How to Use a Functional Resume Template to Create a Chronological Resume

If you aren't getting call-backs from your resume, try this: Create your resume using a functional resume template. Then turn it into either a chronological or combination resume format. Here's how...

Why You Absolutely Need a Job Objective Statement on Your Resume

I couldn't have said it better! Watch this video by Peggy McKee, nationally known recruiter, who explains why you absolutely need a job objective statement on your resume.

The Most Common Mistake When Updating a Resume

The most common mistake I see in resumes, cv's, and LinkedIn profiles: use of present tense verbs for experiences that happened in the past.

I think this happens when people Continue reading...

How to Write a Magnet Resume and a Grabber Resume

You've decided you need both a master resume (for all jobs you would consider) and a target resume (for a specific job). So which should you create first? Continue reading...

What's the Top Resume Format?

Chronological? Functional? Combination? What do employers consider the top resume format and which one should you use?

Continue reading this post...

2 Resumes You MUST Have: Magnet Resume and Grabber Resume

In today's job market, most professionals need two resume versions: a Magnet Resume and a Grabber Resume. What's the difference between these two resumes? And when should you use them? Continue reading...

Why Do I Get Jobs I Don’t Like? Is it My Resume?

If you keep getting jobs you don’t like, it could be because, on your resume, you write about tasks and responsibilities you don’t like doing. Continue reading...

How to Write a Resume When “You Just Want a Job… Any Job”

I know you say, “I just need a job, any job.” But let’s face it, you don’t want ANY job. There are jobs you aren’t qualified for (astronaut, brain surgeon, maybe a few others); and there are jobs that you simply aren’t willing to do (a job that requires you to lift really heavy things or gets you dirtier than what you want your mother-in-law to see). What you really mean is that you’re willing and able to take a job as long as it’s not one of the ones on your no-fly list.

So that’s where you need to start: Continue reading...

Do's and Don't for a Strong Job Interview

Job interviewing isn't easy. Most of us get nervous and leave with the feeling we could have done better to present ourselves. In this interview, author Lavie Margolin gives us some do's and don'ts that might save the day in your next job interview.

What is the single most important tip for creating a strong job search strategy?
Create a marketing message for every job that you apply to. Remember that one size does not fit all. If you send the same cover letter and resume, your response rate will be low. For every job that you apply to, make sure your message is targeted specifically to that employer. If there are aspects of your background that would be especially appealing for that job, make sure to emphasize them. With recruiters giving your resume an initial once-over for less than 30 seconds, you need to have a targeted message in order to stand out.

What interview mistake is most common among job seekers, and how can they avoid making that mistake?
People often interview to “get it over with.” The interview is the time to sell your skills, experience and abilities relative to the position. You have to maximize that time.

People often interview by providing general answers but they must think about what would be most appealing to that employer. For example: What are the strengths necessary for this job? What types of challenges would the employer want to know you have overcome?

Job seekers allow the interview to become an interrogation. An interview should not be similar to your favorite police drama. An interview should be a professional conversation. The employer asks a question, you respond and then ask an intelligent follow-up question. It is an excellent opportunity to show you have done your research and you are knowledgeable about the position and the industry.

Interviewees often do not send thank you notes or follow up effectively. When an interview is wrapping up, make sure to express your interest in the next steps in the process. Ask if you may take their card and when would be a good time to follow up. Make sure to send a thank you note and again reinforce your interest in the position. Wait until the time frame the employer has given you regarding hearing from them has passed before contacting again. For example, if they say you will hear by Thursday, contact on Friday. I would suggest sending a follow-up email at that point. Wait a few days and then follow up with a phone call. After leaving one phone message, do not leave additional ones. You can try back again after a few days. If you get the answering machine again, just try back later.

Lavie Margolin is the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. His blog is Lion Cub Job Search.

How to Write an Executive Resume That Has True C-Level Professional Appeal

by Beth Brown, Senior Professional Resume Writer on Susan Ireland's Resume Team

An executive resume has some distinctly different components than that of a middle management or more entry-level position. If you are already an executive, or if you have your eye on a ‘C-level’ position (CEO, COO, CFO, Executive Director, etc.), you will need to create a resume that demonstrates your strategic, partnership/relationship, and other leadership qualities. Continue reading...

What Makes an Executive Resume Different From Most Professional Resumes?

Executive resumes, professional resumes, regular resumes... what's the difference? I asked executive resume writer, Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter. Here's her take on the subject.

Though I think professional- and executive-level resumes share many characteristics, perhaps what distinguishes the executive-level message is the higher level of expectation regarding communicating strategic, return-on-investment impact combined with leadership skills and culture fit.

Executives, known for their profit and loss (P&L) accountability are at (or near) the top of the food chain in most companies, departments or divisions. From executives, more is (or should be) expected in regard to their career contributions, and the resume is no different, as it is the executive’s career vessel in which a plethora of critical career victories and breakthroughs are housed!

A vivid career story should be the foundation of an executive resume, and like a compelling short story, it must be written with the audience’s needs in mind. Not only should the executive ferret out and be prepared to communicate his marquee accomplishments, he should also ensure a finely focused career repository that achieves the following: a) cherry picks those triumphs that will most resonate with his target audience; and b) provides a forum in which to illustrate the nuances of his leadership talents related to building morale; inspiring and influencing others; listening to his team, colleagues and board members; enacting nimble, strategic decisions; and much, much more.

An executive-level resume, even during this age of purported social-media and technology truncated attention spans, must provide more, and because of this, it still is okay – and even a value-add – to create a two- to three-page portfolio that shows (not tells) a performance record replete with gradated chronicles that prove an ability to battle pop-up storms and envision strategic solutions to forecasted challenges and opportunities!

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter is a Master Resume Writer and President of CareerTrend. You can follow Jacqui on Twitter: @ValueIntoWords.

How Do I Write a Green Resume if I'm Not a Green-Collar Professional?

The green industry is good for more than just the environment. It's good for job growth -- at least that's what experts predict.

If you're an environmental engineer, scientist, or other "green" specialist, you're already familiar with how to explore the green job market.

Even if you don't have an environmental degree or some sort of green expertise, the green market could hold a job opportunity for you. After all, green employers have many of the same needs (for example, human resources, accounting, sales, and marketing) as employers in other industries.

A Green Resume for a Non Green-Collar Job

Applicants for many jobs in the green field may not be required to have green experience. However, conveying your enthusiasm for preserving and improving the environment could benefit your job search because employer's like having folks on board who believe in their products, services, and ideals.

That being the case, go through your experience with a fine-tooth comb and make a list of items that support your job objective and your employer's green mission. Things such as:

• Volunteer work (for example: oil spill clean-up, recycling efforts)
• Personal projects (for example: composting, installing solar panels on your roof)
• Civic leadership (for example, member of a green nonprofit board or committee)
• Education (for example, classes, workshops, seminars, certifications, degrees)

With your list in hand, incorporate relevant items into a chronological or combination resume format. If neither the chronological nor combination format works for your situation, use the functional format.

Boring Resume? This Spoof on Public Radio Can Fix It!

If your resume is boring, lighten it up with these tips on the art of resume writing. In this spoof on Public Radio, "Hector Ensalada" tells all.. until he just can't stand it anymore.

Click the image to hear the show:

Resume Questions Answered

• How do you not state a rambling resume job objective that goes on and on without saying anything that's meaningful and just takes up lots of space at the top of your resume?
• Is it better to use crayons or paint to create a picture of your future on your resume?
• How many pages does it take to make a 25-year-old look employable?
• Is gray rag really the best paper to use for your resume?
  

This Internet radio show is created by Geoffrey Welchman, who does all the writing and voices for his productions at The Inverse Delirium. He was kind enough to interview me for this particular show on resumes and jobs. Thank you, Geoffrey!

Your Resume is Your Job Search Sales Brochure

If you're a job seeker, you're in sales! That's because your job search is a sales process. And like most sales campaigns, your job search needs a brochure: your resume.

In this video, recruiter Peggy McKee explains that, just like a good brochure, your resume should:

• Be clear and easy to understand.
• Not be too busy.
• State the key pieces about the product. That's you!
• Say what the product is used for. That's your job objective.

Listen to how Peggy describes it:




Need help writing your resume? Read my 10 Steps: How to Write a Resume.

Hate Going to Work? Here's How to Get a Better Job!

Millions of people hate their work and find themselves getting one job after another that they don't like. Even those who l-o-v-e their jobs have at least a few tasks they wish they didn't have to do.

Believe it or not, your resume could be the reason you keep getting jobs your hate. Continue working...

Should Muhammad Use a Different Name on His Resume?

If you were a job seeker named Muhammad, would you use an American name on your resume for your job search in the United States?

Given the security alert level in the United States and concerns about profiling, how would you approach your job search? You're not a terrorist, you don't have any connection with terrorism, but you fear the name Muhammad may be hampering your job search. What do you do?

Here are some possibilities for dealing with a name such as "Muhammad" on a resume:

1. Ignore the profiling issue and use your full non-American name proudly.
2. Legally change your name to an American name, such as Michael.
3. Substitute a nickname (such as "Mo") for Muhammad on your resume, putting it in quotes to indicate that it's a nickname.
4. Use simply the initial M instead of spelling out Muhammad.
5. Type Muhammad, followed by a nickname (for example, "Mike") as a way of saying, "This is what my American friends and co-workers call me."

This is a really sensitive topic. It touches on the fears and predjudices some employers (and employees) are experiencing. It also challenges how we honor and respect each others' cultural backgrounds.

I want to know what YOU think (even if your name isn't Muhammad). Please tell us in the comments section after this post.

Should I Put a Job Objective on My Resume?

In my Discussion on LinkedIn a job seeker asked, "Should I put a job objective on my resume?" Here's my answer: Continue reading...

The Best Job Interview Preparation: The Behavioral Resume

With all the buzz about behavioral job interviews these days, it makes sense to create a behavioral resume. What the heck's a behavioral resume? It's a resume designed to prompt the interviewer to ask the behavioral interview questions that will highlight your strongest qualifications. Continue reading...

The Worst Mistake in a Job search

What's the worst mistake you could make in your job search? Launching into it without preparation.

In this video, Patra Frame explains why it's important to do your homework before writing your resume and sending out into the job market. Here are two basic questions to ask yourself:

• What job do I want?
• What kind of job environment do I want to work in?

Patra says that doing this basic preparation before the job search will put you ahead of 90% of other job seekers. Wouldn't that be worth the prep time?

Mad Men Resumes: Does Your Resume Work Like a Successful Advertising Campaign?

Create your resume like it's part of a Mad Men advertising campaign. Know your audience (your potential employer), and write a good resume that matches the employer's definition of success.
Continue reading...