Are You Using the Right Resume Keywords?

Read more ...

5 Tips for Using the Right Keywords for Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, most companies use tracking systems to screen candidates for job openings. Software programs, internet job boards, and resume databases are the ones used most often. If your resume doesn't have the keywords that recruiting managers are looking for, it will most likely fall into the "no" pile, no matter how qualified for the job you may be. Here are some tips for matching the keywords in your resume to the jobs you want:

Match your keywords to the job description. First, search for the job you want on job search engines, such as Indeed, Monster, or CareerBuilder. For example, if the title of the job you want is "Social Media Manager," type these words into the search engine. Take a look at the job descriptions for each search result you come up with. Which specific words are used? Keep an eye on which certain skills are required, such as proficiency in WordPress and HTML. You want to use those same words in your resume. Some good keywords for the position of Social Media Manager are social media, marketing, sales, and project management. But since different job descriptions use different keywords, be sure to tailor your resume for each individual job.
Include your keywords at the very top of your resume. For instance, if your resume has a "Summary of Qualifications" near the top of the page, here's your chance to include all industry-specific keyword nouns and phrases. This ensures that your resume is found faster.
Talk to people in your industry about which ones to use. Go to the websites of the professional associations in your industry. Which keywords are being used in the content of these sites? Also, don't be afraid to ask colleagues, managers, and friends in your industry about what keywords would be of most use to you.
Consider your professional and educational achievements. Use keywords that describe your professional areas of expertise (i.e. web design, blogging, financial planning). Job titles and descriptions of your education (i.e. MBA) are also excellent keywords.
Keep an ear out for everyday jargon used in your industry. What words are professionals in your industry using most often? Putting these words in your resume will get you noticed. The Occupational Information Network, or ONetOnline.org, is also a good resource for finding descriptive words specific to your particular industry. Just do a search for a specific keyword and several job titles will come up in the results.

Nadia Laffan is a SUNY Purchase grad looking for a digital marketing position. She specializes in social media, blogging, and SEO topics. Follow her on Linkedin and Twitter for her professional advice, or send her an email at nadialaffan@zoho.com.

Read more ...

Using Free Resume Writing Effectively

Resume writing no longer has to be a chore when you use the free services which are available; however, you need to choose these wisely. There are several different services available, which will provide you with templates and writing software. However, you need to ensure that you choose one that is effective and top quality.

If you find that you are struggling to write your resume, you may find that the software and templates are ideal to get you back on track. There are many different websites and companies, who offer a vast array of different services. You should decide on the style of resume that you need to write, and begin to search the different services on offer.

The software and templates, which are available, will ensure that you can write a professional resume with very little stress. The finished article will be top quality, and help your potential employee to sense how experienced you are for the job. However, you need to be aware that the free software can be basic, and not provide you with what need.

Basic templates are fantastic if you have an idea of what you want to write, however, if you are entirely unsure they can be too basic. There is more detailed, free resume software available, you simply need to search for it, and choose carefully. You want to ensure that all the information you need has been included in the resume, and that you are happy with the result.

The free services are excellent to use for deciding which template offers you the best resume for your needs. Which one, you choose will often depend on the job that you are applying for, and what information you need to include. Resumes are typically quite short, and you need to master the art of including everything, but condensed.

You can often download the free software, which will merge with your existing word processing program. This will provide you with excellent templates in the future for CV's resumes and cover letters which are essential. This letter is vital and needs to be perfect in every way, to ensure that your resume stands out from all of the others.

The resume services, which you choose will offer tips and advice on how to make your resume attractive and common mistakes which are made. Grammar and spelling are two aspects, which are often overlooked, and can cause a negative impact on your resume. You need to ensure that you do not rely on your computer, and the free software to check what you have written.

For more great information on some great resume writing tips we have a range of great tools and resources on our website http://cvwritingexperts.com/ so visit us today.

Read more ...

5 Tips for Using the Right Keywords for Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, most companies use tracking systems to screen candidates for job openings. Software programs, internet job boards, and resume databases are the ones used most often. If your resume doesn't have the keywords that recruiting managers are looking for, it will most likely fall into the "no" pile, no matter how qualified for the job you may be. Here are some tips for matching the keywords in your resume to the jobs you want:

Match your keywords to the job description. First, search for the job you want on job search engines, such as Indeed, Monster, or CareerBuilder. For example, if the title of the job you want is "Social Media Manager," type these words into the search engine. Take a look at the job descriptions for each search result you come up with. Which specific words are used? Keep an eye on which certain skills are required, such as proficiency in WordPress and HTML. You want to use those same words in your resume. Some good keywords for the position of Social Media Manager are social media, marketing, sales, and project management. But since different job descriptions use different keywords, be sure to tailor your resume for each individual job.
Include your keywords at the very top of your resume. For instance, if your resume has a "Summary of Qualifications" near the top of the page, here's your chance to include all industry-specific keyword nouns and phrases. This ensures that your resume is found faster.
Talk to people in your industry about which ones to use. Go to the websites of the professional associations in your industry. Which keywords are being used in the content of these sites? Also, don't be afraid to ask colleagues, managers, and friends in your industry about what keywords would be of most use to you.
Consider your professional and educational achievements. Use keywords that describe your professional areas of expertise (i.e. web design, blogging, financial planning). Job titles and descriptions of your education (i.e. MBA) are also excellent keywords.
Keep an ear out for everyday jargon used in your industry. What words are professionals in your industry using most often? Putting these words in your resume will get you noticed. The Occupational Information Network, or ONetOnline.org, is also a good resource for finding descriptive words specific to your particular industry. Just do a search for a specific keyword and several job titles will come up in the results.

Nadia Laffan is a SUNY Purchase grad looking for a digital marketing position. She specializes in social media, blogging, and SEO topics. Follow her on Linkedin and Twitter for her professional advice, or send her an email at nadialaffan@zoho.com.

Read more ...

Using Free Resume Writing Effectively

Resume writing no longer has to be a chore when you use the free services which are available; however, you need to choose these wisely. There are several different services available, which will provide you with templates and writing software. However, you need to ensure that you choose one that is effective and top quality.

If you find that you are struggling to write your resume, you may find that the software and templates are ideal to get you back on track. There are many different websites and companies, who offer a vast array of different services. You should decide on the style of resume that you need to write, and begin to search the different services on offer.

The software and templates, which are available, will ensure that you can write a professional resume with very little stress. The finished article will be top quality, and help your potential employee to sense how experienced you are for the job. However, you need to be aware that the free software can be basic, and not provide you with what need.

Basic templates are fantastic if you have an idea of what you want to write, however, if you are entirely unsure they can be too basic. There is more detailed, free resume software available, you simply need to search for it, and choose carefully. You want to ensure that all the information you need has been included in the resume, and that you are happy with the result.

The free services are excellent to use for deciding which template offers you the best resume for your needs. Which one, you choose will often depend on the job that you are applying for, and what information you need to include. Resumes are typically quite short, and you need to master the art of including everything, but condensed.

You can often download the free software, which will merge with your existing word processing program. This will provide you with excellent templates in the future for CV's resumes and cover letters which are essential. This letter is vital and needs to be perfect in every way, to ensure that your resume stands out from all of the others.

The resume services, which you choose will offer tips and advice on how to make your resume attractive and common mistakes which are made. Grammar and spelling are two aspects, which are often overlooked, and can cause a negative impact on your resume. You need to ensure that you do not rely on your computer, and the free software to check what you have written.

For more great information on some great resume writing tips we have a range of great tools and resources on our website http://cvwritingexperts.com/ so visit us today.

Read more ...

Resume Mastery - Using the Rule of Three

There's a reason why people like to be presented with three choices rather than two or five. When it comes to pleasing the human brain, it seems like three is a magic number to help us master the technique of resume success. Many also believe that a set of three bullet points is the most effective use of the format within a resume.

Can you remember a time you went to the store to buy a number of things you needed but you could only remember three of the things you went to get? That is the Rule of Three. Lists of three have been used for years, and are particularly popular with politicians and advertisers who know the value of using the rule to sell their ideas. An example: "Stop, Look, and Listen." Another would be Julius Caesar's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen."

Aristotle wrote the Rule of Three in his book of Rhetoric, reaffirming that, for the most part, people have a propensity to easily only remember three things. When you send out your resume, chances are that the reader will only remember three things from it. So, before you start preparing for a possible interview, you need to plan what your three key items are going to be on your resume.

In resume creation, less is always more. The three major parts of the resume are the heading, the summary, and the experience/skills section. Plan out what you are going to say in each of these three parts to grab the viewer's attention. Contrary to the SAR or OAR interview methodology, make your first part of each section the most positive and powerful one. And, if you have four main points in a section, cut one of the responses out. The reader probably wouldn't remember it anyway.

Keeping your resume detail interesting is a much more difficult task than most people realize. There is a very delicate balance between statements so boring that people start to doze off and those that are so complicated that the interviewer can't keep up with it any longer and gives up. Therefore, a resume's success could result if you constructively structure your resume around the rule and then use the rule to the fullest by coming out with positive results rather than structured job duties. Once you have created your outline, let someone review it. The more you have people review your resume, the more you can hone in on the right wording and have a significant advantage over your competitors.

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 ...

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 ...

Using Sample Resumes To Increase Your Interviews

In today's economy, getting a job can be tough. With so many business going under and thousands and thousands of people losing their jobs, unemployment rates are sky high. Getting a job interview can be extremely difficult being that the pool of potential candidates is often full of over qualified people eager for any position regardless of pay levels. With so many people fighting over very few job openings, how do you get your resume noticed? By following a few simple steps for and using sample resumes and other online resume building tools to help to perfect your resume and get you more interviews for the resumes your send out.

What Makes a Great Resume

Having the basic information necessary for a resume is a must for making sure that your resume is considered by your potential employer. You must provide a solid statement of objective, a few short sentences about why you want the position. Also, include information about your education and any relevant work experiences. To make yourself stand out, also include a few examples of awards and honors that you have received that may set you apart from other candidates. Finally, make sure that you have a series of reliable references to finish off your resume. Many people have good resumes. They are logically set up and contain great information about the job candidate. In order to make sure that you get invited to an interview, your resume needs to be better than good. Your resume needs to uniquely stand out without being over the top and it must contain the necessary information that the employer will be looking for. By doing a quick search on the Internet, you can find out not only how to write a logical and elegant resume, but you can also find ideas about how to make your resume stand out from the rest. For example, if your resume is to be submitted electronically, consider setting it up as a presentation or with an attractive format that shows off your unique style. Also, make sure to put your contact information in an easy to read and easy to remember format several places on your resume. This will help the person reviewing your resume to remember you after reading hundreds of resumes.

Online Resources

Online resources are often the best and easiest way to find out more information about how to perfect your resume. By comparing your resume to other sample resumes online, you can make sure that the information that you provided is listed in a logical order that makes sense when reading it. Also, online examples of resumes may give you an idea as to how to write a good objective statement or how to compose a compelling cover letter. Using online references may give you ideas for making your resumes professionally unique, though you should also use your own creativity to add spark to an ordinary application.

By being creative, you can make sure that the resumes that you send out turn into interviews and that those interviews turn into jobs. In the extremely competitive job market today, it is important to make sure that your resume is unique, complete, and logical.

Thomas Roberts is a professional who has studied resume writing to improve his own career, although he does not claim expertise. If you need help with your resume and want excellent sample resumes to guide you he recommends the e-book "101 Before-and-After Resume Examples." Download it now at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com/

Read more ...

Using Sample Resumes To Increase Your Interviews

In today's economy, getting a job can be tough. With so many business going under and thousands and thousands of people losing their jobs, unemployment rates are sky high. Getting a job interview can be extremely difficult being that the pool of potential candidates is often full of over qualified people eager for any position regardless of pay levels. With so many people fighting over very few job openings, how do you get your resume noticed? By following a few simple steps for and using sample resumes and other online resume building tools to help to perfect your resume and get you more interviews for the resumes your send out.

What Makes a Great Resume

Having the basic information necessary for a resume is a must for making sure that your resume is considered by your potential employer. You must provide a solid statement of objective, a few short sentences about why you want the position. Also, include information about your education and any relevant work experiences. To make yourself stand out, also include a few examples of awards and honors that you have received that may set you apart from other candidates. Finally, make sure that you have a series of reliable references to finish off your resume. Many people have good resumes. They are logically set up and contain great information about the job candidate. In order to make sure that you get invited to an interview, your resume needs to be better than good. Your resume needs to uniquely stand out without being over the top and it must contain the necessary information that the employer will be looking for. By doing a quick search on the Internet, you can find out not only how to write a logical and elegant resume, but you can also find ideas about how to make your resume stand out from the rest. For example, if your resume is to be submitted electronically, consider setting it up as a presentation or with an attractive format that shows off your unique style. Also, make sure to put your contact information in an easy to read and easy to remember format several places on your resume. This will help the person reviewing your resume to remember you after reading hundreds of resumes.

Online Resources

Online resources are often the best and easiest way to find out more information about how to perfect your resume. By comparing your resume to other sample resumes online, you can make sure that the information that you provided is listed in a logical order that makes sense when reading it. Also, online examples of resumes may give you an idea as to how to write a good objective statement or how to compose a compelling cover letter. Using online references may give you ideas for making your resumes professionally unique, though you should also use your own creativity to add spark to an ordinary application.

By being creative, you can make sure that the resumes that you send out turn into interviews and that those interviews turn into jobs. In the extremely competitive job market today, it is important to make sure that your resume is unique, complete, and logical.

Thomas Roberts is a professional who has studied resume writing to improve his own career, although he does not claim expertise. If you need help with your resume and want excellent sample resumes to guide you he recommends the e-book "101 Before-and-After Resume Examples." Download it now at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com/

Read more ...

How To Land A Great Job Using Template Resumes

Landing the perfect job takes a mixture of good timing and presentation. Your resume says a lot about how organized, experienced and professional you are. Being able to stand out from the crowd is crucial. The idea of using template resumes, or prefabricated forms to snag that all-important position seems self-defeating. The fact is, a template is designed to maximize the amount of information that an employer needs from you to make a quality hiring decision.

No longer is a simple list of former employers on a piece of paper going to get you noticed. Education, interests and achievements are more important than ever. An employer attempts to make a long term decision to invest time and money into every employee they hire. Putting your best foot forward from the beginning is the best way to ensure a positive result.

Using a template will allow you to place all the information in an easy to find layout, but gives you flexibility to be creative and individual. There are different font sizes and types, border colors and decorative designs to help grab the attention of the potential employer. The odds of two resumes being submitted that look exactly alike are astronomical.

The window of opportunity to catch the eye of the employer is very small. Many times it amounts to a minute or less. A poorly put together resume will end up in the trash every time. You may be the most qualified person for the job, but if the information they need can't be found quickly, they will move right along to the next candidate. Time is money when it comes to business.

The biggest problem when trying to put together your own resume is forgetting valuable information. It's true that a potential employer wants to know what work experience you have, but they are also interested in whether you are involved in volunteer activity, won awards or have plans of continuing education. There are many factors that are taken into account when filling positions. It wouldn't make much sense for a company to hire someone if they had plans to move out of the country or switch vocations in the near future.

Using a template resume will help you stay focused and on track while presenting yourself as the most experienced and logical choice to get the job done. A concise, well organized resume is what every employment recruiter wants. This allows them to concentrate on asking questions during an interview that pertain to the open position, rather than trying to fish out information about you that should and could have been supplied on the resume.

The economy always has and always will undergo ups and downs. The downs make it a little bit harder to find that perfect job, but it certainly isn't impossible. Give yourself the best advantage to getting the job you want by submitting a top notch resume. Lack of attention to details, or forgetting an important piece of information could amount to a lost employment opportunity.

Thomas Roberts is a professional who has studied the art of resume writing to improve his own career, although he does not claim expertise. If you need help with your resume, as an alternative to template resumes he recommends the e-book "101 Before-and-After Resume Examples." Download it now at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com/

Read more ...

Resume Mastery - Using the Rule of Three

There's a reason why people like to be presented with three choices rather than two or five. When it comes to pleasing the human brain, it seems like three is a magic number to help us master the technique of resume success. Many also believe that a set of three bullet points is the most effective use of the format within a resume.

Can you remember a time you went to the store to buy a number of things you needed but you could only remember three of the things you went to get? That is the Rule of Three. Lists of three have been used for years, and are particularly popular with politicians and advertisers who know the value of using the rule to sell their ideas. An example: "Stop, Look, and Listen." Another would be Julius Caesar's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen."

Aristotle wrote the Rule of Three in his book of Rhetoric, reaffirming that, for the most part, people have a propensity to easily only remember three things. When you send out your resume, chances are that the reader will only remember three things from it. So, before you start preparing for a possible interview, you need to plan what your three key items are going to be on your resume.

In resume creation, less is always more. The three major parts of the resume are the heading, the summary, and the experience/skills section. Plan out what you are going to say in each of these three parts to grab the viewer's attention. Contrary to the SAR or OAR interview methodology, make your first part of each section the most positive and powerful one. And, if you have four main points in a section, cut one of the responses out. The reader probably wouldn't remember it anyway.

Keeping your resume detail interesting is a much more difficult task than most people realize. There is a very delicate balance between statements so boring that people start to doze off and those that are so complicated that the interviewer can't keep up with it any longer and gives up. Therefore, a resume's success could result if you constructively structure your resume around the rule and then use the rule to the fullest by coming out with positive results rather than structured job duties. Once you have created your outline, let someone review it. The more you have people review your resume, the more you can hone in on the right wording and have a significant advantage over your competitors.

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 ...

Could You Benefit From Using A Resume Professional?

It could be tough to find a job in this economy. It is even more difficult to find a job when you don't develop a resume that sounds professional. If you think you need help with your application, you should go about finding a resume professional who knows what he is doing. Making this decision could help you land a job in the near future.

Establish An Excellent First Impression

Some job hunters don't realize that your resume is the very first impression you make on a future employer. A careless resume is not going to get the job done. Delivering a job application that has spelling mistakes or poor grammar is not going to help you. Misspelling a word by nothing but a single letter can make you look quite imprudent.

Communicate Your Achievements In Context

Lots of individuals find it challenging to be unprejudiced when they prepare their own resume. They may even insert points that have no importance to the job. For instance, one person was quoted as declaring they ought to be hired because they could be great for the company softball team. No professional would ever let you to put in a sentence like that. It has nothing to do with the job that you are applying for. It is also improbable to sway the hiring manager either. Unless you are applying for a job with the Yankees, the company is not hunting for somebody to play third base.

Steer clear of Excessive Buzzwords

You may think that using buzzwords makes you seem like a professional. It may, but if you use them excessively it will backfire. In reality, overabundant buzzwords make you seem like somebody who is trying too hard. You have to prepare a resume that seems like a person wrote it. This denotes you should come off as natural and sounding like yourself. Enlisting the services of a professional can help you speak in the desired tone. Using buzzwords excessively is a good way to get yourself ruled out from additional job consideration. On the other hand, not making use of buzzwords enough or using them inappropriately is also a good way to get yourself disqualified. A resume professional can help!

Format The Resume Effectively

There is a certain way you are supposed to format your resume. However, that format has evolved a lot in the past few years. It used to be that you would put your contact information on the top of your resume. An objective statement would come after that. In today's times, there is generally no need for an objective statement. It has been replaced by the qualifications profile.

It is also okay to include an email address and a URL to your social media profiles. Employers might even do an online search of their own to check into your background. Furnishing a link to a social media page can offer more data about who you are and what you do. A professional will help you maximize this.

There are a lot of great reasons why you would want to retain a resume professional. This person can help you write a powerful resume that sounds natural and professional. It will be devoid of spelling blunders and other weaknesses. Do yourself a favor by engaging someone to develop your resume if you are not able to do so yourself.

Elizabeth Shelton has a professional interest in the art of resume writing and how the services of a resume professional can improve job search results, although she doesn't claim to be an expert. To get expert help on your resume, she recommends you contact a resume professional. One of the best resume firms online can be found at http://www.distinctiveweb.com/

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 ...

Writing a Cover Letter - Tips for Using Power Phrases

If you're in the process of looking for employment then you will no doubt be in the process of writing numerous cover letters to accompany your job application forms and CV submissions. Writing these letters can become a bit of a chore, and some job seekers can slip into the trap of using clichés or standardised industry phrases, that can sometimes help but sometimes hinder the impact that your cover letter has. There is a definite art to wording your cover letter correctly and in refining the number and use of power phrases within it, but before we can look at this art, we need to define the term 'power phrases'.

Firstly, phrases such as 'highly motivated', 'a team player', 'able to apply initiative' are all power phrases that define excellent qualities that an employer would want to see from a prospective job candidate. But the trouble with these generalised power phrases is that, most good cover letters will contain information such as this. The key to using such phrases well is to ensure that they are accompanied with examples of how you have demonstrated these skills. Rather than simply stating, 'I am a good team player, you could instead write, 'I worked within a department of ten staff, where we all supported each other to consistently achieve the monthly sales targets for the team.' This gives some credibility to the fact that you are a team player without using that basic power phrase. You could then expand on this example further within the application form, explaining exactly what you did to help your team.

Some power phrases, however, should be left in their natural form, in order to give that 'wow factor'. These generally relate to industry specific phrases that an employer would be specifically looking for in order to assess whether you do indeed have the knowledge and experience that you are portraying. For example, if you are applying for a job in health or social care, it would be wise to mention that you always work within the guidelines and regulations stipulated by the Care Quality Commission. This shows that not only are you a professional who works within the framework of a regulatory body, but you know exactly what that body is called, and this will hopefully imply that you also know what the regulations are.

In summary therefore, power phrases can be a standard list of desirable skills, or industry specific jargon. These phrases should be used sensibly so that they do not deliver the bulk of the letter's content and are supported by substantive evidence or statements. Getting the balance right will help you to produce a high quality, professional cover letter.

Do you want a professional cover letter? Then why not let JMD Editorial and Writing Services write it for you?

Read more ...

4 Benefits of Using a Chronological Resume

When it's time to create, or update, your resume in preparation of finding a new job, you may find the experience more challenging than you expected. One issue that often stumps job seekers is choosing the right resume format. The two most common formats are the chronological and function resume. The question is: which format is best at positioning you as an ideal candidate? The answer: the format that best presents your qualifications, skills and experience; however, the chronological format is used most often.

Introductory Summary

It used to be common for resumes to include a career objective at the beginning of the document. An objective focuses on what you hope to gain from a hiring company. In a stagnant job market where there are more people searching for jobs than there are jobs available, standing apart from other job candidates after the exact same opportunity is crucial.

Unlike the often generic objective, a summary is more about the qualifications and skills you bring to the table. It shows employers how they benefit from choosing you. It's much more comprehensive than a career objective, and can be a determining factor in whether or not a prospective employer continues to review the written details of your career history and ultimately invites you to interview.

Job History Listed Chronologically

Research has shown that employers find it much easier to scan and digest the information of a chronological resume than other formats. The information is arranged from the most recent company and job position to the least, making it easy to note the duties and highlights accomplished in your most recent position and review the progression of your career history.

Easy to Scan

Research has shown that employers spend less than 20 seconds reviewing the resumes they receive. Obviously they are not reading them word for word. They are scanning the content looking for information that stands out, like use of industry jargon and keywords, specific competencies, certifications and the overall progression of your career.

This information should be formatted strategically using bold, white space and bullets to make scanning easier on the eyes. Sentences should be tight using language that makes a strong impact. Each section of the resume should also be clearly titled.

Best Way to Show Career Progression

As mentioned previously, a chronological resume format is the best format for detailing the progression of your work experience. If you've jumped around from random job to job with no clear career path, this may not be beneficial as it will only draw attention to an erratic career history.

If you have worked consistently within a specific profession or industry like project management, sales, IT or accounting, providing a steady career and job promotion path to potential employers can be a good thing. It shows credibility, consistency and a dedication to your field.

A professional resume writer can create an employer-focused career document designed to get you noticed. Find out how professional resume writing services can give you an edge against the competition in your job search.

Read more ...

Crafting The Perfect Cover Letter - Why You Must Be Careful About Using Online Examples

So, you are back in the job market? You're getting your resume all brushed up, putting yourself out there and hoping employers look your way. And now you hear that when submitting your resume to potential employers you should be including a cover letter.

But what is a cover letter supposed to look like? If you send a bad letter and the other competitors for the job send a good one, you are going to be out. So you've done what nearly everyone in your position does: you've went to the Internet looking for an example.

It's not a bad idea, because the person who took the time to make a webpage on the subject probably knows a few things about how to write a cover letter. But there are a few problems with this idea. You probably used one of the two most popular search engines to find the page with your sample on it, and these are the same two search engines everyone uses. So everyone is finding the same page and downloading the same letter. Sure, they will change it slightly, but when a hiring executive sees 80 versions of the same sample letter, do you think he is very impressed? I'll just let you know on that one: No, he is not impressed with that. He is bored.

So, assuming you don't want to bore the potential employers, you are going to need to work a little harder. Either you will want to dig much deeper and find better samples that are industry specific, or you will need to craft one from scratch using the samples for ideas. Either way, you will want to personalize each cover letter a little bit, saying a few words about the company and how you really would love to be a part of that team.

Either way, you need to realize that the cover letter is very important, and it is your best chance to sell your unique skills to the potential employer. In your resume you are pretty much required to just list the facts, but in the letter you can paint yourself in the best light, and enthusiastically tell why you will be an excellent employee.

Creating a perfect cover is not an exact science, but if you take the time to put a good, job-specific letter on each resume, your chances of getting hired quickly go up exponentially. Just remember to be enthusiastic, optimistic, and professional.

Read more ...

Top 3 Tips For Using Resume Builder Websites

Resume builder websites have become a very popular choice in the past few years for those looking to create a resume quickly and effectively.

There are numerous resume builders on the web and many have valuable programs that can help you get your resume created with a minimal amount of time. A simple search on Google turns up over 900,000 results for these type of resume sites. So how do you wade through the thousands of sites trying to find out which one will assist you in getting your resume in the best shape possible?

Here are a few tips that should help you make some key decisions:

Know Your Format Ahead Of Time

Remember, that your resume creates the first impression of you to your potential employer. Don't pick just any old resume format that you see because you think it might work for you. Take a few minutes and research what resume format is going to work best for you. The three standard resume formats are chronological, functional or a combination resume format. I prefer the combination format as it highlights your skills first as well as your employment history. Once you have your format in place, you will be able to easily narrow down your choices for resume builders to the one(s) that offer your specific format.

Is Free Really Free?

If you are searching for a free resume builder, make sure that it is free! Several of the resume sites offer a "free trial" but then want you to upgrade to their annual membership package to receive the full benefits that you thought you might be receiving with the free trial. Give the site a quick review and make sure that you know what your options are and the possible costs involved.

A Little Goes A Long Way

Do a little prep work on your own first. All of the online resume builders are there to assist you with actually formatting your resume. For many of the sites, you will have to create all of your wording and sometimes much of the formatting as well. Take some time to outline what you would like on your resume first! Then you can fill in the blanks as needed. Make sure that you have your resume action words and power sentences all lined up so that you can fill them in and watch your resume take shape. Creating those sentences is not difficult if you use an action word in front of your skill or experience and follow it up with a result that occurred from the experience. Here's an example of a power sentence:

Developed a new call back procedure for former clients that increased sales by 15% in the first year.

Finally, remember that you are unique and you do have your own voice! Your resume should showcase your skills and experience the way you would like to see them displayed. Yes there are some standard formats that you should adhere to when creating your resume, but don't get caught following a template you don't like and then settling for the way it looks. Take a look at several resume samples online and see which one really speaks to your skills and experience. You want to be proud of you resume when you send it out!

Read more ...

Using Resume Samples to Help You Write a Resume

There are certainly a lot of books and resources on the web to help you write a good resume. If you have the financial resources, it's also not a bad idea to have a professional resume writer prepare your resume. However, for most people a resume writer is out of their budget. In that case, you can still use their resources by viewing the resume samples that are posted on the web.

The first key to using a resume sample is to understand who wrote it. Professional resume writers obviously have the skills and writing expertise to produce the most compelling statements. So make sure you are looking at resumes that are well written by professional writers or career consultants. If you can't tell who wrote it, it may be randomly generated text. So be careful.

Next, search for resumes on the web that fall under your job title or field. If you have a job that is somewhat obscure, then just search for resumes that are in the same industry. If you still can't find resumes in your field, then look at executive, management and sales resumes as these resumes are generally written by the best resume writing firms.

Once you find some resume samples to review, you need to pay attention to the resume format. Look how the personal information heading is constructed at the top of the page. Pay attention to how the summary is produced. Look at the headings for each section and review the sentence structure of each job position.

The idea behind using a resume sample is not to copy statements, but to learn how the phrases are constructed. The top of the resume should have a summary that will list skills and expertise. Some of the statements are vague and can easily be transitioned into your resume. You may have to make slight modifications to ensure that the statements describe your background.

The phrases within the experience section should start with action verbs. They shouldn't be written in first person and they shouldn't use pronouns. An example of an experience statement:

"Planned and implemented new marketing software that increased sales by 25%."

You may not have actually implemented software system, but maybe you deployed another project that saved the company money. You can build a statement using the action verbs, describing the event, then quantifying the results if possible.

Using resume samples can be very helpful. You can learn how others have put together compelling statements that grab the reader's attention. You can learn how to structure the resume and utilize interesting formats. And in the end, even if you don't use any phrases, the resume samples can help you generate ideas that you can use for your own resume.

Thomas Robert is the author of this article on Resume Samples. Find more information On Resume Writing Resources here.

Read more ...

Using Resume Examples - For and Against

It does not matter if you are a graduate fresh from college, a mom wanting to return to the workforce or a successful business person wanting to make a career change, you are going to need a good resume. For many people, their first step in creating a resume is to find an sample that they can follow. You may get that example from a friend, college class or an internet site.

It is easier to get your thoughts together with an outline. You can use the resume sample as an outline and just exchange your information for the information in the resume. In addition, the resume template may bring to mind some experience or vital information you may not have thought of. Resume templages give the correct verbiage that many people in the business world are looking for in a resume. They remind the users to use action words and to give evidence of duties performed rather than just job titles.

Most resume samples are put together to look good. They are spaced correctly so that information is readable and easily accessible. They help to draw attention to skills, experience, and achievements that attract employers. Resume examples can be found that are specific to almost any career that you are pursuing. If an expected form exists for a certain career, then the resume normally follow that form. Now, let us look at some of the arguments against a resume samples.

Resume templates can cause you to look like just another person in the line for a job. If you are too standardized, then why should the potential employer choose you over anyone else? Resume examples may cause you to leave out some critical information that your potential employer needs to know about you. If you have years of volunteer experience, but the resume example you are using has none, then where do you insert your volunteer experience.

Resume examples leave little room to express your own creativity. While there may be a certain style that is expected in a resume, you should be able to present your information that reflects your own sense of style and personality. Do not get so caught up in the form that your resume becomes sterilized and does not present the real you.

The job market is tough today, so you will want to do everything you can to make the best first impression on any potential employer. In order to make that best impression, you will want to weigh the pros and cons of resume examples. You may wish to look at several of the examples before beginning your own resume, but instead of sticking exactly to the example, gather important terms and style and then put together a resume that will stand out in the crowd. Let that potential employer know that you are the person for whom they are looking for.

If you are interested in articles related to career planning and development, interviews, job search, and resume writing, please go to http://www.theresumeprofessionals.com

Michael M. Fox, NRWA, CPRW, MBA
Toll Free: 1-800-288-5819
Fax: 1-800-735-9931
Website: http://www.theresumeprofessionals.com/

Read more ...

Using Resume Examples - For and Against

It does not matter if you are a graduate fresh from college, a mom wanting to return to the workforce or a successful business person wanting to make a career change, you are going to need a good resume. For many people, their first step in creating a resume is to find an sample that they can follow. You may get that example from a friend, college class or an internet site.

It is easier to get your thoughts together with an outline. You can use the resume sample as an outline and just exchange your information for the information in the resume. In addition, the resume template may bring to mind some experience or vital information you may not have thought of. Resume templages give the correct verbiage that many people in the business world are looking for in a resume. They remind the users to use action words and to give evidence of duties performed rather than just job titles.

Most resume samples are put together to look good. They are spaced correctly so that information is readable and easily accessible. They help to draw attention to skills, experience, and achievements that attract employers. Resume examples can be found that are specific to almost any career that you are pursuing. If an expected form exists for a certain career, then the resume normally follow that form. Now, let us look at some of the arguments against a resume samples.

Resume templates can cause you to look like just another person in the line for a job. If you are too standardized, then why should the potential employer choose you over anyone else? Resume examples may cause you to leave out some critical information that your potential employer needs to know about you. If you have years of volunteer experience, but the resume example you are using has none, then where do you insert your volunteer experience.

Resume examples leave little room to express your own creativity. While there may be a certain style that is expected in a resume, you should be able to present your information that reflects your own sense of style and personality. Do not get so caught up in the form that your resume becomes sterilized and does not present the real you.

The job market is tough today, so you will want to do everything you can to make the best first impression on any potential employer. In order to make that best impression, you will want to weigh the pros and cons of resume examples. You may wish to look at several of the examples before beginning your own resume, but instead of sticking exactly to the example, gather important terms and style and then put together a resume that will stand out in the crowd. Let that potential employer know that you are the person for whom they are looking for.

If you are interested in articles related to career planning and development, interviews, job search, and resume writing, please go to http://www.theresumeprofessionals.com

Michael M. Fox, NRWA, CPRW, MBA
Toll Free: 1-800-288-5819
Fax: 1-800-735-9931
Website: http://www.theresumeprofessionals.com/

Read more ...