Career and jobs: improving your resume

You’ve decided to move closer to the equator and you need to find a new job. Or maybe you were laid off last November and are still looking. Or perhaps you’re hoping to move up the ladder and make more money. Maybe all three? So you’ve searched through the files and pulled out that old resume, dusted it off and are looking to update it with your new address and your current job information.

You may want to do more than just freshen it up. It may be time for a complete resume overhaul. Gone are the days of the three columns with the dates in the first column, the business name in the middle and a few key words describing your job in the third. Nowadays, a resume must be packed with information in a readable format that will catch an employer’s eye.

The purpose of the resume is just that - to get you in the door - to get you the interview. So, set that old resume aside, pull out a pad of paper and let’s get started.

1. What do you want?

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you won’t get it. Get out the classifieds and start scanning. Go to some of the job websites and get ideas.

2. Keywords - words not to use.

As you’re reading the employment ads, keep track of keywords that you see often. Jot them down so that you can work them into your resume. For example: Let’s imagine that Donna is looking for an Administrative Assistant/Office manager job. She starts looking over ads and finds a number of words that come up often: self-starter, organization skills, communication, accounts receivable, seasoned, computer skills, phone skills. These are just a few she found in the local paper. These now become the areas she wants to focus on.

As an aside, studies have found that, more often than not, employers look for character and general qualities before they look for skills. These qualities include a strong work ethic, great communication abilities, honest, integrity, teamwork. Below those come computer and organization skills.

Words not to use in your resume: assist/assisted, effectively/carefully/quickly, cutting edge, facilitate, liaison, responsible for.

3. We’ve gathered all the information and keywords. It’s time to rough out the monster. Here are the sections you need to put together.

* Objectives - in this section you’ll provide, in a sentence or two, what you want in a position.

Example: I am looking for an opportunity where I can make a difference and effect positive change. My goal in every job I've had is to improve: conditions, work processes, standards or profits. I enjoy working with people who appreciate initiative and problem solving.

* Experience - in this section, you’ll provide the skills that you’ve accumulated in your jobs. The format you want to use is WHAT - HOW - RESULT. What did you do? How did you do it? What was the result?

Example: Built and maintain XXX County Government’s first local area network; currently using Windows XP. Significant, documented improvements in inter-office communication and coordination, as well as major improvements to customer service.

If you can use dollar figures in this section, so much the better.

Example: Responsible for $400,000 in accounts payable and receivable; critical role in developing and overseeing $200,000 annual budget. Responsible for all purchases and leases for capital improvement.

Anticipate the employers unspoken needs. If you’ve worked in a similar position and know what things the ad left out, use that information to tell the employer what else you’ll do for him that he hasn’t even thought about yet.

You’ll want to use great action words in your resume. There are entire lists of these available online, but here are some to give you an idea: achieved, analyzed, founded, publicized, created, improved, educated, managed, minimized, etc

You’ll want to divide up your experience into section, grouping skills together. Here are some possible headings: Technical, Administrative, Customer Service, etc. Another section you may want here, if it applies is a Community Service section. Here you will list volunteer work and things you’ve done within your community.

Example: Over 15 years saving lives with County Ambulance Service, Search and Rescue, Emergency Management and Regional Emergency and Trauma Advisory Council.

* Education - Here you will list your education history. For the most part, you’ll be filling out an application for any position you apply for. So keep this section short and to the point. List your college and any other classes taken that relate to the position you are after.

* References - No more than three. Again, this is usually something that you’ll be filling out again on the application form. So, if you like, you may simply say “References available upon request.”

4. Formatting - put yourself in the employers shoes. Take a look online at various formats for resumes. Remember, the simpler the better. Hand your resume to a friend to look at. Watch his INITIAL reaction. If his eyes get wide and he frowns, you likely have way too much information packed onto the page. If at all possible, keep your resume to one page, two at the MOST. If you end up with two pages, MAKE SURE, that the most important information - the priority information - is on page one.

Here are some formatting tips:

* Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch white or off-white paper. Bright white paper is best.

* Print only on one side of the paper.

* Use a standard font, no smaller than size 10.

(Times New Roman, Arial, Courier)

* Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.

* Do not use graphics, highlighting or shading.

* Do not fold or staple your resume.

*

If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.

5. Review and Critique - if you have a typo on your resume - you’re doomed. Spell check it, have a friend or two proofread it. Then, find a friend or acquaintance that does some sort of hiring. Have him look over your resume and listen to his observations. It doesn’t matter if you think it looks fabulous. It matters what employers think.

Finally, you’ll need to write a cover letter. While this is a topic in and of itself, suffice it to say that it’s the cover letter that gets targeted for each specific job.

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Tips for writing a great cover letter

Great Intro

When you are at a job interview, the first impression you make is extremely important, and likewise, when you write your cover letter, your opening sentence and introductory paragraph – your written first impression – is equally as important. After all, if your cover letter doesn’t immediately stand out from the pack, your chances of even landing an interview are substantially lowered. Think about it this way: an author’s goal when writing a book is to pull his readers in right from the beginning so that they are compelled to find out more by reading on. For you, your cover letter introduction should force its readers to be compelled to contact you for an interview. The last thing you want to do is start out with a boring, typical lead-in, like, “My name is John Smith, and I am writing in regards to the vacancy for a sales manager that I saw advertised in the Valley News.” Lame! This kind of opening shows that you have zero originality and that to you, getting this job didn’t mean enough to get creative. Instead, start out by zeroing in on why you are actually fit for the job. For example: “With a proven track record of excellence in the automotive sales industry and a leadership background that has spanned over a decade, I am confident that I would be a perfect fit for the sales manager position.” You want to highlight the aspects of your experience and character that are the biggest qualifiers for you to get the job. You may be worried about coming off as arrogant and egotistical, but in reality you are just being self-assured and confident, and those are very attractive traits to a prospective employer. Also, the statements that you are making about yourself in the opening paragraph are not opinions; they are facts. If you are going to say that you have a “proven” track record, then you have to be able to prove it through examples in your career history. Your introductory paragraph should be an overview of your qualifications, but you shouldn’t get into any detail until your second paragraph.

Get Down to Business

In your second and third paragraphs, you have to explain how your past experiences make you an ideal candidate for the position you are applying for. Look at the job description carefully, and find key qualifications that they are seeking. Make sure that you draw a link between your qualifications and each skill or quality they are seeking. For example, if the job description states that they are looking for someone who works well under pressure, describe a scenario in your career history when you have done this. If they are looking for someone who works well with others, describe a scenario in your history when your communication skills have been vital to completing a group task. These paragraphs are not for generalizations – you want to present your skills in a very clear, factual and deliberate way – explaining your actions will speak louder than using fancy words and enticing adjectives.

A Powerful Hook

The conclusion of your cover letter is vitally important to the impression you are going to leave on its readers. It’s just like a first date – even if it has gone great all night, an awkward goodbye can spoil the whole thing. These are your parting words to your prospective employers before they delve into your resume, so you want to leave a good taste in their mouths. You should talk about your knowledge of their company – their reputation, their innovations, et cetera. You want them to know that you respect their company and what it stands for, and you want them to know that you have done your homework, and you weren’t just sending out a bunch of carbon copy cover letters to a ton of prospective employers. Finally, your last sentence should be strong and persuasive. For example: “I implore you to contact me so that I can further convey my aptitude and enthusiasm for this highly desirable position.”

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Top 10 questions to ask your prospective employer in an interview

You've landed the job interview, and it's going well. There's that awkward pause as the interviewer runs out of steam. The guy who could be your future boss asks, "Do you have any questions?" This is your chance to find out what you need to know about the job and the company and impress the interviewer with your interesting and thoughtful questions. Here are ten questions to help you find out what you need to know.

So, what should you ask? Here are ten great questions for you to use.

- What are the top three qualities an employee needs to be successful in this job?

- What would I do during a typical workday?

- How will I be trained or introduced to the job?

- What is a typical career path from this job?

- What are some of the goals and challenges your group is likely to face in the next year?

- How would my job performance be evaluated?

- What are some of the things that you like about working for this company?

- Who would I work with?

- What hours do people typically work?

- What are the next steps?

Let's look at what you can learn from these questions. In most cases, there's no right or wrong answer - you just need to be able to assess if you are comfortable with the answer.

- What are the top three qualities an employee needs to be successful in this job?

If the interviewer says he values attention to detail, good writing skills, and the ability to juggle several tasks at once, you've learned a lot about his expectations. You'll also be able to assess if the job is a decent match with your skills.

- What would I do during a typical workday?

Ok, it's obvious why you would want to ask this. But watch out for a possible problem - if the interviewer says, "Well, every day is different," he may not know what he wants. There may be confusion about responsibilities. If you get that answer, say, "Tell me about the sorts of things I might do over a typical week or month."

- How will I be trained or introduced to the job?

Understand if you're on your own on day one or if there's a plan for getting you up and running successfully.

- What is a typical career path for this job?

This may not apply to some types of jobs.

- What are some of the goals and challenges your group is likely to face in the next year?

You're looking for two things here - information about what's likely to happen, and whether people are thinking about the future. A company is more likely to be successful if its staff is thinking ahead.

- How would my job performance be evaluated?

There should be a clear answer to this. If there isn't, you may be at the whim of an arbitrary boss. Most companies have a process for performance evaluations.

- What are some of the things that you like about working for this company?

If the interviewer can't come up with a couple of things he likes about the company, you may want to learn more before accepting a job offer.

- Who would I work with?

Find out about the people you might work with - is it a large group, or small? Are they your peers? Are there any people you can learn from?

- What hours do people typically work?

If most people work 7 AM to 3 PM, and you like to roll in at 10 AM, you may have a mismatch. You may also want to explore how much people work - is this strictly eight hours a day, or are you expected to work a lot of additional hours?

- What are the next steps?

You want to find out if there will be another round of interviews, if you'll hear back by a certain date, and what the hiring process will be.

Doing a job interview is a two-way street. Your potential employer wants to learn about you, but you should learn as much as you can about the job and people you'll be working with. Use these questions to help you figure out if the job is right for you.

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Job hunting questions: when are recruiters good, and when are they wasting your time?

Looking for employment is not an easy task. At times landing a job may take weeks. And sometimes it may take months. Multiple methods of landing a job are employed, such as, answering ads, using online job sites and using the services of a professional recruiter.

Professional job recruiters match job seekers with prospective employers. The recruiter, upon placement of a candidate, receives a commission from the employer. Rarely, does a job seeker pay for the services of a recruiter. This was more common decades ago, when a job seeker would agree to pay a certain amount of weeks salary when they landed a position.

Most recruiters are full time employees of temporary and/or permanent employment agencies. The agencies have contracts with employers, to fill their staffing needs. Agencies are usually categorized by industry and only fill positions for companies in that industry. But the positions being filled can be as various as entry-level clerks and CEO’s.

When an applicant registers with an agency, they are assigned a recruiter who will assist them with finding employment that is suitable to their education, background and current career goals. A good recruiter will intimately understand your qualifications and career goals. They will also thoroughly understand the philosophy and hiring process of the employers that they contract with. This knowledge will enable them to coach the applicant, as to how to present themselves during the interview process. Knowing what a company’s philosophy is before the interview will aid the candidate in landing the position.

A good recruiter will also highlight the applicant’s strength’s before sending the applicant to meet the employer. An efficient recruiter is able to sway both employer and potential employee towards each other. But the recruiter must be careful not to exaggerate an employee’s capabilities. If so, the candidate may be hired for a position that they are not eligible for. Another thing that an unethical recruiter may do may be to try to convince an applicant that they are suitable for a position that is out of their range or goals.

Because recruiters work on a commission and/or quota fulfillment basis, they are sometimes over zealous in sending applicants out for interviews. This is hazardous for both recruiter and applicant. An applicant, who is unqualified for a position, may eventually fail and become terminated. This is a waste of time for the applicant, who could have pursued other employment opportunities. Also if an applicant is pressed into taking a position out of their career goals, they may grow resentful in that position, and quit. Once again, this is a waste of an applicant’s time.

Be cautious of recruiters who are eager to send you on interviews for positions, which you have no background in. Some recruiters are ruthless enough to lead you to an unwanted career change. Also be cautious of recruiter who tries to place you in temporary positions, instead of permanent positions. Make sure that your recruiter explains the terms of a temp to perm job thoroughly. Some positions are automatically permanent after a temporary trial period, and some are not. An unethical recruiter will lead you to believe the position will be yours, unconditionally. So, ask a lot of questions, and preferably get a written contract before taking a temporary to permanent position. Recruiters sometimes offer more than job connections.

The larger agencies may offer training in certain software applications. By enhancing and expanding one’s skill base, the more jobs an applicant becomes eligible for. Other selling points are interview skills and proper presentation. A skilled recruiter, if necessary, will briefly overview a proper career wardrobe and accessories. The recruiter should also be able to coach the applicant on interviewing skills.

Recruiters are a valuable resource for obtaining employment. But it is a relationship that must be established on trust and honesty. If one does not feel that their recruiter is honest or trustworthy, it is best to seek an alternative recruiter. Find one who understands one’s goals and qualifications. The recruiter should not only understand, but should respect one’s goals. This will lead to a harmonious job placement for both recruiter and applicant.

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Cover letter tips

You are responding to a “Help Wanted” advertisement that requests a copy of your resume. It does not say anything about sending a cover letter. Should you write a cover letter to accompany your resume? Yes, always include a cover letter with your resume whether it is requested or not. The company might get hundreds of responses to a single ad. You need to give the person who will be interviewing you highlights of your experience at a glance. A cover letter allows you to stand out above the crowd, and emphasizes all of the positives you have to offer a new employer.

First, your cover letter should be no more than one page long. It should include all the ways that a potential employer can contact you, including not only your home address and telephone number, but your cell number, and email address. You want to make it very, very easy for the company to contact you.

If at all possible, try to avoid addressing the salutation to “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Madam or Sir.” If the advertisement directs you to send your resume to the Sales Manager, call the company and try to get the Sales Manager’s name. Using a name not only personalizes a cover letter, it shows initiative on your part.

Look over the advertisement carefully. If the company is looking for an administrative assistant with four years of experience and an A. A. degree, make sure that you tell them that you have five years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree, if that is what you have earned. If you only have three years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree, write that you have several years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree. A “Help Wanted” is a wish-list, not necessarily a must-have list. The purpose of a cover letter is to entice the reader to find out more about you.

Tell the reader what you can do for the company, not what you want the business to do for you. If you are applying for a sales job and you increased sales 100% over the last four years in your current position, tell them about it, and tell them that you can do the same for them. You are experienced, you have accomplishments, and they need you on their team. The old “I want to work for a company that offers opportunity for growth” does not cut it anymore. Everyone wants to work for a company that will allow them to grow. The question is not how the company is going to help you grow, but how you are going to help the business grow.

That being said, everyone likes to be flattered. Do some quick research on the company. If, for example, they are an industry leader in marketing and you are applying for a marketing position, it does not hurt to mention that you know that they are well known for their marketing expertise and you are looking forward to contributing to their continued success.

Does the advertisement ask if you are willing to relocate and what your salary requirements are? If it does, respond to the requests. If they ask if you are willing to relocate for this job, and you are not willing to do so, you should not be responding to the ad. If they are asking if you would be willing to relocate in the future and you are not tied to the area in which you are living, who knows? You may fall in love with your job, management, and the company. As far as salary goes, do you really want to waste your time—and theirs—if the highest compensation package that they are willing to offer is worth $25,000, and you need $55,000 in order to cover your bills? However, if the advertisement does not ask for this type of information, do not offer it. It will probably be addressed when they call you to set up an interview.

Businesses want to know how you express yourself. After all, everyone needs to write reports of one sort or other. Make sure to use “spell-check” on your letter and then double check the spell check. You might have accidentally spelled a word correctly, but still have written the wrong word. This is easy to do with words like accept and except, for example. The letter should be easy to read and grammatically correct. It is always a good idea to have someone else proof your cover before you send it out.

Cover letters should showcase your efforts and achievements. They should tell the reader why they really need to talk to you in person. The letters should be positive, positive, positive. You be prepared to be proactive. When you close the letter, tell them that if you have not heard from them within a week or ten days, you will call them. Then do it.

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Health Care Career Opportunities Growing as Baby Boomer Generation Ages

It was long feared that the aging of the baby boomer generation would bring about a healthcare crisis in the United States, and our nation’s politicians have planned accordingly. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid benefits have been implemented several times over the last decade, and congress has recently proposed a package that would reduce benefits 40% over the next 9 years, while raising premiums 20%. Still, every cloud seems to indeed have a silver lining, as one positive to result from the increased burden to the health care system can be seen in the number of health industry jobs projected to become available over the next ten years. In the next ten years, the single fastest growing employment sector in the U.S. will be in gerontology and senior healthcare.

Still, a new problem emerges when considering the supply of trained healthcare workers vs. the number of adults whose aging is expected to increase the population of the 55 to 65 year old category over the next decade. Worker shortages for the healthcare industry are inevitable, which means career opportunities will be not only plentiful, but more lucrative overall as a result.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare related jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average for all other industries through 2014 and likely beyond. The nursing field, in particular, is the second fastest-growing occupation for job growth over the next decade. The number of current nursing professionals approaching retirement is growing far faster than the number of nursing program graduates, and recruitment efforts by healthcare organizations are already underway. Nursing salaries have risen substantially over the last several years, and increases are expected as competition for workers becomes more prevalent. Sign on bonuses that were once unheard of are now commonplace, and those entering the field have more options than ever in terms of the type of facility they wish to work in.

Home health care aid positions are expected to rise as well, with more and more Americans choosing to forgo assisted living options and instead remain independent. Jobs on the administrative end of the healthcare industry are also on the rise as insurance companies brace for the tide of health claims expected to hit the industry. As with all employment sectors that have a limited supply of qualified personnel and an increasing demand for them, wages and salaries will continue to rise until positions are filled.

Those entering college or technical school programs can find increased salary potential and job security in the healthcare sector. While the price of health care is rising, so are the potential employment opportunities in an industry that will struggle to meet the demands of the current aging population.

For more information on healthcare degree programs, visit our site. For information on online education, visit our blog. For information on online and campus based degree programs, visit Search for Classes.

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