Job Seekers Guide to Resume Reading Software

Make your resume computer friendly if you want to get noticed.

The job outlook is improving, slightly, and in time the economy will improve to the point where companies are going to need to hire new employees. After all, many companies have stayed afloat through this recession by shedding jobs and working the few employees left harder. But eventually, once consumer demand rises, they will have no choice but to increase their payrolls to meet demand. However, many would-be job seekers are going to miss out because of a new way of reading resumes. 

Resume Reading Software

Many larger companies now use what is call parsing software to scan your resume electronically looking for key terms and phrases. If your resume doesn’t have them then you are out of luck. One such software company boasts that it can:

• Process 25,000+ resumes in one night
• Extract Resume information and then use it to run Boolean searches
• Reduce Resume screening process by 80%

The technical jargon may throw you, but the end result is that your resume can be in and out of the queue in less than a second. A standard resume writer’s line used to be that you only had 10 seconds to grab a reader's attention (Heck, I have used it myself- it was true). Now, that has been decreased by a factor of 10!

Keywords are King

All is not lost. There are ways to please both the resume reading software and the human eyes that will eventually read your resume: Keywords.  Resume keywords are the terms that the software will hunt for first. Each job has a unique set of terms that are vital. Knowing what they are is not a straightforward process; it is one part science and one part art. The first thing to do is to look at the actual job listing and dissect the keywords used there.  

Additionally, do some research around the job you want to land. Look up a variety of job descriptions. What do they all have in common? Chances are you have hit on some of the key terms that your resume should include. What is vitally important to understand is that each position is going to have a unique set of words. Long gone are the days when one general resume was all you needed. Today you need a finely targeted resume to send in to each individual job opening.

Keyword Location

For the purpose of the resume reading software it doesn’t matter where your keywords  are on the resume. They can be located in the branding statement, summary, job history etc, as long as they are there. However, if your resume passes the scanner, it will then be read by an HR professional, so placement of keywords ends up being important as well. here is where the old 10 second rule comes back into play. You want a document that will catch a human’s eyes and be easily digestible in about ten seconds.

First, list the most important ones in your summary “above the fold.”  Then when you get down to your job descriptions and details flesh them out. Don’t just say you are an expert in market analysis, show how you have successfully analyzed market which lead to increased profits for your company.  The keyword will make the resume parsing software happy, and the detail will make the HR reader happy. If you can successfully please both, you just may land that interview.

So go out there and start applying for positions, and take advantage of a slowly opening job market. Just be sure each resume you send out is tailored to the opening and has appropriate keywords and details.

Tips for Choosing a Career You Love

As most college graduations wrapped up last week, there are now a lot more people considering career choices. The road of life offers many choices, spend some time researching the right one for you and your life will be all the better for a little preparation.

Work doesn’t necessarily have to feel like work, especially if you're involved in something that you enjoy doing for a living. Your career choice is a major decision that will inevitably impact the direction of your life in a positive or negative way It all depends on if you decide on a job that fits your needs and interests.

Although money may be a motivation, it shouldn't be your sole reason for entering a certain career. Instead, a number of factors should be part of your selection process, including the amount of fulfillment you get out of doing the work required of you. This undoubtedly will determine your well-being in other areas of your life, which is why it's important to weigh your options carefully. Take a look at some helpful steps to consider as you transition into a new future.

Do Research 

Nothing spells success like preparation. A good way to start looking for the career of your dreams is to conduct your own research about various industries that spark your interests. Find out general job requirements, as well as advantages and disadvantages to specific positions. Compensation is another factor to consider and can be found on various informative sites, such as Salary.com. 

Know Your Strengths 

Make sure that you have a clear understanding of what you do best. If you're good at self-analysis, you can make a list of what you're good at and what areas you need to improve. Another way to find out this kind of information is by taking self assessments that are often administered in various career colleges, employment offices, and temporary agencies. Keep in mind that it's important to be honest with yourself about your qualities and weaknesses, as being in denial about these areas could end up backfiring on you in the long run. 

Determine Your Dislikes

Being in a career that you hate can be detrimental to your perspective on life. As a result, your disillusionment can begin to spill over into other areas that are valuable to you, such as family and hobbies. In order to avoid this, you should first determine what things you might not enjoy doing in a particular position. If you aren't a people-person, for instance, it probably won't be a good idea to apply for customer service jobs or other career choices that require individuals to directly interact with clients on a regular basis. 

Consult with a Professional 

It never hurts to get outside advice from a qualified professional. Career counselors and life coaches are trained to help individuals find careers that fit their lifestyles, as well as address additional factors that may impact their way of life. It's important to have the support you need when it comes to making such a drastic choice that will affect other decisions down the line. 

Consider Job Shadowing

Another helpful action is to look into job shadowing someone that is currently in the career that you're exploring. Doing this will help you learn what situations you're likely to be involved in throughout the day. From meetings and administrative tasks, to presentations and interacting with clients, you'll find out the qualities and drawbacks of your prospective choice firsthand. Plus, you'll be able to ask questions about areas that you're not clear about or other types of scenarios that may occur. 

Apply for Internships

Many people gain some hands-on experience in the career that hope to enter by accepting an internship position. This kind of job will acquaint you with the specific tasks that's required, as well as give you a better idea of how you would thrive in your future work environment. Internships are instrumental in helping you determine if you're really cut out for the career you love before you completely commit to it. They're great to boost your work experience as well. 

Become a Volunteer 

Others choose to volunteer at organizations that they're interested in working for. Although they're not paid, these positions still offer individuals the opportunity to find out if a career is suitable for them. It also shows prospective employees that you're willing to put in the extra effort without compensation and could result in employment if they're largely impressed with your contributions and work ethic. 

So whether you are one of those thousand who just graduated from college and are now entering the world of work, or you are just someone looking for a change, it helps to have a strategy moving you forward. Use these tips to start on a new career adventure.

Tips for Summertime Networking

With Memorial Day weekend coming up, Summer is right around the corner and that means coming out of Winter hibernation and re-engaging with the world at large. This is especially true for those of you who are between jobs or are looking for that next big career move. Why? Because natural networking is the best kind, and the good weather provides for multiple opportunities to make new connections and strengthen older ones.

While the rest of the year is full of professional development events and calendar appointments, summertime is more relaxed. This is when you create genuine and friendly connections that you can come back to because of the authenticity of the relationship.

In case it has been a while since you have truly relaxed, here are a few tips on low-stress summertime networking.

Get some sun. Seriously, move the networking outside.

Lose the tie, let down your hair and get out into the sunshine. Attend local barbecues, take up tennis, play some golf. There are new people to meet everywhere and you never know where your new best friend is going to come from. One of the keys here is not to push things. Just be yourself and mingle. If you are trying too hard people will notice, and quickly run in the opposite direction. Just have fun;  you might even run into a future employer at a Fourth of July block party.

Be a Boy Scout (or Girl Scout)

This is really networking 101, but you should always be prepared to encounter a contact. However, in warmer and more casual settings this takes a little more finesse. You can’t go the beach volleyball game with your resume and portfolio. The full job hunting tool box has to stay home. What you can have is a business card resume. 

These are simple to create and super handy to have. Go to a local office supply store and get a pack of blank business cards. Then use your word processing program to create some simple resume cards. On one side include your contact info and professional title. On the reverse write out your branding statement and possibly 3-6 keywords. That is all there is to it, and best of all, it handily fits in a wallet or purse so that it can be ready at a moment’s notice.

Don’t Forget the One That Brung Ya’

We all remember high school. Everyone knows of the guy who showed up at the dance with one girl only to leave with another. It should go without saying, but, don’t be that guy (or girl). You have most likely spent the year cultivating relationships already. Just because the calendar turns to June doesn’t mean you forget them. Be sure to cement contacts you have already accumulated by inviting them to your Summer events as well. Keep in touch in a more casual setting. 

To Give it to Receive

This time of year is great for volunteer opportunities. Do some good by giving back to your community and you may make some good friends along the way.

Just remember, whatever you do, do not neglect your networking for the Summer months. You can not expect to just jump back in the game come September. Career development is a full time job- make sure you stay in the game.

Top 8 Questions to Ask at an Interview

Reporters are not the only ones who need to ask good questions.

While my job as a resume writer is to help you get an interview, there is more to landing a job than just getting some face time with an employer. Once you pass the gauntlet of auto scanners, HR department readers and hiring committees, you need to prepare for the interview itself. There are two things you can do to vastly improve your chances at this point. 

1. Research the types of questions that you will be asked.

2. Come up with some important questions of your own to ask the employer.

The first one is pretty standard. You know you are going to be asked some of the classics like, “What is your biggest weakness?” and “Why should we hire you?” (And no, just in case you were contemplating it, you can not answer the previously stated questions with, “I am a perfectionist” and “Because I am awesome”. While both may be true, neither is going to impress an interviewer. Be original.) Additional questions will of course vary depending on your field, but they can generally be researched and answered well, if you take the time to prepare and rehearse your answers.

The second part takes some real planning and forethought. To help you along in the process here are my top eight questions to ask during an interview. (Hey, everyone does top ten lists; I being original here.)

OK, I know I just said that these are questions to ask at the interview, but the first two actually come before you even get there, but they are vitally important. 

#1 Ask who is interviewing you.

Sometimes you’ll interview with a department head, other times an entire committee. Knowing ahead of time exactly what you will face will make the whole process easier. Also, take the time to find out a little about your interviewer so you can try to create some rapport. (Note: Do not turn into a stalker and research his personal details and download photos of his kids. You just want to know generally about him.)

#2 Ask if they can tell you more about the job and how your qualifications are a match?

You customized your resume to fit this position with branding statements, keywords, supporting details (you did, do this right?) and they chose to interview you. Ask them to flesh out the position and where your experience matches up. Give them the opportunity to verify what you already know about yourself ~ you can do this job. 

Now that you have armed yourself with some of the finer points of the job and how you can help the company, it is time to shine at the interview itself.

#3 Find out what the short and long term goals for the position are.

Ask this early on in the process. If you know exactly where they want to go with this position you can better highlight how your history and skills can assist them in achieving their goals.

#4 Who are you replacing and why?

Obviously you are not going to get a name, but by asking, it shows you are concerned about the future beyond simply landing this job. If the previous employee was promoted, you’ll know there is room for advancement. If they were let go you may be able to find out more about the employer's expectations for the job.

#5 Find out who you will be working with.

Are you going to be part of a team? Will you report directly to one person? How much independence / initiative are they looking for?

#6 Ask what they see as the biggest challenge that will face whoever takes this position.

Remember your goal in an interview is to show them that you can solve their problems. What can you add to their company? Finding out their biggest concerns right now will go a long way towards establishing yourself as the problem solver.

#7 Ask if they have any reservations about your ability to fill the position

This one can be a little intimidating to ask, but if they have doubts you want the chance to allay their fears, don’t you. Ask this towards the end of the interview and do your best to give honest responses to their concerns. 

#8 When can you expect to hear from them?

After going through this process it is only fair to request that you be informed in a timely manner whether or not they are prepared to make you an offer. If nothing else it lets them know that you value your time as a professional.

Remember, the resume and portfolio is important, but it isn’t the end of the game. Be prepared to show the interviewer your best self and move one step closer to a new job.

College Grads: How to Dress for your Interview

Graduation day- the beginning of adult life, responsibilities, college loan payments, actual housekeeping and you actually have to dress like a grown up now. This is especially important when it comes to a job interview. Competition is tough right now, so if you are lucky enough to get some face time with a potential employer you’ll want to be appropriately dressed for the occasion.

So, you ask, what should I wear? Well, it depends. Lets go step by step through the possibilities.

First up: the Professional interview

If you are interviewing for a professional position or even a post-grad internship at a professional organization, then business attire will be required. For men this means a suit and tie with matching dress shoes. For women this means a suit, closed toe shoes and moderate accessories. Remember that you want to look professional, but you do not want to call attention to your attire. You want what you say and do to be the lasting impression.

Next up: the Non-professional interview

If you are applying for summer jobs, positions in retail or the hospitality industry you’ll be able to get away with a more casual outfit. Sometimes this style of dress is referred to as business casual attire. Here the rules are similar for both men and women. Collared shirts, cotton pants, casual shoes. Most variations of this will be fine.

If you are unsure how to dress for your interview it is always a safe bet to overdress a bit. Better to have a coat and tie and not need it, than to be underdressed and look unprofessional.

What not to wear

Sometimes it is easier to explain what not to do, and attire for an interview is one of those times. Look over the following list and be sure you are not guilty of any of these interview-killing offenses.

• Do not bring a backpack, cinchsack, or worst of all- a fannypack. Briefcases and portfolios only!
• No sunglasses, headphones, ipods or other traveling gear. Remove these once you get there and put them in your briefcase.
• No short skirts. Everything should be knee length.
• Ditch the novelty tie. This may be OK at the holiday party- after you are hired.
• Too bright colors. Remember, you do not want your clothes to leave an impression.
• Women: go easy on the makeup. Men:...um...do I have to say anything here?
• Jewelry: less is more on women, and men should have nothing but a watch and wedding ring.
• Miscellaneous accessories such as nail color, hair color or tattoos should all be conservative or hidden.
• Women should keep to neutral color hosiery that matches their suit.
• Men whose socks don't match their shoes are a turn off- both in dating and job interviews.
• Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes are a definite no-no. If the interviewer starts sneezing as soon as you walk in the room it is a bad sign.
• Finally, if you have bought a brand new outfit for your first big interview, do not forget to remove the tags. 
  
  

Job Hunting Tips for High School & College Grads

It is that time of year again. Graduation gowns, proms, valedictorian speeches, and the inevitable question that follows all graduation activities: Now what? Whether you are graduating from high school or college you will need to have some job plans for the future.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your resume package is complete. While the importance of finding work after school is more important to college grads than high school grads, with the ever-increasing cost of college, even 18 year olds need to be gainfully employed- even if for just the summer months. So whether you are applying for an internship or are taking the first step onto the corporate ladder these tips should help you on your way.

Resume Tips for Recent High School Grads

If you have just finished high school then creating a resume will be your first challenge. While your experience is limited, proper format and some writing savvy will go a long way towards making your resume one that gets attention.

1. Make an Outline. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before. As an English teacher I know I have certainly said it before. However, it bears repeating, because it is true. Before you write anything, make should to list it all out.
2. Review Resume Samples. There are lots of different ways to format your resume. Look around the web, check out a book at the library, determine what format will work best for you.
3. Include All Your Activities. At this stage in your professional life you are going to be thin on accomplishments, so it is better to err on the side of over-including.
4. Promote Your Attitude and Performance. Later on, once you are established, this will be considered filler in a resume, but at this point playing up your work ethic will come across as appropriate. Sell yourself.
5. Use Action Verbs. Never start a statement with a personal pronoun. Instead of saying, “ I contributed articles to the school newspaper,” say, “ Contributed quality writing to school newspaper.”
6. Proofread your Draft. I’ll say it again. Proofread your draft. I can not tell you the number of resumes HR departments simply throw out after encountering careless errors.
7. Ask for Recommendations. You’ll need them eventually, ask now while teachers, coaches and advisors still remember you well.

If you have just graduated from college, or are about to, you need to take a larger scale approach to the resume package, which will include multiple resumes, cover letters, portfolios, networking and social media profiles. I won’t lie to you; the job market is tough.  Most surveys report that about ½ of  recent grads are either unemployed or underemployed.

I said tough, not impossible.  

There are many positive steps that you can take to better your chances of finding solid employment.

Job Searching Tips for Recent College Grads

1. Contact your college career office. They are paid to help you. Use them.
2. Resist the temptation to take the summer off from job searching. The longer you wait, the harder it will become, especially in a tight job market. The best jobs will go to those candidates who go out and find them first.
3. Update and fine tune your resume and cover letters. See the above advice- it will work for you too.
4. Start networking...yesterday. Talk to your alumni office and ask about a list of contacts in your desired industry. Look for career events where you can interact with alumni.
5. Use your Facebook friends. In a nice way of course! Get in touch with those who graduated a year ahead you. Do they know of openings, other contacts that could help?
6. Shadow a professional in your industry. After making some contacts you are sure to hit it off with someone. Even if they can not help you land an interview at this point ask to shadow them for a day. This will help to solidify the relationship and allow you to possible make further connections within the industry.
7. If you are not on LinkedIn, get on it. This is the number one professional networking site. You need to be there and be active.  Join groups and participate regularly.
8. Get a job. Even if you can’t find a job in your field you need to start building up your resume. It is much easier to job hunt while employed. Try a temp agency or even a paid internship.

Entering the world of work in a slowly recovering economy isn’t easy, but it can be accomplished with a little planning and a lot of hard work. You have worked hard for 10-15 years in school- it is time to put that knowledge to good use.

As always, best of luck!

The Current Job Search Reality: The New Rules of the Game

It is now common for someone looking for a new job or career to have to wait 6 months to a year before landing it. Literally hundreds of job seekers are applying for each opening. Because of this, a new approach to job searching is needed. One that looks objectively at the game and has a strategy in place to win. But first some truth telling. It is time for a hard dose of reality when it comes to the current state of job hunting: It isn’t going to get easier anytime soon.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to hang your head and move back into a relative’s basement. You just need to come to terms with the situation and stop planning your job search around ideal circumstances. In a perfect world, you'd decide you want a new job or career, then spend a day or so researching local companies. Then, you’d  send a handful of  emails to some contacts. next thing you know, you’d have a couple interviews set up and you’d be well on your way. Those days are gone. (If they ever really existed at all)

In the current market, most professionals would best be advised to go through a recruiter- the gatekeepers of the best jobs. In order to increase your chances of success you need to keep in mind the following facts about job hunting through recruiters:

• Unemployment, and therefore competition for openings, is still high. Recent lower numbers simply reflect the fact that people have dropped out of the workforce and are not looking. When the economy improves, ironically, the numbers will jump up again.
• Recruiters routinely receive hundreds of resumes for each opening. They spend more time rejecting people and accepting them.
• With so much competition, employers can be extra choosy. A resume that would have landed an interview 10 years ago will not necessarily be successful today.
• Recruiters are not experts in your field. They look for candidates to fill any number of positions. So you can not assume they will necessarily understand all of your job descriptions and accomplishments.

When you do send in your resume, it is most likely going to be put into a large and formidable resume management system. The recruiters will use keyword filters to find the best matches for each opening. These keywords will come from the job description that the hiring manager wrote. Actual human eyes will not see your resume until it has been filtered through a number of databases.

This is all very intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your resume makes the cut.

1. Read over the job posting carefully. Write down the particular words used to describe both the job, and the ideal candidate.
2. Include a keyword competency section on your resume. Include any specific terms or phrases listed in the job posting as well as specific job related terms. Think of things like machinery, software, hardware and various technical skills.
3. Research and include industry appropriate buzzwords. We all laugh at them and know they sound pretentious, but they are also going to be used by the resume sorting software, so include them.
4. Most important, make sure the software can read your resume. That means no pdf files, no graphics, no obscure fonts. All these make beautiful presentations, but most systems will not see them properly, or worst of all, they may simply appear as blank.

Is the job market hard right now? Yes. Is it impossible to find a job? No, especially not if you know the rules of the game.

Improve Your Job Hunting with One Easy Step

What if I told you that you could drastically improve your chances of landing an interview and eventually getting a job? What if I told you that this wasn’t part of some huge plan, you didn’t have to subscribe to a new program, join a group, or pay a today-only-super-low-price of $19.99 to get this information.

You’d be interested, right?

All you have to do to dramatically up the odds in your favor is to focus, and I mean apply laser-like focus on your ultimate goal.

Do not waste time crafting generic resumes or cover letters.

In a down economy many job seekers feel that they need to keep all their options open in order to get a job, and while this may make sense in terms of your expectations, it leads you down the wrong path when it comes to writing up your job hunting documents. Flexibility is great for athletes, not so great for the written word.

When you sit down to write a resume and cover letter, have the job posting open there in front of you. Look over the company website. Craft your package for that job, in that company. Then, if you want to apply for a different position somewhere else repeat this process. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking one generic resume will work for all applications. It won’t. Someone who took the time to be focused specifically on this company’s needs with their writing will beat you to the interview every time.

If a contact, recruiter, or potential employer asks what you want in a position, it’s usually because they want to help. Don not tell them you are open for anything. Do your homework ahead of time and have a specific position in mind.   Don’t waste those opportunities.  Be easy to help – be prepared, be brief, and be focused.

Be focused with all the tools in your job hunting tool box, not just the application or resume.

If you have spent any time on this site you know that I am a big proponent of using all the tools you have at your disposal when looking for a new job or career. Everything from resumes to letters, from social media profiles to phone scripts to portfolios all have their place in your tool box. Apply the same level of focus to these as well. For starters take a personal inventory. Take a minute and write down the following:

• Write down the job titles that most interest you. Limit yourself to 3.
• What industries interest you ? List a couple.

• Create a simple summary of your background. Think 3-4 sentences.
• List One or two major accomplishments related to your desired field.

This brief list should now be used to inform everything else you do. Make sure all your documents, profiles and scripts mention these key items. This way you will be certain to maintain the focus you need to get ahead.

A liite focus will go a long way to shortening your job search.

By simply telling people specifically what you are looking for, you will have a much improved network of people helping you land that job. Being vague may feel like you are keeping all options open, but you are really just shooting yourself in the foot.  So, focus and experience a shorter job search.