Your Resume - Summary Vs Objective

The days of writing a career objective are long over. The objective was traditionally reserved for recent graduates or professionals changing fields or industries to indicate to hiring managers the kind of position they wanted, as this might not be immediately apparent from their resume since it would either have little experience or unrelated experience. It soon became fashionable for everyone to write a career objective at the beginning of their resume. However, most recruiters rightly point out that hiring managers don't want to know what a job seeker wants from an employer but what the job seeker can offer to the employer.

It is now standard procedure to include a brief summary rather than an objective. The summary is designed to provide the employer a quick snapshot of what you have done and for how long, outlining your strengths, skills, and expertise (especially intangibles).

It is important to know what a summary statement should include, as there is no set format and templates should be avoided. Some of the key ingredients are:

- Mention your industry, your work experience in years, and the kinds of companies you have worked for.
e.g., Financial Services, 20 years, private and public sector, Fortune 500, etc.

- Include important functional and vertical skills or expertise you demonstrate.
e.g., back office, service delivery, music composition, lyricist, accounting, software specialist, etc.

It is also important to include keywords from the description of the job that you are applying for. Otherwise, while the human element (HR) might be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, that you have some possible relevance to the job, the Application Tracking Software surely won't and you'll be filtered out before they even see your resume.

Problems occasionally arise, however, when a professional is attempting to move into an adjacent profession, such as when a musician wants to be a lyricist or a teacher is applying for a role as a personal trainer or tutor. The goal then is to make the employer understand that you have transferable skills that are applicable to the role for which you are applying, even though you don't have any or much direct experience. The summary can be an excellent place to accomplish this, as it will explain the situation immediately to the hiring manager and provide the lenses through which the hiring manager should read the rest of your resume.

An executive summary should not attempt to confuse or deceive the reader. It must be honest and consistent with the rest of the resume. Be concise and avoid generalizations. http://www.norwoodconsulting.org/

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Writing a Powerful LinkedIn Summary

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Writing a Powerful LinkedIn Summary

A LinkedIn membership, free or premium, is a must have for today's job seeker because head hunters are flocking to LinkedIn to recruit candidates for open positions. A significant part of the LinkedIn profile is the summary section. To get the most out of your summary don't reiterate information that is on your resume, but look for a different angle to flesh out the same background in two paragraphs. This part will take time if you aren't a wordsmith so don't be surprised or get discouraged if it takes you a couple of days to come up with compelling verbiage.

Once you have written the introductory paragraphs, choose three successes from the last ten to fifteen years of your career to showcase. Finally to round out the summary, include a closing paragraph. Let's take a look at a sample summary you can use as a model.

Sample LinkedIn Summary
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Offer a valuable blend of new business development, negotiation, and client cultivation strategies to drive sales of complex IT solutions and shape the strategic direction of a global sales department. Leverage hands-on expertise in managing a long sales cycle to capture multi-year, lucrative accounts within various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and hospitality.

Effectively position organizations against entrench competition, design competitive pricing policies, and nurture relationships with clients and business partners. Overview of achievements includes the following:

-- High-performance background in building teams to outperform performance goals 30% (on average) in flat markets.

-- Drive double-digit market growth through a multi-layered business development strategy focused on maximizing existing client accounts and expanding into untapped areas.

-- Close 85% of contract agreements by placing value on client relationships, holding productive conversations with C-level executives and senior management, and cultivating credibility and stakeholder confidence.

Balance growth-oriented and entrepreneurial mindset to present potential merger and acquisitions opportunities, recommend strategic alliances with industry players, and propose partnerships with joint ventures.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As you can see, the purpose of the summary is to provide a snapshot of your career and allow readers to determine whether or not they want to download your full resume. For this reason, it is essential you include the best you have to offer. The more impressive your LinkedIn summary, the greater chance you will generate interest from recruiters and decision makers.

You can contact Linda Matias at linda@careerstrides.com or visit her website http://www.careerstrides.com/ for additional career advice and to view resume samples.

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3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Just Copy Your Resume Into Your LinkedIn Summary

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section. There are three major problems with this strategy:

Problem #1: Trite Phrases

Often your resume summary is laden with overused phrases like "Results-oriented team player with a proven track record... " or "Dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience... "

If your resume summary looks anything like the above examples, please rewrite it and hire a professional resume writer if necessary! This type of language belongs neither on your resume nor in your LinkedIn profile.

Problem #2: LinkedIn Summary Real Estate

You have 2000 characters at your disposal for a LinkedIn Summary, vs. three to four lines maximum for your resume summary. Why would you choose not to use all that real estate to say something - really say something - about yourself?

Problem #3: Keywords

Your LinkedIn Summary is an essential place for you to insert keywords if you want to be found on LinkedIn. By inserting a 3-line summary, you lose out on your chance to build keywords into your profile.

Resume Summary Example - For Resumes Only

Here's an example of a very strong resume summary statement that does NOT belong in a LinkedIn Summary (note I DO like this statement as a resume summary statement - in fact I wrote it!):

LeeAnn Dance - Producer - Writer - Editor

Award-winning television producer and groundbreaking investigative reporter - experience covering issues ranging from pre-election to international news, with special emphasis on East Africa. Creator and writer of highly acclaimed documentaries and promotional videos for non-profit organizations. Eight years as producer for CNN.

LinkedIn Summary Example - Great Model!

What would a LinkedIn Summary look like for LeaAnn? Here is the statement we wrote for her:

Award-winning investigative and documentary television producerVideo production and broadcast journalism have been my passions for over 20 years, ever since receiving my MS in Journalism from Columbia University. I have produced everything from groundbreaking news stories for CNN to promotional videos for non-profit organizations, and I am currently hosting a blog radio show for parents relaunching their careers.My journalism background gave me the ability to distill a large amount of material and hone in on what's true and important. I can pinpoint the real message that needs to be conveyed, creating a human story that moves and inspires an audience.Promotional Videos for Non-Profit Organizations

As a freelance video producer, I specialize in creating high caliber, professional and creative promotional videos for non-profit and educational organizations. I understand the budgetary constraints of non-profit organizations and will work within a range of budgets and scope of work.

Funders respond to high quality video presentations that effectively convey your organization's message. I will take your message, target it, and transform it into a concise and meaningful array of pictures, words, and sounds. You will then have the power of an impactful video to present your organization's activities at fundraising events and through the web.

In addition to being a video producer, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, and I am committed to providing resources to women who are returning to the workforce. My blog ***, chronicles my journey and shares information about the return-to-work process.

Blog topics include emotional roadblocks to relaunching, preparing your resume, updating your wardrobe, and preparing your family for re-entry.

Check out my weekly blog talk radio show on relaunching your career, with guests including authors, career counselors, therapists, and employers. (www.blogtalkradio.com/***)

What works about this example?

Conveys LeeAnn's story and her passion (the resume summary does not).Contains multiple keywords that will get LeeAnn found on LinkedIn.Covers the different facets of what LeeAnn has to offer.Draws the eye to sub-headings so that readers can easily see what LeeAnn is about. The text is broken into bite-sized pieces, not so blocky that no one will read it.Has a call to action.

Note that the resume summary does NONE of these five things, even though it is perfectly great as a resume summary.

Can you write a LinkedIn Summary Statement for yourself that accomplishes at least four out of the five functions listed above? If yes, great - go for it! If you need help, consider hiring a professional to write you a LinkedIn Summary that will help you get found on LinkedIn and have the impact you want on the people who read your profile.

http://www.theessayexpert.com/
For writing that gets results.

Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor, BrendaB@TheEssayExpert.com

Brenda Bernstein, Certified Advanced Resume Writer and accomplished editor and LinkedIn trainer, holds an English degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. Brenda delivers webinars on LinkedIn and resume writing that have been attended by thousands of job seekers and other professionals seeking to establish a professional image on LinkedIn.

Specialties: Resumes, Cover Letters, College Application Essays, Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles

Read more ...

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Just Copy Your Resume Into Your LinkedIn Summary

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section. There are three major problems with this strategy:

Problem #1: Trite Phrases

Often your resume summary is laden with overused phrases like "Results-oriented team player with a proven track record... " or "Dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience... "

If your resume summary looks anything like the above examples, please rewrite it and hire a professional resume writer if necessary! This type of language belongs neither on your resume nor in your LinkedIn profile.

Problem #2: LinkedIn Summary Real Estate

You have 2000 characters at your disposal for a LinkedIn Summary, vs. three to four lines maximum for your resume summary. Why would you choose not to use all that real estate to say something - really say something - about yourself?

Problem #3: Keywords

Your LinkedIn Summary is an essential place for you to insert keywords if you want to be found on LinkedIn. By inserting a 3-line summary, you lose out on your chance to build keywords into your profile.

Resume Summary Example - For Resumes Only

Here's an example of a very strong resume summary statement that does NOT belong in a LinkedIn Summary (note I DO like this statement as a resume summary statement - in fact I wrote it!):

LeeAnn Dance - Producer - Writer - Editor

Award-winning television producer and groundbreaking investigative reporter - experience covering issues ranging from pre-election to international news, with special emphasis on East Africa. Creator and writer of highly acclaimed documentaries and promotional videos for non-profit organizations. Eight years as producer for CNN.

LinkedIn Summary Example - Great Model!

What would a LinkedIn Summary look like for LeaAnn? Here is the statement we wrote for her:

Award-winning investigative and documentary television producerVideo production and broadcast journalism have been my passions for over 20 years, ever since receiving my MS in Journalism from Columbia University. I have produced everything from groundbreaking news stories for CNN to promotional videos for non-profit organizations, and I am currently hosting a blog radio show for parents relaunching their careers.My journalism background gave me the ability to distill a large amount of material and hone in on what's true and important. I can pinpoint the real message that needs to be conveyed, creating a human story that moves and inspires an audience.Promotional Videos for Non-Profit Organizations

As a freelance video producer, I specialize in creating high caliber, professional and creative promotional videos for non-profit and educational organizations. I understand the budgetary constraints of non-profit organizations and will work within a range of budgets and scope of work.

Funders respond to high quality video presentations that effectively convey your organization's message. I will take your message, target it, and transform it into a concise and meaningful array of pictures, words, and sounds. You will then have the power of an impactful video to present your organization's activities at fundraising events and through the web.

In addition to being a video producer, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, and I am committed to providing resources to women who are returning to the workforce. My blog ***, chronicles my journey and shares information about the return-to-work process.

Blog topics include emotional roadblocks to relaunching, preparing your resume, updating your wardrobe, and preparing your family for re-entry.

Check out my weekly blog talk radio show on relaunching your career, with guests including authors, career counselors, therapists, and employers. (www.blogtalkradio.com/***)

What works about this example?

Conveys LeeAnn's story and her passion (the resume summary does not).Contains multiple keywords that will get LeeAnn found on LinkedIn.Covers the different facets of what LeeAnn has to offer.Draws the eye to sub-headings so that readers can easily see what LeeAnn is about. The text is broken into bite-sized pieces, not so blocky that no one will read it.Has a call to action.

Note that the resume summary does NONE of these five things, even though it is perfectly great as a resume summary.

Can you write a LinkedIn Summary Statement for yourself that accomplishes at least four out of the five functions listed above? If yes, great - go for it! If you need help, consider hiring a professional to write you a LinkedIn Summary that will help you get found on LinkedIn and have the impact you want on the people who read your profile.

http://www.theessayexpert.com/
For writing that gets results.

Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor, BrendaB@TheEssayExpert.com

Brenda Bernstein, Certified Advanced Resume Writer and accomplished editor and LinkedIn trainer, holds an English degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. Brenda delivers webinars on LinkedIn and resume writing that have been attended by thousands of job seekers and other professionals seeking to establish a professional image on LinkedIn.

Specialties: Resumes, Cover Letters, College Application Essays, Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles

Read more ...

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Just Copy Your Resume Into Your LinkedIn Summary

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section. There are three major problems with this strategy:

Problem #1: Trite Phrases

Often your resume summary is laden with overused phrases like "Results-oriented team player with a proven track record... " or "Dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience... "

If your resume summary looks anything like the above examples, please rewrite it and hire a professional resume writer if necessary! This type of language belongs neither on your resume nor in your LinkedIn profile.

Problem #2: LinkedIn Summary Real Estate

You have 2000 characters at your disposal for a LinkedIn Summary, vs. three to four lines maximum for your resume summary. Why would you choose not to use all that real estate to say something - really say something - about yourself?

Problem #3: Keywords

Your LinkedIn Summary is an essential place for you to insert keywords if you want to be found on LinkedIn. By inserting a 3-line summary, you lose out on your chance to build keywords into your profile.

Resume Summary Example - For Resumes Only

Here's an example of a very strong resume summary statement that does NOT belong in a LinkedIn Summary (note I DO like this statement as a resume summary statement - in fact I wrote it!):

LeeAnn Dance - Producer - Writer - Editor

Award-winning television producer and groundbreaking investigative reporter - experience covering issues ranging from pre-election to international news, with special emphasis on East Africa. Creator and writer of highly acclaimed documentaries and promotional videos for non-profit organizations. Eight years as producer for CNN.

LinkedIn Summary Example - Great Model!

What would a LinkedIn Summary look like for LeaAnn? Here is the statement we wrote for her:

Award-winning investigative and documentary television producerVideo production and broadcast journalism have been my passions for over 20 years, ever since receiving my MS in Journalism from Columbia University. I have produced everything from groundbreaking news stories for CNN to promotional videos for non-profit organizations, and I am currently hosting a blog radio show for parents relaunching their careers.My journalism background gave me the ability to distill a large amount of material and hone in on what's true and important. I can pinpoint the real message that needs to be conveyed, creating a human story that moves and inspires an audience.Promotional Videos for Non-Profit Organizations

As a freelance video producer, I specialize in creating high caliber, professional and creative promotional videos for non-profit and educational organizations. I understand the budgetary constraints of non-profit organizations and will work within a range of budgets and scope of work.

Funders respond to high quality video presentations that effectively convey your organization's message. I will take your message, target it, and transform it into a concise and meaningful array of pictures, words, and sounds. You will then have the power of an impactful video to present your organization's activities at fundraising events and through the web.

In addition to being a video producer, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, and I am committed to providing resources to women who are returning to the workforce. My blog ***, chronicles my journey and shares information about the return-to-work process.

Blog topics include emotional roadblocks to relaunching, preparing your resume, updating your wardrobe, and preparing your family for re-entry.

Check out my weekly blog talk radio show on relaunching your career, with guests including authors, career counselors, therapists, and employers. (www.blogtalkradio.com/***)

What works about this example?

Conveys LeeAnn's story and her passion (the resume summary does not).Contains multiple keywords that will get LeeAnn found on LinkedIn.Covers the different facets of what LeeAnn has to offer.Draws the eye to sub-headings so that readers can easily see what LeeAnn is about. The text is broken into bite-sized pieces, not so blocky that no one will read it.Has a call to action.

Note that the resume summary does NONE of these five things, even though it is perfectly great as a resume summary.

Can you write a LinkedIn Summary Statement for yourself that accomplishes at least four out of the five functions listed above? If yes, great - go for it! If you need help, consider hiring a professional to write you a LinkedIn Summary that will help you get found on LinkedIn and have the impact you want on the people who read your profile.

http://www.theessayexpert.com/
For writing that gets results.

Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor, BrendaB@TheEssayExpert.com

Brenda Bernstein, Certified Advanced Resume Writer and accomplished editor and LinkedIn trainer, holds an English degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. Brenda delivers webinars on LinkedIn and resume writing that have been attended by thousands of job seekers and other professionals seeking to establish a professional image on LinkedIn.

Specialties: Resumes, Cover Letters, College Application Essays, Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles

Read more ...

Get on Track With Employers by Using a Powerful Resume Summary Section

It's time to delete your old "objective statement" and insert a new "professional summary section" if you want to get your resume on track with today's employers! Savvy resume writers appreciate that hiring managers now want an interesting and well crafted synopsis-profile introductory lead-in, rather than an outdated, stock phrase objective declaration. The ever important summary section of today's resume now can be likened to a 30 second elevator speech (or personal sales pitch) by emphasizing its writer's proficiency to a prospective employer. The summary demonstrates to the hiring manager what sets a particular candidate apart from all other applicants. In addition to presenting a job aspirant as easily relate to an employer, the synopsis should also quantify a job seeker's abilities since factual data often seems to literally jump off the page to potential employers!

Because of its anticipated power, the resume summary segment should be fashioned with great care by its writer, and should have the capability to instantaneously draw its reader's attention to the aspirant's specific hard and soft skill capabilities through the ingenious use of unique and vibrant keywords. This self-reflective process necessitates being insightful of one's singular, distinctive talents and abilities rather than using ambiguous or stock adjectives. A recommended approach in determining one's personal and definitive value is for a resume writer to ask past co-workers, friends, and family what they feel are their greatest strengths and what they like most about them as a person. By sorting and ranking individualistic personality traits, strengths, experiences, skills, and knowledge and then turning them into keywords which, when carefully selected, align with the employer's needs, a resume can captivate its reader and leave them wanting to know more.

Once completed, the resume owner can then connect the summary section with the remainder of the resume and incorporate supplemental applicable experience into the body. A resume writer must be meticulous and concise throughout the resume writing process and keep all descriptions to three to four sentences, at the most, to avoid losing the overall dynamic impact. To ensure the words used are the proper keywords, writers should try copying and pasting the summary into a word cloud program, such as Wordle, and then matching the dominant terms with the job description. If the prime words don't match, then it's time to work on it until you get it right. Got a match? Then you're ready to put your best self forward to employers!

C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional resume writer, career consultant, and career coach. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.

Read more ...

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Just Copy Your Resume Into Your LinkedIn Summary

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section. There are three major problems with this strategy:

Problem #1: Trite Phrases

Often your resume summary is laden with overused phrases like "Results-oriented team player with a proven track record... " or "Dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience... "

If your resume summary looks anything like the above examples, please rewrite it and hire a professional resume writer if necessary! This type of language belongs neither on your resume nor in your LinkedIn profile.

Problem #2: LinkedIn Summary Real Estate

You have 2000 characters at your disposal for a LinkedIn Summary, vs. three to four lines maximum for your resume summary. Why would you choose not to use all that real estate to say something - really say something - about yourself?

Problem #3: Keywords

Your LinkedIn Summary is an essential place for you to insert keywords if you want to be found on LinkedIn. By inserting a 3-line summary, you lose out on your chance to build keywords into your profile.

Resume Summary Example - For Resumes Only

Here's an example of a very strong resume summary statement that does NOT belong in a LinkedIn Summary (note I DO like this statement as a resume summary statement - in fact I wrote it!):

LeeAnn Dance - Producer - Writer - Editor

Award-winning television producer and groundbreaking investigative reporter - experience covering issues ranging from pre-election to international news, with special emphasis on East Africa. Creator and writer of highly acclaimed documentaries and promotional videos for non-profit organizations. Eight years as producer for CNN.

LinkedIn Summary Example - Great Model!

What would a LinkedIn Summary look like for LeaAnn? Here is the statement we wrote for her:

Award-winning investigative and documentary television producerVideo production and broadcast journalism have been my passions for over 20 years, ever since receiving my MS in Journalism from Columbia University. I have produced everything from groundbreaking news stories for CNN to promotional videos for non-profit organizations, and I am currently hosting a blog radio show for parents relaunching their careers.My journalism background gave me the ability to distill a large amount of material and hone in on what's true and important. I can pinpoint the real message that needs to be conveyed, creating a human story that moves and inspires an audience.Promotional Videos for Non-Profit Organizations

As a freelance video producer, I specialize in creating high caliber, professional and creative promotional videos for non-profit and educational organizations. I understand the budgetary constraints of non-profit organizations and will work within a range of budgets and scope of work.

Funders respond to high quality video presentations that effectively convey your organization's message. I will take your message, target it, and transform it into a concise and meaningful array of pictures, words, and sounds. You will then have the power of an impactful video to present your organization's activities at fundraising events and through the web.

In addition to being a video producer, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, and I am committed to providing resources to women who are returning to the workforce. My blog ***, chronicles my journey and shares information about the return-to-work process.

Blog topics include emotional roadblocks to relaunching, preparing your resume, updating your wardrobe, and preparing your family for re-entry.

Check out my weekly blog talk radio show on relaunching your career, with guests including authors, career counselors, therapists, and employers. (www.blogtalkradio.com/***)

What works about this example?

Conveys LeeAnn's story and her passion (the resume summary does not).Contains multiple keywords that will get LeeAnn found on LinkedIn.Covers the different facets of what LeeAnn has to offer.Draws the eye to sub-headings so that readers can easily see what LeeAnn is about. The text is broken into bite-sized pieces, not so blocky that no one will read it.Has a call to action.

Note that the resume summary does NONE of these five things, even though it is perfectly great as a resume summary.

Can you write a LinkedIn Summary Statement for yourself that accomplishes at least four out of the five functions listed above? If yes, great - go for it! If you need help, consider hiring a professional to write you a LinkedIn Summary that will help you get found on LinkedIn and have the impact you want on the people who read your profile.

http://www.theessayexpert.com/
For writing that gets results.

Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor, BrendaB@TheEssayExpert.com

Brenda Bernstein, Certified Advanced Resume Writer and accomplished editor and LinkedIn trainer, holds an English degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. Brenda delivers webinars on LinkedIn and resume writing that have been attended by thousands of job seekers and other professionals seeking to establish a professional image on LinkedIn.

Specialties: Resumes, Cover Letters, College Application Essays, Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles

Read more ...

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Just Copy Your Resume Into Your LinkedIn Summary

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section. There are three major problems with this strategy:

Problem #1: Trite Phrases

Often your resume summary is laden with overused phrases like "Results-oriented team player with a proven track record... " or "Dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience... "

If your resume summary looks anything like the above examples, please rewrite it and hire a professional resume writer if necessary! This type of language belongs neither on your resume nor in your LinkedIn profile.

Problem #2: LinkedIn Summary Real Estate

You have 2000 characters at your disposal for a LinkedIn Summary, vs. three to four lines maximum for your resume summary. Why would you choose not to use all that real estate to say something - really say something - about yourself?

Problem #3: Keywords

Your LinkedIn Summary is an essential place for you to insert keywords if you want to be found on LinkedIn. By inserting a 3-line summary, you lose out on your chance to build keywords into your profile.

Resume Summary Example - For Resumes Only

Here's an example of a very strong resume summary statement that does NOT belong in a LinkedIn Summary (note I DO like this statement as a resume summary statement - in fact I wrote it!):

LeeAnn Dance - Producer - Writer - Editor

Award-winning television producer and groundbreaking investigative reporter - experience covering issues ranging from pre-election to international news, with special emphasis on East Africa. Creator and writer of highly acclaimed documentaries and promotional videos for non-profit organizations. Eight years as producer for CNN.

LinkedIn Summary Example - Great Model!

What would a LinkedIn Summary look like for LeaAnn? Here is the statement we wrote for her:

Award-winning investigative and documentary television producerVideo production and broadcast journalism have been my passions for over 20 years, ever since receiving my MS in Journalism from Columbia University. I have produced everything from groundbreaking news stories for CNN to promotional videos for non-profit organizations, and I am currently hosting a blog radio show for parents relaunching their careers.My journalism background gave me the ability to distill a large amount of material and hone in on what's true and important. I can pinpoint the real message that needs to be conveyed, creating a human story that moves and inspires an audience.Promotional Videos for Non-Profit Organizations

As a freelance video producer, I specialize in creating high caliber, professional and creative promotional videos for non-profit and educational organizations. I understand the budgetary constraints of non-profit organizations and will work within a range of budgets and scope of work.

Funders respond to high quality video presentations that effectively convey your organization's message. I will take your message, target it, and transform it into a concise and meaningful array of pictures, words, and sounds. You will then have the power of an impactful video to present your organization's activities at fundraising events and through the web.

In addition to being a video producer, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, and I am committed to providing resources to women who are returning to the workforce. My blog ***, chronicles my journey and shares information about the return-to-work process.

Blog topics include emotional roadblocks to relaunching, preparing your resume, updating your wardrobe, and preparing your family for re-entry.

Check out my weekly blog talk radio show on relaunching your career, with guests including authors, career counselors, therapists, and employers. (www.blogtalkradio.com/***)

What works about this example?

Conveys LeeAnn's story and her passion (the resume summary does not).Contains multiple keywords that will get LeeAnn found on LinkedIn.Covers the different facets of what LeeAnn has to offer.Draws the eye to sub-headings so that readers can easily see what LeeAnn is about. The text is broken into bite-sized pieces, not so blocky that no one will read it.Has a call to action.

Note that the resume summary does NONE of these five things, even though it is perfectly great as a resume summary.

Can you write a LinkedIn Summary Statement for yourself that accomplishes at least four out of the five functions listed above? If yes, great - go for it! If you need help, consider hiring a professional to write you a LinkedIn Summary that will help you get found on LinkedIn and have the impact you want on the people who read your profile.

http://www.theessayexpert.com/
For writing that gets results.

Brenda Bernstein, Founder and Senior Editor, BrendaB@TheEssayExpert.com

Brenda Bernstein, Certified Advanced Resume Writer and accomplished editor and LinkedIn trainer, holds an English degree from Yale University and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed e-book, How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. Brenda delivers webinars on LinkedIn and resume writing that have been attended by thousands of job seekers and other professionals seeking to establish a professional image on LinkedIn.

Specialties: Resumes, Cover Letters, College Application Essays, Professional Bios, LinkedIn Profiles

Read more ...

Get on Track With Employers by Using a Powerful Resume Summary Section

It's time to delete your old "objective statement" and insert a new "professional summary section" if you want to get your resume on track with today's employers! Savvy resume writers appreciate that hiring managers now want an interesting and well crafted synopsis-profile introductory lead-in, rather than an outdated, stock phrase objective declaration. The ever important summary section of today's resume now can be likened to a 30 second elevator speech (or personal sales pitch) by emphasizing its writer's proficiency to a prospective employer. The summary demonstrates to the hiring manager what sets a particular candidate apart from all other applicants. In addition to presenting a job aspirant as easily relate to an employer, the synopsis should also quantify a job seeker's abilities since factual data often seems to literally jump off the page to potential employers!

Because of its anticipated power, the resume summary segment should be fashioned with great care by its writer, and should have the capability to instantaneously draw its reader's attention to the aspirant's specific hard and soft skill capabilities through the ingenious use of unique and vibrant keywords. This self-reflective process necessitates being insightful of one's singular, distinctive talents and abilities rather than using ambiguous or stock adjectives. A recommended approach in determining one's personal and definitive value is for a resume writer to ask past co-workers, friends, and family what they feel are their greatest strengths and what they like most about them as a person. By sorting and ranking individualistic personality traits, strengths, experiences, skills, and knowledge and then turning them into keywords which, when carefully selected, align with the employer's needs, a resume can captivate its reader and leave them wanting to know more.

Once completed, the resume owner can then connect the summary section with the remainder of the resume and incorporate supplemental applicable experience into the body. A resume writer must be meticulous and concise throughout the resume writing process and keep all descriptions to three to four sentences, at the most, to avoid losing the overall dynamic impact. To ensure the words used are the proper keywords, writers should try copying and pasting the summary into a word cloud program, such as Wordle, and then matching the dominant terms with the job description. If the prime words don't match, then it's time to work on it until you get it right. Got a match? Then you're ready to put your best self forward to employers!

C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced professional resume writer, career consultant, and career coach. Get more information @ http://www.vet2work.com/ or http://www.naturallysilver.com/ Copyright. All rights reserved Worldwide.

Read more ...

Resume Writing: Sell Yourself With A Qualifications Summary!

Writing a powerful resume that attracts attention and sells the goods; can be a challenging and sometimes daunting task. No question about it, a well written resume is a marketing document. And what it is marketing and selling is you.

A qualifications summary is the opening headline and content in a well written resume. It tells the reader, who you are, briefly outlines your relevant experience and highlights you skills that matches as closely as possible with the needs of the employer. It's also space to interject some personality. Think selling from the first word you write in your qualifications summary.

First, before content is written let's think format. Job title first and centered, perhaps 13 or 14 pt font, and highlighted. Next in 12 pt font, center two lines listing your best qualities. For example: cost-cutter, life-time learner, motivator, team-leader, project manager, sales professional, creative engineer, technological whiz, production manager, you get the idea.

It's best to include the nouns contained in the job announcement in this area. Of course only include skills that you can later back up in the body of the resume.

You'll need to list skills and accomplishments that describe you overall work experience. If you have an atta-boy/girl file this is your starting point. Otherwise look at previous performance reviews, completed projects, processes you managed, skills learned and applied, anything that describes you abilities and results achieved. Awards won are another possible area where you can highlight a specific skill.

Now comes the qualification summary, it can be in paragraph form or three to five bullet points. Bullet points seem to work best for most people.

In listing your qualifications in the summary you will get your direction from the job announcement. If the first skill set required is, "cost-cutting," your first sentence or bullet point should highlight your skills at cost-cutting. Use strong action verbs, for example rather than using the word "developed" a better choice is "created." Keep the point short, quantify the results and move to the second skill.

Again get direction from the job announcement. Continue this through three to five major points. Whenever possible naturally use keywords from the job announcement.

Now read over the bullet points you have written. Do they accurately reflect and sell you as a viable candidate for the job? If not, rewrite until you are satisfied.

As your job search progresses, you will have warehoused ten, twenty or more separate qualification summaries. This allows you to tailor each resume and cover letter submission to closely match the needs of the prospective employer. Don't get lazy on this point. The closer your qualification summary matches the requirements of the job you are more likely to be called in for a job interview.

Now you have the most important part of your resume written. The balance of the resume should back-up what you have told the employer in the summary. As a marketing document it will be doing its job, if the hiring manager reads beyond the qualification summary, you're more likely to make the sale and get called in for a job interview.

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Summary Of Qualifications For Your Resume

Is It Time To Ditch Your Resume Objective For Something More Effective?

When it comes to resume writing tips, there are very few suggestions that can be as impacting as an impressive summary of qualifications for your resume.
Why? Because just as times have changed in the job market today, so have people's career paths.

When the resume objective first began being used it had its place at the top of a resume as the introduction to the rest of the "good stuff" on your resume. But as many employees now have changed careers several times in their employment history, the resume objective has become a less valuable tool in accurately describing who you are and what you can offer.

As a resume writer, I've reviewed so many resume objectives that do nothing more than state the obvious to the potential employer. Here are a few examples of what I am talking about.

People already know that you are looking for a job that will allow you to grow.People also know that you would like to use your skills and experience to grow in that position.People are also aware that anyone that they hire would like to move up in the company and make more money as well as take on more responsibility.

So with all of the common sense items removed from your resume objective, what's really left to grab your potential employer's attention? Not much.

Instead of struggling to describe your personality and exactly what type of job you are looking for, how about offering your prospective employer an answer to their main question - are you qualified for the position and are you worth calling for an interview? How do you accomplish this task? With a summary of qualifications for your resume!

This is usually a three-line paragraph that offers your prospective employer the ability to get a good overview of your skills and experience right from the start creating an immediate positive impression!

What are the benefits to a summary of qualifications?

It provides a concise summary of your main skills and experience.It's written in an "active" mode which creates the impression that you are a person of action.It sets up your potential employer with a positive impression right from the beginning of your resume which is what every candidate is competing for.

Here's an example of a summary of qualifications for your resume:

"Summary Of Qualifications: Over ten years of sales, advertising and marketing experience. Skilled in developing new product launches, increasing customer sales and creating effective print media. Proficient with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and MS Office software products."

Now a potential employer has a really solid idea of some of your top skills and they haven't even started reading the main portion of your resume.

So utilize a summary of qualifications for your resume and have your prospective employers calling you for interviews today!

Scott has been writing resumes and helping clients with successful career changes for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help and job search website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his free resume help website.

Read more ...

Summary Of Qualifications For Your Resume

Is It Time To Ditch Your Resume Objective For Something More Effective?

When it comes to resume writing tips, there are very few suggestions that can be as impacting as an impressive summary of qualifications for your resume.
Why? Because just as times have changed in the job market today, so have people's career paths.

When the resume objective first began being used it had its place at the top of a resume as the introduction to the rest of the "good stuff" on your resume. But as many employees now have changed careers several times in their employment history, the resume objective has become a less valuable tool in accurately describing who you are and what you can offer.

As a resume writer, I've reviewed so many resume objectives that do nothing more than state the obvious to the potential employer. Here are a few examples of what I am talking about.

People already know that you are looking for a job that will allow you to grow.People also know that you would like to use your skills and experience to grow in that position.People are also aware that anyone that they hire would like to move up in the company and make more money as well as take on more responsibility.

So with all of the common sense items removed from your resume objective, what's really left to grab your potential employer's attention? Not much.

Instead of struggling to describe your personality and exactly what type of job you are looking for, how about offering your prospective employer an answer to their main question - are you qualified for the position and are you worth calling for an interview? How do you accomplish this task? With a summary of qualifications for your resume!

This is usually a three-line paragraph that offers your prospective employer the ability to get a good overview of your skills and experience right from the start creating an immediate positive impression!

What are the benefits to a summary of qualifications?

It provides a concise summary of your main skills and experience.It's written in an "active" mode which creates the impression that you are a person of action.It sets up your potential employer with a positive impression right from the beginning of your resume which is what every candidate is competing for.

Here's an example of a summary of qualifications for your resume:

"Summary Of Qualifications: Over ten years of sales, advertising and marketing experience. Skilled in developing new product launches, increasing customer sales and creating effective print media. Proficient with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and MS Office software products."

Now a potential employer has a really solid idea of some of your top skills and they haven't even started reading the main portion of your resume.

So utilize a summary of qualifications for your resume and have your prospective employers calling you for interviews today!

Scott has been writing resumes and helping clients with successful career changes for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help and job search website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his free resume help website.

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The Great CV Debate - Summary or Detailed?

Summary CV or Detailed CV?
As a freelance Project Management/Programme Management contractor the main document I have to sell my services is my CV. This is a document that has taken years to hone and be in a position that I am really happy with it.

As my current assignment was coming to an end I decided to update my CV and get it out in the "jobsphere". I spent some time looking at it and thought, did it need a refresh? Is it still relevant? Will it still work?

Detailed CV
The current offering is 5 pages in length and details my career today well, the first page being a profile followed by a summary in key areas, those being -Project/Programme Management; General Management; People Management and Technical Application Management. Following on from this was the detailed chronology of roles over the subsequent 4 pages.

As well as looking at the CV I did a lot of research around the subject of CV's and it became clear that most sites and articles suggested a summary CV of no more than 3 pages.

Summary CV
As a result I decided to change my CV with this in mind. I worked with a colleague to make sure that the content was compelling and developed the 3 page CV. I sent this out and seemed to get some initial interest and thought that was job done. In fact I even achieved an interview from the CV within a day of publishing it!! (Although I did not get the assignment in the end as I was too expensive for the client).

After the initial flurry of interest it got very quite. This is unusual as you normally get at least a couple of calls a week when job hunting and over the last few years with my 5 pager I was getting calls from people who had picked up my CV even thought I wasn't actively seeking alternatives.

The fact it went very quite worried me a little and made me re-consider the content and was the summary CV the correct way to go? So I decided to develop a hybrid CV, taking the new rewritten summary from the new one and grafting it onto the more detailed CV.

With the hybrid CV developed and published I waited to see if this had changed the situation. To my surprise the number of calls increased considerably and one agent stated that he loved the detail in the CV as it answered a lot of the questions he would normally ask.

Detailed CV - The Winner
So in summary the recommendation from me in terms of your CV as an independent IT consultant is - develop a one page summary of your key skills and then provide a detailed chronology of your assignments with bullets of the key tasks you undertook.

If you are interested in having a look at my CV please contact me through the site and I will be delighted to send you a copy or advise my opinion on the best way to improve your current CV for the best effects.

Ross Garvey is a seasoned technology consultant with over 30 years' experience in the IT industry.

He constantly keeps himself up to date with the advances that happen frequently.

He is always on the lookout for the next destructive technology that will change the industry in ways that haven't yet been thought about.

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Resume Writing: Sell Yourself With A Qualifications Summary!

Writing a powerful resume that attracts attention and sells the goods; can be a challenging and sometimes daunting task. No question about it, a well written resume is a marketing document. And what it is marketing and selling is you.

A qualifications summary is the opening headline and content in a well written resume. It tells the reader, who you are, briefly outlines your relevant experience and highlights you skills that matches as closely as possible with the needs of the employer. It's also space to interject some personality. Think selling from the first word you write in your qualifications summary.

First, before content is written let's think format. Job title first and centered, perhaps 13 or 14 pt font, and highlighted. Next in 12 pt font, center two lines listing your best qualities. For example: cost-cutter, life-time learner, motivator, team-leader, project manager, sales professional, creative engineer, technological whiz, production manager, you get the idea.

It's best to include the nouns contained in the job announcement in this area. Of course only include skills that you can later back up in the body of the resume.

You'll need to list skills and accomplishments that describe you overall work experience. If you have an atta-boy/girl file this is your starting point. Otherwise look at previous performance reviews, completed projects, processes you managed, skills learned and applied, anything that describes you abilities and results achieved. Awards won are another possible area where you can highlight a specific skill.

Now comes the qualification summary, it can be in paragraph form or three to five bullet points. Bullet points seem to work best for most people.

In listing your qualifications in the summary you will get your direction from the job announcement. If the first skill set required is, "cost-cutting," your first sentence or bullet point should highlight your skills at cost-cutting. Use strong action verbs, for example rather than using the word "developed" a better choice is "created." Keep the point short, quantify the results and move to the second skill.

Again get direction from the job announcement. Continue this through three to five major points. Whenever possible naturally use keywords from the job announcement.

Now read over the bullet points you have written. Do they accurately reflect and sell you as a viable candidate for the job? If not, rewrite until you are satisfied.

As your job search progresses, you will have warehoused ten, twenty or more separate qualification summaries. This allows you to tailor each resume and cover letter submission to closely match the needs of the prospective employer. Don't get lazy on this point. The closer your qualification summary matches the requirements of the job you are more likely to be called in for a job interview.

Now you have the most important part of your resume written. The balance of the resume should back-up what you have told the employer in the summary. As a marketing document it will be doing its job, if the hiring manager reads beyond the qualification summary, you're more likely to make the sale and get called in for a job interview.

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

Read more ...

Resume Writing: Sell Yourself With A Qualifications Summary!

Writing a powerful resume that attracts attention and sells the goods; can be a challenging and sometimes daunting task. No question about it, a well written resume is a marketing document. And what it is marketing and selling is you.

A qualifications summary is the opening headline and content in a well written resume. It tells the reader, who you are, briefly outlines your relevant experience and highlights you skills that matches as closely as possible with the needs of the employer. It's also space to interject some personality. Think selling from the first word you write in your qualifications summary.

First, before content is written let's think format. Job title first and centered, perhaps 13 or 14 pt font, and highlighted. Next in 12 pt font, center two lines listing your best qualities. For example: cost-cutter, life-time learner, motivator, team-leader, project manager, sales professional, creative engineer, technological whiz, production manager, you get the idea.

It's best to include the nouns contained in the job announcement in this area. Of course only include skills that you can later back up in the body of the resume.

You'll need to list skills and accomplishments that describe you overall work experience. If you have an atta-boy/girl file this is your starting point. Otherwise look at previous performance reviews, completed projects, processes you managed, skills learned and applied, anything that describes you abilities and results achieved. Awards won are another possible area where you can highlight a specific skill.

Now comes the qualification summary, it can be in paragraph form or three to five bullet points. Bullet points seem to work best for most people.

In listing your qualifications in the summary you will get your direction from the job announcement. If the first skill set required is, "cost-cutting," your first sentence or bullet point should highlight your skills at cost-cutting. Use strong action verbs, for example rather than using the word "developed" a better choice is "created." Keep the point short, quantify the results and move to the second skill.

Again get direction from the job announcement. Continue this through three to five major points. Whenever possible naturally use keywords from the job announcement.

Now read over the bullet points you have written. Do they accurately reflect and sell you as a viable candidate for the job? If not, rewrite until you are satisfied.

As your job search progresses, you will have warehoused ten, twenty or more separate qualification summaries. This allows you to tailor each resume and cover letter submission to closely match the needs of the prospective employer. Don't get lazy on this point. The closer your qualification summary matches the requirements of the job you are more likely to be called in for a job interview.

Now you have the most important part of your resume written. The balance of the resume should back-up what you have told the employer in the summary. As a marketing document it will be doing its job, if the hiring manager reads beyond the qualification summary, you're more likely to make the sale and get called in for a job interview.

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

Read more ...

Resume Objective or Resume Summary Statement?

As a resume writing professional and career blogger one of the most common questions I am asked is about the need for an objective statement. Let me be very clear, you do not and should not have an objective statement on your resume. The header of your resume is the first place the reader's eye goes and this should be the place where you include the most valuable information. The objective statement provides zero value to the recruiter or hiring manger. The employer does not really care about what your objective is. They have a need they are trying to fill and the only thing they want to know is what you can do for them. At the top of your resume you must clearly explain how your experience and skills could help fill their need. If you fail to do this the reader will not even continue to look at the rest of your resume. Here is an example of an effective way to begin your resume:

"Accomplished sales representative with a proven ability to drive growth in a highly competitive environment. A results driven team player with 8 years of outside sales experience, 5 of which in pharmaceuticals. Persuasive and articulate communicator, skilled in negotiations and influencing key decision makers. Consistently recognized for exceeding sales goals. Creative problem solver with the ability to identify barriers and find solutions. Proficient in speaking and writing Spanish."

You can see how that statement would be more effective than this:

"Seeking to obtain a sales position that leverages my 5 years of pharmaceutical sales experience."

Using a summary statement instead of an objective will go a long way in presenting yourself as a top notch candidate.

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Should You Use a Career Summary in Your Resume?

By Erin Kennedy Erin Kennedy
Level: Platinum

Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, Inc. She is a nationally published ...

When presenting a resume to a prospective employer, you are essentially selling yourself. This includes not only selling your qualifications and abilities pertinent to the career you are seeking, but also selling your character, personality, and what makes you unique. Because employers typically have dozens of resumes to weed through before making decisions on which candidates to bring in and interview, they often don't have time to carefully read each and every one. Especially ones with an objective on it (and I am not even going to touch on the subject of "objectives" right now... that could take up another blog post). A well-written summary becomes your very first impression, and should catch the reader's eye to give you that edge.

Your summary should highlight what your employer will find most important: any top skills and abilities you may possess, your best attributes and characteristics that will contribute to the job, and what makes you unique and best suited for the job. You'll also want to include any experiences that relate to the job and its duties, your goals regarding the position, and what you as an individual can bring to the job or company that nobody else can. Each word and phrase should exude self-confidence in your ability and performance. Because you're selling yourself, feel free to use many descriptors and keyword action phrases about yourself and your abilities. Try to avoid generic terms such as "good" or "great", or worse, phrases such as "excellent communicator" or "detail-oriented". For example, if you wish to describe your leadership skills, rather than saying you are a "great leader", instead state that you're a leader because you're a "turnaround champion" or "product evangelist" and then follow-up with a brief summary why. Bring a previous experience in to back up your statement. Colorful words are a good way to make a fast impression, but it is even better to back those colorful words up with an 'action zinger' or actual background. Leave no room for doubt in your skills.

Resume summaries are typically written in two different styles: paragraph or bulleted. When using paragraph format, be sure to keep it no more than 4-5 lines long, as you don't want to seem long-winded and lose the interest of the reader. These lines will typically be a listing of the qualifications you possess that will make a lasting positive impact on the employer. I usually follow that up with a bulleted keyword list to grab the reader's attention.

When using bulleted style, you simply take those same lines and put them in bullets. You don't necessarily have to have complete sentences when using bullets, though you can if you want to. Bulleted styles are not a way I do very often, but I've seen them done from time to time and they look really great.

Remember that when writing your summary, you don't want to overload it with every single qualification and ability you possess.You want to showcase the ones that stand out the most to grab the reader's attention and make him or her want to read the rest of your resume. Be sure you closely proofread your summary when it is complete, as even the most basic writing skills can make a negative impression if there are errors present. Write your article in first person present tense, as though you are saying 'I' "Offer full-scale project management expertise", just don't actually use the personal pronouns.

With a well-written, concise summary, you should be successful in catching the interest of any prospective employer.

Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional & Executive Resume Writer/Career Consultant and President of Professional Resume Services, Inc. She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 9+ best-selling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigious T.O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Award. Erin has written thousands of resumes for executives and professionals. As a proud member of PARW, CDI, AORCP, Erin also sits on CDI's Credentialing Committee for new certification candidates and serves as a Mentor for CDI's Member Mentoring Committee. She also is a featured blogger on several well-known career sites. Reuse of this article is encouraged but must include a link to http://exclusive-executive-resumes.com/.

Want to know more about Erin Kennedy, CPRW? Read her LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/erinkennedycprw

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

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Article Submitted On: December 31, 2010

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