Is Your Digital Resume All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

The straightforward answer is to a digital resume is, “NO!” . . . at least not if you’re serious about finding a job you’re happy with. And not if you’re willing to wait weeks or months till something comes along.

You see, an electronic resume is the easy way out . . . but definitely not the fastest or best way. There are two ways to use an electronic resume:

1. Post it on several job search websites like Monster.com or HotJobs.com.

2. Create your own website or blog featuring your resume.

The problem with this approach can be summed in one word: COMPETITION! There are hundreds of thousands of digital resumes floating around in cyber space. Be realistic. What are your chances
that exactly the right boss is going to pick your resume and offer you a job?

Look, it’s only natural that you want to get as much exposure as possible. Nothing wrong with that. But the digital resume and one of those job websites is definitely NOT the way to go . . . at least if you don’t plan to spend weeks or months looking for a job.

I suppose we’re all victims of “do it fast and easy” electronic techniques. It seems logical. The internet provides global exposure for our credentials. All we have to do is wait for one or two of those millions of internet users (many of whom are employers) to discover our resume . . . theoretically.

However, mass exposure didn’t work in the days before the internet. And it doesn’t work now. It’s really just a question of statistics. 7% of job hunters have found “opportunities” that match their credentials. Notice, I didn’t say job offers.

Job search experts know that relying on an electronic resume or a digital job search is hopeless. This doesn’t mean that every so often someone hits. But you’re more likely to get struck by lightning or win the lottery. There has to be a better way!

And there is! If you can put aside a digital resume and all forms of electronic or analog mass marketing and learn a few simple alternative job search strategies, you can be looking at honest, real job offers that match up with your interests in as little as two weeks!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

The Amazing Secret of Mass Distributing Your Job Resumes: DON’T!

OK. We’ve all been told that mass distributing your job resumes is the way to go. Right? The theory goes like this . . . the more job resumes you can paper the market with, the better your chances are of getting a job.

You know, that approach actually used to work . . . back in the last century! You could count on the numbers eventually working for you with some predictability. But those days are gone forever. Different century. Different market.

Yet, it’s amazing to me how many job seekers hold on to the illusion that somehow I can make the job resume numbers work for me. It’s a crapshoot! It doesn’t work for you. And it doesn’t work the employers.

Here’s why.

From the employer’s side–employers today are much more sophisticated and require much more from a job candidate than a resume. No one is going to hire you based on your resume. Employers aren’t really interested in what you used to do for someone else. They want to see how you’re going to fit into their team. And they won’t learn that from your resume.

From the job candidate’s side–your million-dollar resume won’t even be seen by the person who makes the hiring decision. It’ll be screened by some personnel staffer or low level assistant. Along with hundreds of other resumes. When you submit a resume you’ve just put yourself right in the middle of the fiercest competition–right where you DON’T want to be!

So, what’s a serious job seeker to do, if a resume isn’t the way to go?

Well, the answer is . . . use an exciting alternative job search strategy! One that gets you in front the person who’ll actually be making the hiring decision about you–but without requiring him/her to wade through all the competition to get to you.

For example, you approach your job search by targeting the precise companies you want to work for and then single out the exact decision-makers who could be your next boss. And then meet with him/her. Sounds like a great way to go, doesn’t it? I mean you have direct access to your next boss without any competition.

So the secret is how to do that.

The good news is that there’s a proven system that can have you meeting face-to-face with selected decision-makers in a matter of days. You can be entertaining a high-paying job offer in as little as two weeks!

So, abandon the notion of mass distributing your job resumes and jump aboard the innovative 21st Century alternative job search program. You’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll see real results!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

Alternative Job Search Alert for Grads . . . Avoid the Resume Trap!

If you’re graduating this year, this alternative job search alert is for YOU! You must avoid the resume trap!

What’s the resume trap?

Well, we’ve all been brought up to think that the success of our job campaign depends on our resume. So we spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to get it just right. There are a thousand websites that show you how to write an award-winning resume . . . each one has their own formula. But this is a resume trap!

The fact is your resume is the least important part of your job search. And for a couple very specific reasons.

First, no one is going to offer you a job based on your resume. Employers make hiring decisions based on person-to-person contact. This is where you establish your credibility by coming to the table ready to demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to learn something about the decision-maker and his/her organization. And you have a proposal for addressing needs.

Secondly, if you make your resume the focus of your job campaign, you’re creating an enormous amount of competition. Just think how many others just like you are throwing their hat in the ring via their resume. You want to be in a position where you can bypass the competition instead of contributing to it.

And this is where the alternative job search alert comes in. You need to focus your attention on something else to avoid this resume trap. And that something else is the hiring decision-maker. You want to spend all the time you can researching information about each organization you want to be part of. And further, you want background information about the decision-maker you’ll be meeting with.

These days, doing this kind of research is a piece of cake. You have fabulous online tools like Google as well as online access to most of the trade association and product literature. You have the Chamber of Commerce and other business-related organizations like service clubs.

Best of all you have your contacts–people you know–from friends, neighbors and relatives to religious, business and political leaders. They’re all available to answer your questions and even make introductions or referrals to hiring decision-makers.

This kind of proven alternative job search alert strategy is just part of the whole alternative job search and non-traditional career advancement movement. The bible of this job hunting revolution is “The World’s Fastest Alternative Job Search System.”

Armed with this amazing plan of action, you can count on meeting face-to-face with a hiring decision-maker of your choice in a matter of days. And you could lock up a high-paying job in as little as two weeks! It’s the alternative job search alert that virtually guarantees your success!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

How To Safely Bulk Up A Thin Resume

Many individuals starting out in the world of being an employee have to begin by pounding the pavement to find a job. Being presentable for an employment opportunity can be difficult, however, when you don’t have any work history.

Bulking up your resume to show potential employers that you do, indeed, have skills and assets their company needs really isn’t that hard, and with some initiative, filling up the employment history section of your resume can be done.

There are a lot of easy, mostly hassle-free ways to add to your work history. Volunteer work is a time-honored favorite, as it allows for work experience without needing any prior knowledge. Since most local and state government institutions are perpetually under-funded, they’ll assign drudge work to just about anyone. The tasks aren’t glamorous, but the experience is better than nothing. Keeping in mind that, when volunteering and also in general, good job references are important and you should avoid annoying or irritating your supervisor, regardless of whether you receive compensation or not for your duties.

Public events are another potential place to earn work experience through volunteering. Galas and tournaments to raise money for a cause usually require a sizable number of volunteers, and since these types of events last only a few days at most, there’s no long-term commitment required for work experience that looks good on a resume. If you can manage to land a volunteer position at one of these events that involves organization or management, even better – these skills are highly desired by potential employers.

Independent enterprise is another possible source of work experience. Any serious attempts and efforts you’ve put into a money-making enterprise, whether your own or someone else’s, show initiative and motivation. If you hauled speakers for your friend’s garage rock group during a public battle of the bands in your area, you can list that on your resume. If you wrote a poem that was accepted for a collection, even an unpublished small-press business, you can mark the information down on your resume as well. You can also make independent enterprise opportunities happen as well. Independent enterprise isn’t quite as easy to come across as opportunities to volunteer, but it’s a very good option for gaining work experience.

Though the really important, money-making diplomas will take years to earn, increasing your education section on your resume isn’t much harder than doing some volunteering or venturing into independent enterprise. Certification programs, from computer programming to private investigating, often require little more than forty or so hours of instruction and can be taken at most community colleges or similar educational facilities. Ideally, what you learn can be applied to the job you’re hoping to land, but courses and certifications also show initiative, something all employers are looking for in first-time job seekers.

Bulking up your resume using these ideas involve stealth opportunities – easy to overlook yet potent, if applied properly. Doubtlessly, there are other ways to improve a resume when you have no prior employment, but in truth, anything that shows that you have dedication, initiative, motivation, and ambition is good to add to your resume. With that in mind, go out there and see what opportunities you can come up with – there’s always something better than nothing.

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

John Edmond owns and writes regularly for Careerbuilder Jobs where you can find more information and advice on all aspects of a writing a resume and job searching.

How To Avoid Resume Format Rejection and Survive the First Big Test!

You can’t afford to have your resume trashed just because you didn’t understand the basic rules for a successful resume and suffer “resume rejection!”

Your resume is often the very first contact a decision-maker has with you. So, it better be a blockbuster! You better make a big impression. And fast! Otherwise your prized resume is headed for the waste basket.

Resume rejection starts with a misunderstanding about what a resume can do for you. First of all, a resume doesn’t get you a job. Only decisions by hiring managers can get you a job. Therefore, the best a resume can do for you is getting a hiring manager’s attention. And that’s how it has to be written.

If you think you’re going to get ahead by loading up your resume with every conceivable detail about your work history, you just lost. Resumes are first scanned in less that 50 seconds. If something pops off the page to grab the reader’s attention, then your resume may survive the first test. It gets put on the “keeper” stack for later review and more careful reading.

The very first rule of a successful resume is that it must be readily scanable in 50 seconds or less. Do NOT write more than two pages. And make them very readable with wide margins and good spacing.

The second rule is that your resume must have a headline. It’s a lot like reading a newspaper. You’re attracted to an article if there’s a headline that grabs your attention. The same is true of a resume. Your headline is an attention-grabbing statement that states very directly what you have to offer the reader.

The third rule is to avoid an “objective statement.” This self-serving announcement has little or no meaning to a decision-maker. He/she could care less about what you’re looking to get out of this job. The reader is interested in learning only two things: what can you do for my bottom line? . . . And what can you do to make my job easier?

Instead of an objective statement you want to make a “summary statement” in which you lay out in assertive language what you bring to the table that can make a difference.

There are many more pointers that can help you improve your resume and give it a stronger impact. But if you observe these three basic rules you’ll survive the first big test and avoid resume rejection.

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

The Executive Resume . . . It Better Be Hot Stuff!

It’s been said that there’s really no significant difference between an executive resume and a standard one.

Wrong!

If you qualify to be job hunting at the executive level, there’s a whole other set of expectations that apply only to you. Of course, these expectations go way beyond your resume. But this key document has to position you in the mind of the decision-maker as someone who is ready to step in and hit the ground running.

In preparing an executive resume you want to remember that an employer is going to looking at you not for what you’ve done, but for what you can do going forward. In other words, it’s a big mistake to focus on what you used to do for someone else and hope that will sell you to your prospective boss.

For example, the common wisdom is that your executive resume has to lead off with a lively “objective” statement. Nothing could be further from the truth. An employer could care less what you hope to get out the job or where you see yourself going with your career.

Instead, you want to lead off with an exciting summary or positioning statement that succinctly and enthusiastically announces what you’ve got going for you that can make a difference to your new boss and his/her organization.

And make sure your executive resume is short. Never more than two pages no matter how extensive your career and work history has been. Make it easy to read with plenty of white space. The reason for this is that resumes are initially scanned in 50 seconds or less.

An executive resume is expected to do more than pump up your pride in your accomplishments. An employer is looking for very specific, quantified background information that clearly zeroes in on how you can answer the needs of a prospective employer.

In fact, we often recommend to our executive resume customers that they present a carefully crafted proposal instead of (or in addition to) a resume. The proposal identifies corporate concerns and then outlines how you will solve key problems faced by the organization.

This kind of approach carries a lot more weight with decision-makers than a routine executive resume because it shows that you’ve taken the time to learn something about the organization and its leadership. And you’re willing to demonstrate your skills in coming up with a solution to pressing issues.

Now, the good news is that there is an amazing executive job search system that can show you how to be face-to-face with senior decision-makers in a matter of days!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

You Absolutely Must Have a “Strategic” Resume Format!

What’s a “strategic” resume format?

Well, let’s look at it this way. A traditional (non-strategic) job search resume format is passive at the very time when employers are looking for someone who can demonstrate they are proactive. It’s one of the many job search changes that have occurred in the 21st Century that must be reflected in your resume.

For example, employers today want to find a candidate who

* Understands the organization.

* Can show how to make a difference.

* Can demonstrate quantifiable contributions.

* Isn’t afraid to ask for a job.

* Knows how to cut a deal.

From this you can see that the focal point of a resume format must be to respond to the needs and expectations of the employer. The job seeker’s personal information and their work history are of secondary importance.

This is what we mean by a “strategic” resume format.

So to meet the expectations of an employer, here’s how your strategic resume format should look:

1. Resumes are initially scanned (not closely read) in less than 50 seconds. Something about you either attracts attention in that timeframe or your resume is trashed.

2. Your resume must have an attention-grabbing headline . . . a quick summation of what you have to offer.

3. Do NOT write some self-serving objective statement. An employer could care less what you want to get out of this for your self. He/she is interested exclusively in what you can do to make the bottom line look better.

4. DO write a short summary statement saying very directly what assets, capabilities and strengths you bring to the table that can make a difference to the organization you’re interested in.

5. Keep your resume brief and impactual. One page is best. But never more than two pages. No long-winded recitation of your past accomplishments. Employers want to know how your achievements can make a difference to their needs. So tell them . . . and use quantifiable results to do it.

If you rely on the old-fashioned methods of finding a job, you’ll be disappointed. While it’s true that you won’t be hired on the basis of a resume, on those occasions where it’s important to have a resume, you want to make sure you use a “strategic” resume format!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

Oh No! . . . Not another Electronic Resume Victim!

OK. You’re anxious to get as much exposure as possible. Nothing wrong with that. But the electronic resume and one of those job websites is definitely NOT the way to go . . . at least if you don’t plan to spend weeks or months looking for a job.

I suppose we’re all victims of “do it fast and easy” electronic techniques. It seems logical. The internet provides global exposure for our credentials. All we have to do is wait for one or two of those millions of internet users (many of whom are employers) to discover our resume . . . theoretically.

However, mass exposure didn’t work in the days before the internet. And it doesn’t work now. It’s really just a question of statistics. 7% of job hunters have found “opportunities” that match their credentials. Notice, I didn’t say job offers.

Job search experts know that relying on an electronic resume or a digital job search is hopeless. This doesn’t mean that every so often someone hits. But you’re more likely to get struck by lightning or win the lottery. There has to be a better way!

The truth is . . . there are no shortcuts!

Most folks find their next job as a result of a simple strategy called “networking.” Whether you realize it or not, you probably got your last job because someone you know told you about it or sent you to someone who was in the know.

If you had access to a proven system that shows you step-by-step how to locate opportunities, attract interviews and negotiate for the best offer . . . and all without relying on a mindless dissemination of your resume . . . would you see the incredible advantage you would have.

And, if I told you, further, that this amazing job search system could have you talking face-to-face with your next boss in a matter of days, wouldn’t you jump at the chance to turn your job search into a near-term winner?

The good news is that you can now use proven techniques to shorten your job search and be entertaining good job offers in as little as 14 days! Check it out!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

Your Very First Job Search Resume . . . Why Not Make It A Winner!

So, you’re ready to head into the job marketplace for the first time. If you want to do it right, you should have a job campaign plan. Your job search resume is part of that plan.

Before you do anything, take a long hard look at what you’ve got going for you that would be of interest to an employer. Don’t consider only jobs you’ve had. An employer is much more interested in what you bring to the table that can make a difference going forward . . . not backward.

Don’t think of preparing a resume till you’ve sorted out your strengths capabilities and assets. When you’re ready, here are some general rules for your very first job search resume:

1. Stick to one page and use a simple layout.

2. Create an attention-grabbing headline that alerts the reader to your main strengths and capabilities.

3. Below the headline write an assertive summary statement that establishes the kind of results-oriented qualities you bring to the table. Do NOT write an “objective statement.” Employers could care less what you hope to get out of the job. They want to know how you can make a difference to their organization.

4. Don’t indicate your GPA unless it is 3.5 and above.

5. When you identify your work experience it’s very important to quantify what you’ve done, e.g. “I developed a very successful project on a limited budget. I was able to attract over 300 attendants and realized a profit of $2300.”

6. Be sure to indicate particular skills and training you’ve received, e.g. computer programs, second language fluency, CDL license, wood-working, etc.

7. Identify extra curricular activities that set you apart from the competition, e.g. awards, athletic prowess, volunteer work, tutoring, specialized training, eventful vacations and travel experience, etc.

Look, there’s a lot to do to prepare yourself for the job marketplace. An attractive, assertive job search resume is only one step. The good news is there’s an exciting job search system that can launch you into the job marketplace in a matter of hours and have you entertaining a job offer in just days!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

Bad Resume Fever? Take the Alternative Non-Resume Cure!

Bad Resume Fever? Take the Alternative Non-Resume Cure!

Take the alternative non-resume cure! Say what?

Look. It’s no secret that we get in a fever when we think about changing jobs.

We’ve got to pull the old resume out and update it. It means going back over work history and getting all the dates and descriptions right. And then re-writing and tweaking it till it’s perfect. Because without a very good resume we’re not going to find a job.

And then, when we’ve finally got an award-winning resume we have to get it distributed. The wider the better. So we post it on some job websites and mail or email it to a bunch of companies. We answer plenty of job opening ads. And even contact some agencies and recruiters.

And then we wait for results. The resume fever has abated a little bit because we’ve done our work and the rest is up to the employers. The most we have to do at this point is wait for the phone to ring. Or an interview invitation to come in the mail.

If the invitations don’t come . . . it’s resume fever time again!

What if I told you there was a simple cure for resume fever? It’s called the “alternative non-resume” cure.

This amazing alternative non-resume strategy is based on a very simple principle. “No one is going to hire you on the basis of your resume!” I know that sounds heretical, but it’s true.

I mean, look at it from the perspective of the employer. What’re employers looking for in a job candidate? They want someone they feel good about, who can fit into the team, brings understanding about company goals, and has thought through how to solve problems. Oh, and, by the way, an employer wants to feels some kind of personal connection.

Face it, if you were an employer, isn’t that the kind of person who would light your candle? Of course. Now, there’s no way an employer is going to get that kind of important information and sense from a piece of paper. It will only come from a personal, face-to-face meeting.

So why not bypass all the resume hoopla and get right to the meat and potatoes of your job search success
. . . doing everything you can to learn about the company and the person who could be your next boss. And then using any of a dozen ways to get to meet with that person without having to worry about distributing your prize resume or all the competition it will generate!

That’s what the exciting alternative non-resume is all about . . . a carefully constructed job campaign plan that moves you step-by-step closer to achieving the most important goal of your job search: getting into a productive dialog with an prospective employer.

How hard is that to do?

Well, the alternative non-resume approach is a lot faster than the old-fashioned resume fever approach we described above. In fact, if you follow a remarkable program like The World’s Fastest Alternative Job Search System, you can be face-to face with your next boss in a matter of days. And you can be entertaining a job offer in as little as two weeks.

Maybe it’s time for you to take the cure!

Article Source: http://www.articlesauce.com

Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: “How To Find A Job In As Little As 14 Days!” Click on RSS for instant info! www.fastest-job-search.com

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