Articles

Helping Your Network to Help You (Find A Job)

On: 8/30/2010 9:33:18 AM

Remember the infamous scene in Jerry McGuire where Tom Cruise is standing in a locker room, begging Cuba Gooding Jr. to stop shooting his own career in the foot? You know the line: �Help me help you!� Many of us have family and friends who don�t really understand what we do for a living. I personally have a cousin who can�t explain her own husband�s job. We often recognize that those around us ...

5 Warning Signs That Your Resume Stinks

On: 8/27/2010 8:11:56 AM

Here�s a common scenario: You�ve sent out a handful of resumes to different companies for positions that you are qualified for. Yet, the phone doesn't ring. What�s problem? Is it your resume? And if it is, how can you fix it? To determine whether your ...

3 Keys to a Successful Job Search

On: 8/26/2010 8:11:37 AM

With all the layoffs that have taken place over the last couple of years, it�s no wonder that many of those who are still employed often feel stretched to the maximum of their productivity. It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is continually stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give ...

4 Keys to Creating an Interview-Winning Information Technology Resume

On: 8/18/2010 12:05:44 PM

Despite being some of the brightest problem solvers walking around at many companies, IT employees often have a hard time translating their skills onto a resume. Information technology employees sometimes assume that they can load up their resumes with technological terms and industry jargon�not realizing that the first one or two people who read that resume probably won�t understand anything it ...

Are Job Fairs a Good Use of Your Job Search Time?

On: 8/12/2010 7:39:50 AM

When you�re out of work, you suddenly find many friends and family who are willing to share their ideas with you about how to get a job. In their attempts to be helpful, people who care about you will often pass on every single tip or nugget they hear about a job opportunity�leaving it up to you to sift through the information in order to find something you can actually use. In many areas of ...

Top Five Resume Myths Exposed

On: 8/11/2010 11:26:59 PM

From screening job applications to conducting interviews, hiring practices have undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade. Despite all the changes, common resume myths continue to plague job search practices at all levels. This article attempts to debunk some of these myths. Myth 1: It's all about the number of pages The one-page rule is probably the most common myth ...

Give Your Resume a Youthful Makeover

On: 8/10/2010 5:59:50 PM

Despite the desirability of experience as a �wish list item� on any hiring manager�s checklist, job seekers, especially those over forty, often fear losing out to their younger competitors. Notwithstanding protection from anti-discrimination laws, a few creative strategies can transform your resume into a powerful document that not only showcases your hard-earned experience, but also downplays ...

How to Save Time During the Online Application Process

On: 8/10/2010 10:31:22 AM

When we work with resume clients, we provide them with a plain text version of their finished resume. Regardless of whether you hire a professional or write your own resume, it is useful to have a plain text version on hand during your job application process. Most medium to large companies now use online application systems for their job openings. Some job seekers blow through these ...

Are Branded Materials For Job Seekers Too?

On: 8/9/2010 10:40:00 AM

Whenever you start a new job, you get to do fun things like set up your work space, create a new e-mail signature, and figure out the best corner of the parking lot. Another fun aspect of starting a new job is getting all the supplies with your new company�s logo and branding on them: business cards, envelopes, letterhead, maybe even a laptop bag or portfolio. You don�t have to work for an ...

Resume Writing Services: Your Best Bet to Get You That First Interview

On: 7/29/2010 3:53:18 PM

Not all resume writing services are created equal. There, I�ve said it! Knowing this, job applicant beware!
Now, I don�t recommend people do their own resumes for many reasons, some of which I�ll cover in this article. The biggest reason is that ...

Choosing the Right Resume Format to Maximize Your Job Search Results

On: 7/29/2010 3:47:17 PM

With hundreds (if not thousands) of people competing with you for that dream job, how can you get ahead of the pack?

The resume is the primary tool used to land a job. ...

Powering Your Resume With Targeted Keywords and Action Verbs

On: 7/29/2010 2:42:47 PM

Your resume only has about 30 seconds to make an impression. Take advantage of targeted keywords and action verbs to create the lasting impact that gets you hired.

resume writers: �This resume doesn�t say anything about me.� �They left out the most important part.� �They just didn�t get me.� The common thread? Each of these three people paid $150 or less for their ...

Resume Tips For Overcoming Recession-Related Challenges

On: 7/27/2010 9:47:46 PM

Give employers the real scoop, not just your work history. Recessions tend to push hardworking people into two groups. On the one hand is the layoff survivor handling the load of multiple former employees. On the other is the hyper qualified job seeker who nevertheless remains overlooked. Both types of people often need to

The Top 5 Problems with Resumes and How to Make Them Shine

On: 7/27/2010 1:38:17 PM

If you�re a job seeker or thinking about looking, you�ve probably already given thought to your resume. That seems to be the first place we tend to go when we�re in that job search mode. I don�t agree it should be the first thing on our mind, though I do understand why. The resume is a representation of us as it relates to work experience and skills. It�s one of the most tangible elements in ...

Hate Your Job? Have a Plan Before You Quit

On: 7/19/2010 9:10:31 AM

I had lunch with a friend the other day who left her job earlier this year. She relayed to me how she had gotten fed up with a particular client, and so she decided to quit. She had about four months of living expenses saved up, so she figured she was good to go while she looked for another job. Four months later, she finds herself running out of money with no prospects in the pipeline. I ...

It Takes More Than a Resume to Get a Job

On: 7/15/2010 8:24:36 AM

If you�re visiting this Web site, you understand the importance of having a polished looking resume to use during your job search. Whereas having a marketable resume is extremely important, a fantastic resume by itself won�t get you a job. So, what do you do with your resume now that it has been tweaked (and proofread three times) and is ready for distribution? Send it to your ...

Where to Use a Branding Statement

On: 7/9/2010 12:12:59 PM
You�ve been working on your resume, and you fashioned a fancy branding statement for yourself. Of course, you want to display it across the top of your resume, but where else should you be using it? Cover letter: Format your cover letter to match your resume by copying your contact information and branding statement in the same format. Thank you letter: Same as your cover ...

The Best Time to Write a Resume
Imagine for a moment that you�ve just heard the dreaded words, �We�re going to have to let you go.� A lot of people have heard this phrase over the last several years, and most have probably reacted with some degree of panic: How am I going to pay my bills? Where am I going to go? What am I going to do? Obviously, this frame of mind is not a great launching point for your next job. Writing ...