Profile Pictures and Your Job Search

 Simple but great tip:

"Streamline your profile pictures. You want your Google page, Linkedin profile, Twitter profile, and Pinterest account to all have the same image, so that people who don’t really know you still know they are looking at the same person across all digital channels. When your future employer see this, they’ll spot your attention to detail, dedication to your craft, and above all, your understanding of the digital space. It’s a simple technique, and yet very, very effective. For example, when I applied for my current job, I sent in my resume and cover letter, both of which linked to my web page. The font on my web page matches the font on my resume, and I use the same background image across all my spaces (my blog, Tumblr, Twitter, even my Facebook page, which might be a little over the top, I admit…)" - Brand Yourself in Four Simple Steps 

Important Thing to Know For a Modern Job Search

Did you know...
Resumes are mostly read online

"Most employers will not print your resume during the hiring process. Instead, they’ll read your qualifications via email or in their applicant tracking system. So, while your resume might look great on paper, you need to make sure it’s easily read on a computer screen by using short paragraphs, bold and italics to emphasize important information, and a good amount of white space."- 5 Important Things to Know For a Modern Job Search | CareerEnlightenment.com

There are other tricks as well. Auto scanners can not always read PDF files, and certain fonts will not show up either. Just one more reason a professional resume writer is the way to go.

Order Your Resume Correctly to Get Noticed

 "Job seekers often are diligent about getting all the important information into their resumes, without considering what gets noticed most by someone that doesn’t know them.

They read their own resume, and since they know their experience and background well, don’t read it the same way someone else might. They assume that the relevant information will be noticed, and are surprised to hear when it’s not. I often hear people say something like:

“I can’t believe they asked me that question in the interview! If they had read my resume, they would have known the answer.”"- When It Comes to Your Resume, Order Matters! | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog:

Rule of thumb: the most important material should be in the top third of the resume.

Why You Shouldn't Write Your Resume Yourself

Could not have said this better myself:

While the Internet is a great resource to find templates of resumes and to view other individual examples, it does not necessary help you create an effective resume for yourself. Reviewing these examples help you determine what structure and order is best to use with your own resume, but it will not help you effectively develop the most critical core elements necessary to showcase your professional experiences and passions – the content and brand that differentiates you from other candidates.

There is a reason why professionally written resumes produce greater results than one written on your own. Professional resume writers know the ins and outs to what works well in today’s challenging environment. They have written and seen hundreds of resumes and know the best practices to make you stand out. They also know the various tools and technologies that employers are using to screen candidates. In short, they know how to create a resume that will help differentiate you from others. - Writing a Resume: 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Write Your Own

Is Your Resume Holding You Back?

"Many people think that just having a generic resume is enough. They assume that if their resume looks decent, then their chances of getting a job is high. What many job seekers don’t realize is that their resume could be holding them back and actually be the reason they are not getting called for job interivews.

If you are unemployed, or actively searching for a new career, take the time to look at your resume and identify areas where you can make improvements. A common mistake is to assume that your resume will work well as a one-size-fits-all option. However, there is little highlighting your office skills on a resume if you are applying to be a Structural Engineer. You need to ensure that your resume is written for the type of position your’re seeking, and effectively communicates the value and expertise you can offer in the position you’re applying for." - Is Your Resume Holding You Back?

Tip For Experienced But Unemployed Job Seekers

I was certainly glad to see the number 3 piece of advice in Simply Hireds newest post was to rewrite your resume.

" 3. Perfect your resume. If you’re on the job search, your first priority should be your resume. It must show your value to potential employers to ensure you make it to the interview round. Make sure resume uses active writing to show hiring managers and recruiters what you accomplished and what you’re capable of.

Make sure that your resume is clean and clutter free. Anything that does not effectively sell your skills needs to go. Clean up your resume by using the ever faithful bullet points. Always keep in mind that less is sometimes more. You don’t need to get too fancy with fonts, language or formatting." - 6 Tips For Experienced Job Seekers Who Have Been Unemployed Long-Term - Simply Hired Blog

A Professional Resume Writer Can Help You Find the Sweet Spot

The top third of your resume is where your headline, branding statement and general objective need to create a unified picture of who you are and what you do.

"Ask most people who screen resumes internally or refer candidates to decision makers for a fee and they’ll tell you they generally scan the top-third or top-half of the first page of a resume and then determine whether a candidate is worth reaching out to. I call this the Sweet Spot on the resume."- The Sweet Spot: It's What's Up Front That Counts! 

Number 1 Resume Proofreading Error

This is an error I see all the time: faulty verb tenses.

"Do not switch verb tenses in describing your responsibilities. The duties you perform in your current position should be in present tense (i.e., I analyze budgets), but those you performed in previous jobs should be in past tense (i.e., analyzed budgets)." -Tips For Proofreading Your Resume | Ioana Lazarov:

Illegal Job Interview Question

Even in a tight job market, an applicant has rights. A potential employer can not ask about your age.

"In general, the only age-related inquiry an employer can ask is whether or not you are above the minimum age required to legally work in certain jobs (for example, you have to be over 18 to be employed in a job that requires you to operate heavy machinery).

However, it’s unlawful for employers to otherwise discriminate based on age. So, an interview really has no legitimate basis to ask you a question about your age."- Illegal Job Interview Questions | Ioana Lazarov:

Resume Mistakes

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see as a resume writing professional.

" In life, you can’t be all things to all people. Your professional life isn’t any different. The resume you create should be focused on one interest. This means you need more than one resume if you are willing to take your career in different directions. That’s fine. There’s nothing taboo about spreading your wings. Just know that in order to do that successfully, you have to compartmentalize your experience.

Let’s say you are interested in a sales position, but you are also willing to take an administrative job. Some of the skills for each position are the same (e.g., people and follow-through skills) and others will be different. In sales, knowledge of consultative sales techniques is important; a skill an administrative assistant doesn’t need. Adding an unnecessary skill-set to a resume distracts from the skills that are pertinent to the job you are seeking. That is the reason you need more than one resume. To keep the reader focused on the information that matters." - Resume Mistakes Job Seekers Make

Cover Letter Writing Tips

"When you need to write a cover letter, it's sometimes the small things that make a big difference. Mentioning a name (referral cover letters) of someone who works at the company, for example, can get your cover letter and resume a closer look.

Noting what you know about the company helps, too. Taking the time to write a custom cover letter for each job you apply for probably is the best value you can add your to candidacy for a job, on the chart of what's most important in cover letter writing." -Cover Letter Writing Tips

Four Resume Killers

Avoid these four embarrassingly common mistakes to avoid killing your chances for an interview at first glance:

1. No cover letter attached
2.Applying for the wrong job
3. A bad picture- many foreign resume require one, makes sure yours is a quality and at the least appropriate one.
4. Providing little to no details about your work experience

Personal Branding and your Resume

Make sure to carefully map out your personal branding statement as it can make the difference between a resume that lands you a job and one that ends up in the circular file.

"Your resume is an amazingly important document. It not only speaks to your past accomplishments, but it also acts as a predictor of your future capabilities.

However, your resume can’t successfully complete this task if it isn’t packed with quality information. This includes an outstanding personal branding statement.

What is a personal branding statement? It is a statement that communicates who you are in the workplace. Borrowed from the marketing world, it reflects your professional reputation. On your resume, the statement is used to summarize, in just a few words, who you are. This is why it’s so important to take formulaic steps in order to develop one that gets the job done." - 3 Steps to an Outstanding Personal Branding Statement | CAREEREALISM

Professional Resume Writers Worth the Cost

"[I]f your financial, personal or job status has changed in the last year, or if your situation is detailed and complex and requires special knowledge and expertise, hiring a qualified professional to prepare a tax return or resume is the most economical and hassle-free option.

If you are cringing or procrastinating at the thought of shelling out cash for a pro, stop right now! A knowledgeable tax preparer or resume writer may cost you some dollars up front, but they can also help you get back more than you paid – and with interest rates being what they are, who would not appreciate a reasonable return on an investment

Why is this so?

Simply put, skilled preparers and resume writers know more about their profession than you do. Where you are likely to prepare one tax return a year or prepare a new resume once every 2-10 years, these professionals do this for a living and prepare countless tax returns and resumes each year. Most important, because this is their source of income they stay current with changes and trends in their business and know what information needs to be compiled, where it gets placed and what will set off a red flag with the IRS or a prospective employer." - Circumvent Costly Red Flags on Your Taxes and Your Resume | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

Lack of Experience on Your Resume?

There are lots of new grads or recent career changers who need to deal with this problem. Here is one way to rectify the situation: Work as an unpaid intern

"Though not as altruistic as volunteering, an unpaid internship may be a position within the company for which you want to work. Working for that company can give you a preview of the workplace experience in the environment. An internship can also give your prospective employer a chance to see your work on a trial basis." -What to Do When You're Not Experienced

Use Your Elevator Speech on Your Resume

This is a great way to create consistency in your personal brand. Developing an elevator speech: who you are and what you do in a sentence or two, is a solid job hunting skill. The more places you use it the more expansive your personal brand becomes. You can even use it on your resume.

"Keep in mind that your resume is yours to develop; and what you put on it is your decision. We know that there are optional elements to your resume, such as a professional summary or objective usually somewhere close to the top under your contact information. You can use your elevator speech statement, either as your professional summary or as the first sentence in your summary. By putting your elevator speech in your resume, you set the tone for how the reader will view your qualifications." -
Extend Your Personal Brand With an Elevator Speech | CAREEREALISM