Resume & Cover Letter Writing: Positive

Showing posts with label Positive. Show all posts

2/22/13

Breaking It Gently: Crafting a Positive Job Resignation Letter

1/12/13

Breaking It Gently: Crafting a Positive Job Resignation Letter

First, you have to explain why you want to leave the company. There may be a pile of reasons out there, but nothing seems to fit you in order to break up with them smoothly. Second, you have to ask for unemployment benefits and letter of recommendation to your next employer.

Whoever said that quitting a job is easy?

In case you're on the dilemma between pleasing your current employer and your co-workers, and doing the job you're happy about, then these tips on crafting a job resignation letter might come in handy:

1. Tell, don't vent out

It is important for a company to know why you're leaving, so be graceful and tell the reasons straight to the point. But mention it briefly, and without hint of emotional distress. However, if you're not really living for good, it's better to keep the grievances yourself. The thing is fairly simpler than you thought of. Say it in one or two sentences, never spill grim details and use polite words.

2. Offer them help during the transition period

This may not be necessary, but it will always be appreciated. Especially if you know that your post will be vacant for long, telling them that you are still willing to be involved until the next person comes is one of the best ways to end it up. However, this doesn't oblige you to perform your responsibilities until they found a replacement. Just say it out of generosity, let them know that you'll be willing to help whenever possible.

3. Timing is everything

Hand the letter a month before you resign if you don't want to be on bad terms with your employer. It is only fitting and ethical to give them time to process your papers and find someone to fill in your soon-to-be-vacant post. Just put it this way: if you don't give them prior notice, it's as good as saying to their face that "I don't care about your company. What I just want is to get out here fast!" Now, isn't that a pretty slick impression for your next employer?

4. Ask about benefits and recommendations

But don't ask demandingly. Just make a mention of it on your job resignation letter, and your employer will already get what you mean. If you will leave while on good terms with them, you're almost sure that it will be processed fast and without any hassle. If they don't, at least you are always comfortable to come back and ask for it.

5. Keep in touch

This is one of the wisest things to do. Emphasize on the notice that you will be keeping the communication line open for them and give them your contact details. As your former employer, they have all the opportunity to make or break you in your prospective company. Better if you will also give your contacts to your co-workers in case you want to put them as your reference. It is networking that will build you toward the work you want to have, so store plenty of linkages.

No matter how you wanted to cut the bond with your current employer totally, always remember that a smooth separation takes some time and preparation. A job resignation letter is not just an instrument to cut professional ties. It is also a medium toward understanding and continual growth.

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.

9/3/11

Resume Writing For A Positive Computer Scan!

In writing a computer searchable resume or a profile on a social networking site like LinkedIn, you must include keywords that closely relate to your job or career.

Since your resume will be scanned by a computer that is looking for relevant keywords to identify your possible qualifications, how many of the keywords that are used in your resume are critical. You only have to use the keyword once, but be crafty and use synonyms when appropriate.

The required keywords should naturally flow with the writing of the profile or resume. Even though the computer scanning the profile or resume isn't concerned about sentence syntax the profile or resume will intimately be read by a person so it must be readable and make sense.

Finding the proper keywords is somewhat of a mystery so here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Job boards are full of job descriptions. Usually companies will include keywords that they look for in screening resumes. Copy out a dozen or more job descriptions.

You are looking for nouns. Keep track on those that seem to be common over a maximum number of jobs. You now have the start of a keyword list.

2. Search for other job announcements. The local newspaper, government sites like USAjobs.gov can be good sources. Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook," for additional career information.

Again pull out the nouns that describe the job and add them to your keyword list.

3. Keyword hunting can at times be frustrating. You get one word and nothing pops out at you to follow the first keyword. One method to break this word block to go to Google's keyword tool.

Once you're logged in to the keyword tool put in one of the keywords. Whiz bang out comes a list of related words. Go down the list and pull out the nouns. Continue this exercise until you've exhausted you keyword list. Keep track of the popularity of each word: how many times in a month the specific word is searched.

4. Edit your keyword list. As a guide use the Google keyword tool, your job related experience, and if the keyword is a more recent addition to describe the job.

Cluster the keywords by function, skill or qualification. You should now have three to five major functional areas with their listing of noun keywords.

Edit your keyword list down to the major three or four keywords in each functional area. Or the keywords that appear most often across your sources should definitely be used.

Now in writing your resume or profile you have the keywords that should be placed in appropriate sentences describing your accomplishments. You resume or profile will generate high marks in the computer scan.

The next step should be the information is read by a recruiter or hiring manager. Hopefully, you work on keywords will generate a positive contact from the recruiter or hiring manager.

John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers, writing resumes and cover letters and career planning at http://careersafter50.com/. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by effective job hunting after 50.

9/2/11