Naturallysilver

Are Your Résumé Headings Obsolete?

2011-06-24T10:28:00.004-05:00

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Ok, so you have now put together your idea of the perfect résumé and have started circulating it. You have formatted it by using a resume format you found on the internet. You believe it looks great! But have you just aged your resume into the “no hire” pile?

Today, résumés must make it through a potential employer’s “current and relevant” screening. Using outdated headings on your résumé (such as “Objective”, “Career Objective”, “Summary”, “Skills”, “Education”, “Employment History”) immediately ages a résumé and can trigger an employer to opt to not fully read or care what you have to offer because your résumé is passé and nondescript.

The good news is that by using newer and more eye-appealing terms such as “Professional Goal”, “Value Offered”, “Professional Training”, “Employment Narrative”, or “Career Chronology”, you can catapult your résumé to the top!

© Copyright Vet2Work/Naturallysilver 2010-11. No re-publication of this article is permitted without express permission. This is an excerpt from "Successful Career Moves" by C.A. Stapleton. About the author: C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced, published professional career consultant, mentor, and résumé/ biographical writer.

Older Workers and a Tight Labor Market

2011-06-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

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The United States Bureau of Labor projects a shortfall of 10 million workers in the U.S. by 2012, when the Baby Boomer generation retirements swell. This group of aging workers can be a plus for small business. Because many of these workers have been displaced through downsizing or retirement, they still often seek incomes either to supplement or to sustain the rewards working can bring. Many small businesses are finding that mature workers are generally more dependable, more loyal and tend to stay on the job.

Learn to Leverage Yourself

2011-05-27T10:28:00.000-05:00

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Leveraging yourself amongst the many job competitors in today’s tight job market isn’t easy. Especially if you are a seasoned veteran or a more senior worker who hasn’t had to use today’s technology much in order to survive. At least until now...

One piece of advice - use technology – don’t let it use you! Remember, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed by what you don’t know about today’s technology, you don’t have to spend a fortune to take a multitude of classes or run out and buy the latest products. You should make plans to attend free tech conferences, expos and trade shows in your area. Local civic organizations also sponsor free or minimally priced trainings. You can also read about the latest technology in the local newspaper or in magazines or in self help books from the library.

When asked about your technical skills, try to refrain from letting people know you have any discomforts with technology or using today's technological devices. Let them know, subtly, you are expanding your mental universe by embracing all things technological and enjoying it. You just might find that you really are.....

Preparing for an Interview

2011-01-09T10:34:00.002-06:00

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Setting out for the interview need not be too scary if you have prepared in advance. Here are a few pre-interview tips to make things go more smoothly.

1. Organize and prepare a portfolio. The portfolio doesn’t have to be fancy; a plain vanilla folder will serve for this purpose well. The portfolio should contain multiple copies of your résumé, letters of reference, copies of transcripts, recent certificates or certifications and examples of your work for the employer to review, if necessary. Call all of your references and let them know you are going to use them and re-affirm that you have the correct contact information on each one.

2. Review your résumé and proof for correctness. The more you review and proof and have others review and proof your résumé, the better. Remember to be truthful in all ways when presenting yourself to the employer through your résumé and supporting documentation.

Your résumé is the first impression the employer has of you, so honesty counts.

3. Create a short biography. Create a short synopsis about your professional self that will sell you to the potential employer. Practice it until you feel comfortable enough that you can relate it to the employer without hesitation and with confidence. You want the employer to know why they should pick you for the position. Remember to only highlight work related information.

4. Research the company and drive by it before the interview. Familiarity with the location will put you at ease on the day of the interview. Also, knowing a little bit about the company can help you convey to the employer what you like about them and why you would be a good fit.

5. Set your clock, your phone and your mind. Set your alarm clock in order to ready yourself for the interview and arrive early, re-charge and set your cell phone with the main number or given number of the interviewer in case something happens to delay you. Set your mind to be confident and secure that you are the best person for the position.

6. Practice your handshake. Yes, whether male or female, a firm handshake is important and displays confidence!

7. Get a good night’s sleep. You want to look refreshed and ready and a good night’s sleep will help you.

8. Arrive early. Get to the interview about 15 -20 minutes early. You will probably have to fill out an application for the employer (yes, even if you bring your résumé) but you will be prepared because you will have all of your information in your prepared portfolio!

Use A Tagline to Catch The Big One!

2010-11-18T16:08:00.001-06:00

Savvy business marketers know the importance of having a tagline to get a customer's attention. A tagline is branding slogan consisting of less than 10 words that sums up the premise of the product. Often we find certain taglines stick in our head and you find ourselves buying the product - sometimes without really realizing why we made the choice. It is possible that there was something in our subconscious that remembered that specific product tagline and made us make that specific selection.

Job seekers can do the same thing by creating a unique and creative tagline for their résumé. Using a tagline can draw the reader's (employer) attention and cause them to remember a specific résumé over others. Stumped on creating your own personal brand-tagline? Use a Roget's Thesaurus, or use the Synonym Finder by J.J. Rodale. It's fun to find your own personal brand and it can promote you to an employer like nothing else.

Where to put it when you create it? Put it at the top of your résumé just under your contact information.

Is your Resume Scaring potential employers?

2010-10-26T08:31:00.001-05:00

Is Your Résumé Spooking Employers?

Is your résumé chaotic with information in chasm of endless words? If so, you are probably "spooking" nascent employers. Time to clean out your resume's closet and remove the dark scariness of résumé's abyss! Change your "trick" into a "treat" by using less words to create more. The art of taking the fright out your résumé is to trim it down and feature only "treats" to entice a potential employer. These small nuggets of information will give you the lead in. You can provide further details when you get the interview.

Job Seeker’s Competition Isn’t Always “Unemployed”

2010-10-08T06:34:00.000-05:00

Unemployment remains relatively static at 9.6% nationwide. Today, these statistically documented out-of-work job seekers are not just competing for positions with their unemployed counterparts but also with the growing number of statistically undocumented “underemployed and underpaid” workers trying to lay their claim to additional superfluous income.

Traditionally, these workers are employed individuals who have taken significantly less paying positions due to a previous layoff, early retirement, or for other reasons. To sustain or maintain a previous lifestyle, these workers look to supplement their current decreased household income status by adding a part-time or even a second full time position scheduled on a different shift.

Although seeking a part-time position to supplement income is not a new concept, it has grown since the economic downswing has created so many unemployed and underemployed workers. The under-employed workers customarily tend to slip under the economic radar and therefore are not seen as a “threat” to the unemployed workers. However, these double-jobbers often take away even the slightest glimmer of the unemployed workers' chance at a position more often than not.

So, how does an unemployed worker find work against the growing tide of double-jobbers? First of all, get your application or resume for a position in early. Don't just rely on the internet and it's job sites - physically go to employers. Go to job fairs and arrive when they begin and visit each and every employer. Lastly, if you have a lot of past work experience - try using a career biography instead of a resume to get the employer's attention.

Create a professional biography

2010-09-30T06:16:00.000-05:00

Create a Professional Biography

Once only used for detailing and promoting a celebrity’s information, a professional career biography may take the place of a résumé if you have a large amount of experience and information you want to convey to potential employers in a compressed form. A biography for employment is generally less rigid than a traditional résumé, and is also generally more appealing. As a rule, a career biography works well for professionals with an extensive employment portfolio, unemployed individuals who have remained busy through volunteering, independent writers and business professionals, and any other persons hoping to establish or re-establish an employment record.

The art of creating your biography is simple, you will probably use information from your last résumé or portfolio for your biographical information. It is very important to write your biography in third person. While going through information, check to see if you have saved letters of reference from which you can pull informational quotes and insert into the body your biography. You should also carefully assess your résumé for any specific accomplishments or qualifications to insert into your biography. Because a career biography should be brief (around 400-600 words), try to summarize and paraphrase your work experience as much as possible. Remember that you should not use bullets in your biography (you can use numbers but use them sparingly).

When beginning your biography, write a one to three sentence introduction which includes your education, past employment, and your future goals. The second paragraph should provide information on why you are writing the biography – making a career move or change, or re-entering the workforce. The next paragraph should provide your past employment highlights, any special training or schooling you have received, and your personal strengths and attributes. This is your “Knockout” paragraph! Your final paragraph should relate to the employer why you are the right person for their organization.

One really important note: Do not include a photo on your biography! See a sample biography

Time to Interview? Prepare for the Behavioral Questions

2010-09-30T06:05:00.000-05:00

Pre-interview preparation:

There is one significant thing you should do before you go for your first or any job interview – participate in a pseudo or “mock” interview. Mock interviews are very important because they provide job seekers with a tremendous opportunity to practice the “art of interviewing”, master the process of answering tough questions (such as behavioral) in a “live” interview simulation, and to receive all important constructive feedback on what you have done right and need to improve. Receiving practical feedback can provide a way for you to improve upon your verbal communication and presentation skills, and will result in a definite enrichment of your ability to interview successfully. To fully be effective, you may want to run through at least one mock interview and review with the voluntary participants of the interview panel or individual interview your responses to the questions asked. Once you have written down and reviewed your answers, you may want to schedule and participate in a second mock interview session to continue to enhance and build your confidence for an actual employment interview.

Technical Skills are Needed

2010-09-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Countless senior workers are learning that, in order to obtain a new part time or full time position, they must develop enhanced computer skills. This need often presents a challenge in view of the fact that many more senior workers were employed for years in traditional employment venues that required little or no computer skills. Even though the technological age grew up around them, and because they did not find a need, many workers are presently unaware of the most basic operations now required - including "how to turn on a computer" or "how to use the internet". Read more at http://www.naturallysiver.com/jobsearch...

Steps to a Strong Recovery from a Job Loss

2010-02-16T13:09:00.000-06:00

1. Concentrate on setting goals. Your very first goal should be to develop a job searching routine and strategy that works for you. Just as different people find different solutions to solving problems, different job search techniques work better for some than all. The first step is to determine your “plan of attack for finding work”. Although the advent of the internet search has made it easy to get your résumé out to many employers, the best plan of attack includes some “face- to-face contact” with employers (even if it is with the company’s receptionist). Face-to-face contact also builds your self-confidence – which can be a benefit to you during an interview).
2. Create a “realistic” resume. Although you may have had many accomplishments in your past work history – begin to “discard” older accomplishments and revive or develop “new” accomplishments. Build upon your keyboarding skills; or learn some new information on useful programs (there are many “free demonstrations” on the web). Your new “realistic resume” should also detail your new or redefined career goals. The best way to go into the future is to let go of the past!
3. Determine dynamic “keywords” for your resume. Use a thesaurus and think about how you can change keywords to match you individually. Example: you are a “positive person” – the thesaurus gives you “optimistic”, “constructive”, “helpful”, “affirmative”, “certain” , and “confident”. You feel “confident” so you put that you are a “confident person” instead of a “positive person”. This best describes you and will give your resume a different look. Match words from the thesaurus to your personality when writing your summary or descriptions. It is like piecing together a puzzle with the end result – a true picture of you!
4. Reduce your contact with former co-workers. Despite your departure, life goes on in the workplace and for your former co-workers. So, limit the number and the amount of contact you have with them. Too much contact with them while you are seeking employment can have a negative effect on your attitude and on theirs. Wait and make positive contact with them when you have found your new career!
5. Allow an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon for “mind relaxation”. During this time, set your focus on your personal non-expensive interests such as gardening, walking, exercising, reading or cooking. Limit the time to one hour only and don’t skip this “free from pressure hour”. Once you have taken your “break” you will find your mind has new ideas and you will have a more positive day!
6. Develop a job hunting routine and flip-flop the routine every other week. Falling into a routine is good but can also have a negative impact if you are not getting the results you want. If your week’s routine is to go to individual employers in person and leave a resume in the morning and then to do an internet search and e-mail your resume to employers you find interesting in the afternoon, then switch the routine every other week.
7. Learn to accept the time it takes to find new employment. If you are on unemployment don’t stop making a conscientious effort to find a new job. Many people use unemployment as a “vacation” until it is almost gone and then start a frantic job search which often ends with little or no results. The faster you are off the “unemployed list, the better!

How do we save jobs?

2008-01-15T07:53:00.000-06:00

How can the workforce be saved? One way is to look at part time employment for older workers.

Buyout strategies are going to come back on business

2008-01-15T07:37:00.000-06:00

Whenever you read about layoffs, you read that buyouts have been offered to those employees who are close to retirement. Often, the employees take the buyout and then go on to other jobs. However, the employer often combine the vacant position with another thereby doubling the work of the existing workers. With baby boomers ready to retire, who will fill these positions? In most of the recent surveys, companies have not strategized as to how they are going to make up for this loss.