One of the most common mistakes I see is, “your going to research” or “your not”. The grammatical correction is, you’re going to research” or “you’re not”, which is the contraction for “you are”. You is singular and there is no such word as Yous, although it is amazing the number of people that have chosen to add it to their vocabulary.

The following words are often found in grammatically incorrect content:

to, too and two- ”To” is most commonly used but if you are talking about “too” many or they went along “too”, think of it as more or in addition to and be sure to add two o’s. Of course “two” refers to the number or quantity of 2.

from and form – No need for explanation here I hope. It is simply a common typo because our fingers tend to strike the letter “o” prior to the letter “r”.

there and their – “Over there”, or “there were two of them” is vastly different than discussing their degree or their expertise. Give consideration to ”belonging to” when you use their.

apostrophe s or s apostrophe - This relates to a possessive noun and is a decision based on singular or plural. It is a reference to one company’s reputation or more than one, such as our companys’ reputations.

effect and affect - ”The effect on the group was evident.”, or ”The sound did affect the audience.” Although often confused, a tip to consider is whether you are relaying the word as a noun or a verb. Effect being the noun, often referring to a result whereas affect is used as a verb meaning, ”to influence”.         

where and were – Were is not a part of who, what, where, why and when.  ”Where are you going?”, is not the same as “Were you going to the store?”  

Spell check will not help to correct the above noted grammatical faux pas and more often than not, will not correct the spelling errors that are often made when addressing an American audience versus a Canadian audience. There are many words that are spelled differently in the US than in Canada such as organised and organized or labor and labour.  

Writer’s Block, The Web Resource for Communication Professionals is one of many resources available to assist in composing grammatically correct content offering a comprehensive list of writing tips. Don’t discredit the use of a thesaurus as another resource as it displays words as nouns, verbs or adjectives and if you’re still not sure if it is grammatically correct, chose a different word!

Check out, The WORST Grammar Mistakes Ever in The Huffington Post.

There are also those parents or adult sons and daughters that have spent their summers in an active job search successfully edging out the competition to  land their next job and get back to work. Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search was good advice for many as 14 clients of Elite Resumes have recently acquired new positions. In a highly competitive labour market it is an accomplishment to be acknowledged and celebrated! New starts are not without some apprehension but at the same time begin with the greatest of expectations that these new positions will be a positive move towards a rewarding and successful career.

Many new challenges and opportunities will be presented as the school year or the new job progresses. The ability to recognize, respond appropriately, be decisive and follow through with viable action plans and attainable goals will be the foundation for your advancement in your academic endeavours or your career. The following tips and quotes are meant as inspiration for those back to school and back to work to achieve the best possible results:

Resilience ”You may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing that we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.” ~ Mary Pickford

Persistence ”Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~ Henry Ford

Vision “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” ~ Unknown

Positive Thinking “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~ Winston Churchill

Enthusiasm “A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.” ~ Unknown

Personal Branding Back to school for your personal brand ~ Paul Copcutt

Support  There will always be those who are happy to support, encourage or share in your success. Whether it be a friend, family member, colleague, teacher or professional coach, ask for support when you need it.

photo credit: homesbythomas

The most important factor involved with who’s writing your resume, is your due diligence in choosing the best person to represent you! Often times large companies or educational organizations will provide or recommend a resume service of their choosing and that’s not to say there is anything wrong with this, as Elite Resumes has been associated with many large and highly reputable organizations over the years however, the decision to work one on one with any professional requires careful consideration with regards to sharing a mutual respect, chemistry and belief in the career aspirations and goals as you set forth. It is imperative that the resume writer has the ability and expertise to portray you in the best possible light to ensure you get the attention you deserve.    

There will be many professionals in industries such as real estate, insurance, dental, financial services and more that will require a conscious decision on your part to select the individual you are most confident and comfortable in working with. This too should be seriously considered when choosing to work with a Certified Professional Resume Writer. If an organization has provided you with a resume writing service and you have a concern with any of the following points, do not risk sending out your resume prior to getting a second opinion.

• Resume writer is not familiar with your industry
• Resume writer is not certified
• Resume writer lacks experience
• No one on one interview offered
• Resume lacks professional appearance
• Resume does not list quantifiable accomplishments
• Personal branding not addressed
• Resume lacks proper formatting
• Resume has gaps in job history
• Resume is over 3 pages
• Resume does not bolster your level of confidence

Many certified and reputable resume services provide free resume critiques and it is highly recommended that you take advantage of this service if you have any of the above concerns. Ask for an opinion from friends, family and colleagues and if you do not receive positive feedback from all sources, contact the organization that provided or recommended the service as most will appreciate being notified and are genuinely concerned with providing a good service that meets your needs. If it is simply a matter of differing personalities, it is still highly recommended that you invest in another Certified Professional Resume Writer to ensure you receive a resume that will impress decision makers and give you a competitive edge to ensure multiple job interviews.   

photo credit: mariahfleming

A professional introduction is a significant factor in establishing a positive first impression, critical for those seeking to advance in their careers. Although it is completely under our control, we often find ourselves on auto pilot; unconscious behaviour based on old habits, which may work for some but most individuals should be concentrating on the extra effort necessary to initiate a practiced and polished, professional introduction. Old habits are hard to break and without many years of experience introducing yourself in a professional environment, you may regret relying on your instincts.

Looking good is also critical to a professional introduction. If you’re not sure about your attire, ask for advice. If they’re not sure, buy a new suit! Practice at home in front of a mirror or even better, a video camera, concentrating on eye contact until you have a well rehearsed, clearly articulated, introductory message. Don’t wing it! You may not have realized that up until now, 50% of your vocabulary consisted of “eh?” Give careful consideration to your handshake and practice it. That may sound as ridiculous as advising those submitting a resume to include contact details but more often than not, it is the most basic of protocols and information that are given little attention or consideration leading to easily avoidable mistakes and lost opportunities. Many people do not provide a professional handshake with the majority offering a less than firm handshake, which is usually perceived as a lack of confidence. And then there are those whose handshake is far too firm, especially when the recipient is donning a ring! OUCH!!! 

Your investment in a professional introduction will contribute to establishing a memorable and confident first  impression. Follow these five tips to look good, feel good and sound good: 

• Attractive, clean and pressed attire
• Eye contact
• Confident but considerate handshake
• Practiced and polished verbal introduction
• Ask how you can help

How do you create a professional introduction when submitting your resume? Accompany your resume with a professional and personalized cover letter! 

Your resume represents You and so too, will your ability to provide a current, professional resume at anytime upon the request of an HR professional or Recruiter. It will reflect your due diligence, competency and genuine aspirations for career advancement earning you respect and the acknowledgement of your confidence.   

You and your resume are one and the same with your most defining attribute being your name. It should be displayed on your resume in a font that is both larger and bolder than any other content. In addition, your position titles and your diploma/degree should also be displayed in bold. Do not bold the company name or the University or College name. Further to contact details, which now require a Linkedin address, your title should be prominently displayed followed by an enticing tag-line.  

Your accomplishments will be more impressive and easier to notice by quantifying results so use numbers. Anyone can say they increased sales but not everyone has bragging rights to say they increased sales by 150% over 6 months! You and your resume must exude confidence to stand out from the competition and have a positive influence on the decision maker. For inspiration, make note of the following quote from SteveWeber, “Be bold about what you have to offer the world! If you hold back, people sense the insecurity of your offer.”

Are you and your resume ready? Submit your resume to Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer for a free resume critique. 

“Managing your career on your own terms”

Whether or not you are employed, it doesn’t matter, Jim will relate client stories of individuals who have figured out how to take charge of their career/life on their terms. Jim and Alex Gill recently published a book on this topic through Wiley&Sons, titled, “AIM, the powerful 10 step personal and career success program”.

Jim Carlisle has been a management consultant for 35 years, including 9 years as a Partner with The Caldwell partners, 12 years as a Partner with Ernst and Young, and currently as a Director of Western Management Consultants of Ontario. His main areas of expertise are in executive coaching, executive search and facilitation.

Jim has represented a client list including individual executives and teams from Ernst and Young, Xerox, ACTRA, Riocan, Metropolitan Toronto Board of Trade, The Miller Group, Canadian Professional Golf Association, Ivey and Queen’s MBA programs. All of the engagements have been at the senior level. His powerful combination of executive search, coaching and facilitation capabilities provides clients with current data and options to solving leadership and organizational issues.

Jim is a member of the International Coaching Federation, and is certified in the Co-Pilot Professional Coaching System. In addition, he is a Fellow of The Institute of Certified Management Consultants and is a trained facilitator. Jim has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University. He has lectured and spoken frequently on “Becoming your own coach”.

On the global front, Jim has just completed 6 years as Chairman of Agilium Worldwide. Agilium is an alliance of 27 owner managed executive search firms in 25 countries.

Register for Toronto ExecuNet

Location: Metro Hall View Map

Are you happy and successful in your career? Do you know how to uncover jobs, contracts and freelance opportunities? This presentation, designed for both freelancers and employees, will provide you with answers to take charge of your career.    

By attending this presentation, you will learn:

• To develop an outstanding performance-based resume
• What search strategy will provide the best results on your time investment
• How to use social media to find key influencers

Speaker: Martin Buckland, founder of Elite Resumes

Martin Buckland is one of North America’s top career management professionals. Martin is a resume and career management expert for several associations and leading MBA schools. His peers recently voted Martin as one of the “Top 22 Career Management Professionals” in the world.

Register HERE

Unfortunately there are too many organizations that prey on the vulnerability of others using a scam that enables them to sell inferior products or services. The diet industry is likely the best example, generating billions of dollars selling products that just don’t work. Desperation and vulnerability lead many to accept offers including diet pills that are not regulated or approved. As in most industries, the career industry is also not free of scams with organizations sending out mass mailings that sound personal and guarantee you a job…… for a fee; a substantial fee! You will read the same canned spiel often from a variety of company names. The majority will ask you to set up an appointment to come back with your spouse. No amount of money will guarantee you a job as you will learn from the reputable and legitimate career services that are available. It is not difficult to find out who’s who, just Google It and  Avoid a Scam!

The Internet and especially the advent of social media provides the ability to share our voice and experiences with ease. Although many scams still exist, it is becoming more and more difficult for those running them to keep ahead of the online feedback even though they respond by changing their company name on a regular basis. Before you sign a contract and hand over a substantial amount of money, Google it! Simply enter the company name and beside it type scam. Many companies share the same name so be sure the results relate to the particular company you are searching by confirming the location or names involved. Check out sites such as Ripoff Report, About.com, Consumer Scams in Canada, http://www.armydiller.com/financial-scam/. You will be amazed at how much information is available online! Further to Google searches for company names and scams, frauds, etc, most companies have a website and legitimate organizations are proud to include contact details and names. Linkedin is the top social media site for professionals and offers the opportunity to search for millions of individuals and companies to seek out further information. Testimonials are also available for review and are posted by the author, not the recipient.

The next time you are interested in doing business with anyone, Google the name prior to making a commitment. In the career industry it is safe to say that a reputable company will have a visible online profile. 

In the past, branding was a term that would have been more familiar to most when referencing a product rather than an individual. Today, a personal branding strategy is a critical component in managing any executive career. An expert in Personal Branding, Paul Copcutt offers advice on promoting your brand in, “How do you communicate your personal brand via social media?”

Whether marketing a product for a large corporation or marketing yourself for a new executive position, it requires fresh new ideas and above all staying current. A candidate who has not changed their own appearance in 30 years is unlikely to give the impression to a potential employer that they are open to embracing new trends or have the forward thinking necessary to move their organization in a positive direction. You’ve likely traded in the vehicle you drove in the 70’s and acquired a new wardrobe but have you changed your hair style or removed the mustache or beard you were so proud to have been able to grow 30 years ago? Invest in updating your appearance and obtaining new professional profile photos. Not only is it guaranteed to improve your self esteem but you will likely appear more professional, confident and younger!

How long has it been since you updated your resume, your personal appearance, your education or your network of professionals? The odds of acquiring a new position will increase dramatically if your mindset is one of enthusiasm, confidence and a genuine desire to embrace new challenges and implement positive changes. Consider the services of an Executive Career Management Professional to refresh, renew and stay current.

The following is an account of their length of time in career transition and the title of their new position :

10 months – Manager Sales Support
  9 months – Professional Services
18 months – Regional IT Manager
10 months – Manager, Finance and Operations
  6 months – Project Manager
  8 months – undisclosed
13 months – Marketing Director, Telecommunications
11 months – Country Sales Manager, Canada
15 months – Manager Sales Support & Marketing

Despite the accuracy of the old rule of thumb theory, all of these professionals fully expected to land their new positions within a much shorter time frame. Positive thinking is key to a successful job search and accepting the reality that a career transition could take a number of months and not weeks will allow you to fully prepare yourself, your family and your financial affairs enabling you to be fully engaged in a successful search. False hopes could lead to discouragement and disappointment negatively impacting your determination, confidence and productivity at this critical time.

No one can say for sure how long anyone will spend in career transition but securing the services of an Executive Career Management Professional will provide you with the opportunity to secure your next position within a shorter time frame. Consider the ROI in reducing your job search by one month or two or three! Contact Elite Resumes to speak with Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Certified Job Search Strategist, Co-Pilot Executive Coach, Certified Employment Interview Professional and Certified Job Search Trainer.