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!

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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

Is Your Resume DOA?

In the exciting alternative job change program, “The World’s Fastest Job Search System,” we recommend that your resume should be used more like a business card. You leave it behind after you’ve had an opportunity to meet face-to-face with a decision-maker.

Most people, however, think that their resume will find them a job. NOT! And if you write your resume with that objective in mind, it’s DOA!

You see, employers don’t make hiring decisions based on your resume. In fact, in most organizations, your next boss won’t even see your resume until someone else (e.g. human resources) has screened your document . . . and probably you personally as well.

So, if you don’t use your resume the way we recommend in our highly successful alternative approach, then what can you do?

Well, regardless of how you decide to use your resume, there are five basic guidelines you must observe if you want your resume to have any chance of being read. Follow them and you will dramatically move the odds in your favor.

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.

Targeting your resume to specific employers rather than shot-gunning it through mailings or internet postings helps to make your effort more effective. But, the best news is that the most effective system of all–using proven alternative and non-traditional strategies–can help you lock up a high-paying job offer in as little as 14 days!

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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 Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!” Click on RSS. www.fastest-job-search.com

Writing Resumes without Mistakes

Resume and curriculum vitae act as entry tickets to a job. Today’s world is full of competition. A prospective employer is in search for a person who is active, productive, and skillful in nature and with a positive attitude. The resume should reflect the attitude and details of education, age, qualification, experience etc. The resume should be written with relevance to the particular job. Gone are the days where one resume was used for all the jobs. The resume should be attractive enough to catch the attention of the employer among the thousands of resumes. It is important that the resume should be free from any common mistakes.

Effective resume writing:

An effective resume should contain basic sections viz., complete and powerful contact information, headline of what is being offered by the employee to the employer, summary of skills – highlighting relevant skills will be an added advantage, professional experience which has to be relevant and last but not the least educational qualification- details of grades, year of passing etc. An effective resume will be free from grammatical and spelling mistakes. This shows the command over the language. Hence, it is very important to proof-read more than twice to avoid any mistakes in the resume.

Common mistakes in a resume:

The resume with irrelevant contents is a common mistake, like the information regarding the children, spouse, hobbies etc and also when applying for a computer job, it is irrelevant to show an experience of a position held as an accountant.

When using creative fonts, one has to be very careful. It might be easier to read on the computer of the person writing the resume, but not necessarily it can be readable in the employer’s computer. If the font is not found in the computer it will show bizarre information.

The resume should not be like a job application, the previous employer’s name, contact information of the previous employer; reasons for leaving the job are irrelevant in the resume.

Never get obsessed about the length of the resume but focus on the content. Also personal pronouns like “I”, “me” should be avoided, as it might pose you as an egoistic person.

When sending resumes to multiple recruiters never send it via one email, as personalized addressing is very important.

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Creating a Good Resume is an Art

Landing a good job will depend a lot on your education and work history. Also important is how well you do during the interview process. But, if you can’t get your foot in the door, you most likely can blame your resume. If you’re going for a job you’re qualified for, the resume is key to opening the door.

Many people believe they need to lie on their resumes to even get an interview. This is not so. Employers, at least many of them, check references and background before they call people in for interviews. So, if a lie is present, you may not even get a call. Or, if checking isn’t done on the front end, it will be done if a problem arises. If you lied to get the job, there could be legal actions taken. So, either way, you lose. Save yourself the hassle and be honest on a resume.

Over and above being honest on a resume, there is an art to creating one for different positions. A resume is an extension of the person applying for a job. It should speak to its readers about the person’s competence, skills and abilities. It should tell them this “is the one I want” before an interview even takes place.

To make sure your resume gets the attention you deserve from potential employers, here are some basic tips:
* Go after jobs you’re qualified for. Don’t apply for a rocket science position with a degree in English and expect to get a phone call. Be realistic about your background, education and skills.
* Tailor a resume for the employer. If you’re going for a sales job, state your objectives in that field clearly. If you want to be an artist, say that and where you’d like to go in the field. Different resume styles should be used for different positions as well. An artist likely would want a more creative piece whereas an engineer a more basic one.
* Provide basic information. This means basics about education, work history, skills and personal information such as telephone number and address.
* Give them enough information to get their interest without boring them. Personnel directors do not have the time to read five-page resumes. Keep yours short, compelling and to the point and you’ll capture their attention. Make it so long they need to take a lunch break to read it, and your resume might end up in the trash.
* Be clear and concise with wording. Don’t embellish. Tell the truth, but do it well.
* If you’re writing a cover letter, keep this short, but explain why you want the job and why you’re the best person for it. Remember, you’re selling yourself here. Your skills and knowledge or ability to learn are your products, play them up!

Once a resume has been crafted, be certain to read it over very carefully. Companies do not want to hire people who cannot fill out basic forms. For almost every supervisory position going, there is at least one resume that comes in from someone who wants to be a “manger” instead of a “manager.” Don’t rely on spell check on a computer either or you’re likely to be looking for that manger’s position and a good “car” instead of “career.”

A resume is the first selling point for a person seeking a job. A well-written resume can open doors. A poorly written one can close them and keep them that way. Be clear, concise and honest.

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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!

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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 Purpose of Your Resume

The Purpose of your resume

You should only build a resume for one purpose – to get an interview.
Keep this purpose in mind as you read the article below:

Why did I say ‘build’ a resume and not ‘write’ a resume?

A resume is not a story, it is not written with stream of consciousness like a novel. Resumes are built in a purposeful, strategic way to sell your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses. The best resumes turn your Tasks and Responsibilities into Accomplishments and Results

A resume should not be purely chronological – that is a big mistake. I don’t know anyone who has had a consistent rise in significant accomplishment over a long career. Most people, including you, have nuggets of brilliance – accomplished at many different times throughout your life.

Your resume should be a highlight reel not an autobiography. The strategy is to match significant keywords, (Knowledge Skills and Abilities), to your accomplishments. You can’t do this with a chronological resume,

The only purpose a chronology has in today’s job market is to help the reader understand when you moved from job to job and which job you had first, second, and third. The chronology doesn’t explain a thing about who you are and what you accomplished. Neither does your longevity. Some people accomplish more in six months than others do in five years.

Never confuse a job title with an accomplishment.

Resumes must be functional to attract attention. Many say it’s the first third of the page that sells – if you can’t grab the reader at the top, the list of facts at the bottom will never be read. That is why it is critical to sell your key accomplishments and KSA,s up front.

Use the following checklist to help you think outside the margins of your resume:

1. Prepare a profile that matches your background to the job description.
2. Prioritize your tasks and responsibilities to match the job description.
3. Only list tasks that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
4. Select tasks that you can back up – preferably with a strong accomplishment.
5. Use a qualifying line to describe how you were selected for the job.

Example:
ABC tech Firm – 2006-2007
Technical Writer
Hired by the V.P of Documentation to improve RFP efficiency and develop a document reuse policy.

This line adds a little zing because it gives the reader some insight into your story. Be prepared to add more details at an interview. This short descriptor can help you build interest in your story. First, you name drop a little. In other words, you tell the reader who hired you and the title they command.

Second, the reader/interviewer may want to know how you increased efficiency and how you developed that reuse policy. The strategy is to place ideas and questions in the readers head. Just make sure you have the answers.
Your resume must be constructed – ‘built’ in such a way that it structures the conversation before you get to the interview.

The Interview process is like dating. You wouldn’t sit down on a first date and say – “let me tell you what my worst qualities are”. Yet, people do this all the time on their resumes.

Now, let’s continue with the checklist:
6. List all tasks in the active voice. For example Developed, Initiated, Directed, Organized
7. Never say ‘responsible for’ just use the action word.
8. List your accomplishments before you build your resume. I guarantee that this is the most difficult part of the process.
9. Select the strongest accomplishment and place it after your keyword table- (more on this in my next article), and before your chronological list.

Wait a minute – I thought you said chronology doesn’t’ matter. I didn’t say that. What I meant was it is the least important part – but an essential price of admission.

10. Identify your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s), by using the Occupational ONET Online database. This is an excellent repository developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and contains occupational information that can be an invaluable resource for education and research.

When you are ready, please visit http://www.ONETOnline.org
Now, lets continue.

11. Smooth out small gaps in employment by using annual dates i.e., (2006-2007) instead of the month and date.
12. List awards and citations/achievements only if they compliment the job you are seeking.
13. A note on Education. Include all completed degrees, regardless of subject matter. All employers value education. One caveat: Don’t include Certifications that do not apply to the industry in question.

Example: I am a professional writer and in addition to my B.S. and M.A. I am a certified professional Coder (CPC). This is a health care certification. The only time I include it on my resume is when I am approached about a writing opportunity that requires some understanding of health care issues.

Finally, remember that building a resume is one of the most difficult jobs you will do – if its done right. Its not easy to capture the essence of a persons talents and abilities in one or two pages, especially if you are a mid-career professional. There is no recipe. The checklist I provided is only a guide. Always practice good judgment and use what works for you.

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Your Resume and What Employers Want to See

The recruiting industry has changed dramatically since the mid-90s when the Internet began to catch fire as a networking tool. Prior to the advent of online job boards such as CareerBuilder and Monster, your local newspaper had a monopoly on “help-wanted” advertising going back pre-Industrial Revolution (I remember a few years back being quoted $450 to run a 3-line ad over the weekend–for $50 more I could add a black border around it).

Resumes came to you via mail or fax and the ones that got your attention arrived on expensive paper with signed cover letters–the presentation gave you as much insight into the candidate as the resume itself did. As an independent recruiter you were only as good as your database of candidates (which for most recruiters consisted of a Rolodex of business cards or a drawer full of resumes). You actively sought out individuals to network with, collecting every resume thrown at you regardless of the positions you were working on at the time. “Got a cousin in advertising sales? Have him give me a call!”

I think employers were more willing to take risks with less qualified candidates then (let’s say, pre-1998) than they are now. Hiring managers and recruiters recognize that online resources can provide them with exponentially greater access to candidates today than in years past. It’s not that the talent pool is deeper, it’s just more accessible (and more public) than it’s ever been. So the same company that might have been willing to take a chance on a good candidate from a different industry ten years ago now wants someone whose experience matches their position as closely as possible.

I am a big believer that the best candidates for a particular position are the ones who would be taking a step up in their career by accepting. They are inherently motivated because they’re improving their pay, adding to their responsibilities and increasing their exposure. But today employers want over-qualified candidates; people who are actually taking steps down in their careers or at the very least, making lateral moves. Most employers will not admit to consciously doing this, mind you; but they do. They want to know with as much certainty as possible that the candidates have “been there and done that.” They want people with track records that mirror the exact challenges and expectations of their opening, particularly if they’re working with a third party recruiter to fill the position. The employer feels they’re paying big bucks for the recruiter to minimize their risk; therefore they should deliver candidates that are tailor-made for their role.

As an independent recruiter, it is my job to provide the client with the candidate solution they want. Every client knows the type of person they’re looking for, even if they’re not always able to describe them in great detail before we begin the search. They may need to evaluate a couple candidates before they can put into words their exact preferences, particularly when it’s a new position. Keep in mind the candidate solution our firm provides is the one defined by the client, and in my opinion it’s not always the one that may be the best long-term employment solution.

As I discussed in a previous article (Remember: You’re hiring them to work for you, not to date you), many hiring managers allow their own personal biases to influence they way they evaluate candidates (often referred to as “gut instincts”) resulting in bad hiring decisions. My job is to provide the client with candidates that have a documented track record of success. The majority of companies we work with want candidates either from their own industry or industries that are a close parallel. Drilling down even further, they want to know that the candidate’s daily, weekly and monthly activities overlap with the expectations of the new position. This is why having a thorough, well-defined resume is imperative for today’s job seeker looking to advance their career.

I believe the criticism that most resumes are long-winded, over-inflated exaggerations of unspectacular accomplishments is completely unwarranted. Coming from someone who looks at thousands of resumes a month, the average person is more likely to sell themselves short, thereby limiting their potential opportunities than they are to misrepresent themselves on paper.

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Resume writing tips : how to address employment gaps in a resume

Address employment gaps on a resume by minimizing their ability to stand out and using a functional resume, which groups employment history into categories. Learn to emphasize job responsibilities to fill in employment gaps with the help of amanagement executive in this free video about writing job resumes. Expert: Gloria Dixon Campbell Bio: Gloria Dixon Campbell has an executive MBA in management…

Functional vs chronological resumes

Your choice of resume formats is critical to your job search. In most cases, your work history will determine if you should emphasize your job history or transferrable skills. Janis Smith of RDE Specialists has some key points to help you decide. … Resumes Jobs “Functional Resumes” “Chronological Resumes“…

Resume Writing and Preparation is Free Online

Creating a strong resume is a very important part of applying for a job, either online or off line. There are many resume writing services that will help you build an impressive resume for job interviews.

You can also learn how to write a resume for free by surfing the Internet for resume writing help. Many sites will show you tips and advice on choosing a resume style that works best for you.

You can also find samples of resumes, resume templates, resume software, and examples of resume cover sheets or letters.

Whether you?re looking to create a business resume, marketing resume, military resume, electronic resume, accounting resume, nursing resume, acting resume, sales resume, teacher resume, executive resume, student resume or a customer service resume, you can find great advice online with a little research.

When preparing your resume, keep in mind that employers use resumes for several purposes:

** Screen Applicants ? Most employers will only look at a resume for about 30 seconds to determine whether or not an applicant is a good fit for their organization.

** Develop Interview Questions ? Statements on your resume can be used to formulate questions they may ask during an interview.

** Communication Skills ? Employers want to see how well you express yourself.

** Qualifications ? Employers will reference your resume when making hiring decisions based on how closely your qualifications match their needs.

Writing a resume isn?t easy, but by studying various tips and advice, you can learn to create a type of resume that will get you one step closer to your ultimate goal of finding a great job.

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