ASCII Resume Format: Embracing the Clear and Simple

Judging from the sound of it, ASCII may be some complicated doohickey that companies ask applicants to operate so that 95% of them will be eliminated presto.

Alright, enough of the scary thing. ASCII (As-kee) is actually a plain text language in which everything you write is stripped of its formatting and embellishments. In simple words, it is writing in a computer's notepad. You can't choose a font, use bullets, align a paragraph, and not even italicize a word. The major advantage of this style is that employers will not get distracted by the diversity of the overall layout and can make more unbiased choice towards the job candidates. And most of all, this ASCII resume format enables some legendary computer software to scan for keywords in your application paper.

Online applicants may feel stuck clueless and hampered by this askee thing forever, not knowing that the mechanism is plain simple: write your resume in notepad. Moreover, if you want to be one of the strongest contenders in the electronic job market, you may want to learn more tips in mastering the art of online application:

1. This is not Microsoft Word

First of all, it is advised that you write your document first in MS Word. However, don't use any button from the ribbon above because chances are, the style will only be eliminated. Practices starting a paragraph without punching in the tab. Tabs don't actually work once you paste them on Notepad. You may not be able to utilize several Word features in for your application. However, you can maximize the use of built-in thesaurus (a.k.a. right click synonyms) to improve your diction and generate a compelling content despite the very simple style.

2. Alternative to bullets

Since you cannot use bullets, dividers, and borders, here you can take advantage of some symbols like '+', '_' and '*'. They keep your copy coherent and organized as much as borders can do. You will never run out of resources once you know your keyboard well. So don't fret for not having to use your favorite diamond bullets and be thankful instead that you can still utilize some overlooked characters.

3. On formatting

One rule: never use anything that is not in your keyboard. Since the aim of ASCII resume format is to simplify the layout to make people concentrate more on the content, it is wise to invest more on keeping an engaging and impressing substance in your self-advertisement. Don't worry much about the presentation if it's very plain. If you badly needed to center or indent the word, use a space bar. All caps are also good for emphasis, but only use them for highly important details like your name and the name of the section.

4. The Magic of Word Wrap

Now you finish your e-resume and think it's already perfected, so you copy-pasted to Notepad. But to your surprise, the layout appeared to be too broad for the document. What to do? Go to Format menu and click Word Wrap. Set the margins at 0 and 65. Then, put a line break by punching enter every after 65 characters or less. In that way, you won't have to deal with an odd-looking layout and know exactly how your document will look like in print.

Using the ASCII resume format may look a little bit of a hassle, but you can almost be sure of a rewarding online job hunting once you got the hang of it.

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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5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resume

Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules.

Resume Length The notion of a 1-page resume is a myth, and while 1 page is appropriate for entry-level positions, most resumes are getting longer as employers are getting more candidates than before and want to see real details to be able to qualify you. I used to work with one of the best advertising copywriters in the world who would get $114,000 for a day's work (his copy sold that much more products) and what he told me is absolutely true for resumes: your message must be compelling and simple to read. That means avoid having a 1-page resume that is dense and hard to read or a 2-page resume that does not showcase your skills. If you have over 10 years of experience, you should probably have a 2-page resume and it is very common for executives to have 3-page resumes.
Make your resume legible To meet the "simple to read" test, a resume needs to be balanced with quality content and offer a welcoming appearance. No one enjoys reading blocks of heavy text. Make it easy on the reader's eyes. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities and bullets for accomplishments so they are easy to find. Use white space to help place content into consumable formats and to make your resume more inviting to read. Creating relevant headlines for the different sections of your resume and using features, such as bold and italics, to emphasize words will also help.
Review and revise keywords If you haven't thought about incorporating keywords into your resume, it's time to do so. More and more employers today are resorting to scanning technology to help filter the most relevant resumes for initial review. Few organizations have the time and resources to manually review each of the hundreds (perhaps, thousands) of resumes received each day. If your resume does not contain the appropriate keywords, it's not likely that you will make the mark for consideration. At the same time, make sure the keywords you include are used in context and are the most relevant. For instance, there are variations to words. While you may be using a keyword that the employer is also calling out with the scanning technology, you have to ask yourself whether there is a variation that you need to consider to bolster your presence. Be careful with abbreviations screeners may not be familiar with so spell them out.
Check for consistency. A consistent format can make your resume more polished. For instance, if you lead your work experience information with the name of your former employer, followed by the title held and dates you were employed, you need to continue with that format throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume appear clumsy. Also watch out for the terminology and spelling of words. If you are a PR professional, you may often use the term "press release" or "news release." Select one and stick with it throughout your resume. Also, words such as "health care" and "healthcare" are both correct, but it should be consistent on your resume.
Get a second pair of eyes. You can never go wrong with reviewing your resume another round for errors. Typos are a huge turn off for many employers. Typos leave one with a sense of lack of professionalism. Review your resume from top to bottom one additional round before submitting it. Additionally, be careful of common errors around the use of certain words such as "whether" and "weather" or "affect" and "effect" as to whether you have chosen the correct word. It's best to get a second pair of eyes as the reviewer will have a fresh perspective and catch problem areas that you may completely glaze over given you've been working on it for a lengthy time.

These simple and quick fixes can make a difference between your resume making the cut, or falling into the "trash" or "delete" pile. These are simple adjustments and changes you can make to your resume to help increase its success and come across as a polished professional before you step through the doors for that face-to-face meeting.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resume

Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules.

Resume Length The notion of a 1-page resume is a myth, and while 1 page is appropriate for entry-level positions, most resumes are getting longer as employers are getting more candidates than before and want to see real details to be able to qualify you. I used to work with one of the best advertising copywriters in the world who would get $114,000 for a day's work (his copy sold that much more products) and what he told me is absolutely true for resumes: your message must be compelling and simple to read. That means avoid having a 1-page resume that is dense and hard to read or a 2-page resume that does not showcase your skills. If you have over 10 years of experience, you should probably have a 2-page resume and it is very common for executives to have 3-page resumes.
Make your resume legible To meet the "simple to read" test, a resume needs to be balanced with quality content and offer a welcoming appearance. No one enjoys reading blocks of heavy text. Make it easy on the reader's eyes. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities and bullets for accomplishments so they are easy to find. Use white space to help place content into consumable formats and to make your resume more inviting to read. Creating relevant headlines for the different sections of your resume and using features, such as bold and italics, to emphasize words will also help.
Review and revise keywords If you haven't thought about incorporating keywords into your resume, it's time to do so. More and more employers today are resorting to scanning technology to help filter the most relevant resumes for initial review. Few organizations have the time and resources to manually review each of the hundreds (perhaps, thousands) of resumes received each day. If your resume does not contain the appropriate keywords, it's not likely that you will make the mark for consideration. At the same time, make sure the keywords you include are used in context and are the most relevant. For instance, there are variations to words. While you may be using a keyword that the employer is also calling out with the scanning technology, you have to ask yourself whether there is a variation that you need to consider to bolster your presence. Be careful with abbreviations screeners may not be familiar with so spell them out.
Check for consistency. A consistent format can make your resume more polished. For instance, if you lead your work experience information with the name of your former employer, followed by the title held and dates you were employed, you need to continue with that format throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume appear clumsy. Also watch out for the terminology and spelling of words. If you are a PR professional, you may often use the term "press release" or "news release." Select one and stick with it throughout your resume. Also, words such as "health care" and "healthcare" are both correct, but it should be consistent on your resume.
Get a second pair of eyes. You can never go wrong with reviewing your resume another round for errors. Typos are a huge turn off for many employers. Typos leave one with a sense of lack of professionalism. Review your resume from top to bottom one additional round before submitting it. Additionally, be careful of common errors around the use of certain words such as "whether" and "weather" or "affect" and "effect" as to whether you have chosen the correct word. It's best to get a second pair of eyes as the reviewer will have a fresh perspective and catch problem areas that you may completely glaze over given you've been working on it for a lengthy time.

These simple and quick fixes can make a difference between your resume making the cut, or falling into the "trash" or "delete" pile. These are simple adjustments and changes you can make to your resume to help increase its success and come across as a polished professional before you step through the doors for that face-to-face meeting.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resume

Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules.

Resume Length The notion of a 1-page resume is a myth, and while 1 page is appropriate for entry-level positions, most resumes are getting longer as employers are getting more candidates than before and want to see real details to be able to qualify you. I used to work with one of the best advertising copywriters in the world who would get $114,000 for a day's work (his copy sold that much more products) and what he told me is absolutely true for resumes: your message must be compelling and simple to read. That means avoid having a 1-page resume that is dense and hard to read or a 2-page resume that does not showcase your skills. If you have over 10 years of experience, you should probably have a 2-page resume and it is very common for executives to have 3-page resumes.
Make your resume legible To meet the "simple to read" test, a resume needs to be balanced with quality content and offer a welcoming appearance. No one enjoys reading blocks of heavy text. Make it easy on the reader's eyes. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities and bullets for accomplishments so they are easy to find. Use white space to help place content into consumable formats and to make your resume more inviting to read. Creating relevant headlines for the different sections of your resume and using features, such as bold and italics, to emphasize words will also help.
Review and revise keywords If you haven't thought about incorporating keywords into your resume, it's time to do so. More and more employers today are resorting to scanning technology to help filter the most relevant resumes for initial review. Few organizations have the time and resources to manually review each of the hundreds (perhaps, thousands) of resumes received each day. If your resume does not contain the appropriate keywords, it's not likely that you will make the mark for consideration. At the same time, make sure the keywords you include are used in context and are the most relevant. For instance, there are variations to words. While you may be using a keyword that the employer is also calling out with the scanning technology, you have to ask yourself whether there is a variation that you need to consider to bolster your presence. Be careful with abbreviations screeners may not be familiar with so spell them out.
Check for consistency. A consistent format can make your resume more polished. For instance, if you lead your work experience information with the name of your former employer, followed by the title held and dates you were employed, you need to continue with that format throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume appear clumsy. Also watch out for the terminology and spelling of words. If you are a PR professional, you may often use the term "press release" or "news release." Select one and stick with it throughout your resume. Also, words such as "health care" and "healthcare" are both correct, but it should be consistent on your resume.
Get a second pair of eyes. You can never go wrong with reviewing your resume another round for errors. Typos are a huge turn off for many employers. Typos leave one with a sense of lack of professionalism. Review your resume from top to bottom one additional round before submitting it. Additionally, be careful of common errors around the use of certain words such as "whether" and "weather" or "affect" and "effect" as to whether you have chosen the correct word. It's best to get a second pair of eyes as the reviewer will have a fresh perspective and catch problem areas that you may completely glaze over given you've been working on it for a lengthy time.

These simple and quick fixes can make a difference between your resume making the cut, or falling into the "trash" or "delete" pile. These are simple adjustments and changes you can make to your resume to help increase its success and come across as a polished professional before you step through the doors for that face-to-face meeting.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resume

Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules.

Resume Length The notion of a 1-page resume is a myth, and while 1 page is appropriate for entry-level positions, most resumes are getting longer as employers are getting more candidates than before and want to see real details to be able to qualify you. I used to work with one of the best advertising copywriters in the world who would get $114,000 for a day's work (his copy sold that much more products) and what he told me is absolutely true for resumes: your message must be compelling and simple to read. That means avoid having a 1-page resume that is dense and hard to read or a 2-page resume that does not showcase your skills. If you have over 10 years of experience, you should probably have a 2-page resume and it is very common for executives to have 3-page resumes.
Make your resume legible To meet the "simple to read" test, a resume needs to be balanced with quality content and offer a welcoming appearance. No one enjoys reading blocks of heavy text. Make it easy on the reader's eyes. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities and bullets for accomplishments so they are easy to find. Use white space to help place content into consumable formats and to make your resume more inviting to read. Creating relevant headlines for the different sections of your resume and using features, such as bold and italics, to emphasize words will also help.
Review and revise keywords If you haven't thought about incorporating keywords into your resume, it's time to do so. More and more employers today are resorting to scanning technology to help filter the most relevant resumes for initial review. Few organizations have the time and resources to manually review each of the hundreds (perhaps, thousands) of resumes received each day. If your resume does not contain the appropriate keywords, it's not likely that you will make the mark for consideration. At the same time, make sure the keywords you include are used in context and are the most relevant. For instance, there are variations to words. While you may be using a keyword that the employer is also calling out with the scanning technology, you have to ask yourself whether there is a variation that you need to consider to bolster your presence. Be careful with abbreviations screeners may not be familiar with so spell them out.
Check for consistency. A consistent format can make your resume more polished. For instance, if you lead your work experience information with the name of your former employer, followed by the title held and dates you were employed, you need to continue with that format throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume appear clumsy. Also watch out for the terminology and spelling of words. If you are a PR professional, you may often use the term "press release" or "news release." Select one and stick with it throughout your resume. Also, words such as "health care" and "healthcare" are both correct, but it should be consistent on your resume.
Get a second pair of eyes. You can never go wrong with reviewing your resume another round for errors. Typos are a huge turn off for many employers. Typos leave one with a sense of lack of professionalism. Review your resume from top to bottom one additional round before submitting it. Additionally, be careful of common errors around the use of certain words such as "whether" and "weather" or "affect" and "effect" as to whether you have chosen the correct word. It's best to get a second pair of eyes as the reviewer will have a fresh perspective and catch problem areas that you may completely glaze over given you've been working on it for a lengthy time.

These simple and quick fixes can make a difference between your resume making the cut, or falling into the "trash" or "delete" pile. These are simple adjustments and changes you can make to your resume to help increase its success and come across as a polished professional before you step through the doors for that face-to-face meeting.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resume

Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules.

Resume Length The notion of a 1-page resume is a myth, and while 1 page is appropriate for entry-level positions, most resumes are getting longer as employers are getting more candidates than before and want to see real details to be able to qualify you. I used to work with one of the best advertising copywriters in the world who would get $114,000 for a day's work (his copy sold that much more products) and what he told me is absolutely true for resumes: your message must be compelling and simple to read. That means avoid having a 1-page resume that is dense and hard to read or a 2-page resume that does not showcase your skills. If you have over 10 years of experience, you should probably have a 2-page resume and it is very common for executives to have 3-page resumes.
Make your resume legible To meet the "simple to read" test, a resume needs to be balanced with quality content and offer a welcoming appearance. No one enjoys reading blocks of heavy text. Make it easy on the reader's eyes. Use paragraphs for roles and responsibilities and bullets for accomplishments so they are easy to find. Use white space to help place content into consumable formats and to make your resume more inviting to read. Creating relevant headlines for the different sections of your resume and using features, such as bold and italics, to emphasize words will also help.
Review and revise keywords If you haven't thought about incorporating keywords into your resume, it's time to do so. More and more employers today are resorting to scanning technology to help filter the most relevant resumes for initial review. Few organizations have the time and resources to manually review each of the hundreds (perhaps, thousands) of resumes received each day. If your resume does not contain the appropriate keywords, it's not likely that you will make the mark for consideration. At the same time, make sure the keywords you include are used in context and are the most relevant. For instance, there are variations to words. While you may be using a keyword that the employer is also calling out with the scanning technology, you have to ask yourself whether there is a variation that you need to consider to bolster your presence. Be careful with abbreviations screeners may not be familiar with so spell them out.
Check for consistency. A consistent format can make your resume more polished. For instance, if you lead your work experience information with the name of your former employer, followed by the title held and dates you were employed, you need to continue with that format throughout your resume. Inconsistencies can make your resume appear clumsy. Also watch out for the terminology and spelling of words. If you are a PR professional, you may often use the term "press release" or "news release." Select one and stick with it throughout your resume. Also, words such as "health care" and "healthcare" are both correct, but it should be consistent on your resume.
Get a second pair of eyes. You can never go wrong with reviewing your resume another round for errors. Typos are a huge turn off for many employers. Typos leave one with a sense of lack of professionalism. Review your resume from top to bottom one additional round before submitting it. Additionally, be careful of common errors around the use of certain words such as "whether" and "weather" or "affect" and "effect" as to whether you have chosen the correct word. It's best to get a second pair of eyes as the reviewer will have a fresh perspective and catch problem areas that you may completely glaze over given you've been working on it for a lengthy time.

These simple and quick fixes can make a difference between your resume making the cut, or falling into the "trash" or "delete" pile. These are simple adjustments and changes you can make to your resume to help increase its success and come across as a polished professional before you step through the doors for that face-to-face meeting.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

Resume Writing - Simple Math Shows It Is Not A Do It Yourself Project for Most Professionals

1) In case you are unaware, there are currently 60 million unemployed people in the USA and another 60 million that are only able to work part-time, seeking to advance in their careers or trying to make a career change. This means there is more competition than ever before (60M + 60M = 120M a historical high).

2) Next, there is a cost benefit analysis of whether to delegate the job to an expert or not. In the current economy, if you do it yourself you will certainly save about $300-$400 instantly. However, as weeks turn into months and months slip into years of unemployment or limited earnings part-time the financial loss of an average salary of $4,000 per month times an average job search of 12 months equals a true cost of $48,000 in lost wages. What if expert assistance from a veteran Certified Professional Resume Writer cut that loss by 67% or at least 50%? Essentially, it is right back to Ben Franklin's advice, "A penny saved is a penny earned" with a modest adjustment for annual inflation, you could save $24,000 to $36,000 even if you only have only average earnings.

3) If you have done well, your resume will be compared side by side with the top 5% of resumes that made the cut to be reviewed and interviewed by a human. Most of those are professionally written. Wouldn't you get more interviews if you were at least be on equal footing?

4) Most people cannot brag about themselves effectively, let alone market and sell their skills, talents and abilities in a way that will actually motivate hiring managers. Professional writers are adept at doing this without showing arrogance or exaggeration.

5) The average American's writing, editing and proofreading grade level is too low only because college education is so expensive here. Thus, great writers will have a serious advantage over you.

6) Many mistakes are hard to catch, even with spell checking from Microsoft® Word. Commonly confused words like homonyms (to, two, too or their and there) are very hard to catch. Then there are errors in logic, general grammar errors and typos that form another word unintentionally.

7) Another person's opinion and interview questions will often reveal plenty of new, relevant information that you did not think to include on your resume. This in itself may cinch your hire.

8) The average American business professional or Fortune 500 executive still does not understand that one of the primary missions of your résumé should be to build their value. Why miss your chance to cash in and earn a significant raise?

9) If your resume and cover letter deserves to be in the top 5% of resumes an employer collects for a job posting, odds are you will earn plenty of interviews. More importantly, you will likely have multiple offers to choose from and thus position yourself for a better compensation and benefits package. Is a $100,000 compensation package with top-tier benefits better than a $75,000 annual salary?

10) After you hire a Certified Professional Resume Writer, you will be keenly aware of your worth in the market place; thus, you will not be accepting low-ball salary offers from third-tier employers. Confidence is essential in your salary negotiation process as employers have a strategic edge right now due to the overabundance of well-qualified candidates.

11) Most people completely miss out on the many critical points of résumé strategy: Targeting, specific performance metrics, making claims supported by evidence, focusing on results rather than responsibilities, stating a specific goal, strategy for career changes or industry changes, compatibility, file size restrictions, editing for brevity and relevancy, prioritizing, applicant tracking system strategy, convincing writing, accomplishments, style, proper formatting, tuning into what the employers want and keyword strategy.

12) You cannot circumvent the laws of supply and demand because they are omnipotent. Thus, many job hunters with merely average resumes and cover letters are forced to settle for an employer that requires them to relocate (very expensive) or settle for third-tier employers. Odds are there is undiscovered opportunity where you are now or you should be earning a salary that better reflects your current market value.

The truth is, your destiny awaits you. It really is no big deal to conform to what exactly employers want to see in your resume or cover letters. Regardless of which path you choose make sure your career documents are excellent because they are still the foundation of your job hunt.

Copyright 2011 by Darrell Z. DiZoglio. Great writing on demand. Accelerate your job search. Dream jobs do come true for my clients every day. Resume good => Job good => Life good. Click here => http://righteousresumes.com/ To see the tools your competition used to get hired, Click here => http://RighteousResumes.com/services.html

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Simple CV Tips to Create a Modern CV

CV writing requires a professional touch to ensure it is devoid of any mistakes and is easily picked by employers and recruiters. Even though getting professional help is not possible for some, following are certain CV tips will help you format a well written, contemporary CV.

- Brief yet detailed: Most people are of the impression that a lengthy CV helps deliver a good impression on an employer. But what they forget is that the employer does not have the time to go through all that you have written precisely. Therefore, it becomes important to select all the information that you want to put in your CV in a succinct manner. Make sure you edit out as much information as you can. An ideal CV should never be more than two pages.

- Say who you are: In order to leave a good impression on the employers, job seekers end up lying on their CV. But what they may not know is that they are committing an offence, which could be quite a serious situation. Therefore, never lie on your CV, communicate the real you, lying is never worth the risk.

- Easy to read and well formatted: The CV's font should never be too small or big. It should always be one that can be easily read. Furthermore, a well formatted CV always leaves a good impression on the employer. A Universal CV format is recommended, as this is the modern format used to attract the attention of employers and encourages them to go read through your CV, which is the main objective of the CV.

- Proofread your CV: Go through your CV many times to ensure that there are no mistakes. Spelling or typing errors can leave a bad impression on the readier. It is recommended that you should get your CV proofread by a third party.

- Personalize your Application: At times we send our applications to many companies at the same time. Under such a circumstance it is important that you customize your cover letter to each job application in order to get maximize the targeting. Look at the skills in the job description and make sure you have presented all in your CV, it is sometimes not even bother to change the wording of the same as in the job description.

There is a significant amount of misinformation and poor advice around regarding CV writing, that mostly includes the CV content, targeting, presentation, and formatting,.

Mike Kelley provides professional resume writing service, free CV examples, templates, tips and free advice for writing your CV, covering most people's occupations at all levels since 1989. For more CV writing help see Mike Kelley at his Google Profile and at http://www.cv-service.org/

Read more ...

Simple CV Tips to Create a Modern CV

CV writing requires a professional touch to ensure it is devoid of any mistakes and is easily picked by employers and recruiters. Even though getting professional help is not possible for some, following are certain CV tips will help you format a well written, contemporary CV.

- Brief yet detailed: Most people are of the impression that a lengthy CV helps deliver a good impression on an employer. But what they forget is that the employer does not have the time to go through all that you have written precisely. Therefore, it becomes important to select all the information that you want to put in your CV in a succinct manner. Make sure you edit out as much information as you can. An ideal CV should never be more than two pages.

- Say who you are: In order to leave a good impression on the employers, job seekers end up lying on their CV. But what they may not know is that they are committing an offence, which could be quite a serious situation. Therefore, never lie on your CV, communicate the real you, lying is never worth the risk.

- Easy to read and well formatted: The CV's font should never be too small or big. It should always be one that can be easily read. Furthermore, a well formatted CV always leaves a good impression on the employer. A Universal CV format is recommended, as this is the modern format used to attract the attention of employers and encourages them to go read through your CV, which is the main objective of the CV.

- Proofread your CV: Go through your CV many times to ensure that there are no mistakes. Spelling or typing errors can leave a bad impression on the readier. It is recommended that you should get your CV proofread by a third party.

- Personalize your Application: At times we send our applications to many companies at the same time. Under such a circumstance it is important that you customize your cover letter to each job application in order to get maximize the targeting. Look at the skills in the job description and make sure you have presented all in your CV, it is sometimes not even bother to change the wording of the same as in the job description.

There is a significant amount of misinformation and poor advice around regarding CV writing, that mostly includes the CV content, targeting, presentation, and formatting,.

Mike Kelley provides professional resume writing service, free CV examples, templates, tips and free advice for writing your CV, covering most people's occupations at all levels since 1989. For more CV writing help see Mike Kelley at his Google Profile and at http://www.cv-service.org/

Read more ...

Five Simple Resume Writing Tips

If you have found yourself in the position where you must again begin submitting your resume to various companies, take heart that this is the perfect opportunity to make the best of your experience.

While it is indeed a tough economic time and finding a new job is hard, it may be easier than you might think to find the right job for you. Now is actually a great time to make the right job change, even if you don't need to find a new job. While the job pool is getting saturated with desperate job seekers lacking disparate attractive characteristics, you can set yourself apart by following these 5 simple resume writing tips.

Be Efficient - Obviously, hiring managers are sifting through hundreds of applications and possible candidates. Put the most pertinent information at the top of each section and organize it in a way that is easy to follow. When in doubt, leave it out-you need interesting answers to surprise them with in the job interview anyway.

Be Precise - As the adage goes: keep it simple, but you're not stupid, so don't let them think that you are, by rambling on with filler words and irrelevant innocuous information. Only give them enough information to make them want to keep reading. Make short, relevant points that are preferably bulleted.

Be Honest - While it may seem like a good idea to pad your resume with big names or numbers, you'll get caught up in semantics later on. Get hired because you are the right person for the job, not because you said the right things. Besides, how long can you really get away with living a lie?

Be Bold - Even if your skills are far above par, nobody will know unless you can grab their attention. Use 12 point font, which is just big enough to avoid eye strain, and just small enough to let you maximize the space you have. Use captivating titles and powerful keywords to not only draw attention but create a standout image of you in their mind.

Be Smart - Only give them enough relevant information that they will have to set up an interview to learn more. Explain the benefit of your skills and your career goals and where this particular company comes into play, focusing on the unique dynamic that only you can provide.

Whether you are in the market for a new job because you fear layoffs, are facing layoffs with your current employer, or are looking to make a career change, you can reach your job and career goals with the right self-marketing strategy. Learning how to sell yourself is, in fact, the most important skill you will ever need, no matter what job you have.

While there are many more useful tricks of the resume trade that you can use, so to speak, these 5 simple and easy resume writing tips will get you started, and on your way to a new job and hopefully establish a strong foundation for a much brighter future.

If you want to learn how to be perfectly prepared for your job application, visit http://www.jobinterviewtopanswers.com/

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Resume Writing - Simple Math Shows It Is Not A Do It Yourself Project for Most Professionals

1) In case you are unaware, there are currently 60 million unemployed people in the USA and another 60 million that are only able to work part-time, seeking to advance in their careers or trying to make a career change. This means there is more competition than ever before (60M + 60M = 120M a historical high).

2) Next, there is a cost benefit analysis of whether to delegate the job to an expert or not. In the current economy, if you do it yourself you will certainly save about $300-$400 instantly. However, as weeks turn into months and months slip into years of unemployment or limited earnings part-time the financial loss of an average salary of $4,000 per month times an average job search of 12 months equals a true cost of $48,000 in lost wages. What if expert assistance from a veteran Certified Professional Resume Writer cut that loss by 67% or at least 50%? Essentially, it is right back to Ben Franklin's advice, "A penny saved is a penny earned" with a modest adjustment for annual inflation, you could save $24,000 to $36,000 even if you only have only average earnings.

3) If you have done well, your resume will be compared side by side with the top 5% of resumes that made the cut to be reviewed and interviewed by a human. Most of those are professionally written. Wouldn't you get more interviews if you were at least be on equal footing?

4) Most people cannot brag about themselves effectively, let alone market and sell their skills, talents and abilities in a way that will actually motivate hiring managers. Professional writers are adept at doing this without showing arrogance or exaggeration.

5) The average American's writing, editing and proofreading grade level is too low only because college education is so expensive here. Thus, great writers will have a serious advantage over you.

6) Many mistakes are hard to catch, even with spell checking from Microsoft® Word. Commonly confused words like homonyms (to, two, too or their and there) are very hard to catch. Then there are errors in logic, general grammar errors and typos that form another word unintentionally.

7) Another person's opinion and interview questions will often reveal plenty of new, relevant information that you did not think to include on your resume. This in itself may cinch your hire.

8) The average American business professional or Fortune 500 executive still does not understand that one of the primary missions of your résumé should be to build their value. Why miss your chance to cash in and earn a significant raise?

9) If your resume and cover letter deserves to be in the top 5% of resumes an employer collects for a job posting, odds are you will earn plenty of interviews. More importantly, you will likely have multiple offers to choose from and thus position yourself for a better compensation and benefits package. Is a $100,000 compensation package with top-tier benefits better than a $75,000 annual salary?

10) After you hire a Certified Professional Resume Writer, you will be keenly aware of your worth in the market place; thus, you will not be accepting low-ball salary offers from third-tier employers. Confidence is essential in your salary negotiation process as employers have a strategic edge right now due to the overabundance of well-qualified candidates.

11) Most people completely miss out on the many critical points of résumé strategy: Targeting, specific performance metrics, making claims supported by evidence, focusing on results rather than responsibilities, stating a specific goal, strategy for career changes or industry changes, compatibility, file size restrictions, editing for brevity and relevancy, prioritizing, applicant tracking system strategy, convincing writing, accomplishments, style, proper formatting, tuning into what the employers want and keyword strategy.

12) You cannot circumvent the laws of supply and demand because they are omnipotent. Thus, many job hunters with merely average resumes and cover letters are forced to settle for an employer that requires them to relocate (very expensive) or settle for third-tier employers. Odds are there is undiscovered opportunity where you are now or you should be earning a salary that better reflects your current market value.

The truth is, your destiny awaits you. It really is no big deal to conform to what exactly employers want to see in your resume or cover letters. Regardless of which path you choose make sure your career documents are excellent because they are still the foundation of your job hunt.

Copyright 2011 by Darrell Z. DiZoglio. Great writing on demand. Accelerate your job search. Dream jobs do come true for my clients every day. Resume good => Job good => Life good. Click here => http://righteousresumes.com/ To see the tools your competition used to get hired, Click here => http://RighteousResumes.com/services.html

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How to Make A CV - Simple Tips to Make Your CV Effective

A CV or curriculum vitae is a document listing your skills, experience and qualifications. It is the very first item that your potential employer would encounter when dealing with you as a prospective employee. To increase your chances of employment, you need to ensure that the very first impression you make, creates a positive impact in the mind of your potential employer.

Keep your CV short; running to a maximum of two or three A4 sides. It needs to consist of a summary of your personal details, your academic qualifications, and your employment history. You need to update your CV as you gain more experience or undergo more training. You also need to adapt your CV for each job application, emphasizing those details in your CV that most relate to the job or position that you are applying for.

With competition on the rise in almost every sphere, you would most probably be competing with a lot of other candidates for the position that you are interested in. Therefore, it is very important that your CV looks impressive enough to attract your future employers' attention. When your CV stands out from the rest of the crowd, your chances of landing the job are greatly increased.

How to make your CV stand out from the rest?

There are basically three factors that you need to keep in mind when preparing your CV - relevance, benefits and presentation.

Relevance

As stated earlier, you have to adapt your CV based on the type of job that you are applying for. You might have a long list of qualifications and job experience. Not all of them may be relevant to the current job you are seeking. Pick out the relevant information on your CV and highlight them as much as possible. Be brief on the rest of the items which do not have much relevance.

Benefits

Your prospective employers would want to know how their company or business would benefit from employing you. You should frame your CV in such a way that it conveys those benefits very clearly. Relevance and benefits go hand in hand. Choose the most relevant points in your CV and highlight them to project the benefits the company would have from hiring you.

Presentation

Your CV needs to look neat and well formatted. Hire a DTP expert if required to type and format your CV. The first section of the CV needs to have your name and personal particulars mentioned clearly. Next, list your academic qualifications in reverse chronological order, clearly mentioning the dates and duration of each course. Finally, list your employment history, again mentioning dates and duration of your experience clearly. Mention also the positions of responsibility you held in each organisation.

You can add other skills that you possess, as well as your hobbies and interests on your CV. Finish your CV by providing two references from people in authority that know you personally.

When you follow these simple steps, you will have a CV that is concise, to the point, and looks neat and impressive. You now know how to make a CV that can vastly improve your prospects at the job market.

Read here more and get a number of additional tips on how to make a CV.

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4 Simple Ways to Overcome the Age Factor in Your Resume

Growing older is something that creeps into the mind of many professionals, especially if they have reached their 50s or 60s and are on the hunt for a new job. Some worry that they may not be considered viable candidates in the eyes of employers when compared to younger professionals.

But as a wise, skilled, top-level candidate, there is no reason for you to feel any less qualified. In fact, you are likely more qualified than younger competitors; you just need to prove it. So take time to do so on your resume by utilizing the following four tips:

1. Focus on Recent Jobs

If you've had more than a couple of jobs during your career, then it's a good idea to focus on the more recent ones as you write your resume. A good rule of thumb is to not worry about going back more than 15 years, especially since some of what you learned prior to that may not be relevant to the job you're applying for anyway.

2. Pinpoint Your Strengths

It's even more important that you highlight your greatest accomplishments in your career as a seasoned professional. Keep in mind that the more recent the accomplishments, the better (i.e., 2009 accomplishments vs. 1979 accomplishments).

Employers are not as interested in what you did at the beginning of your career-when you were still learning your craft-as they are what you have accomplished as a skilled candidate.

3. Keep Up With the Times

One reservation employers could have when considering older workers is a fear that they may not be able to keep up with technological advancements. It's good for you to show that you are not only keeping up, but are right in the fold.

Show that you understand the Internet by submitting your resume online. Not only that, discuss your technological aptitudes in your resume, and list your professional online profiles too (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to give yourself a great boost as a candidate.

4. Consider a Functional Resume

One more thing to consider is creating a functional resume that doesn't list the years of your accomplishments but instead focuses on the accomplishments alone. Some employers see functional resumes as red flags for gaps in employment or other issues, however, so take the time to be thorough if you choose to take this route.

As a seasoned professional with many years of experience under your belt, it's important that you help employers to focus less on your age and more on your talents and capabilities. There's no doubt that you can get the job done. Now, show the employer just how capable you are!

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica M Holbrook of http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters. An international resume columnist and resume expert for JobTalkAmerica radio, her work opens doors to lucrative positions at Fortune 500 companies.

Read more ...

Attention All Disgruntled Job Seekers! This Simple Tip Can Get You Hired And Not Overlooked

If you ever want to meet really grumpy people, hang out for a while in a job center! One of the most frustrating things in the world is when you're out of work and you're looking for a job and no one will hire you. It can turn a person with the most cheerful disposition into a grouch.

Given today's economy and how tight the job market is, if you are in the process of trying to get a job I really don't blame you in the least if you are disgruntled. I work in a job center and I see how much torture the job hunting experience can put a person through.

I do have good news for you though. I have a tip that can turn this all around for you and it is extremely easy to do but first I need you to understand something:

You may at first not really understand how profound this tip really is because it is so simple to do. It doesn't always sink in as being as important as it really is. Many of the people I work with in the job center often don't get it at first - but they certainly do after they make this one simple change and they suddenly get a job offer!

Here's the simple tip in a nutshell:

CHANGE your cover letter in the following way: instead of using a professional template, create something VERY unique that will be stand out from everyone else's cover letter!

Here's why this is important:

In today's job market, hiring managers get too many applications to go through each one in detail. So, what they do is find a quick way to do the initial screening. The easiest way for them to do this is by quickly reading through all the cover letters without reading the rest of the application.

What does this mean:

It means that you can have the best resume in the world and you may be the best candidate for the job BUT if your cover letter doesn't stand out, the hiring manager may never even see your resume or have any desire to find out more about you.

This is exactly why I saw so many highly qualified candidates being beaten out by lesser qualified candidates when I first started working at the job center. I had to do some investigative research to figure out what was going on which included calling up hiring managers and talking with them about how they went about selecting people - what was their procedure exactly and why had they not even noticed my very best candidate for a particular job.

So it bears repeating:

If your cover letter isn't unique and it doesn't stand out, the hiring manager may NEVER NOTICE the rest of your application or anything else about you. You may end up going into the "reject" pile on the very first round.

Think of the cover letter like a book jacket. You need to push the right psychological buttons on your "book jacket" to get the hiring manager interested in looking inside. You need to create something very unique - do NOT use a template!!! Who designs book jackets? Marketers! You need to use marketing language. You need to language that ENTICES the hiring manager to look further and want to interview you.

I have discovered a very effective tool that helps people easily write a really unique and very effective cover letter -- one that really entices the hiring manager to look further.

It is a type of cover letter software and it was created by one of the best marketing gurus when it comes to writing sales copy. The software is designed with a very easy to use interface. You simply answer a few questions and then hit a button. It will then spit out a CUSTOM cover letter -- and one that is VERY UNIQUE and specific to your industry. It uses exactly the right language to push all the right psychological buttons. There's a lot of good information on the website so you can check it out for yourself.

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2 Simple Tips To Stand Out With Your Resume

If you're looking to receive any interview calls, your resume needs to stand out. However, it doesn't mean you have to try out any gimmicks to capture the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Seriously, no pink paper, perfumed paper, or cramming too many font styles into one sheet of paper! Simply try out these 2 simple tips to stand out with your resume:

1. Use Keywords.

Keywords are basically words and/or phrases related to the job title and description you're designing your resume for. For instance, if you're applying for the job of a database programmer, the following are some of the keywords you should include in your resume:

database programmer(of course!)
star schema
snowflake schema
database optimization
database schema

Now don't include all the above-mentioned keywords, just a few will do. And do keep in mind not to throw around these keywords randomly. Use them only when it makes sense to you as a reader.

What happens is reading each resume individually is not an option for recruiters, or hiring managers. So your resume is probably being scanned electronically, or manually. In either case, the relevant keywords will stick out in such a scan, and hence, you'll definitely receive a call-back, maybe even an interview-call.

2. Learn Self-Promotion.

To stand out among the scores of resumes competing against yours, you need to do a little self-promotion. It's not arrogance, it's a necessity. You have to "sell yourself" to let the other person know what a great candidate you are for the proposed job.

For instance, don't just say - "Conducted online sessions to train sales personnel."

Instead, say - "Coordinated webinars (online seminars), designed to train sales personnel for higher lead conversion."

If you compare the two statements above, it says the same thing but the latter sounds more impressive than the former, don't you think?

Using these two tips will guarantee you a good resume. I mean, you'll definitely receive an interview call for such an eye-catching resume. How you manage the interview is a whole different story.

Read more ...

Attention All Disgruntled Job Seekers! This Simple Tip Can Get You Hired And Not Overlooked

If you ever want to meet really grumpy people, hang out for a while in a job center! One of the most frustrating things in the world is when you're out of work and you're looking for a job and no one will hire you. It can turn a person with the most cheerful disposition into a grouch.

Given today's economy and how tight the job market is, if you are in the process of trying to get a job I really don't blame you in the least if you are disgruntled. I work in a job center and I see how much torture the job hunting experience can put a person through.

I do have good news for you though. I have a tip that can turn this all around for you and it is extremely easy to do but first I need you to understand something:

You may at first not really understand how profound this tip really is because it is so simple to do. It doesn't always sink in as being as important as it really is. Many of the people I work with in the job center often don't get it at first - but they certainly do after they make this one simple change and they suddenly get a job offer!

Here's the simple tip in a nutshell:

CHANGE your cover letter in the following way: instead of using a professional template, create something VERY unique that will be stand out from everyone else's cover letter!

Here's why this is important:

In today's job market, hiring managers get too many applications to go through each one in detail. So, what they do is find a quick way to do the initial screening. The easiest way for them to do this is by quickly reading through all the cover letters without reading the rest of the application.

What does this mean:

It means that you can have the best resume in the world and you may be the best candidate for the job BUT if your cover letter doesn't stand out, the hiring manager may never even see your resume or have any desire to find out more about you.

This is exactly why I saw so many highly qualified candidates being beaten out by lesser qualified candidates when I first started working at the job center. I had to do some investigative research to figure out what was going on which included calling up hiring managers and talking with them about how they went about selecting people - what was their procedure exactly and why had they not even noticed my very best candidate for a particular job.

So it bears repeating:

If your cover letter isn't unique and it doesn't stand out, the hiring manager may NEVER NOTICE the rest of your application or anything else about you. You may end up going into the "reject" pile on the very first round.

Think of the cover letter like a book jacket. You need to push the right psychological buttons on your "book jacket" to get the hiring manager interested in looking inside. You need to create something very unique - do NOT use a template!!! Who designs book jackets? Marketers! You need to use marketing language. You need to language that ENTICES the hiring manager to look further and want to interview you.

I have discovered a very effective tool that helps people easily write a really unique and very effective cover letter -- one that really entices the hiring manager to look further.

It is a type of cover letter software and it was created by one of the best marketing gurus when it comes to writing sales copy. The software is designed with a very easy to use interface. You simply answer a few questions and then hit a button. It will then spit out a CUSTOM cover letter -- and one that is VERY UNIQUE and specific to your industry. It uses exactly the right language to push all the right psychological buttons. There's a lot of good information on the website so you can check it out for yourself.

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

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Writing a Resume Is Both Simple and Difficult

It's simple because, after all, it's just a timeline of your employment history with a couple accomplishments bulletpointed under the job description. Too bad it's not as easy as that.

Looking at a couple of resumes the other day, one observation stood out. Both resumes had the accomplishments wrong.

Both resumes basically had:

Sales Manager, ACME Coyote, Inc. 1/88 to 9/97

Managed 6 sales representatives overseeing 435 accounts representing annual gross sales of $3.4million. Called on 6 Key accounts. Responsible for all training and logistic support to sales representatives. Also responsible to implement all company marketing programs and interacting with supplier representatives.

Trained and motivated 6 sales representativesProvided outstanding leadership in executing all marketing programsEfficient use of promotional and sales POP/POS resulted in significant savings to companyIncreased sales representatives' productivity by systemically realigning sales territoriesGenerated greater sales revenue by proactively sourcing superior products from supplier representativesGuided sales team to number one in sales increase from 1/95 to 1/97

Unfortunately, none of those bullet points are really accomplishments. They are more job descriptions.

The accomplishments you list under your job description cannot be more job descriptions.

And that is the mistake that I see on a lot of resumes

One of the resumes listed 3 jobs, spread out over 2 pages. For all 3 jobs, the writer listed 10 to 12 bullet points of - yes, you guessed it - job descriptions.

On the other resume, the writer listed 4 jobs. On this one though, the writer simply listed the job and underneath bulletpointed about 7 to 8 job descriptions.

You don't write a generic job description followed by a list of specific job description.

But rather, you write a brief job description so that you and the reader are on the same sheet of music as to what you did. After all, a marketing manager with ACME Coyote may not be the same as a marketing manager with Road Runner Enterprises; therefore the need for a the brief job description.

After the job description, the resume should have a list 3 or 4 (no more) of the most important accomplishments that you, and only you, could have done. The accomplishments must be uniquely you and no one else but you. "Help increase sales by stealing market share from competition" doesn't really say much and would have no place in my resume.

I think a more effective job description might be:

Sales Manager, ACME Coyote, Inc. 1/88 to 9/97

Managed $3.4 million sales team of 6 reps and 435 accounts. Operated team as complete profit loss unit; taking responsibility for utilizing all profit levers to deliver maximum revenue to company.

Increased gross profit margin from 19.2% to 20.6%, resulting in a net gain of $48K in FY97, by minimizing waste while winning 26 new accounts from competition.Over 4 year period, 4 sales representatives promoted to higher positions, resulting from personal coaching, training, and mentoring.Overhauled and realigned 6 sales territory resulting in gross sales increasing from $2.8 million to $3.4 million.

By the way, something like that would be the first run, because it's too wordy. I would rinse once or twice more to get it down to the absolute minimum words necessary.

Here's the thing though, I wanted to make each bullet point unique to me versus what a sales manager does. Did I succeed? Only a call for job interview can answer that.

As you write your accomplishments though; I want you to critically think about whether you are writing a more, detailed job description, or an accomplishment that only you could have done.

Because if it's only what you could have done, then by extension; it is only something you could do for your new company.

That's the selling point!

And that's why writing a resume is both simple and difficult.

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Writing a Resume Is Both Simple and Difficult - Part 2

In this segment of "writing a resume is both simple and difficult;" I want to talk about another "stumbling" point - the resume objective. If you've read any of my previous articles, then you will remember that I do not believe resume objectives are necessary; to the contrary, an objective statement can hurt you.

You don't need it and I do not believe it is particularly effective. But no guru I am (to sort of paraphrase Yoda)!

But because many gurus' continue to recommend objectives and writing services routinely begin the resume with an objective statement, most people can be forgiven for thinking it's a standard requirement. In fact, there are whole websites (and popular at that) dedicated to writing objectives.

That said, I think most objective statements, written as they are, are fillers. That's all they do; they fill the top of the resume.

Because both the reader and you know what the your objective is - to get hired. So, why waste valuable space on something so redundant?

But if you are going to insist on using a resume objective, let me make a couple of suggestions.

Here's a typical resume objective:

"An administrative assistant position requiring strong organization and planning skills to provide exceptional support to a vice president in the financial industry."

So, what does this objective tell the hiring manager and how does it add value to the resume? For me - it's nothing to both questions.

If I'm looking for an administrative assistant, then this objective statement is pointless. If I'm not, then this resume is pointless.

Here's another, more in depth resume objective, as recommended by an expert:

"I intend to use my professional expertise in this field along with my knowledge, towards expanding the customer base of the organization, apart from ensuring optimum customer satisfaction for the existing customers. I seek to offer my salesmanship skills, along with my extensive experience in the field, towards the performance of my duties and consequently towards the growth of the Organization."

On surface, this is probably better than the first. It's better because the objective statement was written to mirror the job duties as listed in the job posting. But again, how does it add value to the resume. If you want to tailor your resume to the job posting, then tailor your resume to the job posting. And if you do that, then once again the objective statement becomes a filler and nothing more - however well written it might be.

But, also notice that this objective statement uses 7 "I's" and "my's." I guessing most recruiters and hiring managers could care less about you and your "I's." More to the point, all those personal pronoun adds a vain touch to the narrative.

So, your question to me might be, "okay hotshot - what do you suggest!?"

I think there are a couple of ways you can do this - first, you can mirror the company's mission statement, as suggested by Phil Baker, resume/cover letter guru extraordinaire. A mission statement focused objective statement adds a different dimension to your cause - because frankly, not many do.

"While there are probably HR employees that do not have their company's mission statement memorized, many will find something familiar about your resume when you have mirrored their mission statement. A familiarity that "feels right." - Phil Baker"

For example:

"Mission statement: To combine aggressive strategic marketing with quality products and services at competitive prices to provide the best insurance value for consumers..."

The objective statement could be:

"Objective: To apply superior selling skills to market quality products and services that provide the best insurance value for consumers..."

The other way is to use the objective statement to add value to your resume. How do you do that? You could do this by using a simple, direct statement stating what you intend to do:

"To increase shareholder value by developing and delivering high quality products."

Compare Kevin Donlin's simple, yet direct statement to the previous first, two example - which one of the three adds value? Those two were all about "me" and "I," whereas this direct statement is about what I can do for you without using the "I."

Writing an effective resume isn't just about following a format or cut/pasting into a template - it's not that easy. Yes, the overall concept is simple. But within that concept, you must tell a story and you must guide the reader to a conclusion. And that makes it a little more difficult.

That means you must spend the time and effort to do it well - but achieving the results you want is obviously worth it.

Read more ...

4 Simple Ways to Overcome the Age Factor in Your Resume

Growing older is something that creeps into the mind of many professionals, especially if they have reached their 50s or 60s and are on the hunt for a new job. Some worry that they may not be considered viable candidates in the eyes of employers when compared to younger professionals.

But as a wise, skilled, top-level candidate, there is no reason for you to feel any less qualified. In fact, you are likely more qualified than younger competitors; you just need to prove it. So take time to do so on your resume by utilizing the following four tips:

1. Focus on Recent Jobs

If you've had more than a couple of jobs during your career, then it's a good idea to focus on the more recent ones as you write your resume. A good rule of thumb is to not worry about going back more than 15 years, especially since some of what you learned prior to that may not be relevant to the job you're applying for anyway.

2. Pinpoint Your Strengths

It's even more important that you highlight your greatest accomplishments in your career as a seasoned professional. Keep in mind that the more recent the accomplishments, the better (i.e., 2009 accomplishments vs. 1979 accomplishments).

Employers are not as interested in what you did at the beginning of your career-when you were still learning your craft-as they are what you have accomplished as a skilled candidate.

3. Keep Up With the Times

One reservation employers could have when considering older workers is a fear that they may not be able to keep up with technological advancements. It's good for you to show that you are not only keeping up, but are right in the fold.

Show that you understand the Internet by submitting your resume online. Not only that, discuss your technological aptitudes in your resume, and list your professional online profiles too (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to give yourself a great boost as a candidate.

4. Consider a Functional Resume

One more thing to consider is creating a functional resume that doesn't list the years of your accomplishments but instead focuses on the accomplishments alone. Some employers see functional resumes as red flags for gaps in employment or other issues, however, so take the time to be thorough if you choose to take this route.

As a seasoned professional with many years of experience under your belt, it's important that you help employers to focus less on your age and more on your talents and capabilities. There's no doubt that you can get the job done. Now, show the employer just how capable you are!

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica M Holbrook of http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters. An international resume columnist and resume expert for JobTalkAmerica radio, her work opens doors to lucrative positions at Fortune 500 companies.

Read more ...

4 Simple Ways to Overcome the Age Factor in Your Resume

Growing older is something that creeps into the mind of many professionals, especially if they have reached their 50s or 60s and are on the hunt for a new job. Some worry that they may not be considered viable candidates in the eyes of employers when compared to younger professionals.

But as a wise, skilled, top-level candidate, there is no reason for you to feel any less qualified. In fact, you are likely more qualified than younger competitors; you just need to prove it. So take time to do so on your resume by utilizing the following four tips:

1. Focus on Recent Jobs

If you've had more than a couple of jobs during your career, then it's a good idea to focus on the more recent ones as you write your resume. A good rule of thumb is to not worry about going back more than 15 years, especially since some of what you learned prior to that may not be relevant to the job you're applying for anyway.

2. Pinpoint Your Strengths

It's even more important that you highlight your greatest accomplishments in your career as a seasoned professional. Keep in mind that the more recent the accomplishments, the better (i.e., 2009 accomplishments vs. 1979 accomplishments).

Employers are not as interested in what you did at the beginning of your career-when you were still learning your craft-as they are what you have accomplished as a skilled candidate.

3. Keep Up With the Times

One reservation employers could have when considering older workers is a fear that they may not be able to keep up with technological advancements. It's good for you to show that you are not only keeping up, but are right in the fold.

Show that you understand the Internet by submitting your resume online. Not only that, discuss your technological aptitudes in your resume, and list your professional online profiles too (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to give yourself a great boost as a candidate.

4. Consider a Functional Resume

One more thing to consider is creating a functional resume that doesn't list the years of your accomplishments but instead focuses on the accomplishments alone. Some employers see functional resumes as red flags for gaps in employment or other issues, however, so take the time to be thorough if you choose to take this route.

As a seasoned professional with many years of experience under your belt, it's important that you help employers to focus less on your age and more on your talents and capabilities. There's no doubt that you can get the job done. Now, show the employer just how capable you are!

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica M Holbrook of http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters. An international resume columnist and resume expert for JobTalkAmerica radio, her work opens doors to lucrative positions at Fortune 500 companies.

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