Job « Career Change Resumes

January 12, 2010

How to Make a Resume That Shows Focus

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: career, Employment, interview, Job, Resume — admin @ 10:57 pm

As they say there’s only one thing that is for certain – and that is change.

So it is for all of us. We change the companies we work for. We change positions. We change career paths. We change interests and so on.

This is vitally important to be aware of when it comes to making a resume.

The reason being that many people’s resumes aren’t focused enough – they are all over the place.

Firstly they get qualifications in hair styling. Then they work in a childrens nursery. Then they study for a computer course part time while working at an accountants. And so on.

This doesn’t give a cohesive, focused image, which is what you need for impact with your resume.

It smacks of someone who can’t make decisions. Someone who may leave the new company within a few months after getting a load of training. It doesn’t instill confidence in recruiters.

Not when you might be up against someone who has worked they way right up in a closel competitor and so may have a lot of useful insider skills you don’t seem to possess.

What you need to do is to edit and structure your resume in such a way as to focus *everything* toward the job you are trying to get.

I’m not saying lie. What I’m saying is to arrange the facts in an honest yet powerful way that will help you look like everything you have done in your career so far has been working up to the new job you are applying for. You want it to look like the next logical step for you – like you’d be a natural in the role. Like it just “makes sense”.

Let’s say the person we mentioned earlier is attempting to get a job as an Office Manager and see what we can do with her experience to date.

Gaining additional qualifications shows drive. Maybe it’s what what she ended up doing but we can get around that.

In the nursery she got used to working as part of a team, sticking to strict guidelines about child care etc.

More training.

Then an accountants job as she moves into a more professional aspect of her career.

So here’s how it goes at interview…

“When I was at school, like any other girl, I liked hair and beauty and at the time decided I wanted to get into hair styling. So as soon as I finished school, I managed to get a grant to stay on and study for something I really wanted. Now, on reflection, the industry is very tough so I made an unfortunate choice in terms of the industry but the fact remains I had the guts and motivation to go after something I wanted and make it happen.

Once I wised up and realised that hair styling wasn’t going to cut it (no pun intended) I sought other temporary work while I figured out what I wanted to do next.

Luckily, a nursery job appeared after one of the girls from my course put in a good word for me.

So while doing that I considered my options, and that it was time to see how I got on in an office environment. The accountant for the nursery liked my attitude so much they offered me a trial – which I loved – while I studied for recognised computer qualifications.

So here I am – motivated enough to put myself through *two* training courses, computer literate, experienced in an office environment and in dealing with fine details often in a busy or stressful environment.”

OK, so maybe she still won’t get the job but I just wanted to illustrate the skill – put a “spin” on previous jobs and qualifications to “aim” them at the job you are now applying for.

And if the worst comes to the worst, consider even leaving one or two points out if they simply “unspinnable”!

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January 2, 2010

Job Change Alert: Make Rapid Turnover Work For You

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: career, Employment, interview, Job, Job Change, Job Change Alert, Job Search, Resume — admin @ 11:03 am

Employers are learning the hard way! More and more organizations are acknowledging a critical fact . . . Finding ways to retain valuable employees must begin before an experienced and talented worker is entertaining an offer from someone else.

And things aren’t getting any easier for employers. A recent Harris and Associates survey shows that more than 50 percent of workers expect to change jobs within the next five years!

Furthermore, rapid staff turnover is expected to escalate. That means that just when companies are devoting more time to finding new talent, they have to find ways to encourage current employees to stay.

Managers can no longer afford to take for granted the steady, productive employee who is a good, if unrecognized quality performer. Sadly, they have been provided very little by way of mentoring or appreciation. So, managers are contributing, often unwittingly, to the turnover.

The good news is that, if you are considering a job or career change you can make this dynamic work in your favor in two ways:

1. If 50% of your fellow employees are contemplating a job or career change in the next five years, so are 50% in other organizations. This spells opportunity for you.

2. You have added leverage to upgrade your job status both within your own organization as well as in a prospective new work environment.

The secret to using these changes effectively is to always know what your options are. For example, you can stay on top of the ever-changing job marketplace with RSS! Don’t miss out on critical career news and innovative job search strategies. Stay informed! It’s so easy to have immediate access to current trends and alerts. If you go to our website, simply click on RSS.

You know, your current job and future career advancement provides the fuel that drives your lifestyle. If you don’t believe that, check out the sometimes catastrophic impact of losing your job.

So you want to nurture your job status and career growth like you would an investment. The escalation of staff turnover is another workforce dynamic that can work for you!

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December 30, 2009

Eight Key Steps To Making A Career Change

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: career, Career Change, Changing Job, Job, Prospect, Work — admin @ 10:56 am

We spend approximately 50% of our waking hours at work. Doesn’t it make sense to make the most of that time, otherwise what’s the point? OK, it pays the bills but shouldn’t it be about more than that. The happier you are at work, the happier you can be with other areas of your life.

If work’s getting you down or you’d like to try something different, here are a few things to consider.

1. So, are you happy at work? If not, why not? Is it the type of work you do, the people you work with or your boss? What can you do to change your situation? How could you make it more interesting, how could you improve the relationships with the people you work with? Could you do the same thing but for a different company. Could you delegate tasks to someone else in your team?

2. Do you love what you do? What is your passion and what motivates you? What values in your life are important to you – health, money, security, family, relationships etc. Follow these and you’ll be happier in your work and in life generally.

3. What are you good at? What skills and abilities do you have? Where could you make improvements? Training for the job that you do could improve your job satisfaction and your job prospects and could enable you to take on a new role.

4. Where do you want to go? Are you looking for promotion, salary increase or a job change? Sometimes we have to start at the bottom in order to get where we want to be. Have your goal in mind so you don’t lose sight of what you’re doing and more importantly why!

5. Get yourself a mentor. Find someone you respect, who’s where you want to be or done what you want to do. If you don’t know anyone at work, is there someone outside work you could discuss your plans with and who would be prepared to give you advice and support?

6. Keep your CV up-to-date. Be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that might present itself if you’re looking to change jobs. Alternatively, go out and find those opportunities – if you want to change, you need to make it happen. Opportunities will present themselves if you’re looking for them.

7. Take control of your own career. There are always things we can do to change and grow. If you’re looking for a new career then spend some time thinking about what you want from your work. What do you value, need, want? What does work mean to you? How important is it in your life? What are the things you’re good at, what sort of work do you like to do? How could you create your perfect job?

Sometimes living from day to day is fine but it helps if you have a plan in mind. Where do you want to be a year from now, three years from now? Set a goal “Next year, I want to be doing …” Then set some specific steps to get you there.

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December 26, 2009

A Great Resume Is Your Key To Getting The Job You Have Always Wanted!

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: Employer, Help, interview, Job, Resume, Resume Help, Resume Helps — admin @ 11:00 pm

The purpose of a resume is to get invited to a job interview by an employer. The resume is the first and most preferred way of introducing yourself, so it should highlight all of your achievements.

Actually a resume is a media through which you are marketing yourself to the employer to get your desired job and it is the first point of contact between you and the employer. A great resume doesn’t have to follow any particular pattern, rather it should be tailored to the position you are applying for.

This can be done by following some basic principles of writing a highly effective resume. If you write with an intention to create interest, to persuade the employer to call you, your final product will be very different than if you write to inform or catalog your job history. If you realize that a great resume can be your ticket to getting the job you want, you can produce a real masterpiece.

Why You Must Have A Great Resume?
The resume is an advertisement, nothing more, nothing less so the sole purpose of having a great resume is to win an interview. A great resume represents you in the best light and it convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career

A great resume should be pleasing to the eye and make the reader want to pick it up and read it. And also it should stimulate interest in you and encourage the employer to want to know more about you and eventually inspire the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview.

Your resume is not about your past, it?s about your future so it tells the employer what you can do and then prove your claims with specific achievements. It also puts your training, skills and expertise to succeed in the right place so that you will get noticed easily.

Other Reasons To Have A Great Resume
To pass the employers screening process based on the requisite educational level, number of years experience, skill sets etc.
To give basic facts which might favorably influence the employer based on your political affiliations, racial minority, companies that you have worked for etc.
To provide contact information, like up to date address and telephone number.
To give some information to the employers like professional references, background.
To establish yourself as a professional person based on the content presentation of your resume with a high standard. As well as being excellent, clear, well organized, well written and well designed on the highest professional grade of paper.
To put your resume in employers personnel files.
To help you to clarify your direction, qualifications, strengths, confidence to start the process of committing to a job or career change to the employer.

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Looking For a Job or a Career Change Idea

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: Article, Business, career, Home, Job, Online, Oppertunity, People, Site, Web — admin @ 1:44 pm

This is something that is of interest to all at this time because it is likely that in this time and era a lot of changes are likely to accrue. Which will effect a massive amount of people. In spite of all this there are some great job opportunities. Also Career change opportunities along with the chance to start a new business or work from your own home.

These are all great ways to get ahead of the game. I am sure that for most of us it is important to find something we love to do and turn that into our career like construction or graphics, meal preparation, office work, or even helping other find out what they want to do for the rest of there lives.

There are so many Job resources out there it is sometimes very intimidating to most and so you need to find one that work best for you. Maybe one that is highly recommended by a family member or Friend of former coworker. It is always wise to do a little research on this to make sure you have the right people working in you favor.

I have found that if I let other know that I am in need of a job most people are more than willing to point me in the right direction but alternately the the decisionis up to me. Like I said there are some great sites and organisation out there that will point you in the right direction. Like this site try them all and see what fits you best.

JOBINFORMPROJECT

http://sites.google.com/site/jobinformproject

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December 23, 2009

December 19, 2009

How to Make a Successful Career Change

Filed under: Career Change Resumes — Tags: Accounting Jobs In India, B, Career Openings, India Jobs, It Jobs In India, It Jobs India, Job, Job Search In India, Job Site In India, Jobs, Jobs In India, Jobs India, Naukri, Naukri.com, Online Jobs In India, Part Time Jobs In India, Software Jobs India — admin @ 4:47 pm

Are you looking to switch jobs or contemplating a career change? This might be the most challenging time in your career life. It is certainly not easy to make a decision when it comes to changing jobs. There are bound to be a lot of apprehensions and doubts in the mind of the person looking to switch jobs. The anxiety about the next job as well as leaving the comfort of the present job is not always easy. However, most surveys indicate that a job change is the most effective step to grow in your career. Therefore, it is commonplace to see people switching jobs in the corporate world. In fact, till last year, the rate of changing jobs was nearly two jobs in three years.

Gone are the days, when people used to wait for linear promotions staying with the same company. Now, professionals want to be in control of their careers looking for promotions and hikes as the demand for their skills increases. This has led to a lot of mobility in the job market. Employers also do not consider job hopping as a sign of disloyalty. In fact, they are ready to absorb talent as soon as they can lay their hands on someone who fits the requirement.

However, one has to be careful, tactful, intelligent and prudent while mulling any job change. To successfully make a career move, one has to weigh all the pros and cons of a job shift. It is good to evaluate clearly why you want to move and what you expect from a job change. Also, other factors such as the market conditions, scope of the industry, company background and compensation raise have to be kept into consideration to make the most out of your job change. This article deals with a few rules of career change to help you achieve the desired success while changing jobs.

Firstly, it is important to have a well-developed and a well-defined plan for making the career change. It would be immature to rush into a career change unless it is properly thought out and a strategy is in place. For this, it is important to take a stock of your current job, the growth opportunities that it offers, the new job and the possibilities related with that job. It is important to see that a job change just for money backfires at times. So, be sure that the profile that you are getting into offers you enough to be satisfied about.

When you start thinking about changing job, it is quite normal to feel insecure or unsure about making a career change. There are many ifs and buts that keep playing on a person’s mind. It is important to be focused here. Just keep in touch with what you really want to do. Once that is clear, it would be much easier for you to pursue the job change. However, you cannot afford to be hasty in matters as delicate as your career. Put in a great deal of time and effort to find about all that is related with this job change. While doing this, it would be helpful if you are clear about your own expectations. That way, you would know, what to do and what not to do.

The reasons for switching jobs could be many, ranging from dissatisfaction or disillusionment with your current job, bad relation with the boss, attitude of the company, or a lack of growth opportunities.

If you are shifting to a job in your own industry, you just have to find about the new company that you wish to join. However, if you wish to get into a new career field altogether, there has to be a proper backing to that idea so that you don’t repent it later. Do your homework and ask yourself repeatedly why you want to leave the present field for a new one. Examine the activities that you like or dislike. Pay more attention to what you like and basis that focus on new careers that center can help you achieve what you like and give you an opportunity to do exactly what you want to do.

You are the best judge of your skills and competencies. Try to leverage what is the best in you by being in recognition of your transferable skills. This way, you would not have to limit yourself to only one field or career, you would be able to experiment with newer fields. To get the best possible job, rely on your networking skills. Get in touch with your friends in the industry and find out about any suitable vacancies. Also, try to look for a mentor who is a few years senior and can give you an objective view of the market and your career position. However, once you have decided to quit, do resign gracefully as you would not want to burn bridges behind you.

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December 18, 2009

Looking for a Career Change?

If you are bored of your current profile and looking to make a career change, you can be anything but not reckless about it. Career change has to be a very carefully thought and conscious decision that cannot be taken in a haste. Whatever be your reason for changing the job, you have to make a very informed and well thought out decision. You have to consider a lot of factors and have to be very careful on each step. You would be investing a lot of time and probably money too in this decision, so take it wisely. A career change can make or mar your future so be vigilant about it.

While making a career change, here are a few steps you should consider. These are general help tips that can help you not stumble and make a wise and careful career decision. Following these, you can be sure that your career change is successful and lets you make that big leap. Also, since a career change always comes with its share of doubts and apprehensions, it is important to take each step carefully. You wouldn’t want to do anything in hurry now that will ruin your chances later and make you regret for life.

Firstly, give a careful thought to whether you really want this career change. You may have got bored of your current job and you may want to look for a new job, which is not easy either, but going for a career change is a different thing altogether. You have to be very sure that you want to go ahead with it. Chalk out what all you dislike about your current job. Are you completely disillusioned with it? What is it that motivates about the new career option? Can you do with a small break or career change is the only thing that you want. These questions are not to dissuade you but to make you all the more sure that your decision of a career switch is the right one.

Once you are sure that you want to go ahead, next thing is to evaluate what are your chances. That means, you have to assess your own skills, interests and personality and basis that decide what would be the best option for you. Many consultancy firms and career sites offer skill assessment tests. Once you have taken a skill assessment test, it will list your strengths and weaknesses and on the basis of that it will suggest the appropriate career options for you. You can even take the services of an experienced career counselor.

Next to that, you should carefully evaluate the list of career options available to you based on your skills. There would be many options in there and you should go about eliminating first, which means that just strike out whatever you feel you cannot do at all or do not wish to do. Post that, you will be left with narrower options that enthuse you. Once you are ready with a list of four to five options, you can start self-talk and figure out what are the most appealing options in there. If there are options that you have considered earlier too and are excited about, keep them as hot favorites. There may be some new options that you didn’t think about earlier but which sound exciting to you now. Once you have a final list ready, now is the time to explore each occupation on this list. Look in detail on the job descriptions given, educational requirements for that job, future scope in that career, and of course earnings.

On the basis of these criteria, you can narrow down your choices further. While you are conducting research, you will realize new avenues and get to know more about each career option. This way, you will have a clear idea what each career holds in store.

Now, with this research you are ready to pare down your list even further. Thus, if you think you cannot invest the required amount of time and energy to acquire an advanced educational qualification for a particular career, you can rule that option out. Or if you feel the compensation offered in a particular career is not good enough, you can strike that off too. Doing all this, you will be left with one or two options from which you have to choose. You can then go about talking to people in those careers and take their first hand experience report. With all this detailed information, you will be ready to make an informed decision regarding a career change and the chances of a blunder would reduce considerably.

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