Thinking Like a Recruiter » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

People often ask me why anyone would seek professional help with writing his or her resume.  The great part about resume writing is that I often work with educated professionals who have years of great experience.  Unfortunately, they just don’t know how to get their resumes in front of people with the power to give them a job.  Generally, they’re too busy being a great nurse, project manager, executive, or whatever else to understand one important thing: how recruiters think.

1) They have very little time

While recruiters and hiring managers have many different philosophies and approaches, one thing is certain: they all review scores of resumes.  Rejection letters often inform candidates that more than 100 people had applied for the same position.  Faced with competition of that magnitude, it’s easy to see why your resume has to be outstanding in order for you to get any attention from an employer.  Most people reviewing your resume simply don’t have more than a minute or two to look it over.

2) Know your audience

Given the volume of resumes employers receive for each position, lower-level hiring staff are frequently used to “shortlist” candidates for each opening.  This means that a less experienced HR professional is reviewing dozens of resumes in order to weed out 6-10 strong candidates.  With this in mind, it’s important to write your resume in simple terms that someone who doesn’t have your background can grasp.  As you develop the highlights from each of your previous positions, ask yourself if a stranger at a cocktail party would understand what you’ve just written.

3) Experience doesn’t always matter

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re looking for a pet sitter while your family is away for a week’s vacation.  In looking for a pet sitter, you would generally want to know about the person’s experience with pets, whether her availability met your needs, and whether your pet liked her during an in-person introduction.  The pet sitter candidate would be wasting your time if she told you all about her experience roofing houses or preparing people’s income taxes.  It’s fabulous that she has those abilities, but all you need to know is whether she can walk and feed your dog.

The same principle is true for resumes.  Because the average worker holds more than 10 jobs during his or her career, chances are good that some of your accomplishments may not be relevant to the job you’re currently trying to get.  Use your resume space for the experiences that matter, and don’t overwhelm reviewers with information that they don’t need.

For a free resume analysis submit your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com. Or view professionally-written resume samples at http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

via greatresumesfast.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Are You Ready for the Big Time? | CareerAlley

“If your gonna screw up, do it while you’re young. Older you get, the harder it is to bounce back.” – Winston Groom

I remember my first “real” job after college (even though it feels like it was a million years ago). It was a surreal experience, because I realized for the first time that I was an adult and was expected to take on “adult” responsibilities. This, I decided, was the “big time”. Little did I realize that many “big time” moments would occur in my career as I took on more responsibility. And even 25 years later, there are still times that I think “this is the big time”. So, are you ready for the big time? It’s never too late to take on additional responsibility, whether it’s your first job or your 10th job. Today’s post is a collection of career related articles and resources submitted by readers (thanks!).

• 10 Jobs Where People Move A Lot – This article, posted on ChangeofAdress.org, provides a list of careers which require lots of travel. Not all of us like to travel in our jobs, but there are some who really enjoy it. If that is you, than take a look at this article. Careers range from Clergy to Entertainment. Each of the 10 careers mentioned has a brief overview of the career choice.

• 8 Mistakes Made at a Job Interviews – BestOnlineColleges.net’s article on job interview mistakes (how many have you made) is definitely worth a read. The very first item (Forgetting the name of your Interviewer) brings back some not so fond memories for me. A fairly new phenomenon (cell phone interruption) is another one that I’m sure has happened to some of you. The 8 mistakes listed in the article is a great start of things to avoid. And, if that is not enough, take a look at Top 10 interview mistakes from CNN.com.

• Local Educator – This site is a good resource for Teachers, students and recent grads. The blog offers articles on a number of careers and tips for your job search. The left hand side of the page has recent posts (such as a series on different Career choices) while the right hand side of the page has links to jobs by city. Their article on Best Sites to Locate Jobs is definitely worth a read if you are looking for a list of a few jobs search sites.

• Job sites: Are they worth it? – A very interesting article from Fortune, the article gives the low-down on job search sites. Do they really work and are they worth the time? I think that they certainly should play a role in your search, but as the article indicates, you should not focus too much time on job search sites. There are as many views on this topic as there are job search sites, but if you are looking for a job, you should definitely read this article. At towards the end of the article there are four pointers on getting job search traction.

• Where The Jobs Will Be This Decade – Okay, maybe it’s time to change your career or maybe you are starting college and want to ensure you pick a career where you can actually get a job. Whatever the reason, this article from npr.org provides some guidance. In addition to providing some insight to where the jobs will be (some all time favorites like nursing and other health related jobs), there is an interactive chart (just click on it). Also see their related article – Series Overview: New Jobs For A New Decade.

Other Sites:

• 100 Timeless Quips & Quotes for Recent College Grads – If you read my blog then you will know that I like to lead with a quote. While this particular site and article are not specifically career related, there is a list of quotes worth a read (you will need to scroll down on the page once you get there).

Good luck in your search.

via careeralley.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Top 5 Resources For Career Research | EmploymentDigest.net

If you are looking for a new career, perhaps something very different from what you have been doing, it can be hard to know where to start your research.

If you have read my article on Self Evaluation for career choice then you will know about identifying your values, interests and skills to help you start the research process. This will have given you some ideas that you will now need to research in more detail.

Here are some top resources that you can use to investigate possible career options.

1. Trade organisations

Look for organisations or bodies that are related to the career choices you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in project management then there is PMI (Project Management Institute) and APM (Association for Project Management). If you are interested in Marketing then there are organisations like The Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Direct Marketing Association. A quick search for the type of industry and the word bodies will normally get you plenty of lists.

These organisations are normally delighted to help out with information on their particular trade and may be willing to put you in touch with members who will be able to tell you a lot more about it.

2. Trade fairs and shows.

Look for shows and fairs that relate to your areas of interest. These events will have lots of people who are very knowledgeable and normally happy to share that knowledge with people who show an interest. Not only is this a great way to find out more but you can also start to build a network of people in the industry that, if you decide this is the career for you, could be of great help when it comes time to find a job. The down side to this option is that you may have to travel as these shows can be few and far between.

3. Local Government Offices

Local Government requires a massive spread of disciplines and it is quite possible that the career you are interested in is practiced somewhere in the local government organisation. Not only that but they have careers advice services that can help you find out more about any career that you have an interest in.

4. Your personal Network

How many people do you know? How many people does each of them know? How many people does each of those people know? Let’s say that you know 10 people (and I bet you know more than that). Let’s say that each of them knows an extra 10 people and each of them knows an extra 10 people. That’s 1,110 people. What are the chances that someone in that 1,110 people knows something about the career you are interested in? Use your network to find out more.

5. On-line forums

Nowadays there are forums for just about everything on the internet. Most of the time these are populated by people who are passionate about what they do and only too happy to share advice and knowledge. Search for “(your career interest) Forums” and I bet you will find a great amount of potential advice.

Ralph Goldsmith is a New Insights certified life coach of high distinction and an experienced developer of individuals in both business and personal environments. New Wavelength Coaching works with individuals supporting and facilitating lifestyle, relationship and career changes and with businesses empowering growth, increasing profits, building team motivation and confidence and developing management and leadership capabilities.

Ralph Goldsmith New Wavelength Coaching http://www.newwavelength.co.uk ralph@newwavelength.co.uk
Contact New Wavelength Coaching now for a FREE careers consultation: careers@newwavelength.co.uk http://www.nwlcareers.co.uk

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

What To Do About An Employment Gap » Blog | Great Resumes Fast

Historically, having a significant gap in your professional employment has been seen as a huge negative on a resume.  However, given that a May Gallup poll showed that 19% of the American population is underemployed (either not working or working part-time instead of full-time), there are many, many job seekers out there wondering how to handle this resume issue.  The good news is that there are ways to present gaps in employment that minimize their impact on your resume.

Fill your time any way you can

Hiring managers receive dozens of applications for every job they post these days.  They know as well as anyone how tough the current job market is.  Because of this, employers are far less likely to stigmatize a job seeker who shows a recent gap in their employment history—the key is to fill that gap with something that shows that you care about your career.

Take a class

One simple way to keep yourself sharp as a professional is to take a class while you’re looking for work.  Depending on your financial situation and available time, there are many options for professional development.  Many universities offer continuing education classes in subjects like writing grants or preparing taxes.  There are also online training programs for licensed professions such as real estate sales.  If finances are a concern, you can take affordable classes through your local parks and recreation department or library system.

Do consulting work

Working less than full time doesn’t mean you automatically forget all the expertise you’ve gained from working in your field.  Using your network to obtain consulting gigs not only allows you to earn some income, but it gives you recent experience to discuss on your resume and in interviews.

Work as a freelancer

I know a copy editor who has been unemployed for 15 months now.  He’s been working as a freelancer over the Internet while he’s been searching for a full-time position.  Given the current economic conditions, he knows that it’s a logical alternative to doing nothing at all.  And should this year-long gap even come up at an interview, he knows that his freelancing experience will not only provide a reasonable explanation but also show the potential employer his initiative and ability to persevere under adverse conditions.

Volunteer

Volunteering is particularly helpful to those who are hoping their next job will be in a field different from their last one.  If you don’t have professional experience in something like marketing, volunteer to promote a fund-raiser for a local nonprofit—they’d love the help, and you instantly possess some marketing experience.

If you’re currently paying your bills by working a job for which you’re overqualified, it’s OK to mention it when applying for a new position.  Employers appreciate the honesty.  “I’m waiting tables right now while I look for full-time work,” is a statement that shows you’re flexible, humble, and willing to get your hands dirty when it’s needed!

For a free resume analysis submit your resume via e-mail to info@greatresumesfast.com. View professionally-written resume samples at http://www.greatresumesfast.com.

via greatresumesfast.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

How New Grads Can Develop Personal Brand - The Career Doctor Blog

Taylor writes:

I graduated college last May and have a good job. I’m pretty happy at the moment, but because I sort of lucked into this job, I feel very unsure of job-hunting. Someone told me about your Website, and it’s been a great help to me.

So, my question is… How can someone fresh out of college develop his brand? I’ve read some of the materials you have on branding on your Website, but some of the advice seems more for people more advanced in their careers than me.

Any suggestions?

The Career Doctor responds:

I think it’s fantastic that you are thinking not just of your current job, but of your future career. And developing your personal brand is a great way to move your career forward and achieve the success you seek.

Branding (some call it self-branding or personal branding when talking about individuals) is essential to career advancement because branding helps define who you are, how you are great, and why you should be sought out.

You can use this branding advice at practically any age, from college students to top management. It’s never too early nor too late to build and promote your personal brand.

Some readers might find it odd referring to a person’s career and professional reputation as a brand, but that is most certainly what it is. And just as marketers grow and promote their brands so you and I will buy them, so too must workers and job-seekers so that you can get promoted or find a new job.

The four most important elements to branding are: gaining experience and tracking accomplishments; promoting yourself (to co-workers, boss, network); developing a Web presence so you will have Googlability (ideally as an expert); and building lasting personal and professional relationships (beyond just casual networking).

Find lots more useful branding resources and tools in this section of Quintessential Careers: Personal Branding & Career Self-Marketing Tools.

And, although geared to executives, this post by Rita Ashley offers great branding advice that new grads can implement, too.

via careerdoctor.org

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

The Best College Grad Job Search Resources - Vol 2 - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

"There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs." - Anonymous

There are few of us who enter college knowing what we want to be when we grow up, and many of us change our major one or more times. So what does that mean about finding your first job out of school? Well for one, don't stress out looking for the right answer (or the elevator to success) because there isn't always a right answer. The trick is to find a job that closely aligns to your skill set with a company that offers the best chance for achieving your career goals.

Sounds easy, but in practice it takes a lot of work. Take the stairs, it will take you longer to get there but the rewards are worth the pain.

College Grad / Entry Level Job Search Sites:

• Alumwire.com - "Real Connections" is the tag line for this professional network which focuses on "job search, recruiting, career enhancement, and other business pursuits" according to their website. The main page is all about jobs. There is a link for the Alumwire Virtual Career Fair Schedule followed by featured jobs (with a link to see additional jobs), an overview on networking below which is a link where you can update your resume and set-up your profile. View Jobs by Category is on the right hand side of the page. This is definitely a site worth checking out.

• 37signals Job Board - A job board by 37signals.com, the page offers lists of jobs, sorted by job category (Design Jobs, Programming Jobs, and several other categories). Click on any job opportunity to see a job description along with contact information. There is a "live search" box at the top of the page as well. You can click on the category to see all the jobs for that category and you can subscribe via RSS as well.

• Work for Students - By, of course, workforstudents.com. This is a good place to look if you are looking for work while in college. Remember, what you doing during school (and I don't mean just your school work) is sometimes more important than what you did in school (not an excuse to get a C). Links at the top of the page for Opportunities, Resources and Apply. There are links for latest news and Career Resources center page. Enter your zip code (top right hand side of the screen) and click Go.

College Grad Job Search Advice:

• 2009 Best Companies for Diverse Graduates - Thanks to Diversity Edge (thediversityedge.com) for this listing of the best companies for diverse graduates. The article has a brief overview followed by a listing of the companies. You will recognize most (if not all) of the 20 companies on this list. At the bottom of the article is a link to the website.

• Job Hunting Tips for the New College Graduate – Or Anyone - Good article (from Generation X Finance) which has some good advice, covering topics such as Experience Matters, Start Early, Networking and more. This article is definitely worth a read. There are related articles at the bottom of the page.

Company Career Sites for College – Check out these links:

• Northrop Grumman

• KPMG LLP

• Target Corporation

• Turner Construction

Visit my site www.CareerAlley.com
Visit me on Facebook
Visit me on LinkedIn

via secretsofthejobhunt.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Resume Help & Career Advice by Career Expert Heather Huhman : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Heather Huhman

You want your résumé to impress the future employer reading it. It’s the first impression you’ll get to make, but it’s amazing how many people continue to gloss over errors. In the job market today, you need to ensure your résumé is going to be read rather than quickly scanned and thrown away.

So, do you know what your résumé really says about you? Here are some typical mistakes job seekers make—and what they can make future employers think of you:

1. Typos, misspelled words, and bad grammar can make a hiring manager think you’re careless or won’t pay attention to details on the job. Show you are capable of doing the job by choosing words carefully and catching any mistakes.
2. Including too much information can make employers think you aren’t able to write clearly and concisely, which has become increasingly important in today’s high-tech world. Your résumé might not be read if it’s too long, either.
3. A busy, cluttered résumé may make others think you are unorganized and scatterbrained on the job.
4. Sending the same document for every job opening shows you aren’t great at adapting. Show the future employer you know what they need and you are the one who can help them fill that need.
5. Using an inappropriate name for your e-mail address will very likely make hiring managers skip your résumé altogether. It’s unprofessional—create an e-mail account with some variation of your name for job seeking purposes.
6. Incorrect or false information can make the employer think you haven’t updated your résumé for the job opening—or worse, that you aren’t being honest.

Enjoying this article? You could get the best career advice daily by subscribing to us via e-mail.

Here are some easy tips to spruce up your résumé in just a few minutes:

• Make sure your name is bold and stands out from the rest of your résumé.
• Combine sentences that are too similar. This will make your message much clearer and allow for easier reading.
• Change all responsibilities to accomplishments you had at that position. Most people who will read your résumé don’t want to hear about the general tasks you did, but rather how you benefited the company while you were there.
• Eliminate anything that doesn’t pertain to the job for which you are applying. You want to show the employer you know what they are looking for and YOU are it.
• Read your résumé out loud or have a friend look it over. You will catch anything that sounds awkward and your friend can probably give you some suggestions you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
• Don’t bury important skills. If it’s important in your field to have extensive computer skills, write about that in your professional profile (at the top) rather than burying it in a ‘skills’ section (at the bottom).

The lesson is to take your time to make your résumé showcase the best “you.” Highlight those accomplishments. Update it when necessary. Make it concise, compelling and error-free.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more articles by this expert here.

CAREEREALISM Expert, Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com. Follow her on Twitter at @heatherhuhman.

The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.

via careerealism.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal