Hiring managers share most memorable résumé mistakes

• By Debra Auerbach

Any human-resources professional or career expert will tell you that résumé customization is key to standing out in a job search. They’ll also stress the importance of including information about your background and skills that might spark the hiring manager’s curiosity and make her want to take a second look. However, they’re unlikely to recommend divulging such personal information as your ties to the mob, your genius status or your glory days as homecoming prom prince.

While you might think that’s stating the obvious, you’d be surprised to find what lengths job seekers will go to in order to catch an employer’s attention.

CareerBuilder asked hiring managers to share the most memorable and unusual job applications that have crossed their desk. Answers included:

• Candidate called himself a genius and invited the hiring manager to interview him at his apartment.
• Candidate’s cover letter talked about her family being in the mob.
• Candidate applying for a management job listed “gator hunting” as a skill.
• Candidate specified that her résumé was set up to be sung to the tune of “The Brady Bunch.”
• Candidate highlighted the fact that he was “homecoming prom prince” in 1984.
• Candidate claimed to be able to speak “Antartican” when applying for a job to work in Antarctica.
• Candidate’s résumé was decorated with pink rabbits.
• Candidate listed “to make dough” as the résumé’s objective.
• Candidate applying for an accounting job said he was “deetail-oriented” and spelled the company’s name incorrectly.

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When creativity works
While some job seekers may take their creativity too far, you can still find ways to infuse originality into your job search. Just make sure that any creativity you integrate into your résumé is applicable to the type of job you’re applying for and aligns with the prospective company’s culture.

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, says that given today’s highly competitive job market, job seekers need to clearly demonstrate how their skills and experience are relevant to the employer. “We see more people using infographics, QR codes and visual résumés to package their information in new and interesting ways,” Haefner says.

Here are some examples of candidates that tried the creative approach, made a positive impression and were ultimately hired:

• Candidate sent his résumé in the form of an oversized Rubik’s Cube, where you had to push the tiles around to align the résumé. He was hired. 
• Candidate who had been a stay-at-home mom listed her skills as nursing, housekeeping, chef, teacher, bio-hazard cleanup, fight referee, taxi driver, secretary, tailor, personal shopping assistant and therapist. She was hired.
• Candidate created a marketing brochure promoting herself as the best candidate and was hired.
• Candidate listed accomplishments and lessons learned from each position. He gave examples of good customer service as well as situations he wished he would have handled differently. He was hired.
• Candidate applying for a food and beverage management position sent a résumé in the form of a fine-dining menu and was hired. 

Mistakes to avoid
According to the survey, there are certain guaranteed deal breakers when it comes to the style, format and content of a résumé. When asked what would make them automatically dismiss a candidate from consideration, employers’ top responses included résumés with typos (61 percent), résumés that copied large amounts of wording from the job posting (41 percent) and résumés with an inappropriate email address (35 percent).

Other responses included:

• Résumés that don’t include a list of skills — 30 percent
• Résumés that are more than two pages long — 22 percent
• Résumés printed on decorative paper — 20 percent
• Résumés that detail more tasks than results for previous positions — 16 percent
• Résumés that include a photo — 13 percent
• Résumés that have large blocks of text with little white space — 13 percent

Source: careerbuilder

Is it time to refresh your résumé?

• By Susan Ricker

If you just bought new, expensive résumé paper, you’ve already made a job-search mistake. Most job applications and résumés are submitted online now–one of countless new trends in the modern hiring process. Many job seekers are using outdated job-search practices, risking the impression that they are unable to keep up with technology.
Are you worried that your résumé is going stale? Read on to determine if it’s time to refresh your résumé.

Contact information
This first section needs to include your name, address, email and phone number, as well as any links to portfolios or websites. Any links that you do include should be checked to make sure they work, and only include links to sites that you regularly update. Also be sure to include a professional email address, and ditch the inappropriate “OMGlove2party” email, which sounds unprofessional.

Summary of qualifications
This section is the best place to include keywords taken from the job description, since most hiring companies utilize applicant-tracking systems to narrow down possible candidates. However, be sure to incorporate keywords throughout the résumé, and don’t copy and paste the job description.
Another tip is to place the most relevant and interesting experience at the top. Most hiring managers only skim résumés, and leading with strong qualifications can be a good attention-getter. Also be sure to remove any overly personal information. Old job applications used to inquire about marital status, family members and sometimes religious affiliation. Not only is that information illegal to ask now, it’s irrelevant to most positions. Keep your résumé clean, professional and focused.

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Career achievements/skills
In 2012, “career objectives” are a rarity. Instead of wasting valuable paper space, include a professional summary in your cover letter and apply it to the position you’re vying for and how it fits into your career plan. Reserve the career achievements/skills section for descriptions of honors or promotions, as well as performance-review quotes that cite strengths and quantifiable information. When referring to past accomplishments and roles, use the past tense. Only current jobs and projects should be written in present tense. Also size up your résumé and determine if you’re including more tasks than results for previous positions. Hiring managers are looking for candidates that can meet daily expectations as well as go above and beyond, which means that including any professional associations and awards is a résumé boost.

Professional experience
Only list relevant jobs, not every part-time gig you held over the past 20 years. If you’re not sure if you should include a job, ask if it’s relevant to this position and to your current career goals. For the employers you do list, make sure to include details on tasks you’re responsible for, as well as the company’s industry — there are 7.5 million companies in the U.S., and most of us don’t know what they do. If you have a gap in your history because of family obligations, “homemaker sabbatical” will sufficiently explain a work hiatus and allow the interviewer to focus on your work accomplishments.

Education and training
Include alma mater details here, as well as any other training, certifications and accomplishments that are relevant to your position. This section doesn’t need to list past courses taken. Unless you’re currently in school and applying for your first full-time position or internship, you most likely don’t need to include your GPA.

References
Unless the job posting specifically asks for references, don’t include any on your actual résumé. The line, “references available upon request,” is also unnecessary. If you get asked in for an interview, you may want to have a list of references prepared in advance, but keep your contacts to yourself before that step.

Other tips

• Design your résumé with a focus. Every detail should support the idea that you’re the best candidate for the position.
• Use specific, concrete language that measures your accomplishments.
• Remove overused words, such as “outstanding, effective, strong, exceptional, good, excellent, driven, motivated, seasoned or energetic.” Beware of unsupported claims of greatness.
• Don’t include a photo.
• Résumés should be no more than two pages, but most candidates will be better off with one page. Most hiring managers only glance over résumés, so be conscious of space, and organize the layout with a balance of white space and text –avoid large blocks of text.
• Go through drafts of your résumé before you settle on one that works and then have several friends or family members proofread it. There should be no typos or formatting errors. Aim for a résumé that is clean, refreshing and simple and that can be submitted online easily.

Source: careerbuilder

Don’t have much experience? Here’s how to boost your résumé

• By Guest Contributor

By Matthew Tarpey, CareerBuilder Writer

It’s one of the most frustrating experiences any job seeker faces: After a rigorous search, you’ve found a job that you’re really excited about, where you’ll work on interesting things with like-minded people and in a great location. The catch? The job requires experience, often more than a recent college graduate has under his belt. As disheartening as this situation is, it isn’t necessarily the end of the line.

Here are some ways you can boost your résumé to help you secure your dream job.

Become an intern
Many colleges and universities require students to complete an internship prior to graduation. This might lead some to believe that internships are only for students, which is untrue. Some internship programs do require that their interns receive class credit, but those are typically unpaid and rely on the class credits as compensation. Many paid internships have no student-status requirements or age limitations. Internships offer excellent experience and networking opportunities, and they can often lead to a full-time job offer.

Volunteer
Experience doesn’t have to come from the private sector. While volunteer work is mainly associated with altruism, there’s no reason you can’t benefit your career by volunteering your time as well. Doing nonprofit work that is associated with your education and your desired job is a great way to hone your skills, gain real-world experience and help others in the process. Many companies encourage their employees to volunteer their time as well, which is a great opportunity for you to network with professionals and show how you’d fit in with the corporate culture.

Keep learning
Just because you’ve graduated, it doesn’t mean that you’re done learning. One question employers commonly ask in a job interview is how you’ve been spending your time since graduation. Telling them you’ve been sleeping late and filling out the occasional application isn’t going to make you stand out. However, talking about continuing-education classes or industry-related seminars you’ve attended, and discussing how they relate to the position, will likely make a lasting impression.

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Strengthen your cover letter
The cover letter is your opportunity to explain to an employer how your experience measures up to the company’s needs. Highlight similarities between work you’ve done in the past and the work that will be required in the open position. Smart employers don’t make their hiring decisions based on years of experience alone. This is your chance to sell them on why your specific experiences make you uniquely suited for the job.

Source: careerbuilder

Focus resume on your results, not daily tasks

• By Guest Contributor

By Ramsey Penegar
What seems more interesting: a laundry list of all the menial daily tasks and functions you performed at each and every job OR well-written, action statements illustrating the impact of your accomplishments?
For example, a receptionist or executive assistant résumé may state ”I answered the phones” OR “Monitored and managed more than 1,500 weekly telephone calls from customers, vendors, media, and contractors for 750 staff members for largest architectural firm in New Jersey.”

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An example for a sales manager may be: ”Hired, managed, and trained sales representatives” OR ”Recruited, hired, managed, mentored, and motivated more than 120 sales representatives to develop customer service and sales skills resulting in more than $1.5 million in sales revenue.”
An interview-landing résumé doesn’t just tell what you did or know how to do (task-oriented), it illustrates how well you did those things (accomplishment oriented). Recruiters and hiring managers want to know and see hardcore facts, figures, numbers. This type of information should be indicative of your entire career, not just job by job.
From your résumé, the hiring manager already has a general idea of the tasks and responsibilities involved in the jobs you have held. What he or she wants to know is how your skills and experience impacted the bottom line for the company. The recruiting manager wants to know what the job seeker has done to enhance operations, boost revenues, bolster profits, decrease operating costs, improve business processes, save time, increase productivity, and or advance technologies.
An accomplishment oriented résumé is what sells the reader on your personal and professional value. Rather than a laundry list of daily duties, functions, and job responsibilities, this type of résumé demonstrates, in writing, how your expertise in doing those tasks benefited the company.
An easy formula for this is AARQ (“Ark”):

• Action – What was the action you took or initiated to make a difference in results?
• Accomplishments & Results – What did your actions accomplish at the end of the project, year, etc?
• Quantify – Now incorporate the numbers and statistics into your story by quantifying the resulting impact on the company

Here’s an example from a recent client:

• What action did you take? Managed revenue budget.
• What was the result of this action? Exceeded revenue goals and increased revenue.
• Can you quantify the action or result? Managed $77 million revenue budget, exceeded revenue goals, increased revenue by 38%

You then take all of that and put it on your résumé as such:

• Managed $77 million revenue budget for third party marketing products, continually exceeded revenue goals, and steered 38% revenue growth.

It can be really easy to bolster your résumé by turning your tasks into bottom-line driven, powerful achievements that will catch the reader’s attention. A company is concerned with their bottom line so speak their language and illustrate your experience as it relates to them. Use your résumé as a tool to convey your value to the prospective employing company and expect more interviews in the future.
Did you know that CareerBuilder offers résumé writing services and résumé upgrade opportunities?




Source: careerbuilder

6 things you should probably remove from your résumé

By Special Contributor

In an age of Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare, we’ve gotten used to broadcasting any and all information about ourselves. But when it comes to your résumé, it might be best to take a cue from architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who coined the phrase, “Less is more.”

Today’s guest blogger, Catherine Jewell, tells job seekers to follow this advice when writing their résumés. Jewell is the Career Passion® Coach and author of “New Resume, New Career,” a résumé makeover book featuring 50 real-life career changers. Here are six things she says you should leave off your résumé.

What to leave out of your résumé:
by Catherine Jewell, author of “New Résumé, New Career” 

Once upon a time in the ’70s, I saw a résumé with a full-length photo. It was for a vibrant, 20-something account executive in advertising. I envied her the chutzpah to include her photo. It made the résumé come alive. You could see her eagerness and professional demeanor.

That was then. So much has changed. Employers want to avoid any chance of discrimination about age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital and parental status, and ethnicity.  The less you say on the résumé, the more likely you make the cut. Each word, phrase and sentence needs to be carefully selected to prove that you are the right person for the job. Specifically, here are some things to take off your résumé:

1. Graduation dates
Include your degree, major (if it is relevant) and the institution. But take off the date. Age discrimination is a concern for many people looking for work. Avoid tempting reviewers to do the math to discover your age.

2. Irrelevant experience
If you are applying for sales and you have substantial experience in IT project management, downplay the irrelevant experience and create new achievement statements that support your experience with customers. Make your non-sales experience sound more like sales. Shorten job entries that don’t support your sales message.

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3. Jobs in the dim, dark past
The rule of thumb is to include your last 10 to 15 years of experience. If you need to prove expertise you gained long ago, you might use the title “Other Relevant Experience” and describe your achievements, without the dates of employment. Baby boomers should be careful not to include 30 years of experience. Why give hiring managers a clue you are over 50 until they meet you in person?

4. Personal section
Résumés of the past often included personal information such as marital status, family members and even church membership. All of that information is illegal to collect, so don’t include it. Also eliminate references to hobbies, clubs and political views. A “Community Work” section can show your leadership skills, but stick with noncontroversial organizations such as Rotary, Lions, the Chamber of Commerce and recognized  nonprofits.

5. Gaps in history
Eliminate gaps in your work history by filling in with short, truthful statements. “Homemaker sabbatical” will explain a five-year work hiatus and allow the interviewer to focus on your history. You can also fill gaps with part-time jobs, direct sales positions or consulting projects.

6. Photos
These may not be on your résumé, but once a potential employer has your full name they might as well be. Polish all social networking profiles and remove any unprofessional or embarrassing photos. Ask your friends to clean up social networking profiles for you, too. If you are gray or balding, you might consider removing your photo during your job search.

Your résumé is designed to present the professional you. Write it with a job description in mind, avoiding any details that might detract from your single-minded pursuit of that job.

Source: careerbuilder

Five Tips for Better Resume Writing

By Max Messmer from Job Hunting For Dummies, 2nd Edition

First the good news. You do not have to be William Shakespeare to compose a solid, well-organized, professional-looking resume. All you need are the ability to express your ideas in proper English and an understanding of how a resume should be organized and written.

Being able to handle the basics of English — grammar, spelling, punctuation, proper word usage, and so forth — has become a critical skill in today's e-mail and facsimile-driven business environment. If you lack confidence in your ability to use English properly, think about enrolling in a writing workshop or community college course. Also, get the classic book The Elements of Style, 3rd Edition, by William Strunk and E. B. White (Allyn & Bacon, 1995).

Now the bad news. You can forget most of the rules and principles you were taught when you were writing reports and term papers in high school or college. Those principles simply do not apply to resumes. Resumes are business documents. They follow certain conventions that business people take for granted but that most English teachers would consider incorrect.

Following are five simple writing principles that apply specifically to resumes. All of them should come in handy when you begin to string words together in your resume, particularly when the time comes to describe your work history.

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Avoid the first person pronoun

The pronoun I has no place in a resume — and for a logical reason: Who else would you be talking about if not yourself?

Instead of this:

I demonstrated professionalism, tact, and diplomacy while I worked with our customers in high-pressure situations.

Write this:

Demonstrated professionalism, tact, and diplomacy while working with customers in high-pressure situations.

Instead of this:

I managed a department whose chief responsibility was to oversee safety audits. I wrote all audit reports and conducted management briefings.

Write this:

Managed a department whose chief responsibility was to oversee safety audits. Wrote audit reports and conducted management briefings.

Notice that the second version of each example begins with an action verb. Beginning most of your sentences with action verbs may not have been standard practice when you were writing term papers, but this practice is accepted and recommended in resumes.

Keep your sentences short and don't worry about fragments

Resumes call for short, crisp statements. These statements do not necessarily have to be complete sentences; you can frequently leave out the articles a, an, and the.

Instead of this:

Spent three years working on major accounts, as both a lead generator and a closer, demonstrating proven skill in organizing and managing a territory with efficiency as well as in developing customer databases.

Write this:

Spent three years working on major accounts. Generated leads and closed sales. Demonstrated proven skill in organizing and managing a territory and in developing customer databases.

Instead of this:

I was involved in the creation and implementation of statistical reports for a large metropolitan hospital, which required the use of spreadsheet software for cost analysis and, in addition, the creation of a database to track patient visits.

Write this:

Created and implemented statistical reports for large metropolitan hospital. Analyzed costs with spreadsheet software. Created database to track patient visits.

Or try a bulleted format: 

• Created and implemented statistical reports for large metropolitan hospital. 

• Analyzed costs with spreadsheet software. 

• Created database to track patient visits.

Use plain English

Don't be victimized by the myth that the bigger the word you use, the more impressed the reader will be with your intelligence. Keep things simple. Go easy on the adjectives. And be especially wary of those grammatical constructions known as nominalizations — that is, nouns that are built around verbs and become part of a bulky phrase that can just as easily be expressed in a single word. See the examples in Table 1.

Table 1 Using Plain English

Bulky Phrase	Better
Effected the solution of	Solved
Engaged in the operation of	Operated
Offered assistance in the facilitation of	Helped facilitate

Use bullet statements when appropriate

You usually have a choice when you are writing your resume to combine a series of related statements into a single paragraph or to list each sentence in that paragraph as a separate statement, each occupying its own line. There are pros and cons for each option, and sometimes you have to base your decision on the amount of information you need to get across.

Bulleted information is more readable and tends to stand out more than the same information contained within a paragraph. But bulleted information also takes up more room. Your best bet is to combine the two.

If you decide to express information in bulleted style, keep the bulleted items brief and pay attention to parallelism. That is, try to make all the items in a sequence adhere to a similar grammatical pattern.

Examples of nonparallel statements include 

• Reconcile all statements for cardholders 

• Purchases are approved 

• Have experience in performing training of tellers

Examples of parallel statements include 

• Reconcile statements 

• Approve purchases for Marketing department 

• Train tellers

Go from general to specific

Sequence the information in a section by beginning with a general statement and following it with more specific ones.

Instead of this:

Supervised training of seven toy-making elves. Responsible for all toy-making and customer-related activities in Santa's workshop. Answered customer complaints during peak season. (Note that the second of these two sentences is more general than the first.)

Write this:

Responsible for all toy-making and customer-related activities in Santa's workshop. Supervised training of seven toy-making elves. Answered customer complaints during peak season.

Source: dummies

5 ways to address a cover letter besides 'To whom it may concern'

By Debra Auerbach,

 

One of the most common pieces of job-seeker advice we give on The Work Buzz blog is to personalize application materials as much as possible. This includes the addressing of your cover letter. There may be cases where it's impossible to find a contact associated with the position, but that doesn't mean "To whom it may concern" is the only option. With such easy access to information through social media and websites such as LinkedIn, don't give up on cover-letter customization just because the job description doesn't list a contact.

"You should never use [To whom it may concern] when sending a cover letter," says Jodi R. R. Smith, president of etiquette consulting firm Mannersmith. "Instead, with a few keystrokes on your computer, you can research who the proper person for the salutation of the letter is. Having a name on the cover letter shows that you really want the job, that you took the extra time to personalize the letter and that you are able to work independently to get a job done."

Here, experts weigh in on five alternative ways to address a cover letter.

1. Dear [hiring manager's name]: "The best way to begin a cover letter is by addressing it directly to the HR/recruiter or hiring manager and emailing it right to them personally," says Megan Pittsley, director of talent at restaurant technology startup E la Carte. "In today's quick-apply society, taking the time and effort to respond personally to job openings and doing a bit of research will help to make you stand out. Most people have LinkedIn profiles, so the information is readily available for those who put a bit of effort into it." Other ways to track down a hiring manager's information? Search the company's website or call the company and ask for the name of the person hiring for the coveted position.
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2. Dear [department head's name]: If you've tried the tactics listed in No. 1 and still can't identify the hiring manager, Bettina Seidman, president of career counseling and executive coaching company SEIDBET Associates, suggests looking instead for the department head's name and addressing the cover letter accordingly. That's usually easier to find and still shows initiative.

3. Dear [name or title of the position's manager]: "If the posting says 'reporting to the senior associate manager,' query on the organization's website until you find out who that person is and use [his] name," Smith says. If you can't find the name, just use the title.

4. To the [name of the department]: Callista Gould, certified etiquette instructor at the Culture and Manners Institute, recommends using the section or department name, if a direct contact can't be found (e.g.,"To the consumer affairs department").

5. Dear [hiring manager/personnel manager/human resources director]: If you've done your research and still can't find any specific information to include in the salutation, Sherry Mirshahi Totten, president of career marketing company Roadmap Career Services LLC, says it's OK to address it generally. But instead of "To whom it may concern," use "Dear hiring manager," "Dear personnel manager" or "Dear human resources director." "Dear recruiter" or "Dear decision maker for X position" works too.

Source: careerbuilder

5 ways to give your résumé a makeover

By Susan Ricker, 

Fashion and style change over time -- and so should your résumé. What may have been a trendy way to format five or 10 years ago could now be considered outdated. And with technology changing how jobs are found and applied for, being current is more crucial to your job search than ever.

Take the time to update your résumé with these five tips:

1. Swap out dated categories for modern information

Résumés used to serve as a different form of introduction than they do today. While hiring managers used to wonder who you were and what you were seeking, as well as if anybody could vouch for you, today's hiring process is more streamlined. "Today, like the understanding of the unspoken objective, everyone knows that a job candidate will provide references when and if they advance to the next stage of the hiring process," says Karen Southall Watts, business coach, consultant and author.
Instead, find a way to use your résumé's valuable space more wisely. "The top third of your résumé is prime real estate and should not be home to something as obvious and outdated as an objective statement," Watts says. "The reader already knows you are looking for a job like the one advertised. It's better to put a personal branding statement or skills summary in this key area." Below your contact information, write a short summary of your achievements and years of experience and highlight your skills.

2. Use the latest technology to your advantage

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When designing your résumé, keep in mind both who and what will be receiving it. Bruce Blackwell, managing partner of Career Strategies Group in White Plains, N.Y., says, "Rule No. 1 is to keep your design simple. Make sure it is compatible with the résumé database programs used by employers and recruiters. Called applicant tracking systems, these programs electronically "read" incoming résumés, parse their keywords and slot them into a database file. Résumés with headers on the name and address lines, with bullet points in the contact area, with fancy lines and other graphic effects, often cannot be read and end up in the garbage."
Having more than one format of your résumé is crucial to your search. "There should be a résumé that works no matter where you need it to go: A printed paper version for traditional employers, a PDF version that can be scanned and a hyperlinked version that ties to samples of your work or your social media links," Watts says.

3. Skip the buzzwords and give specific results

Instead of describing yourself as a hardworking, creative, talented team player, quantify your success and include achievements in your work experience section. "Emphasize specific actions and the results achieved," says Michelle Proehl, president of Slate Advisers in Sunnyvale, Calif. "For instance, saying that you 'identified $1 million in administrative cost savings that enabled the sales team to add head count' is far more powerful than 'conducted analysis of division financial plan and budget.'"
Abby Kohut, human resources executive, recruiter and author of "Abby's 101 Job Search Secrets," says, "Avoid buzzwords designed to sweeten your résumé, but don't really hold any meaning. With more companies relying on computers to vet résumés before sending to hiring managers, it's crucial to weave the appropriate keywords into your résumé and professional online profiles. Learn the difference between a buzzword and a keyword, and your résumé will rise to the top of the stack."

4. Give context to your experience

While you may know what your past places of employment did or believe a company name is big enough to be recognized, hiring managers may not. Jon Mazzocchi, partner and general manager in the accounting and finance search division at Waltham, Mass. based recruitment firm WinterWyman, says it's crucial to give context to your past employment experiences. "Even if the hiring manager is familiar with your past employers, it is a good idea to point out the similarities between those companies and the one you hope to join. Similarities in size, culture and industry definitely help."

5. Give every detail a professional polish
To avoid quickly being discarded, triple-check your résumé for errors, and be sure you're presenting yourself as a professional. When it comes to getting in touch with you, Watts says it's important to give multiple contact methods. "It's highly unlikely that HR is going to send you a letter in the mail. Your résumé should include a phone number, an email, your social media links if you use them professionally and your website if you have one." Laurie Morse-Dell, personal branding coach in Bismarck, N.D., adds, "Make sure you have a professional email address. If your email is or could be perceived as vulgar, cutesy, juvenile or cheesy, get a new one."
Most importantly, your résumé should prove you're a qualified candidate for the job. By taking the time to put your best résumé forward, you're sure to create a great first impression.



Source: careerbuilder

Reinforce your résumé with an effective referral

By Robert Half International

 

Job seekers know the power of networking in their search for employment. But it's not just who you know; it's also who your contacts know. An effective way to make the most of your connections is by asking for referrals.

A referral is just one piece of the hiring puzzle, but it can support a well-crafted résumé and help your application rise to the top of the stack. It's a recommendation made to a hiring manager, on your behalf, by someone who knows you both.

What can a referral do for you?

You may have one of several goals in mind when asking a contact to refer you: Perhaps you're hoping to set up an informational interview. Or maybe you've applied for an open position and hope to cement your candidacy with a personal endorsement.
A thoughtful recommendation gives context to your résumé and adds a stamp of approval from someone the hiring manager knows and trusts. It's a personal introduction that connects you with the company on a level that's deeper than the rest of the application process allows. A referral says, "This is someone to pay attention to."

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What's in a referral?
A strong referral has all the hallmarks of an effective cover letter -- it's persuasive, engaging and relevant. The advocate introduces you and explains how she knows you. Then, the person highlights the characteristics, values, experiences or skills that led her to endorse you. In closing, it might include a personal note or comment that reinforces the connection between your contact and the hiring manager.
A referral does not have to be formal. It can take many forms, from an email or social media message to a quick phone call or hallway conversation.

How to use a referral
Tap into your network to find potential advocates -- and to help them help you. Here's how to ensure a strong referral:

• Ask the right person. Review your closest contacts -- friends, business associates, former managers or colleagues, coaches or mentors. Also make a list of companies you're targeting and positions for which you're applying. Then, determine where the two intersect. Reach out to prospective advocates who have ties to those companies, requesting that they speak on your behalf. Don't send a mass email, which will seem too impersonal. Many companies have incentive programs that encourage employees to refer qualified candidates for open positions. But your advocate doesn't have to work for the company you're pursuing. Your contact and the manager may be connected socially or through a professional or charitable group, for example.

• Provide enough info. Arm your advocate with enough information to make a solid recommendation. Share your résumé and also be clear about how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the open position. Don't assume your friend or colleague knows why you're right for the job. The more thorough you are, the better able the person will be to make a case for your candidacy.
• Follow up. Once your contact makes a referral, the ball's in your court. Follow up quickly so you don't lose momentum. If your advocate copies you and the hiring manager on an email, reply by acknowledging the introduction, attaching your résumé and requesting a meeting. If your advocate sends a written letter or recommends you in person, wait a day or two and then reach out to the employer, mentioning your contact by name and asking to connect. You may not always be able to follow up, but do so whenever possible.
• Rise to the occasion. When a contact makes an introduction on your behalf or endorses your capabilities, the person is putting a little of his own reputation on the line. And if you don't shine brightly, it'll reflect badly on him. You owe it to your advocate to put your best into anything that follows from the referral. That means, for example, responding quickly to any inquiries from the hiring manager or thoroughly preparing for a resulting interview.

Final thoughts
Be sure to thank anyone who provides you with a referral. Send a handwritten note or a small gift card or take your contact out for coffee. And if someone you've asked for a referral politely declines, don't press. Not everyone is comfortable or feels qualified to provide a recommendation -- no matter how talented you may be.

Yes, You Really Need a Cover Letter!

By Kate Lorenz,

It's the age-old question from job seekers: Must every resume be accompanied by a cover letter? The answer, according to professional career counselors, is a resounding yes. And not just any cover letter. It must be tailored to the specific job to which you are applying.

Experts say that it takes just seven seconds to make a first impression. If a hiring manager sees you don't have a cover letter upon first perusing your application, it's possible you could lose all chances of being contacted for that job.

Here are some tips for a foolproof cover letter.

Cover the basics.
Your letter should be brief, easy to read, and always include your full name, address and phone number in case your cover letter becomes separated from your resume. Don't forget to proofread to avoid spelling errors and typos. Make sure the job title and employer name are correct, too.

Target it.
Avoid using "Dear Hiring Manager" and find out the name of the company's human resources contact or recruiter. You can find this information by logging on to the company's Web site or calling the main phone number and asking a receptionist for the name and title of their corporate recruiter. Once you have a contact name, experts recommend using the person's formal title such as "Mr.," "Ms." or "Mrs."

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Be detailed.
State which job you are applying for in the very first paragraph and make sure to include other specific details such as a job ID number (if one was provided) and where you heard about the opening. The reason for this detail is simple: Many recruiters are responsible for multiple openings within their companies and must be able to determine which job your application is targeting. And if you were referred to the company by an employee, be sure to mention this in your letter as many companies have employee referral programs.

Have personality.
One of the objectives of a good cover letter is to make a personal connection with the reader. Gone are the days when you could simply change the name of the company in your salutation, attach it to your resume and fire it off to the employer. Recruiters see right through these types of letters and recognize them for what they are - a lazy person's attempt to find a job.

Do some legwork.
A winning cover letter will require some research into the company's history and recent accomplishments. It should show the reader that you have some knowledge of their company and that you made an informed decision when you decided to apply for a job at their company.

Show your worth.
When writing your letter, keep the requirements of the job in mind and address them specifically. Remember, it's not what the company can do for you; it's what you can do for the company that counts.

Get the interview.
Go ahead and tell the hiring manager you want that interview. Express that your cover letter and resume are just the tip of the iceberg and you look forward to a face-to-face conversation.

If you are still unsure about where to begin when writing a winning cover letter, you can find samples of dynamic cover letters online and at bookstores. 

Source: careerbuilder

Is shaving experience off your résumé a good idea?

By Alina Dizik, 

Just because you have enough work experience to cover three pages doesn't mean you need to include it all on your résumé. In fact, trimming your résumé to create a more targeted message about your skills and achievements can be a better way to land your next job. 

Most employers are interested in knowing only the most applicable ways your skills can help their organization, and a concise résumé is the first step. "It's vital to make sure the relevant information is at the forefront and easily viewed by the reader," says résumé expert Charlotte Weeks and founder of Weeks Career Services. 

Not sure which experience to leave off your résumé? Here's what to consider.

Decades-old experience

Most hiring managers don't care what you did 20 years ago, unless it was something truly spectacular. As you revamp your résumé, be sure to focus on the last 10 years of your experience, with only a few mentions of previous achievements to provide breadth. But there's always a caveat: If the role you held 20 years ago is still essential to your experience and it won't make you appear overqualified, leave it in. 

Appearing overqualified

Jam-packing your résumé with too much experience can hinder your chances of getting hired. Most recruiters and hiring managers are looking for candidates with just the right amount of experience. As a general rule, shave off experience "when you've been working a lot longer than the years required for the job," Weeks says.

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Unrelated industry jobs

Once you've racked up enough experience, it's OK to skip the mention of your summer college job or a position you held in an unrelated industry. While leaving it on your résumé can demonstrate work ethic, it can also create a cluttered document that can confuse recruiters. As you gain more experience, most recruiters expect that irrelevant positions will no longer be listed on your résumé. 

Short-term jobs

Even if it pertains to your field, there's typically no need to include a short-term position. For example, if you're applying for a marketing manager role and you held a three-month stint in a marketing department five years ago, feel free to take it off. The only instance where keeping a short position on your résumé is beneficial is if it is the only proof of industry experience.

Internships

When you're just starting out, your internships are everything. However, as you progress in your career, these internships should be replaced with a more solid employment history that includes more permanent positions. 

Create different versions

As you whittle down your résumé, there's no need to think you need to make the same trims for every position, Weeks says. For each position, she suggests looking at the specific job positing to see what of your experience is most relevant. "See what requirements they're seeking, and make sure you include this information -- if you legitimately have it -- on your résumé," she says.

Condense work experience

Not sure how to fit in your most recent experience on your résumé? One trick is to condense other bullet points. The older the job, the less information you need to provide about your role and achievements, Weeks says.

As you build your résumé, it's important to take time to reassess the applicability of your experience. Since most résumés are one to two pages, it's important to constantly edit to keep only the most relevant parts of your experience. This can be difficult with a 20- or 30-year employment history, but it's often the only way to get hired.

Source: careerbuilder

Words that hurt: 10 overused terms to remove from your résumé

There are certain résumé words and phrases that have become so ubiquitous they do little more than induce yawns and eye rolls from hiring managers. Employers are so accustomed to hearing from "team players" and "problem solvers," for example, that those descriptions are now essentially meaningless. To distinguish yourself from your competitors, you'll need to cut the clichés – or at least expand upon them with concrete details that back up your claims.

Robert Half recently asked more than 1,300 managers at companies across the United States and Canada to name the most overused résumé phrases. Based on our survey findings, here are 10 terms to retire:

1. Hard worker
Nothing causes a hiring manager's eyes to glaze over faster than seeing this hollow descriptor. Why? Because virtually all applicants – even the least-motivated clock-watchers – claim to work hard.
To impress a prospective employer, you'll need to explain exactly how you've gone the extra mile. Do you regularly meet aggressive deadlines, handle a high volume of projects, exceed ambitious targets or volunteer to tackle tasks outside your role?

2. Self-starter
Companies seek astute candidates who can get off to a strong start without excessive managerial direction and handholding. (In another Robert Half survey, managers cited mastering new processes and procedures as the greatest challenge when starting a new job.)
Unfortunately, simply saying you're a "self-starter" won't convince anyone of your initiative, resourcefulness or ability to quickly make meaningful contributions. Instead, illustrate how you've thrived when managing important projects with little or no supervision.


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3. Team player 
This term is the cliché of clichés. Working well with others is imperative, but get specific. Spell out the ways you've collaborated with colleagues. Did you dive in to help an overwhelmed coworker deliver a high-priority project or lead a key cross-departmental initiative?

4. Highly qualified
When it comes to your qualifications, show, don't tell. Skip this empty expression and describe what you'll bring to the position. Whenever possible, quantify your biggest achievements (think about money you've generated or saved your employers, for instance).
In addition, emphasize your most pertinent skills and certifications. Researching the firm and doing a careful reading of the job posting can help you determine which aspects of your background to focus on.

5. Dynamic
What does this well-worn term really mean? That you're bursting with innovative ideas and positive energy? If true, just say that. Characterizing yourself as "dynamic" is boastful and sounds unnatural. Unless you regularly don a cape as part of a crime-fighting duo, you can safely banish blasé buzzwords such as this.

6. Problem solver
While being a "problem solver" beats being a "problem creator," employers want tangible evidence of your effectiveness. What specific solutions have you devised? How have you overcome hurdles? Have you helped your boss or colleagues out of jams or streamlined workflow inefficiencies?

7. Reliable
Don't waste space touting "strengths" that are basic requirements of any job, such as reliability. It's expected that you – and every other potential hire – will be dependable. Showing up on time and doing your work isn't worth bragging about. After all, anything short of reliable would be unacceptable. Delete it.

8. Familiar with
Many job seekers rely on this ambiguous phrase to obscure a lack of in-depth knowledge in a particular area. For instance, a person can technically claim to be familiar with a software program they've used just once.
This type of wishy-washy wording raises red flags. It won't give employers any sense of your level of expertise, but it will dilute the impact of your more relevant core competencies.

9. Flexible
Change is the only constant today. As such, companies seek versatile professionals who'll adjust easily to new situations. But go a step beyond merely referring to yourself as flexible. Underscore your adaptability by explaining how you successfully responded to a major change at work or deftly dealt with unpredictable aspects of your job.

10. People person
Interpersonal skills are critical for most positions. Employers value professionals who can communicate effectively and build camaraderie with a diverse array of internal and external contacts. Cite examples of how you won over a challenging coworker, client or customer, or helped a group of stakeholders reach a consensus.
The bottom line is that clichés aren't memorable, powerful or persuasive. While there's nothing inherently wrong with the skills and traits listed above, they alone won't deepen an employer's understanding of who you are and what you offer. Stop using generic content as a crutch and embrace clear and specific information instead. As a job seeker, it just might be the most "dynamic" thing you can do.

Source: careerbuilder

5 things to leave off your résumé

It's never easy to figure out what to put on your résumé. What will that one line be that hooks the hiring manager? Will the way it's formatted affect the decision? You may think that it's safer to err on the side of including more, but if you load your résumé with unnecessary fluff, it could guarantee your place in the reject pile.

Here are five things you should consider leaving off of your résumé:

1. Objective statement: Objective statements, which usually start with, "I'm looking for a job that..." have long been considered passé. Employers aren't reviewing your résumé to find out what you want in a job; they want the résumé to tell them why they should want you. If you're going to include a statement at the top, make it a personal summary that acts as a condensed version of your elevator pitch. It should touch on your top skills and any major achievements worth highlighting.

2. References available upon request: Including a list of references or the statement, "References available upon request," isn't necessary, because it's expected that you have references, should an employer request them. Instead of taking up valuable space, create a separate document that lists your references and their contact information, and have it ready to email or hand out as needed.

3. Outdated or irrelevant information: Résumés are about quality, not quantity. Hiring managers don't have time to read through three pages' worth of positions held, dating back to when you were a dog sitter in high school. Consider removing any experience that is more than a decade old, especially if it's not applicable to the position for which you're applying. Focus instead on experience and education that show you're relevant and up to date on the newest skills and technology.

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4. Personal attributes: Unless you're applying for a modeling job or another position where looks are a factor, leave your picture off your résumé. Most employers shouldn't -- and legally can't -- care about your appearance; they just want to know why you'd be good for the job. The same goes for listing personal attributes, such as your height, weight, race or age.

5. False claims: This should go without saying, but inaccuracies or over-embellished education or experience have no place on a résumé. Besides running the risk of getting caught (were an employer to do a background check, talk to references or conduct a social-media search), why would you want a job if you're not adequately prepared for it? If you don't know what you're doing, the jig will be up quickly, and you'll just find yourself jobless again and having burned important bridges.

Source: careerbuilder