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Use "Functional Resume" Format as a
Last Resort
Wednesday, August 15,
2007
Samantha Nolan discusses the situation of a job seeker considering
using the "functional resume" format. She advises against using
that format except when necessary, such as:
- frequent job changes,
- limited related experience, or
- large employment gaps.
Most employers think chronologically as it is the most logical way to
look at a person's work "history."
* Review of
Resume Formats
by WorkBloom
Functional Resumes Rarely Effective, The Enquirer
Resume Writing Tip: Using the "Header
and Footer" Function in MSWord
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The "Header and Footer" function in Microsoft Word can be accessed
under "View" in the top link bar. That feature should be used when
designing the layout of your resume to include your name in the
header and the page number (if your resume has more than one page)
in the footer (choose page number and number of pages). This will
allow your name to appear on the top of all the pages and will make
sure that your pages are numbered.
Many job seekers tend to ignore that basic function, yet it can make
a big difference.
Tips for Those Envisaging Sending Out
Video Resumes
Monday,
June 11, 2007
There is an emerging trend towards video resumes. Following are
some tips to avoid becoming a water cooler joke:
- Prepare your elevator pitch (know your USP - Unique Selling
Proposition).
- Keep your message simple.
- Don't bore the recruiter(s) with long messages. Keep it short
and concise.
- Be professional.
On a last note, be careful about presenting an image that is not
yourself. Remember, the next step after the resume screening process is
the job interview.
7 Tips to Keep
a Video Resume from Becoming a Water Cooler Joke, HR.BLR.com
Sneaky Tricks Used by Some Job Seekers
May No Longer Work
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Sarah E. Needleman from CareerJournal.com relates some tactics used
by job seekers in order to fool text-searching programs used by
employers to screen resumes. Amongst those tactics are using white
type on a white background or using type so small that it looks like
a horizontal line, all with the intention of targeting specific
keywords.
Regrettably for those "smarties," technological advancement also
means more elaborate computer programs that can point out such uses.
Longer Resumes More Acceptable
Tuesday,
March 20, 2007
According to this press release, longer resumes are now more
acceptable. (N.B. Different countries have different standards in
terms of how long a resume should be. This article refers mainly to
U.S. resumes.)
Explaining Employment Gaps
Monday,
January 15, 2007
The Globe and Mail has an interesting article on how to deal with
employment gaps. Overall, employment gaps should be discussed in
cover letters and, although they should be briefly explained, job
seekers should avoid going out of their way to put too much emphasis
on them. In other words, deal with the issue and move on.
Following are some additional tips from the article:
There are many reasons why people are out of work. That being said,
it is better to be honest about it and discuss the matter than to
avoid the subject and leave employers wondering.
You've Only Been with One Employer?
Here Are Some Tips
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Being with the same organization for an extended period of time has
its ups and downs. UP: It shows loyalty. DOWN: It begs the
question "why didn't you move to a better opportunity or why weren't
you recruited?" Another concern that a prospective employer might
have is your ability to adjust to a new working environment.
Dana Mattioli, from the Career Journal, suggests five tips to
improve resumes that only show one employer:
- Show that you have progressed with the organization to fight the
"bias" that you've been stagnant (i.e. address your promotions,
etc.).
- Show how you have adapted to new circumstances.
- Be specific in your contributions by using numbers.
- Group your skills together using subheadings.
- Reach outside the workplace to see if you have relevant
experience that you could mention (internships, volunteering, etc.).
Updating Your Resume on a Regular
Basis Can Come in Handy
Monday,
November 27, 2006
Writing a resume is not a simple task. Writing a resume after years
of "neglect" makes it even harder. It is so difficult because it
requires us to look back in time while we would rather look
forward. After all, if we're back on the job market it's because we
weren't happy where we were...
There is a simple solution to this problem and it is to update our
resumes on a regular basis. A resume is about documenting our
qualifications and presenting that in the most attractive way
possible. The best way to document something is to do it as it
happens, or shortly after. A "well-documented" resume means more
details, which will serve to make the resume look more credible and
compelling.
Tips for Online Job Applications
Monday,
November 06, 2006
Many job seekers fail to make adjustments when they apply for
jobs on the Web and therefore send the same resume, whether they are
applying for a job online or offline. Following are few tips to
keep in mind when applying online:
- Go through your resume again and review the keywords you used so
that they resemble the keywords most often used by that employer or
by employers posting for similar jobs. Large companies often search
online resume databases using keywords or filtering software.
Accordingly, the use of wrong keywords could mean that you may go
unnoticed.
- If you are required to copy and paste your resume to an online
application form, make sure to save it first in text format (.txt)
in order to avoid formatting errors.
- If you send your resume through e-mail, make sure to name it
appropriately by including your name in it, instead of just naming
it "resume."
- If you are posting your resume online, refresh your resume on a
regular basis to keep it updated and to keep it at the top of the
list.
Hot to Apply for a Job
Online, MSNBC
Facing a Blank Sheet of Paper or a
Blank Screen
Thursday, November 02,
2006
You've just been laid off or you've decided to re-enter the job
market? Writing a resume is not such a big undertaking if you go
step-by-step:
- Browse the Web to look at a few resume samples to refresh your
memory as to the basics of resume writing. We suggest that you look
at our extensive database of
resume samples that have been provided by top
resume writing services.
- Sit down and brainstorm. Put everything down on paper and
categorize the information. Take your time and try to think outside
of the box.
- Think of a good layout for your resume; one that will
showcase the accomplishments that you want to put forward.
- Try many drafts to see which one you like the most.
- Let it rest for one or two days and come back on it.
- Ask for feedback from friends and family members.
On a final note, review your resume every time you send it out to
make sure it is "optimized" for the position you are applying to.
Whether or Not to Use the Services of a
Professional Resume Writer
Thursday, October 12,
2006
Whether or not to hire a professional resume writer to have your
resume redone is a legitimate question that you should ask yourself,
especially if you don't have good writing skills. Look at it as an
investment towards your future. If you are willing to spend money
to buy a new suit for your interviews, why wouldn't you spend some
for a new resume, especially if it is going to be forwarded to many
employers?
The issue is not so much whether you should hire a professional
writer, but rather with whom should you go. In that regard, the two
main criteria you should consider are how much does the service cost
and whether you like the samples that are provided. Each writer
has his or her own style, so it is important to consider that. In
terms of how much you should pay for a resume, some services just
overcharge. Don't go with them.
If you are definitive in not wanting to have recourse to a
professional writer, here are two alternatives:
- ask a friend or family member with good writing skills to help
you; or
- if you are a student, go to your career center to ask for help.
Remember, the job application process is very competitive. You want
to put your best foot forward.
Resume Writing Is an Art, Not a Science
Thursday, October 05,
2006
"Resume writing is an art, not a science." This means that there is
no "ultimate" right way to write a resume in the same way someone
can affirm with absolute conviction that 2+2=4.
In that regard, "The Eye Opener" offers a brief recap of the basics
of resume writing. One comment worth noting from that article is
when it quoted Aino Lokk, a career counselor at Ryerson's career
center, who stated: "The biggest mistake is lack of focus in
content." Resumes are written to achieve a goal. There is no
better way to reach a goal than to focus.
Resume Writing Tip: "Keep the Past
Current"
Tuesday,
October 03, 2006
Max Messmer wrote an interesting article where he rightfully states
that "hiring managers seek applicants who can make an immediate
impact in their new jobs." In that regard, past accomplishments
have to link to the position you are applying to.
The best way to make past accomplishments look "current" is to
tailor them in function of the position that you are applying to.
In other words, the "Experience" section of your resume should not
simply state what you did in your prior occupation. Instead, it
should make your experience "relevant" to the position that you are
seeking.
Clarity Primes in Resume Writing
Tuesday,
September 12, 2006
One mistake that is sure to make recruiters impatient is writing
that is unclear, especially when they have hundreds of applications
to go through.
Clarity primes, as most hiring managers will not take the time to
read resumes carefully, but will instead only skim through them to
look for what they want. Whatever needs to be "noticed" on a resume
has to be obvious and jump to the reader's attention.
As such, putting all the relevant information on a resume is not
sufficient. You need to organize the information in such a way that
it will have the most impact, almost like those advertisements that
we see daily on the street or on television.
The best way to avoid unclear resumes is to ask a family member or
friend to go through your resume and keep an open mind when they
give you their feedback.
Less Is Sometimes Better
Tuesday,
July 04, 2006
Writing is about putting ideas on paper. Writing well is not only
about avoiding grammar mistakes, but also about achieving the
objective of the communication. In the context of resume writing,
the objective would be to land an interview.
Many inexperienced job seekers have the tendency to be overly candid
about their qualifications to the extent of including irrelevant
information... or worse, detrimental information. One trick to keep
in mind when writing a resume is to ask oneself "is the information
that is being volunteered useful to obtaining an interview?" If the
answer is "no," forget about mentioning it altogether.
Applying to Other Countries
Thursday, June 22, 2006
If you decide to apply for a job abroad, make sure to enquire into
how to tailor your resume for the country in which you intend to
apply as different parts of the world have different practices.
This is important because you want to make sure to include all the
information that is normally expected in that jurisdiction.
Alternatively, you may also want to exclude some information that is
not normally disclosed in that jurisdiction.
Good Resume Also Equals Higher Salary
Sunday,
June 04, 2006
Many job seekers look at resumes as a necessary document they must
send to employers in order to land a job. Here is a quick
reflection: How about looking at a resume as a way to get a "good"
job or a "better" job?
When applying for a new position, the way you present yourself will
directly impact the way you are remunerated. What's more, the
salary you will get in your employment offer will often be used as a
benchmark for your future increases. What does this mean
concretely? It means that if you sell yourself low, it might have a
long-lasting impact, or, as others would say, a "domino effect."
What is the lesson from all this? When applying for a position, be
confident and don't be afraid to aim high.
How Long Should Your Resume Be?
Friday,
May 19, 2006
That's one of the eternal questions that keep popping-up once in a
while. Notwithstanding the fact that so much has been written about
it, there seems to always be a need for a refresher.
A simple rule is:
- Junior: 1 page
- Intermediary: 2 pages
- Senior: 3 pages
That rule is only a general one however. There are many factors to
consider and there are no strict guidelines. Following are a few things
to keep in mind:
- How to format and phrase your qualifications to have the
most impact? Oftentimes, a concise and straightforward
sentence will have much more impact than a long and convoluted one.
Also, you do not need to write all that you have done. FOCUS on
your strengths and what you know will catch the employer's
interest.
- Even if you write a long resume, will the recruiter read
it all? The odds are that the recruiter will not. The
attention span of a recruiter is very short. That is due to the
fact that they are often busy and have to view a lot of
applications. This means that they probably won't review your
resume in detail, so why waste your time and theirs?
- Have you fully grasped the purpose of a resume?
A resume is not intended to provide a detailed analysis of your past
experiences. It is only aimed at getting you a spot at the
interview.
A good advice is to look at other people's resumes and see which ones
you like. From there, you can go on and inspire yourself. WorkBloom
has a list of more than 50
resume samples.
Getting a New E-mail for Your Job
Search
Saturday, May 13, 2006
One basic mistake that many candidates do is using unprofessional
e-mails like
sunshine879@hotmail.com or
tiger_86@yahoo.com. When looking for a job, you should create a
new e-mail address if your old one doesn't make the cut. Choose
something like
Stephan.Reynolds@hotmail.com, etc. This minor change in the
contact information on your
resume will
make the whole difference.
Little
tip
of the week: switch to gmail from Google. It is much more advanced
than all the other free e-mail providers out there and has tons of
great features such as spellcheck. Also, it automatically saves all
the e-mails you send out, unlike hotmail.
Recruiters' Top 10 Pet Peeves from MHC
Sunday,
April 30, 2006
- Spelling Errors, Typos and Poor Grammar
- Too Duty-Oriented
- Inaccurate Dates or None at All
- Inaccurate or Missing Contact Information
- Poor Formatting
- Functional or Chronological Resumes
- Long Resumes (whenever possible, go with a chronological resume)
- Long Paragraphs
- Unqualified Candidates
- Personal Information Unrelated to the Job
When you are done with the first draft of your resume, I suggest you
go through the above list to make sure you don't fall in any of the
categories.
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