Career Change Resumes

August 8, 2010

The Making of Cover Letter & Resumes

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 1:36 am

Objective serves as an introduction, it’s a part that will always be seen by the gatekeeper. Resume might be of either functional or chronological format.

The functional format concentrates on skills. The chronological format concentrates on employment listings.

The most effective s use elements of both format resume to create a combination that gets results.

It should be laid out in a graphically appealing style, with adequate use of white space, bullet points to draw attention to important parts, and conservative fonts used.

While you will occasionally bold face or italicize a font to draw attention to a point or break up a large section of type, changing fonts often makes it hard to read, so stick with one basic font.

The support which candidates receive enable them to immediately settle in their new role and to begin making effective organizational contributions in an expedited manner.

Resume writing is possibly the biggest stumbling block for folks who are looking for a job. So, how do you optimize to make it likely to get read.

Optimizing the Success of Your Resume.

The author at http://www.formatresume.net helps to find best sample resume formats to build your resume that makes to win a job

August 7, 2010

5 Tips When Searching For A Job Online

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 11:03 pm

Online job searches had absolutely revolutionized the usual process of job application and hiring employees. The accessibility of using computer software to create printable and ultra handy resumes that can instantly be downloaded as an email attachment has made the process more convenient to pursue.

With online job searches, job applicants or jobseekers do not have to undergo the tedious job of printing and dispatching numerous resumes to several companies through the dreaded snail mail.

The problem with most jobseekers is that they tend to overlook job searches online. Most people say that online job searches are full of fraudulent activities and scams. Hence, these people fail to notice their benefits.

Even if the Internet is a known reproduction area for scammers and unscrupulous individuals, it is not right to assume that jobs posted in the Internet are not worth the jobseekers time and effort. In reality, it really pays to seek and search online jobs because this will facilitate the possibility of getting hired as soon as possible.

But then again, with the countless cases of frauds such as phishing, email scams, and identity theft, it is still hard to trust every job searches you make online. Whats more, many people are worried about the growing number of job offers sent through mail. Most of them may seem too justifiable and genuine to have doubts, but then, you will never know what they are up to.

That is why, it is very important to learn the right techniques and apply them when searching for a job online. These things may not offer you first- hand protection but they can definitely guide you in looking for the best work you can get online.

Here is how –

1. Optimize your searches

Todays information technology is all about keywords and key phrases. Every bit of information is easily accessed online using keywords.

These keywords refer to words that people use whenever they use search engines. These keywords are the ones embedded within the article or the advertisement. Keywords help search engine spiders locate them faster and more accurate.

So if you want to search for a specific type of job, it is best to narrow down your search in a more specific terminology.

For instance, searching for managerial jobs may consume time and effort without reaching your specific targets. Of course, if you will try to narrow your search to a more detailed and explicit keyword such as account manager or warehouse manager, your chosen search engine will be able to generate more functional leads.

2. Seek online forums and online newspapers

If you are fond of looking for jobs through the classified sections of your favorite newspaper, it is still important that you try to find work through the news, magazines, and online newspapers. Make the most of job listings and online job fairs. Participate in online forums where the topic is all about job searches.

The point here is that the more you can maximize online job searching activities, the more chances you have in landing a job. Focusing on one online job listing or job banks will only condense your online job searches.

3. Be wary of instant email job invitations

Have you ever realized that even emails that contain job invitations are also prone to frauds and scams? If you have not yet, then it means you have been a victim of spasm and frauds.

These kinds of spam do not offer jobs in the first place. They just use such propaganda to lure people to submit personal information such as name, address, or even social security numbers. When this happens, frauds or identity theft may take place.

So the next time you receive a cold- contact email from a stranger, it would be better to confirm and verify its authenticity by visiting its website. Conduct a thorough investigation of the matter. Verify the contact information of the company.

Best of all, never click on the provided link in the email. Spammers use special codes embedded in the link that will generate adequate information about your IP address or anything that will generate your personal information. These things will only be used in unscrupulous intentions.

4. Go for quality

Just because it is so easy to search online jobs means you can drop off your resumes to almost all websites listed in the job listing. Keep in mind that it is still better to send a few resumes on sites that require specific skills that precisely match your abilities than to hoard every job you see online.

5. Keep track of the sites you have visited and submitted your resumes

You will never know when the employer might contact you. Hence, it is unethical to keep on guessing the exact position that you have applied in a particular company.

The Internet can absolutely help you in finding the job you have long been dreaming of as long as you know how to maximize its potential. Just try to take note of these practical tips when searching for online jobs and you will surely end up with your dream job.

10 Steps To Avoid The Goldilocks Resume Writing Syndrome, Part II

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 5:53 pm

The following illustrates how to approach the resume writing process:
A job seeker has a 25-year sketchy background that includes several career transitions. Career choices range from her early beginnings as a music education teacher to her business partnership in video production which is ongoing and sporadic to her more recent experience in retail sales. In between, she raised her children and obtained a bachelor’s degree in media production. Additional experience includes office managerial positions and part-time evening work as a dispatcher for an alarm company that she is not sure about listing it on her resume.
She is now looking to leverage her career in a position with a TV video production company so she can explore a position where her eclectic background in managing a similar business will be utilized and developed. So how should she do her resume? She has decided to target a position as a senior technician and work her way up the ranks. She is very confident and knows that this foot-in-the-door position will launch her new career. The emphasis will be placed on her work producing independent films, her technical expertise, (retail) business management and music education experience.
First section: OBJECTIVE STATEMENT (Title Objective)
Unlike an objective statement, a title objective consists of a few words that serve as a headliner to brands the job seeker and express their objective.
This is done best if the job seeker is experienced in that occupational discipline. Using a title objective rather than a sentence-style objective statement is much more direct and very powerful.
If a job seeker is transitioning to a new career, the use of a title objective can be initially misleading. It is helpful to preface the title objective with a statement such as “Target Position” or “Position of Interest”. This is how this section should look:
TARGET POSITION: SENIOR TECHNICIAN, TV PRODUCTION
Second Section: PROFILE
Unlike the Summary of Qualifications section, a profile is a paragraph that is more of a bio rather than a few simple sentences. It tells a story and is much stronger in language. The goal is the same, in that it still conveys the scope of experience, skills, credentials and attributes relevant to the position of interest. You do not need to use the actual word Profile as you would use Summary of Qualifications in our first example. This is how the first two sections should look when combined:
TARGET POSITION: SENIOR TECHNICIAN, TV PRODUCTION
Multi-talented business management professional with a strong career path that combines music education, business ownership in media and video production, and business management. Strong team leader and client consultant known for ability to develop scalable solutions that dramatically improve efficiency and productivity through management of project specifications, timelines, resources, and budget requirements from point of planning through production.
Third section: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sometimes a chronological resume will not work because the most recent experience is not the most relevant experience. So, a combination resume is the strategy that should be used. The combination format combines the elements of a functional (skills based) and chronological format. Professional Experience will be the main category, followed by sub-categories that are appropriately named according to the function or job title. These will be Video Production, Music Education, and Business Management (Retail).
Notice how the category is not called Retail Sales Management. Rather, “retail” is given a backseat because it is not the focus as much as the business management end of what this job seeker does. But, before we even get to that point, a chronology of employment will be listed first. This is how the section should look:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Managing Partner, Video Production Studios, Town, X/XX – Present
Video Production Operations
VIDEO PRODUCTION
* Direct the hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of a production staff and volunteers.
* Fully coordinate the logistical operations of program productions.
* Conceptualized, developed, and produced 30-minute interview and music shows.
* Supervised and approved show format, host, theme song, and casting.
* Plan and organize the scheduling of program channels and the casting of community events.
* Oversee the implementation of all technical requirements and conduct group-training sessions.
* Manage projects and technical teams and program schedules.
* Direct stage productions, conduct orchestras, create, edit, and produce videos.
* Build and administer system networks and handle all aspects of creative technical writing.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
* Served as a team member responsible for developing and implementing business plans.
* Executed the distribution and promotion of all new product lines.
* Led the market push of six new products from conception to completion.
* Coordinated the design of graphics to created product branding.
* Directed product production, achieving a year-over-year cost savings of 25 percent.
* Produced voice-overs, audio calls, and on-camera product introductions.
* Trained video editors and operations staff in the delivery of scripts.
* Managed weekly status meetings to instill uniform vision of product development.
* Reduced defect reductions from 15 percent per unit to less than 4 percent per unit.
Fourth Section: EDUCATION
Often, highly experience or more senior-level professionals have graduated over ten years ago. They do not want to emphasize their age or to show that their education was so far back. So, the best thing to do is omit the date. Since their experience far outweighs their education, they do not need to list their GPA either. The best approach is to keep it as simple as possible. This is how the section should look:
EDUCATION
Music Conservatory, Town, XX
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Fifth Section: COMPUTER SKILLS
In some cases, there is specialized software in addition to the usual MS Word and Excel. It is a good idea either list them first or use subcategories so the technical software stands out.
If there is a series of applications that all start with Adobe, Microsoft or Apple, it is a good idea to list Adobe or Microsoft once, followed by the specific software from that company. When using this approach, keep the group together on their own line or separated by a semi-colon. This is how the section should look:
COMPUTER SKILLS
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Image Ready;
Apple Final Cut, Live Type, Motion, and Soundtrack; MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

How to write a resume during a recession

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 11:05 am

 

1. Portray Achievements: Don’t mess up your resume only describing job responsibilities. Include your achievements and the unique work in your career you have done.

2. Give References: If you are buying a product online you would go in for a product which has a lot of good testimonials / customer reviews. You can apply the same logic to your resume it sure works. Take out recommendations from sites like LinkedIn, Performance reviews or customer ‘thank you’ letters and add them on your resume.

3. Uniqueness About You: Try to contact your previous employers and ask for your skills which make you unique. Look for some common occurrences and try to get an idea what your targeted employers are looking for. Keeping in mind the unique skills, try to include them in your CV.

4. Personal Branding: If you have blog, Twitter profile, you can always mention them on your resume. This will add more credibility to your profile. Every employer will feel this and this process may rank your resume high among other job applicants.

5. Don’t Use Objective: Instead of an objective giving out possibilities you can start your resume with how your skills can add value to the organization that recruits you.

6. Your Work Approach: Portray to employers how you approach your work. Instead of the traditional work terms use words like you have the ability to understand, build relationships, have knowledge, and organize. This will add more meaning to your resume.

7. Describe Your Personality: Some people use resumes of others and revise them instead make your resume more practical and a documents which describes your personality rather exaggerating.

8. Get Resume Verified: Over 45% resumes contain false statements or misrepresentations. Aware that bad hires cost businesses billions of dollars in losses every year, 86% of recruiters in a recent survey done by Crederity prefer to review resumes listing credentials that have been verified. Verify your resume using Crederity and get hired faster. Sign up for a free trial account now. –  http://www.crederity.com

 

Executive Job Search

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 6:02 am

The first job the individual lands after graduation could lead to better opportunities in the future. If after how many years the employee sees no growth in the company, perhaps it is time to do an executive job search before leaving the current position.
The first thing the executive should do is update that resume. This is because the one who will interview the person does not know anything except what is written on that document.
It should contain the positions held in previous jobs, the length of time that the executive has been there, the nature of the work and the major accomplishments. Those who don’t know how to make a resume can use the wizard function in word or ask someone else to edit and polish it.
The applicant should remember that a poorly written resume will make job hunting more difficult and the recruiter will most likely give the vacant position to someone else.
When the resume has been made, it is time to get it to as many recruiters as possible. The person can contact old friends or look in the classified ads section of the newspaper. It doesn’t look good just to have this document there. A cover letter should always be attached and addressed to the designated person.
It also wouldn’t hurt to open an Internet account since a lot of recruiters have websites that helps both the applicant and the employer look for qualified people to occupy the vacant positions.
Another option that will cost a little more is for the individual to hire a headhunter to do all the legwork. This broker can help negotiate the salary that the executive wants which is usually higher than what is being paid by the current employer.
A lot of executives stop here and wait for that phone call. It will take some time before some of these companies respond so investing in email campaign software will be useful to send the resume to other people.
Telemarketers sell products by calling on potential clients on the phone. The executive can do the same thing by selling oneself. If the person is not there, it wouldn’t hurt to leave a voice message including the contact number and email address.
The trick to landing an executive job has to do with timing. Most companies look for fresh or experienced people usually in the first quarter of the year. Maybe because there are a lot of bright minds fresh from college or the budget is still huge from the previous year.
If there are no hits yet after a month, the executive should be grateful that there is still the existing job. At least, this will help pay the bills and for other expenses.
When the call comes in, the individual should look smart and be prepared to answer any question given by the recruiter. It pays to come on time because this shows that the individual values the time of other people even if the one who will be conducting the interview is late.
Most recruiters will say right then and there if the executive got the job. Those who say, ” we’ll just give you a call.” are saying in a polite way that the individual did not get it so the executive should continue on with the job search.

Write a Better Resume: 10 Tips

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 1:31 am

Copyright (c) 2008 Kenneth Anczerewicz

Resumes may inspire fear in the hearts of job seekers, but they don’t have to. Just follow these 10 tips to a better resume:

1) Be sure your contact information is up to date. In this fast-paced era, we often change phone numbers, email addresses, and so on. Make sure that you change your resume to reflect the latest, most current information and to ensure that the employer is always easily able to contact you.

2) State your intentions clearly. You should always start off by stating your career objectivewhat is your goal in terms of your desired position and industry? Explaining this under the heading “Objective” gives the employer a shorthand indication of exactly what you want.

3) Write in your own voice. It’s tempting to use complicated vocabulary to make your resume and application more impressive, but more often than not this ends badly. You may misuse words or give the employer the impression that you are posturing and overreaching, and that’s never good. Stick to a tone and style that you are comfortable with.

4) Don’t be too modest. The resume is a place for you to shine. Explain your accomplishments proudly. Let the prospective employer know what you have to offer, and don’t be afraid to blow your own horn.

5) Keep it to one page. Unless you have a very long or very extensive professional history, you should never let your resume go beyond one page. Keep your background short and specific to what matter most to the employer.

6) Be specific about your qualifications. Even though it may be tempting, you should never just send out the same Xeroxed resume to every company you’re applying to. This may save you some time in the short-term, but it’s not going to win you very many job offers. The more you can tailor your resume to specific employers the better as this will prove how well suited you are for a given position.

Salary requirements should not be listed. Employers often ask for your desired salary, but the resume is not the place to put it. Salary discussions should be left until later, after the interview, when you have more leverage.
8) Proofread. No matter how careful you are when you’re typing out your resume, there’s bound to be at least a few errorspunctuation errors, spelling errors, grammar errors, or just careless mistakes that make the entire resume look sloppy. Don’t let a handful of casual mistakes (or even a single flaw!) undermine all your hard work. Proofread carefully so that the resume is perfect when you send it off to prospective employers.

9) Get someone else to proof it, too. Two pairs of eyes are always better than one. You are often too familiar with your own resume to be able to view it objective and catch errors; allow someone to proof your resume thoroughly.

10) Make sure your resume has a professional presentation. Thin paper with streaky ink is not a good way to present yourself to the employer. Use thick resume paper with clear ink, preferably printed with a laser printer. Remember, appearances count for a lot!

Remember the 6 P’s: Proper, Preparation, Prevents, Particularly, Poor, Performance.

August 6, 2010

Customize Your Job Hunt to Suit Your Needs

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 11:36 pm

New Professionals
As a professional looking for your first job, your search involves focusing on the smallest experiences you may have had. Because you don’t have a lot of experience, you will probably be at a disadvantage. You will need to make the most of every bit of evidence you can come up with that you are able to take on the position you are applying for.
If you have worked as a volunteer, for example, present that as proof that you have certain skills. If you worked at small jobs while you were a student, include the responsibilities you had in those jobs.
Young Professionals
The first thing to do in customizing your job hunt is to choose a position that fits your background.
If you are a young any experiences you’ve had that will fit you for a certain position.
Recruiting Agencies
There are many agencies that can help you identify a job most suited to your background and experience. Even though many job seekers rely on the Internet to identify and locate jobs, this may not be the best way for you to go.
An agency can do this better than you, can because they will have contacts you don’t have. An agency can tailor a job hunt to suit your specific requirements. Be careful, of course, to choose the right agency.
New Graduates
For a graduate fresh from college, finding the right job can be quite a struggle. You may have very little experience beyond a temporary or summer job. You are probably unsure about how to go about the job hunt. The first thing is to know the value of a good resume, which requires a certain amount of planning and foresight.
This requires experience and skill and it’s a good idea to consult someone with experience. When your resume is specific, it will help you customize your job hunt to suit your needs. Your qualifications are general, but it is your experience and skills that make you and your resume stand out in response to the requirements of the job you seek.
Your resume will spell out your aptitudes and abilities and how you will be able to handle a particular job. This kind of a resume will help you to be short-listed for an interview call.
You should make sure that your resume is not more than two pages. It is essential to consider your educational qualifications and your ability to handle the job you are applying for.
You may be applying for a number of jobs, so keep track of your applications along with the ads you respond to.
You may be called for a number of interviews followed by group discussions to see how you relate. Be natural and genuine in your responses and do not overdo the interview. Your physical appearance is also very important when you appear before your interviewers. Be sure to dress appropriately.
By following the above tips, you can ensure that your job search is successful.

Where To . . . Find A Job

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 5:59 pm

The Internet has opened a world of career opportunities to job-seekers everywhere. Keeping a few points in mind will help you make the most of your online job search. First, determine the keywords that will help you search for a job. Second, determine where you want to work. Third, always have a résumé ready to send. Finally, be persistent and proactive; check job listings and your E-mail often.Internet Resources. The Internet includes many job hunting Web sites with job listings. Some job boards provide National listings of all kinds; others are local. Some relate to a specific type of work; others are general. To find good prospects, begin with an Internet search using keywords related to the job you want. Also look for the sites of related professional associations.Also consider checking Internet forums, also called message boards. These are online discussion groups where anyone may post and read messages. Use forums specific to your profession or to career-related topics to post questions or messages and to read about the job searches or career experiences of other people.In online job databases, remember that job listings may be posted by field or discipline, so begin your search using keywords. Many Web sites allow job seekers to post their resumes online for free.One of the most popular accredited sites on the Internet,  www.informationex.com has created a search engine specifically designed to help people find job applications online. www.informationex.com is one of the best places to search for job applications.You can also find job ads in different categories but most important feature is location wise searching.On the left corner there is a facility to go to specific area and then find the job ads.So visit www.informationex.com as it is one of the most popular accredited sites on the Internet.By: Sharifawan

The Executive Resume . . . It Better Be Hot Stuff!

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 1:29 pm

It’s been said that there’s really no significant difference between an executive resume and a standard one.

Wrong!

If you qualify to be job hunting at the executive level, there’s a whole other set of expectations that apply only to you. Of course, these expectations go way beyond your resume. But this key document has to position you in the mind of the decision-maker as someone who is ready to step in and hit the ground running.

In preparing an executive resume you want to remember that an employer is going to looking at you not for what you’ve done, but for what you can do going forward. In other words, it’s a big mistake to focus on what you used to do for someone else and hope that will sell you to your prospective boss.

For example, the common wisdom is that your executive resume has to lead off with a lively “objective” statement. Nothing could be further from the truth. An employer could care less what you hope to get out the job or where you see yourself going with your career.

Instead, you want to lead off with an exciting summary or positioning statement that succinctly and enthusiastically announces what you’ve got going for you that can make a difference to your new boss and his/her organization.

And make sure your executive resume is short. Never more than two pages no matter how extensive your career and work history has been. Make it easy to read with plenty of white space. The reason for this is that resumes are initially scanned in 50 seconds or less.

An executive resume is expected to do more than pump up your pride in your accomplishments. An employer is looking for very specific, quantified background information that clearly zeroes in on how you can answer the needs of a prospective employer.

In fact, we often recommend to our executive resume customers that they present a carefully crafted proposal instead of (or in addition to) a resume. The proposal identifies corporate concerns and then outlines how you will solve key problems faced by the organization.

This kind of approach carries a lot more weight with decision-makers than a routine executive resume because it shows that you’ve taken the time to learn something about the organization and its leadership. And you’re willing to demonstrate your skills in coming up with a solution to pressing issues.

Now, the good news is that there is an amazing executive job search system that can show you how to be face-to-face with senior decision-makers in a matter of days!

How To Write An Objective For Resume

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — admin @ 11:01 am

When you are crafting your resume, you need to know how to write an objective for the resume. An objective is basically what you are hoping to achieve in the job or career field that you want to get into. It says why you got into this field, why you are so passionate about it, and what you can do for the company or the career area.
Some people feel like there is no need to include an objective on your resume. However, it can be helpful in showing your passion for your career field and can let a potential employer know why you are passionate about the job in the first place. Either way, knowing how to write an objective for your resume is a very important part of the job seeking process.
The first part you should know about in learning how to write an objective for a resume is that you must use words that are always positive but not too flowery. Speak from your heart and avoid using any euphemisms of any kind and be sure that your objective sounds very professional. It should state why you got into the field in the first place and why you want to continue in the same field.
On the other hand, if you are switching careers, your objective statement should say why you wanted to get into another field and what makes you so excited to do so. You should state what you are hoping to accomplish in this new career and why you know you can accomplish it!
When writing your objective statement, you should be brief. This is a sentence or two about why you want a job in this career field. It should show a potential employer why he or she should hire you even if you do not have a lot of experience in the field you are applying for.
Knowing how to write an objective for a resume is an important part of “putting your best foot forward” so that the person who is reading your resume wants to read the rest of it. It is kind of like when you begin a new novel. The first line is so important, it has to hook the reader and make them want to read on. The same applies to your objective statement on your resume. You should make your potential employer want to read more about you based on your objective statement.

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