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Resume Mistakes: The Five Worst Resume Sins
Your resume is a company's first look at what skills and accomplishments you might bring to the job. Don't make it their last look! Be sure to avoid these major resume mistakes: • You failed to tailor your resume to the specific job you want. So even though you have the skills that the company asked for in their ...
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Top Secrets of The Expert Job Search
Top Secrets of The Expert Search By Steven Provenzano, CPRW/CEIP Author: Top Secret Executive Resumes Every day I talk with top professionals and executives looking for a better job. But deep down, they know they want more than a job - they want more fulfillment. They need to see a greater value and satisfaction in the 40-50 hours of brainpower and expertise they put forth every week. They have excellent skills and experience in their industry, but now they're faced with finding a new position, or expanding their career, and have very little background in that department.
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Top Secrets of Expert Resumes
It seems no matter how good we have it, we all want a better job. That means keeping track of job listings, networking, tracking down leads, analyzing potential employers and scheduling interviews. But these depend on other people, word of mouth, and the quality and quantity of job postings available at any given time. Only your resume gives you total control over how you're perceived by potential employers.
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Lessons Learned from Unemployment by Steve Matter
Like millions of other Americans, I found myself a victim of a layoff during this Great Recession. It was the first time I was unemployed in a career spanning 36 years. There is a famous line from the Godfather movie, “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business.” Eliminating a job may be strictly business for the company, but when you are on the receiving end of the notification, you can’t help but take it personally.r
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How Not to Choose a Professional Resume Writer - 7 Questions to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
In the competitive world of resume writing, finding a professional you can trust is a daunting task. It's becoming increasingly more difficult to separate the good from the ok, and the fair from the poor. What complicates matters even more is that it's a pretty unregulated industry and buyers who don't carefully select a provider can be left in the lurch. To avoid being disappointed in your results or, even worse, scammed out of your hard-ea ed money, ask the important questions before you give begin any project.
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5 Inside Secrets to Write a Great Customer Service Cover Letter
The cover letter is one of the basic requirements of applying for the customer service job profile. Therefore, it is essential to create a constructive cover letter to get an opportunity for attending the interview. Consider the below illustrated 5 secrets of drafting a great cover letter for your customer service job profile:
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Producing a Highly Effective Cover Letter for Dentist Job
The dentistry industry is likely to see an expansion in its job prospects due to the development of the dentistry techniques and the rise of dental care insurance proceedings. This has attracted both the entry level and experienced individuals to develop their career in this field.
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13 Resume Blunders That Can Cost You the Interview
We start with the mistakes that should be avoided at any cost in case you do not wish to lose the opportunity of being interviewed. 13 –Unprofessional e-mail id: cutie_catherine@coolid.com, pingme_peter@dumbmail.com, chocolicious_cake_jennifer@stupendousmail.com, etc. are not allowed at any cost. 12 –Skipping details: One of the biggest resume blunders, skipping information like employment dates, year of passing out from your college, etc., are a strict NO.
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Customer Service Resume Tips - Maximizes the chances of getting your dream job
Customer service representatives have to handle numerous job responsibilities. They interact with the clients in response to their queries and provide necessary solution. They have to handle the customer complaints and assist the customers in opening accounts for different utilities like electricity, gas, telephone, etc. When you are applying for such position, you need to include all the necessary skills in your application to impress the employers and get the desired job opportunity.
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How can resume examples make the writing process easier for you?
When you are a fresh graduate and are searching for a good job opportunity, you probably need a perfect CV describing all your existing skills, qualifications and all other things that makes you suitable for any job. You can either write the resume on your own or get it written from an expert. It is recommended to write a resume on your own as no other person will know you better that yourself. You can present yourself on paper in a better way than any other person. But there is again a hurdle in your way if you don’t know how to write a resume.
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How to Write an Effective Job Description?
Hiring is a combination of both, tact of selecting the right people as well as being able to sell your organization. The first step of hiring is giving out information about openings in your company or firm; advertising so to say. The most important thing that comes to the forefront is the job description. Candidates and probable employees check the job description first and then look at your company profile. It is the basic job that matters to a job seeker more than anything else. So here is how you go about writing an effective job description. Your Priority
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Importance of Job Description
The importance of job description cannot be overseen or given a skip when deciding one's career or while planning a change of job. The reason behind it is related to psychology as well as common sense, but unfortunately people do not pay much attention to it. The moment you mention job descriptions, all you get in the search results are the duties and responsibilities of the designation and job. There are other crucial things to be weighed and they are given below in brief. Reason for Working
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Receptionist Job Description: Duties and Responsibilities of Receptionist Job
A receptionist’s job in layman’s language as the name suggests is to be at the reception and tackle everything and everyone who comes there. The actual scenario is little different though, it is not that the receptionist does not have his or her duties chalked out. Talking technically of the receptionist job description and duties, kindly find them listed in the following: Being the Hostr The receptionists, because of their placement of desk, have to greet people who come to the organization, ask them about their work with them, inform them about their requirement, etc.
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Resume Template for College Student without Work Experience
Finding a job becomes as difficult as one can imagine when you do not have experience. Employers need trained people who are aware of what to do, how to do it, and are aware of professional working culture. In this scenario it becomes difficult to make a resume which will fetch you a good job. Unless of course if you have a tool like, student resume templates.
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Tips on Writing Professional Summary for your Resume
The professional summary in your resume will give the synopsis of your career to the hiring managers. It will provide the list of your major accomplishments, job related skills and specialized traits. While writing the resume, you can use the summary of your qualifications at the beginning. This part will give the hiring managers an overview of what information is presented in your resume. This will save their time and get clear idea about your skills and achievements. Here are some resume writing tips to help you know how to present the professional summary in your resume.
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What to include in a skill section for customer service resume?
Customer service agent is the person assisting the clients and providing online help to the customers. These agents have to directly communicate with the client and solve their queries. Hence, this position needs a person with excellent communication skills. You may not know anything about the customer you need to handle, hence, you must possess excellent convincing ability to cool down the angry customer or handle any other tricky problems. If you are applying for such position, you need to refer the free customer service resume templates to draft your own CV.
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Advantages of Resume Template
Building a resume is an overwhelming task. Readymade resume templates will make your CV writing much easier. These are the proper, pre-writte CV formats that can be downloaded and edited to draft a perfect CV. Using these templates, you will save your time otherwise wasted on collecting the details for your CV, looking for the appropriate format, CV sections, etc. The tips for designing free customer service resume templates are discussed below. With the use of this template, you can draft a resume for customer service position. Customer Service Resume Templates
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Free Customer Service Resume Templates - How to Get the Job you want?
Customer service position is an important post in IT industry. The person working in this position needs to be well qualified to handle the number of complex job responsibilities associated with the position. Your resume for this position must list the skills necessary for this position. You need to make your resume stand out from the crowd and writing it in an appealing way can only make it happen. You need to follow all the basic CV writing tips to highlight your major details in your CV.
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How to write a resume for international job?
The resumes for jobs in foreign countries need special attention. It is important to know the conventions, business terms and other cultural differences before you write the resume for such jobs. The basic purpose of the resume is to get you to the interview round. When you write the CV for any job, you are writing it to get short listed for the interview. Remember that you are not alone making an application for the job. There are many others like you writing the CVs for grabbing the opportunity. You need to standout from all these applicants and catch an employer’s eye.
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Important Skills for Customer Service Resume Templates
The job of a customer service executive includes assisting the clients as per their needs and providing them online assistance. When applying for this position, it is important to highlight the necessary skills expected by the hiring managers for better impact. Knowing that resume is the only way to get you to the job interview, you need to write it in an outstanding way so that it grabs the attention of the employers and gets you the job opportunity. For this you must include all the necessary details as expected by the employer.
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Online Customer Service Resume Templates for Resume Writing
Customer service agent is the person providing necessary solutions to the queries of the clients. They generally do not communicate with the clients face to face, but remain online and provide online assistance. If you are an experienced customer service agent and wish to apply for the job in some company, you need a resume describing your experience and key accomplishments. After gaining sufficient experience, many people think that their selection does not depend on their CV as they possess the necessary experience; however this is completely false.
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Professional Resume Writer - Boost Your Selection Chances in a Company
Resume is the promotional document that will reflect your skills, qualifications and other job relevant details. It is the only thing through which employer can decide your suitability for the position. Employer will spend very less time on going through your resume details. Within this short time period, your resume must grab the attention of the employer. For this, it should be written keeping in mind the requirements of the job and expectations of the employer. If you are not aware of the resume writing tips, you can get your CV written from the professional writers.
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The Best Resume Formats for IT Professionals
In the period of economic crisis, many IT professionals lose their jobs. When they apply for jobs in similar fields, it is completely their responsibility to make their skills and experiences look outstanding in their resume so that employer is convinced to hire them for the job. For this purpose you can choose the appropriate resume formats to help you design an accurate and attractive resume. From the number of formats, choose the best resume format that suits your details and highlights your application from a heap of applications.
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Usage of Resume Template
As of now everyone knows that resume is the communication tool to present yourself in front of the employer before you actually appear for the personal interview. A perfect resume must include the job specific details of the applicant, describing the skills, employment details and academics. You must take special care when writing a resume. Resume templates is the best option to help you draft a winning resume. These templates are available for all job applications. You can select the appropriate template, edit it, and fill in your details to build your CV.
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What do you like to see in your resume?
Resume is the important document in your job search. It plays a vital role in getting you to the job interview. It will make a good first impression on the employer and you will definitely not want to make it bad. You need to include all the details in your CV those can make you stand out from other candidates and make you get noticed. For designing a quality resume, follow all the basic resume writing guidelines and get noticed. Significance of CV
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Dusting Off - The Old Résumé
In May 2010, the Georgia Department of Labor reported that over 57,000 initial unemployment claims were filed with Atlanta leading other state regions in claims; reporting just over 28,000. If you are a statistic of the 10.2% unemployed citizens in the state of Georgia, you know first-hand that the competition for placement in this labor market is tough. Businesses have made cut backs in most every area, to include employees, and with minor spikes in supply and demand; employers are reluctant to return to previous staffing levels.
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Are you sabotaging your job search?
There are many minefields in the path of job searchers today. Are you successfully navigating them and reaching your job search goals? Here are 5 missteps that could blow you out of the running for a potential job:
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Avoid Being Scammed During Job Search
Did you know a job search puts you at a higher risk of getting ripped off, scammed, suckered, or “phished”? (“Phishing” is the term for fraudulent — but official-looking — emails that attempt to acquire information such as use ames, passwords, and financial details.)
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How to Ace the Lunch Interview
Strategically, hiring managers prefer lunch interviews because of the laid-back environment, where interviewees may be less guarded and more likely to reveal information they normally wouldn’t in an office setting. Another reason is that the open position may require the incumbent to attend client lunch meetings, and the interviewer wants to gauge the interviewee’s dining etiquette. In addition, the candidate’s credentials may be impressive and the hiring manager wants to pull out all the stops.
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How to Answer Tough Interview Questions
Traditional interview questions are nerve wracking enough to answer. When interviewers ask tough interview questions you can get thrown off your game. To prepare for these potential curveballs, you should be aware of example questions that may come your way. Being privy of potential interview questions and how to answer each will help you prepare for what otherwise can be an uncomfortable situation. The questions below are actual ones that have been asked during interviews. - You lack experience, and I don’t have time to train you.
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Resumes Don’t Win Job Offers, Only Interviews Do
Many people put too much weight on the resume. Simply, the resume's purpose is to get your phone to ring. It’s not going to win you a position before you get in the door. Sure, you can gain a competitive advantage with a well-written resume, since the interviewer will have preconceived notions of who you are and what you can bring to the table. However, the interviewer will not be smitten enough to hire you based on the resume alone.
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Salary Negotiations Begin with Your Resume
Many job seekers state that their resumes win interviews, but they never receive offers. If after a series of interviews, you fall under this category, it’s time to assess what may be wrong. To rise above the no-callback pattern, let’s consider five job interview errors that could be holding you back. · Though you should be an active participant in the interview process, you should not take over the interview.
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Turn Ho-Hum Resume Objective Statements into Powerful Assertions
Resume objectives are outdated. In order to capture the attention of a decision maker, the introduction of your resume should outline your experience, not provide a weak sentence or two that focuses on your needs. An example of this: “Seeking a position that will utilize my education and experience.” This type of introduction is blasé and won’t move the interviewer to pick up the phone to call you.
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Twitter counts when job searching! Hear what a CEO has to say.
You have to pay attention to how companies are using Twitter to check out candidates for job openings when someone like Sarah Robb O’Hagan, the president of Equinox, says she doesn’t care about your credentials, she would rather see your Twitter feed. Seriously? By now all job seekers should know that the first step in a hiring process today is to check out a potential candidate on Google. What your online presence says about you speaks volumes to a potential employer.
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What 5 soft skills do you need for better interview results?
Cultural fit is very high on the list of hiring criteria and “likability” is one of the reasons many candidates don’t get the job. How would you rate your emotional intelligence aka soft skills? Since soft skills play a role in most hiring decisions, how can you demonstrate them during an interview to your advantage?
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7 questions every jobseeker needs to ask before making a career change
It’s Sunday night and reality has hit - you have to go to work tomorrow. Your stomach starts chu ing, or anxiety is creating a headache or other stress related symptoms. You know you are not happy at your current job, but what are your options? What do you need to be, know and do to make a change?
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Ready to update your resume? Accomplishments are key – Part 1 of 3
Have you decided it was time to update your resume? Job opportunities knocking at your door and you have nothing but an old outdated resume? One of the most important aspects of a resume is demonstrating accomplishments and how your experiences and skills can benefit a future employer.
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Ready to update your resume? Accomplishments are key – Part 2 of 3
In Part 1 of this series, I wrote about the importance of accomplishments while conducting an effective job search. Once you have collected and organized these accomplishments, you are ready to start using them. The first place you want to showcase your achievements is in your resume and any other written communications such as a cover letter. And be sure to save this information to use later on in pre-screen phone calls and interviews.
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Ready to update your resume? Accomplishments are key – Part 3 of 3
This is the last in a series of articles addressing accomplishments and the importance of highlighting them in your job search documents and interviews. Part 1 discussed ways to collect, track and document accomplishments. Part 2 covered several ways to write up your accomplishments. The following questions may help you identify additional accomplishments. Work Accomplishments: *What is unique about how you do your job? *What does your current boss praise you for? *Do you have quotas or goals in your current position? Are you able to meet or exceed them?r
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Took a Career Break? 3 Tips to Help You Get Back to Work
Did your last job cause you to re-evaluate your career direction? Whether it was a toxic work environment, declining industry, raise a family, whatever the circumstances, you decided to take a break. And now you are ready to re-enter the workforce. Returning to work after an absence has many job seekers fearful that they will not be considered for employment because their skills may be outdated, or experience no longer relevant. These three tips may be of some help.
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What Top 5 Skills Do Job Seekers Need To Get Hired In 2013?
Seasoned job seekers know that highlighting skills on a resume is critical. Once the resume gets your foot in the door, the candidate can shine in the interview by showing how skills were used and contributed to the success of former employers. The following top four skills are listed in 9 out of 10 most in-demand jobs: 1. Active Listening – giving your audience (whether it is one person or a group) your full attention, no texting or looking at cell phones during conversations. 2. Decision Making – choosing appropriate actions, taking into consideration the costs and benefits.
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What's Ruining Your Resume?
When you commit to finding a new job, your resume becomes an obsession. That’s understandable since so much of your career success is riding on the resume language and layout you choose. Sometimes that pressure can be paralyzing and leave you unsure of how to revise a new draft or an outdated version of your resume. Below are three common issues jobseekers do that ruin their resumes, and in turn, minimize their chances for getting interviews. Empty phrases / wordsr
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Death is Not an Option: Health Insurance Help for Laid-off Workers
One of my clients was diagnosed with breast cancer after he’d unexpectedly lost his job as a Food Services Director. Another client’s “wrenched knee” made walking agonizing. Driving his car to job interviews was almost impossible. He needed surgery, but he’d lost his health insurance. A ...
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Entrepreneurs and Job Seekers: Look Before You Leap
Did you know Small Businesses annually generate 60% to 80% of the nation’s new jobs? Defined by the Federal Government as independent businesses with fewer than 500 employees, they represent approximately 99.7% of all employer firms and pay 45% of the total U.S. private payroll. It’s ...
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Laid-off? Can't Afford Health Insurance?
One of my clients was diagnosed with breast cancer after he’d unexpectedly lost his job as a Food Services Director. Another client’s “wrenched knee” made walking agonizing. Driving his car to job interviews was almost impossible. He needed surgery, but he’d lost his health insurance. A ...
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Prove Doomsayers Wrong
The incessant “it’s the worse economy since the Great Depression… nobody’s hiring” drumbeat is unnerving. It’s also painfully inaccurate, but we’re in danger of doomsayer’s words becoming self-fulfilling prophecy. The fear they’ve created is palpable. Even the rich are cutting back on ...
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Prove Doomsayers Wrong / Job Hunting in a Recession
The incessant “it’s the worse economy since the Great Depression… nobody’s hiring” drumbeat is unnerving. It’s also painfully inaccurate, but we’re in danger of doomsayer’s words becoming self-fulfilling prophecy. The fear they’ve created is palpable. Even the rich are cutting back on ...
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The Typical Resume Only Receives About 10-20 Seconds of Attention
You think that after all the time, effort, sweat equity and frustration you put into the preparation of your resume, it will be received with open arms by the person or company representative you took the time to send it to. You picture the “target” individual opening up the email or envelope ...
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When Will I Know I Am an Expert?
The last thing an “Expert” will ever call themselves is an “Expert”. In fact, even the “Experts” will tell you that they learn something every day in the conduct of business through the provision of service or the application of principles. The key to gaining recognition as an expert is not ...
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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.
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Raise the Lid on Your Leadership Potential
Are you a successful leader looking for more ways to increase your leadership skills? Do you want to be, do and have more in order to add value to others through your leadership? If so, this article is written just for you!
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Recession Proof Your Job Search
When the job market is tight, it may be tempting to cut corners on your job search, but for the sake of landing a position, please don’t. When it’s a buyer’s market, you owe it to yourself and your family to put your best foot forward. To stand out, there are three key factors you need to ...
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Resume mistakes that can kill job seekers’ chances of getting interviewed
Resume mistakes that can kill job seekers’ chances of getting interviewed Sometimes the distinction between being considered for a job or having your resume tossed aside, can hinge on certain mistakes in the resume. Hiring managers almost always automatically reject a candidate with resume mistakes. According to a CareerBuilder survey of 2,300 hiring managers these are the top three errors that they see: 1. Typos 61% 2. Inappropriate email addresses 35% 3. Not listing skills 30% Typosr
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Resume not doing the job of getting you interviews? 9 reasons why
Resume not doing the job of getting you interviews? Let's look at nine reasons why. 1. Cookie cutter format. Employers won’t call if your resume is too generic. It needs to showcase you as the unique person you are, with exceptional skills and talents that position you as the best candidate for their job opening. 2. Not achievement driven. Employers want to see what results you contributed to, and how you did it. Listing only duties and responsibilities will not convey the full story.
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Skills Everyone Should Have on a Resume
The common thought when a person talks about skills for a resume is to list basics like team-oriented, attention-to-detail, customer service, leadership, etc. What some people are neglecting to list on the resume are beyond those basic skills to show technical savvy and language abilities. These are two very important skill areas that appeal to hiring managers and set you apart from the competition by adding that extra element of knowledge. This in no way diminishes the importance of listing all skills and talents, basic and otherwise.
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50 Quick Interview Tips
1. Identify your accomplishments before you go on an interview. 2. Don’t let your guard down. No matter how friendly the interviewer is, you must always remember that s/he is not your friend. 3. Answer the interviewer’s questions in a direct and concise manner. 4. Identify your needs and ...
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Be Ready to Answer the Top 10 Job Interview Questions
GREAT INTERVIEWS GET THE JOB It can be easy to convince ourselves that the job interview doesn’t matter so much, as long as our resume is outstanding, our dress is impeccably professional, and that we are nice people. After all, nice people do win in the end, don’t they? Unfortunately, this ...
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Follow-Up Letters Win Job Offers
A surefire way to separate yourself from a sea of other qualified candidates is to write a follow-up letter after an interview. Most job seekers neglect to write a letter, assuming that once they leave the interviewer’s office the interview is over. Well, it isn’t. The interview process extends ...
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Google+ - what every job seeker needs to know
Many of you may be thinking – no, not another social network! I don’t have time for the other ones. Well, Google+ is not about to go away. In fact, I predict that we will see it grow exponentially in the next few years in a similar way to how LinkedIn (now over 86 million visitors) shot up the charts. Just recently it was reported that Google+ had over 61 million visitors so it is growing quickly. Why? Because it is “Google,” and Google has a somewhat unparalleled online influence. As a job seeker it is important to be aware of the social push that Google+ has. Social Networkr
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It May Be Time to Walk in an Employer's Shoes
If you are in a job search and aren’t receiving viable hits, it’s time to walk a mile in an employer’s shoes. Okay, I realize what you may be thinking. For just one day, you would like an employer to walk in your shoes so they can be sympathetic to the stresses you are going through on a daily ...
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Now, Do You Have Any Questions?
“Who is that hot babe in the picture?” isn’t the type of reply an interviewer expects to hear when he or she invites you to ask questions near the end of an interview. In fact, the way you approach the Q&A session will have a direct impact on the interviewer’s perception of you. Based on the ...
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Resume Basics All Job Seekers Need to Know
The purpose of the resume is to get you an interview, not necessarily to get you the job. Would you buy a car without a test drive? Companies want to test drive you too. Your resume should tell a story, from beginning to end and answer these questions: Who are you? What have you done? What makes you special? Why should we hire you?
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Seven Habits of Highly Successful Job Seekers
In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time. ‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was offered a position ...
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So, Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself
"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" is the mostfrequently asked interview question. It's a question thatmost interviewees expect and the one they have the mostdifficulty answering. Though one could answer this open-ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answeringthis question or ...
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There's No Need to Pad Your Resume
It seems like a good idea, harmless in fact. Your friends assure you that everybody does it and that employers rarely check resume facts. Going on blind faith and convinced the truth hasn’t been helpful so far, you seriously consider fabricating information on your resume. You adapt the school ...
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What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
The fastest way to make a good interview go bad is to avoid questions posed by the hiring manager. The one question candidates love to avoid is, "What is your greatest weakness?" Most candidates are quick to respond with superficial answers such as "I'm a workaholic" or "I'm a perfectionist." ...
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When Cover Letters Get Personal
“It is with great interest and enthusiasm that I submit my resume for your review.” Most cover letters are written in this humdrum tone. Cover letters do not need to be so dull, nor so uninteresting. This style of cover letter writing has been around for years; and it’s a trend that has ...
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Would you like a salary raise? 5 tips to be successful!
It’s no secret that salaries are not keeping up with the economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported that income growth is flat and mainly unchanged from the previous quarter. This puts employers in a position of strength when negotiating salaries. CFOs say they are willing to negotiate with top candidates on salary in 2012, according to a Robert Half study, but not everyone feels comfortable asking for a higher salary. 5 tips for negotiating salary: Industry
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3 Ways to Maximize Your Internet Job Search
You follow instructions completing online applications, faxing resumes, emailing resumes, and you never hear a word. It is frustrating and even depressing submitting resumes and getting no responses. Unfortunately, technology has the potential to make you feel like your job search is completely impersonal. You may feel lost in cyberspace. The media has even recently been reporting about people who have simply given up the job search in despair.
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5 Reasons Your Resume Isn't Getting Read
Have you applied for countless job vacancies only to receive silence in return? There are a few common blunders people make that cause employers to toss their resumes after only the first few sentences. Read on to be sure you aren’t committing these resume crimes:
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5 Ways to Solve the Age Issue in Interviews
Do you think employers are shying away from hiring you because of your age? Have you been told you’re “overqualified”? You may not be able to hide your age, but there are ways to make hiring you appealing. There are five main reasons why employers don’t want to hire older applicants, and here is what to do:
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Accelerate Your Job Search with a Portfolio
Let’s pretend we’re not in a recession and imagine you are going to shop for a new car. You’ve got dozens of models and makes of cars in front of you on the car lot, each with a paper in the window citing its specifications. If that’s all the information you have, then aside from personal preferences in color and such, how will you decide which car is worthy of your thousands of dollars? You want to see some consumer reviews or ratings, right? You want know how it drives, how it performs compared to its commercials on television.
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Adapting to the New Face of Employment
companies are more and more often using innovative strategies to cut costs with employees. Businesses remain insecure about the economic market, and the costs employers are skimping on are benefits packages and salaries. In order to do this, they have devised several tactics, and if you close off your job search to include traditional full-time with benefits jobs, you may be unemployed for a very long time. These are the new faces of employment:
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Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Resume Questions
1. Does my resume really need to be one page? No. The length should be as long as it takes to briefly describe your skills, education, and experience, and accomplishments which are relevant to the job for which you are applying; however, try to keep it two pages or less or you risk not having it read in its entirety. Hiring authorities are busy people and don’t want to read a bunch of unnecessary or irrelevant information. If you are still fairly early in your career, try to condense it on one page, but don’t feel restricted to it. 2. What is an objective statement?r
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Finding Job Opportunities and Accessing the Hidden Job Market
The way candidates find work has changed drastically from the way they have historically. No longer can you walk into a business off the street and have your application or resume reviewed on the spot. With the flooded pool of applicants in the market, learning to access “the hidden job market” is key to decreasing your competition. Monster and CareerBuilder jobs are viewable by anyone with Internet access and the number of job seekers is in the millions. That is unreasonable competition. The following steps can boost your success in finding a job:
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How and Why to Be an Employer Focused Candidate
With so many candidates in the applicant pool in the sluggish economy, employers have the pick of the litter. Therefore, you have to work extra hard to impress and prove that they need you. Frankly, they don’t care whether you are seeking a “growing company” or “opportunity for advancement”. What they are conce ed with is their bottom line and whether you can enhance it. What you need to do is tailor your skills, experience, and education on your resume to make you precisely the candidate they are seeking.
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How to Deal with Gaps in Your Work History
Maybe you took time out from your career to raise children. Maybe you resigned your last job to commit yourself full-time to your college studies. Perhaps you have been ill or caring for an ill parent who no longer needs your help. Whatever the reason, you’re now ready to throw yourself back into the working world but are not sure how to address the gap in your work history. If there is a gap, you must be prepared to discuss the reason with potential employers.
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How to Get the Hiring Manager's Approval
Although employers may ask you all kinds of questions in interviews, there are really five main things they want to know about you, and all of their questions are geared around them. Your resume may even be screened out for red flags that call into question your ability to provide these five qualities. Here is what they want to know: 1. Be reliable and dependable.r
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How to Network Most Effectively
Research says that about 80% of people employed got their job through networking. Often, these jobs were never even advertised, making them part of the “hidden job market”. You know how so-and-so knew about a job at his sister-in-law’s brother’s friend’s company? That’s how networking works. It’s strictly word-of-mouth information. It’s all about who you know. Sometimes, companies receive applicants for a position before it even becomes open, because other employees knew the job was going to become available and they let their network people know.
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How To Update Your Resume Without Outdated Features
Resumes no longer have rules. They are marketing tools, and they are selling you to potential employers. They can be as individual as the people they represent. Resumes in today’s highly competitive job market should be employer-driven, all about how you fit the employer’s needs and bring value to their company.
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Improve Your Interviewing Body Language
Are you communicating a positive attitude and interested demeanor to your interviewers? Body language (kinesics) is a significant part of communication and psychologists say that over 50% of the meaning of communication is non-verbal. Some say up to 90%. Much of the way we interpret the body language of others is subconscious so we're not always aware we're doing it but it is constantly happening in conversations.
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Layoff Survival 101
Losing your job is stressful, even traumatic. If you suspect an impending layoff and can stay one step ahead of the game, you are less likely to panic when the time comes. Even still, the first few weeks may feel like culture shock. The structure of your daily life has changed and may have left you feeling helpless in despair. Following these steps can help you to retain a sense of power over your situation, the optimism of hope, and sound structure in planning your future career decisions.
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Make Yourself Employable
There has been a lot in the news lately about the long-term unemployed and how employers are discriminating against them. Why are they discriminating? They believe you are “unemployable”. They assume that if a hundred employers have already looked at you and passed over you for other more appealing candidates, there must be a good reason. They assume you must lack the skills, experience, education, or stability to be successful. Is it true? Maybe you need to reassess your job search techniques and see if there is an aspect that is shooting down your chances.
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Resume Mistakes Job Seekers Make
Any job seeker who has tried writing a resume knows resume writing is much more complex than it actually looks. There is an art to designing a resume and when job seekers get it right, they increase their chances of gaining of interviews. Let’s take a look at resume mistakes the majority of candidates make: Resume Mistake Number 1
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Resume Writing: Where to Start
Resume writing is daunting work for people who write a resume once a year, or once a decade in some cases. With this article, we hope to take the mystery out of what to do when writing a resume. Below are five points to consider when you’re staring at your blank computer screen wondering how to start: 1. Resume Writing Strategy
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4 Reasons Why Sales Associate Resumes Fail
You've applied for loads of jobs. You think you're well qualified and have more that what it takes for the job you you're applying for. Only there's a problem, you’re just not getting any calls. If you're not getting as many call backs from recruiters or potential employers as you'd like it's time to take a serious look at your resume.
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A very quick easy step by step guide to creating a Computer Science resume from scratch
Starting a Computer Science resume from scratch is an intimidating task. However if you have a method to work through it may make your life just that tiny bit easier. All the excitement of applying for a great job new job is soon forgotten when you realise you need to update your resume. If you stick to a process you’ll find it a bit easier to get started. In this article I’m going to cover four main things you need to do to create a Computer Science resume. Are you ready, let’s get cracking! A Brainstorming Session
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Behavioural Interview Questions - Example Questions You Need To Know
As a result of increasing effectiveness it's almost 100% sure that an interviewer is going to ask you behavioural interview style questions. Being asked behavioural interview questions for the first time without practice is very intimidating. It's not really until you've put some serious practice into learning this technique that you'll find it easier to deal with this type of interview. Generally, interviewers ask questions based on job related categories or areas a company think are important for the job.
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Increase Your Attention Span With The Help Of Mindfulness Exercises
Ironically the most successful communication and information tool of our time the Internet is also the best at shattering our concentration. With the number of gadgets everyone has along with the always on attitude it's become so hard to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. For anyone trying to become more productive this is a serious problem. Focus
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Practice Mindfulness Exercises Without The Fancy Robes
As documented in Wikipedia "Mindfulness describes a psychological quality which involves bringing one’s complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis". This is all fine and dandy if we give up our worldly belongings and practice meditation like a ancient Buddhist Monk. However for all those of us who don't opt for this path we have bills to pay, children to school and work that has to be done to achieve these things. All of this stuff gets in the way, exhausts us and completely kills most of our time.... however, you don't have to let it be that way.
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Quick And Easy Guide To Creating A Mechanical Engineer Resume
Creating a resume from scratch is a painful and intimidating task. However if you have a method to work through it may make your life just that little bit easier. All the excitement of applying for a great job new job is soon forgotten when you realise you need to update your resume. If you stick to a process you’ll find it a bit easier to get started. In this article I'm going to cover the four main stages that I have used to create a resume, hopefully you'll find this useful. Are you ready, let’s get cracking! A Brainstorming Session
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Behavioural interview questions – Q and A breakdown
The big problem with behavioural interview questions is not knowing what question you’re going to be asked. While you can prepare for the standard old interview questions, you’re really going to have a hard time preparing for diverse and different questions. Or are you? While it’s certainly difficult to be fully prepared for behavioural interview questions, it helps to go over some types of questions you might be asked I've been doing a lot of recruitment lately so i've commented on what I'm personally looking for in the answer.
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How To Make A CV Awesome By Using One Liners
Your CV is a tool that you use to sell your skills and abilities to potential employers, your CV needs to be the best it can because you only have one shot to make an impression. Do you know how to make a cv grab a recruiter by the shirt? Why not use a technique that gets the attention of a recruiter quickly. To really sell your skills why not try using a hard hitting one liners! Ok, so what’s a “one liner” going to do for me? A punchy one liner catches the attention of the recruiter, displays excellent communication skills and makes hard hitting point.
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Insider Tips for Résumé Writing
Not everyone is a professional résumé writer, nor wants to be, but this article will help you to go from thinking about writing a résumé to actually being able to write an effective, eye catching and results oriented résumé.
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Preparing For An Interview – 1 Physical And 3 Mental Interview Preparation Techniques
Preparing Your Looks When your interview date has been confirmed, one of the first things you should check is your appearance. Do you need to get a hair cut? Do you need to dry clean your suit? Are your shoes in good working order and polished? Yes, these things all matter. You want to look your very best, remember first impressions ALWAYS matter. Book your hair cut a few days before to avoid a “hair disaster”, make sure you get your best suit back from the dry cleaners early and make sure you’ve arranged the required time off work if you have an existing job.
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Project Manager Resume 7 Power Words You Need And Why
Putting together the perfect attention grabbing project manager resume is tough. To make this painful process easier I’ve found there are certain power words that recruiters look for, make sure you feature these power words in your resume. Let’s take a look at seven power words you should feature in your project manager resume and why: 1. Effective Communicatorr
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Project Manager Resume – Simple Things You Can Do To Make Yours Ultra Powerful
More and more business are realising the true value of project management. What was once an “extra job” for someone is now the domain of specialist Project Managers. This has caused an explosion in the number of Project Managers all fighting for new and exciting jobs. To rise above the pack, you need to be aggressive and you need to get recruiters excited. This means your resume needs to do the talking for you. Keeping this in mind, the first goal for your project manager resume is to catch the recruiter’s attention as quickly as possible.
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Are You Experiencing Resume Information Overload?
Are You Experiencing Resume Information Overload? Navigating the waters of career advice can be murky at times. Everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should or shouldn't do and what you should or shouldn't write. With all the information out there how do you really know what advice to take and what to leave behind? Have you read every article on resume writing or submitted your resume for free evaluations only to find that every place says something different? If you answered yes to any of the questions above then chances are you're in information overload.
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Do you know who you are... on paper?
Thanks to an amazing membership with Career Directors International I had the distinct pleasure of a booth at the most recent National Careers Job Fair. Three hours of job seekers pouring in through the doors and me and my assistant providing free resume analyses. I spoke to 100+ job seekers and found one common thread among them all. They had no idea who they were… on paper. I must have repeated the phrase ‘what do you want to do?’ a hundred times. I know I asked all but two job seekers that question. I remember the two I didn’t ask because their resume’s stood out.
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Interview Basics - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You.
It astonishes me how many job seekers in today’s day and age are held back because they lack the information and skills necessary to interview well. I have developed a simple list of basic interview skills every job seeker should posses before stepping foot in the door of an interview. You may be amazed by what you don’t know. Prepare a resume that sells. Is your resume a timeline, historical document, or a sophisticated marketing and sales piece? Sell the employer on your best attributes and what you can bring to them.
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Interview Killers - A Top Ten List of What Not To Do.
Over the years I have interviewed hundreds of candidates. I have seen and heard things that would shock you and that you would never expect during an interview. So I have compiled a list of the top ten things not to do during an interview. 10. Do not bring your boyfriend, best friend or children to an interview. This is horrible interview behavior. I once had a candidate bring her entire family – there were seven very rowdy people in our lobby. You can imagine what we were thinking. 9. Do not curse or use profane language during an interview.
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Why You Don't Stand Out From The Crowd - Here's A Tip, It's Your Resume
Ultimately your goal is to create a resume that will garner the right attention and eventually the right job. Problem is – your resume is getting you absolutely no hits, zero feedback, and not so much as one call from a prospective employer. Sound familiar? Keep reading to figure out why. – Your career summary is boring. It sounds like every other job seeker out there and is a large blanket paragraph that could describe half of the known workforce. Solution: Customize your career summary so that no one else could possibly use it for themselves. - You have no keywords.
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Your Unique Promise of Value – Is it on Your Resume?
A truly captivating resume does three things: engages the reader, communicates your value, and lands you the interview. How do you incorporate that information into your professional or executive level resume? Keep reading to find out how your unique promise of value will make you stand out from the crowd and position you as a leader. It’s shocking to me that the majority of job hunters are still using an objective. First, let me say … STOP THAT! Next, let me tell you why: An objective is all about what you want. Truthfully, hiring managers couldn’t care less.
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120 Seconds is All You Have to Ace the Interview
120 seconds. That’s how long it takes for an interviewer to decide whether they want to hire you or not. First impressions set the tone for the interview and in the majority of cases, once that impression is set, it is not usually turned around. Here are some important tips you can use to ensure you make a great first impression. Energy level. Show some bounce in your step. Act like you are excited to be there and are filled with ideas.
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3 Most Important Things to Do in a Job Interview
A job interview can be a nerve-racking experience, especially when you have been removed from the job market for an extended period of time. It is one thing to sell on paper with the resume and another thing to sell in person at the interview. Regardless of whether you have been out of a job for an extended period of time, are looking to change careers, or are still employed and seeking a better opportunity, the key to conducting a job interview successfully is a result of a collective number of factors. However, one of the more defining factors is the relationship you establish.
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5 Biggest Cover Letter Mistakes
Just as important a resume is to helping a job seeker secure opportunities, so is the cover letter. A cover letter helps you hone in on important messages – to create a “conversation” – and gives the employer a sense of your personality that is not always captured through a resume alone. Yes, there are employers who may completely ignore cover letters, but you put your chances for a response at greater risk when you don’t include one.
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Cover Letter Tips for IT Professionals
If all an employer cared about is the IT skills and technical knowledge a candidate has obtained, then there would not be the need for an interview. The fact is, in addition to looking for specific skills and knowledge, employers want candidates who are passionate about the field and who have demonstrated a track record of success and progress. A resume alone does not necessarily help demonstrate these additional attributes. This is where the cover letter critically comes into play to help secure your chances for an interview.
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How to Follow Up after a Poor Interview
No one ever said finding a job is easy. It can be a lengthy process and include several rounds of interviews before you land an offer that is right for you. The good thing is that if you are receiving positive responses and getting interview opportunities, your resume is doing its job – reeling in opportunities for you to further make the case that you are the most qualified candidate for the job.
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Job Search Techniques: Managing Your References
Would you walk into an interview blindsided – not knowing what the employer does or what’s involved in the role you are applying for? For those who want to succeed and be effective in an interview the answer is “No.” You should always go into an interview prepared with key messages in mind to help you demonstrate why you are the best fit for the company and position. This same rule should apply for your references.
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Resume Writing Tip: 5 Ways to Protect Your Contact Information
An electronic resume is what most of us rely on today to initiate communication with a potential employer. It may be in the form of a Word document, PDF file, on your website, on job board websites or pasted into the email you send.
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Resume Writing: Your Opening
Every week I see hundreds of resumes sent to me for a free evaluation. Most of them start with an Objective indicating what that individual is seeking. Then they list the various roles and responsibilities they have held in the past. Where this style of resume was successful 5 years ago, it isn’t going to work in today’s market. You used to be competing with about 200 other resumes for the interview. Now you are competing with about 600. Companies can’t bring in 100 people for interviews and they can be choosy, so your resume better make you stand out.
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Writing a Resume: 4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Write Your Own
While the Internet is a great resource to find templates of resumes and to view other individual examples, it does not necessary help you create an effective resume for yourself. Reviewing these examples help you determine what structure and order is best to use with your own resume, but it will not help you effectively develop the most critical core elements necessary to showcase your professional experiences and passions – the content and brand that differentiates you from other candidates.
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Writing a Resume: First Important Step
Writing a resume is more than just articulating your skills and accomplishments. Perhaps the most important part of the resume writing process is to start by defining your brand or positioning statement often called the “elevator pitch”. (An “elevator pitch” is what you would say to Bill Gates if he got on an elevator with you and you had 20 seconds to tell him why he should hire you before the elevator doors open at the lobby). And in the process of defining your positioning statement, you need to give some thought to your overall search strategy.
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Writing Your Resume; Use the “So What?” Method
Your resume has to tell potential employers what you can do for them. Yet people still fall into the trap of writing sentences that describe their job duties instead of their skills. A simple way to avoid this is to use the “so what” method of writing a resume.
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10 Mistakes That Can Ruin Any Interview
Your cover letter and resume has made a positive impression on a potential employer and they’ve called you in for an interview. Now you need to ensure the employer stays impressed with you and your potential in their organization.
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10 Things to Remove from Your Resume
20 seconds. That’s the average amount of time that an employer will spend scanning your resume. The phrase “Less is more” has often been used for design purposes, but it can apply just as well to your resume. The point is to keep only information on your resume that is clear, simple and that supports your brand /message. It is a balance of having just enough information to draw the interest of an employer, while leaving room for you to further explain during an interview. The more irrelevant information you add to your resume, the more it dilutes your key message.
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3 Things That Make Your Resume Less Effective
If you are not receiving a response back from employers about the resume you submitted, there could be a variety of reasons. Perhaps you do not have the particular qualifications the employer is seeking. Or, it may be that you are not properly communicating your strengths, experience and skills.
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3 Tips on Resumes to Avoid Appearing Overqualified
Even when you have the education and professional background to qualify for the job, don’t count on it as a sure win that you will be asked to come in for an interview. In fact, your qualifications may hinder your chances. It’s very common in today’s market for employers to dismiss a job applicant’s application and resume because they are “overqualified.” Yes, you read correctly. It’s not a matter of being under qualified, but overqualified. The fact is today’s market has an abundant supply of highly qualified candidates but not enough jobs to go around for everyone.
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3 Ways to Build Rapport and Ace the Interview
People hire people they like. So while your skills and experience are important elements to securing a job offer, just as important is your ability to build rapport that is natural and engaging with your interviewer. The rapport you establish during an interview can greatly impact the impression you leave behind.
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4 Reasons for Career Gaps and How to Handle Them on Your Resume
Especially in this economy, employment gaps are typical. Employers generally view a gap in employment negatively, however, it does not have to be this way. In these cases, it is important to indicate why you took the time off.
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4 Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Job Hopper on Your Resume
When an employer scans your resume for 20 seconds, what will they see? If you have had a series of jobs lasting 1-2 years, then you may look like a job hopper and these are big red flags on your resume. Securing a candidate takes time and money for employers, so a candidate that has a record of job hopping does not leave a positive impression and sways employers to move on to consider other candidates instead. Short periods of employment generally indicate that you were terminated due to lack of performance and that is not the impression you want to convey.
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4 Ways to Edit Your Resume like a Professional Resume Writer
Professional resume writers take on the mindset of the employer and recruiter when crafting and editing resumes. To edit your resume like a professional, you have to develop a fresh mindset. If that means taking a break from your resume for a day or two before going back to it, that’s what you will have to do.
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5 Simple and Quick Fixes for Improving Your Resumes
Whether you are putting together your resume from scratch, editing an existing version or seeking the help of a professional resume writer and giving it a final review, there are simple and quick fixes to apply to give your resume an improved quality. Remember that employers will only give a resume a brief glance so make sure you follow these rules. 1. Resume Length
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6 Ways to Declutter Your Resume
Whether you are starting to write a resume on a fresh sheet of paper or building off of one that you already have, make sure the information you present is targeted and concise to attract employers’ interest. It’s not just about how a resume looks, but the information you present that can make a resume come off as cluttered and simply too difficult to motivate someone to carefully review. You have to ask when writing a resume if the information is relevant and presented in the most concise way.
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Career Changers: How to Write a Skills-Based Resume
Making a career change is a tough decision for most people, especially if you are already mid-way or more into a career in another field. In some cases, it can feel like having to turn back time, starting at a level alongside interns or entry-level professionals with lower pay than what you already have going for you. But, it is a decision many of us go through to achieve satisfaction and balance in life and work.
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Create an Effective Resume Even If You Were Fired
People get fired from the job for various reasons. However, to a potential new employer it may leave an unfavorable connotation on the candidate. If you find yourself in such a situation, you may have a number of questions conce ing how to address the adverse reactions a potential employer may pose. You may have questions, such as: - How do I impress an employer give I was fired from my last job? - Do I include the job on my resume? - How should I answer when asked the reason for departing my previous job?
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Find Out How Much You Are Worth to Employers
How do you know how much you should expect in a job offer? This is especially difficult for candidates to assess when one is entering a new field, making a career change, moving to a new location, or entering the workforce as a recent graduate. It is also a question you should have an answer to before accepting a job offer.
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How Resumes Showing Years of Employment with the Same Employer Can Hurt You (and how to fix it)
We often hear that employment gaps in a resume can hurt a candidate, but did you know long term employment at the same employer can also be perceived negatively? Having stable employment is certainly not a bad thing. However, if it is with the same employer and your resume doesn’t show you made progress, it is not an impressive mark for a potential employer viewing your resume.
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How to Craft a Killer Resume Opening
Once your resume is in the hands of an employer for review, you only have a few seconds to make an impression that shows you are “the candidate” for the job. In fact, the opening of your resume is the most important real estate on the resume page and describes your brand or value proposition. If an employer can’t quickly see what you have to offer in terms of specific experience, skills, and knowledge the employer can benefit from, it is unlikely he will continue to read on.
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Key Must for Retail Manager Resume
Employers looking to fill a retail manager position will seek a candidate with experience, skills, and success in areas related to operations, employee management/training, costs control, customer relations, merchandising and marketing. To craft a resume with impact for retail management, you have to demonstrate results. It is not enough to simply outline responsibilities you’ve held. You need to highlight specific accomplishments and/or contributions that directly impacted the success and profitability of a business.
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Key Musts for a Sales Resume
A sales professional’s resume needs to succinctly demonstrate achievements and results that immediately state to employers: “I can beat your goals.” Sales is very measurable and your resume must highlight both your quantifiable accomplishments as well as certain soft skills. There are different metrics that you can use to quantify results and demonstrate sales success on a resume to impress employers. Consider the following: • Meet and/or Exceed Sales Quota
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Key Tip for Acing the Interview: Mirroring to Build Rapport
Imagine stepping into a deep conversation with a friend. You may share the same posture, hand gestures, tone and rate of speech. You can also tell when other people are in deep conversation by similarities in body language. What is happening is mirroring. It is subconsciously helping those in conversation maintain rapport through similarities observed from body language. There is a sense of ease talking with one another and a sense of the same mood.
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Managing Your Career – I Bet You’re Not Doing It
Have you ever noticed that the person who gets promoted is not always the most competent for the job? Or how about the person who did all the work not being recognized as much as the person who talks about it? Or what about the person who is career-stunted because they once said the wrong thing to the wrong person. These are all symptoms of not managing your career. Many hard-working people suffer in their career growth solely because they have not spent the time to identify the factors and people who most influence their career. Here are 3 simple tips to help you get going:
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Optimizing Your Resume with Keywords
Long gone are the days where employers review all resume submissions manually. And even if there are still a few who are doing that, their eyes are quickly scanning over your resume for keywords that align with their view of the position.
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Phone Interviews: How to Put Your Best Voice Forward
Many employers have found a new way to save time screening applicants. Today, more employers are first resorting to a telephone interview before inviting a job candidate to an in-person meeting. With more applicants available for each opening, employers do not have the time to invest in a meeting for every candidate that simply looks good on paper, so the telephone interview is used to screen a candidate and determine if he sounds as good as he looks on paper.
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Prepare Yourself for the Offbeat Question
Doing well in a job interview is the result of many things, ranging from the first impressions you make with your physical appearance (body language) to how well you communicate and respond to questions. There are the predictable questions, such as “What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?” and then there are the offbeat questions that may make your nerves rattle and leave you dazed as to how to respond diplomatically and professionally.
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Resume Tips for the IT Professional
According to U.S. News & World Report’s article on “The 50 Best Careers of 2011,” many technology positions made it into the top 50 list of careers providing overall satisfaction. They include computer software engineers, computer support specialists, computer systems analysts, and network architects. So how are you making yourself stand out from the crowd of other resumes that employers are reviewing?
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Resumes When You Don’t Have a Degree
Fortunately, one’s career and life success is not based solely on obtaining a college degree. Just look at the rise of Bill Gates of Microsoft, Michael Dell of Dell, and in more recent days, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. These high profile and successful businessmen chose to pursue business over completing a college education. That decision hardly stopped them from succeeding.
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Taking a Lower-Level Position – 4 Things to Know
It’s easy to conclude that taking a lower-level position means putting the brakes on the career track or even taking a step back, but in fact, there can be a lot to gain in such a decision. Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to take a step forward in your career. There are a number of practical reasons to why taking a lower position makes sense.
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The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask at an Interview
So you’ve completed the process of searching for a job and sent out your cover letter and resume. Now, you’re invited to come in for an interview. An interview is a critical point in the job hunting process. It helps you and the potential employer get a sense of whether you are the right fit for the position and company culture. It also directs the next step – a second interview, an offer, or the need to go back to step one with a continued search.
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The New Top 5 Resume Writing Rules
What used to work just doesn’t work in this market as the resume writing rules have dramatically changed. Seven years ago, when unemployment was 5% and LinkedIn and other tools weren’t prevalent you could get interviews with an older style resume. Today you must follow these 5 rules. 1. Showcase your brand or theme. The Objective that says “Here is what I want” is dead and replaced with a simple headline like SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER. This must be followed by a well-written description of what you do best (brand) which is designed to differentiate you from the many other candidates.r
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What Spell Check Doesn’t Catch Can Hurt Your Resume
Many word processing programs offer the option to check spelling and grammar in your text. This can be a terrific time-saver to help eliminate many common errors in cover letters and resumes. As long as we don’t see the red or green zigzag markings under words, the document is good to go, right? Think again! Spelling and grammar checks through software can never replace a human set of eyes that review for syntax and other errors in a document. That’s why an extra set of eyes, or the help of a professional to proofread your cover letters and resumes, are especially critical.
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You Must Remember This: Information You Must Have before the Interview
So you’ve gotten through the hurdle of securing an employer’s interest with your resume, but now the real challenge begins – the interview. While an interview is no guarantee to a job offer, your chances at it are much improved if you properly prepare for it well ahead of time. Here is information you should have on hand before stepping through the doors of any employer to create the best possible impression. - Understand the organization’s mission.
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5 Key Rules for Career Changers
We see recent graduates testing the water frequently. They graduate with a specific degree and career path in mind – to be a jou alist, to be a white-collar crime analyst, to be a genetics researcher, etc. They land an entry-level position and soon realize it’s not the career they expected. For recent graduates and individuals just starting a career, making a change in one’s career path is not as challenging as it is for those who have established themselves as an experienced professional in their field(s).
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5 Ways to Break the Ice at Networking Events
Networking is not about how many resumes or business cards you hand out, but how you establish rapport and build a relationship that can lead to opportunities. Attending a networking event is only the beginning of the networking process. Effective networking takes time and builds lasting relationships where both parties can help one another. Many job seekers I often speak with are intimidated by networking events. It’s not that they do not want to network; it’s that they don’t know how to approach people they don’t know.
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5 Ways To Instantly Improve Your Job Search
By now you've learned the traditional ways of job searching don't work anymore. A few years ago you could put your resume up on Monster and Career Builder and wait for the phone to ring. Those days are gone. So here are 5 things you can easily do that will quickly improve your job search results.1. Scan your resume for 15 seconds - what message does it send?
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How Are Employers Screening You through Social Media?
Just when you think you’ve aced the interview and have reference contacts lined up with many good things to say about you, take a deeper look. The fact is many employers today are resorting to social media sites to screen candidates. In fact, recent studies indicate that 85% of employers and 100% of recruiters will look you up on LinkedIn before calling you. So if you are a user of any one of the social networking sites that have proliferated in recent years, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, there’s more than a likely chance potential employers have scoped you out.
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How to Follow Up on Your Submitted Resume
You sent out the resume – you’re a perfect fit – and yet no one calls. Sound familiar? In fact, a majority of candidates today do not receive a response on a submitted resume. So the big question is, “When is it appropriate to follow up with an employer on my submission and how do I do it?” There is no answer that will fit every scenario, but there are general rules you can follow. Here are some general rules.
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What Your Interview Body Language Reveals about You
Poor body language can derail an interview regardless of how confident and well-spoken you are. Body language is as much a part of your communication style as what you say verbally – it’s really about how you say it. Impressions are made within seconds of reviewing body language.r
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Brand Your Executive Resume: Three Tips to Brand Your C-Level Resume for Success
Have you heard all the buzz about branding yourself? Are you wondering how to make sure your C-level resume is reflecting your brand? Here are three quick tips to brand your executive resume so it really reflects you at your very best. Tip Number One: Understand Your Brand What is your brand? I believe your brand is simply the promise of an experience that a company will have by hiring you. That promise shows itself through the tone and content of your executive resume – which your reader garners their impressions of you from. Tip Number Two: Define Your Brand
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The Truth About Finding 100k Jobs
Myth: Executive level jobs are best found through recruiters and fee-based, high level job boards. Truth: Both recruiters and fee based executive level job boards can severely limit your job search and the responses you receive. Executive recruiters can only help you if you have the exact qualifications to help them…fill their key search assignments that is.
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WHAT IS THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET? (Hint: It's NOT a Code Word For Networking!)
Many people mistakenly believe the unadvertised job market simply equals stumbling upon a job or two as a result of “networking”. I am delighted to share with you that the unadvertised market is so much more than that! Simply speaking, the unadvertised or hidden job market is the 80% or so of jobs that are filled before those jobs need to be advertised on major job boards. In what ways do they get filled? They can include: ï§ Word of mouthrnï§ Internal promotionsrnï§ Referralsrnï§ Executive recruiters
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Executive Resume FRAMING – How To Connect With Your Audience At The Cursory Glance
Are you wondering if your executive resume is doing a good job communicating your value at the cursory glance? You are wise for asking yourself that question because it is by far, one of the single most important jobs your resume has. In fact, in order of importance, your resume must do the following: -Show your focus of direction, core keywords and strengths. -Show a strong summary argument for the position you are focused on. -Draw your readers eye to particular key components that will give them enough perspective on your qualifications to make a decision on what to do next.
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Executive Resume Tips for Baby Boomers: How to Reduce The Chances of Age Discrimination
My executive-level clients are often conce ed about “age discrimination.” I am sure in some cases there might be some truth to this, but I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of the benefits a company gains from hiring a professional with a lifetime of knowledge and experience to bring to the table. It’s interesting to note that if you are a professional over 50 years old, the more you focus on the results you can bring to the table and essentially holding the right mindset will set the tone and pace of all your career-related conversations and interviews.
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Executive Resume Tips: 5 Things You MUST List on Your C-Level Resume in 2018
Are you updating your executive resume for 2018? Did you know that the majority of executives who update their resumes themselves worry they are including too much detail and too much overall information? When you create your executive resume you are probably concentrating on adding detail and activity about your current and past positions – in order to guarantee that the resume covers all of your past expertise, skills and strengths…generally speaking all of the things you can do. But in that focus we find a major problem.
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Executive Resume Tips: How to Add Metrics To your Chief Executive Officer Resume
There are several components that go into an effective executive resume. These include the visual professional polish, appropriate branding and content. And content not only needs to be organized in a way that allows the reader to skim and digest your details fluidly, it can be written in a way that clearly communicates your leadership capabilities as a CEO. Here are a couple ways to consider: Write to the position you want next.
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How to Write a Resume Using Added-Value Skills to Sell Yourself to Employers
The Heavy Diesel Truck Technician drafting his resume wonders whether to include sales skills learned in a position he once had working in a mall kiosk. At the same time, an applicant for Store Manager puzzles over whether to highlight her administrative experience using Microsoft Office. These candidates are asking very good questions. Knowing when and how to write a resume including these skills could give them the edge they need to stand out from the many others competing for interviews.
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Is Your Resume Making it Easy for the Recruiter to Exclude You From Consideration?
Have you ever wondered why some recruiters prefer that job seekers provide self-written resumes rather than hiring a professional resume writer? As President of Haute Resume & Career Services, LLC, an Executive Recruiter and Certified Professional Executive Resume Writer, the majority of resumes that I review have serious flaws which often demonstrate poor communication skills, as well as the lack of attention to detail. In today's highly competitive job market even a simple typo is enough to disqualify a candidate.
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The Top 10 Best Job Sites for 2010
An expected uptick in hiring for 2010 will likely spur additional competition in an already tight job market. Many job seekers mistakenly search only the largest, most recognized job boards in search of open positions. Contrary to widespread belief this strategy is not as effective as one might think. In today's economy, the cost of advertising is often a conce and many of the large job boards are often out of reach of those with limited advertising budgets.
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Why Shouldn't I Write My Own Resume?
As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, I am often approached by highly qualified job seekers frustrated by weeks and often months of costly unemployment. Job seekers who have sent hundreds of resumes yet never hear back from the employer. I’ve found that the majority of my clients attempt to write their own resume and only seek the help of a professional after weeks of failure.
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Got Gaps? Three Tips for Handling Employment History Problems
The department staff gathers around to celebrate a milestone for a staff member. It is retirement day for Joe Smith who has been with the company for thirty years. Management is there to present a nice gold watch to Joe along with a plaque commemorating his extensive service and loyalty to the company. The staff provides a nice cake and some soda. A picture is snapped of Joe smiling as he opens his gift from his co-workers. Halt! That’s enough flashback to the past. While this is an iconic scene, it just does not happen anymore.
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Words That Sabotage Your Resume
Creating a winning executive resume is a feat of strategy involving focus, wording, design, and content selection. To achieve a career marketing document that wins interviews, all areas of the strategy must be on-target and consciously used in the most effective manner. One of the most common mistakes job candidates make when writing their resumes is the mistake of not paying attention to strategy and word selection. There are actually words that are commonly used on resumes that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the resume.
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First vs. Third Person Resumes
“I swear, English teachers are the most annoying people on the planet!” proclaimed my college-bound son. “Don’t swear,” I admonished. “You must learn to eliminate unnecessary verbiage and make clean, declarative statements.” He rolled his eyes, muttered something unintelligible, and walked ...
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Building Military Resume with Help of Template
Building a military resume is one of the challenging tasks for the military officials. They are generally unaware of the different important sections and content to be included in the resume. In such problems, the military resume template plays an important role in guiding the applicants in drafting their own resume. The military officials usually draft their resumes for applying for the jobs in public sectors. Thus, they must include all the essential skills and proficiencies that can be utilized in civil jobs.
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How to Write a Job Winning Nursing Resume
A resume is something that has the full potential of getting you a job. The reason behind it is simple, your resume does the rounds in various organizations and to different employers. They judge your personality through it and thus one should lay substantial importance to the resume. Resume templates make your job easier as a candidate and for the recruiter too, because they are designed to cater to both of you. The recruiter needs clear and systematic information and the candidate needs to put in all his details in a way that recruiters would like to see.
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Resume Template for MBA Students
Before starting to write resume for any profession or educational background, it is imperative to know the job profile, the responsibilities and the requirement for the job, along with the employer's needs and aim. Talking especially about MBA (Masters in Business Administration), the personality traits in a person matter more than the educational background. In the sense that although MBA is imperative, the basic graduation can be in any stream of study.
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Template for Executive Resume
Executives in any field should exude professionalism because of the responsibilities they handle and because they represent a certain group. In some cases the group may be from within the organization and in some they may be the representatives of the organization to outsiders. The fact that they are required to handle such responsibilities and carry the organization forward with full commitment it is all the more required to draft the resume accordingly.
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Types of Resume Template: Chronological and Functional
Resume templates came into existence to ease the work of candidates for making a resume. Given the fact that the template is something which provides ready-made outline for a resume, one might think that the nature of it is not flexible, but that is not the case. Templates have different formats that suit different candidates’ qualification and credentials. Chronological and functional resume templates are the examples of it. Chronological Resume Template
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Importance of Chronological Resume Template
The importance of chronological resume template cannot be ignored at any cost because of two things, viz., the recruiters prefer this resume format over anything else, be it for any job profile. So if one is using any format other than the chronological one, one is surely risking one's candidature. Secondly, the image of a candidate is made from his or her resume. It takes just a few seconds for a person to form an opinion on the basis of the layout of the resume.
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Resume - What do Employers Look for?
While writing a resume, one might have came across this thought that what is it that the employers look for. Is it your educational background, your work experience, your achievements, the salary you earned in your previous organization, the responsibilities you handled, etc? The factors that the employers look for in a candidate are many, but we as applicants have to showcase as many appropriate things as we can in the resume.
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Resume Template for Business Professionals
Business deals with lots of risks, hard decisions, the right attitude, a calculative mind, a vision to foresee, conviction in self, resources, proper contacts with certain influential people, money, etc. These are traits which are not so easy to find in a single person. With so many personality traits, the intention of getting into a business sector or venture is not an easy decision. Majority of the population is more job oriented than business minded individuals.
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Resume Template for Entry Level Candidates
Freshmen are always tensed to write their first resume because of the lack of experience in their field. This article is dedicated to them because resume templates have come for their rescue. The template is basically a ready-made fill in the blank form available on most of the online job portals. For others there are plenty of websites that offer resume templates for entry level candidates. Sections of Resume Template for Entry Level Candidates
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Efficient Use of Resume Templates
Resume templates are the new in thing in the employment market. It is being used as the latest tool for drafting resumes for both, freshmen as well as experienced professionals. The tool definitely is working, but one has to take a few things into consideration when it comes to using the correct format and template for their requirement. To make it efficient enough for your expected results, it is a must to check for a few things in your employer's requirement chart and your strengths. Right Format
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Important Elements of Student Resume Template
Student resumes are difficult to write as they lack the required credentials for acquiring a good paying job and by virtue of being fresh graduates do not have much experience too. Some employers look for freshmen as prospective employees, because it suits some of their criteria. Like, for example employers do not want to pay salaries as high as they would have to pay to experienced candidates.
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Resume Writing Guidelines for Accounting Professionals
Using accounting resume templates will help you in a lot of ways. Resume templates are a savior if you wish to format your resume well and customize it for the accounting profession. The templates save time and also take care of the formatting and layout of the contents. These three things are the most important factors of writing a good resume, viz., presentation, formatting, and relevancy. Relevant Placement for Importance
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Make Efficient Use of Education Resume Template
Resume templates are comparatively a new phenomenon which is fast catching up with candidates looking for employment opportunities. The service it offers one is just the ready-made outline of the resume. They are field and industry specific, plus they are customized. This is what makes education resume template special. The following will tell you how to make use of it efficiently and how it can be turned into your advantage, irrespective of the experience and qualification.
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How to Write Job Winning Atto ey Resume
A lot depends on the atto ey resume when it comes to getting employment and good clients, be it in courts or in law firms. More than the actual credentials it is the word of mouth that speaks for the atto ey, but nevertheless the importance of resume cannot be overlooked. As we all know, the resume is like a document which gives a detailed overview of your skills as well as experience.
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Mistakes to Avoid in Cover Letter
Cover letters are as important and necessary as resumes when it comes to job application. Resumes are just the summary of your achievements and experiences gained in different jobs, projects or as interns. Cover letter is a supporting document that mentions few personal incidents or things to the recruiter for getting his or her attention and adding value to the resume. The following sections will talk about banking and construction cover letters and explain what one can mention and avoid in it. Banking Cover Letter
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Top Resume Writing Skills for Atto ey Resume
Working as a professional lawyer, you will have to handle number of responsibilities. For this, you must possess a lot of experience, excellent soft skills and other job related skills. You must be familiar with the legal documentation, development and delivery of the factual information. When writing the atto ey resume, you need to incorporate the major job specific skills in your application to make a positive impact on the prospective employer. You can also refer the atto ey resume samples to know the important skills for the legal resumes. Skills for Atto ey Resumes
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All about Writing a Cover Letter
Cover letter is required for most of the jobs these days and you need to send it along with your job application when you apply for any job. It is the promotional document to promote you. It is a short document, generally a single page that will discuss all your job specific skills and qualifications in a personal tone. Although, it is the summary of your resume, it must include your details that are not discussed in your resume. Today, most employers will demand a cover letter along with your application.
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Atto ey Resume: Some Key points
As a professional atto ey, you will be handling the court proceedings for any company or an individual. You will be handling the major documentation and develop and deliver the factual information. Working as a business atto ey, you will have to stay updated with the current trends in the industry. While working in any organization, you must know all the terms and policies of the company and review all the business documents or agreements before providing your advice in favor of the organization.
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Sales Resume Template and Sample
Sales resume should possibly highlight your key skills and your achievements. You can refer the sales resume template to write your CV if you are applying for any position in this field. Here is the sample of sales resume template to help you write a winning resume. Sample Resume Template Sales Jobs Contact Information • Name • Address line 1 • Address line 2 • Telephone No. • E-Mail ID. Qualifications Summary
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How to Write a Cover Letter for Accounting Job
How to Write a Cover Letter for Accounting Job
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How Life At Work Book Led Me to Career Success
Life At Work isn't a how-to bible...nor is it a recipe for a magic blue pill to make our work life fulfilling. Rather, the book provides insight. Reminiscent of its title, Life At Work, the book reflects upon our association and relationship with our jobs, careers, and work. All in all, we spend more than two-thirds of our Adult Life at work. Work is more than a job, a paycheck, or a grind. The reflection of Work itself is Life; and vice-versa. Speaking about Life At Work
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Young Man Says, "Hire Me!"
My name is Clarence, O.; I am 18 years old. My objective is to become successful in business, my career, life and work. I would love to work for your company. My attributes include that of being a very honest and trustworthy person. Respect for All Persons is of great importance to me. Besides being a very easy person to get to know and work with, I always have a positive attitude. I am always willing to meet new people.
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Quick Steps to Using Resume Templates Word 2003 Effectively
Each word processing unit comes with its own way in which a resume template can be formatted and this is of no difference when it comes to the resume templates word 2003. Using Microsoft word to create a resume can be very easy but at the same time a little bit sophisticated if you do not know how to go about it.
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What 42 Blind Dates Taught Me About Looking For Employment
Once I recovered from a ten-year marriage that ended - much like being fired when the employer decides you are no longer an asset to the company – I decided I had gone long enough without a steady relationship and I joined a dating service. During the course of a year I had 42 blind dates ...
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As a Job Seeker, Is it Possible to Ever Get What You Really Want?
Recently I met with a job seeker whose career passion was to be an EMT; however, she was willing to take a job as an administrative assistant or warehouse worker. Her résumé reflected this disconnect. The next day I received a call from a woman who was passionate about making a career ...
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Is it a Job or a Career?
It depends on who and how you ask it. Most people respond to the age old question of “So, where are you working now?” by saying “Ooh, I’ve got a job down at the sanitation department” or “I recently started a new job as a waitress at the local eatery”, ...
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Networking... The #1 Way To Get A JOB!
A friend of mine recently asked me what was the hardest part of job search for most people. The answer? NETWORKING. Networking can be as unnerving as standing up in front of an audience for some people. Of course you have others, like most of my sales clients, who can get up in front of anyone ...
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Quitting Your Job (Without Burning Any Bridges!)
Do you daydream about the day you get to tell your boss everything that he is doing wrong? How you could do his job ten times better with your eyes closed? Then, after you’ve read him the riot act, you arrogantly say, “Oh, and I QUIT!” Too often we speak before we act and ...
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The Importance Of The Thank You Letter
The Thank You letter: a little-known job search jewel: I've been asked many, many times, "Do I really need to send a Thank You letter to the employer?"... and the answer is always, "Yes! Yes! Yes!” Okay, so I am a bit anal about Thank You letters. I know that-- especially after a ...
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Will It Ever End
A lot of people in life think there life is just awful and that it can't get any worse, well I am here to tell you my life and that it could be worse. I am 18 years old. My mother left me when I was born for drugs. My father took me. He also sexually abused me from age 2 till 11. At 11 I tryed ...
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Resume Do's and Don'ts - Pt. 1
Resume Do's and Don'ts - Pt. 1 By Greg Faherty, CPRW As a professional resume writer, I am frequently asked about what works, and what doesn’t, on resumes; in other words, what do hiring managers and recruiters look for when it comes to a resume. In parts I and II of this article, I ...
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Resume Do's and Don'ts, Pt. 2
Resume Do's and Don'ts - Pt. 2 By Greg Faherty, CPRW In Resume Do's and Don’ts, Part I, I covered the technical aspects of writing resumes. In this section, I’m going review Content, including resume formats, what information is important, what should never be included, bullet ...
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Are You Making These Resume Mistakes?
You wouldn’t create a gourmet meal and serve it on dirty dishes, right? So why would you engage in a Job Search 2.0 campaign using an executive resume with outdated, ineffective strategies? If you have been conducting a targeted job search that is not generating any interviews or netting you zero results, it may be time to take a close look at the document you are marketing to recruiters and employers.
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Do You Want Your Executive Resume to Generate More Interviews?
If your job search campaign keeps hitting a brick wall, your existing resume is getting you no results, and you have been trying every method you know about including online postings, recruiters, social networks, in-person networking), maybe what you are feeding the masses is not the right tool. Your executive resume must be a strategic marketing document not a career obituary or a string of job descriptions. After all, the only way you can attract attention is to be unique and differentiate yourself from the competition.
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Resume Revolution - What's the real hype?
Changes, changes, changes. Just when you get used to a new resume format, a new resume strategy or a new resume concept, poof - more changes show up. So what significant changes have occurred in the past five years that now make your executive resume look outdated today? Are companies really looking for different executive leadership skills and competencies today versus five years ago?
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High-Powered Career Strategies For 40-plus Professionals
Why are 40-plus professionals plagued by common stereotypes like having less energy, demand high health and life insurance costs, and are unwilling to learn new technology.
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Change Your Life in 30 days
Are you ready to change your life and become the person you want to be? There are many reasons why you may want to change your life. You may want improve your relationship, suffer from confidence issues, feel under-valued at work, want to change careers, quit smoking or lose weight. Whatever the reason, in order to change your life you have to want to. “Whatever your mind can conceive or believe, it can achieve.” - Napoleon Hill
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A Great Cover Letter Will Get You Noticed
The aim of a successful CV / resume covering letter is to get the reader to either consider you for a position within their organisation or to introduce your CV/Resume. In both cases it is important that your letter is attention grabbing, well-written and demonstrates why the reader should contact you.
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Job Search Stress - What to Avoid
Most people are aware of the stress we face in various situations. It might be moving homes, tackling illness or a bereavement. There are many times in our lives when exte al pressures affect the way we behave. It is at times like these that we often need advice and guidance to help know what to do, and more importantly what not to do.
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Building a network of contacts
Building a network of contacts is probably one of the best ways to get a job An old friend of mine recently told me via Facebook that he had been made redundant and was finding it hard to get another job. As we continued talking he revealed more and more about his situation that I found both sad and fascinating.
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Eliminate Common CV Mistakes and CV Don'ts
Have you been sending your CV or resume to companies and recruitment agencies, but getting no response? Are you unsure how to create interest in your CV in order to gain that vital interview? This applies to many people who think they do not know what to do next. The answer is often a lot easier than you believe. We have highlighted some of the common mistakes made in CVs and resumes below. Try addressing these points and you should soon begin to see positive results. Attention to detail
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Is a Personal Life Coach Right For You?
When contemplating whether a Personal Life Coach is right for you, one of the best ways to decide is to tackle the question by answering some important questions. Once you have these answers, then you will be in a much greater position to make an informed decision. So we have provided questions that may assist you. What is a life coach? The world has changed rapidly over the last few decades. With increasing globalisation the speed information, news, music, fashion trends and lifestyle choices are spread is remarkable.
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My CV / resume is fine - there’s nothing wrong with it so why should I change it?
If I had a pound for every time I was told “there’s nothing wrong with my CV!” I would probably not be writing this article. Having worked as an Employment Advisor, Job Search Tutor/Trainer and Careers Coach with a vastly differing set of clients ranging from school leavers to executives; one of the hardest things to do is to get a cynic to change or listen.
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What hobbies and interests on your CV/resume say about you
Many people underestimate what hobbies and interests on your CV / Resume say about you and just how important they could be to a future employer. With over 10 year’s experience of helping people to find work, I often have to underline the importance of an effective CV and cover letter. However what I have also had to explain on numerous occasions is that your CV should not only be a true and positive reflection of you; it should also make you stand out to your potential employer.
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***The Job Search - “They can hear you in your pajamas.” (and taking the job search seriously)
We live in a world today that brings a completely new meaning to “multi-tasking”. Potential employers call about our résumé while we’re driving to the soccer field and deals are negotiated in the supermarket produce section. With virtual offices, tele-conferences, e-summits and Skype, we need to be aware of the types of messages that we are sending and their appropriateness.
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Finding a Job in a difficult job market
Recent data is bad news all around for job seekers. The number of unemployed workers in the United States now totals 12.5 million with New Jersey’s unemployment rate equaling 10.1%, one of the highest in the nation. Today’s workforce holds little opportunity for graduating college seniors, stay at home parents are attempting to return and secure a second or a replacement income and people with seemingly stable careers may face downsizing and need to consider alte ative career paths. Overall, the process is difficult. So how des the job seeker get started?
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Interview Strategies
In the course of my career I have interviewed thousands of individuals seeking employment at all levels from the entry-level college graduate to the Chief Financial Officer. While my experience spans across a wide variety of industries, the interview mistakes that I’ve seen are constant. Once you have procured a meeting with a potential employer, there is a tremendous amount of preparatory work to be done. Here are a few strategies to increase your chances for a successful interview. 1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Research the company, department and position.
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***Does Your Boss Secretly Hate You?
I was eating at a restaurant when I overheard this woman complaining about her boss to a friend. After ranting, her friend said, “Suck it up, you’re lucky to have a job.” After hearing this conversation, I realized that sometimes, no matter how nice and polite you are; your boss just doesn’t care. After all your effort, he can’t even spare you a smile or even a half-hearted “good job.” It’s disheartening and demoralizing to work for someone like that. So what can you do? Find out if it’s something you did (or are still doing).r
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***Stay at Home Moms: How to Hide the Glaring Employment Gap in Your Resume
As a stay-at-home mom, updating your resume is perhaps the most overwhelming task you’ll need to do after deciding to rejoin the workforce. I know it’s a bit overwhelming and ironic to some extent, considering you’ve done well raising your kids – updating your resume should be a piece of cake, right? It’s trickier than it seems. Sure, it’s easy to list your education and previous work before the kids came – but what comes next? How do you explain the huge gap from then ’til now? That’s exactly what I’m going to help you do… Don’t Bury Professional Experience Under a Poor Layout
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***Success Stories of Veterans and Reservists Transitioning to Corporate Work
After years of deployment, rigid schedules and working within the military’s structure, the difference in environment and job description between civilian and military work can be overwhelming. Despite the uncertainty it brings, many veterans look forward to working in the corporate world, because this will allow them to spend more time with their friends and family. Question is, what are you going to do for work? Will you be able to find a new job? Will you be able to adjust?
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***Your Summer Job is Much More Important than You Think
Employment rates are better this year, which means fresh graduate are expected to have better opportunities of securing a job. I wonder though, how many will take their inte ship seriously? How many will show up expecting three easy months of coffee-fetching and copy-making work?
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Spring Cleaning Your LinkedIn and Online Profiles
The weather is warming up…it’s not too warm and it’s not too cold either. Flowers are starting to bloom and the trees are starting to wake up from their winter slumber. You know what this means, right? It’s time to clean up—the backyard, your closet of last season’s clothes, and your online profiles. Your LinkedIn and social media profiles. Spring is the season of new beginnings, so it’s just right to take advantage of this time to start a new (and better) chapter in your career.
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DASHING Cover Letters
Are Cover Letters Important? Yes. While some may argue that a cover letter is an “extra step”, I say it is an expected step when sending out your résumé. Outside of the fact that omitting the cover letter can be perceived as being lazy, we exist in a very competitive job-market, and a well-written cover letter is a tool that can help to position you ahead of the competition.
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***Getting Started With LinkedIn In Your Job Search
Why Get LinkedIn? LinkedIn is the top social networking website for jobseekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to the people you trust. Because if you’re connected to those people and you posted a profile, then when other people are searching for people, they might find you.”
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***Jobseeker’s Guide to Online Reputation Management
When searching for a job, it’s very common for employers nowadays to look at your online profile. This information isn’t just used to “rule out” candidates — finding a broad online presence can also improve your chances of getting the job by increasing your “know, like, and trust” factor. What a company finds about you online should reassure them about your qualifications and suitability as a prospective employee … not raise red flags.
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***Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile Photo
Your profile photo on LinkedIn is very important. Did you know that profiles with pictures attract 50-70 percent more inquiries than profiles without pictures? Here are some tips for your LinkedIn photo: • Don’t use an old photo. There are few things worse than meeting someone for the first time and not recognizing them because the profile on their LinkedIn profile is from 10 years ago (or longer)! • Use a photo of you in your profile — don’t use a photo of an object.
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***What To Do Next With Your Résumé
By investing in a professionally written résumé, you’re already positioned yourself ahead of other jobseekers. But don’t let that advantage go to waste. Now that you have your résumé, what should you do with it? This guide will give you strategies for what you can — and should — do with your résumé to maximize your chances of finding and securing your next job. Apply for Positionsr
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4 Things You Must Do On LinkedIn
To get the most out of your LinkedIn profile, make sure you do these four things: 1. Complete Your Profile. Your profile is the “front door” to your LinkedIn account. First impressions matter — so make sure you’ve made your profile as complete as possible. As an added benefit, your LinkedIn profile generally ranks high in Google search results for your name, so make sure your profile is up-to-date, accurate, and complete.
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7 Reasons Why You Should Be on LinkedIn
What? You’re not on LinkedIn yet? What are you waiting for? These seven reasons outline why you should be on the social networking site. 1. Because That’s Where The People Are. LinkedIn is the number one social network for professionals — and, arguably, the most important website for jobseekers — with more than 150 million members worldwide. Not only are people you know already on the site, but so are people you should get to know — recruiters, hiring managers, and your future co-workers.
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Do You Have Any Questions For Me? The Question Every Candidate Should Be Prepared to Answer In An Interview
Job interviews aren’t meant to be an interrogation — they are supposed to be a dialogue. An interview is as much about making sure the company is a fit for you as it is that you are a fit for the company. Preparing for the Interview Before the interview, at a minimum, you should research the company — and the interviewer(s), if you know that information ahead of time.
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Don’t Make These Mistakes On LinkedIn
• Don’t Dismiss LinkedIn as Something Only for People Who Are Looking For a New Job. The best time to build your LinkedIn profile, connect with people, and participate on LinkedIn is now, before you need it. If you find yourself suddenly unemployed and decide that now is the time to start using LinkedIn, you’re going to be playing catch up. Instead, take time to “dig your well before you’re thirsty,” as author Harvey Mackay says.
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Getting Started with Facebook in Your Job Search
With 845 million monthly active users (as of December 2011), Facebook has the potential to connect you with your next job. In contrast, LinkedIn, which bills itself as “the largest professional network” in the world, has 95 million unique monthly visitors. With 10 times as many members, it’s no wonder then that job seekers are finding Facebook is an increasingly important tool in a well-rounded job search.
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How to Give — and Get — LinkedIn Recommendations
With LinkedIn becoming increasingly important in the recruiting and hiring process, having Recommendations on your profile is important. Great Recommendations can be the difference in getting the job offer.
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Job Seeker’s Guide to References
“Résumés win interviews, but references win job offers,” says Martin Yate, author of the “Knock ‘Em Dead” series of career books. Reference checks are important for both job seekers and employers. References are a chance for employers to add to the information they learned from your résumé and in the interview — and what they find out from your references will either confirm their desire to hire you, or make the decision not to extend the job offer. A great reference will help the hiring manager feel good about their decision to hire you.
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Jobseeker’s Guide to Leaving Your Job
Every few months, you’ll see an example in the news media of someone who left their job in dramatic fashion. Examples include the JetBlue flight attendant who famously deployed the emergency chute on the runway, or the Goldman Sachs executive who wrote a “Why I Am Leaving” article in the New York Times.
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Jobseeker’s Guide to Preparing for the Job Interview
The goal of the résumé is to get you a job interview. Once you secure an interview, researching and preparing for the interview is important. Like studying for a test, some of the information you can prepare ahead of time — and some of it is important to review just to be better prepared in general. Believe it or not, many job candidates don’t prepare for job interviews. Spending just 30-60 minutes (at a minimum) can improve your chances of securing a job offer.
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Jobseeker’s Guide to Salary Negotiation
Money is usually the most sensitive issue in the hiring process. Discussing compensation often causes anxiety for both employee and employer.
Article
Jobseeker’s Guide to Writing an Effective LinkedIn Profile
Having an online presence on LinkedIn can be important in your job search. Your LinkedIn profile can present your credentials to prospective employers and hiring managers, increasing your chance of securing an interview.
Article
LinkedIn Profile Checklist
Profiles that are considered “complete” by LinkedIn’s standards receive 40 more “opportunities” (contacts from prospective hiring managers and recruiters) than incomplete profiles, according to the social networking site. Filling in your profile improves your chances of being found by people searching for you specifically, or someone with your qualifications, credentials, and background. And that’s true even when using sites like Google and Bing. As LinkedIn’s own materials say, “LinkedIn profiles typically appear among the top search results when people search by name.”
Article
A Proactive Job Search
A recent New York Times article states that “a growing share of recent college graduates are having to settle for jobs that do not require a college degree, and they are earning less than their peers as a result.” Statistics show that the employment status of college graduates under age 25 is as follows: 22.4% — Not Working. 22.0% — Working in jobs that do not require a college degree. 55.6% — Working in jobs that require a college degree, with a median annual income of $26,756.
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Fighting the Unemployment Blues and Staying Motivated
The national unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the lowest in nearly 3 years. While we seem to be moving in the right direction, this is not a window of opportunity to “go easy” on your job search. It’s a time to become even more persistent and stay ahead of the competition! While being unemployed can be emotionally challenging and stressful, it is crucial to remain optimistic and motivated. If you let the circumstances way you down, it will affect your ability to procure a new position. So try not to wallow, take action instead! Sample action plan:
Article
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile?
Job hunt getting you down? Are you frustrated at a lack of response? These 7 tips will supercharge your resume and ensure that it stands out among the rest. Tip #1: Cut and Paste?
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Get off your "buts".
According to a recent survey by CollegeGrad.com, entry-level jobs have increased by 22 percent from last year. That’s the highest percentage in 3 years. So, if you are a recent college graduate and have given up on finding that entry-level job, it is time to get off your “buts”. • But, there are no jobs. • But, I’ve sent my resume out EVERYWHERE. • But, I can’t afford to live on my own.
Article
Career Change – Do I stay or do I go?
In difficult economic times and with the national unemployment average holding steady in the 9 percent range, making a career change may be a scary prospect. It is certainly not impossible, but the possibility must be approached strategically and realistically.
Article
Career Change – Do I stay or do I go?
In difficult economic times and with the national unemployment average holding steady in the 9 percent range, making a career change may be a scary prospect. It is certainly not impossible, but the possibility must be approached strategically and realistically.
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SABOTAGING YOUR JOB SEARCH
SABOTAGING YOUR JOB SEARCH By Michelle A. Riklan, CPRW, CEIC Top Five Ways to Sabotage Your Job Search 1. Keeping it quietr For whatever the reason, you are not putting yourself out there. Even if you have been laid off or fired, you need to network. It is the most effective way to find a new position. But, if no-one knows you are looking, no-one will call. 2. Not searching at allr
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THE BOOMERANG GENERATION – How can we help you?
So what exactly is a “Boomeranger?” In short, it is a term to describe Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers who have moved back home with parents and family, in response to the current recession. While this situation may provide financial relief for the young adult, there are many facets to this arrangement that need exploring.
Article
Are you LinkedIn?
Before the job is posted and advertised, where does the recruiter/HR professional/hiring manager look for potential candidates? Before they even hit the job boards, they are on LinkedIn. And, if you are not there, then you don’t exist. Let me repeat that – IF YOU ARE NOT LINKEDIN, YOU DO NOT EXIST.
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Dress for Success
We hear this phrase all too often, but what does it mean in today’s job market? How are we expected to dress for a networking event? Does it vary from a first interview? A second interview?
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Does your résumé have enough gravy or is it a dry turkey?
As we prepare for the holiday season, I find myself comparing my work to feast preparations. Is there a difference between a well prepared holiday feast and a microwaveable frozen dinner in a box?
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INTERVIEW PRE-PLANNING AND PLANNING
By Michelle A. Riklan, CPRW, CEIC We can never know for sure who will be sitting across from the desk and interviewing us for that dream job. So, let me reiterate, we cannot assume that we know what will be asked and how the interview will be conducted. Our best line of defense with the many unknowns of the job interview is “BE PREPARED”.
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Resume Services - How to Quit Gambling!
Professional resume services offered by well trained and qualified individuals, by some people, are thought to be not needed and not worth the price. Well, I guess my first question might be, "Are you interested in gambling with your future on developing your own resume?" That wonderful comedian and terrific humanitarian Danny Thomas once quipped:"Racetracks are the only place where the windows clean the people!" Only Danny could have come up with such a humorous but basically true statement.
Article
Resume Services - How to Quit Gambling!
Professional resume services offered by well trained and qualified individuals, by some people, are thought to be not needed and not worth the price. Well, I guess my first question might be, "Are you interested in gambling with your future on developing your own resume?" That wonderful comedian and terrific humanitarian Danny Thomas once quipped:"Racetracks are the only place where the windows clean the people!" Only Danny could have come up with such a humorous but basically true statement.
Article
Probiotics and Microbials are Your Pets Health and Happiness Pill
Stress, there is that word that seems to permeate the existence of all mankind and is very much prevalent in the animal kingdom as well. The speed of our daily existance and the responsibilities we each carry increases the amount of stress that we have to constantly endure. Does it not make sense that our pets are under a similar amount of stress in their lives in having to cope with us and their life regimen.
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Travel Agency, The Travel Middle Man
The travel needs of the travelling people of this world, both leisure and business,have been put into question by themselves and by the public at large. My feelings are that the travelling public feels generally that they can get a better “deal” by booking the travel themselves on the internet, please read cheaper, than they can by booking their holiday through a travel agency or they will pay more booking through a travel agent.
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Luxurious River Cruises – An Alternative To Tradition
When most people think of a luxury cruise, they visualize a hugh ship out on the ocean, sailing from one exotic tropical port to another. There is an alternative type of cruising, though, that provides quite a different cruise experience while still pampering passengers with luxury and exceptional service. It is called river cruising and it is an amazing way to cruise. An alternative to traditional cruisingr
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Wedding Plans Left Undone
At a wedding show I attended recently, I was astounded to discover a significant aspect of the wedding planning process that virtually all of the brides that I talked to, which was quite a large number, had left unattended, not even a thought. Now you ask ”on such an important occasion in a couples' lives,what could be so universally overlooked”. Every bride that came to my booth when asked the question “Where would you like to go on your honeymoon?” replied “I don't know”.r
Article
Why Not A Honeymoon Cruise?
Honeymoon cruises are among the most popular occasions for taking a luxury cruise. For many new couples, it is a memorable opportunity to celebrate their new life together surrounded by exotic locations, exciting activities, and exceptional service from the cruise ship's crew. Affordable Honeymoon Vacation Travelr
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Probiotics and Microbials – An Explanation of Benefits for Dogs and Cats
Sometimes, a discussion about probiotics and microbials can become very scientific and hard to read not to mention understand. This is, however, an attempt to explain the benefits of probiotics and microbials for cats and dogs in a manner that can be easily understood. There may be some latin names of bacteria which are even difficult to pronounce but these terms are sometimes necessary. Please bear with me.
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Microbials or Probiotics - A Smashing Tip for Dog and Cat Lovers
It just makes so much sense to do your due diligence when choosing your pets source of nourishment, their food, for the rest of their lives. A factor has been proven over and over again and it is not all pet foods are equal. Some of the products are manufactured to make money with little or no conce for the animals to which the product will be fed. But an extremely important fact gets over looked most of the time. Is your pet's lower digestive tract in the best condition to absorb the goodness and vital nutrients from what ever food you choose for your pet, no matter which one it is?
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MLM Myths Shattered Into A Plan That Works!
You have been doing what you have been told to do by your upline. Right? You have been going to the Thursday night meetings. You have been using the “3 foot” rule, everyone within 3 feet or within arms length is a potential customer and needs to know about the business. You have dreamed “hugh” ...
Article
Want To Live Longer, Have More Energy, Feel Better & Be Healthier?
I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't want to improve how long they live, how they feel, how much energy they have and be healthier. Well, the answer is not a new wonder drug or a new technology. The answer is Glutathione (GSH) which is an antioxidant and antitoxin and it is present in ...
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CRUISING WITH CHILDREN
Up until a few years ago, the words “cruise vacation” and “children” were seldom uttered together, and if they were, it was usually during a discussion of who would babysit while the parents went on a cruise. Most people would not even consider taking their children on a cruise vacation, and those few brave souls who did were often viewed with disbelief.
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Memories of Tuscany That Will Endure
It would be very surprising to me when the area of Tuscany was mentioned during any conversation, all within hearing distance wouldn't have a warm, romantic feeling just from hearing the word. The area has been an extremely popular for holidays for decades, however, with the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun” starring Diane Lane and the burgeoning career of one of the world's most famous Italian tenors, Andrea Bocelli, born and raised in Tuscany about 40 km. south of Pisa, Tuscany has become even more well known and visited if that is possible.
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