The Reverse-Resume

This is a guest post by Jessica Sweet:

There’s no question that a great resume can make all the difference between waiting for that call and actually getting it. But when you do get the job, you want to make sure it does more than just pay the bills. You spend too many hours at work to settle for one that just pays the bills, and leaves your soul drained.

So, how do you know that the job you’re after is one that is going to be really right for you? How can you know that you’ll find the work meaningful, fulfilling and within your “zone of genius”? 

 
You can help to ensure that your next job is your dream job by searching your soul before searching the want ads. Here is an effective tool to help you do just that. 

 
Introducing, the “reverse-resume”, a tool to help search for what you want and need in your next job so that when you land it, you’ll know it’s a great fit for you. It is a structure to use for figuring out what qualifications the JOB needs to have before you'll entertain giving it some of the best years of your life. 

“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

Lewis Carroll

Job searching that starts with soul searching is much more likely to land you a job that feels more like a calling. But first you have to know where you are going. The way to do that is to write your reverse-resume. 

 
Here's a basic template to get you started. It may look familiar at first glance, because it looks much like a regular resume. But notice how the answers are not about what you can do for the job, but about what the job does for you. 

• Objective: What is your objective? Not just to find a job, but to find one that gives you meaning, purpose, and contributes to your overall happiness. It's your responsibility to define this as clearly as possible for yourself. What ticks those boxes for you? What do you find meaningful? What gives you happiness? And what purpose or vision do you have for yourself?

• Experience(s): What do you want to experience in this next job situation? Do you want to lead a team, be part of something that's growing, have a chance to travel or work on a particular project? What things will you be doing day-to-day and also what larger vision will you be working towards? Define your desired experiences no matter how large or small.

• Education: What do you want to learn from this? From skills to personal growth experiences, what do you want to gain?

• Skills: What parts of who you are and what you know do you want to get to use on a regular basis? Do you love to do something and you want to do it as part of the next job? If so, write it down!

• Salary Requirements: What do you want to make? What will make you feel great about your financial health? It’s easy to say you’d like to make a million dollars – but if so, be prepared to work for it. This isn’t an exercise in the law of attraction as much as it is about defining your goals. So write down what you think your work is really worth, and your goal will be to not accept a penny less. 

Your reverse-resume, the product of your soul searching, will then inform your real resume, and which jobs you send that resume out to. If you find that you must compromise –even after gaining clarity on the work you want to do – then you will at least fully understand where you have compromised. Understanding where your job falls short does a few things. 

• It places the “blame” where it belongs: You know your job isn’t as great a fit for you as it could be, and you’re less likely to blame yourself. While before you might have wondered “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just do my job and get along?” You’ll now know that it is because the job didn’t quite meet your standards. It moves the “blame,” and you’re less likely to feel broken and more likely to recognize the situation for what it is. 
• You can be proactive: When you know where your job falls short, you know what direction to move in, and you may be able to make changes. Do you want more of something and less of something else? Work with your boss, be outstanding at what you can control, and do everything you can to move your job closer to what you want it to be. 

A couple more tips:

• Strive to create a balance between your vision and what is realistic - there may be several jobs between where you are now and the ultimate vision.  
• Rely on a great resume writer to help you position yourself so you are poised to land the job of your dreams, even if there’s a gap between where you are and where you want to be.
• If you lack clarity about what you really want, what you are best suited for, or what work you will find most fulfilling, get coaching! It’s better to take some time now to know where you are going than to end up where you don’t really want to be. (Again!)
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A reverse-resume is a great tool to help you gain clarity on yourself and to connect that knowledge to your job search.  Good luck, and please post any questions or comments below!

Jessica Sweet is a Master’s level Social Worker and Life Coach. She works with women to help them gain clarity on their dream jobs and get paid to do what they love. She lives in Natick, MA with her husband and two young daughters. You can visit her web page at: http://www.wishingwellcoach.com and join the Facebook community at http://www.facebook.com/wishingwelllifecoaching

Why You Still Need a Cover Letter

Your career portfolio is like a movie. Make it a blockbuster!

Your career portfolio is just like a movie. It has characters, a plot and most importantly a theme. With the name of this site being, Quality Resumes, it should come as no surprise that I hold the resume to be the star of your career portfolio. However, a good movie needs more than an exceptional leading man. Even the best actor can’t save a film with a weak plot, a stagnant theme or stereotyped supporting characters. Your resume is no different; it needs the support of social media profiles, work samples, letters of recommendation, and of course, a cover letter.

As resumes have moved from a past of specialized paper and fancy fonts to the digital age, many people have claimed the demise of the cover letter. Do not be fooled, a cover letter is just as important as ever. 

Why You Still Need a Cover Letter

Every good movie has a strong opening scene. Often the prologue will set up the entire plot by engaging the audience with the main character. A well written cover letter allows you to set up your resume. It acts like your movie’s prologue. The better your set up here, the more impact your resume will have. This is your chance to whet their appetite and make them eager to read your resume for the full story. 

While the format of the resume is fairly structured, the cover letter allows for some creativity. Here you can state exactly how your skills and experience meet the potential employer's needs. Try setting up a comparison chart with one side listing the job requirements and the other side listing how your skills match up. Not every application package is read in full. Many employers have already made up their mind by the time they have read your cover letter. Be sure yours hooks the reader into wanting more.

Cover Letters are Especially Important for Entry Level Positions

If you are applying for an entry level position your cover letter takes on added significance. Sticking with our movie analogy, let’s say an entry level career portfolio is like an indie film with no recognizable stars. You are new, so your resume by definition is going to be light. All the applicants to this job are likely to have similarly light resumes. In film, what makes you want to see a film with no big names attached is a riveting plot. Here again, your cover letter sets the stage for your career portfolio. This could be the only place you have to truly set yourself apart from the hundreds of other job applicants.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter

Now that you know it’s importance, you need to be sure to use the correct format and include the right information in your cover letter. In terms of format, this is a formal business letter so use a formal business letter template in your word processing program. In the body of the letter be sure to include the title of the position you are applying for, highlights of your skills and experience and close by thanking them in advance for an interview. 

Just like a movie can be derailed by a weak theme, dull plot or bad actors, your career portfolio needs a best effort from all its players. Don’t let a weak or missing cover letter cause yours to bomb.

How to Land a Part Time Job

Part time work isn't just for paperboys anymore.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. You have been scouring job boards, online postings and the want ads for months. You have sent out countless resumes. You heard back from a handful, but nothing solid has materialized yet. You are more than a little frustrated. This is an all too common tale right now. We all know the job market is tough out there, but there is something you can do now to make it a bit easier: land a part time job.

That’s right, part time work isn’t just for kids delivering newspapers, it can be a valid path to full time employment. First, if your part time job is related to your long term career plans then you can use it on your resume. Something everyone should try to avoid is a gap in their employment history. A part time position fills this hole in your history just as well as a full time gig. Second, you may make some important contacts while working at a less than 40-hours-a-week job. At the very least, it will help pays some bills while you keep looking for a more permanent position. It may have been a while (high school?) since you thought about applying for a part time position, so here are some tips to get you started.

Where to look
While you can always pound the pavement and look for help wanted signs there are more efficient ways to look for part time work. If you are interested in retail go to your local mall and ask at the info booth. Many times they will have a list of openings that will at least allow you to narrow your search.

Another strategy is to look online. Most job directories will list part time as well as full time opportunities and they will allow you to filter for these types of jobs as well. One of my favorites to recommend is www.Snagajob.com .

What to bring
The rules for part time employment are a bit more lax here. However, I always advise clients to be over prepared. After all, better safe than sorry. If you have a resume, bring it. Many part time positions will have their applications online. Fill it out, print it and bring it along. After the application the next thing to consider are recommendations. Bring along a few personal as well as professional recommendations. Even if they are not technically required, you’ll never  go wrong having some with you.

What to wear
Always err on the side of being over dressed. This doesn’t mean where a gown or a three piece suit, but do not show up in jeans and sneakers either. Khakis and button down shirts for guys, slacks or dress skirts and conservative tops for women should do the job.

Predictable interview questions
One of the best things about applying for part time work is the relative ease of the interview. Some of the typical questions you can count on being asked include:

• What days/hours are you available to work?
• Do you have any activities that would prevent you from working your schedule?
• Would you prefer full-time employment to part-time if a job were available?
• What are your salary expectations?
• How would you describe the pace at which you work?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• Are you overqualified for this job?
• Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
• What do you know about this company?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What applicable experience do you have?
• What interests you about this job?
• What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
• What will you do if you don't get this position?

Part time employment may not be your ideal, but in the meantime it may be just what you need professionally and financially.

5 Strategies to Help You Win a Promotion

Climb the corporate ladder and write your own success story.

Here at Quality Resumes I am most often talking to you about how to find a new job or career, but today I am going to write about something slightly different. Not everyone wants to leave the company they work for; they simply want to climb a few more rungs up the ladder of success. Let’s face it, in an economy such as ours sometimes the best play, career-wise, is to stay put. Greener pastures may not turn out so green, if they even exist at all.

Today’s post is for those of you after that elusive goal of - the promotion. Just like any other goal, landing a promotion requires strategy, patience and perseverance. You don’t have to become the embodiment of Michael Douglas in Wall Street to get ahead, but you can’t just sit by idly and expect it to happen for you either. Here are 5 tips you can use to get started climbing that ladder.

#1 Do what you do better than anyone else
The first step to getting ahead is to perform well in the position you have. Do not just do what is expected of you, go beyond and get noticed. Will putting in some extra effort always be rewarded? Honestly, no. Sometimes your efforts will go unnoticed. However,over time you will build a reputation as a serious worker who is willing to put the company, or team, first. That will eventually pay off for you.

#2 Find your Yoda
What would Luke have been without Yoda? Everyone needs a mentor to teach them the ins and outs of the field and company culture. Seek out people a few rungs higher than you who would be willing to take you under their wing. You’ll be surprised how receptive people can be to becoming your mentor. After all, you are recognizing them as experts and worthy to learn from. It’s flattering.

In addition to learning valuable skills and techniques from someone who has been around the block a few times, you will have an ally in a position to possibly help you land a promotion at some point.

#3 Go back to school
Learning new skills, keeping up with trends and becoming an expert yourself are all sure fire ways to get noticed by the higher ups and pave the way for a promotion. this used to mean costly courses and night school, but no more. Today, professional development is so prevalent you are sure to find an online course or seminar that fits your budget and schedule. You can also leverage the web and create your own PLN, or personal learning network. Follow the trend setters in your industry on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. Interact, learn and grow. Before you know it you will be establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen field.

#4 There is no “I” in “Team”
Yes, I know it is a cliche, but cliches get their start in truth. As the structure of corporate America becomes flatter and more projects are done by teams, being seen as a team player has become vitally important. Make sure you don’t try to steal credit, or place blame. Just work hard as a team member and get the job done, even if it means taking on more than your fair share. People will notice and eventually those higher up will want your drive and work ethic higher up.

 
By being a team player, you’ll build your reputation and increase your value to the company.

#5 Act like you already have the promotion
No, I do not mean you start telling your peers what to do and walk into meetings five minutes late. What I do mean is that you start asking for more responsibility. Jump in as volunteer to help out a neighboring department.Willingly take on a little more than you need to to help out your boss. Hustle means something, and the more you do it the easier it will become. then people will grow to depend on you. When you have made yourself indispensable you have made yourself very promotable.

Remember, sometimes the best job opportunities are right under your nose. Put a plan in place and be ready the next time a promotion is made available.

LinkedIn 101

Time to go back to school and learn about LinkedIn

Today’s post is going to cut right to the chase. I am going to show how you can use one particular social media component to drastically improve your chances of landing a job. 

LinkedIn has become a vitally important component of the modern day job hunter and a little time spent on it in the beginning will pay large dividends later. Here are 5 tips to create a top quality profile.

Smile for the Camera

Do not just scour your online albums for one that looks presentable. Have a professional headshot taken. If the cost of this is prohibitive then at least have a friend take a clean headshot of you against a plain and neutral background.

Create a Dynamic & Descriptive Headline

LinkedIn will use your most recent job title as your headline. Turn this setting off and create your own. Create a personal branding statement that communicates who you are in your professional life. This should reflect your professional reputation. On your resume, the statement is used to summarize, in just a few words, who you are. Using a similar branding statement on your social profiles create a certain amount of unity.

Summarize Who You Are Succinctly

While you shouldn’t make the mistake of writing paragraphs and paragraphs, you also shouldn’t just list a few key attributes and call it a day. In the end LinkedIn is a social media, so be social. Let some of your personality shine through.  A good strategy is to take the summary from your resume and rewrite it from the first person point of view. This allows a little life in the text without becoming too informal.

Key Words Are the Key

Employers use resume reading software to scan your resume right? Well, it is even easier to use the same tactics on LinkedIn. So be sure that the key words for your industry or job type are included. These should be liberally spread throughout your summary. Additionally you can simply create a key word competency section right within your profile. This way you are sure to have the right terms included and have an eye appealing profile.

Make Sure Your Profile is Complete

There is no sense in dipping your toe in the ocean that is LinkedIn, either jump in or don’t. Needless to say, I think you should jump. You really have nothing to lose, but a whole lot to gain. So be sure everything is filled out. List all of your relevant and recent jobs. Limit the details under each job to a couple key accomplishments. List colleges, professional development institutions etc.

Bonus Tips!

Hey, everyone likes to get a bonus right?

• Create a professional sounding email. You do not want to use your current job email, and hodrod200@gmail isn’t going to cut it either.
• Ask for recommendations. They are quick and easy to ask for and to give. If you get some be sure to reciprocate.
• Update your status once in awhile. You don’t need to turn this into the next FaceBook, but once every week or so stop by and say Hi.
• Experiment with groups. there are a lot of like minded job hunters and career builders out there. Find some and grow your network.

I know this article isn’t exhaustive, but it should be enough to get you started in the wide world of LinkedIn.

Eliminate the Noise from Your Resume

There is more than just TV vying for our attention today.

Radios, TV's, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, rss feeds, newspapers, magazines, books, and not to mention good old fashion people all vie for our attention on a minute by minute basis throughout most of our lives. That is a lot of noise. Most of us expend quite a bit of mental effort just sifting through all that noise to get to what is important. 

This is something I have been grappling with lately. I am regularly looking at over one hundred articles a day in my reader, along with pages of social media to monitor. The sheer volume is getting to be a bit much. Therefore I am ruthlessly taking a hatchet to much of it. Over and over I keep asking myself: what is important, and what is just noise?

Turning down the spigot of the information pouring into my life has been freeing, and it got me thinking about other aspects of our lives where turning down the noise would be beneficial. Then it hit me. The same principle applies to your resume. The difference is that this noise isn't affecting you, so much as the one who has the power to hire you. And recruiters are not going to expend the effort. You have to.

You have probably heard much of the advice before: 

You only have ten seconds to impress someone with your resume.

Keep it short- one page per ten years experience.

Don't list job descriptions, list accomplishments.

These are all well-heeled nuggets of advice for a reason. They work. However in the digital age and in a time of recession they become amplified. Just as the information age has buried us under a mountain of data and text, so too have recruiters and employers been inundated with applicants and bloated resumes. So, the question becomes, how do you make only what is important on your resume stand out?

Three Steps to Turn Down the Noise on Your Resume

First, decide exactly what job you want to apply for. Each position is going to require a targeted resume, so chose a job. Don't say "Sales" if what you really mean is "Software Sales" or "Car Sales" because each position is going to require unique terms and phrasing on your resume. Now, look at your resume an eliminate any jobs or background info that is not directly related to your intended position.

You may have done an excellent job as a preschool teacher for the first couple of years out of college. However, employers are much more interested in how you landed large accounts for an ad agency, or how you consistently sold above your monthly goal amounts. Taking valuable resume real estate to detail jobs that are not related to what you want to become is folly in the current job market.

Second, take a cold, objective look at the rest of your resume. The goal of this edit is to get your resume onto one, to one-and-a-half, pages. Take a hatchet to it. Don't fret over it, just cut. You can always add information back in later if need be. What you want to do here is get down to a bare bones version.

Every resume will have unnecessary noise on it. You just need to know where to look. Are some of the skills listed in the summary outdated? Do you have professional development listed in the education section that is more than ten years old? Do you have excessive information about the companies at which you were employed? All of this is just noise drowning out your accomplishments. Cut them out.

Third, reformat your resume so that it will be easily scannable. The end goal here is to create as much white space as possible. Do not list multiple phone numbers and emails. Never use paragraphs of text when a bullet list will do the job. Use tables and columns so that text is properly aligned and easy to scan. Do not include references. 

You want clean lines and current content. By clean lines I mean a document that is not afraid of white space, is easy on the eyes, and can be scanned quickly. A resume is like an advertisement. If an ad is cluttered it will often be skipped or key information will be lost in the excess verbiage. Current content means that the last ten years of employment should be the focus. In an economy that evolves as fast as ours, employers very much have a what-have-you-done-lately attitude.

Do yourself a favor and cut down on some of the noise in your life. And while you are at it take that old resume and give it a newer, cleaner, more current look too.