Archive for the ‘Resumes’ Category

Top 10 Tips For Great Resumes

Not so long ago when economy was doing well, all you have to do to land a job was submit your application to a couple or dozen of prospective employers and that’s pretty much it, then wait for your interview.

Time has definitely changed, now it takes more than submitting your application, you have to polish it. Now how to write a resume that will stand out.

1. First impression

In 15-30 seconds, the hiring managers would skim your application for formatting then go through a sentence of your summary. These 3-5 sentences from your summary are your only chance to have a strong impression.

Remember why you send your application, which is to have an interview and nail it. So you have to polish your summary and keep it concise without taking off quality in order to be considered for an interview. Fill in all the best qualification that fits in to your employer’s need and use figures when you could, this shows accomplishment and that you did your job.

2. Individualize

Describe your skills that would best fit to your employer’s qualifications, everything has to be related else don’t write it at all. Order your statement from most relevant and use their keywords, don’t wander around that they don’t need or you could end up being generic.

3. Actions

Keep your description concise without taking off the important details, this not only save up space but it also make it easier to skim for their keywords. The trick here is to use one action word per description, don’t use the same verb.

4. Accomplishments

One way to stand out is to use figures in you application. This shows that not only you did your job but you have also surpassed your goals. When hiring managers skim through your application and see figures they will give it more time in how you did your previous job.

5. Actions and Accomplishments

If you could imagine how many applications are sent for 1 job position, which means that a lot of them are probably doing the same thing as you are now. It will all narrow down to how you were able to show your skills to get the job more than as it should be. Get those action words right and boost it up with figures. Think about it, anyone can get the job done but not everyone can get it done at least time or most earnings which means that you were able to give more money to your employer and they like that.

6. Benefits

Employers like it very much when they know you could make more potential earnings than losses. This can be shown from your figures that you were able to achieve in your previous job. No company will hire anyone who is causing more cost than earnings.

7. Formatting

Keep your list aligned. This minimized the hiring managers wandering through your resume, direct them to your sales pitch. Expand your word formatting to make it easier to skim through the keywords. Stay away from fancy and colored fonts. And save it as word or text document.

8. Personalize

You have to keep your resume decent and professional which means that you need to stay away from irockyourworld@hotmail.com. Make it easy for hiring managers to know your application so use firsnamelastname@yahoo.com.

9. Reviews

It is easy to overlook your work so it helps to have a second point of view in how your application looks. Ask a family or friends to check your work. You’ll be surprise how easy for them to spot grammar errors and things that don’t add up.

10. Honesty

Honesty is still the best policy. It doesn’t count when you’ll have that interview and not land a job because when they cross reference your application it didn’t add up. You have to keep it consistent.

Tips For Interviews And Resumes

A good resume is the tool that can get you an invitation to the interview for your dream job. If writing a good resume is part of your preparation for the job hunt, performing at the interview is an even greater  part. Here are a few tips on how to write a good resume and ace interviews.

TIPS FOR WRITING RESUMES

Select A Format

A critical part of writing good resume is using the right format. Without the proper format, your resume will look like a PhD dissertation that will instantly bore the interviewer. A scattered and cluttered appearance will send the wrong signals about you. One suggestion is to use tables with light grey background for headings and to use bold font for subheadings. Details under the subheadings can be on white background and can be laid out in columns or bullets, if appropriate. You should always start with your name and contact details first.

Don’t forget your email address. You want the person reviewing your resume to know that you at least have an email address! This sends the signal that you are tech-savvy.

Proofing Your Resume

A resume with lots of grammatical errors, or one that contains lots of typos drives recruiters crazy. Don’t forget that your resume is really an index of your abilities. If you can’t do this and you are applying for a proofreader’s job, you have failed miserably. More importantly, you run the risk of looking incompetent. If you can’t proofread your resume yourself, get a friend or a professional do it for you!

Presenting Your Skills As The Employers Would Like To See

This is where you can make the best possible impression, even if your education is not exactly what the employer is looking for. For example, you have applied for a job where the employer wants to know whether you can handle 1ooo payable and receivable accounts. Simply writing a bland statement that you maintained account records will not interest him. You need to make your skills match that of the job description. Put yourself in the shoes of the employer.

Use Power Words

Use power words or phrases such as “managed workflow direction” instead of “gave work assignments to staff”. Also use action-oriented words and instead of passive ones. Using high-end industry jargon also immediately creates a positive impression about you, that you are professional and knowledgeable. You want the employer to know that they are looking at a senior-level resume, not one of someone who merely takes orders.

Be Truthful

Quantify your achievements and highlight them in bullets. But being truthful is just as important. Telling a lie now, even if you get hired, could cost you your career later if you are exposed as a fraud.

TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS

Research The Company

In brief, you need to have gathered sufficient information on the organization. This should be information that has the potential to affect your long-term employment, such as ethics, environment and culture, potential for growth for both you and the company, your potential boss and subordinates etc. You also need this information so that you can ask intelligent questions during the interview. You don’t want to come off like a robot, or worse, like you were not even interested in the company enough to do come basic research.

Be Polite

This sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Sadly, it isn’t always practiced by everyone. Be polite when greeting the interviewer. Shake his or her hand, and finally ask questions politely, even if the interview has lasted well over 2 hours. This is the time to take particular care to mind your manners. Never try to expose the faults of either the company or the interviewer (if any). Speak in an well-organized, structured manner. Mixing up concepts has the potential to confuse the employer and you potentially lose out if they perceive you as not having clarity of thought.

Present Your Skills

Present your skills separately – close off all other discussions. Before starting on this subject, make them understand what you are beginning to say, so that they are attentive. This is the most important factor they want to know about you after your character. Use concrete examples, and explain how they can benefit by hiring you. Speak about six sigma, justifying your expertise in this area with examples of various companies that are benefiting by implementing the methodology. Tell them that you can implement it in their company as well, or at least become a key player. Let them know that you play to win!

Ask Questions

Any questions should be limited to your work and the company. They should never be personal unless you have a special reason.

Practice, Practice!

Even if you are well prepared, employers can smell anxiety a mile away, and if you display this to the employer it will wreck your chances of getting the job. Anxiety often comes across to employers as desperation. Don’t let this happen to you. Practice, with a friend or in front of the mirror if you have to. The point to remember about the interview is to not let yourself fall prey to your own anxiety.