Quality Resumes

Should You Lie On Your Resume?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:31:00 +0000

A recent survey asked whether or not it was OK to lie on a resume. The responses were varied and eye opening.

"People who get ahead are the ones who take some educated risks.
Let's be real, if a CEO can get away with being hired and working for years with lying on resume so should any of us.
Lying on a resume is just plain dumb. The trend seems to be to check an applicant's references out more and more, unless you are a burger flipper.
Lying on resumes, regardless of your status, just does not cut it!"- Would You Lie On Your Resume?

Bottom line: You should never lie on a resume. employers check references, especially in a tight job market when they have the luxury of being picky. You do not want to lose a job opportunity for trying to stretch the truth.

Quick Tip on Job Fairs

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:37:00 +0000

"The most important first step is to make sure you are going to the right Job/Career Fair; look out for ones not just happening at your university but also at any surrounding cities. If you’re not looking to work for a bigger industry, the chances are a lot of the companies you want to meet will be quite selective about what fairs they attend. Particularly as the fee they have to pay to attend a fair can be quite an obstacle for many industries. Look out for a fair with a focus on your industry and if there are particular companies you are really interested in, check any online listings to see which ones they will attend. If you struggle to find this information, you could always contact companies directly to ask them; this shows you have initiative and are serious about wanting a job." Career Flux - Your Strategy For Career Fair Success

Glass Ceiling? Not for Urban Women

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:49:00 +0000

"Step aside, guys. Women are moving up the payroll. According to a March “Women at Work” report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the gender wage gap continues to narrow. Women earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2010, up from 76 cents in 2000. Moreover, recent reports suggest that young urban women now earn 8% more than male peers, likely due to higher college graduation rates." -The 15 Jobs Where Women Earn More Than Men - Forbes:

Reason You Need a Professional Resume Writer #27

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:43:00 +0000

OK, the #27 may be hyperbole, but the point still remains that you are better off with a professional at least editing your resume. below is a quick anecdote to prove the point:

"I had a candidate come my way by way of referral. The resume had an error in the objective and right away, I had a negative perception of the candidate. If it wasn't for the personal referral, I would have trashed the candidate's sales resume. Lucky for the candidate, the referral insisted that I interview the person. Turned out the person was a high potential candidate but could have lost out on getting the call to interview because of a simple error that could and should have been corrected." -Sales Resume Tips: Check for Errors:

No Photos in Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Pictures in a resume create havoc for the HR department. They are deadly afraid of being accused of hiring discrimination, so make their life easier, and improve your chances at making a good impression on a potential employer.

"Unless you are a model or an actor applying for a modeling gig or auditioning for a part, you should never, ever, ever, ever, EV-VER include a headshot with your resume.

Why? Because it all goes back to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the federal laws against discrimination in hiring. We have laws that make it illegal to not hire someone based on age, sex, race, color, national origin, religion, military status, and physical or mental disabilities."

more:

"So, in order to remove as many potentialities as they can, they do not want to see any identifying information on a résumé that could clue someone in to your status in any of these protected groups.

There have been stories where administrative assistants were instructed to use a black marker and cross out any references to church and religious affiliations, race-based groups including fraternities/sororities and advocacy groups, military groups, and even mentions of these groups or status in cover letters. Others have been instructed to throw away résumés if they included too much information to easily disguise it." - Your ResumeShould NOT Include a Headshot | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Job Interview as Batting Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:31:00 +0000

80% of success is just showing up right? Well, yes, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare for your job interview as conscientiously as you wrote your resume. After all, ball players are professional hitters. It is what they do for a living. yet they still take batting practice every day. What makes you think you are any different?

"The most important hiring decision that someone will make about you is being done by a person who does not know what they are doing. As a job seeker your fate is in the hands of someone whose gut instinct is going to tell them whether you are qualified for the job and how you will fit into their organization. HR handed them your resume. They looked at it for 60 seconds (if you are lucky) and this will be the person determining your future. There are exceptions but they are few. Unprepared meets unprepared and let’s hope for the best." - Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog:

Short & Concise Resumes are Key

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:53:00 +0000

"The norm for most resumes/CVs is one to two pages, even for very experienced professionals. A survey of HR/recruiters on LinkedIn indicated an overwhelming preference for two-page resumes provided there is enough value in the content to warrant a second page.

Of equal or greater importance is concise writing, short paragraphs, brief lists of bullet points, and good organizational strategies that ensure the resume can be quickly skimmed. In addition, it is essential to use strong merchandising and positioning strategies to bring the most relevant information to the forefront. Creating a strong impact “above the fold” — on the top half of the first page of the resume - has become increasingly critical for job seekers in one of the most competitive employment markets we’ve ever experienced.: -Resumes Are Trending Shorter and More Concise - Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog

Use a Professional Resume Writer to Avoid Resume Black Holes

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:11:00 +0000

Interesting that an advice column lists one of our specialties here at Quality Resumes as the top strategy to avoid the dreaded resume black hole.

"What to do to keep your resume out of that black hole and, hopefully, get it reviewed by the hiring manager? These tips will help get your resume, as least, a fighting chance of being considered for a job.

1.Use resume keywords that match the skills listed in the job description, so your application has a shot at making it to the top of the pile."

The Importance of Professional Resume & Branding Services

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:06:00 +0000

Here at Quality Resumes I often tout the importance of getting a professional's help (hopefully mine!) when it comes time to craft a resume. Personal branding is another area where a specialist can help.

"The fact is that Personal Branding is not as straightforward as many seem to think. I would go as far as asserting that most people severely underestimate its complex and comprehensive nature. It goes well beyond opening a blog or a number of accounts in the social networks, let alone having a logo or a suitable picture (helpful as undoubtedly all of these all are). Personal Branding is a philosohy – even a way of life – with its own set of principles, guidelines and specific skills to master. It requires dedication, clear objetives, more than a fair share of common sense, a nose for PR and an unfliching commitment to the best within ourselves not only for our personal gain but (in the best case scenario) for the benefit of others too." - Personal Branding: When To Call In The Pros | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel:

Pinterest for Job Search?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:01:00 +0000

Here is a forward thinking way to use the suddenly everywhere Pinterest:

"Pinterest, the red hot social networking site that lets users create online scrapbooks, is not likely to replace LinkedIn as the best site for employment networking online. But it does offer a slick, easy place for people in creative professions to post their portfolios and resumes. Traffic to the three-year-old site has increased tenfold in the last half a year, to some 10 million visitors a month." -Using Pinterest To Find A Job - Forbes:

The Importance of Numbers on a Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Numbers allow you to nail down specifics in an easily scannable manner and should always be included.

"Numbers bridge corporate cultures. If you write, "Increased revenue," that's nice -- that's a good thing. If you write, "Increased revenue by 25 percent over a three-year period," then that tells me a lot more about what you did. How many people did you supervise? How big was the budget you managed? By what percent did you increase efficiency? How many clients did you have?" -5 mistakes you may be making on your resume - CBS News:

Avoid a Boring Job

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000

To paraphrase your mom: there are no boring jobs, just boring people. We have all been there- a job we'd rather not keep, but that pays the bills. Well, there are some steps you can take to alleviate the tedium. here is #5:

"5-Continous learning. There are always new things you can learn that will directly apply to the job or place of work you have right now. It may or may not entail a class. You may discover someone you work with can teach you something new. Learning is growing and you won’t be bored." -8 Tips for How to Avoid a Boring Job | Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

This is great advice. education is never wasted, and it brings along the added benefit of looking great on your resume.

Keep Your Resume Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:21:00 +0000

Came across the following anecdote that tells how someone learned the hard way that using lots a technical jargon can cost you a sale. The same principle applies to your resume. While some techno-speak may be necessary, remember that the first reader may not be the same person who will actually interview and hire you. Keep the resume simple enough for someone not directly involed in your field to understand.

"We'd just come out with a new word processor with some really great features, including distributed logic, hard drives that were soft–sectored and stored more information, had asynchronous and bi-synchronous communications, CP-M for running PC applications and more.

I was jazzed and called a law firm I'd been trying to sell. They gave me the appointment and I when we got together, I began to tell them all of these things, assuming they understood.

They were very polite and told me to call back in a few weeks. When I did, my contact told me that it was the most confusing presentation they'd ever seen and they didn't have a clue what I was talking about." -Never Use Internal or Industry Language

Job Interview Attire for Men

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Guys, have you ever wonder just how to put together a safe interview outfit? Wonder no more:

How to Dress for a Job Interview: An Illustrated Guide | The Art of Manliness

Ask Your Interviewer These Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:24:00 +0000

These are excellent questions that will show you are prepared and truly interested.
1. How would you describe the general culture of the company and the workplace?
2. Why did you choose this company?
3. Will there be any form of training provided?
4. What are some of the biggest challenges/successes facing the department currently?
5. What process will be used to evaluate my employee performance?
6. Who will be my direct supervisor?
7. Are there many opportunities for professional development within the company?
8. What is the usual time frame for making the hiring decision?
9. May I contact you if any further questions arise?

From 9 Killer Questions Candidates Ought to Ask the Interviewer | The Undercover Recruiter

Grad School for Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:22:00 +0000

"One of the ways graduate school enables you to further your professional development is through evaluation. Other professional development opportunities, such as seminars and networking venues, allow no opportunity for evaluation. When you are pursuing a traditional or online master degree, evaluation is naturally built into the program, since you are graded for your efforts. As you work toward your degree, you are also given the opportunity to evaluate your skills and your retention of the information you learn. Perform well, and you can add your high scores to your resume or refer to them in your next job interview." -Grad School as Part of Your Professional Development

Good News on the Job Front

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

"Steve Bersin who runs Bersin & Associates, a global analyst and research firm recently published research that confirms businesses are now investing again. In his most recent research to senior HR executives around the world, he reports 35% of respondents told them one of their top three challenges was “attracting critical talent in growing markets.” This number is nearly double what they saw a year ago.

The economy is better.
The GDP is growing.
The Small Business Optimism Index is up four months in a row." - Raise Your Career Metabolism in 2012

Should You Quit Your Job?

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Even in a down economy no one wants to stay in a job they either do not like or can not do well.

"When you ask, “Should I quit my job?” my first question back to you would be, “Have you served at least two years in this current company?” My two year rule is based on the rationale it takes at least 24 months before you can get into the system of a company before you start to really impress and make a solid contribution.

For the first six months you are likely to get on board, the next six, figure out the people, process, systems, and then you have the next 12 months to start making solid contributions. If you have at least served that long, it’s fair to ask “Should I quit my job?” and consider quitting when there is a trigger for that thought." - ‘Should I Quit My Job?’ – Questions to Ask | CAREEREALISM

18-24 and Jobless

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:56:00 +0000

While this sounds bad, it also means there is a bumper crop of willing workers that employers can hire inexpensively as the economy turns. Be ready kids, the jobs will come.

"By the end of 2011, only 54.3% of those between the ages of 18 and 24 were employed, according to a Pew Research Center report released Thursday. And the gap in employment between the young and all working-age adults is roughly 15 percentage points -- the widest on record.

The Great Recession hurt the young more than most other age groups. Their employment decline has been steeper and their median weekly earnings fell by 6%, while holding steady for others, Pew found. "- Fewer young adults hold jobs than ever before - Feb. 9, 2012:

The New World of Work

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +0000

"According to London Business School professor Lynda Gratton, author of a new book entitled The Shift: The Future of Work Is Already Here, new career realities demand we give up our dreams of a sheltering employer that protects us like children and face up to the fact that we all need to grow up. She recently wrote in Forbes:

We are in the midst of an industrial revolution greater than the world has ever seen with all the turbulence, the challenges and the opportunities that previous revolutions have brought. Partly as a result of this, it seems to me that the relationship between companies and their employees is undergoing a fundamental shift. All over the world the old Parent to Child relationship is moving towards a potentially more balanced Adult to Adult relationship."- An Easy Way to Find Career Success: Buck Up and Grow Up! | Brazen Life:

Be Prepared for Strategic Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:34:00 +0000

The following advice, given to a potential interviewer of millennial job applicants punctuate how important interview preparation can be.

"I am not saying here that you should start asking candidates brainteasers, rather, recognize that logical and strategic thinking is important in business.

Make sure to have the candidate walk you through situations that really show the candidates ability to think strategically while following a logical process to project completion." -5 Survival Tips for Millennials Job Interviews | JobMob

Interviewing: Practice Make Perfect

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

"While it’s entirely possible for you to run through potential interview scenarios in your own head – which you’re likely doing anyway while you stew over how intimidating the interview process may be – the most effective means of practicing for an interview is to actually have a friend or family member play the role of interviewer.

If you can wrangle someone into being the mock interviewer, you’ll have the opportunity to run through question and answer practice sessions. This provides you the chance to refine your answers, practice speaking clearly and delivering clear and comprehensive responses, and to master the non-verbal communication aspects of interviewing for fulltime jobs and partime jobs as well. The manner in which you conduct yourself during an interview is as important as the answers." - Hone Skills With Practice Interviews in Media Jobs | CAREEREALISM

How to Deal with being Fired

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:36:00 +0000

At some point in your career you may have very well been let go, downsized or otherwise relieved of your position. But how do you handle it if you were outright fired?

"Be honest from the get-go. Don't lie or think that telling half-truths will diffuse the situation. Know this: If the prospective employer discovers the truth - and he or she probably will - your chances of landing the job will be slim to none. By telling the truth, you'll display credibility, integrity and principle. You're not the only person to ever be fired and it is likely that the interviewer sitting across the table from you was also fired sometime in his or her career."- Dealing With The 'F' Word During A Job Interview - Careers Articles

Employers Googling Job Prospects

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:33:00 +0000

"A logical place for recruiters to search for information online about candidates is Google. Google is one of the largest search engines on the Internet.

When recruiters search for you, what will they see?Nothing!

If you are not present on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, recruiters will never see you at all. And that means you could miss out on job opportunities as a result. According to MSNBC, “These days, small and midsize companies aren’t even posting jobs, instead going to sites like LinkedIn in search of their ideal candidate.” " -What Does Google Say About You? | CAREEREALISM

Old School Job Search Still Common

noreply@blogger.com (Steve) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:22:00 +0000

While Twitter and Facebook are important parts of the job hunt, old fashion job boards are still the most popular.

"With the advent of social recruiting and the increased use of social media sites for job searching and hiring, both directly on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, and on mobile platforms, it's interesting to look at the data on how much job searching really has changed - or hasn't.

A Social Recruiting Survey conducted by TweetMyJobs.com reports that while 29% of job seekers use social media as their primary tool for job searching, 50% of job seekers still spend most of their time searching on job boards." -Where Do You Search for Jobs?