Quality Resumes

Deadly Resumes

2012-01-31T03:32:00.000-08:00

Humorous take on a deadly serious topic.

"Here lies Peter Professional’s career. A victim of the current recession, Peter’s career has been on life support since a layoff from a healthcare consulting firm. Prior to its final demise, Peter took his career through a stint as a personal fitness trainer and ended it working as a car salesman with a luxury-car dealership." - Does Your Resume Read Like an Obituary of Your Career? | CAREEREALISM

Jobs few & Far between in Florida

2012-01-31T03:30:00.000-08:00

"If you lose your job in Florida, chances are you won't find another one any time soon.

The Sunshine State has the highest rate of long-term unemployment in the nation. Some 53% of jobless Floridians were out of work for more than six months in 2011, according to Brookings' Hamilton Project, which crunched Census data. " - Long-term unemployed find few jobs in Florida - Jan. 31, 2012

Federal Jobs vs the Private Sector

2012-01-31T03:28:00.000-08:00

If you have anything less than a professional degree it seems like it pays to work for Uncle Sam.

"The CBO measured the differences in salary and benefits between the two workforces.

Federal and private-sector workers with bachelor's degrees earned the same hourly wage on average. But those working for the federal government enjoyed average benefits that were worth 46% more." - Which federal worker job pays better: Government or private? - Jan. 31, 2012

Personal Branding is Hard Work

2012-01-30T02:46:00.000-08:00

Spreading a cohesive brand throughout your social media and offline world doesn't happen over night. However, the effort is worth it.

"Very often, when we look around at the things that we want to achieve or the people that we’d like to emulate, we fail to see all of the hard work associated with it. We see the polished speaker without the hours of practice and years of vocabulary training. We see the fancy title and corner office without hearing about the evenings spent in the office. And, we see the successful blogger without seeing the skipped sleep while they were writing their posts. In other words, what do you need to do, in the background, to make your brand look effortless? Even though, we both know, its not."- Your Personal Brand: Normal is Not Enough! | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Traditional ResumesStill Matter

2012-01-30T02:41:00.000-08:00

"With so much job search activity taking place on the internet these days, it is sometimes difficult to remember even the most tech-savvy companies still like to receive traditional resumes. And there are many companies who do not ever search for candidates online, even at business-oriented sites such as LinkedIn.

Companies like to receive traditional print or electronic applications and resumes they can scan into their computerized Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Using an ATS, the recruiter, hiring manager or human resources personnel can quickly search through thousands of resumes for those job applicants who have the skills, experience, education and accomplishments the company is looking for."-Online and Traditional Resumes | CAREEREALISM

Potential Overrides Acheivemnents

2012-01-30T02:39:00.000-08:00

"Your resume might be impressive, but bosses want to know else what you’ve got in store. Focus on the future.

Why It’ll Work: A 2011 Stanford study shows that we’re more excited about people’s potential than their achievements. So if you’re applying for a new job, don’t talk about what you did at your last job. Frame your value in terms of what you’ll do there, in the future. And when you’re angling for a promotion, think about how you’d help the company if you got it."-Career Tips for a Great 2012 | Men's Health:

Skills-Based Resume Good for Grads

2012-01-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

What if you’re a recent grad—with no work experience? What if you’re trying to change careers—and want to talk about your stellar project management skills before your experience as an executive assistant?

Enter the skills-based resume. While most job seekers use the traditional reverse-chronological resume format, it’s not the only option—and there are times when an alternate format, one that highlights your skills first, might be a better fit.

- Is a Skills-Based Resume Right for You? - Forbes:

Focus Your resume

2012-01-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

"When faced with a daunting and months-long job search, many candidates believe that the best way to go is to prove they have talent in numerous industries. In other words, they can wear many hats and do just about anything.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way to impress a hiring manager or a recruiter. In today’s job market, what you have to prove most is that you’re the ideal candidate for the position. That means focusing on one industry, one job (preferably from a posting you’re interested in) and dovetailing everything you’ve done toward that opening." -What Hiring Managers and Recruiters Look for in a Resume | The Resume Blog by Resumeedge

Ditch the Traditional Objective

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have been advising clients to use branding statements over objectives for a while now. They are becoming more and more standard and expected.
"Your title/job target is the first impression a hiring manager will have when reading your resume. This short phrase provides a quick summary of what you’ve accomplished and why you are the right person for the job. It helps to set the tone for who you are as a candidate. This tone should remain consistent throughout the resume and any other information the manager receives about you." -5 Personal Branding Resume Techniques You Must Try | The Savvy Intern by YouTern:

Testimonials in Cover Letters

2012-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

Not a bad idea.
"Testimonials are another way of getting your cover letter to be different than that of others. Testimonials can be in the form of lines from recommendation letters, vendor appreciation notes and by way of performance evaluations, memos issued to staff or other types of acclamations. When compiled creatively, they can create a powerful impact on your recruiter or interviewer. It can send a clear message to the company that they can do better by getting you on their side." -How to Make Your Cover Letter Grab the Employer's Attention | The Undercover Recruiter:

Why Job Boards Are Not Great For the Inexperienced

2012-01-25T05:05:00.000-08:00

"Identify the job sites that are most used by businesses in the geographic location you are looking. Also, find sites that focus on career opportunities in your industry. This is your primary source of vacant, advertised positions and is where you will spend most of your time. Be ready to fill your days writing cover letters and sending resumes that never get answered or possibly even read.

The job market is a touch awful, and overqualified candidates are applying for the positions you just qualify for. The people running competitions for positions you are overqualified for are hesitant to look at you, because they’re scared you won’t be around long. Job banks are pretty much a graveyard for the resumes of the inexperienced." - Dude Where’s My Job? Episode 1 – Where to Look | The Savvy Intern by YouTern:

Career ADD

2012-01-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

"The NUMBER ONE biggest mistake those of us with Career ADD make is having a lack of FOCUS on what we REALLY want in a job or career. When we are sitting in front of someone who has the potential to change our work lives and we are not able to articulate what we are really even looking for in a job, what kind of impression do you imagine that makes?" - Career ADD and the Job Search – Number One Mistake | CAREEREALISM:

Don't Ask About Money in the Interview

2012-01-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

"While not talking over or continuously interrupting your interviewer, it is to be expected that you will have some questions regarding the company, so prepare them ahead of time. This allows you to come ready to learn about the position you’re applying for, how your role will impact the employer and what the company can do for you.

One question that should not be at the forefront of your list is how much money the job will pay, as nothing looks worse than if you’re only interested in the salary. While it is only natural to want to know what your income will be with your new employer, don’t be overly aggressive in getting to that issue. "-Selling Yourself During a Job Interview is Critical - Secrets of the Job Hunt:

Age Matters For Job Seekers & Employers

2012-01-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hiring managers can view older workers as more expensive to hire, as having outdated experience or too much experience, or as not being current with today's technology and working environment.

In fact, one of the recurring themes in the stories that unemployed job seekers have shared with us, is that age is an issue when you're job searching. Comments include:

I think my age is my downfall right now.
I have learned that age does matter in employment.
My age seems to be my biggest enemy.

What's even tougher is that being consider old doesn't just happen when you're a senior citizen. You can be considered "too old" in your forties and fifties, sometimes even younger depending on the company or the industry.- Job Search Tips for Older Job Seekers

Don't "Perry" Your Interview

2012-01-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

During the interview, it’s important to make sure you don’t forget important details about the company, including the manager’s name, the job you’re applying for, duties, and a brief company history. The manager wants you to know about the company you’re applying to, as you should. So take time to study this info before the interview.

Avoiding these mistakes may seem like a no-brainer to some, but they are actually easy to make. So to play it safe, take time to review this list when you score the next interview.- 6 Job Interview Blunders to Avoid | | CollegeRecruiter.comCollegeRecruiter.com

Searchable Resumes Are Key

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ensure your resume will be searchable by ATS software. Here are some key things to remember if you will be applying online as outlined byAOLJobs:

Customize the resume for each position
Keep job titles fairly generic
Keep resume formatting to a minimum
Avoid functional resumes
Include full keywords and their abbreviated formats
-What You Need To Know About Applying For Jobs Online | nextchapternewlife.com

A Networking Myth

2012-01-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

Networking can be awkward, but that is no reason to hold back from doing it.

Myth – Networkers are imposing on the people they ask.

Fact – If everyone was imposed on when they were asked for a job, no one would ever volunteer a position to their friends and colleagues. Many people that you will ask got their job through networking. They may have felt like they were imposing but they did what they had to do to find a job, just like you should. -Networking Myths vs. The Reality - Secrets of the Job Hunt

Inevitable Interview Question #1

2012-01-24T04:44:00.000-08:00

You know it is coming, so be ready for it. When asked, "Can you tell me a little about yourself," have an answer ready.

Keep it brief- When telling the interviewer about yourself, it doesn’t mean you should ramble. Keep your answer short and sweet by addressing the employer’s needs, while selling yourself as the ideal candidate for the job. -Can You "Tell Me About Yourself?"

Don't Play With Fire

2012-01-24T04:42:00.001-08:00

You know it’s dangerous, but you do it anyway. Your friends tag you in racy photos, you “wing it” in an interview, and you’ve struck an overall “Devil may care” attitude about your job search.

How to fix it: If you are serious about getting hired, you might want to pull the reigns in a little bit. You deserve to live the life you want, but pay attention to where it overlaps with your professional brand. Comb through your social media profiles and privacy settings to figure out what exactly you’re telling potential employers. Unify your personal and professional brand, and develop career networking and communication skills that demonstrate to employers exactly what it means to hire you. -4 Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Job Search (and How to Fix It!) | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

High Tech Interview Reminder

2012-01-24T04:41:00.000-08:00

Even those in the high tech field need to remember that in the end what gets you a job is a personal relationship, or at least the potential for one.

Don’t Forget Communication. Your interpersonal skills should not be forgotten, as they are an integral part of any position, technical or non-technical. Think of the interview as a conversation – answer questions fully, ask questions of your own, smile, and say thank you. Interviewers don’t just look for the skills needed, but also screen if you would be a good fit and work well with others.- Prepare for Technical Interview | Come Recommended

How Many Jobs Will You Have?

2012-01-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

According to David Schepp most workers will have as many as 10 jobs throughout their career. Sounds like a good reason to keep your resume updated to me.

A worker can expect to have 10 different jobs and employers during a lifetime. And workers will need to plan for continuous employment during longer life spans and make education an ongoing commitment. The proliferation of virtual organizations will accelerate this multiple-job trend as more people join work groups from remote locations or choose to work as contractors. Telecommuting is up 400 percent, and by 2015 there will be an estimated 14 million freelancers. Also, due to ongoing economic uncertainty, large businesses are postponing full-time employment, choosing instead to retain workers as contractors until the market recovers.- 5 Predictions For Careers And Business In 2012 - Careers Articles

Don't Make This Mistake

2012-01-23T13:06:00.000-08:00

Curious what the number one complaint made by internship recruiters is?

1. Not doing your homework. There really is no excuse for not learning as much information about a company as possible before meeting a representative at a job fair, information session, or other recruiting event. Simply visit their website or do a quick Google search. Asking a recruiter a general question about what the company does is a quick way to fall off their list. - Recruiter Pet Peeves � LUCareerCenter To Go

Profile Picture Matter to Your Job Search

2012-01-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

In an era of social media, how you present yourself is always important.

While most know how to lock down their profiles through privacy settings on sites like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is a little different. The point there being that the information you’re putting on the site is critical and relevant to your job search; therefore, your picture should also be professional and relevant to your job search. Even with your career transparency on LinkedIn, for all three sites (or however many you may be using), your profile picture is the one constant that’s nearly always visible. - 7 tips to make your profile picture professional : The Work Buzz

Interview First Impressions matter

2012-01-23T09:25:00.000-08:00

We tend to focus on the technical side of landing a job. But the personal is still of vital importance.

No matter how digital our job search becomes, nearly nothing is more important than our first impression. Arriving on time, a firm (dry) handshake, shoulders back, eye contact, the ability to make effective small-talk until you sit down, and more… all matter. Why? Because failing in any of these areas shows a lack of confidence and/or respect for the recruiter – NOT a great way to start an interview.- The 5 Defining Moments of Every Job Interview | The Savvy Intern by YouTern

Do You Really Want This Job?

2012-01-23T09:22:00.001-08:00

Stop and think before you accept just any job offer.

[A] recent survey showed that 84 percent of workers want to leave their jobs in 2012. How could that be so high in this economy? Well, it’s because people are taking whatever they can get, and not actually evaluating themselves before doing their job search to find out what type of jobs they should be searching for. You can take the initiative to find out what you are meant to do by taking self-assessments that will give you a better look at what you are meant to do. It’s not too late to do this if you haven’t accepted the job offer yet — and it is better to find out now, rather than later.- 5 Things to Consider Before Accepting a New Job | MBA Highway - MBA Job Search and Career Network:

Volunteering Can Land You a Job

2012-01-23T03:10:00.000-08:00

Long gone are the days when volunteering meant working in a soup kitchen or taking part in a clothing drive. These days, non-profits need all types of skills from marketing to accounting. Sure you won’t get paid, but the experience you’ll gain can go a long way in landing your next paying job.

“Volunteering is a fantastic way to build skills, contacts and get your foot in the door,” says Sara Sutton Fell, chief executive and founder of FlexJobs. “It’s a great opportunity to show your motivation and contribute.”- Volunteering Your Way To A Job | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Why General Resumes Do Not Work

2012-01-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

You resume needs to be targeted toward one particular job, or job type if you want to get hired.

One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is that they want their resume to be general enough to be used for a variety of unrelated jobs. When you focus on your past rather than the needs of the employer your resume is likely to simply disappear into their vast black hole of a database.- Employers Reject More Than 90% of Resumes | CAREEREALISM

Patience is a Job Seeking Virtue

2012-01-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

At least that is the advice of The career Doctor, and I agree.

I think the mantra for job-seekers — until (or if) we see a vastly different job market — needs to be “patience, patience, patience.” Many employers are taking their time filling job slots, perhaps saving some money in the budget by not replacing someone so quickly, perhaps to really take the time to find the ideal candidate for the open position. Regardless of the reasons, for job-seekers, it means a prolonged interview process, with longer waiting periods and greater anxiety. When to Follow Up a Second Time after Interview - The Career Doctor Blog

The Future of Work?

2012-01-22T05:05:00.000-08:00

This one is for you class of 2016-

In IFTF’s recent project with the Apollo Research Institute on the future of work skills, for example, possible new disruptions from emerging automation technologies, including microwork segmentation and plug-and-play robotics, came up again and again. In many cases, the work skills that will be most valuable over the longer term, as these creative disruptions take hold, will involve finding sweet spots where cooperation between humans and automated systems can accomplish far more than either by themselves. If you are a new graduate entering the workforce, collaborative automated systems are likely to blur the line between “tools” and “co-workers” during the course of your career. - The Re-working of "Work" | Institute For The Future

Job Fairs = A Captive Audience

2012-01-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

Job fairs are an excellent way to land a new job. largely because the companies there are heavily invested in hiring people, if not that day, then soon.

As a job fair attendee, you have a captive audience of recruiters who are ready to pay attention to what you have to say as you pitch yourself and your skills. What better opportunity to make important professional contacts, find out about job openings, and give yourself a competitive advantage in the job market? - What to Expect When You Attend a Job Fair | Daily Career Connection:

Size Matters

2012-01-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

Couldn't have said it better myself. Resumes: Length Does Matter | The Savvy Intern by YouTern:

The point of a resume is to score an interview. It’s a summary of your job experience with enough details to demonstrate you know your stuff, enticing the hiring manager to learn more about you as a candidate. It’s not a collection of your job descriptions from each and every employer. And it certainly shouldn’t be long enough to be a short story about your life.

Industry Specific Job Searches

2012-01-21T06:31:00.000-08:00

Don't spend all your time on Monster looking for that next great job.
Useful Tips for Searching for Jobs Online in 2012 | Career Rocketeer :

Many employers will opt to post their job vacancies on industry or sector specific online recruitment agencies or jobs boards and whilst the quality of competition of job applicants may be higher, this delivers highly targeted and ideal employment opportunities. Researching relevant and associated industry, sector or niche specific job boards will yield a higher return of targeted jobs.

Best & Worst Salaries for Women

2012-01-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

Are you a woman looking for a job? Here is where to look and where to avoid, according to Forbes. Best-Paying Cities For Women - Forbes:

At No. 1, San Jose, Calif., tops the list. Women in this West Coast city earn an average of $67,052 annually for full-time work. That’s more than twice as much as the worst-paying city for women–McAllen, Tex.—where women earn a mean of just $31,287 each year.

Email Your Way to a Job

2012-01-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

Martin Yate at Simply Hired Blog has some good advice when it comes to using email for job hunting:

With e-mail, the Subject Line is your attention grabber; it's your headline and your advertising pitch. In the same way that headlines on blogs, articles, books, and movies are used to grab readers' attention and draw them into the story, your subject line is what draws the reader into your e-mail. It needs to be intriguing, concise, and should allow the recipient to immediately recognize who you are and what you want, and you have to achieve this goal with limited space.

The subject line in an email inbox typically reveal about 60 characters, you need to take advantage of this advertising space and can do better than settle for subject lines that state, "Resume" or "Jim Smith’s Resume." If you are responding to a job posting, the job title and job posting number are useful as a start, you can add the credentials that you know are important from your reading of the job posting. For example:

Financial Analyst posting #MB450—CPA/MBA/8 yrs exp
Posting # 2314—MIT Grad is interested
Job #6745—Top performing sales professional wants to talk

What's Your (Career) Sign?

2012-01-20T03:15:00.000-08:00

Could this be the new pick up line among the job seeking set?

The Work Buzz: “Sometimes in choosing a career we just don’t know where to start,” says Donna Stellhorn, an astrologer and author of “2012: Year of the Water Dragon.” “Many people in the world look to their Chinese Zodiac sign to find their talents, strengths and weaknesses. And this helps guide them in their career choices.”

Here is mine:

Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)
Stellhorn says: “Rats are better suited to highly-active jobs, where making more effort and taking chances yields higher material rewards. Owning their own business or doing outside sales — especially of luxury items — is great for them. Rats should avoid jobs that isolate them or that are routine (things like night watchman, toll booth operator, etc.). On the other hand, they should avoid jobs where gambling is a main focus (such as working in a casino) because they may end up giving their paycheck back to the house.”
Personality traits*: Imaginative, problem solver, magnetic, observant, selfish, motivated by money and status.
Other possible job matches*: Manager, counselor, lawyer, broadcaster, writer

Writer you say? Interesting.

Beware of Blindly Sending Resumes

2012-01-20T03:05:00.000-08:00

So says Dave Thomas at JobMob:

It is not uncommon for job ads, especially those online, to come with a P.O. Box or generic email with which to reply. For all you know, it could be your present employer posting an advertisement for help. Make sure you know the source of the help wanted advertisement so that you’re not caught inappropriately sending a resume to your current employer. If you do, chances are you will hear about it.

Sounds like good advice to me.

Education Section of a Resume

2012-01-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

This short article will help you determine where to list your education profile and what to include.

The education section of a resume is one of the few sections that can effectively be used in a variety of locations on the resume. It all depends on your level of experience and the specific brand you are trying to create. Newspapers use the term above the fold to denote those stories that show up on the top of the front page. Your education is listed above the fold in one situation, but below the fold in the other.

If you are still in school, or are a recent graduate you'll want to locate your education section immediately below the objective/branding statement. The reason for this is two-fold. First, as an entry-level applicant you will not have an abundance of industry specific experience so the education detail effectively stands in for what is (unavoidably) lacking in your history. Second, recent grads will have taken up to date courses that older applicants may not be as well versed in. Emphasizing your education plays to your strengths.

For job seekers with a bit more experience under their belt the education section of a resume should be listed below the fold, normally as the final section under work history. Generally, experience trumps education and therefore you do not need to take up valuable resume real estate to detail it.

Here is what should be included in the education section of a resume:

Name of the School
Location
Degree
University
Month and Year of Passing
GPA (if above a 3.5)
Honors
Activities

Exactly how this is formatted depends largely on how the res of your resume looks. Want to be sure your resume has the right educational profile for your target profession? Send it to me today and I'll evaluate your resume for free, no strings attached.

How to Get Your Cover Letter Read

2012-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Questions about what info to put in a cover letter are fairly common here at Quality Resumes. The cover letter often gets overlooked, but it is a vital part of your application package. While I have written on the basics before, I thought it might be useful to go over some of the more unique ways to use the cover letter as part of the job hunting process.

Include quotes from your recommendation letters.

I always advise against putting the tired line, "recommendations available upon request." After all, if the employer is interested he'll get in contact with you, and resume real-estate is too valuable to waste listing throwaway lines. However, if you have a strong letter and can include a quote right in the text of the cover letter it could add to both the content and authenticity of your letter.

Include a list of what you could do for the employer.

This obviously requires a fair amount of research, but if you can identify certain needs or weaknesses of the company your are applying to detail exactly how you could help them remedy the situation. This does two things for your candidacy. First, it shows you have initiative. Second, it gives them a frame, or brand, from which to view your resume. You will have predisposed them to read your history as one that can solve their problems.

Keep it short and to the point.

A common mistake I see, both from job seekers and professional resume writers, is going on too long in the cover letter. You do not need a 5-paragraph essay or a white paper. The purpose of the cover letter is to get the employer to read your resume. Let them know the job you want and why you'd be good at it. Tease them with a few quotes or facts about your history and preemptively thank them for the chance to speak in person. That is it.

Use these three tips to better your chances and get your cover letter read, which of course leads to the resume and interview and hopefully a new job.

Seven Simple Job Search Solutions

2012-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

I love me an alliterative title, and if you are looking for some solid advice when it comes to keeping your job search on target this should help you out too. Lindsey Pollack has written a revised edition of her classic book, Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World, and it will be published in a brand new, fully revised second edition on January 31^st

In honor of her new book she recently posted what she considers to be the 7 absolute basics you’ll need for a successful job search. I recommend checking out the whole thing, but here is a sampling.

1. Time. You’ve probably heard it said that job hunting is a fulltime job. I don’t believe that’s necessarily the case, but it is an activity that needs serious commitment. You’ll likely fail if you’re job hunting in your spare time, only on weekends or “when you get to it.” To get serious, schedule specific blocks of time in your calendar that are dedicated to your job hunt. I’d recommend starting with 30 uninterrupted minutes a day and adding time from there.

2. A Really Big List. A lot of people tell me this is their favorite tip from Getting from College to Career. A Really Big List is a collection of every idea you have that’s related to your job search — companies you’d love to work for, internships to apply for, people you’ve been meaning to talk to, blogs to subscribe to and anything and everything else. Start a list in a notebook, an Excel doc or in a file on your phone and keep it with you at all times. Your list will provide the assignments for the job search sessions you’ve now made the time for: employers to research, people to invite for informational interviews, events to attend, etc. It’s like a journal and assignment book all in one.

3. Friends. Notice I said “friends” instead of “a network.” This is so you don’t get scared. The reality is that your friends are your network, and a network is absolutely critical to landing a job. Your friends are the first people you should tell about your job search. Your friends are the people who can offer advice, ideas and connections to their friends who might also be helpful. Your friends are the people you should connect with on LinkedIn before anyone else (see #6 below). A job search doesn’t require reaching out to dozens of strangers. You’ll be more successful if you reach out to your friends first and grow your network organically from those relationships.

Ms. Pollack is a great resource for job seekers and I highly recommend following her.

The Economy Might Be Finally Turning

2012-01-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

Is it time to freshen up your resume? Maybe, at least according to Jonathan Chait

[T]he economy is, step by step, looking stronger.Today's report of 200,000 new jobs in December and 8.5 percent unemployment seems to fit a general trend. Jobless claims have fallen steadily, forecasters expect to see fast growth in the fourth quarter of 2011, and some of the disasters that held back the economy in the last year (the Japanese tsunami, the Libya oil shock, the Republican debt-ceiling hostage crisis) have all receded. With the obvious caveat that predictions are hard, it’s looking more and more like a real recovery may finally be upon us.

Amazing Workplaces

2012-01-03T17:17:00.001-08:00

Davison International Inc., a 285-employee company that designs and creates kitchen gadgets, toys and other consumer products, relocated in 2006 to a 61,000-square-foot building in Pittsburgh, Pa. Its interior, which followed a year-long, $5 million renovation, is intended to encourage creativity and a positive attitude among staff.

You have to see these images to believe them.

Best Resume Writing of 2011

2011-12-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

As 2011comes to a close it is time for one of the few time honored traditions of the "new media" or blogging: The Most Popular Articles of 2011.

By far the article with the most views is my piece from last February, Skills to Put on a Resume. In fact it has more than double the hits of its closest competitor, so clearly it has a lot of Google love. Next in line is my article on the choices you have when formatting a resume, What is the Correct Format for a Resume?. This one has been steadily growing ever since I published it back in June. Third we have a related piece, What is The Difference Between a CV and a Resume.

Rounding out the top ten are the following essays:
4. The Best Resume Taglines
5. Latest Resume Styles: Good or Bad?
6. Great Tip For Resume Formatting
7. How to Write a Resume Branding Statement
8. How to Deal With being Over-Qualified
9. How Much Does a Resume Really Cost?
10. A Virtuous Resume

How to Act at Work

2011-12-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

As I come to the final post in our series on classical career advice the topic turns to not how we think, or what we say, but what we do.

Prudent Action

We have now reached the point where Epictetus has some advice for how we should act in our jobs and careers. His points here echo throughout history as advice given to all those who strive to do something great, and yet, the actual substance of his words is plainly simple. First, he explains how we should begin.

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

Really? This is his profound advice? Sounds like a Nike commercial, you say.

Well, you’re right. The gist of this advice is to “just do it.” But just because we have heard it before doesn’t mean it is not valid. And let’s be honest with ourselves. Do we really, consciously, decide what we want in our careers and then actually make a plan to achieve it. Do we take daily steps in that direction, no matter how small, but always forward in a clear direction? Or do more of us tend to drift, letting those around us dictate the direction of our professional lives.

If we unpack this simple advice we see many more eternal truths, not just about career development, but about life in general. Think for yourself. Take responsibility for your own actions. Don’t blame others for your mistakes. Decide, and then do.

However, even the best laid plans...well, you know, sometimes things just go wrong. Epictetus has some fatherly advice for us here as well.

“Difficulties are things that show what men are.”

"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.”

You need fire and a heavy hammer to sharpen steel. A man’s character requires just as powerful a tool. Your fire and hammer are provided by the obstacles that you meet along the way. Rather than bemoan the fact that your boss has given you twice the work load, or cut your territory, or your co-worker has stolen credit for your latest project, pick yourself up and keep moving forward. Decide on a course of action that will rectify the situation and then act.

The tougher the problem, the more refinement your character can receive. You have all you need already inside you, but only if you truly apply all of the advice Epictetus has to offer. Prudent attitude. Prudent words. Prudent actions.

12 Job Search Tips for 2012

2011-12-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

As the calendar pages flips from 2011 to 2012 it is time to take stock of your current job search. there are always things you can do to reinvigorate yourself and improve your chances of lanidng a quality job in the new year. Here are 12 tips for 2012 to give you something to start with.

1. Narrow your search.
2. Know what you really want.
3. Reevaluate your skills and abilities.
4. Set a goal, or goals
5. Don't be afraid to try something new
6. Outmaneuver the competition.
7. Give your online reputation a boost.
8. Create an online portfolio, website or blog
9. Keep up to date with industry trends
10. Don't be afraid to sell yourself.
11. Update your resume.
12. Stay positive.

Be sure to click through the links. I have written about most of these topics over the course of the past year, so hopefully something you find will be helpful.

Your New Year's Resume Checkup

2011-11-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

Five Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Resume:

1. Has your career objective changed since the last time you performed a job search?

2. Are still using the same tired resume format that got you your first job?

3. Does your resume feature accomplishments rather than responsibilities?

4. Was your last job search before to 2000?

5. Are you getting positive or encouraging feedback from your resume?

Let's go through these one-by-one and provide that all important New Year's Resume Checkup. First, the objective or resume branding statement, needs to be up to date. This means that it accurately describes your current skills and that it has the most searched for keywords embedded within the text. Your objective creates the lens through which a potential employer is going to view your entire resume. Be sure you spend some time crafting a quality one.

Second, be sure to modernize the look of your resume. This is especially important if your resume is over 5 years old. As a professional resume writer I have to keep up to date with the latest trends. When the time comes to update your own resume you need to either seek out some help, or look at some resume samples from a reputable writer. This way you'll know what employers are expecting to see visually. However, do not go overboard. Some resume gimmicks go a bit too far.

Third, do not fall into the amateur trap of listing job responsibilities. In a competitive job market there will be hundreds of applicants with the same job descriptions as you. How did you perform these duties? What were your accomplishments. These are the things which make you stand out from the crowd.

Forth, keep your resume current. Focus the most attention on the most recent 10 years of experience. It is OK to go further back in your history if there is something pertinent to it, but do not feel like you need to detail out 25 years worth of job history.

Finally, target a few key areas and send your resume out. See what kind of feedback you get. If you are not seeing results have a professional review it. Your resume is really just a glorified marketing campaign, and the product is you. If your campaign isn't working, try something new.

If you go through these steps once a year you are guaranteed to always have a quality resume ready to perform for you when the situation calls for it.

How to Speak at Work

2011-11-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

Here is the next entry in my continuing series on classical advice for the workplace.

Prudent Words

We have all heard some form of the maxim, What you think, you say. What you say, you do. Well, we are at that mid point. Cultivating the ability to say the right words, to speak well, will directly inform who we are and how we act in our careers.

"Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may

hear from others twice as much as we speak."

“First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.”

Epictetus points to the first step in speaking well here. In essence his advice is to speak less. No one likes a know-it-all, and we are all familiar with that particular person who just can’t seem to keep his mouth shut during meetings and planning sessions. (If you aren't, it is probably because you’re it. Note: Pay specific attention to this section!). In contrast, most organizations also have the quiet and thoughtful man. The one who doesn’t speak up often, but when he does, everyone listens.

The goal is to become the latter. By rushing in to speak up you do not allow your reason to fully digest what is going on, what the full parameters of the discussion entail. Therefore your comments are more opinion or repetition, not suggestion or evaluation. A man needs to fully listen to what others are saying before he jumps into the fray.

Try this at your next meeting or informal business discussion. Say as little as possible; just listen. You’ll be surprised about what you may learn. Things like others’ true motivations, hidden agendas and possible leanings all become much more evident when you take a step back. Then when you do join in the discussion, your comments will be that much more targeted and useful.

The final entry in this series will come on Small Business Saturday.

How to Write a Resume Branding Statement

2011-11-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

As a professional resume writer one of the most common questions I get from clients is about their resume's objective. In the past all resumes were required to have an objective at the top which stated the applicants desired position. While you still want a type of objective statement, the content and style of this portion of the resume has changed. Today, you want to create what is called a "resume branding statement."

Start by listing your desired job title, such as sales manager. Next, add an adjective that quantifies or qualifies your experience: expert level sales manager. This is your lead. Now you need a statement that brands you in your field.

Think of the skills you bring to the table that help set you apart from other applicants. Are you a tactical planner? Have you created strategic partnerships? Are you driven to exceed quotas? Blend these ideas together to create your resume branding statement. Here is an example of a complete branding statement for someone looking to apply for a sales executive:

Expert level sales manager able to construct dynamic, top-producing sales organizations through proven leadership and management style, strategic partnering, design of tactical sales initiatives, and implementation of key account-management methodologies.

Once you have created your branding statement use it as a theme for the resume of your resume package. This is the lens through which you want potential employers to see you, so stay on message. Include some of the same verbiage in your cover and thank you letters. Place it in your social media profiles like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Have the Right Work Attitude

2011-11-16T16:22:00.001-08:00

Part two of our running series on career advice from classical Greece deals with our attitudes:

Prudent Attitude

Without the correct attitude about your job, it really won’t matter how hard you work. Sure, you may have some success, but it will not be truly satisfying, or lasting. If you approach each day- each project- with the right attitude, the rest can fall into place so much easier.

“There is only one-way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”

How many times have you stayed awake at night replaying the day’s events or looking forward to some anticipated occurrence? More often than not, there is nothing we can do about these things. This is what Epictetus is talking about. There are events we have control over and events that we don’t. Wisdom comes in knowing the difference.

By zeroing in on those things that are under “the power of our will,” we can accomplish a lot more. No needless energy is wasted running around in circles nipping at the heels of projects or situations where someone else is the main driver. Speaking of other people, we also need to pay attention to how other’s attitudes affect us.

"Other people's views and troubles can be contagious. Don't sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others."

Here is my modern version of this quote: Beware the break room.

It is so easy to join in with co-workers in the inevitable bitch-session that often takes place in the break room. And while everyone needs to vent once in a while, a steady diet of this attitude will eventually poison your own work ethic. This attitude can lead to you not taking responsibility for your (occasional of course) faults and instead blaming it on someone else. The pass-the-buck syndrome was born in a break room bull session.

Don't be anti-social, just be sure that those who you spend the most time with share your general outlook. Don’t sabotage yourself.

Classic Career Advice

2011-11-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

A quick scan of Amazon’s best seller list in the career development section reveals some well known titles.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity
What Color is Your Parachute?
How to Win Friends and Influence People

All of these books offer solid advice, and a man can get a lot of tips and tricks to become more successful in his job. In fact I am willing to guess more than a few readers own one or two of them. Here is a title you may not be a familiar with: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life by Epictetus.

I can hear you now, Epic-who?

Epictetus was a Greek philosopher from the first century AD who was a proponent of the stoic branch of philosophy. Stoics believed that what happened to a man was less important than how that man reacted to the event. Therefore the most important teaching of stoicism was one of self-mastery. Epictetus became one of the most well known teachers of this way of life.

Born a slave, he never wrote anything down but simply taught those who wanted to learn to become better men, much like his more famous predecessor, Socrates. What we now know of Epictetus’ teachings is thanks to his pupil, Arrian, who wrote them down in his collection Discourses.

OK, so he was a great Greek philosopher. How does that help me be a better sales manager?

Glad you asked.

Just about all of Epictetus’ teachings are in the form of short sayings that embody some profound idea. Many of these can be directly applied to your career, no matter what you do for a living. For the purpose of this article I have grouped some of the best (in my humble opinion anyway) into three categories. Prudent attitude, prudent words and prudent action.

Over the next few posts I will be mapping out how focusing on these three areas can help you feel better about, and succeed in, work.

Help For Ex-military Job Seekers

2011-10-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

One of the charities my family regularly supports is Green Beans Cup of Joe program. It is a great and easy way to just say a quick "thanks." From their website:

In our travels to see the troops, many share with us their sense of loneliness, isolation and feelings of being forgotten. Their commanders tell us that some troops never receive mail from home. In response, Green Beans Coffee has launched Cup of Joe For A Joe to let anyone, anywhere in the world, say thanks to our troops through the simple act of buying a cup of coffee and having it delivered along with their own personal note of encouragement into the hands of a deployed serviceman.

My wife especially has always felt a deep gratitude towards the men and women who choose to protect us and she has really gotten the entire family into the act. My oldest child has even begun writing letters. All of this is great, but I often wish we could do more.

Those who have sacrificed most for this nation are coming home to bleak job prospects. However, there are resources available to make the transition from military to civilian a bit easier. Job-Hunt.org has complied a handy list of these groups.

In addition I would like to extend the following offer. If you have recent returned from active duty, and are in need of a new resume just send me an email and I will do what I can to help. Its the least I can offer in return for your sacrifices.

Monster Alternatives: Simply Hired

2011-10-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

Judging by the decorations and merchandise most retail stores are currently trying to convince us that it is both Christmas and Halloween concurrently. However just because October and the Halloween season are upon us doesn't mean you have to reply on the Monster to fuel your job search.

A newer, but growing option is Simply Hired. Simply Hired is a vertical search engine company based in Silicon Valley, building the largest online database of jobs on the planet. They make finding your next job a simple yet effective, enjoyable journey. Just like an honest resume service, no job board can always promise you'll discover your dream job, but they'll give you the best chance possible to get a bigger paycheck, a more considerate boss, or a shorter commute.

I do not plug services that I do not believe in. In fact I will often guest post on Simply Hired's blog. Here is a sampling of my latest: Your Last Chance at a First Impression

If you are one of the approximately 2.5 million people who are unemployed and have been actively engaged in America's new, most popular past time- the job hunt game- you have probably read about social media's growing influence for both seekers and employers. Between Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn a number of high value sites are now actively part of the game, and while you do not necessarily need to be an social media expert to get hired, completely ignoring these avenues is done at your own risk.

However, all these new career influences do not change the fact that the resume is your last chance at a first impression.

That's right, the old, tried-and-true resume is still your best option to impress a potential employer and land an interview. So, while you should certainly spend some time creating a unified message and brand across your various online profiles, do not neglect spending just as much time and resources on your cover letter, resume and post-interview thank you letter.

Click through to read the rest and take a look at some of the great jobs they have posted on their boards. As always, if you have a question, or want some free advice feel free to email me at steve@qualityresumes.com

Job Search Reality Check

2011-09-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

As an provider of an online service and and active blogger it is easy to fall into the trap of over emphasizing the benefits of the internet. Yes things like Twitter, LinkedIn and Face book are useful job search tools, but they do not replace the basics. Margo Rose over at #Hire Friday reminded me of that:

Remember the days when we used to actually go to a company and fill out an application? Remember the days when we picked up the phone and actually had to call people to follow up? Remember the days when we used to circle job ads in the newspaper? Now, all we have to do is click, click, click, and send our resume…right? WRONG! There’s a myth that exists, no maybe it’s a full blown urban legend. It goes a little something like this: “All I have to do is reply to submit my resume to job board ads for 6 hours a day, and that’s job hunting.” It’s not job hunting. That’s what I call typing.

Being reminded that nothing replaces good-old-fashion networking is never a bad thing. So while Istill recommend filling out all those online profiles, and staying current on the latest trends, don't forget to hit the pavement and make real live human connections as well.

The Importance of a Personalized Cover Letter

2011-09-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

As a professional resume writer I have the task of reading and reviewing hundreds of resume packages a year. A typical resume package includes a cover letter, resume and perhaps a reference sheet. Today I’d like to talk a bit about the importance of a personalized cover letter and why tailoring one to the specific job you applying for is so important.

For the most part, the individual reading your cover letter is a living breathing human being. (Yes, I know many companies use auto-reading software, but eventually your packets gets live eyeball time.) People like to be addressed by their name and title, not a generic To whom it concerns, or even the slightly less impersonal, Dear hiring manager. So take the time to research the actual name and title of the person responsible for deciding whether or not to interview you.

However, making a cover letter personal takes more than an appropriate salutation. The next step is to identify what the job entails and what kind of candidate they are looking for. It is perfectly fine to reference the job posting specifically in the cover letter. For example, if the job is for a paralegal with real estate knowledge say something like:

After studying both the your job posting and website I see that real estate expertise is vital to your firm. I have spent the past five years working in this field and would love the chance to describe to you in detail what I have accomplished, as well as get to know the exact area of real estate you most often deal with.

Finally, once you have properly addressed the individual reading your resume package and let them know you have made the time to research their company close by anticipating an interview. Confidently say that you are looking forward to meeting, state some questions you’d like to ask. Show the reader that you are prepared and willing to discuss all the various aspects related to the posted position.

A well written cover letter like the one described above will go a long way to landing you the interview, and ideally, the job.

The Importance of the Cover Letter

2011-09-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

In our modern internet age the cover letter is not getting it's due credit. Job seekers are more than willing to pay top-dollar for a well-written and well-researched resume. In fact, some services (though not this one) charge up to $500.00 for an executive level resume. However, many of these same services throw in the cover letter as an after thought.

Worse, many job hunters treat the cover letter in the same way. "It is just an introductory letter," they say. "Most employers probably don't even read it anyway."

A quality cover letter is more important than you think.

This could not be further from the truth. I personally know of at least three cases, where I was intimately involved, where the cover letter is what landed the job candidate the interview, not the resume. A well-written cover letter can highlight the candidate's strongest attributes in a way a resume simply can not. A resume needs to include a more complete picture of your history. A cover letter can zero in on two or three key components.

Cover letters are the first thing a potential employer will see upon opening your application. Your cover letter tells an employer a lot about you. It is a personal sales pitch. You need to show why you are a perfect match for the position. Determine what skills do you have that match the company. List two or three bullet pointed highlights. Tailor your experience to the company's needs.

Finally, put some thought into how you want to present the cover letter. The most common way is to craft it in a matching format together with the resume and post interview thank you letter. However, if you are emailing the resume as an attachment you may want to consider using the text of the email as your cover letter.

Whatever you decide, don't short change the letter. In a job market as tough as ours, a candidate needs to use ever tool at his disposal to stand out.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Resume Writer

2011-08-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

I always loved Spider-man growing up. His easy-to-relate-to alter ego, his amazing physical abilities and his regular guy sense of humor made him one of my all time favorite super heroes. It was great how after rescuing some damsel in distress and she tried to thank him he let go that famous catch phrase, "Just another service from your friendly neighborhood Spider-man."

Well, as much as I would love to be a modern day career boosting super hero, I can't give away resumes for free. [I have a family to feed after all.] However, I can do the next best thing and offer some free advice. If you spend any time looking around the site here at Quality Resumes you'll see a lot that could be helpful to new or experienced job seekers.

Need some beginner tips on how to write a resume? I have you covered. Had an interview, but just not sure how to write a post interview thank you letter? I can help you there too. Maybe you are beyond the beginner phase and you have questions around some of the bigger issues. Such as what is the difference between a cv and a resume. This is a popular question, and I'll answer it for you.

Spend some time looking around and I am sure you'll find something useful. And as if all the free advice wasn't enough, I will look at your resume and give you a professional 5-point review, free of charge. Just another service from your friendly neighborhood resume writer!

"Please Help Me With Resume Writing"

2011-08-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is taken from the most common email subject heading in my inbox this summer. It seems a lot of people are turning to the net looking for help these days. I love when I see that message line show up when I click on email- and no, not just because it means another potential client.

You see, more people looking for help, means more people actively entering back into the job searching phase. That is an overall positive sign for the economy. To take some liberty with the famous quote by GM, what is good for the resume writing business is good for the country.

Of course, not everyone looking for help is going to turn into a paying client, and that is OK. Some people just need a little guidance, or a quick piece of advice. I love helping those people too. Here is a free tip for anyone who has a service industry business, don't be afraid to give away some free services now and then- it is the better than any advertising you could buy.

So, if you you are looking for a career change, or are trying to find employment after a long layoff, feel free to email me and ask me to help you with your resume. It is an always welcome question.

What to Look for in a Resume Service

2011-08-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

Choosing to write a resume without the benefit of a professional resume service leads to additional stress at an already stressful time.

We all know the feeling. You have sat in front of your computer for the past hour looking through the various templates that Word provides for resumes. You hem and haw over which one looks the best, finally deciding on one. It isn't perfect, but it looks nice. As you start adding in some of your information you realize the template isn't really adjustable and you are stuck with someone else's version of a good resume.

As you continue frustration really sets in when you realize you are not sure exactly how to best word your experience and you don't know which skills will make the strongest impression. Then you remember reading somewhere that many companies use auto screeners that look for keywords and you begin to panic. You have no idea what those keywords are!

Rest easy. A quality resume service can help with all of this.

You wouldn't try to fix your own transmission without training and experience. In fact most of us wouldn't even entertain the thought. We'd go directly to a professional. Yet when it comes to resume writing- an activity that in the long run is much more important than a car- we choose to go it alone.

Here are three key reasons why you should let a professional resume writer help you.

1. A professional knows the style that will work best for you. Should you use a chronological resume or a skills-based one? What about those early work history gaps? I was self employed. How do I list that? A resume service provider has encountered all of these issues and more. He knows how to deal with them and make you look great while doing it.

2. Professionals keep up to date with the latest trends. This is important for two reasons. First, they know which trends are beneficial and need to be followed: keyword inclusions, personal branding, social media optimization. second, they know which trends are nothing more than fads and should be avoided: PowerPoint resumes, video resumes, graphics laden documents.

3. An experienced writer is, well, a good writer. Most people do not make a living through our writing ability. Yet because everyone is capable of putting together an intelligible sentence they assume they can write a resume. However, this just isn't true. There is more to it than stringing together some sentences. Understanding voice, parallelism and cohesion, a professional writer will be able to put together a resume that flows and stands out.

If you are not sure whether or not you need a resume service, let me take a look at your resume. I offer a free 5-point, no-strings-attached evaluation. Just shoot me an email and I'll let you know what I think.

How to Write a Resume for a Teaching Position

2011-08-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

As I sit on my deck to write this post the mid-August sun beats down heavily on my brow, and I am awaiting the return to the classroom. You see, in addition to working as a resume writing professional, I am also a teacher, secondary English to be precise, and this time of year is met with both anticipation and wistful reminiscence of a summer almost gone.

This seems the perfect time to combine my two callings: teaching and resume writing.

Over the years I have sat in on numerous interview committees and have first-hand experience as to what makes a teaching candidate stand out resume-wise. First of all, the normal requisites all apply. Your resume should be set up in chronological format, starting with your most recent teaching position. Visually your resume should embody two key principles: clean lines and current content. This means creating a document that has plenty of white space and few large blocks of text. It should have plenty of easy-to-scan bullet points. Your teaching resume should also focus heavily on the most recent 10 years of experience.

You should include the following sections. First, an objective which states the position you are applying for and what you would bring to the job. Second, a summary, where you list your job-specific skills. Third, a work history, where you highlight your professional teaching accomplishments. And finally an education section where you list your degrees and certifications.

Here are a few additional tips on how to write a resume for a teaching position.

In your objective be sure to mention something significant about kids. This should be the main thrust of your resume: you enjoy and want to work with students.

In your summary section talk about specific educational buzz words. IEP's, Differentiated Instruction, Learning Styles etc. This is not just keyword loading; it is showing you keep up to date on educational research.

Your work history should include specific accomplishments- not just teaching duties. How do you stand out? Did you start a Professional Learning Network (PLN) at your school? Mentor a group? Create a interdisciplinary unit? Differentiate yourself from the crowd.

When detailing your education be sure to list the specifics of your certification(s). Many schools hire people with the future in mind. Can you teach more than one subject or grade level? Even if the position is for 8th grade math, if you can also teach 5th grade science- list it!

Teaching jobs can be hard to come by, as competition for them is high. Be sure to put your best forward with a teaching resume that helps you stand out as a lover of students and a qualified professional.

As always, if you have your resume, but just want a professional opinion, feel free to send it to me for a free, no-strings-attached review.

Quick Guide: Updating Your Resume

2011-08-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

If you have had a resume written by a qualified professional recently and just want to update it to include a recent job or accomplishment you can probably do it on your own. If you chose to go this route there are a three guidelines to follow.

Take your time and have a friend or colleague proofread your work and you should be fine. All of these tips have come from errors I have seen numerous times when performing free evaluations for clients.

Check verb tenses. Too often people will update the dates on a previous job, but forget entirely to change the verb tenses in the job details to past tense.

Update your contact info. With the plethora of contact info many of us have such as cell, land lines, emails, and social media accounts sometimes we tend to over share. List a single phone number and a professional sounding email. [Note: If you are still using cute_cheerleader@email.com, it may be time to upgrade.]

Rewrite your objective. This is really the key to your update. Your objective needs to be tailored to whatever job you are applying for.

What the New Jobless Numbers Mean for Your Job Search

2011-08-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

As of this post (8/14/11) the job situation seems to be improving. According to the Dept of labor jobless claims dropped in the week ending August 6 in addition to the fact that the U.S. labor economy added 118,000 jobs in the month, beating expectations. All of this final seems to be proof of the increasing strength in the job market.

So what does this mean for my job search, you wonder?

First, it may mean that companies will start hiring in earnest again- very good news. Second, if companies start hiring again, then many who have been sitting out the current job market may choose to get back into it. This means more competition for those openings. Making yourself standout is going to every bit as important in the hoped for recovery as it was during the long recession.

So, how do you make yourself stand out? The regular advice will still apply. Create a quality resume. Get out and network. Monitor your social media. Go to conferences. However, there is an additional technique for the 21st century. Create a storyline for your job search tool box.

The importance of creating a storyline can not be underestimated.

You wouldn't read a book, watch a movie or invest time in a TV show if the storyline was lacking. Whether or not the consciously realize it, most employers want the same thing in the applicants. Think of all the venues your job search touches: cover letter, resume, thank-you letter, LinkedIn profile, Twitter, Face Book, Flickr...the list can go on and on. each one of these should be tailored to reinforce the same story line about you.

Decide how you want to sell yourself to potential employers. Are you a client retention expert? Do you specialize in turning around inefficient companies? Are you a team motivator? Decide what sets you apart and make that theme a focus of your profiles, posts and portfolio.

So get yourself ready for the (hopefully) coming job opportunities and start story telling.

_______________________

Need help creating a story line? That is what I am here for! Just shoot me an email and I'll get your started on the right track.

The Best Resume Taglines

2011-08-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

Can you identify the companies associated with these taglines?*

Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.
Kid tested; mother approved.
Play. Laugh. Grow.

* answers below, but no cheating!

The importance of your own personal tagline has grown over the past few years. Originally it was a quirky line to put under the header on your resume, not required, but something to get your main skill across. However, with the proliferation of social media this simple phrase can become a vital component of your personal brand.

When coming up with your own personal resume tagline, do your best to include two to three things that set you apart or define who you are professionally. Look again each famous tagline above and see how each one identifies at least two concepts related to the product. (Figured them out yet?)

My personal tagline is " Educator, Career and Personal Development Writer." This accurately describes what I do since I am an English teacher, resume writer and a personal development blogger. In one short phrase people know what I am really all about.

Where To Put Your Tagline

The short answer is everywhere! Your Twitter profile, your Facebook page, your LinkedIn summary. All social media sites allow for a quick one liner for the purpose of identification. take advantage of this space to start marketing yourself.

Another excellent place to put your tagline is in your outgoing email. All email programs allow you to have an auto signature. List your name, contact info and tagline. Before you know it, people you regularly see both on and offline will begin to associate your tag line with you.

OK, here are the answers to the tagline quiz at the start of this post:

M & M's
Kix
Fischer-Price

Twittering Your Job Search

2011-08-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

You're not too old.
You're not too young.
You're not too inexperienced.
You're not too busy.

You're not too anything to try something new in your job search. If you always do what you've always done you can't be surprised when nothing new happens.

In this day and age if you are looking for work the old write-a-resume-and-broadcast-it-to-the-world approach just will not cut it. You need to maximize the tools that are available to you. A number of social networking sites are readily available and are fairly easy to use. Let's start with the basics: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

How to Create an Online Brand in One Week
Pick one site per day for the next three days and fill out a profile. Not sure how to do that? You can always hire me to help, but honestly just Google "How to Fill Out a _____Profile" and you'll find plenty of free advice.

Next, working on one site per day for the next three days surf around and follow some key people and organizations in your field. This will obviously be different for everyone, but you probably already know the movers and shakers in your industry. And, if they are not online, then they are not really the movers and shakers you thought they were.

Finally, on the last day of the week simply interact on all three sites. Post an update, share a link, say hello to someone. Once you get started it isn't hard to keep it up. Still not sure you should bother? Then here are some statistics from Joshua Waldman that might convince you otherwise:

89% of companies use social media for recruiting.
65% have hired via social media.
55% plan to invest more in recruiting via social media in the coming year.

How Much Does a Resume Really Cost?

2011-08-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

I get asked this question a lot. Those who are looking for the lowest price out there are usually not happy with my response. But the old adage holds true: You get what you pay for. According to most experts the average time a job seeker is out of work is 6 months. To go along with this most HR professionals will tell you that better than 80% of the resumes they receive are rejected within ten seconds.

These two figures are not unrelated. Poor resume writing leads to longer periods of unemployment.

Now let’s add some hypothetical numbers. The median income is around $41,000. Let’s go even lower and base the following on an income of $36,000. Stay with me now, if your desired income is $36k then your monthly pay would be $3,000. If you were out of work for 6 months that would be a loss of $18,000!

Now what if you paid an expert to write your resume and you got a job two months earlier. That would save you $6,000. How much would you be willing to pay for a document that could save you $6k? If you had your taxes done by a qualified CPA and he found you a $6,000 refund, you would gladly pay him a sizable fee wouldn’t you?

And remember, we were basing this example on a desired income of only $36,000.

So rather than ask me how much does a resume really costs, ask yourself how much is two or more months of employment worth?

What Are the Most Hated Job Interview Questions?

2011-08-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is one just about everyone has an opinion on. We have all been on interviews where we want to just slap the interviewer for asking that - whatever that happens to be for you. Over at BioSpace Leslie Drew has come up with her own list.

The 5 most Hated Job Interview Questions

1. What is your greatest weakness?
2. If I were to ask your friends or former co-workers to describe you, what would they say?
3. Do you work well under pressure?
4. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or superior? How did you handle it?
5. Are you a team player?

She goes on to give some advice on how to handle each - and does so with a sense of humor too. I recommend you click through to the whole article. Once you have, stop by Twitter and let me know what your most hated interview question is and I'll write up a list for us here at Quality Resumes.

What Minecraft Means for Job Searchers

2011-08-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

Minecraft has recently been selected as one of the 80 games to be shown at the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of "The Art of Video Games" exhibit that is set to open in March of 2012. The game is built around creativity, allowing players to build constructions out of cubes in a 3D virtual world.

So what does a video game have to do with job hunting, you ask?

A lot actually.

The fact that a game that is built solely around innate creativity is fast becoming one of the most searched for downloads on the internet, and is being showcased at The Smithsonian, shows that there is a great supply of imaginative talent out there. People are looking for creative outlets in their recreational lives.These same people are the ones looking for creative outlets in their professional lives as well.

This is your competition.

It doesn't matter if you are in a tech field or not, the coming age is going to be all about creativity, ingenuity and the ability to adapt quickly in an ever-evolving job market and economy. Not only do you need to focus on where your personal branding is located, you also need to be sure your branding highlights your ability to be a creative and forward thinking team player in the 21st century economy.

A Resume That Displays Prudence

2011-07-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

The last post in this Virtuous Resume series dealt with the concept of Fortitude. Here is the key concept from that post:

Before sitting down to write a rough draft of your resume, spend some time brainstorming a list of times when fortitude stood at the center of your experience. Whether you directly mention these instances or not, the act of starting from a place of strength will end up informing the entirety of your resume.

Prudence can be used in much the same way. Unfortunately, the idea of actually being prudent took quite a hit thanks to Dana Carvey a few years back. Those of a certain generation will never forget Carvey parodying George H. Bush, saying that "it wouldn't be prudent at this juncture..." But what gets lost in the humor is that prudence plays a large role in all of our lives, whether we happen to be the president or the local taxi driver. You just need to make sure you include this concept on your resume.

It is not as if you are working hard to create a resume that screams, "I am a virtuous and to-be-trusted person!" What you want to do is look through your own personal experiences and see if you can frame them in a certain way. Here is our everyman definition of prudence: The ability to judge between actions with regard to proper actions.

In other words, you gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.

For the virtue of Prudence you want to look for times when you had the foresight to either jump into a project with both feet and succeeded or for times when a more cautious approach was the correct course to take.

Employers are looking for candidates who know how to take initiative and can be trusted to know when it is the right time to jump in or hold back. If you can make your resume communicate this, then you are a big step ahead of the competition.

A Resume with Fortitude

2011-07-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Last post I brought up the idea that creating a resume that focuses on the four classical virtues could be one way to differentiate you from the crowd. Today, I want to focus on the virtue of Fortitude. Let’s look at ways to naturally insert the concepts of courage, bravery and fortitude into your resume.

First, a quick definition of what is meant by fortitude in this sense. The strict meaning of the word is a mental and emotional strength when facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation in a courageous fashion. This brings to mind images of knights in shining armor battling to the death. However, when we are talking about the career setting we need to modify this somewhat, or at least re-frame it.

The adversity you face in a job setting comes in the forms of co-workers who may not be on board with your ideas or perhaps a business trend that you have to persevere against. Luckily, there are no real dragons to slay or enemies to vanquish in our day-to-day jobs ~ unless of course you work at a Renaissance faire, but then that’s a separate discussion.

So, you ask, how do I put this idea of yours into print on my resume?

There is more than one way to highlight Fortitude on your resume.

Let’s look at the four main sections of the traditional resume as our starting point. You should have an objective, a summary/profile, a work history and an education section. The places that would make the most sense to insert this information would be the summary and work history.

You could do this in a number of ways. Think of times you have had to stand against the crowd where it has lead to a positive outcome. Lists those as achievements in the history section. State your willingness to go out on a limb for a good idea in your summary. How you do this is dependent upon the types of experiences you have had. What is important is that you use this idea as a jumping off point for content for the resume.

Don’t forget about your cover letter.

The cover letter also is a great place to list these concepts, especially if you need a little more verbal freedom when describing it. The resume should be limited to bullet points, so if your example of courage needs a bit of explanation, see if it could better be told in the cover letter.

Now it is your turn. Before sitting down to write a rough draft of your resume, spend some time brainstorming a list of times when fortitude stood at the center of your experience. Whether you directly mention these instances or not, the act of starting from a place of strength will end up informing the entirety of your resume.

Stay tuned for the next post where I will be talking about the concept of Prudence and how to incorporate it into your resume and cover letter.

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