Resume Monster

25 Words That Can Hurt Your Résumé

So, you're experienced? Before you advertise this in your résumé, be sure you can prove it.

Often, when job seekers try to sell themselves to potential employers, they load their résumés with vague claims that are transparent to hiring managers, according to Scott Bennett, author of "The Elements of Résumé Style" (AMACOM). By contrast, the most successful job seekers avoid these vague phrases on their résumés in favor of accomplishments.

Instead of making empty claims to demonstrate your work ethic, use brief, specific examples to demonstrate your skills. In other words, show, don't tell.

Bennett offers these examples:

Instead of... "Experience working in fast-paced environment"
Try... "Registered 120+ third-shift emergency patients per night"

Instead of... "Excellent written communication skills"
Try... "Wrote jargon-free User Guide for 11,000 users"

Instead of... "Team player with cross-functional awareness"
Try... "Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients."

Instead of... "Demonstrated success in analyzing client needs"
Try... "Created and implemented comprehensive needs assessment mechanism to help forecast demand for services and staffing."

The worst offenders
It's good to be hard-working and ambitious, right? The hiring manager won't be convinced if you can't provide solid examples to back up your claims. Bennett suggests being extra-careful before putting these nice-sounding but empty words in your résumé.

Aggressive

Ambitious

Competent

Creative

Detail-oriented

Determined

Efficient

Experienced

Flexible

Goal-oriented

Hard-working

Independent

Innovative

Knowledgeable

Logical

Motivated

Meticulous

People person

Professional

Reliable

Resourceful

Self-motivated

Successful

Team player

Well-organized

Source: careerbuilder

Deciphering Resume Types

Creating a resume is the very best way to document your career and accomplishments. If you build and maintain one as you move along your career path, you'll be able to capture key achievements and results while they are still fresh in your mind.

Everyone who works or is thinking about working needs a resume. Industry consolidations, economic conditions, earnings shortfalls, and changes in management or ownership can alter a person's job satisfaction or status in an instant. Whether you are going to school, dissatisfied with your current job, or happy and gainfully employed, a well thought out and up-to-date resume is your best defense and offense.

The majority of resumes follow a similar format by listing most recent jobs and work experience first. This is called a "reverse chronological" format. But there is also the "skills-based" or "functional" format that highlights what you can do rather than what you have done. Some find that blending these two formats is the best way to summarize their experience and capabilities. Those in teaching and scientific professions, especially people with advanced degrees, find the "curriculum vitae" or CV most effective. How do you decide which format is best? Following are some tips and guidelines for when to use which format.

Reverse Chronological
This is the format familiar to most employers and hiring managers. It normally includes a career objective or summary at the top, and is followed by a listing of each job the person has held, starting with the most recent, and a brief summary of responsibilities and accomplishments. Reverse chronological resumes should include job titles, dates of employment, and company names and locations. For each position you held, you should give an overview of your essential responsibilities and your related accomplishments and achievements. This should be followed by a summary of your education and training.

Using this format is best for those who have had a steady work history and a record of increased responsibility and career growth. This is also a great format if the companies you worked for, especially your most recent employer, are well-recognized and well-respected within your industry.

Skills-Based or Functional Format
A functional formatted resume ignores chronological order and focuses on your career in terms of your skills and capabilities. This format helps readers focus on what you can do rather than what you have done. By using the functional approach, you can tailor your resume to highlight skills and competencies sought by potential employers. You can show how you ideally match the requirements of a particular job for which you are applying, by including relevant achievements and accomplishments related to specific skills.

The functional resume includes a career objective that states what type of job you desire or a career summary that encapsulates your work history, education and strengths in a sentence or two. The main body of the resume provides a summary of three to five skills you possess and demonstrates your proficiency in the particular area through accomplishments and measurable results related to the skill. One added benefit of this format is that you can include learning from both paid and volunteer work. In its purest form it omits dates, employers and job titles, however, most employers expect to see this information somewhere within a resume.

The functional format is ideal for those who have had gaps in employment or for those who have changed careers over the years or had unclear career paths. It is also great for new graduates who don't have much paid work experience.

Combination or Blended Format
If you can't decide which format to use, you may wish to develop a resume that utilizes the best of both formats. These resumes will include reverse chronological listings of the most recent jobs you've held in addition to showcasing your particular skills and accomplishments. It might begin with a summary of qualifications and bulleted skills, followed by a chronicled job listing that demonstrates, through measurable results, how you used or applied the skills you just highlighted.

Curriculum Vitae
An academic curriculum vitae is a comprehensive document or biographical statement of your experience and achievements. It is normally four to eight pages in length and is used primarily for those who work in a PhD-driven environment where higher degrees, research, published works and professional accreditation and recognition are valued. A summary of professional qualifications and accomplishments are listed first. This is followed by a detailed listing of education and academic degrees, recognized achievements such as major research works, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, and professional affiliations and credentials. Only those who are pursuing careers in science, such as biotech or research, academia, think tanks and the like should use this format.

Source: careerbuilder

Simple guidelines for writing a stellar résumé

Your résumé should communicate vital information to a potential employer, but how do you know if yours is up to par and will compete with other résumés?
In their new book, "Expert Résumés for Managers and Executives," authors Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark say that strict rules for writing résumés don't really exist, but that job seekers should consider some simple standards that most employers have come to expect.
Here are some of their tips.
Content standards
-- Writing style: Always write in the active, not passive, voice.
-- Phrases to avoid: Do not use "responsible for" or "duties included," which are passive.
-- Résumé style: Organize your résumé chronologically, functionally or both.
-- Résumé formats: Use paragraphs, bullets or both.
-- Email address and URL: Include your email address and URL at the top of your résumé.
Presentation standards
-- Font: Use a clean, conservative, easy-to-read font. Some suggestions include Tahoma, Arial, Krone, Soutane, CG Omega, Century Gothic or Gill Sans.
-- Type size: 10- to 12-point fonts are generally easy to read.
-- Page length: One to two pages is usually enough.
-- Paper color: Use white, ivory or gray paper.
-- Graphics: Entry-level or midlevel job seekers may use graphics to enhance their résumés; senior or executive job seekers should avoid them.
-- White space: Leave plenty of white space to ensure readability.
Accuracy and perfection
"Your résumé must be well-written, visually pleasing and free of any errors, typographical mistakes, misspellings and the like," Enelow and Kursmark say. "Carefully proofread your résumé a minimum of three times, and then have two or three other people also proofread it.
"Consider your résumé an example of the quality of work you will produce on a company's behalf," they say. "Take the time to make sure that your résumé is perfect in all the details that make a difference to those who read it."

Source: careerbuilder

How to choose good job references

When a hiring manager is trying to decide among candidates, the words of someone familiar with the applicant may tip the scale one way or the other. Are your references providing maximum advantage? Here are a few considerations:

Think before you select
Jayne Mattson, senior vice president of Keystone Associates, a career management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, says a good reference is someone who:

Wants to see you succeed as much as you do.
Can clearly articulate your strengths, areas of expertise and development.
Can think on her feet if asked a tough question.
Is someone for whom you feel good about being a reference.

While several people you know may fit the bill, consider whose position or ability to give pertinent information would be most useful to the prospective employer.
"In most instances, companies are looking for professional references -- people you have worked for or with who can comment on your skills and accomplishments," says Tracy A. Cashman, partner and general manager of the information technology division of Winter, Wyman, one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast. "There are occasions when companies want more personal/character references, but you should have at least three or four professional references at your disposal, ideally to include a past manager, a colleague, a subordinate (if appropriate) and perhaps someone from another team/division who you worked with on a particular project."
Since you are looking for references to be enthusiastic advocates, it also is worth considering who might best convince others of your abilities. "There's nothing worse than a potential employer checking a reference who only answers in monosyllables and provides no detail," Cashman says.
Likewise, Mattson notes that it is wise to avoid anyone with whom you did not have a good working relationship and people whom you worked with years ago who are not up-to-date with your current career endeavors.
If you're conducting a secret job search, you might want to think carefully about choosing someone from your current workplace. Make sure the person can be trusted to keep the search confidential.
Ask before you list
Contacting people you'd like to use as a reference before listing them serves several purposes:

It makes you look professional and courteous.
It gives them time to prepare and not be caught off-guard by a phone call they didn't expect.
Their willingness or hesitancy can help you judge whether or not they would make a good reference.

Lavie Margolin, a career coach and author of "Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers," warns that just because someone agrees to give a reference, it does not mean that it will be a good one. "Your former supervisor may have had a different impression than you of the quality of work that you provided ... Or what if your boss felt you left him in the lurch when you quit the company?" Instead of assuming, he suggests having a brief conversation with the potential reference in which you can ask what he thought about you as a professional and what he plans to share.
Keep people in the loop
Prepare your references to support your candidacy by briefing them on your background and career goals. Mattson suggests providing each with a current résumé, access to your LinkedIn profile and information on the best way to get in touch with you.
While it is good to update people occasionally on the status of your search, contact is especially useful when you know a potential employer is about to begin checking references. Discussing the position and pointing out key elements that you are trying to emphasize can help your reference prepare informative answers.
Be sure references can be contacted
Once you've finalized your references, be ready to present them to a prospective employer when asked. Margolin suggests creating a one-page list that includes the following for each reference:

1. Person's name 2. Job title 3. Relationship to you (such as co-worker or direct supervisor) 4. Company name 5. Address 6. Contact info (phone number, email address)
Then, check back with your references from time to time to make sure that contact information has not changed. The best reference in the world becomes useless if he can't be reached.

Source: careerbuilder

Your Résumé: The Key to Getting an Interview

We've all been through it.

The waiting -- endless waiting -- for the phone to ring with the hope that, maybe, just maybe, one of the résumés you sent out this week will get through to the right person... and he'll like what he sees.

There are things you can do to land that all important first interview, Brad Turkin, executive vice president of staffing company Comforce Corporation, says. "As the old saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. And the résumé is it," he notes. Here are his tips for creating a phone-ringing résumé:

Know your Strengths.
"The first thing you should do," Turkin says, "is some serious soul-searching. Know the kind of job -- and company -- that you want. Know your strengths... and acknowledge your weaknesses."

Demonstrate your value.
Fill your résumé with facts that jump out at the recruiter. "Avoid empty boasts that can't be quantified," Turkin notes. He prefers a chronological résumé with bullet points that highlight previous results and successes. "You can't just say that you were the best salesman the company had," he says. "That means nothing to a prospective employer. You've got to show how you've contributed to a company's bottom line and how you've added value."

Be truthful.
Falsehoods get discovered, he says, and you should always use your actual dates of employment.

Be choosy.
"Don't send your résumé blindly to every company out there," Turkin advises. Do your homework and decide who you want to target. Look into a company's history and its goals for the future, and how it plans to accomplish them.

Be the solution.
"Try to find out where the company's 'pain' is... and then you'll know how to position yourself as a solution," Turkin notes. "Show how you can add value to their company by showing some awareness of their business and their marketplace. If you can position yourself as a possible solution to their problems, you've got a very big step up on the competition."

Upgrade and update.
A résumé is like a living, breathing document, according to Turkin, because it should get to the heart of what you can do for a company. You should be constantly upgrading -- and updating -- it.

Keep it brief.
Don't make your résumé into a novel. One to two pages are best. Three pages max (and that's only if you've got pretty much a lifetime of experience).

Check for typos again and again and again!
Remember that some words can be typos even if they pass through your computer's spell check.

With a solid résumé, you improve your chances of being selected for the next phase, the "preliminary screening" or phone contact. This is a real opportunity to sell yourself on a more personal level and lock in an actual interview.

Since the call can come at anytime, Turkin advises candidates to be ready beforehand by practicing what you might say in a calm and confident voice.

Turkin also emphasizes keeping everything positive. And don't let a past firing color your attitude. "Good people get terminated, too... and there are ways to address it so that you don't come off as negative."

Source: careerbuilder

The Resume-Interview Connection

Back in the 1950's, a Time magazine reporter interviewed a world-famous pianist about his work. The reporter asked: "What's most challenging about playing the piano?" The pianist thought for a moment and replied: "I do OK with the notes, but the spaces between the notes give me lots of trouble."

What he meant, of course, was that he was very competent at the mechanics of playing the piano, but found the subtlety and nuance of making music, getting the "spaces between the notes" right, a continual life-long challenge.

Job seekers are getting great advice today from a variety of sources about pursuing career opportunities. The total job search process is well-documented in terms of how to perform discrete steps such as drafting a resume, preparing and using cover letters, using job boards on the internet, etc.. While mastering each of the steps is important, it doesn't necessarily enable a job seeker to address the "spaces between the notes" of the Job Search process. Good mechanics may not be enough to get to the job offer.

Here's a summary of some key issues to address to be effective in working on those "spaces between the notes."

Understanding the first steps taken by the employer is vital for the job seeker, so let's begin there.

Job Specifications: what the company wants
When a position becomes available in a company, the HR function and hiring manager review and reach agreement upon the criteria for selecting the right person. Job specifications define requirements such as education, work experiences, industry background, skill sets and technical proficiencies, which may result in eight to ten criteria for the hiring decision. The specifications, in turn, drive all phases of the selection process, such as resume screenings, evaluation of job fair candidates, interview assessments, etc., through to hiring of the final candidate.

The job specifications are readily available to job seekers in ads, postings on company web sites and other sources. The order of presentation of the specifications also demonstrates what is most to least important and may suggest possible tradeoffs and areas of flexibility as well.

The challenge of the job seeker is to get at the "spaces between the notes" by effectively addressing the job specifications at every stage of the selection process: the resume design, the phone screening interview and the job interview. Consider the following:

Resume Design: send a clear message
A resume screener searches for candidates who match the specifications. A strong, focused resume that captures three or four core competencies plus related accomplishments allows the screener to make multiple connections with the job specifications. The resume screener doesn't need to know all that the job seeker has ever done; instead, he/she is looking for the match between the specs and the background outlined in the resume.

Some key points:

Core competencies are the key skills of the job seeker, those skills that are performed well, with subject matter expertise, supported by solid accomplishments.
Core competencies should be evident throughout the two-page resume.
Every job seeker has one set of core competencies, so one resume should be used, mixing and matching the presentation of the core competencies to improve the correlation with job specs as needed.

Phone Screening Interview: get "on message"

Recruiters ask questions because they don't know what the answers are. Respond to the questions asked, avoid using questions to segue into other areas.
Comments about career, job roles and responsibilities are most effective if the job specs are used to drive the details.
Core competencies should be presented using the priorities of the job specifications as script direction. Any shortcomings versus the specs should be addressed by citing other, comparable achievements.
Finally, close the call with a summary of core competencies and state a strong interest in a meeting to discuss the opportunity.

Interview: talk about the specifications

The job specs provide a "road map" for content. Use the specs to share details about career, job roles and responsibilities that connect to the specs.
Listen to the Interviewer and answer the questions asked.
Be prepared to ask a few solid questions that demonstrate knowledge and comfort level with the job specifications, which will illustrate that you "walk the talk" when it comes to the company requirements.
A final point: ask for the job!

Summary

Your work history: How far back should you go on a résumé?

Today's hiring managers have stacks of applications to get through quickly, so job seekers need to make each moment count when presenting themselves to prospective employers. While every candidate wants to give a thorough picture of accomplishments and skills, is it necessary to go back to the very beginning when presenting one's job history?

"The reality is there is no right or wrong answer; it is all about preference," says Frank Dadah, general manager of financial contracting for the Winter, Wyman Companies -- one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast. As a general rule of thumb, Dadah likes job seekers to include the past 10 years. "Anything further back than that is going to be obsolete.

With the changes in technology and business practices, anything further back is really meaningless. I am not suggesting that if you worked for one company for 30 years that you only put 10 years on your résumé, but I am suggesting that if you have six jobs totaling 15 years that you only go back as far as approximately 10 years."

Camille Fetter, managing partner for TalentFoot (an executive search firm based in Chicago), prefers including a complete job history. "You may have had exposure to a specific industry that could be relevant to your prospective employer's business. If you eliminate this experience altogether, you're filtering information from the prospective employer that might just be the experience you needed to rise above the competition."

Fetter also worries that five to 10 years of missing experience on a résumé may be seen as a red flag to employers. "Recruiters and hiring managers may jump to the conclusion that you're trying to hide something." Dadah agrees that a potential pitfall of omission is that some interviewers may see it as dishonest, but he also points out, "We have all been told that résumés should never exceed one (when mailing) or two (when e-mailing) pages in length. Is it dishonest to shorten your résumé to keep it to a page or two?"

Handling the early years
However far back a job seeker chooses to go, effective presentation is crucial. Showcasing key skills and accomplishments at the top keeps the hirer reading, allowing more time to sell attributes. Unless there is something from your early career that is particularly noteworthy to highlight, older information tends to be placed towards the bottom of a résumé.

"I advise job seekers to give paragraph or bullet point job descriptions as far back as 10 years. If the person has been in the same job for 10 years, then most of the résumé should be based around that one job," says Lizandra Vega, author of "The Image of Success: Make a Great Impression and Land the Job You Want." To keep the résumé fresh and length-appropriate, she recommends that earlier positions simply be listed by title, name of the company and dates of employment. "This shows the candidate has had prior work experience, and it lets the employer know the types of companies the candidate has worked for before getting to where she is currently."

Giving employers what they want
While there may be no absolute rules as to what should or shouldn't be included on a résumé, remember that the ultimate goal is to present oneself as the best possible candidate for the position at hand. Always look to the information given in the job description for guidance.

"There are times when 10 years back just isn't far enough," says Dadah. "For example, a company may be looking for a controller with 25-30 years of experience. In this case, truncating your résumé may be inappropriate."

Bottom line: There isn't one "perfect" way to lay out work history, nor is there one magical résumé guaranteed to land any job. Be prepared to tinker with your presentation to adjust to the needs of the individual position. When all is said and done, the best résumé is the one that gets you hired.

Source: careerbuilder

Hook 'Em With Your Application

When you're ready for a new job, you buy the thickest job search book at Borders, find a cover letter and resume that look good to you, tailor them to your personal information, and, voila, you're ready to start your job search. Your cover letter sounds professional, there are no typos in your resume and you have all the skills required for the position. But you're not getting any interviews.

Job seekers are shooting themselves in the feet all because they're not giving just a small amount of extra effort. Create a connection between you and the job, company, industry or leadership, and you increase your chances of an interview and an offer.

As you begin your research on a prospective employer, keep an eye out for any clues that could lead to a personal connection with someone in the company.

If the company's Internet site contains executive biographies, read them carefully for any possible connections. Weave this information into your cover letter and send it to the executive with whom you found a connection. Send a second letter to the human resources contact.

Perhaps you've unknowingly volunteered side by side with someone from the company you're targeting. Check out information about any foundations the company may have or corporate sponsored charity. Call the head of community relations to see if you can make a connection. He or she may be willing to get your resume to the right person.

Check out trade publications and press release archives. Who are the company's major suppliers and clients? Perhaps you've worked for one of them as an employee or intern, done freelance work for one of their divisions or know someone who works for one of their clients.

You also can use this same process to identify connections between your previous employers and those you are targeting. One person who applied to Loyola University in Chicago cited her work experience in Catholic higher education as well as her knowledge of the Jesuit mission from attending Loyola New Orleans.

Have you attended seminars or industry events that featured the CEO or another top-level executive of a company that you are targeting for employment? Include a sentence or two about something he or she said during the speech in your cover letter.

Are you a member of the same professional organization as the hiring manager? Use this information to demonstrate that you know the business and already have a connection to the company. Include a statement about the benefits of the organization in your contact letter.

Have you worked for a competitor of the prospective employer? More than likely you have great industry contacts and understand the challenges in the industry. This is a distinct advantage that can spell success for you.

Your hook to the prospective employer can reap rewards ranging from winning an interview to receiving a job offer. The key is finding your hook and using it in your contact with the prospective employer.

Source: careerbuilder

Remember Me? Four Tips for Résumé Follow-Up

You've sent your résumé to several companies and have yet to hear back. But just because they aren't calling doesn't mean they aren't interested. It's not uncommon for hiring managers to become so busy that they postpone notifying -- or even selecting -- candidates for as long as one or two months after posting an employment ad.

Don't let this discourage you. Instead, take action to see where you stand. In today's competitive market, following up after submitting a résumé is not only warranted, it's recommended. An overwhelming 94 percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said candidates should contact hiring managers after submitting application materials.

Why? Because it demonstrates initiative and sincere interest in a position and can help you stand out in a crowd of other highly skilled candidates. So, what's the best way to follow up with prospective employers? There's no one-size-fits-all formula, but it helps to know the basic rules. The following pointers will help you be more proactive without becoming a pest:

When should I make my move? Following up too quickly may annoy hiring managers, but letting too much time pass can take you out of the running. Eighty-two percent of executives polled by Robert Half International recommend contacting the company within two weeks of sending a résumé. That's approximately the length of time hiring managers need to review application materials and get back in touch with candidates.

What is the best way to follow up? An e-mail, phone call or handwritten note all are acceptable forms of communicating with hiring managers, according to executives surveyed by Robert Half International. E-mail can be a great tool for reminding recruiters that you've applied for a job and resubmitting your résumé without seeming too pushy. If you have a name and number, you may have more luck with a follow-up phone call. Just make sure to rehearse what you will say beforehand and call when you think the person is likely to be free -- early in the morning or late in the afternoon, for example. Keep your conversation brief and to the point. Only leave a message if you've gotten his or her voicemail at least twice. You also can write a letter to determine if the position for which you applied is still open. A personalized note is a great way to express genuine interest in the job and indicate that you're not submitting blanket résumés; just realize you may have to be a bit more patient in receiving a response.

What should I do if I applied for a job online and there is no contact information? If you at least know the name of the company to which you applied and, perhaps, the department and job title, a little sleuthing may help you identify the hiring manager. Search for the company on the Internet and use the contact information provided on its Web site. When you reach the firm, ask to speak to the person in charge of the job opening for which you applied. If no contact information is available, you can at least send a follow-up e-mail to the same address to which you sent your résumé.

What key points should I communicate?
In addition to expressing continued interest in the position, job seekers should reiterate the value they can bring to the organization by citing specific professional accomplishments and in-demand skills they possess. These examples should relate in some way to the requirements of the open position. Ultimately, the method for contacting a prospective employer is less important than the action itself. A short, simple message often is enough to motivate a hiring manager to take a closer look at your application materials. If you don't receive a response after all your efforts, it's safe to assume you may not be in consideration for the job. Unfortunately, some companies only respond to candidates they will be contacting for an interview. Not every job will be a fit and not every hiring manager will get back to you. But you can at least take some consolation in knowing you did everything within your power to be a contender.

Source: careerbuilder

Chronological Resume Template

This chronological resume is a simple one, but it works in this situation because Judith is looking for a job in her present career field, has a good job history, and has related education and training. Note that she wants to move up in responsibility and emphasizes the skills and education that will help her do so.

One nice feature is that this job seeker put her recent business schooling in both the education and experience sections. Doing this filled a job gap and allows her to present recent training as equivalent to work experience. This resume also includes a "Strengths and Skills" section, where Judith presents some special qualifications and technical skills.

Judith J. Jones
115 South Hawthorne Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 66204
tel: (312) 653-9217
email: jj@earthlink.com

Job Objective
A position in the office management, accounting or administrative assistant area, requiring initiative and the ability to multitask.

Education and Training

Acme Business College, Lincoln, IL
Graduate of a one-year business program.

John Adams High School, South Bend, IN
Diploma, business education.

U.S. Army
Financial procedures, accounting functions.

Other
Continuing-education classes and workshops in business communication, spreadsheet and database applications, scheduling systems and customer relations.

Experience

2003-present -- Claims Processor, Blue Spear Insurance Co., Wilmette, IL. Process customer medical claims, develop management reports based on created spreadsheets and develop management reports based on those forms, exceed productivity goals.

2002-2003 -- Returned to school to upgrade business and computer skills. Completed courses in advanced accounting, spreadsheet and database programs, office management, human relations and new office techniques.

1999-2002 -- E4, U.S. Army. Assigned to various stations as a specialist in finance operations. Promoted prior to honorable discharge.

1998-1999 -- Sandy's Boutique, Wilmette, IL. Responsible for counter sales, display design, cash register and other tasks.

1996-1998 -- Held part-time and summer jobs throughout high school.

Strengths and Skills
Reliable, hardworking and good with people. General ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable. Proficient in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Excel and Outlook.

Excerpted from 'The Quick Resume and Cover Letter Book' by Michael Farr. Reprinted with permission from Jist Publishing.

Source: careerbuilder

Do You Still Need a Cover Letter?

You can feel a little directionless during a job hunt. At times, the questions seem to outnumber the answers 2-to-1.
Do I need to wear a suit? Do I need to send a thank-you note? What is my biggest weakness? How do I give a good handshake? The stress can be overwhelming. One question that still pesters job seekers, especially as job hunting increasingly takes place online, is whether or not a cover letter is still necessary. On the one hand, a cover letter is a traditional component of the searching process and omitting one feels weird. But time is valuable during a job hunt and wasting time on something nobody will read is aggravating.
So are cover letters a waste of time or an overlooked attention grabber?
Overwhelmingly, hiring managers and human resources personnel view cover letters as a necessity in the job hunt.
How a cover letter helps you
When you submit an application or résumé to an employer, you probably haven't spoken at length with the hiring manager. Therefore your papers are one needle in a huge haystack of applicants. Your goal is to set yourself apart as quickly as possible and not to give the hiring manager any reason to dismiss you from consideration; a cover letter can help you achieve that goal.
"Employers need to know you know how to communicate in writing," says Sue Thompson, a personal coach and corporate trainer. "Your résumé may have been done professionally or using a template, and you may have done a good job of proofreading. But a cover letter shows you have the ability to put sentences together and sound like a halfway intelligent person. It will reveal whether your education has any merit: Are words spelled properly? Is the grammar correct? Is the punctuation appropriate?"
You can look at the cover letter as a way to persuade the hiring manager to consider you for the job. Or, if fear is a better motivator, think about the lack of a cover letter, or one written poorly, as a strike against you.
"You can be the smartest person within 100 miles, and maybe the right person for the job, but you will knock yourself right out of the running with a poor cover letter. You make the recruiter's job easier when they see a poorly written, poorly proofread cover letter. They can discard your résumé and move on," Thompson adds.
The need to craft a strong cover letter cannot be stressed enough, however. When you gave your parents homemade birthday cards as a child, they lovingly accepted them because it's the thought that counts. That's not the case with cover letters, so your typos and sloppy presentation are detrimental, not endearing.
Connect the dots
Job coach and former recruiter Judi Perkins wants job seekers to understand the role of a well-written cover letter. "When they're written correctly, they're extremely effective, because they're a sales tool." And the secret to this sales tool is taking a two-pronged approach to the cover letter.
"The first part: The key is that [cover letters] need to be focused on what the buyer -- the hiring company -- wants," Perkins says. This means you need to look at the ad and see what it's asking for because that's what the employer is looking for, too. "The ad tells you, explicitly, what that company wants.
"But here's the second part -- the kicker -- that no one else even teaches (and even professional sales people don't do): bridge the benefit back to the company; spell out the benefit of hiring you."
Simply put, you know what the company wants and you know what you can offer -- your résumé is a list of your accomplishments, after all. So Perkins suggests you just connect the dots for your readers.
"It forces them to visualize the effect of you in the business as an employee. They're not going to take this step themselves -- there are too many résumés to go through. Spell everything out for them and it gives you a distinct leg up over all the other vastly ineffective cover letters that they receive."
The new cover letter
Job hunting has changed quite a bit since the advent of the Internet, as many of today's job seekers have probably never applied for a job via the mail. This means that the practice of placing a cover letter and résumé in an envelope and mailing it is antiquated for many companies. But does that mean you have to write an e-mail to the employer and attach both the cover letter and résumé, or do you skip the cover letter when applying online?
"The growing prevalence of applying via e-mail or through an organization's Web site is making cover letters obsolete in most industries," according to Wes Henricksen, president of Seize the A, an academic consulting organization. "That does not mean that the ability to write a cover letter has become obsolete. Instead, it means the rules have changed. The new 'cover letter' is often a shorter two-paragraph message in the body of an e-mail. Although this new 'cover e-mail' is shorter and less formal, its content is no less important than that of a traditional cover letter. Style, spelling, grammar and professionalism are all still vitally important."
What employers think
You know how a good cover letter can work to your advantage, but what if you don't submit one? Are you doomed? For some employers, such as Angela Ruggiero, yes. She's an adviser for Stanton Communications' internship program. As a new graduate, she didn't bother with a cover letter, and now she realizes her mistake.
"I see red flags when there is no cover letter along with a résumé," Ruggiero says. "The absence of cover letters translates to me that the candidate is lazy and is sending résumés in masses, rather than customizing or personalizing to each individual company of interest."
While the absence of a cover letter might land you in the rejected pile, the inclusion of one could keep you at the top of the short-list. "Sometimes a person's cover letter drives me to call a candidate for an interview over another who may have had qualifications that were just as impressive."
You could save yourself some time and not write a cover letter, which has a decent shot of hurting your job prospects. Or you could devote the time to write a thorough but brief letter that at worst isn't read and at best lands you a job. Not a tough call.

Source: careerbuilder

Resume Distribution Secrets

Just because you've completed your resume doesn?t guarantee anyone will see it! We've gathered some helpful tips for effective resume distribution to ensure you get your resume into the hands of the right recruiters and human resource departments.

Post your resume online!
Companies such as CareerBuilder.com and Sologig.com offer individualized opportunies for you to post your resume online! You can post anonymously as well as search through job openings and send your resume directly to employers.

Look through the classifieds.
Whether in your local paper or nationally over the Web, you can look over hundreds of open positions all in one place. These ads will give you exact contact information as well as specific details concerning the job(s) available. However, remember that if there is not much information given about the company, don't forget to do your homework so you can modify your cover letter appropriately. Find jobs in your area here!

Just apply!
Most companies do not advertise all of their open positions. By going to the Web sites of companies you are interested in working for, you will more than likely be able to find an "apply online" page where you can submit your resume at no charge. If not, simply send your resume in to the human resources department. Positions open up all the time and by having your resume available when they do gives you a leg up on the competition.

Job fairs.
Okay, we know you?re not in college anymore, however, most major cities hold job fairs targeting seasoned professionals. These events can introduce you to a variety of different companies all in one place, and all looking for qualified candidates such as yourself! You can even get a list of the employers that will be attending the job fair ahead of time in order to appropriately prepare yourself and ensure a good impression. Just be sure you bring plenty of resumes! Find a career fair in your area today!

Network everyone you know!
Networking is an extremely effective way of getting your resume into the hands of potential employers. Talk to your friends and family members and tell them what you are looking for in a career. Ask them if they know anyone who could help you with anything -- from further networking to direct job connections. These people who already know you and trust you should be more than happy to help you out with your career!

Guerrilla resume strategies.
There are many ways to obtain contact information of employers. Some companies offer you a list of thousands of e-mail addresses for either a monthly fee or a flat one-time rate. Other companies offer published books of contact listings and some may even include valuable information about the companies listed (however, these books are often pricey and dated). Instead you can save time and aggravation by signing up with a program such as Resume Launcher which does all the job hunting for you. Resume Launcher finds the jobs that match your skills and qualifications and sends your resume to thousands of credible recruiters so you don?t have to! This great tool will certainly help you save time and money, making it easier for you to get your resume out and into the right hands!!!

Use e-mail.
The best way to get your resume in front of a hiring manager's eyes it through e-mail. When e-mailing your resume, remember to put your name and the position and title (and, if you know it, the job number) in the subject line, unclear subjects will likely be trashed without being opened at all. Also, when sending a resume as an attachment, with your name, an attachment labeled "resume" will not tell the employer whose it is at a glance. And as obvious as it may seem, send your resume from a credible sounding email address; hottlips4u@hotmail.com may cause a stir, but will certainly not secure you the position.

Finally, don't forget to follow up on those resumes you sent in. This will not only remind employers that they received a resume from you, but also lets them know that you are truly interested in the position!

Source: careerbuilder

Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts

Most people are familiar with the importance of a well-constructed resume, and put a fair amount of time into creating one. But just as important is the cover letter that accompanies and introduces your resume.

In an extremely competitive job market, neglecting your cover letter is a big mistake. Why? A cover letter is your first opportunity to tell a prospective employer about yourself, and to do so in your own words. Like a written interview, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to point out applicable experience and qualities that make you right for the job. And just like any other important job searching tool, there are definite dos and don'ts to follow to make sure your cover letter is an asset, not a hindrance.

Do personalize your letter.
Nobody likes to receive impersonal mail. Cover letters that begin with phrases like "To Whom it May Concern," sound like random junk or bulk mail, rather than an important correspondence. You expect the company to take the time to read through your material, so you too need to take some time to research the correct addressee. Call the company, look on its Web site or talk to others to find the correct contact.

Don't send a generic cover letter to many different companies.
Hiring managers can spot a mass mailing a mile away. What gets their attention are letters that address the company -- and its needs -- specifically. Research the company prior to writing the letter. Check out recent news and read through the company's Web site, and then incorporate what you learned into your letter. Doing so will demonstrate to employers that you are informed, motivated and willing to go the extra mile.

Do address the specific position advertised.
Companies that post openings are making your life easier by telling you the qualities they are seeking. Show the company that you paid attention. If a company advertises that it is looking for sales experience, make sure you address your sales experience. One way to do this is by making a table for yourself before writing your letter. List the company's stated needs in one column, and your corresponding experience and qualifications in another column. You can then use that information to write a letter that tells them exactly what they want to know.

Don't make the reader work too hard to see that you are right for the position.
Include specific examples about your past successes and experience. If you are looking for a marketing position, give the reader detailed information about a marketing campaign you successfully executed. Don't just tell the reader that you are motivated. Give an example that shows your motivation. You need to lay all of your pertinent information out in a way that lets the person making the hiring decision easily see how your experience and qualities fit the company's needs.

Do get to the point.
Hiring managers receive letters and resumes from dozens and even hundreds of applicants, and often just don't have the time to read lengthy, wordy letters. Be direct. In the first paragraph, include the title of the position you are interested in and then move on to your specific qualifications immediately.

Don't end your letter passively.
Nobody gets a job by sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. Similarly, not many people get a call once a resume or cover letter is sent. Since you are the one looking for work, you need to take the initiative and follow up. Instead of ending the letter with "I look forward to hearing from you," close with "I will call you next week to discuss a time for us to meet." Once you've included this call to action, however, make sure you follow your own promise.

Do write and edit your letter with great care.
Nothing says "I don't really want this job" like a cover letter with typos, incorrect information, or spelling errors. Make sure the company's name is spelled correctly. Check to see if the contact is a male or female. And, while it sounds almost too obvious to mention, be sure to sign your letter. Careless -- and easily correctable -- mistakes tell the company that you did not take this simple task seriously.

Source: careerbuilder

Qualifications versus duties: Why knowing the difference matters

Some job seekers have problems selling their skills. They list their basic duties, which most job seekers have in common. You can stand out in a job search by positioning those skills so they set you apart.

Think of how a salesperson sells a car. He doesn't tout the fact that the car has four wheels, windows and functioning lights, because you'd expect that from every car. Instead, he sells the unique points of the car -- design, safety, mileage -- all of which make the car appealing to a potential buyer.

Job seekers need to do the same when selling their qualifications. Instead of saying you've used Microsoft Excel, tell the employer how you've solved problems or increased efficiency by creating a basic accounting process through Microsoft Excel.

Kyra Mancine, a professional copywriter with a career development background, says a list of job responsibilities is her biggest résumé pet peeve. "The key is to take a simple job duty and expand it to match the [job posting] with quantitative evidence of accomplishments," Mancine says. "It may take some thought and creativity, but it can be done for any job, no matter what the level. I don't care if you're a sanitation worker, CEO or seamstress; anyone can do this."

By adding numbers, statistics and adjectives applicable to the posting, job seekers can set themselves apart from others who have submitted more generic resumes.

How to quantify accomplishments

To give an example, here's a real job posting from a bank looking for a call-center representative:

Serves as first-line response for incoming customer calls.

Accurately and expediently answers inquiries from customers on all types of new and existing products and services, drawing on a detailed knowledge base of bank products, services, policies and procedures.

Sells and cross-sells bank products and services to new and existing customers who have contacted the bank by telephone.

Efficiently performs routine follow-up work and initiates requests for detailed follow-up work.

Relies on excellent verbal and written communication skills to fulfill customer requests and to ensure customer satisfaction.

If you're applying for this job and all you've listed on your resume is that you answered phone calls in a call center, you probably won't get an interview, Mancine says. Instead, she suggests rewriting your resume to match the bullets listed in the job posting, quantifying your successes. Mancine shares this example of how an applicant could restructure her resume to address the posting above:
Primary call-center contact for a high volume of customer service inquiries, ranging from orders to returns.

Successfully handled hundreds of incoming consumer calls daily from across the country.

Received recognition for product upsells, resulting in a 5 percent increase in weekly sales.

Tapped into strong base of product knowledge on thousands of product stock-keeping units, quickly and courteously relaying product information to existing and new customers.

Consistently acknowledged for speed, accuracy to details and follow-through on catalog requests, Web order processing, batches and data entry.

Committed to going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, resulting in being named Employee of the Month for June 2011.

Here's another test that can help determine if you've listed qualifications or just duties: Look at each bullet point on your resume and ask yourself, "So what?" If you're not impressed, why would a recruiter be?

Don't neglect the cover letter
"Cover letters are most often left out or even sent as generic notes with resumes," says Tiffani Murray, a resume writer and career coach. She says that the cover letter is a great place to sell your personality and breathe life into your application.
"If a job posting specifically asks for a cover letter, this is a great opportunity to match up your skills and experiences with the requirements of the job," Murray says. "Make sure to detail how you can perform the tasks of the job you are applying for, but also add to the company, team or overall business with your knowledge and success in similar roles."

Source: careerbuilder

4 tips for an attention-getting résumé

Employers nowadays are generally so overwhelmed with applications for a position that they can't devote much time to each potential candidate. How can your résumé spark their interest enough to garner more than just a passing glance? Here, experts offer suggestions on gaining precious seconds of "look" time.
Make it visually attractive
The adage that you should not judge a book by its cover may be worthy advice, but throw the saying out the window when submitting an application. The last thing you want your résumé to do is look sloppy or disorganized among a stack of stellar submissions.
"The design aspect of your résumé has to come across in a clean, refreshing, simple way," says J. Patrick Gorman, co-founder of iFind Group, a Manhattan-based executive search firm. "In other words, have proper alignment, spacing, grammar, same-size fonts, clear fonts (not fancy), full-looking sentences after your bullet points, no abbreviations and good flow of the information presented."
Know how to catch a reader's eye
Tony Beshara, author of "Unbeatable Résumés: America's Top Recruiter Reveals What Really Gets You Hired" and host of the radio program "The Job Search Solution," notes that the biggest fallacy people believe is that a résumé is going to be read thoroughly. "It is going to be scanned. If it hits the right buttons quickly, it might get printed and read, but the initial scan is most important."
Beshara suggests providing an explanation of your present or most recent job in the very middle of the first page of the résumé. "Studies show that when people scan, their eyes start in the very middle of the first page, move to the left and then up to the top of the page."
Aim for clarity
Busy hiring managers don't want to have to dig around in a résumé to find out if a candidate is qualified. They want to know quickly which applicants are worth their time.
"Think more 'fact sheet' than 'short story' when writing your résumé," Gorman suggests. "You either prepared financial statements or you didn't; you either installed the IT system or you didn't."
Succinctness is prized, yet it should be backed up with information that gives the prospective employer a vibrant picture. Gorman notes that while readers love clear data points in order to know your specific role, you also need to convey your specific impact. Try quantifying your value in previous positions by providing answers to questions such as:
·         How many days did it take to accomplish a project or task?
·         How much money did you save the company by changing an existing procedure?
·         How many people reported to you directly?
·         What size budget did you manage?
·         How much did your efforts add to the revenue growth of the division?
·         What was your output, such as the number of sales, new clients or successful product placements?
Also, don't let a desire for brevity lead to a mistaken impression that keeps you from getting an interview. "Most people write about their titles and functions in terms they understand instead of taking into account if it will be understood by a hiring authority," Beshara says. "Likewise, most people write the names of the companies they have worked for with no explanation about what the companies do. There are 7.5 million companies in the United States ... most of us don't know what any of them do. It needs to be explained in detail."
Focus on achievement
Finally, remember that you are trying to show why you are the best person for this job. Presenting your most relevant skills and your greatest accomplishments is vital.
"An important aspect of an attention-getting résumé is one that is highly targeted and focused for the position," says Abby M. Locke, master résumé writer and personal brand strategist for Premier Writing Solutions in Washington, D.C. "If an employer or recruiter is looking to hire an accountant, [he] will be drawn to résumés that clearly emphasize expertise, relevant value and impressive achievements as they relate to public or corporate accounting. Extra information about skills in another area takes away precious résumé real estate and can also dilute a job seeker's career brand."
Likewise, Locke warns that too many professionals focus their energy on rehashing all their tasks and responsibilities without enough emphasis on how well they have done the job. Including descriptions of honors or promotions, performance-review quotes documenting strengths and quantifiable information about achievements can help convince a prospective employer that your résumé can't be overlooked.

Source: careerbuilder

5 Steps to an E-friendly Résumé

Today's Internet-driven world has changed the way we look and apply for jobs. Gone are the days of handwritten cover letters, typewritten résumés and hand-delivered job applications. Given the increasing number of online job boards that require Web-based applications, many employers don't want a hard copy of your résumé. Instead, they'll ask you to submit an electronic résumé, either online or via e-mail.

Electronic résumés are plain text or HTML documents, which can also be included in the body of an e-mail for job applications online. It may not be as attractive as your word-formatted résumé in all its bulleted, bold-text, fancy-font glory, but it gets the job done.

Why you need one

When an employer asks you to submit your application materials via e-mail or online, your résumé will be entered into an automated applicant-tracking system. These systems don't care what your résumé looks like physically, which is why it's imperative you reformat yours so the database can read it. The system will scan your résumé (along with hundreds of others), keeping those with keywords similar to the company's job descriptions and discarding the rest.

Make sure you keep a hard (and visually appealing) copy of your résumé on hand – not all employers are up-to-date on the latest technologies and may still require a paper copy. Plus, you'll need one to give to employers at all of your interviews.

Here are five easy steps to format your existing résumé into an e-friendly work of art.

1. Remove all formatting from your original résumé.
Unfortunately, the same formatting that makes your résumé nice to look at makes it almost impossible for a computer to understand.

To remove the formatting, open your word-processed résumé and choose the "Save As" option under the "File" tab on your toolbar. Save the document type as Plain Text or Text Only. In the following dialog box, choose the option to insert line breaks.

2. Use Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText to reformat.
Close your original résumé document and reopen the text version using editing software like Notepad, WordPad or SimpleText. Your text version should be free of most graphic elements, like fancy fonts, lines and bullets. Text should be flush with the left side of the document.

3. Stick to a simple font and style.
Use clear, sans-serif fonts, like Courier, Arial or Helvetica. This way, the computer won't mistake your fancy lettering for a jumbled word.

Use a 12-point font; anything smaller won't scan well. Also, stay away from italics or underlining. Rather than using boldface type, try using capital letters to separate sections like education and experience.

Instead of using bullets, use such standard keyboard characters as an asterisk or a dash. Instead of using the "Tab" key, use the space key to indent. Make sure all headings – like your name, address, phone and e-mail – appear on separate lines, with a blank line before and after.

4. Apply keywords.
Applicant-tracking systems scan résumés for keywords that match the company's job descriptions. Fill your résumé accordingly with such words (as they pertain to your experience), but remember that using the same word five times won't increase your chances of getting called in for an interview.

Place the most important words first, since the scanner may be limited in the number of words it reads. Use nouns instead of verbs. For example: "communications specialist," "sales representative" or "computer proficiency" is better than "managed," "developed" or "generated."

Additionally, avoid abbreviations as best you can. Spell out phrases like "bachelor of science" or "master of business administration."

5. Test it out.
After you've reformatted your résumé into a text document, make sure it really is e-friendly. Practice sending your new résumé via e-mail to yourself, as well as friends who use a different Internet service provider. For example, if you use AOL, send it a friend who uses MSN Hotmail.

Send your e-résumé pasted in the body of an e-mail, rather as an attachment. Have your friend alert you to any errors that show when they open it, like illegibility and organization. After getting feedback, make any necessary adjustments.

Source: careerbuilder

Perfecting Your Digital Résumé

You spent hours scrutinizing every word and punctuation mark of your résumé. You listened to the criticism and advice of one proofreader after another telling you exactly how to make your résumé flawless. Now it's perfect and you are ready to send a digital résumé to the company of your dreams through the Internet with just a click of the mouse.

Before you send it, stop and consider the hundreds, maybe thousands, of job seekers you're competing with who are about to do the same thing. Are you still confident your résumé is ready to shoot through cyberspace?

The Internet has drastically changed the job search and how to write an effective résumé. Years ago, the classifieds section of a newspaper could only reach job seekers in a limited area. Today, the Internet allows job seekers from all over the country to find and apply for jobs thousands of miles away. A study of more than 1,500 job seekers discovered that 34 percent found their last job on an Internet job board, according to Peter Weddle, an expert in recruiting and Internet job search. The competition that this has created among job seekers requires résumés to be more precise and outstanding than ever.

With so many employers relying on computers to screen résumés through keywords, job seekers must know how to make their résumé stand out from the thousands of others it competes with.

"It is believed that more than 80 percent of all résumés processed by employers are now electronically searched for specific keywords before a human ever sees them," says Richard Beatty, author of "The Ultimate Job Search" (Jist).

Keywords are typically nouns and noun phrases that represent specific areas of skill or experience that the employer identifies as important. Computers sort through résumés and distinguish which ones feature more of these keywords than others.

Beatty suggests job seekers scan job ads, job descriptions and company Web sites to create a list of which skills employers need most often. Placing these skills on your résumé will demonstrate that you have something employers want. Because computers also count the number of times keywords are used, Beatty recommends repeating the words moderately throughout the résumé to ensure the computer pulls it from the masses.

Beatty also believes it is important for people to create a plain-text version of their résumé to quickly copy and paste into the body of an e-mail, rather than send as an attachment.

Although it would seem easier to send an MS Word document, employers have shifted away from accepting résumés this way due to computer viruses that are often embedded in e-mail attachments.

The subject of your e-mail should catch the reader's attention by featuring words more enticing than "résumé" or "profile." Beatty suggests job seekers try using subjects like "Talented Human Resources Professional" or "Award-Winning Sales Professional" to stand out to employers.

As job seekers prepare to apply for jobs, Beatty encourages them to use these techniques to get ahead of their competition.

But job seekers beware. Just because you've loaded your résumé with keywords, converted it into a plain-text format and e-mailed it to an employer under an enticing subject, that doesn't mean it won't be discarded later.

Job seekers would be wise to avoid the mistakes most often committed on résumés. The following are the most common résumé mistakes:

Typos or grammatical errors
Including too much information
Not listing achievements in former roles
Poor layout and/or design
Including too little information

"Considering the extent of today's competition and the huge numbers involved, résumé writing is not a process you can afford to leave to chance," Beatty advises. "Designing the right résumé can make all the difference in the world. It will determine whether your candidacy rises to the top or sinks to the bottom of the stack."

Anatomy of a memorable résumé

A memorable résumé is crucial in helping you get your foot in the door. "The structure and strategy behind a résumé are often the keys to engaging employers," says Laura Smith-Proulx, executive director of résumé writing service An Expert Résumé. Getting the right résumé formula isn't as hard as it looks. Here's a top-to-bottom list to help you craft the perfect résumé:

Clear formatMany different formats are available online. Choose a format that looks professional and use an 11- or 12-point font so no one has to squint. Colors done in a tasteful manner can also help job seekers stand out, says Mary Elizabeth Bradford, author of "21^st Century Résumé Guide for the Perplexed." "I prefer two colors to add character to a résumé but one must use discernment and not overdo it," she says.
Résumé title If you're worried about starting with a boring summary of your achievements, use the top of your résumé to convey a quick title, such as, "Business Development and Sales Director" or "Vice President, IT," Smith-Proulx suggests. "Résumés without titles often appear 'headless' and confuse the reader as to your ultimate goal," she says.
Quick tagline and profileAfter the title, add a one-sentence tagline to further promote your skills and "give a quick snapshot of brand value," Smith-Proulx says. Then add a profile of your qualifications in one or two sentences. Tailor your résumé with keywords from the job description to help your résumé get past the electronic filtering systems.
Reverse-chronological job historyMost hiring managers want to see this type of résumé, even if there are holes in your job history. "Even if there are gaps in your career, it's critical to show employers your work chronology, as many will rule out candidates that appear to be hiding something about their past," Smith-Proulx says. Address any gaps with a single-line explanation, she adds. With limited space, use the bullet points of each role to highlight specific achievements. If your résumé goes back more than 15 years, then simply state the company name and position without providing details.
EducationRecruiters don't need to know where you went to high school, but it's important to include any certifications or college degrees that are applicable to your career. Most of the time, graduation years are also necessary. No matter what degree you earned, don't be afraid to point it out, Smith-Proulx says. "Even seemingly unrelated degrees can be valuable to employers, as in the case of sales reps who have a degree in psychology," she says.
Extracurricular activitiesEven though it doesn't speak directly to your professional background, including any hobbies or volunteering positions can help you stand out from the other applicants. Several points that allude to your personality will help hiring managers gauge whether you'd be a fit for the company's culture or provide a glimpse of your life outside of work. But be careful about disclosing too much about your religious or political views. "You'll want to avoid mentioning affiliations that disclose your religious activities, as this can turn off hiring managers who don't share your preference," Smith-Proulx says.
As you work to include the various components, it's important to tailor certain areas of your résumé. Consider your résumé from an employer's perspective -- decide which skills and accomplishments are best to highlight. "Leave out info that does not apply to your next job," Bradford says. "Get laser-focused on an ideal job and write the résumé to that industry and position." Each position is different, so having various versions can help you build a more memorable document.

Source: careerbuilder

4 Hidden Resume Mistakes That Will Cost You The Job

Most employers will tell you that job seekers routinely make obvious, painful errors on their resumes that cost them the job. And while there are online tools that will help you avoid making some of these mistakes, such as punctuation errors, most tools won't catch these four major blunders.

When you fill your resume with lavish self-praise, like "dedicated self-starter," "exceptional communication skills," and "hard-working professional," you're just stating your own opinion. This kind of language is like nails on a chalkboard to recruiters. Why? You're not stating facts. Don't tell them how you see yourself. Prove it by listing quantifiable accomplishments. Let the recruiter decide if you're actually a self-starter.

Too Much Info:

Many people assume they should list everything they have ever done at every job. It makes them feel like they're proving they've got valuable experience. Well, in reality, it detracts from your core message and strengths. Information overload to a recruiter is not a way to stand out. It's actually the fastest way to get in the 'no' pile. That's because, when they see you've listed everything, they look for every single skill they need. And, if even one skill is missing, they assume you don't have it.

The better approach is to simplify the resume to list only the key skills you want to leverage. Then you will be implying that you have a lot more to offer -- but the recruiters need to contact you to find out. Less is more. If the hiring managers like what they see, they'll contact you for a phone screen to get more details. And that's exactly what you want the resume to do: Make the phone ring!

Weak Top-Fold:

The first third of our resume is known as the "top-fold" -- it's where the eye goes when someone sees your resume for the first time. Most studies say a hiring manager's mind is made up about the candidate within six to 13 seconds of reading the resume. Which means the top-fold is determining whether you even get considered for the job. Text-intensive top-folds that aren't well-formatted and don't present key skill sets lose the reader's attention. It's that simple.

Fancy Fonts:

Curly-tailed fonts (aka fancy fonts) are harder to read. That translates into the reader absorbing less of what's been written. When you use script fonts as a way to make your resume look "classier," you are only making it harder for the hiring manager to retain what you are all about. Skip the script font and go with something clean-lined, like Arial or Calibri. While that may look more basic, the hiring manager will at least take in more -- and that can lead to the phone call you want.

Keep in mind: Your resume is your marketing document. Paying attention to these minor details can help you get a better response to your marketing message. Which is: "I'm worth talking to about this job!"

Source: careerbuilder

Résumés in 2012: What's old, what's new?

It seems everyone has an opinion on what a résumé should contain, how many pages it should be and how it should be formatted. So as we enter into a new year, what are the universally agreed-upon elements that are in, and which ones are now passé? Here are some of the best practices when it comes to crafting your résumé in 2012:

Stop trying to make "objective statements" happen
The days of including a career objective and/or professional summary are over. It's a waste of valuable space. Instead, just address this with a sentence in your cover letter about how the position you're applying for fits into your overall career plan. Get to business by starting with accomplishments and facts that are relevant to the job posting.

Be concrete
Use numbers and proof of what you've done. "Increased sales by 35 percent through client profiling campaign" is better than "Increased sales in my region." Stop putting generic tasks down, and instead, get creative in portraying what you did in your role or how you brought forth new ideas for products, processes, efficiency, etc. The more you can quantify your efforts with actual numbers or data, the better positioned you'll be.

Cover letters are back
Like the "two page versus one page" debate, the subject of cover letters is heated. While some recruiters say they don't bother looking at them, others say some job seekers have grown lazy and won't take the time to write one or tailor one specifically to the company to which they are applying. It's a perfect opportunity to sell yourself, and it's where you can infuse personality into your application. But once you craft a terrific cover letter, don't just push it out to every job prospect. Take the extra few minutes to tailor it to why you want that specific job at that specific company and why your skills would benefit the overall organization if hired.

Keywords are your friend
If a recruiter or manager can put your résumé side-by-side with the job requirements and check off the same keywords, you've made his life so much easier. Instead of using a lot of useless jargon on your résumé, pay attention to the keywords in the job posting. Be sure to use them in your résumé and cover letter, because even applicant tracking systems are based on keyword searches. Just as you use keywords to search for jobs, employers are using keywords to find your résumé.

Get creative with quick response codes
Young professionals are using QR codes -- bar codes that can be scanned by smartphones to download or link to information -- on the back of business cards and on their résumé to link to online portfolios. As you network and attend career fairs, you're able to pass out business cards with the QR code that can link recruiters and other contacts to either your portfolio or LinkedIn profile so they can instantly connect with you.

Wow with visual résumés
More people are using tools to help illustrate their work history through sites such as Vizualize.me. These sites offer tools to help individuals present the information on their résumés in a unique way that stands out. Just remember that you still need a traditional format to hand out or attach to make it easy for saving in company databases.

Give video a chance
In this tough economy, job seekers are going to creative lengths to get their name, talents and personality in front of employers, like this résumé video for a Google position. If you're going to create something like this, make sure you're providing substance or showing off your soft skills within the video instead of just doing something flashy to get the recruiter's attention.

Social media are here to stay
If you're not using social media to promote yourself, you're missing out. Just as employers use multiple avenues to push out job postings, you as a job seeker need to use all the channels available to you to put yourself in front of recruiters. Using Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn as a means to give updates on your career or connect with other professionals gives your résumé legs and can make you more memorable as a candidate. But since companies are screening candidates through social media, make sure your online profiles are either professional facing or locked for outside viewing.

source: careerbuilder

Résumé-writing tips for managers and executives

Job seekers often communicate a first impression through their résumés. In the newly updated edition of "Expert Résumés for Managers and Executives," authors Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark stress the importance of a strong résumé for all applicants.

"A vital component of your career management plan is your résumé, which must instantly position you as a well-qualified and highly competitive candidate," the authors say. "The easiest way to accomplish that objective is by developing a powerful, performance-based résumé."

In their book, Enelow and Kursmark provide numerous résumé samples, divided by career field, that are aimed at people at all levels of management, from front-line supervisors to top-level executives. They also offer nine strategies for writing effective résumés:

1. Write for the job you want: "You cannot write an effective résumé without knowing, at least to some degree, what type or types of positions you will be seeking."

2. Sell it to me, don't tell it to me: "If you 'tell it,' you simply state facts. If you 'sell it,' you promote it, advertise it and draw attention to it."

3. Use keywords: "Keywords are ... specific to a particular industry or profession. When you use these words and phrases, you are communicating a specific message."

4. Use the "big" and save the "little": "Try to focus on the 'big' things -- revenue and profit growth, new initiatives and ventures, special projects, cost savings ... then save the 'little' stuff -- the details -- for the interview."

5. Make your résumé "interviewable": After "you are contacted for a telephone or in-person interview, your résumé becomes all-important in leading and prompting your interviewer during your conversation."

6. Eliminate confusion with structure and context: "Be consistent, make information easy to find and define the context in which you worked."

7. Use function to demonstrate achievement: "A résumé that focuses on your job functions can be dry and uninteresting and says little about your unique activities and contributions."
8. Remain in the realm of reality: "Do not push your skills and qualifications outside the bounds of what is truthful."

9. Be confident: "There is only one individual with the specific combination of employment experience, qualifications, achievements, education and technical skills that you have."

"Your résumé can have tremendous power and a phenomenal impact on your job search. So don't take it lightly," Enelow and Kursmark say. "Rather, devote the time, energy and resources that are essential to developing a résumé that is well-written, visually attractive and effective in communicating who you are and how you want to be perceived."

Source: careerbuilder

Résumé tips and tricks

Résumés in 2013: What's old, what's new?

Stop trying to make "objective statements" happen

The days of including a career objective and/or professional summary are over. It's a waste of valuable space. Instead, just address this with a sentence in your cover letter about how the position you're applying for fits into your overall career plan. Get to business by starting with accomplishments and facts that are relevant to the job posting.

Be concrete

Use numbers and proof of what you've done. "Increased sales by 35 percent through client profiling campaign" is better than "Increased sales in my region." Stop putting generic tasks down, and instead, get creative in portraying what you did in your role or how you brought forth new ideas for products, processes, efficiency, etc. The more you can quantify your efforts with actual numbers or data, the better positioned you'll be.

Cover letters are back

Like the "two page versus one page" debate, the subject of cover letters is heated. While some recruiters say they don't bother looking at them, others say some job seekers have grown lazy and won't take the time to write one or tailor one specifically to the company to which they are applying. It's a perfect opportunity to sell yourself, and it's where you can infuse personality into your application. But once you craft a terrific cover letter, don't just push it out to every job prospect. Take the extra few minutes to tailor it to why you want that specific job at that specific company and why your skills would benefit the overall organization if hired.

Keywords are your friend

If a recruiter or manager can put your résumé side-by-side with the job requirements and check off the same keywords, you've made his life so much easier. Instead of using a lot of useless jargon on your résumé, pay attention to the keywords in the job posting. Be sure to use them in your résumé and cover letter, because even applicant tracking systems are based on keyword searches. Just as you use keywords to search for jobs, employers are using keywords to find your résumé.

Get creative with quick response codes

Young professionals are using QR codes -- bar codes that can be scanned by smartphones to download or link to information -- on the back of business cards and on their résumé to link to online portfolios. As you network and attend career fairs, you're able to pass out business cards with the QR code that can link recruiters and other contacts to either your portfolio or LinkedIn profile so they can instantly connect with you.

Wow with visual résumés

More people are using tools to help illustrate their work history through sites such as Vizualize.me. These sites offer tools to help individuals present the information on their résumés in a unique way that stands out. Just remember that you still need a traditional format to hand out or attach to make it easy for saving in company databases.

Give video a chance

In this tough economy, job seekers are going to creative lengths to get their name, talents and personality in front of employers, like this résumé video for a Google position. If you're going to create something like this, make sure you're providing substance or showing off your soft skills within the video instead of just doing something flashy to get the recruiter's attention.

Social media are here to stay

If you're not using social media to promote yourself, you're missing out. Just as employers use multiple avenues to push out job postings, you as a job seeker need to use all the channels available to you to put yourself in front of recruiters. Using Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn as a means to give updates on your career or connect with other professionals gives your résumé legs and can make you more memorable as a candidate. But since companies are screening candidates through social media, make sure your online profiles are either professional facing or locked for outside viewing.

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Résumés in 2013: What's old, what's new?

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