If you are feeling a bit anxious about being able to write an effective resume—relax, you have a lot of company. Writing a resume is something most people find difficult to do. You may have seen bright, well-educated, articulate corporate executives struggle when it came time to reduce their experience and credentials to a two-page resume document. Despite all their education and qualifications, many find it a difficult thing to do. This is an absolutely normal reaction at this stage, but you are about to find out that writing a resume is going to be much easier than you thought.
When trying to quell your doubts and uneasiness about resume writing, a little common sense and reasoning can go a long way. Generally speaking, most people fear what they don't know. Therefore, if you have never written a resume, this may seem like the equivalent of attempting to climb Mount Everest. You just don't know what to expect.
When it comes to writing a resume, much of the uneasiness is caused by lack of knowledge in one or more of the following categories:
• Resume content (What do I say or not say?)
• Resume format (How should I organise it? What do I say first, second, etc.?)
• Resume style (How do I best say it?)
If you know what to say, in what order it should be said, and how you should say it, there's not much else to be concerned about. In addition, the more you have prepared, organised, and rehearsed, the more comfortable you will be in your ability to write a really good resume.
Resume Facts
As with most complex tasks, the need for planning and good organisation is essential. Resume writing is no exception.
Before you can proceed to actually write your resume, you first need to collect and systematically organise the basic facts that you will need to have at your fingertips when you begin to actually write. Moreover, these facts need to be organised in the proper sequence so that they will be available in the order that you will need them.
Experience
In this section, starting with your current job or most recent position, list all of the employers for whom you have worked during your career. Record dates of employment, employer's name, name of the department or function in which you worked, title of the job you held, title of the person to whom you reported, and your principal job duties.
In those cases where you have held more than one position with the same employer, write the word "same" in the space provided for the employer's name.
In the case where multiple jobs were held with the same employer, continue to list them in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recently held position first) and list the dates you held these jobs in the "Dates Employed" section. These then become the dates you were employed in each specific position.
For additional information visit http://burkepublications.com
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Basics of Cover Letters - Part 2
There's one final letter you'll want to have at your disposal, the one you'll write to the key individuals you met at an interview. Some people refer to this letter as a follow-up or thank-you letter, but its purpose goes far beyond expressing appreciation for the interview.
When writing to organizations that could possibly employ you, write by name and title to the person who has the authority to hire you, not to someone in the Human Resources Department. The people who work in this department are primarily responsible for the screening and administrative portions of the staffing process. They don't determine who should receive an offer (unless someone is applying for a position in their department). As in any other endeavor, it's best to deal directly with the ultimate decision maker.
There's one instance, however, when it's preferable to write to an HR representative. This is when someone is seeking an administrative or support-type position that could exist in a number of different departments throughout the organization. An HR representative will know exactly where an opening is and be able to forward the resume to the appropriate manager.
One caveat about trying to develop interviews through writing to the person who could hire you: If you feel that your background is so strong that this individual might be threatened by your successes and view you as competition for his or her job, then write to the person at the next level up. For example, a regional sales manager with a very powerful background would be better off writing to the vice president of sales than to the national sales manager.
To get the names and titles of the managers to write to, either call prospective employers on the phone or visit your local library. The reference librarian will show you the directories that list companies and the names of their key executives.
Here's how to write a cover letter for contacting prospective employers on an unsolicited basis.
The first paragraph is an introductory one. Give a brief overview of your background by explaining the type of position you hold and your key strengths. Then explain that you're writing to set up an interview and are enclosing your resume for this purpose.
The second part of your letter is the most important one. It contains the information that will prompt people to read your resume. Here, you state your most significant accomplishments so that you'll immediately convey your capability and the value you'll bring to your next employer. Look to the introductory section of your resume for the accomplishments to discuss. Just as in your resume, these are the hooks to get people's attention and interest. Be sure to reword the statements, though, so they don't appear verbatim.
You may then want to add one or two paragraphs to round out your background and further your qualifications. Topics to discuss include personal qualities and/or professional skills that have enabled you to excel at your work. What's especially effective is to mention a recent industry trend, along with the challenges or problems it's presenting, then explain how you're managing the situation to maximize your performance. Omit discussion about your earnings or compensation goals.
Your letter can conclude in a variety of ways depending on whether or not you plan on taking any follow-up action.
If you happen to be knowledgeable about the organization you're writing to, especially its products, services, recent successes, or future plans, say something to this effect. This will make an extremely favorable impression on the reader and give you a leg up on the competition.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
When writing to organizations that could possibly employ you, write by name and title to the person who has the authority to hire you, not to someone in the Human Resources Department. The people who work in this department are primarily responsible for the screening and administrative portions of the staffing process. They don't determine who should receive an offer (unless someone is applying for a position in their department). As in any other endeavor, it's best to deal directly with the ultimate decision maker.
There's one instance, however, when it's preferable to write to an HR representative. This is when someone is seeking an administrative or support-type position that could exist in a number of different departments throughout the organization. An HR representative will know exactly where an opening is and be able to forward the resume to the appropriate manager.
One caveat about trying to develop interviews through writing to the person who could hire you: If you feel that your background is so strong that this individual might be threatened by your successes and view you as competition for his or her job, then write to the person at the next level up. For example, a regional sales manager with a very powerful background would be better off writing to the vice president of sales than to the national sales manager.
To get the names and titles of the managers to write to, either call prospective employers on the phone or visit your local library. The reference librarian will show you the directories that list companies and the names of their key executives.
Here's how to write a cover letter for contacting prospective employers on an unsolicited basis.
The first paragraph is an introductory one. Give a brief overview of your background by explaining the type of position you hold and your key strengths. Then explain that you're writing to set up an interview and are enclosing your resume for this purpose.
The second part of your letter is the most important one. It contains the information that will prompt people to read your resume. Here, you state your most significant accomplishments so that you'll immediately convey your capability and the value you'll bring to your next employer. Look to the introductory section of your resume for the accomplishments to discuss. Just as in your resume, these are the hooks to get people's attention and interest. Be sure to reword the statements, though, so they don't appear verbatim.
You may then want to add one or two paragraphs to round out your background and further your qualifications. Topics to discuss include personal qualities and/or professional skills that have enabled you to excel at your work. What's especially effective is to mention a recent industry trend, along with the challenges or problems it's presenting, then explain how you're managing the situation to maximize your performance. Omit discussion about your earnings or compensation goals.
Your letter can conclude in a variety of ways depending on whether or not you plan on taking any follow-up action.
If you happen to be knowledgeable about the organization you're writing to, especially its products, services, recent successes, or future plans, say something to this effect. This will make an extremely favorable impression on the reader and give you a leg up on the competition.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
The Basics of Cover Letters - Part 1
When you send people your resume, whether it's through regular mail, overnight mail, e-mail, or a fax, it's important to include a one-page cover letter. This letter must be carefully written so that it's just as convincing a document as your resume. The reason for this is that the only purpose of a cover letter is to provide information about yourself that will make people want to read your resume.
Gone are the days when a cover letter was a formality, where it sufficed to offer a few sentences explaining that you were enclosing your resume because you wanted to set up an interview. The cover letter has evolved to the point where, today, it's a key component of a job search, and in order to be effective it must include important facts about your background, most notably your accomplishments. Many people will judge your qualifications as much on this letter as they will on your resume. If properly prepared, your cover letter will play an active role in developing interviews. If poorly prepared, it can cost you interviews, with prospective employers and recruiters simply filing your letter and resume away. In other words, your cover letter can't make you, but it can easily break you.
You may need a cover letter for as many as five different situations: (1) contacting prospective employers on an unsolicited basis, (2) writing to a prospective employer on an unsolicited basis but with a referral from a mutual acquaintance, (3) approaching recruiting firms, (4) answering Internet postings and/or classified advertisements, and (5) contacting venture capital firms.
In addition to these letters, there's another type of correspondence for generating interviews: the networking letter. This is where you write to someone not for the purpose of setting up an interview but, instead, to elicit their help in arranging interviews. Depending on how well you know the person, you may or may not include a resume with your letter.
You can seek this networking assistance under four different conditions: (1) when you have an ongoing relationship with someone; (2) when you have met someone, let's say, only once or twice; (3) when you don't know the person you want to talk to but have been referred to him or her by a mutual acquaintance; and (4) when you know of someone who is very influential (this could be a businessperson, community or religious leader, politician, physician, attorney, etc.) who has a wide range of contacts and you need to approach the person cold, without an introduction.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com . Subscribe to Dr. Burke’s Success News Blog at http://mannanews.blogspot.com .
Gone are the days when a cover letter was a formality, where it sufficed to offer a few sentences explaining that you were enclosing your resume because you wanted to set up an interview. The cover letter has evolved to the point where, today, it's a key component of a job search, and in order to be effective it must include important facts about your background, most notably your accomplishments. Many people will judge your qualifications as much on this letter as they will on your resume. If properly prepared, your cover letter will play an active role in developing interviews. If poorly prepared, it can cost you interviews, with prospective employers and recruiters simply filing your letter and resume away. In other words, your cover letter can't make you, but it can easily break you.
You may need a cover letter for as many as five different situations: (1) contacting prospective employers on an unsolicited basis, (2) writing to a prospective employer on an unsolicited basis but with a referral from a mutual acquaintance, (3) approaching recruiting firms, (4) answering Internet postings and/or classified advertisements, and (5) contacting venture capital firms.
In addition to these letters, there's another type of correspondence for generating interviews: the networking letter. This is where you write to someone not for the purpose of setting up an interview but, instead, to elicit their help in arranging interviews. Depending on how well you know the person, you may or may not include a resume with your letter.
You can seek this networking assistance under four different conditions: (1) when you have an ongoing relationship with someone; (2) when you have met someone, let's say, only once or twice; (3) when you don't know the person you want to talk to but have been referred to him or her by a mutual acquaintance; and (4) when you know of someone who is very influential (this could be a businessperson, community or religious leader, politician, physician, attorney, etc.) who has a wide range of contacts and you need to approach the person cold, without an introduction.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service is an educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com . Subscribe to Dr. Burke’s Success News Blog at http://mannanews.blogspot.com .
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Understand the Employers' Point of View
Maturity and Confidence
One of the most important factors that employers weigh heavily is maturity. Many young graduates, in one-to-one situations with older adults, simply don't come across being mature and confident enough for the professional world. Unfortunately, such judgments are often made based on a brief one-on-one interview. Your references could help you in some cases, but your interview is going to matter much more. So, it’s really important to know how you can prepare for your interviews, and how you can make sure that you project yourself as a candidate who is mature and ready to enter the business community.
Professionalism
Employers will also want to know whether or not you have a professional demeanor. This demeanor is difficult to define, but it is perhaps best understood as the ability to "fit in with others" in a given work group, adhering to their standards of communication, dress, and conduct. Your professionalism is something you need to prove to employers as soon as you contact their firm. One of the ways you show a company this, of course, is by following a more or less accepted format for your resume. Your cover letter also needs to look professional. In terms of dress, it is important that you look like you will fit in at the company from the very first glimpse. In your answers and presentation at the job interview, you must convey that you know how to conduct yourself properly in a business setting.
Adaptability and Growth
Proving you can do a certain job is not enough. Companies, especially those hiring for management training programs, also want to see that you are going to grow within the company. Employers hope to use these programs to groom potential future senior managers. You must assure them that you are capable of adapting to new positions within the company and that you can handle a good deal of responsibility.
Plus…
Punctuality is a sign of responsibility. It follows that you've got to be on time for the interview. (Many people aren't.) What's more, you will have to project the image of a business-oriented person by showing an interest in the industry and in the business world in general. To be sure, employers also want to see that you can perform the job.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
One of the most important factors that employers weigh heavily is maturity. Many young graduates, in one-to-one situations with older adults, simply don't come across being mature and confident enough for the professional world. Unfortunately, such judgments are often made based on a brief one-on-one interview. Your references could help you in some cases, but your interview is going to matter much more. So, it’s really important to know how you can prepare for your interviews, and how you can make sure that you project yourself as a candidate who is mature and ready to enter the business community.
Professionalism
Employers will also want to know whether or not you have a professional demeanor. This demeanor is difficult to define, but it is perhaps best understood as the ability to "fit in with others" in a given work group, adhering to their standards of communication, dress, and conduct. Your professionalism is something you need to prove to employers as soon as you contact their firm. One of the ways you show a company this, of course, is by following a more or less accepted format for your resume. Your cover letter also needs to look professional. In terms of dress, it is important that you look like you will fit in at the company from the very first glimpse. In your answers and presentation at the job interview, you must convey that you know how to conduct yourself properly in a business setting.
Adaptability and Growth
Proving you can do a certain job is not enough. Companies, especially those hiring for management training programs, also want to see that you are going to grow within the company. Employers hope to use these programs to groom potential future senior managers. You must assure them that you are capable of adapting to new positions within the company and that you can handle a good deal of responsibility.
Plus…
Punctuality is a sign of responsibility. It follows that you've got to be on time for the interview. (Many people aren't.) What's more, you will have to project the image of a business-oriented person by showing an interest in the industry and in the business world in general. To be sure, employers also want to see that you can perform the job.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Sunday, June 10, 2007
How to Cope with Losing Your Job
You may have lost your job recently. When you woke up the next morning, you realized that for the first time perhaps in years you have a completely open schedule. You had been working under a lot of pressure, but now you have received this setback to your career and to your ego. Isn't this time for a vacation?
No. Take a week to relax and get organized, but don't postpone the job search. You've got a major task ahead of you, and the sooner you get on with it, the sharper you'll be. If you fall off a horse, you're told to get back on the horse right away, to put the fall behind you. Follow that advice. You can take a vacation before you start your next job, but your top priority right now is to find that next one. Furthermore, being busy at your job search will get you over the shock of being laid off and help get you back on a payroll sooner.
Bill was just about to leave his company forever when he got a call from Sam, a good friend who had an excellent reputation for helping executives get new jobs. Sam had lined up an interview for him for a very good position for two days from then. Sam signed off by saying that Bill had to bring an up-to-date resume to the interview. The interview didn't go well. Several months later, Bill was still using the same resume, which, he finally realized, wasn't working. Bill then revised his resume with the help of a successful job hunter. Within a month he had appointments for nine interviews, resulting in five offers. In retrospect, Bill realized he'd had lost a lot of time and probably the best help from his most influential contacts by not being well prepared at the beginning of his campaign. Bill would have been better off if he had used his first resume as a temporary one until he had done the careful preparation work, including getting his resume properly critiqued.
Whether you have been fired or laid off or you left by your own choice, you’re now in an uncertain position. At this stage, some people need to justify themselves, and they do so by bad-mouthing their former employer. This is a great mistake. People don't want to hear such complaints. They may think less of you for it, wondering whether you will also criticize your next employer (or even themselves). This advice applies to conversations you have with family and friends as well, because they may have good job leads for you but even they might hesitate to give them to you if they think you will be critical of your next employer too. A key to a successful job search is having a positive attitude. Put all your negative thoughts behind you; if you can't manage that, at least don't give voice to them publicly.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
No. Take a week to relax and get organized, but don't postpone the job search. You've got a major task ahead of you, and the sooner you get on with it, the sharper you'll be. If you fall off a horse, you're told to get back on the horse right away, to put the fall behind you. Follow that advice. You can take a vacation before you start your next job, but your top priority right now is to find that next one. Furthermore, being busy at your job search will get you over the shock of being laid off and help get you back on a payroll sooner.
Bill was just about to leave his company forever when he got a call from Sam, a good friend who had an excellent reputation for helping executives get new jobs. Sam had lined up an interview for him for a very good position for two days from then. Sam signed off by saying that Bill had to bring an up-to-date resume to the interview. The interview didn't go well. Several months later, Bill was still using the same resume, which, he finally realized, wasn't working. Bill then revised his resume with the help of a successful job hunter. Within a month he had appointments for nine interviews, resulting in five offers. In retrospect, Bill realized he'd had lost a lot of time and probably the best help from his most influential contacts by not being well prepared at the beginning of his campaign. Bill would have been better off if he had used his first resume as a temporary one until he had done the careful preparation work, including getting his resume properly critiqued.
Whether you have been fired or laid off or you left by your own choice, you’re now in an uncertain position. At this stage, some people need to justify themselves, and they do so by bad-mouthing their former employer. This is a great mistake. People don't want to hear such complaints. They may think less of you for it, wondering whether you will also criticize your next employer (or even themselves). This advice applies to conversations you have with family and friends as well, because they may have good job leads for you but even they might hesitate to give them to you if they think you will be critical of your next employer too. A key to a successful job search is having a positive attitude. Put all your negative thoughts behind you; if you can't manage that, at least don't give voice to them publicly.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Don't Be Afraid of Job Searching
Learn New Ways to Reach Your Goal
It wasn't long ago that hourly paid employees, with few exceptions, did not require an employment resume. When you wanted a job, you simply read the newspaper want ads to find out who was hiring, and then stopped by the employer's plant or office facility and filled out an employment application. Or, alternately, your neighbor, who worked at the employer's facility, stopped by the Human Resources department, picked up an application form and brought it home for you to fill out.
Back then the job-hunting process was pretty simple and well defined. You simply visited enough employers' offices, wore some shoe leather down, and filled out tons of employment applications. Sooner or later, if you were lucky and worked hard at the process, you would get a phone call and be off to the job interview. Assuming the interview went well; you then packed your lunch pale or brown bag and started work the next day.
Well, that may have been the way it was a few years ago but, today, the world of job hunting, as you have known it, is changing dramatically and rapidly. As an hourly paid worker, you need to be fully aware of these changes and adapt your job-hunting strategy accordingly. Failure to do so is bound to leave you out in the cold, looking in, and wandering what went wrong.
Let's take a look at how things have changed and what you now need to do differently to be sure that you are on the right track and that your job-hunting campaign will be successful.
The New Job Market
The first thing you need to know about the new job market is that newspaper advertising, the major source of jobs in the past, is now being rapidly replaced by Internet job boards and direct advertising on company Web sites.
Why are so many companies now using the Internet to advertise their jobs instead of newspapers? First, Internet advertising is far cheaper. Where a reasonable sized display ad in a newspaper (especially larger newspapers) could easily cost a company $2,000 or more for a single day, an ad on a major Internet job board is likely to cost only a couple hundred dollars or so. And, it will run for 60 days or longer. This is a sizeable difference.
Further, when a company decides to list the job on its own Internet Web site, instead of advertising in a newspaper or on a commercial job board, the cost to the company is zero. That is pretty tough to beat! So, you can easily see why companies are rapidly shifting from newspapers to advertising their job openings on the Internet.
But cost is not the only reason why companies are making the switch. The other is the size of the audience reached. Newspaper ads reach only a local or regional audience of job seekers. Stated differently, ad exposure is generally limited to only those reading that particular newspaper. By contrast, Internet ads reach a global audience. There are no geographical limits, and the audience reading a given ad can be huge. Further, by having the Internet ad run for 60 days or more, as opposed to the typical one-day shot in a local newspaper, employers can expect to receive a substantially greater response than they would ever get from their newspaper!
So, the bottom line is that jobs advertised on the Internet are considerably cheaper and are far more likely to get greater candidate response than those run in newspapers. This being said, it should be obvious (if you are not already doing so) that you will need to refocus your job-hunting efforts away from the newspapers and more toward the Internet. This is not to say you should stop reading the classified want ads entirely. Not so! You will want to continue to read these, but you will also want to focus more and more of your effort on the Internet. It's the place to which the bulk of hourly job advertisement is moving!
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
It wasn't long ago that hourly paid employees, with few exceptions, did not require an employment resume. When you wanted a job, you simply read the newspaper want ads to find out who was hiring, and then stopped by the employer's plant or office facility and filled out an employment application. Or, alternately, your neighbor, who worked at the employer's facility, stopped by the Human Resources department, picked up an application form and brought it home for you to fill out.
Back then the job-hunting process was pretty simple and well defined. You simply visited enough employers' offices, wore some shoe leather down, and filled out tons of employment applications. Sooner or later, if you were lucky and worked hard at the process, you would get a phone call and be off to the job interview. Assuming the interview went well; you then packed your lunch pale or brown bag and started work the next day.
Well, that may have been the way it was a few years ago but, today, the world of job hunting, as you have known it, is changing dramatically and rapidly. As an hourly paid worker, you need to be fully aware of these changes and adapt your job-hunting strategy accordingly. Failure to do so is bound to leave you out in the cold, looking in, and wandering what went wrong.
Let's take a look at how things have changed and what you now need to do differently to be sure that you are on the right track and that your job-hunting campaign will be successful.
The New Job Market
The first thing you need to know about the new job market is that newspaper advertising, the major source of jobs in the past, is now being rapidly replaced by Internet job boards and direct advertising on company Web sites.
Why are so many companies now using the Internet to advertise their jobs instead of newspapers? First, Internet advertising is far cheaper. Where a reasonable sized display ad in a newspaper (especially larger newspapers) could easily cost a company $2,000 or more for a single day, an ad on a major Internet job board is likely to cost only a couple hundred dollars or so. And, it will run for 60 days or longer. This is a sizeable difference.
Further, when a company decides to list the job on its own Internet Web site, instead of advertising in a newspaper or on a commercial job board, the cost to the company is zero. That is pretty tough to beat! So, you can easily see why companies are rapidly shifting from newspapers to advertising their job openings on the Internet.
But cost is not the only reason why companies are making the switch. The other is the size of the audience reached. Newspaper ads reach only a local or regional audience of job seekers. Stated differently, ad exposure is generally limited to only those reading that particular newspaper. By contrast, Internet ads reach a global audience. There are no geographical limits, and the audience reading a given ad can be huge. Further, by having the Internet ad run for 60 days or more, as opposed to the typical one-day shot in a local newspaper, employers can expect to receive a substantially greater response than they would ever get from their newspaper!
So, the bottom line is that jobs advertised on the Internet are considerably cheaper and are far more likely to get greater candidate response than those run in newspapers. This being said, it should be obvious (if you are not already doing so) that you will need to refocus your job-hunting efforts away from the newspapers and more toward the Internet. This is not to say you should stop reading the classified want ads entirely. Not so! You will want to continue to read these, but you will also want to focus more and more of your effort on the Internet. It's the place to which the bulk of hourly job advertisement is moving!
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Career Change - Resume Problems
What can I do about gaps in employment?
There isn't much you can do about your work chronology—what's done is done. However, there are a few ways to present your work history so that the gaps are less apparent:
• Consider including only years worked (rather than months and years).
• Place employment dates next to job titles in parentheses.
• Never showcase employment dates around large areas of white space—this draws attention to your chronology.
• Think about other activities that you pursued during your employment gaps. You might be able to "fill in" your gaps with volunteer activities, training, travel, or development of a new skill.
My recent work history makes me look like a job-hopper. What can I do?
Try to take a positive spin on your work history. If you've moved around a lot, you demonstrate an ability to work in diverse industries or environments and to step into a role and immediately make a positive impact on the organization. Also, in some industries (such as technology and construction), it's common for employees to move from position to position to take on new projects. Sometimes, not moving around is a sign of stagnation. However, if you would like to minimize the appearance of job-hopping, you might be able to group similar positions under one employment heading.
How should I approach my resume if I'm transitioning from a military to civilian position?
Many civilian employers are unfamiliar with military terminology, so try to minimize military jargon, and replace it with terms used in the corporate world. If you achieved a long military career, some of these terms might be so ingrained that you don't even realize that you're using them. If that's the case, show your resume to colleagues and friends with no military background and see if they understand your document.
Military experience offers great opportunities for training, advancement, and performance awards, and you should certainly highlight these on your resume.
How do I transition from a corporate position to the nonprofit sector?
Your passion for the nonprofit sector of your choice should shine through on your resume and cover letter. Be clear on why you are making this transition and show how your skills developed in the corporate world would be valuable to a nonprofit organization. Nonprofits are organizational structures that need dedicated workers just like corporate structures, so demonstrate that you have what it takes to make an immediate and enduring contribution to a nonprofit organization.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
There isn't much you can do about your work chronology—what's done is done. However, there are a few ways to present your work history so that the gaps are less apparent:
• Consider including only years worked (rather than months and years).
• Place employment dates next to job titles in parentheses.
• Never showcase employment dates around large areas of white space—this draws attention to your chronology.
• Think about other activities that you pursued during your employment gaps. You might be able to "fill in" your gaps with volunteer activities, training, travel, or development of a new skill.
My recent work history makes me look like a job-hopper. What can I do?
Try to take a positive spin on your work history. If you've moved around a lot, you demonstrate an ability to work in diverse industries or environments and to step into a role and immediately make a positive impact on the organization. Also, in some industries (such as technology and construction), it's common for employees to move from position to position to take on new projects. Sometimes, not moving around is a sign of stagnation. However, if you would like to minimize the appearance of job-hopping, you might be able to group similar positions under one employment heading.
How should I approach my resume if I'm transitioning from a military to civilian position?
Many civilian employers are unfamiliar with military terminology, so try to minimize military jargon, and replace it with terms used in the corporate world. If you achieved a long military career, some of these terms might be so ingrained that you don't even realize that you're using them. If that's the case, show your resume to colleagues and friends with no military background and see if they understand your document.
Military experience offers great opportunities for training, advancement, and performance awards, and you should certainly highlight these on your resume.
How do I transition from a corporate position to the nonprofit sector?
Your passion for the nonprofit sector of your choice should shine through on your resume and cover letter. Be clear on why you are making this transition and show how your skills developed in the corporate world would be valuable to a nonprofit organization. Nonprofits are organizational structures that need dedicated workers just like corporate structures, so demonstrate that you have what it takes to make an immediate and enduring contribution to a nonprofit organization.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Job Hunting - How to Avoid the Pitfalls
There are many ways to make mistakes in a job search. Let's look at some and learn how to avoid them.
• Many job hunters hurt their chances by not planning carefully and not working vigorously. Start your planning now.
• A job search is strictly self-initiated. Many people will help when you approach them, but rarely will anyone volunteer. Your progress depends on your efforts. The sooner you move ahead aggressively on your preparation, the better off you'll be.
• Don’t count on promises. In the first week of his job search Fred got an interview with a well-established company in his industry. At the end of the interview, the interviewer said, "We're extremely interested in you, Fred. I'm going to arrange for a second interview." At the second interview, the interviewer said, "We want to hire you for this particular position. I just have to clear this with my boss, and I'll get back to you in a few days." Fred was very pleased, but never heard from this company again, and he got a cool reception each time he followed up. This happens frequently. So don't count on anything until you have a firm offer, preferably in writing. Act as though the possibility doesn't exist, and continue prospecting actively.
• Don't waste your best contacts. Sam and Bill had been members of a weekly golf foursome for years, and they had become good friends. When Sam lost his job, he immediately called Bill, a much more senior executive at another company. Bill was cordial and happy to help. Sam made the mistake of thinking his social relationship with Bill would open several doors. He was unprepared for the meeting and made a poor impression. Frankly, Bill feared that Sam would make a similarly poor impression on his best contacts, which he cherished and protected. Bill did refer Sam to a couple of medium-level people, but Sam was disappointed. When Sam contacted Bill for further help, Bill scarcely returned his calls. This mistake of spoiling good contacts happens frequently when job hunters don't conduct themselves professionally.
• Don't blindly accept advice. In making the rounds of people you know and those they refer you to, you'll get lots of advice. Some of it will be good, and some of it won't be. Through a referral, Frank was granted an interview with Mary, the Vice President of Human Resources of XYZ. Mary strongly recommended that Frank not undertake the intensive target mailing he had planned. Frank did the mailing anyway, and the letter to the CFO of XYZ within a month got him a very good offer. Carefully evaluate the advice that you get. Some of it may be unintentionally biased, misleading, or downright wrong. If you're in doubt about a piece of advice, test it with a couple of other people you see.
• Be careful about repeating the same mistakes. A job search is repetitive. Much of your activity is geared to gaining access to key people and to making as favorable an impression as possible. It's easy to "get in a groove" and present yourself the same way over and over again, whether your presentation is effective or not. Evaluate responses to your presentation, and change it accordingly. Respond to your "gut" feeling. Experiment when the risk is low, such as in an occasional networking interview. You may find a revised presentation considerably more effective.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
• Many job hunters hurt their chances by not planning carefully and not working vigorously. Start your planning now.
• A job search is strictly self-initiated. Many people will help when you approach them, but rarely will anyone volunteer. Your progress depends on your efforts. The sooner you move ahead aggressively on your preparation, the better off you'll be.
• Don’t count on promises. In the first week of his job search Fred got an interview with a well-established company in his industry. At the end of the interview, the interviewer said, "We're extremely interested in you, Fred. I'm going to arrange for a second interview." At the second interview, the interviewer said, "We want to hire you for this particular position. I just have to clear this with my boss, and I'll get back to you in a few days." Fred was very pleased, but never heard from this company again, and he got a cool reception each time he followed up. This happens frequently. So don't count on anything until you have a firm offer, preferably in writing. Act as though the possibility doesn't exist, and continue prospecting actively.
• Don't waste your best contacts. Sam and Bill had been members of a weekly golf foursome for years, and they had become good friends. When Sam lost his job, he immediately called Bill, a much more senior executive at another company. Bill was cordial and happy to help. Sam made the mistake of thinking his social relationship with Bill would open several doors. He was unprepared for the meeting and made a poor impression. Frankly, Bill feared that Sam would make a similarly poor impression on his best contacts, which he cherished and protected. Bill did refer Sam to a couple of medium-level people, but Sam was disappointed. When Sam contacted Bill for further help, Bill scarcely returned his calls. This mistake of spoiling good contacts happens frequently when job hunters don't conduct themselves professionally.
• Don't blindly accept advice. In making the rounds of people you know and those they refer you to, you'll get lots of advice. Some of it will be good, and some of it won't be. Through a referral, Frank was granted an interview with Mary, the Vice President of Human Resources of XYZ. Mary strongly recommended that Frank not undertake the intensive target mailing he had planned. Frank did the mailing anyway, and the letter to the CFO of XYZ within a month got him a very good offer. Carefully evaluate the advice that you get. Some of it may be unintentionally biased, misleading, or downright wrong. If you're in doubt about a piece of advice, test it with a couple of other people you see.
• Be careful about repeating the same mistakes. A job search is repetitive. Much of your activity is geared to gaining access to key people and to making as favorable an impression as possible. It's easy to "get in a groove" and present yourself the same way over and over again, whether your presentation is effective or not. Evaluate responses to your presentation, and change it accordingly. Respond to your "gut" feeling. Experiment when the risk is low, such as in an occasional networking interview. You may find a revised presentation considerably more effective.
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Why Do You Need A Resume? Part 2
Even if planning to physically pick up an employment application, you can realize a significant advantage over other candidates if you attach a copy of your resume to the completed application form when submitting it to the employer. Most employers are likely to be impressed to see that you have invested the time and effort to present them with both. It speaks volumes about the level of your interest in their job and your willingness to go the extra mile to get what you want. It also suggests some very positive things about your commitment and drive—desirable attributes that won't go unnoticed by the employer.
Also, if well designed and carefully written, a good resume will do an effective job of highlighting your key skills and abilities, thereby persuading employers that you are worth bringing in for a job interview. Because of space limitations, this is hard to achieve with just the employment application alone. Thus, in providing the employer with a resume, you are gaining a decided competitive advantage over other candidates who have not taken the time to prepare one.
Additionally to this, taking the time to prepare a resume helps workers better articulate their work experience, skills, and accomplishments during the job interview. It is a kind of "dress rehearsal" for the interview itself, increasing the worker's self-confidence and overall interviewing skills. Taking the time to write a good resume can have the added benefit of helping you to greatly improve your self-confidence and interviewing effectiveness.
Often, when the interviewer or hiring manager has a resume, they will use it as a road map of sorts when conducting the employment interview. When this occurs, they typically walk systematically through the resume, one section at a time, from beginning to end.
If well written, the resume emphasizes strengths and attributes, focusing the interviewer's attention on those factors most beneficial to "making the sale."
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com and http://writer.burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Also, if well designed and carefully written, a good resume will do an effective job of highlighting your key skills and abilities, thereby persuading employers that you are worth bringing in for a job interview. Because of space limitations, this is hard to achieve with just the employment application alone. Thus, in providing the employer with a resume, you are gaining a decided competitive advantage over other candidates who have not taken the time to prepare one.
Additionally to this, taking the time to prepare a resume helps workers better articulate their work experience, skills, and accomplishments during the job interview. It is a kind of "dress rehearsal" for the interview itself, increasing the worker's self-confidence and overall interviewing skills. Taking the time to write a good resume can have the added benefit of helping you to greatly improve your self-confidence and interviewing effectiveness.
Often, when the interviewer or hiring manager has a resume, they will use it as a road map of sorts when conducting the employment interview. When this occurs, they typically walk systematically through the resume, one section at a time, from beginning to end.
If well written, the resume emphasizes strengths and attributes, focusing the interviewer's attention on those factors most beneficial to "making the sale."
Dr. J.E. Burke, President, J.E.B. Resume Service and J.E. Burke Writing Service is writer, researcher, educator and entrepreneur involved in various business enterprises through Burke Publications. He has published many articles on a variety of topics. Please visit http://burkepublications.com and http://writer.burkepublications.com or email jeb@burkepublications.com .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
