that let them down. Don't be part of that majority. Stand out in the crowd by avoiding these fatal resume flaws.

1. Too General

This is the number one reason resumes fail. Entry level candidates fall victim to this flaw more often than more experienced workers but it's a more or less universal problem. If you've ever had to review literally hundreds of resumes in one sitting while looking for people with specific qualifications, you would understand why a too general resume is rejected almost instantly. If you don't know what you want to do, don't expect a recruiter to figure it out for you. The person looking through those resumes has to see what he's looking for immediately. He doesn't have time to read each one in detail and won't take time to read between the lines to figure out what the candidate is capable of doing. Focus your resume on one functional role. If your experience would allow you to go in two or more directions, write a different resume for each.

2. Not Attention Grabbing

That is: the resume does not have a compelling opening. It doesn't matter whether you call it a career statement, career objective or value proposition, if you don't have a strong opening statement you've lost out on a prime opportunity to grab the reader's attention and propel her through your resume.

3. Not Results Oriented

Resumes that have a ho-hum listing of job duties do not make the cut in a crowded employment market. Just filling in an MS Word template with your job description won't get the interview. Clearly show what you're capable of by illustrating what you've done in the past. Combine your accomplishments with your responsibilities in a features/benefits format that includes plenty of action verbs.

4. Me Focused

Too many resumes start with a sentiment similar to this: "I'm looking for a job with a stable company that pays a decent wage and has good benefits." That's a no no. A job search is a need based selling proposition. Successful job seekers sell the hiring manager based on that manager's needs. Give your resume the greatest chance to succeed by writing it based on the hiring authority's perspective. Remember: your resume is your marketing piece. Focus on what's in it for the buyer (potential employer) if she hires you.

5. No Keywords

If your resume is not rich with keywords specific to the functional role you're targeting, it won't get found in resume databases. When you post your resume to a job board it's one of thousands in a database. When you submit your resume to a company from an online job posting it ends up in a database. When you apply with a third party recruiter your resume goes into a database. Increase your odds of getting an interview by including the right keywords.

6. No Attention to Detail

Resumes with margins that don't line up, miss-matched fonts, typos, misspellings, mixed up verb tenses and grammatical errors fail. It's as simple as that. Proof read exhaustively. It would be tragic to lose out on your dream job because your resume contained these easy to fix errors.

7. Poor Formatting

It doesn't matter what resume gurus say. Your functional resume might be really impressive if a person takes the time to read it in detail. But that's not going to happen in a first pass screen. If the initial screening person can't see at a glance what she is looking for, your resume will fail. To help this person quickly determine that you meet the position requirements, include your work history in reverse chronological order somewhere on your resume. Make it easy on the human scanner by using one font type, formatting with bullet points and including plenty of white space.

Your resume's primary function is to get you an interview. Get to that important first meeting by making sure yours represents you in the strongest way possible.

Here's more free help with building a strong resume and a distinctive candidacy.

About the Author

Shirley Ray has 17+ years of experience as a hiring professional. Starting first as a corporate recruiter she then moved into professional recruiting and finally staffing agency ownership. She has interviewed thousands of job hopefuls and placed hundreds of deserving candidates with top companies.

Ms. Ray offers job seekers free insider tips and advice condensed from her informed perspective at Job-Seekers-Edge.com.

Making Electronic Resumes Work for You.

2009-05-01T01:14:00.002+07:00

We're living in an electronic world, which means it's pretty important that when it comes to resumes you learn to be an electronic girl - or boy. There are a high percentage of companies that prefer that job candidates submit applications and resumes online. So if you don't know how to do so, you may find yourself left behind your technologically advanced competition.

The good news is that it's not difficult to understand the basics of electronic resumes. If you know how to type basic documents and send emails then this process shouldn't be challenging for you. To get you started, however, let's take a look at the world of electronic resumes, as well as some basic tips for how to make them work for you.

What are Electronic Resumes?

Electronic resumes are resumes that are submitted electronically, whether via email, a website or database, or through scanning. It's very common to be asked to submit a resume electronically because doing so makes organization on the company's end simple. Most companies now require that someone scan paper resumes into a computer for filing and sorting, so if it is already submitting electronically, this step is eliminated.

As a result, you may find yourself submitting a resume via a website that allows you to cut and paste a text version or browse and submit a .Doc or .PDF version. Some companies may ask for you to submit yours via email. If you are beginning a job search and are unfamiliar with any of these technologies, it's good to brush up on them as soon as possible. This way, you won't feel lost if you're required to submit via an electronic format.

How Keywords Make a Difference

With electronic resumes, especially those that are submitted through a website format, it is a good idea to consider incorporating strategic keywords. What are keywords? They are specific words found throughout the resume that help the hiring manager determine how closely matched your skills are to the industry and job position you're applying for.

They are important when submitting electronic resumes because many companies use specific software to pinpoint these keywords. So if you want to tackle this head-on, it's good to find words that define your industry and the job you're applying for then strategically place them throughout your electronic resume.

Sending a Hard Copy

While companies have made the process of submitting resumes much simpler (and cheaper) by allowing us to submit them electronically, it's still a good idea to incorporate the traditional resume into your process. In other words, even if a company asks that job applicants submit resumes via a website or email, if you're really serious about the job then it doesn't hurt to also follow up with a hard copy of your resume that you send via U.S. mail. Yeah, it's true; this means you'll still need to buy resume paper. But to go through this extra step can keep your name in the hiring manager's mouth - a definite bonus.

Electronic resumes are the wave of the future. So if you want to increase your chances of being hired, learning how to make them work for you is something you should strongly consider.

About the Author

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. Need a resume service? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com/.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself to Determine if a Video Resume is for You.

2009-04-29T00:15:00.002+07:00

Video resumes are gaining popularity, particularly with the younger generation. It's a way for potential employers to get a glimpse at the person behind the resume without actually spending the time to interview them. Should you consider putting yourself on video to promote your resume? Here are three questions to ask yourself when making this decision:

1. Am I comfortable communicating via video? - If you hate being recorded on video, then stop right there. A video resume is not for you. Your discomfort in being recorded is sure to come through to the employer, in which case they will see your insecurities instead of your confidence. On the flip side, if you like to be recorded and feel confident when you are on video camera, then go for it!

2. Do I portray myself the way I want to in an interview on video? - Even if you enjoy being on video, you may not come across as you wish to be perceived. The end result should be a crisp, well-communicated representation of your skills, experience and education in five minutes or less. If your words get lost because you are not speaking loudly or clearly enough, then you will not be perceived as a good communicator, which is certainly what every employer wants. Before you consider posting a video resume, ask a couple of friends to view it and give you honest feedback.

3. Do I have a quality recording source? - If you don't have good recording equipment, consider renting it or hiring a professional to produce your video resume. When setting up your environment, make sure the background is somewhat plain and there is no background noise. You also need a good microphone to pick up your voice so that your words don't cause a strain to hear. If it seems like too much of a hassle to produce a quality video resume, then don't do it. A crummy video will do more harm than good.

Remember, the purpose of the video resume is to add a personal presentation of yourself to future employers. How well you prepare your video may imply to employers how well you will do your job. If it's sloppy and amateur, they will think you are sloppy and amateur. To be sure to say what you want the employer to hear, write yourself a script, practice it until you can perform it naturally, with confidence and without studying the script every second. And do NOT just read your resume to the camera! Pick particular highlights and accomplishments you wish to communicate. They will still read your resume for the details, after all.

(Please note: Some HR and Legal professionals believe that video resumes open employers up to discriminatory employment practices. If you're concerned about the possibility of discrimination, please consult an attorney before considering a video resume.)

In most cases, an online resume or "paper" resume is still the most accepted practice. However, if you are great on video and feel it will give you an edge, then a video resume may be for you.

About the Author

Claudia Loens is a Silicon Valley based Recruiter with over 20 years of experience. Now, she brings her expertise and insider secrets to the job seeker in her new book "Get Happily Employed NOW!" Learn how to apply modern techniques and the Law of Attraction to find the perfect job at http://www.happilyemployednow.com/ Learn more about her job search coaching services at http://www.claudialoens.com/

Life Skills 101: First Timer's Job Interview Success.

2009-04-28T01:02:00.002+07:00

Whether you are facing your first job interview or have a couple behind you, here are a few pointers to help you navigate the interview process.

Plan ahead for the interview - to arrive a few minutes early with a couple of black or blue ink pens and to be prepared for basic questions you might be asked. Although there are hundreds of possible questions an interviewer may throw out to you, what they are most likely trying to find out is how dependable you are, if you're a hard worker, if you are easy to get along with, and what kind of skills, if any, you can bring to the job. Keep those things in mind as you frame your answers to the questions you are asked. Think ahead how you would answer the questions "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your greatest strengths?"

Once you are fortunate enough to get an interview, remember only a true emergency should keep you from showing up at the scheduled appointment on time. Excuses like, "I couldn't make it because the friend who was going to give me a ride was waiting for her brother to get back from.... etc." will help a potential employer decide you are not the candidate for the job. Sometimes you may be asked to call or return several times before you are told whether or not you have the job. Don't give up, and be sure you follow up, since this may be a test to see how dependable you are and how well you follow instructions.

During your interview remember attitude is everything. It's why an employer may hire you instead of someone who is just as smart or just as qualified. The proper attitude shows that you are positive and eager to please. It's caring enough not only to be on time, but to arrive several minutes early. It's wanting the job bad enough to make a good impression. Your clothes should be clean, pressed and appropriate. Men, now is the time to tuck in your shirt and put on a tie. Women, dress conservatively. Forget about wearing tank tops or shorts. Every part of you needs to be clean and look well groomed and well put together. You are projecting how you feel about yourself by the way you dress and present yourself.

Watch your posture. It might be a bit hard to appear relaxed yet energetic and eager at the same time, but you can do it. Greet your interviewer properly - which means with a smile, a greeting (such as "thank you for seeing me"), a correct handshake, and direct eye contact. Make sure you introduce yourself by using both your first and last names.

Maintain good direct eye contact during your interview. This indicates you are focused and interested. Do not stare; just appear to be listening and friendly.

Sit when you are instructed to do so. Don't slump, fidget, play with your hands, cross your legs, or tap your feet. Just sit up straight in the chair with both feet flat on the floor.

Be mindful not to interrupt.

Answer all questions completely and honestly. Don't say you have experience when you do not. Don't say you know how to do something if you know you don't. Never lie. Answer all questions in complete sentences, which will help to keep you from appearing indifferent.

Try to emphasize your dependability and your willingness to work hard.

Show interest! Ask questions, such as "What would my duties be during a typical workday?" or "What is most important to do well in this job?"

Discuss your strengths, skills and accomplishments, not how much money you want. Let the interviewer bring up salary, even if it's approached in a subsequent interview.

When the interview is over, make sure you smile, shake hands again and say thank you. Immediately after the interview write and mail a short well-written letter, thanking the interviewer for the time given you, and restating your interest in the position. This is an additional opportunity to impress the interviewer and to project the positive attitude employers are looking for.

About the Author

Tina Pestalozzi is the author of Life Skills 101: A Practical Guide to Leaving Home and Living on Your Own, available at http://www.thelifeskillsbook.com/. She is the director of Global Protocol and Etiquette Services; presenting seminars on civility and business etiquette to corporate, government and educational organizations.

Five Ways to Prepare for a Phone Interview.

2009-04-26T01:36:00.002+07:00

Many people don't realize that a phone interview is the first step in getting hired for a job. Whether you speak to the Recruiter or the Hiring Manager, either one can make or break your application for their position. Usually you'll get some notice via email to set up a time to conduct the phone interview, which gives you time to prepare. Use the following five ways to prepare for phone interview:

Know the Company - The first thing you should do, is go to the company website and read it thoroughly. Know what the main products are, their industry and their financial status. Read their recent press releases. You don't need to memorize every aspect of the company, but you should have a firm knowledge of what they do and where they stand in their industry. Second, do a Google search to see if there is any news or relevant information that can not be found on their website.

Know the Position - Clarify with the person who schedules the interview about which position you are interviewing. Get a job description if there's one available and READ IT. Print it out and highlight it. Make notes on it about what qualifies you for the position so you can have it handy when you're speaking with the phone interviewer.

Know the Interviewer - Many Recruiters and Hiring Managers are on one of the professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn or Plaxo. Look up their names and if they appear, read what you can about them. This will allow you to feel familiar with them and you could generate conversation based upon what you read. If they don't appear on one of these sites, do a Google search for them and see what you get! Include the company name so that you know you have the right person.

Prepare Questions - Usually the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions at the end of the call. Be prepared with several questions, such as, "what are the next steps?" or "when will I hear back from you?". It's ok to have more questions then you actually ask. The point is to have the questions ready so you don't get caught off guard.

Review Your Resume - Go back over your resume again and think of questions the interviewer might ask. In general, they are looking for a few clues as to what qualifies you for the position. They may have questions about your work history or specific skills. Get your resume fresh in your mind. In particular, review your experience with the technical aspects of the job which they listed in their job description in case they have questions about your level of skill in that area.

One last suggestion that I have, is to make sure you use a land line for the call. Cell phones are still choppy and have a delay, which does not make for a smooth conversation. You don't want anything to distract or detract from your phone interview.

It's better to be overly prepared for a phone interview, then not prepared at all. By following these guidelines, you increase your chances of having a successful phone interview, which leads to the next step in the hiring process - the interview!

About the Author

Claudia Loens is a Silicon Valley based Recruiter with over 20 years of experience. Now, she brings her expertise and insider secrets to the job seeker in her new book "Get Happily Employed Now" Learn how to apply modern techniques and the Law of Attraction to find the perfect job at http://www.happilyemployednow.com/ Learn more about her job search coaching services at http://www.claudialoens.com/resumewriting.html

Can A Resume Writer Really Help Get Me Hired?

2009-04-24T00:43:00.002+07:00

Proof writing your own resume can cost you at least $3000:

Well first of all let me say I agree with you, to a certain extent that is. This is why 1/3 of my website is dedicated to giving away free advice, tips and strategies that are time tested and proven to aid job hunters. My mission is to be a Christian Soldier in the war on poverty. But I am also a realist too. In the real world 92% of all resumes and cover letters are bottom to middle of the stack quality. They just don't get the job done period. As a hiring manager and a recruiter I witnessed this over and over, every day. I quickly came to the realization that 92% of folks just don't know their resume is either mediocre or garbage.

When you have a professionally written resume you can expect 75% more calls for interviews. When you have a professionally written resume you can expect to earn a higher salary. You employers will naturally give you the credit for an outstanding resume and cover letter. Most importantly your resume is a tool for marketing your skills, talents and abilities. But only as they would match your employers needs or benefit your employer. So your resume should be written specifically with your targeted career goal in mind and your employer's needs in mind.

The bottom line is a resume expert has the experience and professional skills to make sure your job search is over in half the normal time. Know that every week you are unemployed, another $500 --$1000 in take home pay lost minimum. So if your normal job hunt length matches the average 3 months, the financial loss is $6,000 -- $12,000. By cutting your job search time by half save $3000 -- $6000 dollars minimum.

Of course that is just an average. Once you consider the fact that your regular bills still keep coming in while you are unemployed you must consider the additional painful loss of your savings by the same $6,000 -- $12,000. So by not withdrawing your savings to live on when you are unemployed you again would save a fortune. The total savings from cutting your job search in half would be $6000 -- $12,000.

A top of the heap resume and cover letter can change all that. Even if you have already experienced financial loss, we can stop the bleeding by getting you back to work ASAP. The bottom line is getting interviews is challenging for everyone. The employers who do the recruiting and hiring rely on resumes and cover letters to weed out the less qualified and less professional. So naturally, it stands to reason if you want to dramatically improve your chances of getting hired, your resume must provide a positive first impression to employers.

Experienced Resume Writers are also expert problem solvers. Should you have one of the many resume challenges like transitioning from the military to civilian life then don't even dream of writing your own resume. Some other serious challenges would include: immigrants, anybody without a strong command of English or writing, employment gaps, career changes, very competitive fields, just rejoining workforce after taking care of the family, frequent job changes, frequent temporary/contract work, self employed transitioning to employed, technical resumes, executive resumes, marketing resumes for the self employed professional's website and industry down turn challenges.

We've faced these challenges before. We researched them, trained for them and solved them so take advantage of our affordable expertise. Remember our fees are tax deductible as a job hunting expense. More importantly we are here to help.

Should you have any doubts or if you are not getting enough interviews, 92% of the time it is your resumes fault. You can have all the skills, talents and abilities in the world but if you don't get enough interviews you are going no where. Now honestly when you compare the average cost of a great resume at $150 to the cost of your lost wages for 2 -- 3 months, hiring a pro to write your resume and cover letter is only common sense. So please help yourself now instead of waiting 3 months to find out your resume is not working. Time is money.

For those of you who feel your resume is already great, please take advantage of my free resume review service. If there are any problems I'll find them and let you know. By the way if you had a friend or colleague at work look over your resume before you started distributing it that is not enough. Your friends don't want to hurt your feelings or may not be great proof readers. So do leave your resume to a paid professional. It is the very foundation of your job hunt. Remember time is money.

About the Author

(c) 2009 by Darrell Z. DiZoglio of http://righteousresumes.com/ where you will find everything you need to get hired. Would you like to finish your job hunt in 1/2 the normal time? Did you know professionally written resumes get 75% more requests for interviews? Click here: http://www.righteousresumes.com/

Creating a Good Reference List.

2009-04-22T00:12:00.003+07:00

One of the greatest mysteries associated with applying for a job is how to create a good reference list. Because not every employer even requests this list as a part of the application process, it can often be difficult to know exactly who should be listed and when.

One key to remember is even if you don't know whether references are necessary, it's good to think of some people you might want to consider just in case. But that's just one consideration to make regarding reference lists. Here are a few others that you might want to keep in mind …

Make Your List Employer-Specific

While it's great to have your list of "reliables" to work with for every job that you apply for, some references are better for some jobs than others. For instance, suppose you've held jobs at both a non-profit organization and Fortune 500 company as a mid-level sales rep. Now you're applying for a job at another non-profit organization in a slightly higher position and would like to use your boss from the Fortune 500 company as your reference because you had a better rapport with him.

While a reference from a manager at a Fortune 500 company is incredibly impressive, it may be better to use a reference from a member of the non-profit organization you worked for. A reference from the organization would be more employer-specific because he or she can attest to your knowledge of the non-profit world. Of course, when making this choice, it's good to consider how long you worked for the organization and how much of a contribution you made. If you didn't make a huge contribution to the organization, or can't find a good reference, then the Fortune 500 company may work better for you.

Help References Turn Your Negative Points into Positives

On almost any job you've held, there is the possibility of you having made a minor - or even major - screw-up. Either that or you may have had a weak trait that seemed to be the underlying theme of your stay at an employer. No matter what your negative point may have been, it's a good idea to help your reference turn that negative into a positive.

For instance, if you had a problem with being organized at your last employer - and you have listed a reliable reference from this company - it's good to let that person know that you are now much more organized than when you were employed there. Also, it's good to remind your reference of any great or memorable accomplishments that they can mention when the hiring manager calls.

Don't Forget to Obtain Permission

If you're going to use a person as a reference on your list, it's important that you obtain permission to use his or her name. This not only makes sure that the person is prepared to make comments about you if asked, but also, it ensures that you don't request a recommendation from a person who doesn't think very highly of your work ethic or capabilities.

Once you've taken the necessary steps to create a good list, your next step is to begin sending off applications. With any luck, this will help you obtain the job you truly want and deserve.

About the Author

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. Need a resume writer? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com/.

How To Choose A Resume Writing Service.

2009-04-21T01:09:00.003+07:00

Having an attention-grabbing resume is one of the most important parts of the job search. Your resume and cover letter are your introduction to a potential employer; and without a strong introduction, you may never get another chance to make a good impression. As a result, the success of your job hunt can hang on how well your resume is written.

Maybe you are entering the work force after graduating from college. Or maybe you just need to find a new job. Regardless of why you are looking for work, a skilled resume writer has the power to help you get your foot in the door.

Why Should I Use a Resume Writer?

Resume writing services are more than just a word processing or proofreading service. A resume writer takes your work experience, education, your strengths and weakness, and ties it all up into one little package. Although people usually think of their resume as a simplistic listing of their education and experience, it is actually more like a sales document. In order for your resume to effectively sell you, it not only has to be well written and visually appealing, but also has to present the goods - you - in the best possible light.

Sound easy? Of course not. Why is it, then, that so many people attempt to write their resumes on their own? You wouldn't try to write a legal contract when the outcome could impact the rest of your life - you would hire a lawyer. By the same token, you should entrust your resume to a professional resume writer.

What Does a Resume Writer Do?

A resume writer's goal is to convince potential employers that you are perfect for the job. In order to sell your strengths, a resume writer will:

Discuss your career focus and gear your resume to your unique goals

Choose the best format to highlight your strengths

Write an attention-getting summary or list of objectives

Use convincing language to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses

Personalize your resume in a way that shows you off to your best advantage

Make your resume available in different file formats if needed

Make changes as necessary

Of course, a resume doesn't really stand by itself. Your career decisions, where and how you search for jobs, and the quality of your cover letter all impact how your resume is received. In other words, if you are looking for work in the wrong places, or don't introduce your resume properly in the cover letter, it won't matter how dazzling your resume is.

Resume writing services often offer a whole package approach to resume writing. To ensure that you land your dream job, your resume writer may offer additional services, such as:

Career consultation

Job search consultation

Cover letter writing

Resume distribution

Interview preparation

What Should I Look for in a Resume Writing Service?

A good resume writing service is one that offers you everything necessary to get the attention of potential employers. When shopping for a resume writer, you should look for:

1. Convincing literature on their services. Whether you are browsing a website or looking at an informational pamphlet, pay close attention to how convincing the literature is. If they can't sell themselves, they likely won't be able to do a good job of selling you.

2. A good reputation. Don't forget to Google! If a resume writing service is worth its salt, you should be able to find good reports from happy customers. Even more importantly, if they aren't any good you are almost certain to find complaints.

3. Experience. Your career is in your resume writer's hands, so make sure you choose someone with experience. If your career is in a specialized field, you might even want to look for a resume writer who specializes in the field - a writing service that knows the industry will also know what its employers look for in a resume.

4. Education. Submitting a resume with errors is embarrassing enough, but when you've paid to have it done right it's downright tragic. Make sure your resume writer is educated and/or certified, so that you can be sure you're getting your money's worth.

5. Personal attention. You don't want someone who is going to simply plug your information into a resume writing program - you could do that yourself. In order for your resume to stand out, it needs a unique touch that can only be achieved if your resume writer has taken the time to discuss it with you.

Of course, when you are shopping for a resume writing service, don't forget to listen to your gut. You will have to work closely with the writer during the creation of your resume, so it is important to feel comfortable with him or her.

Putting Your Career First

Hiring a resume writer ensures that your resume looks professional and gets attention. Although the expense may seem unnecessary, consider that you have already invested thousands of dollars into your education so that you could simply get to this point. When your entire career is at stake, don't throw it away over a typo or a passive verb! A resume writing service can help you make your dream job a reality.

About the Author

Jason Kay is a contributor to career related websites such as JobGoRound.

The Problems with Resume Writing.

2009-03-19T00:03:00.002+07:00

I've read a lot of resumes in my day. Coming from the Information Technology sector I have seen some pretty crazy ones filled with a lot of gobbledygook involving technical acronyms and programming jargon. Here's an example, "Proficient in the following languages and operating platforms: C, C++, DOS, MVS, CICS, ISPF/VS, DB2, OS/2, OS/400, AIX, UNIX, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Basic, HTML, DHTML, XHTML, XML, PHP, PDP, JCL, SQL, George 3, Win95/98/Me/XP/VISTA, etc." Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it? The problem is verifying that the person does, in fact, know these things. Most of the time I've found they might have nothing more than a rudimentary knowledge of the subject which is why we recommend testing the applicant as opposed to just taking his/her word for it.

I also find it irritating when a person uses verbose language to describe himself. For example, whenever someone says they are a "Senior Software Engineer," this simply means he is nothing more than a programmer with two or more jobs under his belt. Some people add so many adjectives to describe their credentials and boast of their successes (not their failures) that you would think he is the second coming of Christ. Whenever I see this, I ask myself, "If this person is so great, why isn't he running his own company; why does he need a job from me?" Touting ones' successes is natural, but a little humility in the presentation of the resume would sure be refreshing.

I may not be an expert in preparing resumes, but I think the ones that appeal to me most are those that are simple and to the point. Frankly, if they cannot keep it to one page that isn't too busy looking, I think people will lose interest. I know I do. If I want additional detail, I'll ask for it. Tell me plain and simple: What are you interested in doing? What's your background? (your employment history) and What do you know? (your skill set). I don't want to know how you conquered neuro-electronic fusion systems based on a hashing algorithm you invented; do not try to baffle me with your brilliance. Just tell me how you can do a job for me and blend into the corporate culture. I think team accomplishments are still valued over individual achievement by most employers today.

About the Author

Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida. http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm
He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com
Copyright © 2009 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

5 Important Steps For Perfect Resume Writing.

2009-03-10T20:12:00.002+07:00

There are 5 very important things to remember in your resume writing to have the biggest impact in your job search.

1 - Be consistent.

Each bullet must match all other bullets in your resume writing in terms of grammar and format. It is best to not use periods at the end of each bullet. They are fragments. Use an action word at the beginning of each bullet. Your reader is going to be skimming the resume much of the time. You want them see right away what you have "done". Some examples are: Developed, Supervised, Led, Gained, Earned, Initiated, etc. The only exception to this would be your current job. Here you can use present tense such as: Supervise, Lead, etc.

2 - Give them your accomplishments.

Having your job description in your sections is OK, but you need to dominate it with accomplishments you have made in those positions. It is also best to show the measurable results. For example: "Created a new procedure for manufacturing of bottles which reduced cost by 25%".

3 - Make it easy to read.

Print documents are generally in serif font such as Times. This makes it easier to read on paper. Never use cute fonts like Comic Sans. Your resume writing needs to be professional in order for the reader to take you serious. Keeping the font size at 11 or 12 points also helps the reader.

4 - Use buzz words.

Buzz words are specific words used commonly in your target industry. If you are already in the industry, you probably already know most of them. Each company may have their own buzz words. This is another reason to do research on the company. Look at their website to see what words are used frequently. If you are not sure of the buzz words in that particular industry, research that industry online. You may be able to search "manufacturing buzz words" and get many good results. Once you know the buzz words, put them into your bullet points (and your cover letter) in place of your general words. Make sure you know exactly what the buzz words mean, how to use them, and that it makes sense in each bullet during your resume writing.

5 - Proofread, proofread, proofread!!

I can't say this enough, make sure that you proofread your resume, and have at least one other person proofread it too. The more proofreaders you have the better. Your eyes will probably auto correct mistakes in the document. A good tip here is to attend job fairs which usually have resume writing professionals available to go over your resume with you and give you advice and corrections.

These are just the general guidelines you can use to get started on your resume writing. If you want to know more, you can find great information at the website below.

About the Author

For a complete guide to resume writing and more to get that job you have always wanted, visit The Concise Resume and Cover Letter Guide

How to Kill the Perfect Cover Letter.

2009-02-25T14:55:00.002+07:00

It is amazing that with all of the advice available on writing a great cover letter, mistakes continue to be made. This isn't to say that you have to be perfect 100% of the time, but you do need to strive for perfection.

So how to you kill a great cover letter?

Grammar and Spelling: Not only is this the fastest way to ruin a cover letter, it is also the most preventable. Proofreading your cover letter will ensure that you won't be rejected for preventable mistakes. It's only taking a few minutes and it can make all the difference in landing an interview.

Informal Language: Your cover letter is a formal piece of correspondence and not the place for informal language. Avoid slang and conversational language and ensure that the tone of your letter stays professional.

Generic Text: Another major mistake made by job hunters. For many people, the job hunt is a numbers game. It is easy to blast out resumes to every job posting that you come across, with a generic cover letter attached. However, if you don't give the recruiter the sense that you are interested in their company, success will be hard to come by. Tailor your cover letter to the specific company and you will have more "luck".

Lying: This is self explanatory. If you are caught lying, you won't even make it to the interview. Even worse, if your lie is caught after you are hired, it is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Unsigned Letter: A simple mistake but one that is easy to make. If you forget to sign your cover letter, it will give the wrong impression to the interviewer. Double check that each letter you send out has your signature.

Missing Contact Information: If you don't let them know how to contact you, how do you expect to land an interview?

No Objective: Your cover letter is the start of your personal sales pitch. If the employer doesn't know what you are selling, or even what job you are applying to, then it is easy to discount you as an applicant. Make sure that you state up front who you are, what you have to offer, and what job you are applying to.

Too Long: You don't want to overwhelm the reader at first sight. Keep your cover letter brief. It should be no more than one page and should contain no more than five paragraphs.

Keep these pitfalls in mind and you are on your way to a perfect cover letter.

About the Author

Trevor Wilson is an author and consultant who works with new graduates preparing to enter the work force for the first time. His site, Gradversity.com, provides daily advice on job hunting, networking, and resume/cover letter writing tailored to the Entry Level Job seeker. His first book, Overcoming Gradversity: How to Break Into the Entry Level Job Market, is available now.

3 Common Resume Writing Mistakes For Information Technology Candidates.

2009-02-19T01:26:00.002+07:00

Creating an IT resume is not always an easy task. There is usually a lot of information to convey. Candidates putting together their own resume for the IT industry often make a few critical mistakes that can cost them dearly in today's job market, especially if their job search strategy is not up to snuff.

Mistake #1: Too Much Information

The primary mistake made by IT professionals is in simply providing way too much detail. Most candidates load each thought, bullet, or statement with as much technical mumbo jumbo as they can. For example, it is common for candidates to show the technologies they used in each position. In addition, they will list all the technologies they used for individual projects for which they were involved.

It may prove beneficial to list some key technologies that are relevant for the position you are now pursuing to communicate your level of understanding. As an example, if you are pursuing a position with a firm that has an extensive network of employees who operate remotely in the field, it would serve you well to incorporate technologies like secure VPN, Citrix Presentation Server, and other related tools. However, to list things like Visual Basic, MS Office, and HTML within the specific bullet point will serve as more of a distraction than anything else. After all, who wants to read a bullet point that describes a project that takes up five lines of text?

To address this issue, I recommend that you simply prepare a technical proficiencies or technical skills section at the end of your resume so that a prospective employer can reference a single list to get a flavor for the technologies with which you are familiar. Unless the technology is of the up most importance in demonstrating your knowledge and ability in a particular area, do not include it in the job description or the job achievements sections.

Mistake #2: Being Too Technical

One of the biggest mistakes made by IT directors and executives is that they are too technical. Now you will want to be careful here, as titles can be deceiving. IT executives at small companies may very well need to be a hands-on technical expert to successfully meet their job requirements. However, a job as an IT director or executive at a large company will be inherently less hands-on. As a result, the resume that a candidate prepares for that target should not be too heavy on technical information. Yes, it is important to convey a technical understanding. But one thing that concerns recruiters and hiring managers if a job seeker has a detailed technical resume is that they won't know how to back off and manage the operation from a strategic standpoint because they will be stuck in the morass of the day-to-day technical support issues.

Mistake #3: Not Incorporating Keywords or Buzzwords

Many IT professionals have a strong feeling of contempt for peppering keywords or buzzwords throughout the document. One of the main reasons is that anyone can include keywords like infrastructure management, enterprise solutions, and lifecycle management in a resume, but few can perform these activities effectively. As you conduct your job search, you may even find this sentiment echoed by many IT hiring managers.

There is one problem, however. Most technical hiring managers will receive a short list of candidates for a particular position after they have been screened and funneled through the HR department. Most HR representatives do use keywords to help match your resume and qualifications with the position requirements. Having a specific keywords or core competencies section helps the HR folks to quickly and easily match up some of your key skills and experience with those listed on the requirements document. These will help get your resume through the initial screen and into the hands of the hiring manager who can then read through your work history section that should back up your claims in the keyword section.

Developing a strategy that addresses each of these 3 common mistakes when creating an IT resume will put you well on your way in a competitive job environment.

About the Author

My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I am an MBA and certified professional résumé writer (CPRW). I have been a career consultant since 2002 with an additional 8 years of corporate hiring experience. You can check out my website that offers tools such as the No Nonsense Job Search Strategy guide and other Job Search Tips.

How to Write a Better Entry-Level Job Resume.

2009-02-11T11:09:00.003+07:00

Don't dash out the front door and go shopping for a new job without a resume. A resume highlights your past skills and current knowledge; it's formatted in a way that helps employers know at a glance what skills and experience you'll bring to the job.

Look at a resume this way – it's a one page personal business card, highlighting everything good about yourself. This may be one of the few times you can brag about yourself and get away with it.

Although Microsoft Word and other word processors will equip you with pre-formatted resume templates, I recommend not using them unless for inspiration. These resumes focus too much on what you previously "did" at work versus what you can do now.

Make your resume reflect you, the hard-working, skillful job seeker. Most resumes in MS-Word lack creative freedom to talk about your outside personal life. What other activities do you spend doing? This helps expand what you really know; it does not just define technical tasks you did at your last place of employment.

Use this list of tips to craft a compelling resume without going insane.

Tip 1. Bold-face your NAME at the top of the page. Use a 16 point font. Now center it. Your name is your headline, like in a newspaper.

Tip 2. At the right, put your contact information. Include an e-mail address. These days many employers rely on e-mail for contact or follow-ups.

Tip 3. Write an objective. I know it's hard to craft an eye-catching objective, but think of it this way: your objective is a simple 10-word sentence or less. You can come up with 10 words, can't you? What job are you applying for? Are you applying for a teaching assistant at your local school district? Then write: "Position as a teaching assistant at Monroe College."

This lets the employer know you are seeking employment with them. It is specific to them. You leave an impression that you are not mailing your resume to hundreds of other places. Mass mailing a resume is also known as "broadcast mailing," and employers frown on it.

Tip 4. Open a new MS-Word document. Now brainstorm. What have you accomplished in the past including jobs, volunteer opportunities, vacations, schools, classes, and so on.

You want to highlight certain skills that your potential new employer will find useful through your various experiences. Your experiences are proof that, yes, you can do this and that.

Previous Experience: You played the piano for 7 years while a kid and now want to get a job as an executive piano instructor.

Skill: You learned how to type in grade school and can move your fingers rapidly across the keywords. You can type 75 words per minute. You back up this skill with prior experience from another or related job or experience.

Tip 5. Spell check, spell check, spell check. It's horrible to send a resume to an employer without combing through your resume with a fine-tooth-grammar-comb. If you need to correct grammar and spelling, use www.WhiteSmokeSoftware.com

Ask a few friends or colleagues to read over your resume. Also, take a break from your resume for two or three days so your eyes and brain come back fresh to proof it again. When you take a break and look back at it later, you may notice errors that jump out at you that you swear did not exist before. Maybe you need to change the way something sounds or you need to add new ideas.

Your resume is a living, working document representing you. When you are seeking jobs online or offline, dissect the job description. Does the job description list a skill you can perform? Write that into your resume and use a few of their words. By using their language, you give them exactly what they want and you raise your chances of landing the job.

About the Author

Brian Scott is a contributing writer for http://www.LousyWriter.com/, a free website on how to write better. He recommends college students visit http://www.MasterFreelancer.com/ for English grammar software to help with writing resumes.

Where to Post Your Resume.

2009-02-03T00:48:00.002+07:00

Finding a new job during a recession can be a difficult undertaking. Employers are reluctant to hire new people when they may be facing layoffs down the road. Whether you are one of the people that may be subject to a lay off, or if you just want to find a different job, posting your resume in the right place can make the difference between getting a job or not.

The first thing to do is to make sure that your resume is updated and looks professional. Consider your resume to sales page about your qualifications or specific job. As with all forms of advertising, finding the right place to get your personal ad about you seen is important. Here are some great places to post your resume.

* This one should be fairly obvious. Post your resume on any of the online classified job boards. Employers search frequently for qualified people before they post their ads online. If your resume is already online, an employer can find it more easily.

* If you don't have one already, get a MySpace page. While they are supposed to be for personal networking and social experience, more and more employers are searching MySpace pages for information about potential new hires. Just make sure that you don't have anything embarrassing on your site that may keep you from being considered for a good job. Post your resume on any of the other social networking sites that you are a member of, such as Facebook.

* If you're looking for an administrative job, register with the temporary agencies, and give them a copy of your resume. Many clerical positions are placed as temporary to permanent assignments.

* Post your resume on the website of every company that has a job for which you apply. Many companies have their own internal application process online. If they post a job, they typically ask for your resume. Go ahead and upload a copy for them to review. Again, make sure it stands out from the crowd of other people applying for the same job.

* An ideal place to post your resume is with your local Department of Labor. This department has a lot of contacts with local employers. Most states now have the ability to have online resumes. Post your resume here so employers can see it.

* Post your resume on your blog site. This may seem strange at first. However, if your site pulls in a lot of visitors, this is a great way to network.

* There are a variety of professional resume distribution services online that send your resume to recruiters and employers in your industry. Some of them offer their services for no charge, and others charge a fee. Most people agree that the fee is worth the time they save in contacting and working with such a large group of recipients.

* If you do happen to have your own webpage, post your resume there. Many employers search the names of applicants to see if they do have websites of their own.

These are just a few of the many options available to post your resume. You will want to use some old-fashioned methods as well. Hand out your resume to everyone that you know. Ask them to put in a good word for you, if they hear about the job. Resumes are great at selling you, but networking still works better than anything else.

About the Author

Jason Kay recommends you read reviews of resume distribution services at JobGoRound.com.

3 Tips Essential For Effective Salary Negotiations.

2009-01-29T20:11:00.002+07:00

Many theories and strategies persist on how to negotiate effectively for a higher salary. There are even a lot of good products and training tools available on the market to help the job seeker in this area. However, many experts commonly forget to tell the candidate a few things that are a must in preparing for the negotiation process. Without a proper understanding of these things, candidates can really miss the mark with their negotiations.

1. Get on Equal Footing

Many companies today ask for or demand your salary history in detail before the first interview. However, they are absolutely unwilling to discuss the salary range for a position. Providing your salary history and not receiving like-kind information puts the job seeker at a serious disadvantage in the negotiations. As such, employers often feel like they are holding all the cards. The interview process then becomes a one-way street. They assess you, but you do not assess the company. You are supposed to feel honored if they offer you anything because they have established a position of superiority. So be sure not to give too much away too early. It erodes any hope you have of successful negotiations down the line.

2. Know Your Baseline

Since most candidates do not really have a clue of how high or low the salary offer will be, they need to take the time to determine their basement in terms of salary. If you do not set a baseline, it is difficult to know how much to push once the salary offer comes in. And let's face it, they almost always come in lower than we would like. Consider your travel and commuting costs, including gas, tolls, mileage, depreciation, and so on. Take into account how much you would be paying for lunch, coffee, and snacks. And, of course, consider your regular household expenses to help you determine how much you need to bring in after taxes.

3. Think Compensation Package

Probably the biggest error that candidates make when negotiating is that they focus solely on salary. At larger corporations today, most hiring manager have little, if any, flexibility in terms of what salary they offer. Pretty much everything goes through a compensation director in HR. And believe me, they can be bears to fight with to try getting a salary offer increased. Instead, focus on the total compensation package. Things like medical benefits, 401(k) matching, bonus and other incentive plans, vacation, paid time off, and work-from-home opportunities all have value. If you are a candidate they are excited about but they don't have flexibility with salary, they will likely be willing to give in some or many of these other areas. Give it a try, you might be surprised at how well it works for you.

All in all, as with any negotiation process, the moment you are willing to take just about anything in order to have the deal go through, you can pretty must guarantee you will fall short of your salary goals. Understandably, we all need jobs, and no one likes a job search to take longer than it has to. But if you jump every time a prospective employer says how high, then later on, you will be disappointed, your tenure will likely be short, and ultimately, both the company and the candidate lose. Companies would be wise to take that into consideration as well.

How worth it is that $1000 savings if in the end it leads to a disgruntled worker who will leave you as soon as the grass looks greener elsewhere? Ultimately, a salary negotiation should not be a war between two wills, but a discussion between two parties who want to come out successful.

About the Author

My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I am an MBA and certified professional résumé writer (CPRW). I have been a career consultant since 2002 with an additional 8 years of corporate hiring experience. You can check out my website that offers tools such as the No Nonsense Job Search Strategy guide and other Job Search Tips.

How to Handle Difficult Interview Questions.

2008-12-27T01:15:00.002+07:00

You are in the middle of an important interview and are confident that you are doing an excellent job of presenting your skills and qualifications for the position. The interviewer asks the next question - and it's a difficult one. You didn't see this question coming and have no idea to answer it. Words catch in your mouth. You start to sweat as your illustrious visions of landing your dream job are rapidly spiraling away at a breakneck speed. What do you do?

For starters, the best offense is a good defense. Preparing for an interview in advance is the best way to ensure that you will be at your peak performance when the time comes to answer the question "Why should you get this job?". Compile a list of interview questions, both general questions and those that are job-specific, that you could potentially be asked. Then practice answering all of the questions. It may be necessary to practice some questions several times until you can clearly present a solid answer. A good rule of thumb is to practice until you are no longer uncomfortable with the question itself or your resulting answer.

Tempting as it may be to dismiss more straightforward questions, such as "Tell me about yourself", you should rehearse your answer to every question. Oftentimes job applicants get so caught up in preparing for the "tough" questions, that they neglect the ones they perceive to be the "easier" ones. As a result, they are ill-prepared to answer basic questions and stumble in their answers.

It would be impossible to think of and practice every question you could be asked, so you will inevitably run across some questions during the interview process that you hadn't thought of previously. When this happens, the first thing to do is take a deep breath. Repeat the question to yourself, either in your head or aloud to the interviewer, to ensure that you have heard the question correctly. Then use your practice sessions to draw correlations between this question and others you have practiced. Is this new question a variation of one you have answered before? Is it similar to any other question? If you can draw a parallel to questions you are already comfortable with, then the new question will not appear so daunting.

Another good tactic is to break the question into smaller components so that you can take it bit by bit. This is especially useful for multi-part questions. For example, imagine you are asked: "Tell me about a time when you found yourself at odds with a team member. What were the circumstances and how did you handle the confrontation". The first thing to do is break this into two parts: (1) provide an example of a team member confrontation, and (2) how did the confrontation get resolved. When answering this question, focus entirely on the first part initially. Set the stage for the conflict that arose, giving the interviewer all of the necessary details. Once this is done, you can then move onto the next part, which is detailing how the conflict was resolved. This is truly the "meat" of the question. The interviewer is more interested in hearing about how you handle conflict and stressful situations than the actual specifics of the conflict itself. So don't skimp on the second part - the resolution. This pattern is true of a majority of multi-part questions: one section of the answer is merely the opportunity to set the stage for the other, more pertinent part(s) of the question.

If you are asked a question you don't know the answer to, it is often better to admit that are unsure of the answer than to try and buffalo your way though an answer. Most interviewers are highly experienced at recognizing "BS" answers and can easily pick up that you making stuff up. If this happens, they will either call you on the table about your fake answer or write you off a being a fraud - neither of these is going to help you land a job. An appropriate response would be to admit that you do not have an answer for the question, but that you would like to do some research at the conclusion of the interview so that you have this knowledge for future reference. Such an answer not only shows integrity, but it also shows that you are not adverse to expanding your learning and are willing to take the extra effort necessary to keep your skills sharp.

A few other helpful hints for answering difficult questions:

It is okay to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you didn't hear it the first time or if it is a long multi-part question.

It is also okay to ask the interviewer for clarification if the question is unclear.

Never volunteer personal information that is not job-related.

Try to always turn negatives into positives. For example, when asked about your weaknesses, demonstrate how this weakness can also be an asset in other areas.

Relax! Interviewing is a learning process and you will get stronger each time you interview for a potential position. So if an interview goes bad, rather than dwell on it, identify where things went wrong and work on correcting those areas so that you can perform better in your next interview.

About the Author

Laura Adams is a qualified careers advisor with 11 years experience. Trucking Jobs Information - Resources, News, Tips and Views to help Truck Drivers find their next jobs. http://www.truck-driving-job.info/

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