If a resume reads like a job description, it won't get attention. Lose the word "responsible". "Responsible" shows up throughout a job description given to an employee when they first start a job. "Responsible" is the minimum expectation for performing a job. A Resume should show how expectations were exceeded and significantly contributed to making a difference in the success of a department / organization.
Use action words. For goodness sake, take advantage of the Thesaurus usually provided with most word processors.
Some suggested actions words are:
Developed ....
Implemented ....
Coordinated .....
Managed ....
Initiated ....
Directed ....
Increased ....
Accomplished ....
Realized ....
Completed ....
Achieved ....
Motivated ....
Performed ....
Executed ....
Effected ....
Impacted ....
Influenced ....
Operated ....
Activated ....
Administered ....
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
Carry Your Resume Everywhere, NOT
Will you carry your resume everywhere you go? Don't miss out on an opportunity when you unexpectedly meet someone. Click here for a smart alternative to carrying around your resume.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Definition of Insanity
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.
A long time ago I went to 23 interviews in a row, with no call backs. I said to myself "self, you have to do something different, because what you're doing just isn't working." I stopped interviewing for about 4 weeks. I adjusted my approach to regroup. When I started interviewing again, I went to 3 different interviews and received job offers from all 3 companies. More on what I did in another blog entry.
The point is if your resume isn't working by getting you interviews, then something needs to change. Have other people take a look at it. Pay a professional to make you look good on paper. If another professional wants to put their 2 cents in too, take their advice as well. Everyone may have a different approach, but each suggestion may enhance your resume. Use what feels comfortable, discard the rest.
The only way to know if the current version of a resume is working, is the results it achieves in getting you more interviews. If you float your resume to 5 companies and receive 1 response, that's a good return. If you float your resume to 100 companies and receive 1 response for an interview, it's time to revisit your resume presentation.
A resume is a constant work in progress. Update your resume the day after you start a new job. Then do it every 3 months.
Make Today Count!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
A long time ago I went to 23 interviews in a row, with no call backs. I said to myself "self, you have to do something different, because what you're doing just isn't working." I stopped interviewing for about 4 weeks. I adjusted my approach to regroup. When I started interviewing again, I went to 3 different interviews and received job offers from all 3 companies. More on what I did in another blog entry.
The point is if your resume isn't working by getting you interviews, then something needs to change. Have other people take a look at it. Pay a professional to make you look good on paper. If another professional wants to put their 2 cents in too, take their advice as well. Everyone may have a different approach, but each suggestion may enhance your resume. Use what feels comfortable, discard the rest.
The only way to know if the current version of a resume is working, is the results it achieves in getting you more interviews. If you float your resume to 5 companies and receive 1 response, that's a good return. If you float your resume to 100 companies and receive 1 response for an interview, it's time to revisit your resume presentation.
A resume is a constant work in progress. Update your resume the day after you start a new job. Then do it every 3 months.
Make Today Count!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Profile for 6 Seconds
If a resume doesn't capture someone's attention in 6-seconds or less, it won't get read. The 6-second acid test is crucial to getting called for an interview. Assume 200 other people are competing for the same job. That's not an unlikely number, considering the "so called" economic climate.
Forget "Objective" in your resume. Yeah, the resume books say to place this section in a resume. Think about it. It's already a given that the goal of a resume is to get an interview which may lead to a job offer. So why have an objective that says "seeking a job that will do this for me or do that for me ... expand my skills ... allows a career growth path ... yada yada.
Objective says what you want to get out of the job. The person reading your resume doesn't give a rat's furry butt what you want. They are only interested in listening to their favorite radio station, when they read a resume; WIIFM (what's in it for me?). What do you have to offer me? WHY should I interview you? What can you do for ME? What have you contributed to other companies that makes you stand out from the other 200 resumes on my desk?
Substitute "Profile" or "Summary of Skills". One of these 2 sections at the top of a resume immediately eliminates 150 people who use "Objective", from the competition. Now you're resume is getting closer to passing 6-second acid test.
Now use "Profile" or "Summary of Skills" to tune into the resume reader's WIIFM. What are the 2-3 best skills you have to offer? How have your skills contributed to the success or growth of an organization?
More on elminating the other 50 people left in another blog entry. Work on your Profile, in the meantime.
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Forget "Objective" in your resume. Yeah, the resume books say to place this section in a resume. Think about it. It's already a given that the goal of a resume is to get an interview which may lead to a job offer. So why have an objective that says "seeking a job that will do this for me or do that for me ... expand my skills ... allows a career growth path ... yada yada.
Objective says what you want to get out of the job. The person reading your resume doesn't give a rat's furry butt what you want. They are only interested in listening to their favorite radio station, when they read a resume; WIIFM (what's in it for me?). What do you have to offer me? WHY should I interview you? What can you do for ME? What have you contributed to other companies that makes you stand out from the other 200 resumes on my desk?
Substitute "Profile" or "Summary of Skills". One of these 2 sections at the top of a resume immediately eliminates 150 people who use "Objective", from the competition. Now you're resume is getting closer to passing 6-second acid test.
Now use "Profile" or "Summary of Skills" to tune into the resume reader's WIIFM. What are the 2-3 best skills you have to offer? How have your skills contributed to the success or growth of an organization?
More on elminating the other 50 people left in another blog entry. Work on your Profile, in the meantime.
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Up Your Internship
What's the difference between an intern or volunteer working 6 months and an employee working 6 months at a company? The only difference is money, not experience.
Down playing your work experience as an Intern or Volunteer is an injustice to your accomplishments. So eliminate the word "Intern" or "Volunteer" from your resume. Even if you received no or very little pay as an intern/volunteer, it was still a Job. You did the same exact tasks as someone who was a paid staff person. So why not give yourself FULL CREDIT for your accomplishments.
On your resume, replace "Intern" or "Volunteer" with the actual job title your were filling. This positions you better and increases your chances of getting more interviews and possibly a higher starting salary.
Congratulations!! You just leveled the playing field.
This small adjustment upgrades your resume against All competition, especially those who put "Intern" on their resume. Your resume now says, "I have even more experience to offer your company".
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Down playing your work experience as an Intern or Volunteer is an injustice to your accomplishments. So eliminate the word "Intern" or "Volunteer" from your resume. Even if you received no or very little pay as an intern/volunteer, it was still a Job. You did the same exact tasks as someone who was a paid staff person. So why not give yourself FULL CREDIT for your accomplishments.
On your resume, replace "Intern" or "Volunteer" with the actual job title your were filling. This positions you better and increases your chances of getting more interviews and possibly a higher starting salary.
Congratulations!! You just leveled the playing field.
This small adjustment upgrades your resume against All competition, especially those who put "Intern" on their resume. Your resume now says, "I have even more experience to offer your company".
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Impress with Content, Not Fancy Paper
Using different colors of paper will get attention, but not the attention expected. Bold colors imply "I'm not a team player".
When snail mailing a resume, stick to the basics with the paper used. A high quality bond white or light ivory paper still makess the highest impact. Resume readers are always more impressed with the content, not mint green paper or fancy graphics.
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
When snail mailing a resume, stick to the basics with the paper used. A high quality bond white or light ivory paper still makess the highest impact. Resume readers are always more impressed with the content, not mint green paper or fancy graphics.
Cheers!!
SirReid
"Empowering People for Life"
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Name Your Confidence
No matter what font is used for your name, the size of the font is what counts most. A LARGE BOLDED font accomplishes 2 things
1. The resume reader's perception of your Confidence, is directly proportional to your name size in a resume. People respect and like other people that show confidence.
LARGE BOLDED Name displays much confidence to a person reading your resume. small name means just the opposite.
2. It makes your resume stand out from the pile of resumes.
How big should the font size be? If you can see your name with your resume placed on a table at a distance of 4-6 feet, then that's the right font size.
1. The resume reader's perception of your Confidence, is directly proportional to your name size in a resume. People respect and like other people that show confidence.
LARGE BOLDED Name displays much confidence to a person reading your resume. small name means just the opposite.
2. It makes your resume stand out from the pile of resumes.
How big should the font size be? If you can see your name with your resume placed on a table at a distance of 4-6 feet, then that's the right font size.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Words Can Build or Destroy
Not having the appropriate word smithing performed on your resume will do the same thing for your career.
You always have choices.
1. You could do your resume yourself and then ask yourself "how many interviews have I received since distributing my resume?".
2. Receive feedback with suggestions from a career coach who has successfully helped hundreds of people get more interviews and jobs, at a very nominal fee. Then you could save money by incorporating the feedback into your resume.
3. You could allow a career coach to review your resume, tune it up and receive weekly coaching to achieve powerful results in a shorter period of time.
If you have been looking for a job for more than 3 months, consider choice #3 as your very best option.
The sole purpose of a resume is to get an interview, not a job. More interviews mean more opporunities to be able to choose among several job offers.
Hers's a FREE Hint for fixing your resume: Any resume that uses the section called "Objective", drastically minimizes the chances of their resume ever passing the 6 second acid test. If a resume does not GRAB a person's attention in 6 seconds or less, IT WON'T GET READ.
You always have choices.
1. You could do your resume yourself and then ask yourself "how many interviews have I received since distributing my resume?".
2. Receive feedback with suggestions from a career coach who has successfully helped hundreds of people get more interviews and jobs, at a very nominal fee. Then you could save money by incorporating the feedback into your resume.
3. You could allow a career coach to review your resume, tune it up and receive weekly coaching to achieve powerful results in a shorter period of time.
If you have been looking for a job for more than 3 months, consider choice #3 as your very best option.
The sole purpose of a resume is to get an interview, not a job. More interviews mean more opporunities to be able to choose among several job offers.
Hers's a FREE Hint for fixing your resume: Any resume that uses the section called "Objective", drastically minimizes the chances of their resume ever passing the 6 second acid test. If a resume does not GRAB a person's attention in 6 seconds or less, IT WON'T GET READ.
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