"It's Not Bragging If You Really Did It" - Muhammad Ali

If I had a dollar for every client who "didn't want to brag" on his or her resume, I'd become twice as wealthy as Bill Gates within a month. They're perfectly comfortable talking around the subjects of how they kept costs down, but not on the part they played in keeping costs down. If I try to draw them out on these accomplishments, it becomes a life-and-death struggle. They would rather talk in generalities such as "conducted cost analyses that saved money," or "managed marketing team of 12 professionals."

When you ask them why they minimize such terrific accomplishments, they say something like, "Well, I didn't want to brag." or "I don't want them to think I'm too much in love with myself."

If this sounds remotely like you, you need to realize that a resume is a commercial. And like all commercials, it's supposed to tout the best features of the "product," which in this case is YOU. After all, would you buy a soap that simply told you its ingredients? Or a laundry detergent with a commercial that told you it was only as good as its nearest competitor? Of course not! So why are you doing this to yourself on your resume?

If you want a resume that will work for you, you need to tailor the resume to the specific job you're seeking. (And you have been doing that, haven't you?) You also need to scrutinize the ad or job posting so you can match what the employer is seeking with what you've done. You have to make that employer see that not only are you the best candidate, you're the ONLY candidate. You want that employer to visualize you already doing the job advertised, and doing a super job at it.

A resume is not the place to be shy and self-effacing. Not if you want to get that job. You must think of yourself as the only candidate, with the resume showing initiatives and achievements to prove that claim. To see what I mean, let's compare these two statements from the original and modified resumes of a customer:

Original Version: Interfaced with Executive Team on Corporate HR communication strategies and worked with outside counsel to resolve high-risk issues.

Modified Version: Improved communication between various departments and Corporate, which enhanced workflow, lowered costs X%, and improved overall production X%.

Can you see the difference? The first version presents a picture of a person who probably gave the hiring manager a limp handshake, hid his head between his shoulders, and never once looked the manager in the eye. His suit probably doesn't fit right and he probably hasn't shined his shoes since he was in ninth grade. We can visualize this because of what he said (or didn't say) about himself and his work.

In the second version, the job seeker is brimming with self-confidence. This job seeker described what he did based on the results he achieved. He not only improved communication, he also enhanced workflow, lowered costs and improved production. And what's more, he quantifies those feats with numbers. This job seeker shows himself to be a true professional: he knows he is good, he knows why he is good, and he will (more than likely) keep getting better.

If you're ever going to get the attention of an employer, you must expand your thinking. You must recognize that you made a difference wherever you worked. You must understand how to write statements like the modified version; statements that show the impact you had on your previous employers.

"If you build it, they will come."

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"It's Not Bragging If You Really Did It" - Muhammad Ali

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"It's Not Bragging If You Really Did It" - Muhammad Ali

If I had a dollar for every client who "didn't want to brag" on his or her resume, I'd become twice as wealthy as Bill Gates within a month. They're perfectly comfortable talking around the subjects of how they kept costs down, but not on the part they played in keeping costs down. If I try to draw them out on these accomplishments, it becomes a life-and-death struggle. They would rather talk in generalities such as "conducted cost analyses that saved money," or "managed marketing team of 12 professionals."

When you ask them why they minimize such terrific accomplishments, they say something like, "Well, I didn't want to brag." or "I don't want them to think I'm too much in love with myself."

If this sounds remotely like you, you need to realize that a resume is a commercial. And like all commercials, it's supposed to tout the best features of the "product," which in this case is YOU. After all, would you buy a soap that simply told you its ingredients? Or a laundry detergent with a commercial that told you it was only as good as its nearest competitor? Of course not! So why are you doing this to yourself on your resume?

If you want a resume that will work for you, you need to tailor the resume to the specific job you're seeking. (And you have been doing that, haven't you?) You also need to scrutinize the ad or job posting so you can match what the employer is seeking with what you've done. You have to make that employer see that not only are you the best candidate, you're the ONLY candidate. You want that employer to visualize you already doing the job advertised, and doing a super job at it.

A resume is not the place to be shy and self-effacing. Not if you want to get that job. You must think of yourself as the only candidate, with the resume showing initiatives and achievements to prove that claim. To see what I mean, let's compare these two statements from the original and modified resumes of a customer:

Original Version: Interfaced with Executive Team on Corporate HR communication strategies and worked with outside counsel to resolve high-risk issues.

Modified Version: Improved communication between various departments and Corporate, which enhanced workflow, lowered costs X%, and improved overall production X%.

Can you see the difference? The first version presents a picture of a person who probably gave the hiring manager a limp handshake, hid his head between his shoulders, and never once looked the manager in the eye. His suit probably doesn't fit right and he probably hasn't shined his shoes since he was in ninth grade. We can visualize this because of what he said (or didn't say) about himself and his work.

In the second version, the job seeker is brimming with self-confidence. This job seeker described what he did based on the results he achieved. He not only improved communication, he also enhanced workflow, lowered costs and improved production. And what's more, he quantifies those feats with numbers. This job seeker shows himself to be a true professional: he knows he is good, he knows why he is good, and he will (more than likely) keep getting better.

If you're ever going to get the attention of an employer, you must expand your thinking. You must recognize that you made a difference wherever you worked. You must understand how to write statements like the modified version; statements that show the impact you had on your previous employers.

"If you build it, they will come."

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Server Resume - What Restaurant Managers Are Really Looking For

What do those restaurant and club managers look for in a server resume anyway?

Yes, restaurant managers read server resumes to:

· Find servers who deliver an awesome dining experience to their guests.

· Find servers who can learn and sell the restaurant's menu, and can learn and operate the ordering and transaction settlement process.

BUT, in their hearts, they really look for servers who are:

· Reliable - You show up on time and ready when scheduled to work.

· Honest - You can be trusted to not waste expensive resources (food, liquor, and supplies) responsibly and collect and record payment accurately.

· Cooperative - You are a strong team player and support the rest of the service and bar staff in providing a great guest experience.

· Trouble-free - You keep your personal life -- well, personal -- no hangovers, workplace romances, or distracting practical jokes.

These are the kind of people they offer jobs and give lots of great shifts that make the server lots of great tips.

Face it. Work in the restaurant industry is hard work -- for anyone.

If the manager hires the right servers the job is more fun and manageable. And, in turn, great servers help to create a great place to eat -- whether it's fine dining or a casual, family gathering place. That's good for everyone! And, cooperative teamwork works for everyone! You can "hear" the heartbeat of a great service team.

Restaurant managers need servers who collect compliments not complaints from guests. They need servers that other servers and bartenders want to work with and can rely on as strong team players.

If you've achieved this in the past, include brief details of it in your server resume. Vividly tell your success story in your resume that demonstrates your teamwork -- and team leadership -- and the results it brought to your former employer.

You need to make your resume say very clearly that you are that kind of server! Speak the manager's language...and speak to his or her needs. Forget the fluff. Stick with the truth, but say it so it grabs the manager's attention and motivates him or her to call you in for a job interview.

Focus your resume on what the manager wants and needs (as opposed to what you want).

You'll not only get an invitation for a job interview, you'll have also set the stage for success at that interview.

Here's an example of how to start off your server resume with a Career Profile to show some of these qualities.

Career Profile

Expert restaurant service professional with 9 years experience in fast-paced, casual, full service, restaurants, and high-end fine dining. Able to strike the perfect balance of exceptional guest service while being a productive, cooperative member of the restaurant service team. A proven sales, guest service, and team leader. Reputation for being reliable, honest, and trouble free.

(It need not be said that the details of your work experience honestly need to support the claims you make in your career summary.)

This kind of server is every restaurant manager's dream!

So, take another look at your server resume and make sure it says exactly what restaurant managers are looking for the next time they need to hire a great server. And make sure it's you!

For additional free, tested, and proven guidance on writing resume profile summaries, resume outlines and other resume "must haves", visit our website now.

Eleanor Hill, a Managing Partner of Andrew-Hill LLC, has a rich experience and proven business track record as a Human Resources officer in Fortune 300 and Fortune Global 500 firms for more than 25 years of her career.

http://www.resumes-bestpractices.com/ is dedicated to helping you create the kind of resume that leads you through the job interview door to the job you want with free articles as well as easy-to-follow coaching systems and books.

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The Professional Resume That Really Works

Professionalism doesn't just have to be visible when a worker has already been employed. More importantly, this positive attitude must be first shown and proven from the time when he is still looking for a job - through the resume. It is the best representation of a job applicant's personality and a tool that says it all. Therefore, it is very important that a job hopeful always considers his pre-employment document and all of its attributes.

In this modern time where tough competition among job applicants exists, finding an edge over the others is really a big help to secure a job. Competitions are, indeed, everywhere and anyone who is determined and capable of competing will surely do his best just to win. Basically, there are competitions on applicant's educational background, skills, and on the way they initially impressed the interviewers or the hiring managers. The latter factor suggests that applicants should present a striking professional resume.

During the application process, job candidates should first demonstrate their professionalism by submitting a professional resume characterized by the following factors:

Visual Appearance

Hiring managers usually get impressed with a document that is presentable. With this type of document, it is possible that managers will be curious on its content and will read through its entirety, despite the fact that there are a lot of applications still piled on their desks.

Now, the question is, "How should applicants make an interesting document?"

An attractive application is something that has a "recall factor" and is best represented by its physical appearance. Here's how to achieve it:

When writing a resume, always consider the margin on all sides of the paper, font size, font style, line spacing, color, design, and many more. The document's appearance is all about the page layout.

Margin - This should be similar all throughout the paper's four corners. Alternatively, it may also have same margin sizes for top and bottom portions and so with left and right. The ideal margin is less than an inch for all sides.

Fonts - A pre-employment document will only become formal if proper font size, style, and color are applied on it. The document may contain fonts in their 10 to 12 sizes, formal-looking and legible fonts in black color.

Spacing - The spaces between lines depend on how details on the resume are presented. Single line spacing is the most common of all.

Design - This is referred to as other things that may be inserted into the document, such as tables, bullets, highlights, shapes, header and footer, and other symbols. All these items can be used in minimally.

Content

Hiring managers don't just want an attractive application. They are also very particular with how applicants express themselves through the content of the resume. This factor is the one that really convinces hiring managers.

What do hiring managers look for in the content?
Error-free. Grammatical errors and misspellings are really a big turnoff to hiring managers. With these mistakes, applicants have lesser chance to be invited for an interview.Accuracy and consistency. These factors should always be observed by the writer. Details on dates, statistics, and other relevant information should always be perfectly written because a professional resume is characterized by the applicant's honesty by placing a truthful data and their consistent presentation within the entire document.

Nelson Mullins is a former corporate hiring and recruitment expert who regularly writes articles on resumes, resume writing, personality development, and career in general. He is a father of three who also enjoys photography and biking. Nelson believes that while the employment world continues to be a rat race for applicants, it is important to always be equipped with new ideas on sustaining career growth and opportunities.

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What REALLY Makes a Great Cover Letter?

I work in a job center and provide counselling for people who are looking for a job. Because of this, I am always interested in anything that can help job seekers improve their odds of getting a job. I read many articles on how to write your cover letter.

I see the same advice repeated over and over:

1. Address the hiring manager by name, i.e. do not use a generic salutation.

2. Make it short, neat, and sweet

3. Make sure there's lots of white space

4. Repeat the keywords in the job description

5. Specifically list the benefits you can bring to the company

While I agree with these often repeated pieces of advice, even when my clients do these things perfectly, they often get passed over for by companies and candidates who are obviously less qualified end up getting the job.

Here's why.

Their cover letter, while following the conventional wisdom of what makes it good, does NOT catch the attention of the hiring manager.

The conventional wisdom was developed at a time when the job market was not so competitive. It was developed at a time when hiring managers actually had the time to review each and every resume in full. However, these days every job opening gets so many applications that the hiring manager has to find a way to very quickly narrow the field. From talking with many hiring managers I have determined that this is most often done by quickly reading through all the cover letters. The applications containing the cover letters that catch the attention of the hiring manager get set aside for more review. However, those that don't get rejected BEFORE the hiring manager or anyone else at the company has a chance to even see the resume.

I know this may not sound fair and it is certainly an imperfect system but the good news is that there is an easy way to get around this problem and DRAMATICALLY improve your odds of getting a job.

What you need to do, while still following the 5 conventional "rules" above, is make your letter REALLY UNIQUE so that it stands out from the rest. You need to get inside the head of a hiring manager sitting at their desk quickly scanning through the cover letters of a big pile of job applications. Ask yourself - what is going to really catch their attention - but still maintain a professional tone and show what benefits you can provide to the company.

In the job center, I have helped clients change their cover letter and the results have been amazing. Clients who have been looking for work for many months without being called in for a single interview suddenly start getting interviews! So, I advise you to listen to the conventional wisdom but at the same time make a real effort to make your cover letter really stand out.

Because it can be exceedingly difficult to write a really unique cover letter and still maintain a professional tone, I started looking around for some help.

I discovered a very effective tool for my clients that you can also use to easily write a unique cover letter. Best of all, it only takes a few minutes with this tool!

It is cover letter software that was creating by one of the most talented sales copy writers in the marketing industry. You answer some questions and it will produce you a cover letter that is sprinkled with marketing magic and tailored to your specific job industry. The resulting letter is one that really sets you apart from all the other applicants.

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

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Resume Template Writing - Do Resume Templates Really Work?

By Scott Kearse Scott Kearse
Level: Basic PLUS

Scott has been writing resumes for the past 20 years and now has created a website to assist others in creating their winning resume for ...

There are thousands of resume templates on the web at the click of a search button. Are they the best option for you or are they too generic? Many resume sites have hundreds of different layouts for you to choose from but unfortunately, the information provided for the templates is extremely basic.

The fact that so many templates are available can certainly speed up the process of creating your resume. We recommend that prior to simply filling out a resume template, that you have your best information already prepared so that you can add it to the template that you select.

Resume template writing can be helpful but there are a few tips that you will want to keep in mind before you just pick a template and fill it in.

Make sure you know what kind of resume format you are going to use. The three basic formats are chronological, functional and the combination resume format (our choice!). Each has its value but we recommend the combination format due to its ability to showcase your skills and experience first and then your employment history.Select a template that offers you some helpful advice on where to place specific information. You do not want to simply copy another person's resume information as your potential employers have just as much access to these templates as you do. Also when you are in an interview situation where they ask you about specific point on your resume, you will want to make sure that it is from your actual work experience as interviewers are very good at detecting when someone is stretching the truth a bit.Finally, most templates offer you a very basic outline. You will need to know how to create great power sentences to fill in your resume. These bullet points should start with a resume action word and then describe some of your skills and/or experience. Create a list of these power sentences on a separate page and then incorporate them into your resume as needed.

Resume templates can save you some time but you will need to make sure that what you are putting into the template is the most effective information to create that strong first impression for your potential employer. If you take the time to do some prep work and list out your power sentences and have several of them ready, then you will be able to select a resume template that fits your needs and fill it in with the best possible information!

This article has been viewed 24 time(s).
Article Submitted On: April 08, 2011

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Writing a Really Good Resume As A Recent Graduate

If you have just graduated from college after completing your degree then the next thing on your wish list is a graduate job. The chances are you've been out of work for the duration of your degree course or you've just been a casual role to fund your studies. Because of this your resume probably needs a thorough overhaul in order to appeal to prospective employers.

Most graduates will not have that much experience within the work environment due to having been in education most of their lives, therefore education and qualifications are probably the most important thing to feature in a graduate resume. A lot of graduates are under the impression that just because they have a degree they will automatically be an ideal candidate for a job. However, whilst having a strong degree is an advantage, it does not necessarily make you the perfect candidate. An employer will take a lot into consideration as well as your qualifications, therefore it is essential that you make your resume as impression as possible to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.

The problem facing graduates is that there is so much competition. More people than ever are completing degrees which leads to large numbers of graduates competing for one role. What you need to do is to make sure that yours is different from the rest. A lot of graduates often complain that employers aren't lining up at their door despite their amazing grades and the biggest problem is that most employers are not so interested in what you did at school, rather what you can do for them in the future. You need to make sure that your resume translates your academic successes to skills that can be applied in the work force.

Before you start writing your resume you need to think of a targeted resume objective. As a graduate you are sure to have many hopes and goals that you want to achieve so try and consolidate these into an objective. You can state your objective in a formal objective section or leave it as a reference in the qualifications summary, it is up to you. Keep it simple and to the point.

As your academic credentials may form the largest part of your resume, make sure you emphasize them. If you don't have much work history to speak of then put your education information ahead of work experience. Include grades, scholarships and other awards you have achieved throughout your academic life.

Use your educational experiences to show potential employers why you are a great candidate for the role. Really show them what sort of worker you would be for them if they hired you by describing any internships, class projects and even volunteer activities you have been involved in and what input you have made in those experiences.

If you don't have any work experience that relates directly to your goal then reference your internships and volunteer work in your experience section. Actual examples are great so talk about assignments, challenges you faced, your level of contribution and the results of the task.

If you are talking about work history that doesn't directly relate to the job you are applying for, keep the descriptions to a minimum. Just include the essentials such as your employer's name, location, job title, dates and responsibilities.

Choose your resume format very carefully. A traditional chronological resume will usually place emphasis on employment history and this isn't great for graduates without a lot of experience. Instead focus on your academic achievements and show how they can be applied to the specific role.

Jason Kay recommends reading resume writer reviews to determine if hiring a resume writer may be in your best interest.

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Here's What an Employer Really Seeking in Your Resume

Nowadays, it is commonly seen that most job seekers out there are writing their resumes having only one thing in their mind, and that is they. For this reason, many of times they toot their own horn very loud, loud enough to blow the interviewer get blown away by the sound. Of course, the approach of "I did this" and "I achieved that" is important to follow while writing your resume, as this approach will grab the attention of your potential employers. Almost all the hiring managers are keen to know what you have accomplished in your previous line of work, as well as of how you can prove to be beneficial for his or her company in the new position that you are seeking.

How to read between the lines?

However, the hiring managers are also looking for some spontaneous abilities which a potential employee can express on the job. They do not want the job seekers to spell out every single detail out to them. This is because, it gives an impression to your potential employers that you do not have the ability to anticipate and sense the problems and challenges, as well as the ability to meet these challenges instinctively.

For instance, you might be hoping to get hired as an assistant to the president of a financial corporation. For this job position, hiring managers are looking for someone who have computer skills, an ability to organize corporate date, a capability of keeping the filing system up-to-date, and someone who is ready to field phone calls and e-mails for the executive without being told to do so. You should be able to showcase all of that in your resume to get your hands on the job of your dreams.

Know what is beyond the job description:

The skills that you write should also be able to look good on the paper. However, if you want your resume to move on top of the pile, you should be including a few sentences more to describe the things that you can do other than what appears in the description of the job. For instance, you can state sentences such as those described below:

? Have the ability to chair a meeting including the corporate executives in case the president is unexpectedly detained or is called away on emergency business.

? Having the ability to trouble-shoot with customers on the phone which allows keeping the president free of time consuming entanglements.

? Have the ability to stimulate required communication between the employees present in other departments and then reporting the findings back to the president.

In most cases, the hiring managers are not looking for someone who only meets the requirements of the job position, as they are described in the job descriptions. On the contrary, the hiring managers are more interested in employee who is not only meeting the requirements of the job, but also goes beyond them by delivering practical help as well as heartfelt support which is required intuition and attentiveness.

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Is There Really Value In An Executive Resume Writing Service?

When seeking out your executive job, whether it be a position with a company as CEO, CFO, EVP, or at any other upper echelon level with an organization, your first and most important step in achieving such a coveted position is in your resume. You can't get to the interview portion of the process without this initial critical document. Your executive resume in essence acts as the gatekeeper to your chance at even getting a face to face meeting to discuss opportunities.

The potential candidate is typically in a successful venture at the moment looking to make a move up in the corporate ladder with another company, so time can be limited to prepare a worthy resume. There are also challenges and benefits that can be made for both preparing this critical document yourself, or hiring an executive resume writing service. Much is at stake in the initial stages of your executive career search. There are three factors to consider when making such a decision:

1.) Information Gathering - While you can easily obtain any article or book on crafting a successful resume, the crux of such a piece is centered around the content portion, including your career objectives, work history, achievements and successes, education, and other elements of personal and professional development. Obtaining all this information is quite a feat, particularly at the executive level where there is so much more information. Hiring out your resume development will not get you out of this initial and long stages of information gathering.

2.) Maintaining Flexibility and Change - At the executive level, there is typically no higher level of competition in the job market and the competition is fierce to say the least. There is a minute difference at this level between obtaining an interview and receiving a rejection letter, which is why the most successful prospects change and modify their executive resume to fit the needs of each specific company they are applying to.

By crafting your own resume instead of hiring out, you will be able to easily update, change, and modify your resume to fit the needs of the companies you are applying to. Take this opportunity to strengthen your chances by presenting yourself in a different and more favorable light than the other candidates.

3.) Your Personal Voice - At this higher level, you need to make a strong connection with the people on the other end of the table ultimately making the decisions. The person interviewing you would like to believe that you are the same person that is reflected in the voice of your resume. We tend to convey words, expressions, and our personality in our writing and there is nothing worse or more embarrassing, especially at this level, than getting caught where your resume does not sound like it came from you.

Take the time to strengthen your chances in your career search by taking the time to invest in yourself. Craft your own executive resume instead of using an executive resume writing service and you will see it pay dividends in your career and professional growth.

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Walk the Talk: What Does Your Resume REALLY Say About You?

Lately my friends have been paying off favors in the form of illustrative examples of what's really going on in the world of a hiring manager. His company was looking for a technical writer. Seems like a pretty straightforward search doesn't it? He showed me a resume where the candidate was a self-proclaimed writer, but the resume included such typos as defining his objective to "be able to sale[sic] one of my scripts," that his work will "always look at it's best", and..the real capper..."I am a very good proofread.[sic]"

Holy SMOKE!! Are ya SURE????? 'Cause I'm kinda not feelin' that you are such a good proofread.

Man, you've gotta hope that this person posted their resume on the job board when they were drunk or stayed up for 24 hours straight. Regardless, I'd feel confident in betting that he won't be getting any phone calls soon. Which is too bad because I'm sure that he's a perfectly nice, well-intentioned guy, but when you post your resume as a writer, and that's the only skillset you address on the resume, you've got to deliver.

Another issue I see with resumes is people who define themselves as an outstanding (or worse yet, amazing) anything. That's putting a lot of pressure on yourself. The only thing that makes this infraction even worse is when people are using outstanding to talk about intangible skills such as communication or leadership. Those things are more a matter of personal opinion. Can you tell me that your communication skills are so outstanding that you've NEVER had a misunderstanding with a friend or co-worker? I'm thinking your friend may have a different opinion of what it's like to communicate with you consistently. Are you such a successful leader that you're chosen as a leader for every project, and that no one has ever had an issue with your style or effectiveness? Wow-your resume doesn't need to be on Monster.com, you should get your own TV show to teach others your amazing ways.

OK, I'm kidding, but I think you can get the point.

It's WAY more effective to say that you are a demonstrated leader, or proven effective communicator. This shows that you've got some evidence, or history, or examples to support your description of yourself; that you're not just pumping up your resume to force the hiring manager to be excited about you. I can wholeheartedly assure you, they'll be excited when they see that you've got experience for the position they're looking to hire. Promise.

Melanie Szlucha has been a hiring manager for over 15 years and a career coach for over 4 through her company Red Inc. She writes resumes, coaches clients for job interviews, and works with them to strategize networking opportunities and job search tactics.

She offers a packet of FREE job search articles--worth over $100, through her website: http://www.reallygreatresume.com/.

Following her on Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com/Red_Inc ) gives you one great job search tip per day for FREE!

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

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Walk the Talk: What Does Your Resume REALLY Say About You?

Lately my friends have been paying off favors in the form of illustrative examples of what's really going on in the world of a hiring manager. His company was looking for a technical writer. Seems like a pretty straightforward search doesn't it? He showed me a resume where the candidate was a self-proclaimed writer, but the resume included such typos as defining his objective to "be able to sale[sic] one of my scripts," that his work will "always look at it's best", and..the real capper..."I am a very good proofread.[sic]"

Holy SMOKE!! Are ya SURE????? 'Cause I'm kinda not feelin' that you are such a good proofread.

Man, you've gotta hope that this person posted their resume on the job board when they were drunk or stayed up for 24 hours straight. Regardless, I'd feel confident in betting that he won't be getting any phone calls soon. Which is too bad because I'm sure that he's a perfectly nice, well-intentioned guy, but when you post your resume as a writer, and that's the only skillset you address on the resume, you've got to deliver.

Another issue I see with resumes is people who define themselves as an outstanding (or worse yet, amazing) anything. That's putting a lot of pressure on yourself. The only thing that makes this infraction even worse is when people are using outstanding to talk about intangible skills such as communication or leadership. Those things are more a matter of personal opinion. Can you tell me that your communication skills are so outstanding that you've NEVER had a misunderstanding with a friend or co-worker? I'm thinking your friend may have a different opinion of what it's like to communicate with you consistently. Are you such a successful leader that you're chosen as a leader for every project, and that no one has ever had an issue with your style or effectiveness? Wow-your resume doesn't need to be on Monster.com, you should get your own TV show to teach others your amazing ways.

OK, I'm kidding, but I think you can get the point.

It's WAY more effective to say that you are a demonstrated leader, or proven effective communicator. This shows that you've got some evidence, or history, or examples to support your description of yourself; that you're not just pumping up your resume to force the hiring manager to be excited about you. I can wholeheartedly assure you, they'll be excited when they see that you've got experience for the position they're looking to hire. Promise.

Melanie Szlucha has been a hiring manager for over 15 years and a career coach for over 4 through her company Red Inc. She writes resumes, coaches clients for job interviews, and works with them to strategize networking opportunities and job search tactics.

She offers a packet of FREE job search articles--worth over $100, through her website: http://www.reallygreatresume.com/.

Following her on Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com/Red_Inc ) gives you one great job search tip per day for FREE!

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

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Does Using an Executive Resume Writer Really Help Your Resume?

Everyone knows that we are in the middle of a difficult economic climate, and that the job market is becoming more and more competitive. This is particularly true at the upper echelons of employment or at the executive level. However, if you are considering a change or have been recently forced to make one, the high degree of competition is no excuse to maintain the same employment course.

Developing a solid career plan and then implementing this plan will allow you to succeed and flourish in the executive realm. To achieve such statute, certain tools are necessary including your executive resume, and without such a perfectly executed tool such as the executive resume, you are significantly less likely to succeed.

Companies or organizations are currently flooded with candidates that are well qualified and have the background and experience to fulfill the job at hand. Such Human Resource or recruitment companies use this filtration process to remove candidates in a very fast manner, with actual interviews afforded to a small select percentage of the applicants.

Since so much is at stake here, many question whether to complete their own executive resume or contract with an executive resume writer to complete this seemingly daunting process. It is important to question both how qualified an outside writer would be to complete such as task, as well as how motivated they would be.

Such writers to tend to have a significant amount of experience in writing and possibly preparing resumes of all industries and positions. It is important to remember that in this business, the more resumes they write the more profitable the company becomes, so it can tend to be more a factor of speed rather than quality. This can translate into a more lackluster resume which at the executive level is inexcusable and grounds for immediate dismissal.

By crafting your own resume you have the flexibility and opportunity to make small changes as you see best fit from applying from job to job. You can also give the document your voice which is important when it comes time to interview. Take the time to craft your resume and ensure proper formatting and wording and you'll be on your way to a prosperous new career at the executive level.

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