The Top Resume Writing Mistake To Avoid

Unemployment rates are rising and more and more Americans are losing their jobs every day. It is the new normal in American culture. However, it's time to face the reality. The employment system in America is broken. It does not work or make sense. If the system did work, you would be able to find work in little or no time. Most professional job seekers spend 30 hours a week trailblazing through job boards and sending over 100 resumes to all different types of companies. Then, there is a waiting period with no word from your prospective employers. The average job seeker sets goals for the week of securing 3-5 interviews weekly, only to find out that they have not secured one. The feelings of rejection and disappointment in your job search efforts starts to settle. The self-defeating attitude starts to build momentum, telling oneself, "you are not good enough", setting one's confidence and self-esteem on fire.

The anger and frustration is directed at a broken system in America, and it is important that a job seeker pays close attention to their feelings and how they present themselves to prospective employers. Keywords presented in a resume reflects the attitudes, behaviors, and personality of a job seeker. Below will outline how the resume submission process works, common pitfalls of resume submission, and keyword resume basics to strengthen your position in the professional world today.

BASICS OF THE RESUME SUBMISSION PROCESS

A resume is a document with multiple moving parts that must navigate through multiple obstacles to deliver its impact. The process usually takes up to one to four weeks before following up with eligible candidates for the position, depending on the culture of the organization. Small to mid-sized companies have an informal resume submission process where you send a cover letter and resume, followed by supporting documents to a HR professional or hiring manager. Larger companies will require that you send your application through a sophisticated applicant tracking system. After a preliminary screening, the human resources office conducts an in-depth screening to match your application to the specifications of the position. After the second screening, the application goes the hiring manager of the department to assess professional depth and ability for their department. If your resume meets all the above criteria, then HR conducts follow-up phone calls and/or e-mails to qualified candidates to schedule an interview. The resume continues through this process or stalls on this determining factor: resume keywords that the job seeker has chosen to represent their qualifications, skills, and abilities.

RESUME WRITING MISTAKES

Job hunters experience the usual resume submission mistakes of sending out over 100 resumes with unreturned e-mails, and phone calls that get no response. They make the same mistakes over and over, running around in circles but not stopping to take a drink of water. When a job hunter makes the mistake of not "doing the due diligence" within a campaign, one experiences a lot of hard work feeding into the already broken and confused employment system. Here is the number one reason resumes disqualify in the resume submission process:

Specific keywords and phrases that human resource software applications look for when scanning resumes, and no clear-cut, specific, recognizable set skills and value to grab a human reader.

Inexperienced job hunters include soft skills such as "strong communicator, problem solver, and active listener". Everyone has these qualities but are you able to prove specifically how you have demonstrated value to a company with these skills?

Do not make the mistake of excluding keywords that match the needs of the employer or else the system will immediately disqualify the resume in the submission process.

BASICS OF RESUME KEYWORDS

Managers want only one type of worker: a problem-solver and a worker who makes a positive impact. Managers have to spend less on the resources they need and how well they cut costs and increase profits. They need people to discuss these two problems. The resume is the call to action to prompt the reader on what they should do next.. The resume answers this important question:

What occupation, what level, and at what capacity can the candidate tackle the specific work cost-effectively and increase profits better and faster than anyone else competing for the same job?

This is a difficult question that requires self-assessment of one's skills and abilities. Before submitting another resume, the candidate must step back and assess their place in the professional world today. It is important to take the moment to find out what types of jobs that the resume can definitely win. Job boards are great for learning about the types of jobs available in the marketplace. Here are some tips on searching for keywords on job boards and other places before diving back into a campaign:
Make a master list of keywords and phrases that appear in similar job postings.Search keywords with no geographic limitations to find a broad range of keywords.Pick at least three key websites that represent companies and related industry associations.Google the name of your job followed by "job description" to find 2 or 3 specific descriptions that match the job posting, and cull keywords from the descriptions.Select the top three LinkedIn profiles of users with similar jobs to collect keywords.Visit your industry association website and find their membership directory to see if there are keywords that other industry professionals have used.

SAMPLE RESUME KEYWORDS THAT WORK

After developing a master list of keywords, highlight each statement with a strong keyword. Below are some sample keywords that are commonly used in effective resumes. Keywords that show the applicant's attitude and temperament towards the job increase the chances of securing interviews:
Keywords that Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities: Analyzed, Investigated, Resolved, Streamlined, Simplified, Eliminated, Reduced, IncreasedKeywords that Demonstrate Leadership Skills: Organized, Managed, Directed, Revitalized, LedKeywords that Demonstrate Initiative: Designed, Generated, Launched, Originated, InitiatedKeywords that Demonstrate Achievement: Secured, Completed, Surpassed, Negotiated, Delivered

It is time for job hunters to transfer the same energy of being proactive in their job search to being proactive about their resume presentation. Worth is not determined by rejection during a job search campaign. Worth is the value that one offers to a prospective employer. The employer Is not responsible for extracting value from a job hunter. It is the job hunter's responsibility. But it is up to the job hunter to step back from their campaign and make sure they include the keywords and phrases specific to the job and needs of the employer. It takes more careful research and planning upfront before approaching any employer to set up an interview.

Job hunters, make your next resume submission count!

Jonathon Carrington is a writer, consultant, and manager who has spent thousands of hours helping people in my life shine through, healing the world one story at a time. For a free consultation, visit his website at http://wewriteresumes.weebly.com/.

Read more ...

The Top Resume Writing Mistake To Avoid

Unemployment rates are rising and more and more Americans are losing their jobs every day. It is the new normal in American culture. However, it's time to face the reality. The employment system in America is broken. It does not work or make sense. If the system did work, you would be able to find work in little or no time. Most professional job seekers spend 30 hours a week trailblazing through job boards and sending over 100 resumes to all different types of companies. Then, there is a waiting period with no word from your prospective employers. The average job seeker sets goals for the week of securing 3-5 interviews weekly, only to find out that they have not secured one. The feelings of rejection and disappointment in your job search efforts starts to settle. The self-defeating attitude starts to build momentum, telling oneself, "you are not good enough", setting one's confidence and self-esteem on fire.

The anger and frustration is directed at a broken system in America, and it is important that a job seeker pays close attention to their feelings and how they present themselves to prospective employers. Keywords presented in a resume reflects the attitudes, behaviors, and personality of a job seeker. Below will outline how the resume submission process works, common pitfalls of resume submission, and keyword resume basics to strengthen your position in the professional world today.

BASICS OF THE RESUME SUBMISSION PROCESS

A resume is a document with multiple moving parts that must navigate through multiple obstacles to deliver its impact. The process usually takes up to one to four weeks before following up with eligible candidates for the position, depending on the culture of the organization. Small to mid-sized companies have an informal resume submission process where you send a cover letter and resume, followed by supporting documents to a HR professional or hiring manager. Larger companies will require that you send your application through a sophisticated applicant tracking system. After a preliminary screening, the human resources office conducts an in-depth screening to match your application to the specifications of the position. After the second screening, the application goes the hiring manager of the department to assess professional depth and ability for their department. If your resume meets all the above criteria, then HR conducts follow-up phone calls and/or e-mails to qualified candidates to schedule an interview. The resume continues through this process or stalls on this determining factor: resume keywords that the job seeker has chosen to represent their qualifications, skills, and abilities.

RESUME WRITING MISTAKES

Job hunters experience the usual resume submission mistakes of sending out over 100 resumes with unreturned e-mails, and phone calls that get no response. They make the same mistakes over and over, running around in circles but not stopping to take a drink of water. When a job hunter makes the mistake of not "doing the due diligence" within a campaign, one experiences a lot of hard work feeding into the already broken and confused employment system. Here is the number one reason resumes disqualify in the resume submission process:

Specific keywords and phrases that human resource software applications look for when scanning resumes, and no clear-cut, specific, recognizable set skills and value to grab a human reader.

Inexperienced job hunters include soft skills such as "strong communicator, problem solver, and active listener". Everyone has these qualities but are you able to prove specifically how you have demonstrated value to a company with these skills?

Do not make the mistake of excluding keywords that match the needs of the employer or else the system will immediately disqualify the resume in the submission process.

BASICS OF RESUME KEYWORDS

Managers want only one type of worker: a problem-solver and a worker who makes a positive impact. Managers have to spend less on the resources they need and how well they cut costs and increase profits. They need people to discuss these two problems. The resume is the call to action to prompt the reader on what they should do next.. The resume answers this important question:

What occupation, what level, and at what capacity can the candidate tackle the specific work cost-effectively and increase profits better and faster than anyone else competing for the same job?

This is a difficult question that requires self-assessment of one's skills and abilities. Before submitting another resume, the candidate must step back and assess their place in the professional world today. It is important to take the moment to find out what types of jobs that the resume can definitely win. Job boards are great for learning about the types of jobs available in the marketplace. Here are some tips on searching for keywords on job boards and other places before diving back into a campaign:
Make a master list of keywords and phrases that appear in similar job postings.Search keywords with no geographic limitations to find a broad range of keywords.Pick at least three key websites that represent companies and related industry associations.Google the name of your job followed by "job description" to find 2 or 3 specific descriptions that match the job posting, and cull keywords from the descriptions.Select the top three LinkedIn profiles of users with similar jobs to collect keywords.Visit your industry association website and find their membership directory to see if there are keywords that other industry professionals have used.

SAMPLE RESUME KEYWORDS THAT WORK

After developing a master list of keywords, highlight each statement with a strong keyword. Below are some sample keywords that are commonly used in effective resumes. Keywords that show the applicant's attitude and temperament towards the job increase the chances of securing interviews:
Keywords that Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities: Analyzed, Investigated, Resolved, Streamlined, Simplified, Eliminated, Reduced, IncreasedKeywords that Demonstrate Leadership Skills: Organized, Managed, Directed, Revitalized, LedKeywords that Demonstrate Initiative: Designed, Generated, Launched, Originated, InitiatedKeywords that Demonstrate Achievement: Secured, Completed, Surpassed, Negotiated, Delivered

It is time for job hunters to transfer the same energy of being proactive in their job search to being proactive about their resume presentation. Worth is not determined by rejection during a job search campaign. Worth is the value that one offers to a prospective employer. The employer Is not responsible for extracting value from a job hunter. It is the job hunter's responsibility. But it is up to the job hunter to step back from their campaign and make sure they include the keywords and phrases specific to the job and needs of the employer. It takes more careful research and planning upfront before approaching any employer to set up an interview.

Job hunters, make your next resume submission count!

Jonathon Carrington is a writer, consultant, and manager who has spent thousands of hours helping people in my life shine through, healing the world one story at a time. For a free consultation, visit his website at http://wewriteresumes.weebly.com/.

Read more ...

Resume Templates: A Smart Idea or a Huge Mistake?

If you have ever been stuck and held back by writer's block while trying to create your resume, you know how tempting it is to use a resume template. Using a resume template, you may reason, will lead you in including all the crucial details in your career background. Further, a resume template will help you in creating a resume that is appropriately formatted and designed, and looks professional. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth than these assumptions.

Resume templates are inflexible, one-size-fits-all formats. You, on the other hand, are a one-of-a-kind individual with incomparable experience and value to bring to your next employer. Resume templates force you to present your experience in an unbending format that makes every candidate look just like every other candidate. Is that your goal in a job search? Or is it better to promote yourself and your professional capabilities in a way that helps you to stand out to recruiters as an applicant who has distinguishing abilities and will produce benefits for the hiring company in a way that all your competitors in the job market will not.

The job market is fierce, after all. Many applicants for the positions you are going after will have experience and qualifications that are similar to yours. Using a template to develop your resume will simply spotlight this same-ness. Creating a unique resume format that is tailored to accentuate your past accomplishments and your unique selling points will get attention from hiring authorities, and will ensure that your resume is pulled from the pile of hundreds as you'll be recognized as an exceptional candidate worthy of bringing in for an interview.

So, without using a resume template, how will you overcome your writers's block and create a dynamic resume that generates superb results in the job market? One potential source of inspiration is examples of other distinctively written, custom-formatted resumes, particularly before and after example resumes. Of course, you should never, never copy wording or duplicate a design and format idea without giving it some unique twist to make it your own. But, example resumes are still great resources to show you the creative design and formatting techniques that have been successful for other job seekers.

If you are really stuck, professional resume writers are experts in developing creative, tailored resumes that will accentuate your top selling points while downplaying any potential negatives. While having your resume professionally written is an investment, it is one that will often pay large returns by helping you get attention in a crowded job market and land a new job faster, many times at a salary that is higher than anticipated.

However you proceed, remember that your goal is to stand out, generate interviews, and win job offers. Writing a resume can be challenging, but there are many resources available to help you. Just be certain to avoid the use of resume templates. Even though they may save you some time and effort at the start, using them will almost always backfire and result in a longer, more difficult, and more costly job search.

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How to Avoid the Biggest Resume Mistake You Can Make

When you're in the midst of a job search, a resume can often feel like a constant work-in-progress. You're submitting to positions, sometimes receiving feedback on things to change, trying all the while to give potential employers the magic combination of information and accomplishments to garner an interview. Here's the one thing you NEED TO KNOW in order to successfully land a new position:

A RESUME MUST STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN COMMUNICATING WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT AND WHAT AN EMPLOYER NEEDS

Sounds pretty simple, right? Think it over. If all you're doing is tailoring each resume you send out to echo what's requested on a job posting, it MOST PROBABLY WON'T WORK. Why? Because hiring agents aren't looking for resumes that regurgitate job postings- they're looking to find a candidate who's particularly well-suited for the job. Someone who's demonstrated, time and time again, expertise in the field and can point to quantifiable accomplishments as proof.

Don't get me wrong. Tailoring a resume is definitely important in a successful job search, especially in terms of making sure relevant keywords are integrated. But here are the areas you need to focus on to ensure your resume STANDS OUT from the competition and starts landing you a steady stream of interviews:

1) A PERSONALIZED OPENING

Begin the resume with a brief paragraph, no more than 3-5 lines, describing your personal areas of expertise. Make sure they're skills which are in-line with the type of position you're seeking. For example, an IT Project Manager could talk about his/her ability to guide cross-functional teams, rigorously control costs, and maintain top-tier Quality standards. Don't be afraid to highlight a few soft skills here! For example, if you're particularly proud of your ability to strengthen communication channels or liaise with external agencies, SAY SO!

2) A WORK HISTORY THAT EXPANDS ON IDEAS BROACHED IN THE OPENING

Look over the jobs listed in your work history. How are responsibilities tackled? Instead of a random laundry list of tasks, think in terms of expanding on the ideas touched upon in the opening section. So, using the example above, an IT Project Manager could start by delving into the specifics of how he built/trained project teams, how he managed budgets and identified cost efficiencies, and how he improved Quality standards. Doing this CONSISTENTLY establishes a kind of personal theme for your resume and communicates what you're all about.

3) ADD LINKS TO RELEVANT SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE TAIL END OF THE RESUME

The name of the game here is RELEVANT. Don't just add in links to sites you don't frequently visit or utilize. However, if you've got a great LinkedIn profile with recommendations or contribute articles to a site like EzineArticles, by all means include it! This again helps to differentiate you from the competition and shows, in a concrete way, why you're deserving of a closer look.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

Please submit your existing resume for a FREE CRITIQUE spanning structure, language, and content.

Read more ...

How to Avoid the Biggest Resume Mistake You Can Make

When you're in the midst of a job search, a resume can often feel like a constant work-in-progress. You're submitting to positions, sometimes receiving feedback on things to change, trying all the while to give potential employers the magic combination of information and accomplishments to garner an interview. Here's the one thing you NEED TO KNOW in order to successfully land a new position:

A RESUME MUST STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN COMMUNICATING WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT AND WHAT AN EMPLOYER NEEDS

Sounds pretty simple, right? Think it over. If all you're doing is tailoring each resume you send out to echo what's requested on a job posting, it MOST PROBABLY WON'T WORK. Why? Because hiring agents aren't looking for resumes that regurgitate job postings- they're looking to find a candidate who's particularly well-suited for the job. Someone who's demonstrated, time and time again, expertise in the field and can point to quantifiable accomplishments as proof.

Don't get me wrong. Tailoring a resume is definitely important in a successful job search, especially in terms of making sure relevant keywords are integrated. But here are the areas you need to focus on to ensure your resume STANDS OUT from the competition and starts landing you a steady stream of interviews:

1) A PERSONALIZED OPENING

Begin the resume with a brief paragraph, no more than 3-5 lines, describing your personal areas of expertise. Make sure they're skills which are in-line with the type of position you're seeking. For example, an IT Project Manager could talk about his/her ability to guide cross-functional teams, rigorously control costs, and maintain top-tier Quality standards. Don't be afraid to highlight a few soft skills here! For example, if you're particularly proud of your ability to strengthen communication channels or liaise with external agencies, SAY SO!

2) A WORK HISTORY THAT EXPANDS ON IDEAS BROACHED IN THE OPENING

Look over the jobs listed in your work history. How are responsibilities tackled? Instead of a random laundry list of tasks, think in terms of expanding on the ideas touched upon in the opening section. So, using the example above, an IT Project Manager could start by delving into the specifics of how he built/trained project teams, how he managed budgets and identified cost efficiencies, and how he improved Quality standards. Doing this CONSISTENTLY establishes a kind of personal theme for your resume and communicates what you're all about.

3) ADD LINKS TO RELEVANT SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE TAIL END OF THE RESUME

The name of the game here is RELEVANT. Don't just add in links to sites you don't frequently visit or utilize. However, if you've got a great LinkedIn profile with recommendations or contribute articles to a site like EzineArticles, by all means include it! This again helps to differentiate you from the competition and shows, in a concrete way, why you're deserving of a closer look.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

Please submit your existing resume for a FREE CRITIQUE spanning structure, language, and content.

Read more ...