Posts Tagged Career
Asking a Professional For Help on Your Resume
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 03/13/2010
When you’re planning your job search, it can sometimes seem like you’ve got an overwhelming amount of things to do. You must find your own job leads, conduct research on companies and write your own resume and cover letter.
However, the truth is that there are plenty of professionals out there to help you if you feel that you’re not quite getting the job done on your own. Getting the assistance of professionals can be a great idea, particularly if your job search is in a slump, and in particular, you may benefit from the services of a professional resume writer.
What Does A Professional Resume Writer Do?
A professional resume writer is a person who is qualified to assist job seekers by creating high-quality resumes that are expected to produce the ultimate result, which is obtaining a job. Professional resume writers aren’t limited to their knowledge of how hiring managers think–they know how to tailor the information in a job candidate’s resume to handle that candidate’s career goals.
Why You Might Consider Getting Resume Assistance
While writing your own resumes provides incredible opportunities to learn more about your career goals and hone in on your writing skills, it is also very beneficial to seek the help of a professional resume writer. One major reason for considering a professional resume writer is the experience that they can bring with them–they know how to look for certain key accomplishments and traits in a resume, and can highlight them to make a candidate look particularly appealing to hiring managers.
Also, the professional resume writer is updated with the current trends in resumes so that you won’t be left behind with an ancient design or formatting style. And most importantly, you will be backed by someone that guarantees you won’t have grammatical or spelling errors on your resume. The promise of perfection is a great reason to consider getting assistance with your resume.
If You Don’t Want Assistance Then…
It’s perfectly fine if you don’t want the assistance of a professional when writing your resume. You might feel that you’re the best person to write your resume, since nobody else knows you as well as you know yourself. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling this way. However, as you work on your resume, it’s good to keep in mind that much of the work that the professional resume writer handles, you’ll have to take care of yourself.
You’ll have to list accomplishments that aren’t just impressive, but meet the needs of the employer and fulfill the requirements for the job that you’re trying to get. Your objective needs to be very strong, and your entire resume needs to be properly formatted. And of course, you’ll want to make sure there are no typos. If you are able to get all of this done on your own then you should have no problems creating a fantastic resume for the next job you apply for.
Whether you want to ask for resume assistance or write your own, the objective is to create something that will ultimately draw enough interest to have an employer consider you for a position. So however you can best get this accomplished is the perfect route for you to take on your job seeking journey.
Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume writing services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Conducting a Job Search in Secret
At some point in your professional life you may find that you are not quite where you want to be and you may therefore decide that you need to conduct a job search in order to find a better opportunity for yourself. The problem is that you don’t want anyone to find out about your job search for fear that you may lose the position that you currently hold. Really then you find yourself in the position of finding a new job but doing so in secret.
This may sound like it is impossible to accomplish, but if you go about just the right way it can be done. No you can’t go about looking for a new job in the traditional sense such as posting your resume online for fear that your employer might see it o look through the classifieds on your lunch break, but there a number of strategies that you can implement that should keep your name out of the boss’ office such as:
-Use Personal Contacts: Many professional jobs are found through personal contacts lending credit to the term, ‘It’s all about who you know.’ If you are seeking a new job and want to keep it on the down low then dig deep into your network. You will of course need to be sure that who you are contacting is not going to let your current employer know that you are seeking employment elsewhere and if you aren’t sure if they will or not, then use someone else.
-Work with Recruiters: Working with job recruiters can take a lot of hassle and worry out of your secret job search. Because a recruiter represents certain companies they will have insights on positions that may fit your skills perfectly. Additionally you can supply the recruiter with all of your information instead of posting it online for the world, and perhaps your boss, to see. Recruiters can also do much of the leg work for you as far as finding positions and setting up interviews goes, which is good because if you are seeking a job in secret you can’t be doing this yourself while you are at work. Just be sure that the recruiter you are working with doesn’t represent the company you are trying to leave.
-Post an Ad: Instead of posting your resume with your name smattered all over it, try posting an ad instead. This may not garish as many interviews as some processes, but it does help to get the word out covertly that you are looking for a job and it lets any potential employers know exactly what you are looking for. To start you can place a ‘position wanted’ ad in your local newspaper but you shouldn’t stop there. Find a trade magazine or two within your industry and post the same ad there for increased exposure. Again, be sure that any publications that you post ads in are not in your current place of business.
While finding a job without it being a secret is hard enough, doing it stealth like is even harder. However, with a little finesses and some determination you can conduct a job search in secret and still be successful doing so.
Jason Kay is a professional resume writer and regular contributor to JobGoRound.com, which provides job search tips, interview advice, and resume service reviews.
How Making Public Appearances Helps an Executive Resume and Job Search
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 03/05/2010
As an executive, you’re often required to think of unique and unusual ways to get noticed and hired. You have to venture out to functions when others don’t have to. It’s recommended that you not only create your own professional blog, but also get on board with other blogs and write for them. Well, there’s one more thing to add to the list: making speeches.
At your level of expertise, you want to have a well-known name and a closely associated brand, and public speeches are very helpful to this end. If you’re not used to making professional presentations (which you should be at this point) then it’s time to learn how. Here are some tips to help you make speeches that could bulk up your resume.
Find Your Topic
Your first job when come up with a speech to give is to come up with your topic. You’re undoubtedly an expert in some subject. Of course, you should consider that you might be an expert in your field of work, but you might have other expertise, such as hobbies or skills that you’ve developed over the years.
Many organizations are looking for people to give insight on a number of topics, including how to invest in the stock market, how to teach yourself to use the computer and even how to save money. However, as an executive your best bet is to speak on topics that could help push your career, such as leadership, organization, and the like.
Get Your Audience
Your next step is to find the right audience for your topic. As mentioned previously, there are tons of organizations that are looking for leaders in the community to offer insight, advice and expertise on a wide variety of topics, so it’s great to start there.
However, you could also give speeches at your local library, many of which have events within in their walls on a regular basis. Also, you could be a very effective speaker for different companies. If fact, some find that they’re so talented at giving motivational speeches to companies that this becomes their full-time job.
Make Your Speech
Of course, once you’ve created your topic and found your audience, it’s time to actually make the speech. Again, you’re probably well aware of the basics of speech-making, so we don’t have to go over much. It helps to keep the basics in mind: a strong introduction, memorable material, and attention-getting tactics (such as eye contact and direct interaction with your audience) are all important–and most of all, have fun.
Add It to Your Resume
After you’ve completed all of your hard work to give your speech, it’s time to add it to your resume. Since it was not completed for a job, you could create either add to another section or create a special section for it (if you’ve done more than one). If you create a new section, try an interesting but to the point title such as “Speaking Engagements.” And if you’ve only given one and want to add to with other items, your title could be “Presentations, Guest Blogs, Special Events” – or whatever you would like to group together.
Getting in front of people and making any sort of connection undoubtedly improves every candidate’s chances of landing an executive level job. Ask yourself: is there any real reason why you shouldn’t be out there giving speeches to develop your name?
Are you an Executive in need of a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Choose a company that specializes in executive resumes and that is best for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Improving a Job Search by Customizing a Resume to a Profession
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 03/04/2010
You may think of a resume as a minor introductory document that shows an employer who you are and why you’re the right applicant for a certain job. However, you’ll want to put considerable time and energy into that document, because a resume can make or break your chances of getting a certain job.
Job seekers in various professions have found this out when using standard resume templates and basic information. Whether you’re trying to prepare yourself for a job in the health or IT industry, an executive job, or a goverment position, here’s a few tips that can help to improve your resume and your chances of getting hired.
Health Care
Anyone working in the health industry knows just how rewarding it is. Whether you’re a medical assistant, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, clinic manager, technologist, physical therapist or physician, you do plenty on your job every day. This should definitely not be taken for granted when writing your resume.
Your job is to show the scope of experience you’ve gained by not selling yourself short when describing previous positions. If you’ve been a charge nurse in various units, it’s important to list those units and showcase the different duties you held. Also, don’t be afraid to use terminology that showcases your expertise, as long as it’s not too abstract for the hiring manager who doesn’t speak “health-ese.”
IT
One standout quality of the information technology industry is the depth of which employees know the latest technology. This is why it’s always important to showcase what you know when writing an IT resume. In addition to proclaiming your levels of proficiency in various programming languages, applications, software and hardware, it’s important to list any certifications you’ve received – these are almost as good as degrees.
Federal / Military
If you’re writing a federal or military resume, details are the most important features to take into consideration. This means, you are supposed to read the job posting thoroughly and list what experience and qualifications you have that exactly match what the position is looking for. Anything that shows that you’re not exactly qualified for the position you’re applying for could result in your resume being discarded.
Another tip to remember with the federal or military resume is that you’ll want to include a KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities), which is a series of statements written in a narrative format. This is an essential part of a federal resume. On some part of the resume or application, be sure to include your title, grade, and announcement number.
Executive
When applying for an executive-level position, you want to keep in mind that the expectations for candidates are extremely high. Executives should be able to effectively show their ability to lead. Having a strong professional brand both on the Internet and non-virtual world are also important. Overall, you want the company to know that you will be a great ROI (return on investment), which can be communicated through a results-driven, accomplishment-heavy resume with tons of numbers (money made, employees managed, etc.).
Regardless of the industry that you’re trying to enter, there’s certainly a way to make your resume stand out and seem well-suited for a given position. So before getting started on yours, see if any of the above tips apply to you then use them to create a resume employers can’t resist.
Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume writers and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Resume Summary Section – Every Resume Needs a Summary Section
Posted by David Alan Carter in Career on 03/04/2010
Resume summary section. Does your resume need one? Yes, says this former recruiter. Here’s why, and what to consider when writing a resume summary.
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A resume without a summary section is like a book without a jacket cover. Book jackets typically offer a tight, teasing summary of what’s inside. If they didn’t, few people would pick up a tome and buy the thing. A resume summary, like a book jacket, is likely the readers’ first impression and can be a most powerful marketing statement.
As the name implies, a resume summary is an overview of the qualifications that make you the perfect fit for the job in question. It’s your advertising pitch to the reader, and your chance to hook that reader and keep him reading. It typically focuses on three to five skills or competencies that have been culled from the resume and represent the best arguments as to why you are a perfect match for the job in question. The goal is to intrigue the reader and motivate that reader to explore the balance of your resume with the predisposition that the qualifications for the job have already been met.
Resume Summary Section – Where To Place It On The Resume
If you’re working with a resume objective statement, you’ll want to place the summary directly beneath the objective. If you’ve elected to forgo an objective, the summary section will be the first section on the resume, just beneath your header (name and contact information).
Should The Summary Take The Place of the Objective?
In some cases, yes. A resume objective is not always necessary or even advisable. Though opinions will vary among career counselors, I believe a objective remains an asset to your resume if at least one of the following holds true:
1) You know the actual position title you’re applying for.
2) You have a diverse work background that doesn’t lend itself to a natural focus.
3) You’re changing careers, or entering the job market for the first time.
While a resume objective is not always needed or advised, keep in mind that focus is always required. So if you choose not to use an objective, your summary section will need to pull extra duty: it will have to include the element of focus that would have otherwise fallen to the objective.
Resume Summary – How To Structure One
The best resume summaries are brief in nature, as the word “summary” would imply. A summary can be a solid block of text (2-3 sentences, or a paragraph) that summarizes your qualifications for a targeted position. Or it can be a sentence or two that sets the stage, followed by a bulletted list of three or so notable specifics that act to reinforce that statement of qualification. Example:
Summary:
Division Merchandising Manager offering ten years of progressively responsible managerial experience in the retail industry – including budgetary accountability for up to $20 million and the management of up to 18 direct reports.
- Special expertise in trend analysis and forecasting, merchandise planning, inventory control, and advertising and promotion.
- Proactive style of management; take charge of situations and deliver effective results.
- Effective communicator (written and verbal) with polished presentation skills.
Different Names For The Summary Section
A resume summary section can go by different names. Pick your favorite: Profile; Summary of Qualifications; Career Summary; Accomplishments Profile; etc. You get the idea. Label it what you like. But whatever you label it, make sure it’s part of your resume.
Former recruiter David Alan Carter compares the Web’s most popular Professional Resume Services at the website http://TopResumeServices.com, reviewing quality of workmanship and giving each a star ranking. C-Level executives will appreciate Carter’s take on executive resume services.
Karren Brady Brings a New Style to the Apprentice
Times are changing on the hit BBC show The Apprentice. Not only has Lord Alan Sugar taken on a government role as the new Enterprise Tsar to the Prime Minister, but Margaret Mountford has resigned. She will be replaced by the “First Lady of Football” and former Birmingham City managing director, Karren Brady.
Who is Karren Brady and what makes her such a corporate success? Chantel du Plooy takes a look at Karren’s career and the role she is expected to play on The Apprentice Series 6.
The new Margaret
With Lord Sugar appointed as a Labour peer, the BBC Trust has called for a rescheduling of the programme. It wouldn’t be appropriate for The Apprentice to give additional media coverage to the Labour party when a general election is due. As a result, viewers will have to wait until July or August for the show to air.
Sadly the audience will also need to make peace with the absence of Margaret Mountford, who alongside Nick Hewer advised Lord Sugar since the show started five years ago.
The 56-year-old corporate lawyer was a natural. She played her role as Lord Sugar’s “eyes and ears” flawlessly, knowing just when to lift a brow, roll her eyes or speak.
In the Guardian, Kira Cochrane wrote that Margaret “combines a steely core with acute moral and business judgment.”
Before and during her time on The Apprentice, Margaret didn’t care for fame and that is what made her such a keeper. She left the show after finishing the fifth series to focus on her PhD studies in papyrology, leaving an extremely important role vacant.
Before news broke that Karren Brady would be her successor, many experts set their own characteristics for the “new Margaret”.
Tim Teeman, arts and entertainment editor of the Times, said that The Apprentice could risk losing its mystique if they opted to appoint someone glamorous to replace Margaret.
Daily Telegraph television critic Mary Evans added: “It’s quintessentially British to have the slightly older woman. We don’t do glamour in Britain; we do sensible, regal and sound. We have the candidates for eye-candy and it’s important that they are looking across the boardroom at the craggiest faces.”
Ironically enough, apart from the very attractive 40-year-old Karren Brady, the other candidates vying for the position were equally enchanting. These included 39-year-old the Ultimo Gel bra founder, Michelle Mone and 37-year-old entrepreneur, Martha Lane Fox.
“As tough as they come”
Karren Brady, the current vice-chairman of West Ham United, might already be familiar to The Apprentice fans after she featured in a series of one-off appearances. She also led a team on Comic Relief does The Apprentice and rose over £750,000.
However, Karren’s media career began at the age of 18 when she started working at advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi. She moved on to become an Account Executive at London Broadcasting Company (LBC) where her paths crossed with publisher David Sullivan.
Sullivan made her a director at his company when she was only 20-years-old. Three years later, she took over the management of Birmingham City Football Club. Although Karren didn’t know much about the sport, she directed the company back into profit. She became the youngest Managing Director of a PLC in the UK and improved the average gate of the Club from 6,000 to 30,000.
When she left Birmingham City after sixteen years, many were disappointed. Dough Ellis, former chairman of rivals Aston Villa told the Birmingham Post: “I’ve a great deal of respect for her business acumen and what she has done for the football club. I used to sit next to her in FA meetings and got to know her well.
“She’s as tough as they come and it’s a huge loss for Birmingham City Football Club. She’ll be missed enormously.”
Unlike Margaret, Karren enjoyed a lot of media attention during her career. She hosted her own TV show, Brady Bunch, presented Central Weekend Live and wrote a string of columns for UK newspapers.
She was also awarded Cosmopolitan magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2006, named Business Woman of the Year in 2007 and won the NatWest Every Woman Award in 2008. In between all her professional duties, she is also a wife and mother of two.
While Karren Brady doesn’t have Margaret’s mystique or matriarchal image, she does bring a wealth of experience and business smarts to the table, along with lashings of energy, wit and style.
Chantel is a regular contributor of career advice and jobs news for leading UK Job Board http://www.careersandjobsuk.com Link text
Sales Objective – Tips For Writing a Sales Resume Objective
Posted by David Alan Carter in Jobs on 03/03/2010
A sales objective… struggling with one? Here’s what not to say, along with a case study of one sales resume objective that proved successful.
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If you’ve built a career in sales, and you’re currently looking for a job, the objective on your resume is likely to be the first impression you’ll be casting to much of the world. Your resume has to sell you to a cynical audience – recruiters and hiring officials who have heard it all and seen it all on paper. And the first thing that cynical audience will see is your…
Sales Resume Objective
An objective statement is not required of every resume. There are times when a resume is better served without an objective. But an objective statement is important and advisable when 1) you know the exact title of the position you’re applying for, 2) your work background has been varied enough such that a reader would have a tough time identifying your current career goal without such an objective statement.
Toward that latter point, if you’ve got a background in tech support, sales, welding and rodeo clowning, you need focus and you need it fast. A resume objective quickly draws a bead on your target, and helps condition the reader to the information that follows.
Of course, that resume objective needs to be well written. Slap together an objective statement, and you’ll likely end up doing more harm than good. The biggest problem most people run into: they don’t view the objective through the eyes of the hiring official.
Sales Resume Objectives That Don’t Work, And Why
Here are three examples of sales objectives that delivered their attached resumes straight to the circular file. My notes are in [brackets].
1) “I wish to obtain a challenging job in sales.” [Too general. Yes, the writer has homed-in on sales as his occupational preference (as opposed to rodeo clowning). But what kind of sales? You've got your territory sales, your outside sales, your inside sales, and your sales management. And challenging? It's a resume cliche. I wish? Elementary school.]
2) “A position in Technical Sales offering advancement opportunities.” [Better, as the writer is targeting more precisely his occupational preference. But bringing up his desire for advancement in the same breath leaves me questioning his genuine enthusiasm for the day-to-day duties of technical sales. Tip: don't bring up advancement before securing even the first job on the ladder.]
3) “Seeking a position in Sales or Customer Service which could fully utilize my skills and abilities.” [Well, which is it going to be? Sales or customer service? In most companies, those are quite dissimilar professions. And what "skills and abilities" are you referring to? Yes, you want to subtly tease in the objective. But everybody's got "skills and abilities." This writer has not teased me to want to read further in order to identify those skills and abilities.]
Case Study – Alison
Alison was a licensed Realtor with three years experience selling homes in a highly competitive market. After combing through her work history and discussing her goals during a phone interview, I wrote the following resume objective. Keep in mind, Alison had identified the company she wanted to work for, and we were responding to an actual classified ad for a position opening.
“Position in NEW HOME SALES (Builder’s Representative) requiring a skilled negotiator with industry insight, excellent customer relations, and a demonstrated track record for delivering results.”
Why Did This Sales Objective Work?
For starters, it directly identified the position sought, which exactly matched the job opening. Secondly, it addressed the job qualifications as spelled out in the ad. In fact, the keywords “negotiator” and “track record” were actually in the advertisement, yet they also perfectly matched Alison’s skill set and work history.
Set ‘em Up and Keep ‘em Reading
Alison’s sales objective was targeted and focused. It spoke directly to the needs of the hiring manager, and offered tantalizing assertions as to the value of this candidate. The objective statement is not the place to prove those assertions. That would come in the subsequent “profile” and “experience” sections.
At this stage of the game, it’s sufficient that the hiring official keeps reading. And a good sales objective does just that – keeps ‘em reading.
Former recruiter David Alan Carter compares the Web’s most popular Professional Resume Writing Services at the website http://TopResumeServices.com, reviewing quality of workmanship and giving each a star ranking. C-Level executives will appreciate Carter’s take on Executive Resume Services.
Things to Think About When Filling Out a Job Application
Posted by Nick Woods in Career on 02/26/2010
Applying for a brand new job has never seemed to be a very relaxed process. Perhaps it is just the continuous turning down of job applications that makes it seem so challenging, I truly do not know. One point I know I’m absolutely convinced on is that a job application should be filled in carefully in order for ones probability of getting a interview and job to strengthen.
Anyway, so many individuals seem to find this very complicated, so I what I’ve done is outlined a number of beneficial tips on how to fill out a job application offline. Before we move any further with any job application you need to make certain you dig up all the information considered necessary to fill it out appropriately. Such as old resumes and earnings slip data from your prior employers is crucial for this stage of a job application. Without this information you will really struggle to fill it out the instant you get to a work place that asks you to conclude the form on the spot.
Write this valuable information and data down on a piece of paper or add it to note pad on your computer and print it off. Other vital documentation and information are obtainable from the social security department. You should as well continually make certain you take your social security Card wherever you go as well as a valid driver’s license. Both of these are mandatory for you to complete an application form for any listed jobs.
The next part of the application process is to truly fill in your application. Since these forms can be filled in on location it is crucial to mention that whatever is going to land you that job interview is all dependent on that piece of paper. Therefore when filling out the application it is foremost that you be as smart and clean as possible. Cancelling out unnecessarily will outcome in you being turned down on behalf of an interview since that communicates to the employer that you are careless and dirty.
Legibility is crucial as well. Carefully write everything in the spaces on the application in such a way that anyone who lays their hands on it will be able to read whatever is written there. Correctness and preciseness are again things you have got to use since any mistakes might merely lead to you not getting a response for your job application.
After you have finished the application you must double check to make certain that all entered information is correct to the last letter and number. Go through it more than merely once to make certain you do not over look specific errors that are not easily detectable at first read. The last part of the process includes you actually being smart while collecting and submitting the application. You ought to also make certain that you are polite and presentable in your conduct of speech. Such things stand out and a company will not hesitate to jot down that on the application as soon as you leave.
There are many options out there when you start looking for a job everything from Fast Food Jobs to Customer Service Jobs but you must learn how to fill out a job application to help increase your odds of getting the job.
How Considering Trends Can Help Your Executive Job Search
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 02/25/2010
The New Year has brought on many new trends in the job search world – and the same is true in the executive realm. As an executive, it’s always good to stay in the know so that you don’t fall behind on great ways to find jobs that may not have been available just a few months ago. If you’re just getting started on your executive job search, or are continuing one you started months ago, you may be able to learn something from the executive job search trends of 2010.
Get On Board with Newer Technology
By now, you’re probably well aware of the job search capabilities that Facebook and LinkedIn can offer you. However, other technologies are quickly becoming popular with professionals that allow new ways to connect with recruiters, post CVs or resumes, or simply build an executive’s brand.
One site that is gaining notoriety is VisualCV, a site that allows you to house your portfolio of your personal marketing documents in one location. You can develop a virtual portfolio with work samples, charts, graphs, and much more by signing up for a free account. Also, you can share your VisualCV via email or through your social networking sites. It’s a great, professional way to get your CV circulating among the people that need to see it.
Also, you may consider creating a Google Profile. Since Google is the main search engine that recruiters use to find potential candidates, it’s good to control as much as possible that they find about you. Creating a Google Profile allows people to find information about you in a professional, standardized way. This is definitely a must at the executive level.
Sign Up With Twitter for Pete’s Sake
If you have yet to sign up on Twitter, why not choose 2010 to do so? While many executives write off Twitter as an unnecessary, juvenile pursuit, this isn’t the case–a simple Twitter account can help you meet new people that could affect your career, and it provides a great tool for building your image and showing your professionalism.
Believe it or not, Twitter is a great place to be located by recruiters and key hiring decision makers on a daily basis. By setting up shop on this great social networking site, linking to LinkedIn as well as other blogs/resume locations and throwing out industry-friendly words of wisdom at least once a day, you’d be surprised just how many recruiters could find you.
Volunteer This Year
Taking time to give back to your community is not only a fulfilling experience, but is also a great way to beef up your job search. You can create more opportunities to add to your resume/CV and, even better, create great networking opportunities that would not have been available had you spend all of your job search time behind the computer.
Conducting an executive job search can be a tedious job, but it isn’t so bad if you go about it the right way. Hopefully, these new and recurring trends will keep your job search moving in the right direction so that this time next year you’ll be well settled into your next executive-level job.
Are you an Executive in need of a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Choose a company that specializes in executive resume writing and that is best for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com