Equipping a Basic Resume for LGBT Job Hunting

Discrimination is everywhere.

Despite the existence of anti-discrimination laws that are in effect in the country, it can't be denied that discrimination is one of the leading concerns of many individuals. This is prevalent particularly in the workplace where unsuspecting applicants are already judged based on their race, gender, ethnicity, and even religion.

In addition to the tedious job search, an applicant belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has to worry if the company does not have a welcoming environment for employees who have decided to "come out" at work. Such transition or coming out sometimes stirs negative reactions from fellow employees and even superiors. As such, aside from prepping up a basic resume, LGBT job hopefuls should also exert extra effort in searching for the best company for them.

In order to ensure the success of a job application, members of the LGBT community should consider doing the following:

Prepare an Irresistible Resume

Long before you start handing out your application, you should first consider crafting an effective resume that can help you in your job search. Make sure that you properly equip your application with the much-needed information such as specific skills, transferable abilities, technical and language proficiencies, and accomplishments.

Never settle for a basic resume. Your application is your personalized marketing tool, thus, using basic applications can only prompt you to sell yourself short of what you actually worth. You already have discrimination hanging on your head. Don't make it worst by submitting a second-rate pre-employment document.

Name to Use

One of the frequently asked questions by LGBT job hopefuls is whether it is advisable to use their preferred name on their application. Using your preferred name in your resume is okay as long as you're comfortable in disclosing your sexual orientation.

Moreover, you can also freely use your preferred name if you have already secured a court order for your name change. If you are yet to secure one, you might want to stick with your given name for some time.

Discretion during Application

Your LGBT affiliation can make or break your job search. As such, make sure that before improving your basic resume and submitting it, you have thoroughly conducted a search of the companies that are known to accept job candidates from LGBT organizations. Doing so will not only decrease the time spent on your search, but it will also increase your chances of being hired.

It is your choice whether you would like to "come out" during your job search or be discreet about your gender orientation. You should not let yourself be deprived of your right to feel at ease with your own skin. Everyone has the freedom to express himself. As for your job search, don't lose hope and stay positive. It may be tough to find the right company for you with your orientation and a simple application document. However, with your determination and willingness to improve, you can certainly get the job that you've always wanted.

Melinda Edwards works as a career consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her roles both as a career woman and a mother.

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Executive Job Hunting? You'll Need More Than a Resume

If you're an executive planning your next career move, it might intrigue you to learn that you'll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is not necessarily the best fit for each interviewer or contact.

Surprised? You'll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations?which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Not only should you consider which audience is looking at your portfolio, but also the steps required (initial screening, in-depth interviews, panel reviews, Board interviews) in the hiring process, before assuming that your resume is the best fit for each situation.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels?along with recommendations for the timing of each component:

1 - Executive Biography.

A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.

In addition to being shorter than a full resume, the bio can also be infused with more personality, and can therefore give the reader a different perspective on your leadership traits, beliefs, and principles.

The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts or Boards of Directors. This means that the bio will be most useful either early in your job search, or in the later stages of your executive interviews.

As an example, you'll probably encounter networking contacts who may be messengers, rather than hiring decision-makers. This group is easily overwhelmed by a full resume, and can be much more receptive to the single-page Executive Biography.

Later, after you've passed initial stages of your executive interviews, your full resume will have been already examined by hiring authorities. This is the perfect time to bring your Executive Biography as a leave-behind document for an interview with the Board.

2 - LinkedIn Profile.

While not technically a "document" created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical?and often underutilized?piece of an executive portfolio.

Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work. In executive job hunting, however, this is a costly mistake!

Your LinkedIn Profile may very well be the first piece of information encountered by a corporate recruiter or independent headhunter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (the latter of which aids others in finding you through LinkedIn's internal search engine).

While your full resume can be attached within LinkedIn, it's best to have populated each of the site's main sections (Headline, Summary, Specialties, Experience, Education) with sufficient information to convey your executive brand and trigger a recruiter's interest.

3 - Cover Letter.

Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they've fully digested the contents of your letter.

These groups are usually probing for specific leadership and communications abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.

In short, don't write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.

4 - Full Resume.

Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, "Is the resume dead?"

Not to worry - the need for a resume won't go away soon. You'll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.

Of course, since your executive resume is technically the centerpiece of your presentation, it must therefore convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing?no small feat!

To create such a powerful document, you'll need to get up to speed on resume trends. Formats and presentation styles have changed considerably: a full executive resume should encapsulate your strategic contributions, along with metrics, testimonials, success stories, and leadership competencies, all inside a masterpiece.

Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives that hire EVP and Director-level candidates).

In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone!

Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded, branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you'll encounter.

Laura Smith-Proulx is an award-winning Executive Resume Writer, former recruiter, and multicredentialed expert with a 98% success rate opening doors to prestigious jobs through personal branding. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she partners exclusively with CIO, CTO, COO, CEO, CFO, SVP, VP, and Director candidates.

Read more ...

Job Hunting 101: How to Write an Email and Get Your Resume Read

Have you ever received an email that you couldn't read? I mean you really couldn't understand what the person was trying to say? Or did you receive an email but did not open it because the senders name was offensive and you know that no one you know would have an email address that sounded like they were the next up and coming porn star? It is that time of year again when high school and college graduates will be updating their resumes and emailing them to hiring managers. My tips below will ensure that your resume does not get deleted before it is even opened.

Five Tips for Email Success

1. Professional Email Address - now is not the time to have a sexy, silly, or vulgar email address. If you are job hunting I recommend you keep your email address your name. When you are job hunting unless you are porn star drop the sexy email names. No one wants to call looking for "2sexy4u". It is also easier for the hiring manager to scroll through his or her email account and recognize your email after he or she has networked with you on LinkedIn than to have to open various emails to try and find your resume. If he or she cannot easily find your email he or she may not even bother to look for it.

2. Spelling and Grammar - use proper English when writing your emails. Now is the time to show off your writing skills. Also make sure you spell words correctly. Do not try and appear creative by spelling words wrong. You want the prospective employer to know you did graduate from high school or college. Do not - I repeat do not - write an email using the spelling short cut you use when typing a text message to your friends. I have heard from several employers that they have returned the emails asking the person to speak English. When they get the email returned again in the same text message style format they delete the email and do not look at the resume. Do not let this happen to you.

3. Sentence structure - use proper sentence structure when typing an email. This means you capitalize the first letter of a sentence and you end a sentence with a punctuation mark. You do not want to have run on sentences or fragmented sentences. Remember, this may be your only attempt to show off that you are the right person for the job. You will also want to keep your font crisp and clear. Ensure it is large enough to be read by the reader. This is not the time to use cursive or spooky font. It is recommended that you use black ink for the color of your font. Again, now is not the time to be cutesy or show off your creative streak.

4. Signature block - use your signature block to highlight your expertise. Use an appropriate salutation followed by your name and degree conferred. Below the signature block list your phone number so that t he reader can contact you. If you use social media it is permissible to use the social media icons under your signature. This will direct the reader to learn more about you. If you have a website or blog also list the urls in your signature block.

5. Tag line - an email tagline gives the reader an opportunity to learn more about you. If you are job hunting it can be an abbreviated professional summary. Your last sentence should direct the reader to learn more about you at your LinkedIn profile, website or blog.

When you use my five tips for email success you increase your chances of getting your email read and the resume you attached opened. Do not miss out on getting your dream job because your email was not even opened.

Dream Catcher, Business & Life Coaching is a Veteran Owned Business. Coach Jaynine is a retired United States Marine and former psychotherapist who works with Veterans and those on Active Duty. Jaynine will show you how to increase your visibility while developing your expertise. Whether you are a Veteran Business Owner or still on Active Duty, Coach Jaynine is the coach for you. She will teach you the systems and strategies needed to grow your business, have a successful military career, or transition into civilian life. You can start turning your dreams into reality by downloading her FREE 15 Resume Success Tips.

Read more ...

Executive Job Hunting? You'll Need More Than a Resume

If you're an executive planning your next career move, it might intrigue you to learn that you'll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is not necessarily the best fit for each interviewer or contact.

Surprised? You'll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations?which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Not only should you consider which audience is looking at your portfolio, but also the steps required (initial screening, in-depth interviews, panel reviews, Board interviews) in the hiring process, before assuming that your resume is the best fit for each situation.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels?along with recommendations for the timing of each component:

1 - Executive Biography.

A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.

In addition to being shorter than a full resume, the bio can also be infused with more personality, and can therefore give the reader a different perspective on your leadership traits, beliefs, and principles.

The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts or Boards of Directors. This means that the bio will be most useful either early in your job search, or in the later stages of your executive interviews.

As an example, you'll probably encounter networking contacts who may be messengers, rather than hiring decision-makers. This group is easily overwhelmed by a full resume, and can be much more receptive to the single-page Executive Biography.

Later, after you've passed initial stages of your executive interviews, your full resume will have been already examined by hiring authorities. This is the perfect time to bring your Executive Biography as a leave-behind document for an interview with the Board.

2 - LinkedIn Profile.

While not technically a "document" created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical?and often underutilized?piece of an executive portfolio.

Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work. In executive job hunting, however, this is a costly mistake!

Your LinkedIn Profile may very well be the first piece of information encountered by a corporate recruiter or independent headhunter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (the latter of which aids others in finding you through LinkedIn's internal search engine).

While your full resume can be attached within LinkedIn, it's best to have populated each of the site's main sections (Headline, Summary, Specialties, Experience, Education) with sufficient information to convey your executive brand and trigger a recruiter's interest.

3 - Cover Letter.

Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they've fully digested the contents of your letter.

These groups are usually probing for specific leadership and communications abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.

In short, don't write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.

4 - Full Resume.

Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, "Is the resume dead?"

Not to worry - the need for a resume won't go away soon. You'll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.

Of course, since your executive resume is technically the centerpiece of your presentation, it must therefore convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing?no small feat!

To create such a powerful document, you'll need to get up to speed on resume trends. Formats and presentation styles have changed considerably: a full executive resume should encapsulate your strategic contributions, along with metrics, testimonials, success stories, and leadership competencies, all inside a masterpiece.

Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives that hire EVP and Director-level candidates).

In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone!

Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded, branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you'll encounter.

Laura Smith-Proulx is an award-winning Executive Resume Writer, former recruiter, and multicredentialed expert with a 98% success rate opening doors to prestigious jobs through personal branding. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she partners exclusively with CIO, CTO, COO, CEO, CFO, SVP, VP, and Director candidates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_SmithProulx

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Job Hunting After Age 50: Start With Writing A Winning Resume!

Start with writing a winning resume and move ahead of the younger competition.

For the after 50 job hunter, they often see desirable jobs going to younger less experienced competitors. Although age-discrimination laws mandate that age cannot be a factor in the hiring decision it's widely understood that it exists.

In almost every job announcement, the desirability of experience is front and center. Talk to hiring managers and experience tends to win out in the selection and hiring process.

You want to write your resume that takes age (as much as possible) out of the hiring equation without conceding your experience. Job hunting over age 50 can be difficult enough so here are some approaches to rewrite and make over your resume to show your relevant experience while downplaying your age.

Eliminate years from your resume: By removing math from your resume you don't give the hiring official an opportunity to add the years after you earned a bachelors degree and come up with an age.

Fifteen or so years of employment are usually more than adequate to highlight your experience. If you have to go back farther you should add a section that might be called "additional qualifications." List your relevant accomplishments, without dates. This should satisfy the employer's requirements.

Underscore your work with new technologies: If in your recent work experience, you worked on a new technology, underscore it at the beginning of your resume. In your summary section of your resume list experience that establishes your work on the latest skills and technologies.

If your career focuses on technology, start your experience section listing specific technologies, the latest systems and software and the application of this advanced expertise.

If you work in a career that has continued to move forward, your expertise in working in the latest technology should give you a competitive edge.

Current development of your skills: Nothing helps to demonstrate your personal up-to-date career development than a section in your resume that lists your efforts to improve your skills. Add a section to your resume listing your current and recent educational efforts. This section will send a strong signal to prospective employers that you are actively keeping your skills current.

Don't restrict your list to formal college level type courses. Self-study, workshops, seminars and in-house training are all fair game. Edit and format the list to focus primarily on the skills required by the employer.

For example, you recently attended a seminar entitled "Project Management Skills." The employer is looking for someone with project management software skills. About 20% of the subject matter at the seminar was on "Project Management Software Skills." Now you know how to list the education.

Social Media Awareness: Add your presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Your positive presence on Web 2.0 will give hiring managers an additional method to evaluate how current you are with the latest technologies.

Moreover, the effective use of the many job search tools on LinkedIn could open job opportunities for you than were just not available a few years ago.

Job hunting after age 50 could be a long and discouraging journey if you do not take advantage of the many available positive job hunting strategies. However, by stressing what is wanted by the prospective employer you will move ahead of your competition, regardless of your age.

So get in the game, keep a positive attitude, and you'll be have a successful job search after age 50.

Read more ...

Executive Job Hunting? You'll Need More Than a Resume

If you're an executive planning your next career move, it might intrigue you to learn that you'll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is not necessarily the best fit for each interviewer or contact.

Surprised? You'll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations?which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Not only should you consider which audience is looking at your portfolio, but also the steps required (initial screening, in-depth interviews, panel reviews, Board interviews) in the hiring process, before assuming that your resume is the best fit for each situation.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels?along with recommendations for the timing of each component:

1 - Executive Biography.

A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.

In addition to being shorter than a full resume, the bio can also be infused with more personality, and can therefore give the reader a different perspective on your leadership traits, beliefs, and principles.

The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts or Boards of Directors. This means that the bio will be most useful either early in your job search, or in the later stages of your executive interviews.

As an example, you'll probably encounter networking contacts who may be messengers, rather than hiring decision-makers. This group is easily overwhelmed by a full resume, and can be much more receptive to the single-page Executive Biography.

Later, after you've passed initial stages of your executive interviews, your full resume will have been already examined by hiring authorities. This is the perfect time to bring your Executive Biography as a leave-behind document for an interview with the Board.

2 - LinkedIn Profile.

While not technically a "document" created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical?and often underutilized?piece of an executive portfolio.

Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work. In executive job hunting, however, this is a costly mistake!

Your LinkedIn Profile may very well be the first piece of information encountered by a corporate recruiter or independent headhunter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (the latter of which aids others in finding you through LinkedIn's internal search engine).

While your full resume can be attached within LinkedIn, it's best to have populated each of the site's main sections (Headline, Summary, Specialties, Experience, Education) with sufficient information to convey your executive brand and trigger a recruiter's interest.

3 - Cover Letter.

Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they've fully digested the contents of your letter.

These groups are usually probing for specific leadership and communications abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.

In short, don't write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.

4 - Full Resume.

Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, "Is the resume dead?"

Not to worry - the need for a resume won't go away soon. You'll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.

Of course, since your executive resume is technically the centerpiece of your presentation, it must therefore convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing?no small feat!

To create such a powerful document, you'll need to get up to speed on resume trends. Formats and presentation styles have changed considerably: a full executive resume should encapsulate your strategic contributions, along with metrics, testimonials, success stories, and leadership competencies, all inside a masterpiece.

Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives that hire EVP and Director-level candidates).

In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone!

Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded, branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you'll encounter.

Laura Smith-Proulx is an award-winning Executive Resume Writer, former recruiter, and multicredentialed expert with a 98% success rate opening doors to prestigious jobs through personal branding. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she partners exclusively with CIO, CTO, COO, CEO, CFO, SVP, VP, and Director candidates.

Read more ...

Job Hunting 101: How to Write an Email and Get Your Resume Read

Have you ever received an email that you couldn't read? I mean you really couldn't understand what the person was trying to say? Or did you receive an email but did not open it because the senders name was offensive and you know that no one you know would have an email address that sounded like they were the next up and coming porn star? It is that time of year again when high school and college graduates will be updating their resumes and emailing them to hiring managers. My tips below will ensure that your resume does not get deleted before it is even opened.

Five Tips for Email Success

1. Professional Email Address - now is not the time to have a sexy, silly, or vulgar email address. If you are job hunting I recommend you keep your email address your name. When you are job hunting unless you are porn star drop the sexy email names. No one wants to call looking for "2sexy4u". It is also easier for the hiring manager to scroll through his or her email account and recognize your email after he or she has networked with you on LinkedIn than to have to open various emails to try and find your resume. If he or she cannot easily find your email he or she may not even bother to look for it.

2. Spelling and Grammar - use proper English when writing your emails. Now is the time to show off your writing skills. Also make sure you spell words correctly. Do not try and appear creative by spelling words wrong. You want the prospective employer to know you did graduate from high school or college. Do not - I repeat do not - write an email using the spelling short cut you use when typing a text message to your friends. I have heard from several employers that they have returned the emails asking the person to speak English. When they get the email returned again in the same text message style format they delete the email and do not look at the resume. Do not let this happen to you.

3. Sentence structure - use proper sentence structure when typing an email. This means you capitalize the first letter of a sentence and you end a sentence with a punctuation mark. You do not want to have run on sentences or fragmented sentences. Remember, this may be your only attempt to show off that you are the right person for the job. You will also want to keep your font crisp and clear. Ensure it is large enough to be read by the reader. This is not the time to use cursive or spooky font. It is recommended that you use black ink for the color of your font. Again, now is not the time to be cutesy or show off your creative streak.

4. Signature block - use your signature block to highlight your expertise. Use an appropriate salutation followed by your name and degree conferred. Below the signature block list your phone number so that t he reader can contact you. If you use social media it is permissible to use the social media icons under your signature. This will direct the reader to learn more about you. If you have a website or blog also list the urls in your signature block.

5. Tag line - an email tagline gives the reader an opportunity to learn more about you. If you are job hunting it can be an abbreviated professional summary. Your last sentence should direct the reader to learn more about you at your LinkedIn profile, website or blog.

When you use my five tips for email success you increase your chances of getting your email read and the resume you attached opened. Do not miss out on getting your dream job because your email was not even opened.

Dream Catcher, Business & Life Coaching is a Veteran Owned Business. Coach Jaynine is a retired United States Marine and former psychotherapist who works with Veterans and those on Active Duty. Jaynine will show you how to increase your visibility while developing your expertise. Whether you are a Veteran Business Owner or still on Active Duty, Coach Jaynine is the coach for you. She will teach you the systems and strategies needed to grow your business, have a successful military career, or transition into civilian life. You can start turning your dreams into reality by downloading her FREE 15 Resume Success Tips.

Read more ...

Job Hunting 101: How to Write an Email and Get Your Resume Read

Have you ever received an email that you couldn't read? I mean you really couldn't understand what the person was trying to say? Or did you receive an email but did not open it because the senders name was offensive and you know that no one you know would have an email address that sounded like they were the next up and coming porn star? It is that time of year again when high school and college graduates will be updating their resumes and emailing them to hiring managers. My tips below will ensure that your resume does not get deleted before it is even opened.

Five Tips for Email Success

1. Professional Email Address - now is not the time to have a sexy, silly, or vulgar email address. If you are job hunting I recommend you keep your email address your name. When you are job hunting unless you are porn star drop the sexy email names. No one wants to call looking for "2sexy4u". It is also easier for the hiring manager to scroll through his or her email account and recognize your email after he or she has networked with you on LinkedIn than to have to open various emails to try and find your resume. If he or she cannot easily find your email he or she may not even bother to look for it.

2. Spelling and Grammar - use proper English when writing your emails. Now is the time to show off your writing skills. Also make sure you spell words correctly. Do not try and appear creative by spelling words wrong. You want the prospective employer to know you did graduate from high school or college. Do not - I repeat do not - write an email using the spelling short cut you use when typing a text message to your friends. I have heard from several employers that they have returned the emails asking the person to speak English. When they get the email returned again in the same text message style format they delete the email and do not look at the resume. Do not let this happen to you.

3. Sentence structure - use proper sentence structure when typing an email. This means you capitalize the first letter of a sentence and you end a sentence with a punctuation mark. You do not want to have run on sentences or fragmented sentences. Remember, this may be your only attempt to show off that you are the right person for the job. You will also want to keep your font crisp and clear. Ensure it is large enough to be read by the reader. This is not the time to use cursive or spooky font. It is recommended that you use black ink for the color of your font. Again, now is not the time to be cutesy or show off your creative streak.

4. Signature block - use your signature block to highlight your expertise. Use an appropriate salutation followed by your name and degree conferred. Below the signature block list your phone number so that t he reader can contact you. If you use social media it is permissible to use the social media icons under your signature. This will direct the reader to learn more about you. If you have a website or blog also list the urls in your signature block.

5. Tag line - an email tagline gives the reader an opportunity to learn more about you. If you are job hunting it can be an abbreviated professional summary. Your last sentence should direct the reader to learn more about you at your LinkedIn profile, website or blog.

When you use my five tips for email success you increase your chances of getting your email read and the resume you attached opened. Do not miss out on getting your dream job because your email was not even opened.

Dream Catcher, Business & Life Coaching is a Veteran Owned Business. Coach Jaynine is a retired United States Marine and former psychotherapist who works with Veterans and those on Active Duty. Jaynine will show you how to increase your visibility while developing your expertise. Whether you are a Veteran Business Owner or still on Active Duty, Coach Jaynine is the coach for you. She will teach you the systems and strategies needed to grow your business, have a successful military career, or transition into civilian life. You can start turning your dreams into reality by downloading her FREE 15 Resume Success Tips.

Read more ...

Executive Job Hunting? You'll Need More Than a Resume

If you're an executive planning your next career move, it might intrigue you to learn that you'll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is not necessarily the best fit for each interviewer or contact.

Surprised? You'll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations?which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Not only should you consider which audience is looking at your portfolio, but also the steps required (initial screening, in-depth interviews, panel reviews, Board interviews) in the hiring process, before assuming that your resume is the best fit for each situation.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels?along with recommendations for the timing of each component:

1 - Executive Biography.

A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.

In addition to being shorter than a full resume, the bio can also be infused with more personality, and can therefore give the reader a different perspective on your leadership traits, beliefs, and principles.

The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts or Boards of Directors. This means that the bio will be most useful either early in your job search, or in the later stages of your executive interviews.

As an example, you'll probably encounter networking contacts who may be messengers, rather than hiring decision-makers. This group is easily overwhelmed by a full resume, and can be much more receptive to the single-page Executive Biography.

Later, after you've passed initial stages of your executive interviews, your full resume will have been already examined by hiring authorities. This is the perfect time to bring your Executive Biography as a leave-behind document for an interview with the Board.

2 - LinkedIn Profile.

While not technically a "document" created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical?and often underutilized?piece of an executive portfolio.

Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work. In executive job hunting, however, this is a costly mistake!

Your LinkedIn Profile may very well be the first piece of information encountered by a corporate recruiter or independent headhunter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (the latter of which aids others in finding you through LinkedIn's internal search engine).

While your full resume can be attached within LinkedIn, it's best to have populated each of the site's main sections (Headline, Summary, Specialties, Experience, Education) with sufficient information to convey your executive brand and trigger a recruiter's interest.

3 - Cover Letter.

Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they've fully digested the contents of your letter.

These groups are usually probing for specific leadership and communications abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.

In short, don't write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.

4 - Full Resume.

Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, "Is the resume dead?"

Not to worry - the need for a resume won't go away soon. You'll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.

Of course, since your executive resume is technically the centerpiece of your presentation, it must therefore convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing?no small feat!

To create such a powerful document, you'll need to get up to speed on resume trends. Formats and presentation styles have changed considerably: a full executive resume should encapsulate your strategic contributions, along with metrics, testimonials, success stories, and leadership competencies, all inside a masterpiece.

Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives that hire EVP and Director-level candidates).

In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone!

Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded, branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you'll encounter.

Laura Smith-Proulx is an award-winning Executive Resume Writer, former recruiter, and multicredentialed expert with a 98% success rate opening doors to prestigious jobs through personal branding. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she partners exclusively with CIO, CTO, COO, CEO, CFO, SVP, VP, and Director candidates.

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Executive Job Hunting? You'll Need More Than a Resume

If you're an executive planning your next career move, it might intrigue you to learn that you'll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is not necessarily the best fit for each interviewer or contact.

Surprised? You'll find that recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations?which means that your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Not only should you consider which audience is looking at your portfolio, but also the steps required (initial screening, in-depth interviews, panel reviews, Board interviews) in the hiring process, before assuming that your resume is the best fit for each situation.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels?along with recommendations for the timing of each component:

1 - Executive Biography.

A short, narrative-form document, the Biography often appeals to readers that are not engaged in the technical detail of a full resume.

In addition to being shorter than a full resume, the bio can also be infused with more personality, and can therefore give the reader a different perspective on your leadership traits, beliefs, and principles.

The best readers for an Executive Biography are usually networking contacts or Boards of Directors. This means that the bio will be most useful either early in your job search, or in the later stages of your executive interviews.

As an example, you'll probably encounter networking contacts who may be messengers, rather than hiring decision-makers. This group is easily overwhelmed by a full resume, and can be much more receptive to the single-page Executive Biography.

Later, after you've passed initial stages of your executive interviews, your full resume will have been already examined by hiring authorities. This is the perfect time to bring your Executive Biography as a leave-behind document for an interview with the Board.

2 - LinkedIn Profile.

While not technically a "document" created just for job hunting, your LinkedIn Profile is a critical?and often underutilized?piece of an executive portfolio.

Most executives set up a Profile very quickly and then abandon it, becoming preoccupied with their work. In executive job hunting, however, this is a costly mistake!

Your LinkedIn Profile may very well be the first piece of information encountered by a corporate recruiter or independent headhunter. Therefore, it must be polished, professional, and keyword-heavy (the latter of which aids others in finding you through LinkedIn's internal search engine).

While your full resume can be attached within LinkedIn, it's best to have populated each of the site's main sections (Headline, Summary, Specialties, Experience, Education) with sufficient information to convey your executive brand and trigger a recruiter's interest.

3 - Cover Letter.

Despite the myth that hiring authorities rarely read cover letters, some audiences (company owners, CEOs, and Presidents) might not even glance at your resume until they've fully digested the contents of your letter.

These groups are usually probing for specific leadership and communications abilities that they feel are more evident within the letter. Investors, in particular, like to read a very short, bottom-line value proposition letter, in lieu of a resume.

In short, don't write off a cover letter as an important document in the hiring process, as you might find that it was this part of your portfolio that influenced an interviewing decision.

4 - Full Resume.

Not a month goes by when a social media or recruiting expert poses the question, "Is the resume dead?"

Not to worry - the need for a resume won't go away soon. You'll absolutely be asked to send your resume to many contacts at different stages of your search.

Of course, since your executive resume is technically the centerpiece of your presentation, it must therefore convince employers of your brand, value proposition, and leadership standing?no small feat!

To create such a powerful document, you'll need to get up to speed on resume trends. Formats and presentation styles have changed considerably: a full executive resume should encapsulate your strategic contributions, along with metrics, testimonials, success stories, and leadership competencies, all inside a masterpiece.

Often, the best readers of a full resume will those that thrive on analytical detail (such as operations or technology executives that hire EVP and Director-level candidates).

In summary, an executive portfolio is a must for serious job hunters ready to assume a leadership role. The days of distributing an executive resume without backup in the form of a Executive Biography, LinkedIn Profile, or Cover letter are gone!

Your job search will be smoother, faster, and more effective with a well-rounded, branded portfolio that appeals to the diverse audiences you'll encounter.

Laura Smith-Proulx is an award-winning Executive Resume Writer, former recruiter, and multicredentialed expert with a 98% success rate opening doors to prestigious jobs through personal branding. The Executive Director of An Expert Resume, she partners exclusively with CIO, CTO, COO, CEO, CFO, SVP, VP, and Director candidates.

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Job Hunting When You Are Over 50 - Resume Formatting

You know that a resume is critical to your job search, but it's been a long time since you've written one. You've shown your old resume to a few people and learned that resume styles and even the content of resumes have changed since you conducted your last job search.

So you have spent some time on the content issue determining your greatest skills and strengths, reviewing your job responsibilities and more importantly reviewing your accomplishments. You are clear on the types of positions you will be applying for. Now that you have this information, it's time to consider the best way to format your resume so it grabs the attention of the readers, (someone in HR, a computer scanner programmed to search for key words, and the hiring manager) long enough to make a positive impression. For an experienced worker, the best resume style for making that positive impression is the combination or hybrid style, a resume style that combines the best features of the chronological and functional resume. So it's time to turn on your computer and use MS Word to write your new resume.

Step One: FONT and MARGINS
Set your margins to.7 inches. Choose an easy to read font like Arial and use an 11 or 12 point font.

Step Two: HEADING
Center your name and address. Your name should be bold in 14 point font. Don't let this section show your age; show that you are technologically current with an email address and a cell phone number! List your personal, not work email address. If you are job hunting you should have an email address you use just for this purpose. Show that you are up-to-date by listing your cell phone number as well. You can include your home land line but list the cell number, too. You don't want anyone to think you are sitting at home all day.

Step Three: OBJECTIVE
You need to decide whether or not you need to include an OBJECTIVE. This section is optional. If you are applying for a position that is a promotion you may want to use one. For example one of my clients was applying for the position of middle school principal, but his current position was that of assistant principal. If you are answering an advertisement or posting and are customizing your resume for this position, then an objective states clearly the position you are applying for. A nurse who is answering an ad that lists several nursing positions may want to clearly indicate the one position that she or he is interested in.

Step Four: PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
This section can be labeled or unlabeled. Typical labels you might use for this section include: PROFILE, SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS, or CAREER HIGHLIGHTS. If you did not use an OBJECTIVE, begin your PROFILE by putting your position in bold. Sales Management Professional with 20 plus years of proven ability to...or IT Program Manager with proven record of...

Resumes now stress only the last fifteen years of your work experience. If some of your best experience is more than fifteen years ago mentioning your 20 plus years of success is appropriate. Just don't use a number greater than 20!

The Profile section is the place to include your skills that will transfer to a new position and your accomplishments. Liberally include the key words used in your field. Phrases that strengthen a professional profile include:
Proven track record of...
Skilled and effective in...
Professional reputation as...
Collaborated effectively to...
Resourceful problem solver with...

This is the section of the resume that you will find yourself customizing for each job that you apply for. Once job seekers sent the same resume out for every job posting and maybe customized their cover letters. Now your resume and cover letter will need to be tailored for each position that you apply for.

Step Five: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
If the companies that you worked for are notable, put the companies first and capitalize their names. If your job titles are more significant, put them first. Dates of employment are less important and should be on the right side of the page. For example:

VERIZON, Natick, Massachusetts 2003 - Present
Computer Analyst

Marketing Director 2003 - Present
Fox Hollow Real Estate, Clifton Park, New York

Under each job listing, indent and bullet your accomplishments. Do not use the phrase, responsible for. Accomplishments are now expected on your resume. What did you do and what were the results? Begin your phrases with words like exceeded, launched, enhanced, increased, expanded, saved, doubled, reduced, achieved, and turned around. If possible quantify each accomplishment.

Step Six: PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
This is where you can add earlier positions and companies that are relevant. List only the name of the company/organization, location, and position.

Step Seven: EDUCATION
Label your next section EDUCATION if you have a college degree or significant college experience. list your degrees in reverse chronological order. Listing the dates that you earned the degrees is optional. Many experienced workers do not list the dates. If your degree or your major is not relevant to the position do not include it. You can put B.A. or Bachelor of Arts without saying that is was in Film Studies. If your Masters degree will make you look overqualified and too expensive, don't mention it. If the job specifically mentions that you need at least a high school diploma, then list your high school in this section and the fact that you graduated. If you have been doing work that is usually associated with having a college degree and you don't have one; skip this section and go on to Step Eight.

Step Eight: ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This is where you can list on the job training as well as other relevant training you have had. This is a suitable place to list your computer skills.

There is no one right way to write a resume. The Internet provides numerous samples and examples. A professional resume writer can make the process of producing a resume more effective.

For more tips on resumes, cover letters, and conducting a job search visit the author's website http://www.career-development-services.com/. Mary Ann is the owner of Career Development Services and teaches Self-Assessment and Career Planning at Quinsigamond Community College. She is now in the process of building a new website, My LifeMyWorkMyWay that focuses on the career issues of those over age 50.

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Job Hunting and Your Video Resume

In order to create a stronger online presence for job search once you've established a basic presence, try multimedia--provided you are comfortable in this space. If you freeze up in front of a camera, or if an audio recording fails to represent your true strengths, you'll have two choices: Practice until you get it down pat, or skip this step. If you are able to add multimedia, you will create a unique and saleable advantage.

There are many options: Adding a very brief video or audio segment in which you give your 30-second pitch on why an employer should hire you is a good idea. You can shape targeted statements that capture the responses to basic interview questions.

These serve as audio and video testimonials to your character and professionalism-and to the authenticity of your responses. To this end, you must be certain that the statements you create capture the essence of the responses you would provide during a face-to-face interview. After all, companies will be looking for consistency. The content you create should then be included on sites that enable sharing, as well as included on your web page or blog.

The benefit of an effective video resume is that few people actually have these, so your video segment will serve as a differentiator in the recruiting process (at least for now).

The best video resumes have several key attributes. These are:
They are short (no more than three to four minutes)They describe the value you will bring to the position you are seekingThey tell why you are the best candidate for your desired jobThey offer a few insights into your character, ideally in a narrative, conversational style

If you tend to turn into a "deer in the headlights" whenever a camera is pointed in your general direction, then video is not for you. Don't simply create a video to say you have one. Use this only if you are comfortable with this medium, and don't post your final video clip until you get it right.

In addition to posting your video to YouTube, you will also want to add links to this content to your social network profiles, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, but be sure to update or clean them up first. The last thing you want to do is create a reason for an employer to become disenchanted with you based on a foolish photo or a raunchy comment on your Facebook wall.

The social media resume has the added benefit of showcasing your ability to navigate the social media space. Increasingly, this is a plus across jobs and across industries. A simple share tool widget is typically available as a part of most basic blogware and website tools, and including such sharing features will enable visitors to increase your presence by sharing out your credentials. This will help to get your resume seen by more than just recruiters, so you will want to take advantage of this.

Some job seekers are hesitant to share their resumes in the social media space. But much of the concern may be unfounded. Top professionals have their bios posted all throughout the online space. They include contact information and have established presences. Aren't you hoping to get your resume seen by more hiring managers rather than recruiters by adding to social networks? Remember: Visibility creates opportunities

Depending on what statistics you cite, some form of referral or networking plays a part in anywhere from 60% to 80% of job vacancies that are filled. Keep in mind that many great job opportunities are only available through the "hidden job market" and are never posted to the public, it's easy to see that you're missing out on a large part of the job opportunity pool unless you are 'plugged in' and using social networking when in the market for a new job.

This is even more important when competition is extraordinarily intense as it is today with less jobs all around. So for distinction in a crowded market, multimedia may be your best bet.

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer. Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. She is Director of Communications, External Affairs, and a Lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

To schedule an individual consultation or group workshop on online job-search, visit http://www.onlinejobsearchbook.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherrie_Madia

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