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6 More Resume Writing Tips That Pay

Administrator — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:59:27 +0000

I have seen many hundreds of Professional resumes during my career in human resources. Very nice, competent, and well intending people sometimes sent resumes in which they made one or more “little” mistakes. Whether it was a misspelled word, the wrong prefix on a word, or fragmented sentence, how many resume mistakes does it take to prevent getting a job? Many hiring managers have a zero tolerance when it comes to such mistakes on a resume. Following are more resume writing tips inspired from things seen on people’s resumes.

Tip 1: Resume cover letters must communicate. Review your letter to be sure it does the following:

* Makes the case that you are the solution to the employer’s problems.

* Gets to the primary subject quickly.

* Solidly connects employer’s job requirements with your background and experience.

* Is written such that all sentences and paragraphs are short and easy to read.

* Makes a solid connection with the needs of the prospective employer.

* Has repeated use of the word “you” (i.e., remember that the theme of your resume is what you can do for them, not the other way around).

* Minimizes number of fonts used. One is preferable to me, with sparing use of italics and “bold.”

* Uses a clear and easy to read font that is no smaller than a size “10″ or “11.”

* Makes a simple but clear case that you would like to work for them.

* Expresses a reason why they should contact you.

* Factors in a reason to act sooner rather than later.

* Starts the letter by stating your conclusion upfront.

* Supports your position by presenting a quantifiable objective(s) and briefly mentions why is/are relevant.

* Restate major conclusion in a sentence or two at end of letter.

* Makes it easy to reach you: provides multiple ways that you can be contacted (i.e., home telephone, email, street address, and/or cell number at minimum).

Tip 2: If in doubt, keep it simple. Use an English word equivalent rather than French or Latin terms, and single-syllable words rather than multi-syllable terms. Examples include: “per day” instead of “per diem,” “per year” instead of “per annum,” “essential” instead of “sine qua non,” “genuine” instead of “bona fide.” An exception is if such terms are common in your industry.

Tip 3: Use specific, measurable terms versus those that are unclear. Examples: “we received numerous inquiries,” versus “we received 170 inquiries.”

Tip 4: Eliminate use of repetitive and unnecessary words. Example #1: “assisted in the preparation of…,” versus: “assisted in preparing.” Example #2: “responsible for the directing of…,” versus “directed.”

Tip 5: Use first-person and second-person words (e.g., “I”, “we,” “my,” “our,” “you,” “your,” “yours,” etc.), as appropriate, to personalize your resume and cover letter.

Tip 6: Sometimes it is possible to be too familiar with a document to see it objectively. Consider having someone else review your resume for you, such as a close friend, family member or a resume service.

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Cover Letter Salary Requirement-Win The Game

Administrator — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:23:24 +0000

Mario Churchill asked:

Cover letters are often the most difficult portion of the job application process. While you want to provide a good overview of the details that are pertinent to the position and whether or not you qualify there are times when a certain bit of information is simply too much information. Your salary history is one of those bits of information. There is really no space for a salary history or salary requirements on a cover letter. In fact, many people have found that giving a salary history or listing a salary requirement is often an act of shooting themselves in the foot. For this reason it is best to offer too little rather than too much information.

What if they company requests a salary requirement? This is indeed a sticky situation. Many companies use this to eliminate employees that are out of their price range off the bat. In some case, companies have used lower salary requirements listed in order to make lower offers rather than offering the standard rate. This can hurt in a big way in the long run and creates a lower salary history than you may be worth. In other words, if it isn’t a direct request on behalf of the company, avoid it all together.

If the company has requested your salary requirements or a salary history be sure that you give a salary range (and be as broad as you are comfortable being) and explain to them that the salary you will be willing to work for on this particular job depends greatly on exactly what it is you will be expected to do. This accomplishes two things. First, it gives you an opportunity to put off the final answer to that question for a while. Second, it invites further details and, quite possibly, an interview with the company in order to further discuss what will be expected of you in the position for which you are applying.

You definitely want to avoid giving out a salary requirement that could hurt you in the long run. To avoid this situation is it wise to check a general range of salary for the position you are applying for and make sure that it is applicable in the location of the position for which you are applying. Knowledge is rarely a bad thing and by understanding the going rate for the position in your area you have a better idea of what to expect financially from the work you will be doing but also how much is a fair salary for the position in which you are applying.

You should also compare the salaries according to experience if possible. Entry-level positions will pay considerably less than those available for mid-level careers or even those who are filling very senior positions. You want to compete on a level that is appropriate to your experience, skills, and others in your field.

If a company continues to push even after you’ve attempted to be vague or offer a range rather than a specific salary it is quite possibly a good time to seriously consider whether or not you really want to become part of their organization. These companies are often focused far more on profits than they are on the people who work for them, which could be a rather unpleasant working environment for most. Most of us would much rather take a lower salary working for a company that appreciates its staff than make more money working for a company that is hyper-focused on productivity and profit. Most companies such as this, however, are going to offer salaries on the lower end of the scale at any rate but you should beware and talk to others who work for the company before coming on board once you make it to the interview process. Remember you should interview the companies you are considering working for rather than merely allowing them to interview you.

Keep these things in mind if the company specifically requests that you include your salary requirements in your cover letter. If you are not instructed or advised to do so however, you should avoid including salary information whenever possible. It is better to allow the company to make a genuine good faith offer and negotiate from there than it is to get a lower offer or overlooked for a potential position on the basis of salary constraints alone.

Caffeinated Content

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5 Steps to a Successful Job Search

Administrator — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:36:18 +0000

Starting a job search can be an overwhelming and stress-provoking experience for some people. But it doesn’t have to be for you… Not if you approach it in the right way. You CAN have a successful job search, using the tips and advice you will find in this article.

Step 1: Know Where to Look for the Great Jobs

When most people begin a job search, they start with the Employment section of their local newspaper. But that is not the best place to find your dream job. Why? Simply because the best jobs are seldom found in the newspaper.

You may not want to hear this, but many times you can find the best jobs by tapping into “who you know.” Networking is absolutely the best way to locate a job. When you do a job search, talk to everyone you know about what you’re looking for. It’s hard to predict who might give you that valuable lead to your next job.

Recruiters or staffing consultants are also a great way to find a job. Many times, employers will outsource recruitment to a staffing firm. So those jobs are never listed in any public venue… only the staffing firm knows about them!

In today’s technologically-oriented world, the Internet is another way to conduct a job search. You still won’t always find the best jobs listed online, but you can get a much broader exposure by registering with a few online job search websites, such as Yahoo Jobs or CareerBuilder.

Step 2: Know What the Employer Wants

Employers care about more than your skills and experience. They’ll also want more intangible qualities, such as the ability to work as part of a team, creativity, and organization, depending on the job. They may also be looking for qualities unique to their corporate culture or employee expectations. Make it your business to find out as much as you can about what each employer is looking for before you begin your job search.

Step 3: Put Together a Powerful Resume and Killer Cover Letter

Once you’ve located a job you want to go after, you will need a resume and cover letter that will attract enough attention to make the employer want to interview you. You need to think of your resume and cover letter as a sort of “sales tool” that will convince the employer that you are the only one for the job.

There are many resources for writing resumes and cover letters on the Web and at your local bookstore and you are encouraged to learn as much as you can on this topic if you want to succeed in your job search. Or, if you prefer, you can always hire an expert to write them for you.

Here are a couple of quick tips. Your resume should be written clearly, simply, and to the point. Use lots of bullets and action words to highlight your accomplishments, rather than long paragraphs. Focus on quantifiable results, such as “Made a suggestion that streamlined operations and saved company $2500 in the first quarter”.

Your cover letter should not be a rehashing of your resume, but it can and should highlight specific points or expand on certain areas. Cover letters should always be customized to the employer and the job you are applying for. That is the single factor most likely to get you an interview.

Step 4: Prepare for Interviews Thoroughly

The interview is your opportunity to make a strong positive impression. It is essential that you prepare for it if you want to succeed in your job search. Take time to research possible interview questions the employer may ask and think carefully about how you plan to answer. Be prepared to discuss what you have to offer the employer.

It is also a great idea to have questions of your own for the recruiter. So take time to research the company before the interview. This is usually easy to do if they have a website. Think of some related questions about the company and about the job that you can ask and that will show your sincere interest, not to mention your thoroughness.

One set of questions you should always ask is what the next steps are after the interview. For example, how many other applicants do they have for the position, when do they expect to make a hiring decision, and will they let you know of their decision, one way or the other?

Step 5: Follow Up!

One of the most effective job search strategies, and one that is sorely underutilized by most job seekers, is following up. When you follow up consistently at different phases during the job search, you demonstrate your professionalism and your interest. As long as you are polite and considerate of the recruiter’s time, follow up should not be viewed as “annoying.”

After you submit a resume, application, and/or cover letter for a job opening, feel free to follow up within a reasonable time period to check on the status of your job application. As a rule of thumb, a week or two should be plenty of time.

After an interview, always follow up by sending a letter (or at least an email) to the interviewer to thank them for their time and for the opportunity to learn more about the job and the employer. This is also a chance for you to emphasize again what you have to offer the company.

And, if you haven’t heard about the employer’s decision on the job within a reasonable time frame (depending on what they told you about their recruitment process), it is perfectly permissible to contact them and ask.

Follow these five steps, and you are guaranteed to have a more successful job search.

Article by Jobsearchmanual.com
Visit http://www.jobsearchmanual.com/job-hunting/ for more job hunting articles, over 100 jobseeker tips, and more!

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Resumes That Work

Administrator — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:37:16 +0000

3 Steps to More Interviews

All of us involved with helping you get a new job, whether as third party recruiters or as representatives of a company evaluating you for employment of all receiving hundreds of emailed resumes a day. Having done professional search work for almost 40 years, I have seen both resumes change and how they are delivered change. The change in delivery means that how you think of your resume being seen needs to change too.

1. Few people are really looking at resumes in the traditional sense of pieces of paper. They are looking at screen shots of approximately 1/4 -1/3 of a page per shot and attempting to make decisions based upon a few quick Page-Downs (or PgDn on your keyboard). For this reason you need to think of your resume in a different way than you may have before. Critically examine your resume each time you scroll down. Where does your eye fall? Does it convey meaningful information about your experience for that particular position?

2. Generic resumes are less effective than targeted ones. Only use a generic resume if you are sending out a mass email or mass mail. Where you have a job description to work from, revise your resume to include information about your experience relevant to the particular job. Don’t assume that someone will read your resume in detail, think about nuances and call you to inquire whether you have the relevant experience. Few people have the time to email or call you to find out whether their interpretation of your experience is correct. Make it simple and put it in your resume!

3. For years, if people were going to attempt to forward a resume to an employer directly, I would encourage them to write a three paragraph cover letter. The first paragraph would explain why they were writing (I’m forwarding my resume in response to your ad in . . . for a Java Developer); the second would include several relevant points about their experience that pertain to the job (I believe my 5 years of experience with Java including 2 years of J2EE experience, coupled with my experience with your industry would allow me to be a productive performer within your organization). The third paragraph would extend a hope that they contact you for an interview or might indicate that you’ll be calling with an eye to meeting with them (I look forward to hearing from you about joining your firm . . . I’ll be calling you in the few days about our meeting to discuss my experience and the opportunity you have).

Today, I receive attachments of cover-letters. I never open them and few people I know open them because we don’t have time. Instead of attaching a cover letter, use the message to which you are attaching your resume as a place to write a commercial that pertains to the position.

We encourage people to copy and paste position descriptions into the message area of the email and go point by point and describe their relevant experience so that it is obvious. Sure takes the guesswork out of whether some is qualified, doesn’t it?

And that is really what you need to do–take the guesswork out of communicating whether you are qualified for a position. It’s one thing to not get an interview because you’re not qualified or because you are asking for too much money; it’s another to fail to get an interview because your resume doesn’t communicate that you have the experience that’s being sought.

Use these tips and watch your interviews grow.

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter