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

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.

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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, 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.


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

Using The Right Keywords On Your Resume Will Be Very Important In 2013

About 85 million Americans work as white-collar professionals in the private sector, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Most of these jobs come with good, even outstanding salaries and generous benefits. Which is why competition for one of these gigs is intense.

Deloitte LLP, a global professional services firm frequently on the Best Companies To Work At lists, is no exception. The company, which employs roughly 50,000 professional services workers, most of them accounting, auditing or tax professionals, says it receives about 500,000 applications a year. And only about 3.5 percent -- 17,000 -- are hired.

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That's an acceptance rate lower than Harvard's.

So how exactly does one make it into the ranks of that 3.5 percent? Jen Steinmann, picture above, is Deloitte's chief talent officer and oversees hiring. In an interview with AOL Jobs, Steinmann spoke frankly about what it takes to make it through the hiring process onto Deloitte's staff.

And yes, she said connections can help -- a lot.

Q: Are you getting lots of applications from totally unqualified people, or do many of them seem to be in the right ballpark?

A: We get a lot of people who are truly qualified, on paper. At a minimum, a majority of applicants have the right experience. That's why everything [in the application process] matters; someone will form an opinion of the job applicant during every single interaction.

Q: Lots of job hunters are frustrated by the online application process. How large a role do computers play in weeding out resumes?

A: A human being will look at all the resumes that come our way. A computer may help with keyword searches to sort through resumes, but we have people looking at resumes. Deloitte is a company that specializes in professional services, so that's how we operate. We can tell when someone has put in a standard form and are canvassing a lot of companies. Yet if that applicant has the right metrics, all the things we want to see, we'll talk to them. But we will make a note of what we glean.

Q: Is a cover letter necessary? What do you want to see on it?

A: Cover letters should be short and hone in on who you are and who you are addressing. It's better to have a name if you can get it. And try to answer the question: What in your experience makes you qualified for that particular role? It's about storytelling, and the cover letter shines the spotlight while the resume tells the broader story.

Q: What are some of the common mistakes that get people's applications rejected?
A: Generally, a typo is a [deal-breaker.] It's a small thing, but it's evidence of how seriously you are taking this. Everything matters [in the job application process]. Any applicant will have anywhere between three and 10 interviews before they're hired. We pay attention to how you present yourself, from eye contact to your handshake. So another big mistake we see is what people do to follow up after an interview, such as forgetting to write a follow-up thank-you note. It's about how you present yourself.

People should have fun with [the whole application process]. Show enthusiasm. How do you differentiate yourself? The question is, "Why would someone want to engage with me?"

Q: What about references?

A: Once we've determined we'd like to make someone an offer, we'll check references. It's relatively late in the process, and that depends on the company. For people coming out of college, that might mean [calling] young employees who went to school with the applicant. Or we'll ask the greeters from the on-campus recruiting what they thought.

Q: How much do connections help?

A: We take referrals from our people very seriously. For our experienced hires (people who don't come from campus channels), approximately 45 percent come through the referral process. That also means a lot of people do not come from referrals.

Source: AOL

How to Write a Winning Résumé

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps became an international swim sensation after working hard to perfect his skills. Although he is only 23 years old, Phelps has already achieved worldwide recognition for his unparalleled achievements. What do you and Phelps have in common? You both have the ability to bring home the gold.

Practice makes perfectWinning résumés and victorious athletes share several features; they both rely on extensive preparation and hard work.
As you begin to create your résumé, you need to invest time researching the subject. Visit a local library or bookstore and review professionally written résumés that focus on your job title, area or industry. Concentrate on content, format and style. Will you need a section for professional experience, education, technological skills and affiliations? What type and size font should you use? Should your writing style be formal or casual? Once you decide on and are comfortable with your résumé's appearance, style and content, then you are ready to take the next step.
Job advertisements and official position descriptions are a treasure chest for résumé writers. Not only do they include required skills and experience, they also contain industry buzzwords or keywords. Employers use keywords as part of their selection criteria and incorporate them into their scanning software. Determine which keywords and phrases emphasize skills, strengths and achievements, then weave them into your content.

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Leverage your strengthsHow will your résumé differentiate you from the competition? In order to have a competitive advantage, your résumé needs to identify factors that define your unique value proposition. What information can you include that will impress prospective employers and convince them of your value?
Including a profile or qualifications summary in the beginning of your résumé is an opportunity to form a positive image in the employer's mind. Take time to develop and write your profile. Ask friends, colleagues and family to describe your personal and professional strengths and attributes. Find similarities between your personal and professional attributes and the competencies listed in the job announcement. Incorporate positive endorsements and testimonials into your profile. Remember your goal: You need to prove you are the best candidate for the open position.

Celebrate your successesResearch reveals that hiring managers review résumés for no more than 10 to 15 seconds; therefore, your writing needs to contain a "hook" that will immediately engage the reader. Although résumé writing is not an exact science, there are a few formatting guidelines you can follow.
· Limit the résumé's length to one or two pages.
· Try to present work experience in reverse chronological order.
· Do not include employment more than 15 years old.
· Focus on achievements, not tasks.
Employers are not interested in reading about your daily routine. They want to see accomplishments! What are you most proud of? How did you add value to your position or company? Did you increase profitability, reduce expenses, improve efficiency or boost productivity? Can you quantify your achievements? These are some questions your résumé needs to answer.
A proven method of identifying achievements is to ask, "What problems did I encounter?" "What actions did I take to solve them?" and "What were the results?" In her book "Job Search Magic," Susan Britton Whitcomb states this "creates a consistent, balanced visual impact and gives the appearance of a strong, long-term history for taking on challenges and delivering results."
As Michael Phelps discovered, winning the gold means working harder than your competition. Investing your time and energy to convince employers you will be a valuable asset to their team will heighten your chances of bringing home the gold.

Source: careerbuilder

Do I really need a cover letter? New thoughts on an old standard

Including a cover letter with your résumé is commonly considered a "golden rule" of job searching. But in this age of online applications and recruiters who need to scan material quickly, is this practice outdated?Consider the following: For his book "Unbeatable Résumés: America's Top Recruiter Reveals What REALLY Gets You Hired," author Tony Beshara asked hiring authorities from a variety of disciplines the question "How important is a cover letter when you are receiving résumés?" Of the more than 3,000 respondents, 86 percent said "not very important."
So if only 14 percent of the people seeing your résumé consider a cover letter important, is it worth doing?

To send or not to send
"Unless the employer specifically requests a cover letter, I would recommend that candidates do not include one," says Jen Rallis, author of "Ugly Résumés Get Jobs." "Many recruiters only spend a few minutes scanning a résumé and disregard cover letters all together." Instead, she favors a well-written summary of qualifications specific to the position being applied to at the top of the résumé.
Many experts, however, make the case that a concise, targeted cover letter has value. "In a cover letter, you can precisely match your qualifications to job requirements and/or to the company to a degree that is difficult on a résumé," says Pennell Locey, senior consultant for Keystone Associates, a career management consulting firm headquartered in Boston. "Choose no more than five key points where you feel your qualifications directly make you a standout, and highlight the specifics of those in your letter. Bullet points rather than a narrative can make it easy for an employer to read."

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"From a recruiting standpoint, I would likely look at a cover letter after reading someone's résumé," says Tracy Cashman, partner and general manager of the information technology division of Winter, Wyman -- one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast. "I am more interested in examining a person's work experience and skills than reading the sometimes 'fluffy' nature of a cover letter." Still, she notes that a cover letter can be helpful, especially when it explains something that can't really be covered in the résumé itself, such as a gap in employment history or a position outside the person's obvious career track. Cashman's colleague Beverly Morgan -- a partner in Winter, Wyman's human resources division -- adds that a cover letter should mention anyone you know within the organization to build a personal connection.

Making the decision
Obviously, if a job ad asks for a cover letter, one should be included because failure to do so looks like you aren't following directions. Likewise, the decision is already made when an online application only allows space for a résumé. For other cases, it is difficult to tell what role a cover letter may or may not play in the hiring process.
While a cover letter is typically placed before a résumé, Beshara's survey respondents frequently said that if they read a cover letter at all, they did so after examining the résumé. Thus, applicants may want to reconsider how they approach their material, realizing that their résumé must be the attention-grabber.
When an applicant does include a cover letter, Beshara stresses that it must be concise. "I can't tell you the number of résumés I receive with a full-page cover letter that will rarely, if ever, get read ...You have to make an impact quickly, with specifics that say 'You need to interview me.'"
Other tips Beshara has for job seekers who choose to send cover letters include:
· Having a phone conversation with the hiring authority beforehand and then referencing that call in the letter.
· Using bullet points to list accomplishments that apply to the specific job opening.
· Quantifying achievements using numbers, statistics and percentages.
· Focusing on what you can do for the company, not on your own needs.
Lastly, Beshara and others urge candidates to ditch any generic cover letters. "As a rule of thumb: If your cover letter could be true for any job/company you apply for, then it isn't targeted enough," Locey says. So if you've decided sending a cover letter is worth your time, do it right and let the reader know you wrote it just for him.




Source: careerbuilder

Outrageous Résumé Lies

Résumés are a critical part of any job search. They are the most effective marketing tool any of us have about who we are and what we can do. And all of us want our résumé to be the best possible representation of our work.

But some workers turn their résumés into a work of fiction instead of a representation of fact.  A CareerBuilder survey of hiring managers looked at the tall tales and bold lies job seekers have constructed on their résumés.

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Here are the hiring managers' most outrageous whoppers...

1. Candidate claimed to be a member of the Kennedy family

2. Applicant invented a school that did not exist

3. Job seeker submitted a résumé with someone else's photo inserted into the document

4. Candidate claimed to be a member of Mensa

5. Applicant claimed to have worked for the hiring manager before, but never had

6. Job seeker claimed to be the CEO of a company when he was an hourly employee

7. Candidate listed military experience dating back to before he was born

8. Job seeker included samples of work, which were actually those of the interviewer

9. Candidate claimed to have been a professional baseball player

Modifying your résumé is a lot like airbrushing a photo, and many of us may have made minor tweaks to our résumés. You may have revised a job title that sounded uninspiring or omitted a hellish work experience from your list.

But there's a line between bending the truth and outright deception. According to the CareerBuilder.com survey, these were the most common falsehood told on a résumé:

·         38 percent of those surveyed indicated they had embellished their job responsibilities

·         18 percent admitted to lying about their skill set

·         12 percent indicated they had been dishonest about their start and end dates of employment

·         10 percent confessed to lying about an academic degree

·         7 percent said they had lied about the companies they had worked for

·         5 percent disclosed that they had been untruthful about their job title

Do these lies work? In most cases, no. Most companies disqualified candidates after discovering their dishonest. Thirty-six percent still considered the candidate, but ultimately passed on hiring them. Six percent of hiring managers overlooked the "flawed résumé" and hired the applicant anyway.

The survey also found some industries seemed to be more likely to have incidences of résumé fabrication. The industry reporting the most deceit was hospitality, with 60 percent of employers reporting they found lies on résumés.  The transportation/utilities field and information technology followed close behind with 59 percent and 57 percent of hiring managers respectively. The industry with the fewest liars: government at 45 percent.

How do you make a résumé stand out without resorting to ? What can you do to be attention-getting for the right reasons? Here are some recommendations.

Be the first in line. One-in-five employers said they are receiving more résumés this year than last year.  A good way to break out from the crowd is to be the first one in line. Sign up for e-mail alerts and perform daily searches for jobs in a specific field or industry.

Use keywords. Many hiring managers and HR departments are using new technology to review job candidates. Applicant tracking systems scan résumés and provide the managers with a ranking based on keywords in the document.

Among the terms employers searched for most often: "problem-solving and decision making skills," "oral and written communication," "customer service," "retention," "performance" and "productivity improvement," "leadership," "technology," "team-building,"  "project management" and "bilingual."

Stand out. Many of the hiring managers (43 percent) said that they spend a minute or less looking at résumés. Think of your résumé as a written audition. You have a limited window of opportunity to have the attention of the hiring manager, so make the most of it. Focus on specific accomplishments and tangible, positive results that you achieved at previous jobs.

Be honest. If you have a gap in employment periods, explain why. Mention any volunteer work you did or classes you took at these times to show that your skill set is still current and highlight what you have accomplished. People often forget to include volunteer work, part-time jobs and freelance work in a résumé, even though that work is often relevant to your career path. If you did not complete a degree, do not claim that you did; college and university attendance is easy to verify.  List graduation date, the time frame you attended any institutions and major. 

Source: careerbuilder

Are Employers Looking at Your Résumé?

5 ways to make it stand out.

With a record 12.5 million people unemployed in today's labor market, it's apparent that now, more than ever before, the people looking for employment must work even harder to ensure that they stand out to employers through their applications.
Nearly 25 percent of human resource managers said on average, they receive more than 75 résumés for each open position and 42 percent receive more than 50 résumés per position, according to a nationwide survey released in March 2009 by CareerBuilder. The majority of these managers say that at least half of those résumés are from unqualified candidates.
With that type of pressure and competition, the question becomes, how will you stand out among the masses? The answer is simple: through your résumé.
If crafted effectively, your résumé is perhaps the most valuable marketing tool you've got. After all, in a matter of seconds, its contents can make or break your chances of landing an interview. Thirty-eight percent of human resource managers say they spend one to two minutes reviewing a new application, while 17 percent spend less than one minute, according to the survey.

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5 tips to make your résumé stand out.Now that you know you have approximately 60 seconds to impress an employer, you had better make sure that your résumé is the best possible representation of you and your achievements.

Here are five tips to help you produce an effective résumé.

1. Include a career summary at the top of your résumé You only have a matter of seconds -- a minute if you're lucky -- to impress a human resource or hiring manager with your résumé. Don't make him search for the important material. Including a career summary at the top will give managers an immediate snapshot of your skills and accomplishments.
2. Keep it up-to-dateNo matter the state of the economy, you should always have a recent résumé and portfolio on hand. Fifty percent of the 8,038 employees surveyed by CareerBuilder.com said their résumés aren't up to date. Any time your responsibilities increase or you accomplish something significant, update your résumé with that information. You never know when you'll need to produce a current résumé.
3. Incorporate keywordsTracking systems are becoming increasingly popular to screen and weed out unqualified candidates. In fact, 51 percent of human resource managers report using them in the hiring process. To avoid the discard pile, integrate keywords from the job posting into your résumé. Doing so will heighten your chances of showing up near the top of the employer's ranking of the most relevant candidates.
4. Use a functional résumé Almost every major industry is experiencing mass layoffs. That being said, many job seekers are looking for work in new industries and professions where they might not have much experience. Listing your experience by skill categories rather than chronologically shows employers the proficiencies you possess rather than those you lack.
5. Include all relevant experienceWhether you're expanding your job search to a new industry or you're a new college graduate, you might not have the necessary experience to land that job you want. Make sure you're including all pertinent experience on your résumé. Volunteer work, leadership roles or community involvement are all areas most employers consider to be relevant experience.
Now what?Now that you've incorporated these five tips into your résumé, the worst thing you can do is send a generic copy out to the masses while you sit on your couch and pray for a response.
Be proactive with your résumé and take advantage of the tools available to you. On job boards like CareerBuilder.com, for example, you can use resources like cbResume, cbResumeDirect and Resume Upgrade, all of which can increase your visibility to employers. Additionally, you should utilize social networking sites to host your application materials, as well as target your résumé to the company where you're applying.
Taking advantage of all the resources at your disposal will help ensure that your résumé stands out among the masses.




Source: careerbuilder

Generic job application? You can still sparkle

I remember looking for a job during summer break from college. I went through the arduous task of filling out hundreds of job applications, providing every scrap of information about my educational background and work experience and racking my brain for phone numbers and addresses (why do they need these?) of my references.

At the time, I didn't really have enough experience to create an impressive résumé, but I would print out a bunch of copies and bring them with me anyway.

Even when asked to play by the rules, you can use them to your advantage. Why yes, dear company, I'll fill out your four-page application, but as a result you will take my résumé.

Aside from rule-breaking, how can you stand out on a generic job application? Let's just clear up any confusion that using neon colored pens or Lisa Frank stickers are acceptable beyond the fourth grade. They are not. Blue or black ink only and absolutely no stickers, no matter how cool they are.
Even as I tell that story, you might say, "How dated. No one has paper applications anymore." You would, for the most part, be right. Employers today want you to go online to fill out an application. Even your local grocery store will point you toward a self-serve application kiosk if you are looking for work. Paper or not, generic applications usually ask for the same information, with some variation based on the industry or type of position. Usually they want to know your availability, experience, skills and qualifications in list form and references.

Sometimes you'll get those painfully long personality surveys, which I never seem to master, regardless of how I answer the questions. Let it be said I applied to a very well-known coffee shop and answered that survey in every way possible -- honestly, not honestly, what I thought they wanted to hear, etc. Never worked. It was not in the stars for me to become a barista, apparently. I digress ...
So how can you stand out on these applications? Well, here are some basics that will expedite and improve how you fill one out:

• Take your time. Don't just slop it together or act put out to be filling it out. I would always prepare a sheet that I could essentially lift information off of for the application, because I have a horrible memory and don't remember who my boss was at job No. 3, or what his extension was. If you sum it all up and have that with you, the process will go faster. But it's still not a reason to just rush through it.

• Keep it readable. Know how to spell all of the words you are using and just print -- no cursive, thank you.

• Stick with the facts. Get all your dates in line and don't fudge around with your compensation, employment gaps, criminal background, etc.

• The optional cover letter is not an option. Write it, explain anything from the above bullet point and start talking yourself up as you do in a résumé. Focus less on tasks and more on the results that you brought to your previous work experiences.

• Notify your references. As a show of courtesy, let your references know that you're applying for a new job and that they may be contacted about it. Never pull a reference out of a hat, and always ask for permission first.

Also, many employers will now allow you to upload a résumé, and if given the opportunity, you should. Here are 10 tips on making your résumé stand out from the rest, as well as tips on how to get personal referrals in case you're applying with a company that a friend or family member may already work for. Because most systems are now pulling against keywords, it's important to use the best terms in your cover letter, résumé and application.

After you've applied, the follow-up dance begins. Here are some tips on proper follow-up etiquette.

• Follow up after a week or two to confirm that the hiring manager has received your application or résumé and to see where the company is in the hiring process. Keep the communication short and to the point.  

• If you land an interview, send an email thank-you note within 24 hours, highlighting key attributes that make you the right fit for the position. If you can, send a mailed thank-you note as well.

• If you haven't heard back, wait about 10 business days after the interview to check in with the hiring manager on the job status.

Source: careerbuilder

20 unusual résumé tactics to avoid

Are you a polite, non-smoker with three pets whose interests include barbequing, picnics and long walks on the beach? If you've ever considered including these personal details on a résumé or the fact that your special skills include making organic soups and calling the weekly Bingo game at your local VFW, then you might need to rethink your job search. In a competitive job market, creating a clear and concise résumé is extremely important if you want to land that first interview. Many job postings elicit hundreds of applications for a single opening, so even making it to the first step of the interview process can be a significant feat.  

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Unfortunately, in the midst of searching for the perfect opening, creating a customized cover letter, updating their résumé and filling out an application, some job seekers lose sight of the task at hand and forget that clarity and simplicity are key when trying to catch a recruiter or hiring manager's eye. The annual CareerBuilder survey shows that job seekers don't have a lot of time to make a positive impression on employers. In fact, 45 percent of human resource managers say they spend, on average, less than one minute reviewing an application. The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive from May 19 to June 8, 2011, included more than 2,600 hiring managers and human resource professionals. When asked to recall the most unusual résumés they have received, employers shared the following:

1. Candidate said the more you paid him, the harder he worked.


2. Candidate included that he was arrested for assaulting his previous boss.


3. Candidate said he just wanted an opportunity to show off his new tie.


4. Candidate listed her dog as reference.


5. Candidate listed the ability to do the moonwalk as a special skill.


6. Candidates -- a husband and wife looking to job share -- submitted a co-written poem.


7. Candidate included "versatile toes" as a selling point.


8. Candidate stated she was "particularly adept at comprehending the obvious."


9. Candidate said that he would be a "good asset to the company," but failed to include the "et" in the word "asset."


10. Candidate's email address on the résumé had "shakinmybootie" in it.


11. Candidate said he was qualified because he was a "marvelous physical specimen."


12. Candidate included that she survived a bite from a deadly aquatic animal.


13. Candidate was fired from different jobs, but included each one as a reference.


14. Candidate used first name only.


15. Candidate presented a list of demands in order to work for the organization.


16. Candidate asked, "Would you pass up an opportunity to hire someone like this? I think not."


17. Candidate insisted that the company pay him to interview with them because his time was valuable.


18. Candidate's résumé was intentionally written from right to left instead of left to right.


19. Candidate shipped a lemon with résumé, stating "I am not a lemon."


20. Candidate submitted 40-page résumé that included photos and diplomas

Too often, job seekers get overly creative or personal with their résumés in order to make an impression, but irrelevant information and goofy details can be perceived as unprofessional and may cause the résumé to be rejected on the spot.
"Making an impression on an employer should go deeper than just shock value," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. "Job seekers should focus on gaining attention for the right reasons by highlighting relevant experience, applicable skills and how they would benefit the organization."
Instead of trying to shock and amaze the hiring manager with your résumé, spend some time focusing on the job requirements and how to clearly represent yourself and your abilities. At a glance, a hiring manager should be able to gain insight on:

• Your current or most recent employer


• Specific details on tasks you're in charge of (not just an HR job description)


• Your experience and capabilities as applicable to the open position


• Any pertinent accomplishments or successes that make you a top choice


• Name and professional contact information

After reading your résumé, the employer shouldn't wonder what makes you qualified for the position. The only questions you want him or her asking are the kind that need to be answered in an interview. Once you've organized, focused and targeted your résumé for the job in question, you must move on to creating a customized cover letter. While the cover letter acts as a canvas to showcase your personality and strengths, don't forget that making an impact doesn't mean astounding the employer with your many quirks, hobbies or demands. Show that you would not only fit in with the culture of the organization, but that you would improve the business process and overall efficiency.




Source: careerbuilder

10 Ways to Write a Stronger Résumé

Nearly one-in-four human resources managers said they receive, on average, more than 75 résumés for each open position, according to a nationwide survey by Careerbuilder.
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When a job posting's response is that overwhelming, human resource managers often struggle to distinguish one candidate from another -- particularly since most of them spend only a minute or two assessing each candidate's résumé. That's why job seekers have to be savvy about their résumé's content and presentation.

Unfortunately, even the most talented, qualified candidates sometimes write weak résumés. Whether they're in a hurry, lack writing skills or are unsure how to market themselves to employers, they fail to score interviews because their résumés don't immediately demonstrate what return on investment they offer employers.

To sidestep this dilemma, consider Susan Britton Whitcomb's 10 tips for writing great résumé copy, excerpted from her book, "Résumé Magic".

1.     Know your audience before you begin to write. What skills and competencies are they looking for? What knowledge do they require? What trends are they capitalizing on? What opportunities are they interested in tapping? What problems do they need fixed? What projects can you help them move forward?

2.     Pack your résumé with keywords -- those words that describe your title, knowledge base, skill set, impressive "name-brand" companies or Fortune 500 employers, prestigious universities attended, degrees,  licensing, software experience, affiliations and so on.

3.     Find keywords by reviewing relevant job postings online or detailed classified ads in newspapers, reading job descriptions or content at your target companies' Web sites, reading your association's newsletter or trade journals, conducting informational interviews with industry contacts and so on.

4.     Position critical information at the "visual center" of the page. Weave keywords throughout your Qualifications Summary and Professional Experience sections, as well as in your cover letter. Create a Keyword Summary section for electronic versions of your résumé.

5.     Resist the temptation to outsmart applicant-screening software by, for instance, planting the keyword "project manager" nine times throughout the résumé when you might have minimal experience as a project manager.

6.     When writing job descriptions, try to keep your paragraph to around five lines. Summarize any redundant statements and present the material with an emphasis on transferable skills. Always highlight your accomplishments.

7.     If you're writing a functional or skills-based résumé, focus on three to five skill areas and lean toward occupational skills (such as event planning, marketing or project coordination) instead of personal skills (such as analytical skills, problem-solving skills or organizational talents) for category subheadings. After you have selected your subheadings, develop two to five sentences, along with specific accomplishments that encapsulate your range of experience for each subheading.

8.     New graduates with limited professional experience will normally place their Education section near the top of the résumé, after the Objective/Focus or Qualifications Summary.

9.     For categories such as affiliations, publications, presentations or awards and honors, consider presenting information in a bulleted list or two-column format to save space and add visual appeal.

10.  Think like an advertising copywriter: Be concise, but give enough data to create interest and a desire to meet you.





Source: careerbuilder

Is Your Resume Ready For A Recruiter?

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Great news! You received a call out of the blue from a recruiter who wants to see your resume quickly. But what if you haven’t kept it current?
First of all, consider asking for more time to pull things together. After all, the recruiter’s job is easier if your resume clearly tells the employer why you’re a strong candidate.
Now, on to getting that resume in shape! Here are 3 tips to help you craft a compelling document—even if you’re short on time:

1. Focus Squarely On The Goal

Nothing kicks an applicant out of the running faster than an unfocused resume. Therefore, you’ll need to build your value proposition around this particular job, laying the foundation for the strategy behind your resume. (You can always create a different resume for another job type later).
Add a resume title, using as many specifics as possible that reflect your goal, such as Sales Manager, IT Director, CFO, VP Operations, etc.
Next, you’ll need to write down ideas for a summary of your background and why you’re qualified for this particular position. The key to writing an effective summary is to tweak it and keep it flexible during your resume writing process, allowing different ideas to surface so that you can weave them into this section.
One idea that may make this task easier is to use short, brand-focused headlines in lieu of writing a full profile paragraph.
Remember to review your summary after finishing your resume as well. You might find that you’ve uncovered more information to add—forming the basis for a well-rounded, powerful introduction to the rest of your credentials.

2. Jot Down Your Major Success Stories

Here is where you’ll need to spend the bulk of your time. Analyzing how your contributions have impacted your employers is a critical step in the resume writing process.
Start by making a quick list of key points that you’d make if you already had the interview. Take special note of the metrics behind each story and the impact of your work on the company.
Flesh each out to a small paragraph, cutting out extraneous details for brevity. It’s best to aim for a sentence of three lines or less that describes your role, the context behind each accomplishment, and the results.
Repeat this process a minimum of 3-5 times for each job that you’ve held in the past 10 to 15 years to fill in your resume. This task may take a few extra hours, but it will be time well spent on a resume that gives a compelling picture of your abilities.
Finally, add these stories in bullet-point form to your resume, with a basic job description in paragraph form to introduce each of your jobs. Here, you can describe the teams you’ve supervised, budgets managed, and other contextual details.

3. Get Feedback On Your Resume Update

This is an important step, but it’s one that many professionals miss. Colleagues, spouses, bosses, and friends can help you to recall any important projects you might have omitted, or leadership qualities that you should demonstrate in order to be considered for the job.
Be sure to ask others to help proofread your resume as well, since typos and other errors can escape even the best writer who is pressed for time.
That’s it! Now, take the time to compose a short note to the recruiter that points out your main qualifications and the reasons you’re interested in the job. Your new, superbly crafted resume can then do the rest of the talking.

Source:careerealism

Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!




In today’s society, your resume is the most important document you have to get yourself an interview.
Including power resume words will increase your chance of getting hired by 80%!
When a hiring manager is seeing the same old resume time and time again which includes the cliché words and phrases such as “highly dedicated individual” or “great team player” you are guaranteeing yourself your resume will be deleted.
Poorly chosen words and clichéd phrases can destroy the interest of the reader. Power words when chosen correctly can have the opposite effect of motivating and inspiring the reader
Power Resume Words will make help you stand out from your competition and increase your chances of getting hired!

Top 100 Power Resume Words

1. Advanced
2. Assigned
3. Assessed
4. Absorbed
5. Accelerated
6. Attained
7. Attracted
8. Announced
9. Appraised
10. Budgeted
11. Bolstered
12. Balanced
13. Boosted
14. Bargained
15. Benefited
16. Beneficial
17. Comply
18. Critiqued
19. Closed
20. Collaborated
21. Designed
22. Delegated
23. Demonstrated
24. Developed
25. Detected
26. Efficient
27. Enhanced
28. Excelled
29. Exceeded
30. Enriched
31. Fulfilled
32. Financed
33. Forecasted
34. Formulated
35. Generated
36. Guided
37. Granted
38. Helped
39. Hosted
40. Implemented
41. Investigated
42. Increased
43. Initiated
44. Influenced
45. Integrated
46. Innovated
47. Instituted
48. Justified
49. Listed
50. Logged
51. Maintained
52. Mentored
53. Measured
54. Multiplied
55. Negotiated
56. Observed
57. Operated
58. Obtained
59. Promoted
60. Presented
61. Programmed
62. Provided
63. Projected
64. Qualified
65. Quantified
66. Quoted
67. Recommended
68. Refine
69. Revamp
70. Reacted
71. Retained
72. Recovered
73. Reinstated
74. Rejected
75. Sustained
76. Skilled
77. Saved
78. Scheduled
79. Supported
80. Secured
81. Simplified
82. Screened
83. Segmented
84. Streamlined
85. Strengthened
86. Triumphed
87. Troubleshot
88. Taught
89. Tutored
90. Translated
91. Trained
92. Uncovered
93. United
94. Unified
95. Updated
96. Upgraded
97. Validated
98. Viewed
99. Worldwide
100. Witnessed

Source: careerealism

Are These Resume Buzzwords Killing Your Chances?

Zillions of resumes are useless except perhaps for lining a bird cage's floor. The main cause? Resume advice has changed little over the decades, so most resumes today feel moldy, cliche-larded, as if spewed from resume software or a hired gun from the disco era.

As a result, most resumes make savvy employers roll their eyes. Examples of hopelessly dated resume advice include:

• Use power verbs -- "I spearheaded..." Yuck.


• Sell yourself -- "I'm uniquely qualified for the position." Yuck.


• Use business buzzwords -- "I delight in exceeding customer expectations, being a team player while being a self-starter, always driving initiatives to achieve bottom-line results." Some other word. Double-yuck.


• Quantify -- "I saved/made the company $X zillion dollars." Employers are now wise to that tactic and often view such numbers as more inflated than a burst balloon. Indeed, if you added up all the dollars reported on resumes, it would exceed the Gross Domestic Product.

Use all those antiquated resume rules and, voila, you have a resume that makes the employer much more likely to click "delete" than to grant you an interview.
There is a better way.
You can replace employer suspicions with intrigue about you -- by telling a story. Stories are far more credible than are self-aggrandizing verbs and adjectives.

Put yourself in your target prospective employer's shoes. What one-paragraph story could you tell that would make that employer want to interview you? Use what I call the "PAR" approach:

• Tell a problem you faced.
• Explain the way you approached it.
• And then detail the positive result.

Here's an example from a resume written by an individual contributor.

• The Problem -- "Everyone was hating the new talent management software."


• The Approach -- " I was just a worker bee so I asked my boss if she might send an email to everyone asking them to write why they prefer the old software. That might help her decide what to do. "


• The Result -- "She took my advice and, as a result, it was clear we were better off with the new software, but that the vendor needed to tweak the interface and provide a targeted training session. That all happened. In truth, still, not everyone is crazy about the software, but everyone is much less frustrated now."

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!

Why This Works

It has an informal tone that seems authentic: "I was just a worker bee" and "not everyone is crazy about the software." True, that will turn off some employers but more will prefer it, feeling they're reading an honest yet intriguing resume from a real human being, not an assemblage of verbiage pulled from a resume-writing guide or cranked out by a resume-writing automaton who barely knows the applicant.
Of course, your resume needs to be in your voice, one you're comfortable with. But whatever the tone, a rule of thumb is to include three PAR stories in your resume. Recent ones are preferable but more important is that they be stories likely to make your target employer think, "Hmm. She could be good in that position. I'll interview her."
Shouldn't these stories be saved for the interview or cover letter?
You should use them in cover letter, interview and resume. Perhaps use one in a cover letter, and you certainly can retell a story or stories in the interview. Most employers are overwhelmed with input from lots of job seekers. Usually, employers appreciate your repeating an illustrative story.
Indeed, tell your true, impressive stories in resume, cover letter and interview, and you're more likely to be hired and less likely to have your resume line a bird cage floor.





Source: AOL

Quiz: Is your cover letter like a bad handshake?

A cover letter serves a specific purpose in the hiring process. While potential employers can turn to your résumé to see your work experience, a cover letter is an introduction to who you are and why the company should invite you in for an interview.

Handshakes are another form of introduction, so think of your cover letter as handshake. While you may think you're offering a warm handshake, your cover letter actually could be strong-arming you out of a job. Take this quiz to find out what type of handshake your cover letter is most associated with and the impression it's giving to potential employers:

1. Your cover letter's opening sentence is:
A. "I want to tell you why you should hire me for this open position at your company."
B. "I'm interested in the open position at your company and would like to submit my qualifications."
C. "I was surprised to hear of the open position at your company and was hoping you could look at my résumé if you get a chance."

2. If you're currently employed, do you mention your job in your cover letter?
A. Yes, I explain that my current job should pay better, and I'm interested in receiving a promotion.
B. Yes, I relate my current job to the open position and explain why I'm ready to assume more responsibilities.
C. No, I don't want the hiring company to think I'm not ready to leave my current job.

3. Your experience matches about 90 percent of the job requirements. Do you address the requirement you don't meet in your cover letter?
A. Sort of. I tell them how experienced and smart I am and how impressed my past boss was with how quickly I picked things up.
B. No. I address the requirements I do meet and include my relevant experience; I can mention the other requirement if I get asked about it in an interview.
C. Yes. I point out that I don't know how to do it and say I hope I get the chance to learn it.

4. Where in your cover letter do you write about the company of interest?
A. Briefly in the middle; most of the room was used for boasting about my qualifications and why I'm the best choice.
B. After the introduction paragraph about my interest and experience, I write a short paragraph about why I admire the company and the values I share with it.
C. Most of the cover letter is about them. I only included a few sentences about why I'd be lucky to work there.

5. How do you end your cover letter?
A. Thank you for your time, and I know you'll make the right choice.
B. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
C. Thank you for your time, and it'd be so incredible to hear from you.

RESULTS
Mostly A's: Death-grip handshake
Being assertive and confident are great qualities, but you're coming on too strong. If your cover letter were a handshake, you'd break a few bones with that death-grip. Keep your cover letter balanced with the qualities that would make you a great pick for the job as well as why you're interested in working there. You want to build a relationship with the potential employer, not muscle them into a decision.

Mostly B's: Confident and approachable handshake
You may be getting a call for an interview soon, because your cover letter made a great first impression, just like a confident and approachable handshake. You clearly understand what it takes to write a great cover letter: expressing a genuine interest in the position and the company and relating your past experience to the new role. By presenting yourself as a strong candidate, you set the stage for a more in-depth conversation about if the job is a good fit for both parties.

Mostly C's: Dead-fish handshake
You'll need to muster up more courage in your cover letter, because your writing is the equivalent of a cold, limp handshake. It's wonderful that you're impressed by the business and you're trying to be polite, but that won't help the hiring manager understand who you are and why you're a good fit. A cover letter is an introduction, but it's also a tool to help the company make an informed business decision. Focus on the key points that company should know about you -- why should they hire you over everybody else?




Source: msn.careerbuilder

Recent Graduate Resume

Recent Graduate Resume
         
From Resume Magic by Susan Britton Whitcomb (JIST)

This job seeker uses internship and volunteer experience to demonstrate accomplishments and abilities.
         

SHANE THACKERY WHEATON
555 East Cove Road
Solo Beach, CA 95555

(555) 555-5555

http://www.careerfolios.com/swheaton
stw78@hotmail.com
    

---

SYNOPSIS
         
Dual-degree graduate with D.C. Internship experiences, qualified for opportunities where communications expertise, technology skills and broadcast background will be of value.
         

         
EDUCATION

University of California, Santa Barbara
Bachelor of Arts degree, Communications (Dean's List Honors; GPA in major 3.9, 2004
Bachelor of Arts degree, Political Science, 2004
         

         
INTERNSHIPS

Talk Radio News Service and TalkDaily.com, Washington D.C.
June-August 2003

Assisted in production of daily radio and Internet broadcasts. Researched Internet sources, national newspapers and other news sources to assemble show content. Wrote daily news summaries for TalkDaily.com. Assisted with ongoing research on talk-show topics. Highlights:

Broadcast: Co-hosted live, 20-minute daily radio broadcast an assignment normally reserved for full-time staffers.

Communications: Covered White House press conferences; posed questions to senior officials and the President. Interviewed guests for Talkers Magazine, including hosts of top Boston- and D.C.-based talk-radio programs.

Technology: updated Web site with daily highlights of talk personalities, such as Rush Limbaugh and Imus.

U.S. Representative Geraldine Smathers, 22nd District, Washington D.C.
July-August 2002

Represented congresswoman at hearings and provided written analysis of proposed legislation. Served as office contact for major supporters. Wrote constituent correspondence and franked communications. Highlights:
               

Communications: Selected among five interns as media spokesperson for several campaign events. Served as precinct captain on election day.

Technology: Project managed on-time installation of new communications system at campaign headquarters.

         

         
LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Delta Delta Gamma, UC-Santa Barbara Campus

Social Chair: Organized 15-20 annual events for 100-member organization

Philanthropy Chair: Envisioned and manages projects that benefited the campus and city.

    

Fund-raising Chair: Introduced activities that generated record revenue.

         

         
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Computer Skills: Dreamweaver Web site design; MS Office (advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint); MSIE and Netscape Navigator browsers; e-mail applications (Outlook Express, Eudora); Internet research.

Favorite Subjects: Political communications, lobbying, legal advocacy and argumentation, oral debate, drama.

Language: Basic conversational and business Spanish (completed four years of Spanish course work).

Activities: Tennis, golf, canoeing.

Source: careerbuilder

Résumés Redefined

Much has changed about the job search process in recent years. Workers now look online for employment leads, for example, and companies have rolled out inventive benefits programs to attract the best talent. But what about the résumé? Most people assume it's the one dinosaur that's yet to evolve.
Think again. Subtle changes are afoot, and, thanks to new technologies, today's résumé is different in many ways from its 20th century counterpart. Following are some résumé developments you should be aware of:

The Long and Short of It: Résumés Are Inching Up
There's one rule of résumé writing that virtually every job seeker knows: A single-page résumé is best. But this long-prevailing guideline is no longer set in stone. While 52 percent of executives polled by our company still consider one page the optimal length for staff-level résumés, 44 percent feel two pages is preferable.
Of course, this doesn't mean you should ramble on; less is still more. While employers may be accepting of a two-page document, being long-winded could hurt your cause since hiring managers have little time to devote to each application they receive. A premium will always be placed on job seekers who effectively prioritize information and write in a manner that is both compelling and concise.
To accomplish this goal, zero in on your top qualifications, write short and crisp sentences and avoid pedantic résumé-speak, including technical jargon and trendy business phrases like "value-added" or "thinking outside the box." And, of course, omit all statements that are not pertinent to the position for which you are applying.

Keywords Are Key
Keywords are terms that describe the experience, skills, personality traits, software proficiencies or academic credentials that a certain position requires. They are important to consider because many companies now use filtering software to scan résumés for keywords, flagging those with a high concentration for further consideration. In fact, according to Taleo Research, a firm that studies management practices, 94 percent of the top 500 U.S. companies use computer programs to evaluate résumés. This trend has caused some job seekers to respond creatively. In an attempt to get a leg up on the competition, they hide keywords in their résumés by camouflaging them in white type or decreasing the font size so that the text is invisible to all but a computer.
But these tactics can often backfire. Improved résumé search software can now catch and flag arbitrarily inserted keywords, lowering the résumé's ranking and sending the offending candidate's application to the recycle bin. Plus, trying to trick the system can simply make you look bad.
Instead, you want to include keywords that accurately represent your employment background. Let's say you're applying for a position as an office administrator, for example. According to the employment ad, the company seeks a someone who is a "self-motivated and energetic individual who is highly organized and can work independently." Customize your résumé so that the wording mirrors this language from the job description by including terms such as "self-motivated," "compelling," "energetic," "highly organized" and "work independently" when discussing your previous experience.

Candidates on Camera
Another recent development is the advent of the "video résumé." While the tried-and-true printed (or electronic) résumé remains a job seeker's primary promotional tool, some candidates -- especially those in fields requiring stellar creative abilities -- are trying to distinguish themselves with video résumés.
Technological advancements have made it relatively easy and inexpensive to produce a professional-looking video and upload it to a Web site, where prospective employers can view it. It remains to be seen if the video résumé represents a passing fad or the future. A Harris Interactive survey, however, indicates both employers and candidates are at least intrigued by the concept. In the survey, 60 percent of hiring managers and human resources professionals polled expressed "some interest" in seeing video résumés. In addition, 49 percent of workers expressed some willingness to post a video résumé to attract the attention of a prospective employer.
There has been a general conception that the résumé never changes. While the hallmarks of a good résumé -- clarity, truthfulness and relevance -- remain the same, technology and hiring trends have influenced the way they are produced and reviewed. Recognizing these changes and keeping abreast of future developments will enable you to market yourself as effectively as possible. 






Source: careerbuilder

The Business Card Resume

"Have you heard about a 'mini-resume' that fits on a personal business card?" one of my readers asked. "I was wondering about your opinion on these resume cards. Part of me says it's a good thing, another part not so much."

The first time you hear about a business card resume, it can sound like a gimmick, and you should know better than to waste valuable job search time pursuing gimmicks. That said, business cards are an accepted sales tool the world over, and for a job hunter they're so much less intrusive than carrying around a wad of resumes under your arm.

If you want to try a business card resume, you must consider the severely limited space available to you and use that space wisely:

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!

Front Of The Card

1. Include critical information. Your name, target job title, telephone number and email address.
2. Use legible, business-like fonts. (Times Roman, Arial).
3. Make it readable. Limit the word count so that you can maximize font size to increase readability; better to have one legible email address than add a social network address and have them both illegible.
4. Use a larger font. No one in a position to hire you can read an 8-point font. And reminding someone that they are old and have failing eyesight -- not a good sales pitch.

Back Of The Card

Space is minimal, so less is more and readability is everything; the words you choose must communicate both your understanding of the job and your ability to deliver when you are doing that job.

1. Repeat your target job title.
2. This is followed by a two-word headline on the next line: Performance Profile
3. Then follow this with a single short sentence that addresses the No. 1 deliverable of your target job. The No. 1 deliverable in your job (and all jobs) is the identification, prevention and solution of problems within that specific area of professional expertise. It is ultimately what we all get hired to do.
4. Finish with a social network address that delivers a comprehensive professional profile to any interested reader, such as your LinkedIn profile, your Web-based resum, or any other URL that delivers the full story on your professional capabilities.

As an example we can all relate to, an accounting professional who worked in Accounts Receivable might have the flip side of a business card resume that looks something like this:

Martin Yale

516.674.3728

Snr Accounts Receivable

Performance Profile
Focused on the ID, prevention and solution of
all recurring A/R problems

www: http://www.linkedin.com/martiny

Notice that by starting this mini-resume with a verb, you not only show understanding of what is at the heart of this job, you also deliver a powerful personal brand statement by telling the reader what to expect.






Source: AOL

7 Tips for Handling a Blemish on Your Resume

Sometimes your professional past isn't as squeaky clean as you'd like. You might have an embarrassing gap between jobs, or maybe you were fired and worry about how to explain that to potential employers. Interviews are like landmines: How do you avoid those areas of discrepancy on your resume or put yourself in a positive light, despite your past mistakes?

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!

1. Avoid the temptation to lie. Lying never got anyone the job, so resist the urge to cover up your past errors. Instead, try to avoid the topic unless your interviewer brings it up. "Don't be the one to bring up any weak points in your work history, but if they do come up, handle them gracefully," says Keren Douek, director of recruitment services at JobDreaming.com. "Don't lie, but don't linger, either. Answer any questions directly, but don't feel the need to elaborate too much or go into a great amount of detail."

2. Focus on the positive. Your interviewer doesn't expect you to be perfect, so don't try to sweep your mistakes under the rug. Instead, guide the conversation to what you learned from your mistakes, says Amit De, CEO and co-founder of Careerleaf.
"Along with honesty, job seekers should directly assess what they learned from the experience and how they have improved. They can also talk about the plan they have set in place for these actions to never occur again."

3. Be prepared. The worst thing you could do in an interview is stumble when you're asked about the blemish on your resume. Instead, Nicole Lindsay of DiversityMBAPrep.com says, "be prepared with a response. Expect that the question item will come up."
Lindsay says it's a good idea to consult with a mentor or peer to determine the best way to describe the issue so that it doesn't send up red flags for a potential employer. Having a succinct way of explaining what happened can keep you from being embarrassed, and most employers will simply move on to the next question.

4. Find the best wording. Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it. Lindsay says you should "use words that minimize the magnitude of the issue--use 'let go' instead of 'fired,' use 'not forthright' instead of 'lied.'" Smoother wording can help you even out bumps in your background.

5. Be the bigger person. It can be tempting to dive into a he said/she said situation, especially if you feel you weren't in the wrong. But you should resist. Douek says: "Be the bigger person. If you're asked about a negative work experience or a business relationship that didn't end well, don't get petty or get caught up telling your side of the story. Keep your explanation simple and light. You don't want to come across as bitter, even if you secretly are.

6. If you were fired ... There's no need to go into detail as to why you were let go, unless a potential employer asks point blank. Again, use softer wording, and focus on your accomplishments rather than the negatives of your past work history.

7. End on a positive note. What you want a hiring manager to remember about you is how great you are, and why you're qualified for this role. "Regardless of the topic, come up with a way to give it a positive spin, Douek says. "If you were let go from a previous position, you could talk about how you gained so much from the experience, you understand why they had to make cutbacks, or how the timing was right for you because you were ready for the next step in your career," she says.
Bottom line is: The "problem spots" on your resume should not be huge issues if you're qualified and enthusiastic about the job. Don't dwell on mistakes you've made in the past. That way, the employer won't either.




Source: Yahoo

Spelling Errors Send Red Flags To Employers

Really, I had the simplest of intentions. By sending out a link to The Oatmeal's classic graphic of "10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling" as a reminder to job seekers everywhere that a lot is two words, I opened a vortex of commonly misused or misspelled words that drive employers crazy when they see them in résumés, cover letters, correspondence and even social media updates.

But it wasn't only employers who were miffed at these common blunders – job seekers too were disappointed in their peers. When I polled our Twitter and Facebook fans, they gave me an onslaught of other words that they found were on the list of common offenders. Twitter user @XuDannyO added that he sees people who don't know the difference between "ensure" and "insure." His great example being, "'I insure customer satisfaction.' Really? You took out an insurance policy on that?"

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!

Other unforgivable mistakes, according to our Facebook comments, included:

• No and know
• Whole and hole
• Receive
• Separate
• Beautiful
• Appreciate
• Restaurant
• Smelled and smelt
• Leaned and leant and lend
• Form and from
• While and whilst
• Definitely vs defiantly (people don't realize these are two different words with two different meanings)
• Apart and a part
• To, too, two
• Your and you're

Teresa Z. added, "The problem is people rely on spell check too often and don't realize that if the word is spelled correctly but used in the wrong context, spell check won't always pick it up. They need to use the 'eyeball' method." She's right – you need to proofread your work, especially if you are sending out a résumé and cover letter in hopes of competing for a job. One of the most common typos seen by Heidi F. is "you" instead of "your." So in your cover letter, if you write "I'm the best candidate for you marketing needs," then you probably aren't going to get the call to come in for the interview. I'll admit it – I have had consistent trouble with the word sandwich throughout my entire life. I'm not sure why because I've eaten enough of them that I should be spelling the word correctly.

It doesn't mean that you're a waste of life if you didn't win the 4th grade spelling bee or have trouble spelling today. When you take the time to proof your work and check any spellings (thank you dictionary.com) that you are uncertain about, that shows an employer attention to detail and the ability to do good work. But when you end your cover letter with "I hope to here from you," you probably won't hear from them either.
One final word on social media and status updates or tweets.

Despite character limitations and the inherent creative license to make a bold statement, you still need to act and spell professionally. Consistent tweets like "IM HAVIN NO LUK IN MY JOB SERCH" aren't endearing and would probably prompt an employer to block and report you as spam. One-in-five companies are using social media to hire and 45% of companies are screening applicants by their social media profiles. If you are using social media to increase your chances of being seen and heard by potential employers, you probably need to audit your online brand image and decide whether you need to change your privacy settings, create separate accounts or clean up your online act. What steps do you take to proof your résumé or cover letters before submitting them to employers? What are some other words or phrases that you find you commonly misuse or misspell? How can we help each other catch our little mistakes?





Source: AOL

Using Baby Carrots And Digital Tools To Make Your Resume Stand Out

Artistic videos posted to YouTube aren't going to pay the bills.
Of course, anyone looking to make a career in experimental videography must first find a stable job that provides for the basic necessities before the MacArthur Foundation comes knocking with a genius grant.

And one such job in the modern workforce is as a "community manager," which is essentially a marketing gig that calls on the manager to make the greatest use of social media and other digital tools to expand a company's online reach. And it goes without saying that the creative possibilities for the manager are endless. The post is especially important for startups, as they seek to establish a brand identity while also battling other cutting edge entrants to the marketplace.
And so as organizations like Carrot Creative, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based new media marketing agency, seek to fill their community manager position, a standard cover letter and resume is unlikely on its own to convince an employer that you have the tools to take advantage of all the potential digital resources.
Little wonder, then, that Torrey Taralli's video cover letter caught the attention of the popular jobs listing website, mediabistro.com. Embracing the organization's title, Taralli put together a 1-minute, 4-second-long video featuring 300 baby carrots. The vegetables are used to spell out a message to the employer, starting with: "Why Creative Carrot Should Hire Torrey Taralli." And it goes on to say that he "Does A Spot-On Obama Impression" and "Has A Dog Named Frank."

Content Writers Are In HUGE Demand Right Now!

While it's true, as mediabistro.com points out, that the video fails to provide actual specifics about Taralli's qualifications, "one thing's for sure: It's not a boring cover letter." Indeed, in taking a page out of Bob Dylan's playbook by spelling out a message via video, a la "Subterranean Homesick Blues," Taralli has succeeded in at least garnering attention for the company, the most that any executive can hope from its marketing team. And he is now one of seven finalists for the job whose original applicant pool was composed of 300 candidates.
"A lot of people go to unique lengths," Mike Germano, the president and co-founder of Carrot Creative told AOL Jobs in an interview. "This is not even the first carrot video we have seen. And this is exactly what we want. You're going to need to show a social media and digital ability."
Taralli's application is of a piece with the trend of using a resume to strut one's digital stuff. As was reported on AOL Jobs last month, the video-enhanced application has even led to a new categorization of resumes. These so-called "presumes" are used as a platform to present the applicant through visual means. They need not take the place of a standard curriculum vitae in dislosing an applicant's qualifications. These introductions often feature slide-shows and are intended as a curtain raiser for the candidacy.
One prospective candidate who made a successful presume to land a job was Hanna Phan. In applying to be a product manager with San Francisco-based SlideRocket, Phan delivered her application in the very presentation software the company makes for its clients. Her presentation was titled, "I Want To Work At Slide Rocket," and like Taralli's video, Phan's didn't get much into her actual resume in her presume, but rather showcased her marketing and digital skills in pitching herself to the company.

Company CEO Chuck Dietrich received Phan's presume just as he was boarding a plane for New York, he told AOL Jobs. Upon viewing it, Dietrich was so impressed with the presentation, he says, that "If I had time to call Hanna before I took off I would have. But I called her right when I landed."




Source: AOL

Are You Using the Wrong Résumé

Many job seekers are aware of only one type of résumé format: chronological, in which your work history is presented in reverse order. But just because this style is the most popular doesn't mean it's the best option for you.
Employers prefer this type of résumé over others because it provides an easy-to-follow snapshot of your work experience. A chronological résumé is a good option if you are pursuing a position in a field in which you have a solid and consistent record of progress. Using this format, however, can be detrimental to your job search efforts if your most recent work experience does not relate to the job for which you are applying.
A chronological résumé also can be troublesome in the following situations:

You have worked exclusively in one field and are applying for a job in a different profession.

You are seeking an entry-level position and have almost no work experience.

You have been a chronic job hopper and held most of your jobs for less than one year.

Your employment history has large gaps. 

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If you feel a chronological résumé is not right for you, consider these other options instead:

The Functional RésuméThe functional résumé is organized around your skills, experiences and accomplishments rather than on specific jobs you've held. It omits (or only mentions in broad terms) your previous roles and dates of employment. Overall, a functional résumé warrants considerations if:

You are an entry-level job seeker with no significant work-related experience.

You are re-entering the workforce after a lengthy absence and little of your work history has bearing on the kind of job you are trying to find.

You have held several jobs, but those jobs do not demonstrate professional growth.

Advantages
The chief advantage of a functional résumé is that it enables you to give prominence to those aspects of your background likely to be of special interest to would-be employers, such as experience in a particular industry or time spent working overseas. This format also shifts the focus away from aspects of your background -- long periods of unemployment, for example -- that might hurt your chances of getting by the initial screening process.
Disadvantages
The major disadvantage of functional résumés is that many employers view them with suspicion. While your strengths and accomplishments are important to a potential employer, most want to know what specific job you held that enabled you to demonstrate the skills you're describing. They also want to know how recent that experience was and, if possible, see some continuity.
The Combination Résumé
The combination résumé incorporates the best features of both chronological and functional résumés. Generally, it leads with a description of your functional skills and related qualifications, followed by a reverse-chronological employment history. The combination résumé may be a good choice if:

You are looking to change careers and want to highlight general skills that relate to your past jobs.

You have had no luck in getting past the screening process with a chronological résumé.

You are applying for a job that interests you and that you think you can handle, but the connection between your work history and that particular job is not particularly strong.

Advantages
The principal advantage of a combination résumé is that, like a functional résumé, it enables you to establish early on what you have accomplished in your career and what skills and attributes you can offer a potential employer. But because you also will include a description of your work history, you can diffuse the suspicions that may arise when the information is omitted.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage of a combination résumé is that some employers -- those who prefer chronological résumés -- may assume that you are attempting to conceal certain aspects of your background. This is not a significant disadvantage, however, as combination résumés are becoming increasingly common.
Ultimately, there is no one right format that you should use when writing your résumé. It might make sense to choose a certain layout for one prospective employer and a different one for another in order to best showcase your skills. But no matter which format you use, make sure your résumé looks professional, provides proof of real results and is targeted to the company's needs. The extra time you take to customize it will pay off by generating more interest from hiring managers.




Source: careerbuilder