Three Ways to Boost the Education Part of Your Resume (Without Spending a Fortune)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Free Resume Examples Articles : Three Ways to Boost the Education Part of Your Resume (Without Spending a Fortune) by Allen Voivod

In the past, I've suggested people pursue full degrees. I've also suggested going to school part-time, in the nighttime, online, in executive-focused programs, and so forth.
The point is to make sure you keep on top of things in your line of work, and while that's important in general, it becomes even more important when it comes to changing jobs. And still more important if your job change isn't a lateral thing. You may, when you distribute your resume, be thinking about a whole new set of responsibilities, a new target market, a new industry.

So, what are you going to do about it, if you're not going to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a new degree? before you start your job search, do a little planning in advance, and scope out these three education ideas:

1. Use your company's continuing education job benefits, if any.

I'm often surprised by the number of people who smack their heads and say, "Oh, yeah! I forgot I could do that!" The company benefits manual isn't usually a page-turner, but it's well worth digging into for nuggets of gold like continuing education reimbursement.

That may require you to stay on a while after you finish, or else you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket. But if your next executive position could more than make up for the difference - through salary and/or benefits - then go for it.

2. Create learning blocks in your day.

Not blocks as in "roadblocks," but block as in time. Heck, you can always use a break from what you're up to in the course of a day, just to keep up your effectiveness and productivity. Why not do something useful with your breaks? A walk around the block is good for your body, and a bit of reading and research is good for your mind.

3. Ask your boss about industry-specific or job-specific training.

Whether on not your company has a continuing education benefit, they may also pay for training as part of the departmental budget. Workshops and seminars may not have to focus on specific job tasks, either - leadership and team-building training may fall into the approved spending parameters.

Just one step today - put it on your calendar - and then follow through. That's all! And soon, you'll have learned a few new and useful tricks to share when you start your next resume-to-new-job process.

About the Author
Allen Voivod is the Chief Blogger for ResumeMachine.com, the leading resume distribution resource for managers, executives, and professionals looking to accelerate their job search results. Get the attention of thousands of hiring agents with the largest and most frequently updated recruiter database on the web, and dive into a wealth of immediately useful career articles and blog posts - all at http://www.ResumeMachine.com !

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=764543

Better Resume Writing

Free Resume Examples Articles : Better Resume Writing by Kenneth Anczerewicz

Copyright (c) 2008 Kenneth Anczerewicz

Job seekers often fear the thought of having to sum their life up on one or two sheets of paper. The following 10 strategies should allay your fears.

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 objective—what 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. List your accomplishments and explain them 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. It's far better to customize your resume to fit each individual prospective employer, because this shows the employer just how well suited to the position you are.

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 errors—punctuation 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; give it to someone else who can look at it afresh and proof it more thoroughly.

10) Your resume should maintain a high-quality 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. Keep in mind, appearances mean a lot!

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

About the Author
Ken Anczerewicz is an author and publisher devoted to helping students of all ages achieve their financial goals. Learn how to create your own income stream by clicking here now: http://www.resourceriver.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=762412

How to do a Resume

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Free Resume Example Articles : How to do a Resume by Michael Harrison

As a young ambitious engineer who wanted to break into management trying to do my first resume was something of a trial. Numerate rather than literate with no idea of format or content it was a challenge.

What do we mostly do when faced with such a task? Buy a book. Armed with this new friend the resume took the whole of one weekend to complete. On completion the application was sent off.

Out of 64 applicants I was one of ten to be called for interview. This went well and the final short list of three included me. At this point my application failed. Trying to move to a more commercial role there were other candidates better suited.

That first resume could be thought of as a success and over many years it was used in refined and updated form to apply for progressively more senior posts. Going from shop floor apprentice to CEO seems to validate that it was a reasonable resume.

However at age 50 and 'let go' for the second time in my career a new challenge had to be overcome because of ageism. As part of the termination settlement my company were persuaded to pay for an out placement course. This was revealing.

The main thrust of the service was guidance and help in producing a powerful resume with cover letter and mail out services to target businesses using a variety of marketing techniques. This did produce a powerful resume that was used successfully for number of years.

Many people do not consider producing a resume until forced to by circumstances outside their control. This means a first resume may have to compiled under pressure, which is not the ideal. Visit any forum relating to employment and jobs and you will find there are a lot of people who need help with their resumes and cover letters. In recognition of these difficulties it seemed that some action to help would be appropriate.

How to do a Resume is now available. With guidance on planning, self appraisal, resume formats and writing the resume plus many other features this easy to read manual will be great help to those struggling like I did to create their first resume or update an existing resume.
Resource Box:

Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. If you have found these tips helpful you can find more at http://www.how-to-do-a-resume.com/

**Attn: Ezine Editors / Site Owners / Webmasters / everyone** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include this resource box.

Find similar articles at http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Article.html

About the Author
Michael Harrison is an author, publisher and business consultant specialising in helping business owners and individuals to realise and release the full potential of their situation. He has helped many people to improve their business situations and advised and supported individuals to embark on new directions in their careers.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=759774

Utilizing A Resume Maker

Free Resume Example Articles : Utilizing A Resume Maker by Mario Churchill

When you are in the market for a top-notch resume, it may behoove you to search out a resume maker. These can be found simply by doing a search on the Internet for, you guessed it, "resume maker." These sites can provide you with everything from a template resume to build your own or a resume that you need to do very little work with other than supply your information.

An abundance of websites will pop up, many offering hundreds of resume templates that you can download for free. Resume makers really try to make it as easy for you as possible to create the perfect resume. They usually have several resume templates for all kinds of jobs and degrees. These will be tailored to your specific educational accomplishments and/or the kind of job you are searching for.

The downloadable templates are very manageable as well, as you can download them, tailor them to include the information and the visual look that you want, and then upload them wherever you choose.

This is a very intelligent option for today's job-hunter. Create your resume using a resume maker, then save it so that it can be modified and updated as the need arises. No need to start from scratch each time, what is the point of that?

Not only that, but the competition in today's job market is fierce, taking advantage of a resume maker can give you the edge over other applicants. Employers are looking for sharp wording, power verbs, and strong examples of what you have accomplished in the past.

Most job seekers, especially those who are not experienced in the resume-writing arena, can really use some assistance from professionals in this field; people who know how to display your achievements, skills, and most marketable traits in the best light possible. Your resume may only be glanced at for one quick second, and it is the first, and possibly only impression an employer will have of you.

That is why it is so important that your resume be formatted in the most impressive way possible, to highlight your strengths, not hide them, and to show why amid all of the other candidates, you are one who deserves an interview.

If you still need convincing, compare the same, basic resume that you have been or are thinking of using, to the professional resume created by a resume maker. The choice should be clear. It will definitely be worth going the extra mile to get the interview, and possibly land the job of your dreams, right?

Resume makes offer so many advantages. I would urge you to visit some resume maker sites on the Internet, study all that they have to offer. Certainly, some will be superior to others, isn't it that way with most businesses?

It will be your job to decide which company is worth it's weight in gold, and then use it to customize a resume that is bound to get you interviewed, and possibly aid in your getting the perfect job for you.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=759114

The Facts On Resume Writing Services

Friday, January 25, 2008

Free Resume Examples Articles : The Facts On Resume Writing Services by Mario Churchill

Resume writing services can be a valuable asset in your quest to create the perfect resume, and get you on the road to landing the job of your dreams. You already know that in order to be a contender for the position you want, your resume needs to be flawless and professional. Prospective employers potentially have to review dozens of resumes. Each one vying for the same position you may be applying for. Your resume needs to stand out from all these others enough to make a potential employer want to meet you in an interview.

A strong and well-worded career objective is extremely important if your resume is even going to catch your prospective employer's eye long enough for him or her to finish looking it over.

A resume writing service might be just what you need, and there are plenty out there to choose from. Go online and after searching for "resume writing services," choose the one that sounds best to you.

They will want to know if you have a current resume and if you do not, they will want you to fill out a questionnaire to give them some insight into your education, skills and accomplishments.

Those that do have a current resume will need to send it to the resume writing service, either via fax or email, at which point they can see what they have to work with and tell you what additional information you will need to provide them with. As soon as you have done this, they can begin to customize a resume specifically for you.

All reputable resume- writing services are going to be adept at showcasing your best traits in the most positive light possible. After all, they want to see you succeed almost as much as you want to succeed!

So, even though it will cost you a fee, (how much of course will vary on which writing service you use as well as exactly what they have to do for you), it should be worth it in the long run.

Resume writing services also offer additional services as well, usually at no cost, such as interview and job search coaching, storage of your custom resume for any future revising that you may need or wish to do, as well as detailed analysis of your resume.

However, it is only prudent to bear in mind that resume- writing services are not your only option when you are trying to create a top-notch resume. You can find several different resume templates on line, and download them for free.

You can utilize the Placement Office or Student Services Center at your school and get the professionals there to help you at no charge.

But if you do choose to utilize the services of a resume writing company, you certainly won't be disappointed.

Getting assistance from resume writing services has been the catalyst that has helped many a job seeker become an employee. With the right approach, the same can happen for you.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=758589

How to Get Great Results by Emailing Your Resume, in 6 Simple Steps

Free Resume Example Articles : How to Get Great Results by Emailing Your Resume, in 6 Simple Steps by Allen Voivod

It's cheaper and faster than snail mail, saves you paper and ink, and works just as well, all things being equal. It's the emailed resume, and though it's easy, it's also easy to commit a few errors if you're not careful - errors that may well sink your pursuit of a position.

Here are six simple steps to follow to keep your resume emailing on the right track.

1. Don't send to the "jobs@company.com" email address, if possible.

Make a couple of calls and ask to whom you could send your resume directly. It's a bit of a double-edged sword: On the one hand, you're applying for a management position, which means you shouldn't have to be dug out of the entry level resumes coming in ten times more often. On the other hand, hiring managers delegate the screening of resumes to administrators, junior folks, and HR staff, so you might hit a brick wall there. Try it, and if it's no dice, just follow their procedure.

2. Send from a regularly-named (not a funnily-named) email address.

Home email addresses are just fine, but don't send from an address like "FancyPantsLineDancer@aol.com." Use a variation on your name, like allen.butler@aol.com, abutler@aol.com, etc. And make sure it includes your full last name, for ease of the receiver's reference.

3. Be crystal clear in your subject line.

Between spam filters and overloaded resume screeners, you want to make things as easy as possible. Reference the position, your name, and the fact that you're sending a resume - i.e., "Allen Butler's resume for the VP, Consumer Packaged Goods opening."

4. Paste your resume straight into the body of the email.

Virus scanners are just as aggressive as spam filters, so just don't send an attachment unless you're asked to. And if you've got some special formatting in the MS Word version of your resume, do a Google search on re-formatting for resumes to help you present your resume professionally via text-based email, regardless of formatting.

5. Don't write your resume email as fast as you would a regular email.

No need to be stiltedly formal with your language. Just take as much care with the writing of your email as you would with your resume and cover letter. Re-read, out loud, and check for spelling errors before sending.

6. Don't let it end when you click "Send."

Whoever your contact was from step 1, give them a call in a few days to confirm their receipt, and make it easy for them to take the next step with you - giving you the interview.

Of course, using a resume distribution service takes a lot of the wrinkles out of the process. But if you find a job opportunity on your own that you want to approach, this guide should help you get off on the right foot.

About the Author
Allen Voivod is the Chief Blogger for ResumeMachine.com, the leading resume distribution resource for managers, executives, and professionals looking to accelerate their job search results. Get the attention of thousands of hiring agents with the largest and most frequently updated recruiter database on the web, and dive into a wealth of immediately useful career articles and blog posts - all at http://www.ResumeMachine.com !

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=755682

Sample Resume

Free Resume Example Articles : Sample Resume by Mario Churchill

Sometimes when you are trying to make the best impression you can with your resume, (and who isn't?) you may want to take a look at a sample resume. Doing this can be a valuable guide and give you a good idea of whether you are heading in the right direction with your resume.

Going to Google and typing in "sample resume" will search out a plethora of websites where you can look at a sample resume. These sites will also offer a lot of other information to help you in your quest for the perfect resume. They may list some common mistakes to avoid, some may seem very obvious and some will be more helpful than others.

Everyone knows, or should know, that spelling and/or grammatical errors can be the kiss of death to your resume. This will say to the employer that you are careless; he or she may feel you are not a good writer, and if you don't care enough to make sure your resume is perfect, how conscientious would you be as an employee? You will never see any errors like this on a sample resume.

A high-quality sample resume will also highlight accomplishments as opposed to duties. The employer wants to know what you have done, and done well, not only the things you were assigned to do. Did you implement a new billing or filing system that saved the company some money? These types of undertakings speak to your innovative and ambitious nature and emphasize the fact that you are willing to go the extra mile and think outside the box.

A sample resume worth it's salt will also be specific to the position and company to which you are applying. Generalizing on your resume will make the employer feel like maybe this is just an attempt to get any job at all, and not that you really care about working for this particular company. Don't make this mistake. Do some research on the company, and be specific.

Another thing you will notice on a quality sample resume is the use of plenty action words, or verbs. Employers are impressed with words and descriptions that show what you have accomplished, some examples, or "power verbs," as I like to call them, are "utilized," "created," "resolved," and "implemented." Don't be afraid to blow your own horn, humbly, of course, because no one else is going to!

This would also go hand in hand with leaving out important information, don't do that! Although there may be some jobs you held in the past that you feel may not be impressive to the employer, any skills that you picked up at these jobs, whether it be time-management, a word processing application, or even just some experience in office politics, might make more of an impression than you know. Don't sell yourself short.

So, look at a sample resume, but don't stop there, look at another, and another. One sample resume may be completely different than the next, but all will help guide you in the creation of a resume which will hopefully get you the job you want.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=755117

Resume Template

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Resume Template by Mario Churchill

When you are searching for the perfect job, you will of course want to put your best foot forward with an impressive and well- formatted resume. One way of assuring that you have such a resume is to download a resume template. These templates can provide you with the exact resume you are looking for or simply use them as a guide to create your own.

A resume template can assist you with making sure that all of the information that a prospective employer expects to see will be there, and will be placed where it should be. Obviously your work history is a cornerstone of any well-written resume. Include ten to fifteen years' worth of employment history, if you have it, and do so in reverse chronological order. Then, list your educational degrees.

However, if you are a new graduate, you will want to list your educational achievements at the top of the page, and then list your employment history and accomplishments.

You can get several different ideas and examples of how to format your resume with the help of a resume template, and if you choose to utilize this method, there are also many ways to go about doing so.

There will be many career books and guides that you can search out at the library or bookstore, which will have at least one resume template for you to study, oftentimes more.

You could also download a resume template from the Internet; there are an abundance of websites where you will be able to find a resume template, either to simply peruse or to download and use.

And for every website you come across that has a resume template, you will find that there are specialized templates for just about any type of resume you wish to create. You can find a resume template for an entry-level position, and you can find a resume template for just about any type of job or career you are looking for.

However, these are not your only options for locating a resume template. Your college or university will most assuredly have more than one resume template that you can use, and will be happy to assist you. Simply head over to their Placement Office and you will have a resume template in no time. After all, it is their job to help you find employment, and when you are successful and a satisfied and gainfully employed former student, it is also a feather in their cap.

Do you have a friend or relative who has a job you admire and a good grasp of how to format and create a resume? Why not ask them to see the resume that they used, and use that for your resume template?

There are so many options for you as you search for the perfect resume template, and with some hard work and perseverance on your part, you will find yourself with a first-class resume in no time, and hopefully, a first-class employer, as well!

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=744614

Resume Service

Resume Service by Mario Churchill

If you need to create a resume and aren't sure how to go about it, one option you have is to contact a resume service. You can accomplish this by looking in your phone book under "resume service," or by locating a resume service online. These services can help you find the help you may need to land the job you seek.

There are many companies who will be willing to assist you with all aspects of writing your resume. Some companies will create questionnaires for you to fill out, and work with you after going over your answers to discern exactly how much help you need. Depending on how this goes, a fee will be set.

You will then work closely with a professional who is certified to assist you with writing your resume. With the expert who is chosen by the resume service to guide you, you will go over all of your weaknesses and strengths. He or she will determine your qualifications and find out from you exactly what you are looking for in an employer.

Your skill sets, previous experiences, and education will all be looked at and used to determine which jobs you are best suited for at this time, taking your own interests into account, of course.

Once your basic background information is established, the resume service will work in assisting you to format a resume highlighting your accomplishments in their most positive light. This will most likely be a most positive experience for you and well worth the fee involved.

Other resume services may simply offer to critique the resume that you have crafted yourself, either solely or with the assistance of resume templates or resume samples. Once your resume is ready to be reviewed, simply choose the resume service you believe will best suit your needs, and ask them for an honest review and assessment of your resume.

At this point, the resume service will thoroughly examine your resume and offer advice on any changes or additions they think should be implemented.

Now, if neither of these options are what you are looking for, a resume service can offer you resume templates which you can use to format the design of your resume. There are also resume samples and different resume examples, which can be studied by you to help you create your own resume.

You will just want to keep in mind some basic facts if you do decided to go it alone in formatting your resume. Your resume must absolutely be error-free, no typos, no spelling errors and no grammatical errors.

Don't use fancy fonts or try to cram too much information on one page, your resume should not be hard to look at or difficult to read, this will be an instant turn-off to any employer.

So, whether or not you choose to engage the help of a resume service, make sure you proof-read the final draft of your resume yourself, as ultimately, the end result is really only going to affect you.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=742732

Resume Outline

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Resume Template : Resume Outline by Mario Churchill

When creating a resume, whether you are doing it with resume software or on a word processing template, the first thing you need to create is a resume outline. A resume outline is simply all of the items which you wish to highlight in your resume. A resume outline includes personal information, employment experience, education, and accomplishments.

Creating a resume outline is no different than creating an outline for any other document. You will have headings and then fill in the information under the headings. The first heading in a resume outline is the personal information, although you do not usually put this as a heading. The name of the person applying for the job, their contact information including their phone number and e-mail address, is usually put at the top of the page. It can be at the left, right or center of the page, but should be at the top. The font should be easy to read so that the perspective employer will have no problem contacting the person for a job interview.

The next headline is objective. This can be underlined or simply stated. This is one of the most important aspects of the resume outline as it clearly states what position the person who is writing the resume is applying. What do they hope to accomplish by sending this resume? This should be clearly stated at the top of the resume outline, under the name and address of the individual.

Depending upon experience, the next part of the resume outline should be employment experience. This can change in the case of someone seeking an entry level job who has just graduated from school. Strengths want to come first in a resume outline and if the strength of the person who is applying for the job is their education, than that should be listed first. In most cases, however, employment experience is the strength. Employment Experience should be highlighted in bold and underlined.

Under the employment experience in the resume outline a list of all of the places where the employee worked that pertain to the job for which they are seeking must be listed. The name of the company and how long they worked at the company are crucial, as are the tasks and duties they performed. Any promotions that they received should also be listed here. In most cases, it is helpful to bullet point all tasks and knowledge gained in employment experience as it is easier for the prospective employer to read.

Other employment experience should also be listed in the resume outline. While it is not necessary to go back to high school years of employment, all relevant employment should be listed in the resume outline. It is usually not necessary, however, to go back more than 10 years. It is also no necessary to list the part time jobs you held in high school unless they pertain to the position being sought.

After the Employment Experience part of the resume outline comes the education headline. This can also be bolded and underlined as it is very relevant. Make sure that you put the most recent educational experiences first. If you have a post graduate degree, it is not necessary to put down your high school education.

Other important aspects of the resume outline include any major accomplishments, awards or clubs to which you belong that are relevant to the position to which you are seeking. You should also put down any military service as well as your discharge information.

It is not necessary to put down on a resume why you left a certain job. This is something that will be discussed during an interview. It is also considered taboo to put down any salary qualifications or past salary in your resume. Some employers will ask that you state your salary requirements in your cover letter. While this is fine to do, it is never to be put on a resume outline.

When creating a resume outline, remember to make certain that you include personal information, career objective, employment experience, education, accomplishments and awards, certifications and, if applicable, military service. While the old rule of thumb is to make a resume one page and as short as possible, make sure that you include each of the above in your resume outline so that all of your experience, education and accomplishments can be properly highlighted.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=742442

How to Write Your Resume Objective

Resume Writing : How to Write Your Resume Objective by Carlie Evie

Objective: To write a useful article that will help resume writers grab the attention of interviewers by using a compelling resume objective.

The first thing people will notice when reading your resume is the objective. It needs to be concise, positive, and it needs to capture the attention of the reader.

It must be tailored to the position for which you're applying... show the reader that you want to work for them. To write that perfect objective, here are some tips:

Keep the objective neutral, and state what the job is that you are seeking. Don't talk about your own desires, but instead state what you can do for the company.

For instance, instead of writing, "A position in which I can grow and use my skills, etc." be specific about the job, as in, "A position as an administrative assistant in a fast-paced office environment." When it comes to your objective, focus on the job and the company. What would the manager want from his or her new employee? Keep this question in mind.

One title per resume! Don't write a laundry list of all the things you're willing to do. Use the resume objective to answer specifically the question, "What job do you want?"

Keep it short. The objective should be no more than one sentence. You may use two sentences as long as both are short and get straight to the point. However, a long objective will not be getting a lot of attention.

This is not the place to angle for a promotion before you've already gotten this job! Everyone wants opportunities to advance, and everyone knows it. Don't state the obvious here. Telling them in your objective that you're hard-working and responsible in those words should be redundant. Hopefully this will show up in your skill and experience!

Now if you can keep all these tips in mind and write a good resume objective from the point of view of an employee, you will have a greater chance of landing the perfect job!

About the Author
Trying to Write the Perfect Resume? Visit Make a Resume. We cover everything from Resume Objectives to writing a Customer Service Resume and every other position you can think of.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=741652

Resume Layout

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Resume Layout by Mario Churchill

When you are building your resume, you will probably be overwhelmed with the different resume layout samples that are available both online and on different types of resume building software. A resume layout can be simple or elaborate and the one that you choose should reflect both your personality as well as the job you are striving for.

Despite the different designs available, a resume layout should contain the same basic information. First off, you should put your name and contact information at the top of the resume in easy to read font. Do not rely on your cover letter to provide the company with your name and telephone number. In many cases, employers who are bogged down with papers never even bother to read the cover letters and toss them away. They re often separated from the resume. So make sure that you have all of your contact information on your resume at the top.

You should also have, in your resume layout, your job objective. This is pretty much a description of the job you hope to get. If you are applying for a job as a receptionist, for example, the job objective would be that of a receptionist. If you have career aspirations further than a receptionist that will fit with this employer, such as a dental hygienist, you should put your job objective down as a receptionist and your career objective as a dental hygienist after you have met the proper qualifications. Many people forget to put down the job objective on their resume and this is a very important part of the resume format. Because employers get so many different resumes, and many have various different openings, you resume may get lost in the shuffle if you do not include a job objective.

Another important part of the resume layout is the prior employment experience. You should start from the last job that you had and work backwards. List the name of the employer, the address and your position with the company. If you received a promotion, make sure you put that on your resume as this is a true feather in your cap and something that an employer definitely wants to see. List all of your skills, knowledge and accomplishments that you know how to perform. Make sure that they conform to the job for which you are seeking. It is a good idea to use bullet points to highlight your skills and knowledge. This will make your resume layout easier to read and draw attention to your skills.

Make sure you list all relevant employment that pertains to the job in which you are seeking. You do not have to go back past 10 years, generally. If you took some time off for a family or other reason, but did something 15 years ago that will greatly help you with this new job, you can list it in a separate part of the resume layout called accomplishments or additional information.

You will need to list your education as well. If you have a post graduate degree, you should list the type of degree you earned as well as the college or university where you studied. You should also list your undergraduate degree as well as that college or university.

Many people are under the impression that resumes should only be one page long. While this has been true in the past and employers do not like to normally look through pages and pages of material, it is more important to list all of your accomplishments that relate to the job which you are seeking than to try to conserve paper. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to either cram all of the information into one page using a small font, which makes it very difficult to read, or shortchanging themselves when it comes to listing their knowledge and skills. It is better to have a resume layout that is easy to read and contains all of the vital information, even if it is two pages long.

When choosing the proper resume layout, make sure that you choose one that offers you the best opportunity to acknowledge your skills and knowledge and is clear and easy to read. The type of resume layout that you choose can be modern or classic, but the information should be accurate and highlight all of the best of your abilities.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=740007

What does your resume say about you?

What does your resume say about you? by Mike Anderson

I have read thousands of resumes in my career as a C-level executive. To be honest, I usually read the first couple of lines and scan the job titles of the candidate in an effort to glean what I am able to as quickly as possible. Do you know why? Not because I am too busy or too lazy to read them. No, it is because they are often so boring and poorly formatted that I can hardly get past the first few lines.

To get hiring authorities to read your resume, candidates must find ways to create an eye appealing format. Whether you are an entry level candidate, or a senior executive, the first two people that read your resume are generally completely unqualified to make a determination as to whether or not you are qualified for the position for which you are applying. Executive Recruiters or internal HR staff only know on a superficial level whether your qualifications match up with the requirements of the job. Normally, knowing that is that is the job of the hiring authority, but only if your resume has passed on to them through the hands of the first level gate keepers.

I have always maintained that a resume is not a chronological listing of your employment history. No, it is a sales brochure, and the product your are promoting is no other than you. Imagine you are a door to door salesman. You cannot bring samples of each product you sell with you, but you can bring a healthy stack of three color, high gloss sales brochures that contain all of the highlights of the product. The sales brochure contains every technical spec, the colors, any competitive advantages that you can imagine. And, you are going to stuff the mailboxes of prospective customers to let them read it over and over in the hope that they like what they read and call you back!! Oh joy!

Now imagine the same scenario, but this time all you have a is a white piece of paper, with no color, not much of a product description, but only a plain, boring list of the attributes of the product. Imagine what that customer might think about the product. My guess is that they will not think too highly of it. They might be a little skeptical that if the sales pitch is so weak, so might be the engineering behind it. I am thinking it goes right in the round file.

You too may suffer the same exact result. The sole intent of a resume is to get an interview. Nothing else matters. You need someone to read those pages and be caught up in the formatting, the structure, the use of color and bold print. If you have a particular skill you need to be able to highlight that, and call major attention to it. If on the other hand you have a problem with your resume, you need to low light it to draw attention away from it.

So many times I have read resumes with all of the common problems like misspellings, grammar, poor sentence structure, or glaring mistakes. I will normally just toss those into the DNC pile, as in “Do Not Call”. Why? Because if you can't give me a perfect resume with all the time in the world to prepare and check it, how the heck are you going to react to a pressure deadline I give you with no time whatsoever? Do I need to answer that?

Also, you must take credit for your major accomplishments and call out tangible results in an active voice. Executives especially need to take credit for financial results - increases in sales, reductions in spending, or any other metric that will demonstrate the business acumen of the candidate. I love resumes that say things like “reduced operating expenses by $3.5 million”, “increased sales by 12.5% in six months”, “surpassed sales targets 6 out of the last 8 months”. Get it?

I hate resumes that say “affected change through strong leadership” or “eliminated staff turnover”. What? What the heck are you telling me? I have no clue what you did, how you did it, or why you did it! By the way, eliminating staff turnover is normally a bad thing. We need to occasionally thin out dead wood and that comes in the form of turnover. Higher than average turnover might indicate you are a hatchet man, but unless that is the job for which you are applying, leave that out too. For gaps in employment, do not try to explain that in the resume. Ignore it. Don't lie, but ignore it. Make the interviewer ask, but be prepared with a solid, proactive answer. I have seen resumes that try to explain terminations and layoffs in the resume when I hadn't even noticed it yet. When I was in the Navy, we used to joking say that Navy stood for Never Again Volunteer Yourself. Well, never volunteer negative information in a resume or interview. Never, ever lie. Let me say that again....never, ever lie, but resumes and interviews are not Catholic confessionals. Once the company wants you, they will often overlook small problems, but if you offer it up, everyone now goes into CYA mode which means you are out on your A.

For my Gen X and Gen Y readers �" you need to use correct English and no slang. Make sure your email addresses are not inappropriate like “bigswinger@aol.com” or “beerstud@yahoo.com”. You see, as cool as they are, they say something not so great about you. You may be just a great guy who I would love to hang out with, but I am not so sure I want you interacting with my customers, or creating a financial analysis on Monday after a great beer bust weekend. No, I you need to use your name as well as you can for your email address. Something like JohnSmith@aol.com is perfect, but I realize there are a lot of John Smith's, so just try very hard to get an address that is not offensive, sexual, too funny, or just plain dumb. And lastly, get rid of all voice mail greetings that suggest you are anything less than serious. For example no rap tunes, country tunes, celebrity voice overs, or profanity. They are really funny with the right audience, but when the HR Department calls to schedule an interview and hears something offensive, she might just hang-up before leaving a message. So, delete them and simply change your greeting to say “Hi, this is John. I can't take your call right now, but please leave a message and I will call you back as soon as possible.” I know that is boring, but it will save you a lot of explaining later.

Well that is about all the room I have for this little story. I would be happy to help you more if you have any questions. This article was not intended as primer, but more of a thought provoking introspective on how you should present yourself. If you would like more information, or a free resume review, you can contact me at mike@directyourcareer.com or read my blog at www.directyourcareer.com/blog .

About the Author
Mike Anderson is a C-level executive, author and internet entrepreneur with more than twenty five years of experience. You can read his blog at www.directyourcareer.com/blog and email him at mike@directyourcareer.com.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=739329

Resume Format

Resume Format by Mario Churchill

Some people might say that there are several different ways to format your resume, and this may be true. But if you are going into a classic, business profession, you will want to stick with a classic, businesslike resume format, that is, if you want to be taken seriously.

Let me give you an example of a traditional resume format:

First, your contact information, which of course includes your name, full address, phone numbers both cell and home, and an email address.

Next will be your career objective, although this is optional. If you do choose to make this part of your resume format, it should only be a couple of sentences describing your employment goals. In order to be a worthwhile part of your resume, your objective will need to be customized to you and your skills. Let the employer know why you will be a valuable asset to the company.

Then you will move on to your career highlights and your qualifications. Again, you will want to tailor this to list the achievements, skills, traits and experiences that will relate directly to the job you are applying for. This will illustrate to the employer what an asset you can be to the company, and he or she will also be impressed that you took the time to outline these accomplishments for his or her benefit.

Okay, we all know that experience is going to play a key factor, and this is where this information should be in your resume format. As the title "experience" suggests, this is where you will include your work history. You will want to catalog the companies you worked for, the dates of employment, the positions you held, as well as a list of your responsibilities and achievements. If you choose to make a bulleted list of this information, it makes it much easier to read, and adds a nice touch to your resume format.

In this resume format, what would come next is your education. You'll list the colleges or universities you have attended, the degrees you attained, and of course any special honors or awards you earned. If you made the Dean's List or President's List, make sure to add that in here, too. Were you approached to be a Student Advisor? If so, list that here as well.

Don't feel that this section can only list traditional colleges and universities, if you have attended a career college or trade or technical school, they count too! Make sure that all of your successes and accomplishments are part of your resume format.

Now is the space where you will enter your special skills relating directly to the position you are applying for. Are you applying for a technical position? Make sure to highlight your computer skills. If this is a company with locations around the world and you are at least bilingual, you'll definitely want to mention that! Trilingual? Even better! Well, you get the gist!

So, there is a nice basic resume format for you. You do not need to mention that you have references available upon request, instead make that mention in your cover letter, or have a list of references ready to give the prospective employer if they ask.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=739204

How To Make A Resume

Thursday, January 17, 2008

How To Make A Resume by Mario Churchill

There are many ways that you can go about learning how to make a resume, and a really impressive resume, at that. With some research on formatting, and the knowledge that only you can bring to the table regarding your skills, education, past employment history, and a strong career objective, you'll have everything you need.

If you are a recent college graduate, make an appointment with your school's placement office and tell them you would like to learn how to make a resume. They will be more than happy to assist you, but this will probably require at least a few appointments requiring that you travel back and forth to the campus to complete everything that needs to be done. If that is what works for you, more power to you. However, there are many other avenues you can pursue to get the same results.

The World Wide Web has more websites than you would believe all aimed at teaching you how to make a resume. If you have doubts, simply type "how to make a resume" into any search engine and be astounded at the number of hits you get! If you can root through and find the ones that you are most comfortable with, you are good to go!

There are templates laying out for you quite specifically how to make a resume. There are examples and sample resumes for you to look at.

There are even resume writing services that will work with you, for a fee, and hold your hand every step along the way of the resume-creating process. It may cost a bit of cash, but you should get a top-notch resume out of the deal.

"Wait! you cry, I am just out of school and have no extra money to spend on learning how to make a resume!"

Hey, that is only one option, remember? One option out of several.

Research the different avenues you have already been advised of and you will certainly be able to come up with an option, a free option, that will be very satisfying to you.

Just remember that your resume is seen as an extension of who you are, to your prospective employer, at least. So, there will always be some basic rules for you to follow when learning how to make a resume.

Your resume must be absolutely error-free! You must be certain that it is free of typos, as well as grammatical errors. This is where an adequate amount of time proofreading will be mandatory. It should be proofread several times by you, out loud and silently, and by at least one other person.

An honest portrayal of your skills and achievements is also essential; lying on a resume or even exaggerating is a huge mistake and will usually always come back to haunt you, most likely in the form of losing your job. Is it really worth it?

A clean look to your resume, nothing too "busy," is a good rule of thumb, and make sure to leave enough white space; you want your resume to be easy and pleasurable to look at and read, or it just may not be looked at, at all!

If you are worried about fitting in all of the information that you need, instead of stuffing it all onto one page, go to two pages. That is preferable to a resume that is a visual mess. I hope this has helped somewhat on your quest to learn how to make a resume.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on cover letter or cover letters checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=739010

Sample Resume Objective

Sample Resume Objective by Mario Churchill

When creating a resume, one of the most important aspects is the resume objective. Employers get hundreds of resumes whenever they place an add for a job and unless you put down your employment objective in your resume, the document that you worked so hard to produce may end up by the wayside.

There are many different sample resume objective forms that you can use,. The resume objective is simply what you wish to accomplish by sending the company your resume. In most cases, the objective is to get a certain job. This should be clearly stated on your resume.

A sample resume objective for someone who wishes to become a paralegal, for example, can include a heading stating Employment Objective and under this heading should be the type of paralegal position which you are seeking. If you are seeking to be a commercial real estate paralegal, for example, this should be stated at this point.

Another sample resume objective would be for someone who is seeking a position as receptionist. Again, the Employment Objective would be listed as receptionist.

Suppose, however, that the person who seeks to be a receptionist is also going to school for a paralegal degree. He or she may be qualified now to be a receptionist, but upon completion of their studies, will want to seek employment as a paralegal. If this person is applying for a job at a law office, in addition to the sample resume objective there should also be a career objective stated. This could read something like this:

Although I am seeking the position of receptionist, I am currently enrolled in xxx college and expect to complete my paralegal studies in xxx. My career objective is to become a paralegal.

This will let the prospective employer know that in addition to getting a receptionist, he or she may also be able to get a qualified paralegal who will have knowledge of the law firm and can remain in the employ of the law firm for years to come. This may make the candidate a bit more desirable as it costs employers thousands of dollars to train new employees.

A good sample resume objective can be found within many different software programs that assist someone in creating a resume. The wording is all there, you just need to fill in the proper information. It is essential, however, that you put down an objective in your resume. It not only denotes professionalism, but lessens the confusion on the behalf of the employer.

Employment objectives and career objectives are two different headings on most resumes. An employment objective refers to the job for which one is immediately applying., A person just out of law school may apply for a job as an associate in a law firm. This is an employment objective. A career objective for the same person, however, would probably be partner in the law firm.

Many people are hesitant about putting down career objectives on their resumes. It makes them feel foolish as if they are shooting for the stars. Nothing can be further from the truth. Most employees want to hire people with some sort of ambition. It is not foolish to say that you want to be partner of a law firm when you are an attorney, it is more foolish to say that you are content with staying an associate and never moving up the ladder.

It is important, therefore, to put employment objectives as well as career objectives, where appropriate, on your resume. If you are going to school to become a nurse and have applied for a job as a secretary, it is not necessary to put your nursing career objective on your resume as this may cost you the job. A career objective should only be included on a resume if it adds to the employment opportunity which you are seeking.

To find a good sample resume objective, take a look at some of the resume building tools online or in some resume building software. All of the information that you need to find a good sample resume objective can be right at your fingertips. Remember to be honest in what you are hoping to achieve. You do not have to get too wordy, either. A good sample resume objective can be as simple as saying that you want to be a receptionist.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resume distribution or a job finder service checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=739000

Resume Format Sample

Resume Format Sample by Mario Churchill

If you have ever tried to create your own resume on your word processing program, you are probably familiar with the many different formats. To choose the correct resume format sample depends on which type of position you are seeking.

If, for example, you are seeking a professional position, you should choose a resume format sample that depicts a professional quality. This means no fancy designs on the paper or creative fonts. When choosing a professional resume format sample, you are best to go with those that are labeled classic or professional. These are usually no frills types of formats but maintain an aura of seriousness and respectability. Those who are seeking employment in a firm that is conservative, such as a bank, are well advised to choose a resume format sample that depicts a classic, tasteful design.

Perhaps you are seeking employment in a creative field. In such a case, you can get a little bit more creative with your resume format sample. There are plenty of creative resume format samples in most world processing programs and if you cannot find the one that appeals to you, there are dozens of software programs that can give your even more choices. You want to be certain, however, that your creative resume is easy to read and not too fussy. Too much color and design can be a bit overwhelming for a prospective employer and even if you are applying for a position in a creative field, you should maintain some sort of professionalism. There is plenty of time to show them how creative you can be once you have secured the position.

Those seeking a position in a law field can choose from many different resume format samples that depict law symbols on the page. These are not too outlandish and add a bit of novelty to the resume. With the advent of the internet, the plain paper, typed resume has quickly become a thing of the past. The trick to finding the correct resume format samples is to seek one that will suit both your personality as well as be appropriate for the job which you are seeking.

Some software programs that offer resume format samples also give you everything you need to create your own resume. You will be prompted for the necessary items that are needed for every resume, whether it is creative or classic. All resumes should include name and contact information as well as career objective. Employment experience and education are also necessary for any resume.

If you are truly creative and are seeking a creative position, there are some programs that will allow you to create your own unique resume on your computer. You can add images or designs and special fonts. Again, you must be careful not to get too creative and make your resume become too much of burden for someone to read. While a creative director may appreciate a unique resume, a banker, on the other hand, will most likely be confused and will not be calling you in for an interview.

One nice thing about creating a resume online using resume format samples is that you can actually complete your resume within the program, adding all of the vital information that is needed, and then take a look at the different ways the resume looks with the different resume format samples. It is nice to see a variety of samples from which to choose, particularly when you are creating something as important as a resume.

Creating a resume is not as difficult as one thinks and using resume format samples is just one way to make sure that you create the perfect resume that will gain you the job of your dreams. Make certain that you do not get bogged down with the creative process and remember to include all of your job duties, tasks and accomplishments. Many people tend to underestimate their skills when creating a resume for themselves. This is not the time to be modest about your accomplishments. A resume is the first impression a prospective employer has of you. And different employers prefer different types of resumes. There may be some who are very old school and prefer a plain piece of paper on one page. Others may appreciate a bit of creativity. If you do not get a job because your resume was too flashy because you used a classic design instead a plain paper, perhaps that job is not the best match for you. If you are the type of person who prefers to add a bit of pizzazz to your work, perhaps you are best working for an employer who will appreciate that quality, rather than one who will continue to hold you back.

Using a resume format sample to create your resume can be fun and give you an opportunity to truly express yourself on paper. Make sure that the resume format sample complies with the type of job which you are seeking, is not too overbearing and is easy to read and you will do well in this endeavor.

About the Author
Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on resumes or for a samples resume checkout his recommended websites.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=738985

A guide to resume writing - part III

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A guide to resume writing - part III by D.Spagnolo

When you are thinking of applying for a new job, the skill of cover letter writing is really worth taking a close look at because there are many people out there who spend a tremendous amount of time and effort perfecting their resume, only to speed through the process of cover letter writing. This is a potentially large mistake, as the cover letters are the first and sometimes the only things that a hiring manager will see about you. This is because there are many applicants applying for the same position at one time and how you express your interest in a position may just be all they need to know before deciding on an interview.

Unlike a resume, the cover letter has to be fine-tuned each time you send it out. A resume can be frequently printed in bulk. After you create and edit a resume, you can generally let it just be there for a little while before making significant changes to it. Cover letters, on the other hand, will change literally every time you send them out because they need to be tailored to the company and position you are applying for.

How will they change, you may ask? Just to point this out, you should always address each letter to the hiring manager personally. You should never use general salutations like "To Whom It May Concern." This is not just impersonal; it demonstrates that you haven't taken the time to research the company for which you are applying to. With the resources of the Internet, it is easy to find out the identities of human resource directors, so you should take a few extra minutes to find out some names, and you may be rewarded with a lucrative job in the end.

Chances are that you will be applying to firms that don't all do the same exact thing either. When you're writing a cover letter, you should tailor each sheet slightly to the company to which you are sending it because this is just smart sense. Cover letters are a great way to add your personality to your resume so be friendly and give those quotes any chance that you get it is better than references to most employers.

About the Author
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Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=663681

A guide to resume writing - part II

A guide to resume writing - part II by D.Spagnolo

Any person who is actually planning on applying for a new job can benefit from curriculum vitae writing tips. A typical curriculum vita, which is often referred to as CV, differs slightly from a standard resume because it contains substantially more information than just your education and prior job experience. A CV should also include any other information about you that is relevant to the job that you are applying for. A CV offers so much more personal information about you and your abilities and has become a primary aspect of writing a resume thee days.

The first difference between a curriculum vitae and a traditional resume is how long it is. Professionals will quickly advise you that resumes should fill up one or if it is really needed two pages. A CV, though, can be longer if has to be; it is not uncommon for a curriculum vitae to be at least three, or as many as 10 pages long if you want. Some people just really need that much space to write their qualifications.

The next aspect of the curriculum vitae tips is to include, in detail, any special licenses or awards that you have been given. If you have published books or articles, have taught courses at a university, or if you are affiliated with any academic or professional groups or organizations, they should also be included on the curriculum vitae. The CV is your chance to show every bit of your personality and life and your achievements. What this means is that this is the time for you to brag your guts out. There is no such thing as tooting your own horn too much with a CV because that is what this is for.

About the Author
Great resume guide click here Earn more than 0,01 Take a look to this incredible system and start earning $1000 daily www.amazingsystem.ws

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=663680

A guide to resume writing - part I

A guide to resume writing - part I by D.Spagnolo

When it comes to formatting; if you are writing an executive resume you will want to highlight your experience and accomplishments. For the most part, unless you have studied at an Ivy League school, you will likely not have to place too much emphasis on your school history. For example, if all that the job you are applying for requires is a high school diploma than you can simply skip that part all together and mention that you meet all of the requirements for the position in your cover letter.

Of course if you are using your resume to get a general job, you will want to highlight all of your duties so that your prospective employer knows that this is an area that you have already demonstrated in the past. What can be very complicated in creating your résumé's format is if you are applying for any job in a company and do not really care which. For this you would want to show your diversity in your format. This would naturally more emphasis on your different job experiences.

In general, resume formats should include items such as: qualifications, experience, references, and special accomplishments. After that what is needed pretty much varies by the job you are looking to get. If in sales, you will want to focus your attention on your accomplishments in this area or a similar one and your personality in general. This would be more along the lines of your CV. This is the document that you will be using to describe yourself on a personal level. When it comes to a job like sales your experience with dealing with people is your most important ally.

With so many formats to choose from, it can be difficult to choose between them but if you really think about it; it doesn't have to be impossible. Just think about what is being highlighted in your resume and what type of impression you want to give. Just so that you know, most resumes are best served if written in 12 point, Times New Roman font. Just make sure that the headlines are bold and a bit larger so that they stand out and give the employer an easy to see what they want.

About the Author
Great resume guide click here Earn more than 0,01 Take a look to this incredible system and start earning $1000 daily www.amazingsystem.ws

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=663679

Resume' Writing for Career Change

Monday, January 14, 2008

Resume' Writing for Career Change by Michael Harrison

People only understand the need for a great Resume' when they are fed up and decide on a job or career change. Until this point they will have never realised that Resume' writing for career change is a vital skill to learn.
Most enter the work place as employed and set out to work their best and see where that takes them.

Although it's probably true that after a while many start dreaming they could work from home or start a business, few actually do something about it.

So they commit themselves to progressing as an employee and possibly climbing the corporate ladder. Each new rung will be a career change bringing opportunity as new skills and experiences come along. You will progress from there.

How you progress or climb can depend on factors such as ambition, skills, abilities and opportunities in your trade or profession plus LUCK.

None of us should expect or rely on luck, we need to set out to make things happen and create our own luck. To make the progress that you think your talents deserve you will need to reduce the luck factor and create your own opportunities.

Success in any occupation requires skills and experience. So, if you're going to change job or career you will need to develop and acquire the skills that go with Resume' writing for your career change.

Here are few ways to make a start;

1. Make an inventory of what you have to offer. List your all your relevant academic achievements, qualifications plus your skills and experience and don't limit yourself to past jobs, you've got many talents that you use socially as well, and don't underestimate your achievements.

2. Include anything that you've learned or can do that is related to a Trade, Craft, Profession, Hobby, Interest, Pastime or Volunteer experience. All are relevant to who you are and what you can offer in your new career.

3. The key to finding new work or making a career change is to search where people post jobs. Employers are looking for qualified people to fill genuine vacancies. It is the position they advertise, and they advertise all over.

4. Use the 'grapevine' get the word out among contacts you can trust, they will want to help.

5. Your success in moving forward with a career change or progression will depend almost totally on the skill you develop in Resume' writing for career change and a great cover letter. The cover letter links your Resume' to the specifics of the position you are applying for.

6. Securing any new position requires research, awareness, effort, persistence, diligence and a great Resume'. Your Resume' is your sales brochure selling the most important person in your life - you. Your Resume' is vital to your whole future.

7. Don't ever give up! You need to realise that you most likely will not find your perfect position on your first attempt. People seem to expect that they will find perfection straight away. It doesn't work like that unless you are extremely lucky.

Career change is a major step, you will need to think, plan, research and vitally learn all about Resume' writing for career change so that you win interviews. It is worth the investment in time and effort and even cash - after all it's your future!

Good luck!

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Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. If you have found these tips helpful you can find more at http://tinyurl.com/2w7sh4

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About the Author
Michael Harrison is an author, publisher and business consultant specialising in helping business owners and individuals to realise and release the full potential of their situation. He has helped many people to improve their business situations and advised and supported individuals to embark on new directions in their careers.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=648961

Writing A Killer Resume, and Getting Job Interviews

Friday, January 11, 2008

Writing A Killer Resume, and Getting Job Interviews by T.K. Dushaj

These are elements of a career search that should be understood, and recognized for their importance. Many people get up in the morning and as they roll out of bed ask their selves, do I look forward to going to work today? For those of you who look forward to going to work every day and actually enjoy what you do for a living, and also make a good wage, I applaud you. For those of you who think you have what it takes to take your career to the next level, this will apply to you.

When we get to that point in our lives or careers where a change is needed, the first thing you might tell yourself is now it's time to update my resume, oh what fun!, you might also ask yourself, how good is my resume? Have you updated it recently? What do I need to do to get it updated and add the right duties, responsibilities, and newly acquired skills? Do I need more training to get a better job, or to be promoted?

Here are some tips to help you start the resume writing process:

The main job of a resume is to get you in front of a hiring authority. It's important to make an immediate impact and grab the reader's attention in 10 seconds or less, or your resume will be another one that they skim through with out giving it much consideration.

 Make a list of all the skills you have, and those you recently acquired from your current employer. Also do the same for previous employers.  Ask yourself what you are good at, and where are your strengths and weaknesses.  Limit or eliminate adding hobbies or personal items. They only take up valuable space on your resume.  Note all of your accomplishments/achievements and what role you played in those successes. For example: Were you instrumental in saving the company money, increasing sales, developing a new product, finding a new and improved process etc.  Don't include the line: "References Furnished upon Request" It is implied, and if they need them, they will ask you for them.  List you're most recent employer first and the others in order by dates of employment going back to your first employer.  Evaluate and determine whether you want to do the same thing you were doing before, or do you want to make a move to a management position? If you are positioning yourself for a management position, you will need to ask yourself if you have the proper training, experience, education, motivation and know-how to handle such a position. If you are looking to make a move to a new company with similar or slightly more responsibility or challenges then you will need to note some successes in your resume that will make you stand out from other candidates.  How many pages should your resume be? If you can put what's important and quantify your success on one page, that's great. This doesn't mean that if your resume is longer than one page it will be tossed or put aside. It only means that you will need to grab the reader's attention on the first page where they will start reading it.

Here are some tips to help you in your job search:

 There are many possibilities and venues to look for open positions; online job boards, search firms, recruiters, referrals etc.  You have to keep in mind that there are many other people looking at the same job boards, newspapers, calling the same search firms, for the job you are considering applying for as well. How do you find the jobs that are not advertised and have the best chance of being hired without so much competition? There are many, here are a few: Professional Networking, Friends, Former Colleagues, etc.  In the case where you are applying to publicly posted positions, you will need to get contact names, phone numbers and e-mail address of the people who are posting these positions. You will want to make direct contact before and after you submit your resume to them just to get an inside look at what the position is about and to see if you are a good fit.  Research the company before going in to interview with them. A lot can be found on the web.

Here are some tips to help you with job interviews:

• If it's going to be a phone interview, dress professionally. Believe it or not, it will make you sound more confident on the phone.
• If you are meeting a prospective employer in person, make sure you get precise directions and arrive at least 15 minutes early in case you have to fill out an application, view a video, get checked in, etc.
• Always dress professionally with clean clothing. A suit with a clean shirt and tie is recommended. Also polish your dress shoes to a nice shine.
• Give the receptionist and secretary of the manager you will be meeting with a good impression by being polite, courteous, and friendly.
• Give a firm handshake when you greet the interviewer and make sure you smile.
• Ask questions about the company and the position. You don't want any misunderstandings if you hired and find out that you will be doing something other than what was agreed to in your interview discussions. Remember to get an agreement or offer letter clearly stating your responsibilities, duties and expectations for the position.

For more FREE tips on resume writing, resume submittal, job search techniques, how to ace interviews, salary negotiation, and much more. You can find us at www.resumegreatness.com

About the Author
T.K. Dushaj is a technology consultant that works with several Fortune 500 companies, helping them with business process management.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=618581

Functional Resume - Writing a Resume for a Career Change

Functional Resume - Writing a Resume for a Career Change by Jeff Melvin

Looking to move up or move out? Tired of the same old routine? Looking for a change?

Then a functional resume format could be your ticket to a new career.

You've spent the last 10-years as an elementary teacher, but have found your passion in sales. You've taken night classes on sales & marketing and have even dabbled in direct marketing during the summer months with a surprising degree of success. Best of all your success has not gone unnoticed and the CEO of XYZ Incorporated has offered to hire you as a sales manager for a new territory.

The problem is you're scheduled for an interview and you want your resume to accurately reflect your skills & qualifications. If you follow tradition or use the most popular resume format then you'd be writing your resume in a chronological fashion. However, this type of resume would only highlight your teaching experience and career progression, which isn't what you want. You want the employer to focus on your skills & qualifications that relate directly to the sales manager position. This is exactly what the functional resume is designed to do.

What is a functional resume?

The functional resume groups your qualifications and experience around skills rather than job titles as in the chronological format. Instead of listing your employment history in sequential order the functional resume categorizes your skills by function allowing you to emphasize your abilities. You can tie a variety of job experiences to the ones needed for a particular job by arranging your qualifications around skills.

The key to writing an effective functional resume is to identify three or four skills that are required for the job. These skills will be used as headings in which you can identify three to five specific examples to demonstrate that ability. Arrange the headings in order of importance. Examples of skill sets relevant to a sales career may include: customer service, management, sales, planning, etc. Do a search for free functional resume samples and use them as guides in stimulating your creativity. Functional resume samples make excellent guides when writing your own resume.

Many employers still frown upon the functional resume format, as the perception is it is too easy to cover up employment gaps (explain them in your cover letter). However, this trend is changing as job seekers learn to write effective resumes that accurately link their skills to the employer's needs. The key for job seekers is to place a short work history in reverse chronological order at the end of their resume. Include only employment dates, titles, and company names.

You don't have to be stuck in the same old career. Review your current skill set, see what other careers have similar functions, then create a functional resume around those skill sets and start your new career!

About the Author
Jeff Melvin graduated with an MBA and is a highly experienced resume writer with over 10 years experience. Download the FREE eBook How to Write an Effective Resume Today!

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=616236

10 Resume Writing Tips To Landing A Job

10 Resume Writing Tips To Landing A Job by Fenick Jean

This whole thing about writing resumes has totally gone insane. Crafting a resume is quite simple. Simply be yourself, do not use funky colors, and sell your qualifications. Here are the top 10 resume writing tips to ending your job search and landing you a job.

1. To begin, top off everything with your name. Be proud of your name since that's what you're actually selling to the interviewers.

2. In some cases, but not always, employment professionals recommend listing the type of position sought. Meanwhile, others say this is limiting, and that you should keep the options open.

3. Some employment experts recommend your qualifications be placed high and above. List your job qualifications concisely, careful not to be too obvious by exaggerating your qualifications.

4. Sell the real you and your actual qualifications. Providing misleading information about yourself could lead to potential jobs that would be wrong for you and the employer.

5. When the appropriate time comes, use action verbs. Avoid putting your reader or interviewer to sleep. Don't overdue it.

6. There's no substitute for honest. At all cost, never ever lie on your resume. A single deception could get you booted from the list of candidates for the job and in extreme cases; you can get fired when the truth is discovered long after you were hired.

7. Simply be honest but don't over brag. Lightly brag about true accomplishments without sounding line an egomaniac. Remember, employers undoubtedly are reviewing other resumes in which your competitors are unafraid to applaud themselves. Don't give the competitors the edge because of dishonesty and too much bragging.

8. When it comes to education, list major schooling first and avoid far-away basics, such as elementary schools. Very few employers, unless they're relatives, care about those early years in school. Some experts recommend education be listed toward the end, especially if you haven't had much schooling or training for the job your applying for.

9. If you've earned a few awards or recognitions, be sure to include their details. In some cases, this could prove the difference in getting an interview.

10. Finally, when adding references to your resume, only add those references that may help you get the job. Do not include your old friend Tommy whom you haven't seen in many years and have no clue about the job you're applying for. Before you add someone as a reference, call them and acknowledge them ahead or after.

About the Author
Fenick Jean is a Radiologic Technologist and runs web site called The Corporate & Small Busines Manual. He also enjoys writing about Credit Cards & Debt Management Tips

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=601856

Top 5 Resume Writing Myths & Mistakes To Avoid

Top 5 Resume Writing Myths & Mistakes To Avoid by Michelle Dumas

1) Myth: Resumes should be only one, or at the most, two pages.

In most cases, this is true. It is the rare reviewer of resumes who, when being completely honest, will tell you that he or she spends more than a few seconds in the first review of a resume. Unless your resume captures immediate attention through an eye-appealing design and succinct, compelling language, your resume will be screened out after just 15 seconds. With this reality in mind, imagine the thoughts of the reviewer when he or she receives a four- or five-page resume, with another 100 resumes waiting for review right behind it. Clearly, the odds of your resume capturing attention and being read increase when the length is limited to one or two pages.

Are there exceptions to this rule? Absolutely!

While it is true that with each additional page you reduce your chances of your resume being read thoroughly, for many executives, contract workers, consultants, and technical professionals it is unrealistic and nearly impossible to compress years of experience into one or two pages. When attempted, important achievements are left out to make room for a full chronology of the career history and education. What is left is a boring listing of companies, positions, and dates that are virtually guaranteed to turn off the reader and land your resume in the circular file.

A better strategy is to write your resume with exactly as much detail and description as is needed to persuasively convince the reader that you are the ideal candidate to solve his or her problems - to compel the reader to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. While this is sometimes a difficult balance to strike, you should review and edit your resume with a very discriminating eye toward reducing unnecessary wordiness. Every word in your resume should have a purpose. Items that can be presented as a list - continuing education courses, technical summaries, associations and memberships, etc. - can often be included in an addendum to the resume that may or may not be used as appropriate. Within the resume, use succinct, dynamic, action-oriented language to convey your ability to add value to the reader's company and you will capture and hold attention through three or even more pages.

2) Myth: All resumes should include a clearly stated objective.

It is essential that your resume is audience-focused - it must succinctly communicate that you understand the employer's needs and that you are uniquely qualified to meet those needs. While the use of an objective is a controversial issue, at its basis, an objective tells the reader what you want from him or her (focused on YOUR needs rather than the employers'). A popular and often more effective alternative to the objective, the qualifications summary, allows you to establish focus for the resume while summarizing the key qualifications and value you offer the employer. This is a subtle but critical difference - one that may weigh heavily in opening the door to an interview. While an objective is both appropriate and effective in some cases, for example, career changers or new graduates with little or no work experience in the targeted field, experiment with the qualifications summary as a strong alternative.

3) Myth: Resumes should thoroughly describe the responsibilities of each position.

The absolute most important element of your resume is your value proposition. Your unique ability to solve business problems, meet challenging goals, and produce desired results should be the focus of your qualifications summary (see above) and this focus should be supported by proof throughout your career. How better to do this than through achievement-oriented, results-focused descriptions of your career history? While employers and recruiters will want to know the scope of your position (number of direct reports, amounts of budgets managed, areas of management authority, etc.) this is most effectively communicated within the context of the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results of your actions. "Responsibilities" only tell the reader what you were supposed to do, not what you actually did do. Use powerful, active language to concisely tell the reader the "story" behind your most recent or relevant positions. By documenting your consistent ability to produce results and solve problems you will demonstrate your ability to produce similar results in the future.

4) Myth: Resumes should include only the last ten years of experience.

Content of your resume should be strategically selected to support your focus and value proposition. While it is true that readers of your resume will be most interested in your most recent experience, there is often value in including experience further back in your history. Perhaps your early career includes work for well-known, prestigious companies. Perhaps you want to document the full scope of your cross-industry experience, much of which occurred in your early career. Perhaps you believe some valuable networking opportunities may come out of your experience 15 or 20 years ago. Or perhaps your most impressive accomplishments were in a position you held 12 years ago. In any case, if your career history is lengthy, it will be apparent to the reader that your career did not suddenly materialize ten years ago, so there is little harm and many benefits to summarizing this early experience. Of course, this does not mean that you must give equal page weight to your early career. If you feel early dates will be used to screen you out, subtly leave them out of your early career summary. If some early career positions have more strategic relevance than others, give them more emphasis in your summary. Think carefully about the content of your resume. If there is solid reasoning behind your desire to present early experience, than do so.

5) Myth: Resumes should include personal information, to indicate the many dimensions to your life and interests.

There is no way to predict the personal biases of the individuals who will read your resume. The first and primary way that an employer uses a resume is to screen candidates out; don't give them any reason! Professional memberships and related volunteer work should often be included but religious affiliations, family status, social club memberships, and hobbies have no place on a resume. The only exception to this is when you are preparing a resume specifically written to appeal to a single individual who you are absolutely certain would be fascinated in your piloting license or passion for golf. Even then, be careful; you never know where your resume will be passed. However, if you are certain that your personal information will help you to break the ice and build rapport, you may have a valid reason for including it.

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Nationally certified resume writer and career marketing expert, Michelle Dumas is the executive director of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Through http://www.distinctiveweb.com and http://www.100kcareermarketing.com Michelle has empowered thousands of executives, professionals, and managers all across the U.S. and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of an e-book found at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=608220