Previously, I discussed what fonts are generally acceptable to use for your resume.

But what about font size? What are the font sizes you should use for your resume?

Pretty simple: keep it between 10pt. and 12pt. font. 13pt. maybe. But nothing bigger than that.

If you go smaller than 10pt. it’s probably too small to read comfortably. If you go bigger than 13pt., you’re looking cartoonish, and worse, it might look like you’re trying to make up for not having much of a career history to put on a resume. In other words, if you have crazy big font sizes, that might say to the reader: this guy has so little experience he can’t even fill out one page.

Really, your sweet spot is the 10pt. to 12pt range. Don’t be afraid to try 11pt. if it works! You really just want to adjust the font size to fit the pages as fully as possible. If 10pt. gives you 3/4th of a page of text but 12pt. fills the page, then go with 12pt.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

By 10 – 12pt., the text I’m talking about is the body of your resume. But, and this is important:

DON’T USE ONE FONT SIZE FOR YOUR ENTIRE RESUME.

We’re not in the age of typewriters, people. You should use different font sizes for section titles like “Education” “Career History” “Profile” and things like that. And your name at least should be big and bolded at the top.

Off the top of my head, I’d suggest something like this:

12pt. for the body of your resume

14pt. for the section headers

16pt. for your name at the top of every page

That’s not written in stone. It’s just a thumb guide for a strategy you could take. But play around and try different sizes to see what looks good to you.

And as always, remember that professional resume help is out there.

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In the past, I’ve written about what you should do first if you get fired or laid off.

Over the weekend, over at the WiseBread blog, I saw a new strategy that had never occurred to me before.

Essentially, it boils down to remembering to ask the HR folks if they’ll give you the unvested portion of your 401 (k).

A lot of companies have 401 (k) matching plans. It’s basically free money: they contribute x dollars to match every y dollars you contribute. The catch is, you have to stay with the company long enough for that to “vest.” If you leave too soon, they don’t have to make good on that money.

But if they fire you before the vesting can happen… well, that’s not your fault!

But a lot of employers are willing to give you the unvested portion of your 401(k) account if/when you’re being let go.

Especially if it’s not performance related and they just need to downsize. It’s not that big of a deal to them and in an effort to make these kinds of moves as painless as possible, there is a good shot you’ll get this money.

The worst thing that can happen? They say no.

Hmmm. I don’t know. If they’re in the saving money downsize mode, I’m not so sure they’ll be so sanguine about handing over the money.
But then again, this is one of those I suppose it can’t hurt to ask situations. I mean, they are going to give you (hopefully) some sort of severance package. So why shouldn’t the “free money” be a part of it?

Most of us, when we’re in the frenzied moment of being handed a pink slip, don’t tend to think clearly. So, make a mental note now. If you’re ever facing the proverbial firing squad, don’t forget to ask if you can take your “free money” with you.

It’s better than leaving money on the table.

And as always, if you find yourself suddenly laid off, it might be time to hire professional help.

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This is from an Ask Brian Question.

Send in your own Ask Brian Question here.

My name is XXXX, and Im 24 years old. Ever since last year i have been applying for different jobs in the field of fashion, I used to work and still do as a Fashion Stylist, which means I do a lot of shoots for tv and print ads etc. I finished my diploma course in Fashion Design last year and i thought i should leave the world of fashion styling behind because it was very difficult to find shoots on your own if you did not know the right people. But i found some young entrepreneurs like me and although work is slow I do have faith it will happen and also i have been very interested in Fashion design which goes hand in hand with styling. ok so here is my question,

A month back I had gone for an interview for the position of Junior Merchandiser, this has nothing to do with designing or creativity, it just a “cut-copy-paste” kind of job. I was very interested because i was desperate to find something to do. anything. but then i started my own label in the desperation and my clothes actually got a decent response. i.e from my friends i havent yet gone out into the market. so should i take a 9 to 7 job, which will barely pay my bills, cuz what i will make ina month is how much i make on a shoot in one day, but this job is now and i have just started networking, or should i have faith in myself and continue with fashion design and styling. please help. very confused.

Short answer for your specific situation:

You say you’ve gotten a response from your friends (great) but nothing yet from the market. Well, give it a go in the market. If you get a response there, then it might be worth going for your dream.

I always think you should go for your dream when you’re young, cause you have plenty of time later to fix mistakes and make up for lost time in the “real world” of 9 to 7 jobs.

But I also think: what is stopping you from doing both? Why not take this barely-pays-your-bills job now, and work on your dream around the edges? TONS of people take lesser jobs as they work on their dreams. Your lesser job is at least in the same field! You’re not, for example, waiting tables while you wait to “make it” on Broadway.

I have much more on this topic of choosing between job offers here.

And if you need a Fashion Industry resume, you know where to go.

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For years now, as social media has proliferated, we’ve been hearing more and more about how what you do online can be viewed and viewed negatively by your boss… or by a prospective boss.

But what about Facebook? After all, can’t you control who sees what on Facebook?

Well, if you’re doing a job search, you’d certainly better hope so.

According to new research by Microsoft, if HR people can check your Facebook page, then they probably will. And what they find there can have an impact on your chances of getting hired. In other words, Facebook can have an impact on your job search.

(via GigaOM)

“…the top online factors for rejecting a job applicant are unsuitable photos/videos, concerns about a candidate’s lifestyle and inappropriate comments written by the candidate.
(…)
The survey also found that not only are HR staffers search for information about job applicants online, most of their companies have made online screening a formal requirement of the hiring process. Recruiters and HR professionals also said that they believe the use of online-reputation information will significantly increase over the next five years. And while the survey found that most consumers manage their reputation at least to some extent, a significant percentage (between 30 and 35 percent depending on nationality) “don’t feel their online reputation affects either their personal or professional life [and] consequently, they are not taking steps to manage their reputations.”

So, obviously, the key takeaway here is that you should be aware of your privacy controls, and definitely make use of them. This article from last week’s New York Times is invaluable: The 3 Facebook Setting Every User Should Check Now.

Because, the other point to keep in mind is, your online profile can actually help your job search in a lot of ways. As the article says:

“Our research shows that managing your online reputation can be a significant benefit. Everyone should think critically about the image they’re digitally portraying,” Peter Cullen, Microsoft’s chief privacy strategist, said in a statement.

If you’re not using social media as a part of your job search, then you’re not taking advantage of all the modern tools available.

Just make sure those tools are helping you, and not hurting.

And, as I always say at the end, don’t forget the invaluable job search tool of resume writing.

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What is the best paper to use when printing up your resume to present in an interview?

What is the best paper to use when mailing a resume as part of a job application?

I guess this goes along with my post concerning the best font to use for your resume.

I actually have a very specific answer to this question.

For more than a decade now, we’ve been printing hard copies of people’s resumes as an add-on feature to our resume writing service.

And in all that time, we’ve used the same paper.

I’ll tell you all about it, but first, let me make clear: I’m not getting paid or receiving any other consideration for the endorsement I’m about to make.

Having said that, in the resume writing industry, Southworth is the only paper brand most of us use. You can find a wide range of Southworth paper products at most of the “big box” office supply retailers like Staples or Office Depot.

The specific type of paper I recommend using is Southworth Business Paper, 32lb, 100% Cotton, 8 1/2″x11″ and WHITE.

Here’s why:

• It’s simply the best paper. It’s thick and hearty enough to feel and look professional, but it’s still easily used in most printers. The paper is clear and the texture makes the text legible.
• 24lb paper is “ok” in my opinion, but a little on the light side. It feels too much like high quality laser printer paper. I prefer something that feels higher class. And 32lb does that.
• Southworth sells paper that they specifically brand as “resume paper” but I prefer the business paper just because of the look and feel. You’ll do fine with the resume paper, but aim for 32 lb if you can.
• I don’t like the linen paper. It’s too grainy and a bit to “showy” for me. The cotton paper has the heft and the texture without the visible grain.
• I always and only recommend going with white paper. The ivory is too much like a college diploma, and to me that reads as a bit to formal.
• At ResumeWriters.com, we buy paper by the boxful, but if you look around, or order online, you can get the paper I’m describing in smaller boxes of a few dozen sheets.
• You WILL have to pay more, but you’re paying for quality.
• If you’re paying for this sort of paper, you owe it to yourself to print your resume using a laser printer. Trust me, it will just look better.

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Here’s a quick Ask Brian question that has been sitting in my inbox since last week. It’s a short question, but I think I have a short and possibly unpleasant answer. Here goes:

A reader asks:

What does it mean, a week after my interview they say they are still interviewing candidates?

Brian sayz:

Unfortunately, it probably doesn’t mean much good for you.

Not to be too harsh here, but interviewing is like dating. When you’ve found the one, you kind of know it right away.

The long and short of it is, if they thought you were the one, they probably wouldn’t be looking at anyone else.

I can really only think one of two things is going on here:

1. Firstly, the most likely situation is that you did not meet their expectations for the position and they are continuing their search to find their ideal candidate. In that case, don’t worry about it. Chin up. Take what you learned from the interview process and move on.
2. The second and more unlikely situation is that they have been forced to space out the interviews due to the interviewer’s schedule and they are committed to interviewing all potential candidates before making a solid decision. But this is probably only likely if you’re interviewing for a major executive and management position.

The time period following an interview can be a nerve wrecking experience as you wait for an answer. In an aggressive and competitive job hunting market-such as the one that we are in right now-employers that are hiring basically have the upper hand.

I know. You feel like you’re at their mercy, and their silence only serves to make things worse. The best you can do is be polite (see, How Long Should I Wait To Hear Back) and move on to the next application.

Also, you may want to read my article on reading the tea leaves and knowing if a job interview went well.

And as always, if you need resume writing help, you know where to go!

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Interesting article in the New York Times regarding retiree job seekers and the special job search problems facing retirees and those over the age of 65.

…In fact, there are more Americans 65 and older in the job market today than at any time in history, 6.6 million, compared with 4.1 million in 2001.

Less well known, though, is that nearly half a million workers 65 and older want to work but cannot find a job — more than five times the level early this decade and this group’s highest unemployment level since the Great Depression.

(…)

The unemployment rate for older Americans is still much better than for others — 6.7 percent compared with 9.8 percent in the general population. But 6.7 percent is more than double the level of two years ago — and far higher than the minuscule 1.9 percent rate early this decade.

My main job search/interview tip from this article for retiree job seekers is as follows:

Older job seekers should try hard to maintain their professionalism. Even if the person interviewing you is young enough to be your grandson, you should still maintain the “yes sir/no sir” dynamic. You are the applicant and they are the decision maker. You might benefit by highlighting your years of experience and the vast knowledge you might bring to the position, but it’s wise not to come off as a know-it-all.

The job is not beneath you because of your age or experience. Neither is the person who might give you the job.

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An article in Time Magazine suggests that virtual job interviewing, via skype especially, is something jobseekers are seeing more and more of.

This makes tons of sense to me. For out-of-town interviewing, the money savings alone are astronomical. But also, think about how this is more convenient for interviewer and interviewee alike. Less pressure, less procedure… possibly a greater chance of getting down to brass tacks.

My tips for this sort of thing are pretty much along the lines of what the article suggests. You still want to dress up. You still want to be professional (send the crying babies and barking dogs far away). And try to take it just as seriously as a real interview. It might feel informal, but keep the proceedings as formal as you can to show you understand the situation.

But I’d also recommend YOU be the one to suggest this sort of interview. If you think they’re techy enough to go for it, it’s a win-win-win for you: You’re being proactive. You’re offering to save them money. You’re also showing that you’re tech savvy.

Are you the first person they’ve ever encountered who’s offered to do a virtual interview for them? That shows initiative.

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I’ve posted several times about how the idea of job search networking can seem nebulous and confusing to people. “Ok, I understand that I send in my resume and hopefully they call me for an interview. But how exactly do I network?”

Hopefully you can see several practical strategies on how to network by reading this blog. And keep in mind the old saw of job search: Networking is BY FAR the most effective way to find a new job.

For years we’ve told our clients, “Tell everyone you know… everyone… every friend you have, every person you meet on the street… about your job search.” We even sold networking cards for a while (little snippets of your resume on a business card).

So, let’s touch on something that should be obvious to anyone in the modern world: social networking sites like Facebook can help you with your job search. I actually hadn’t explored this too much in a hands on, practical level, but I decided to test out some strategies.

And, just by dipping my toe in the water, I’ve gotten some immediate results. I think I’ve hit on a really, REALLY basic strategy for using Facebook to help in your job search. It’s something anyone with a Facebook account can start doing immediately.

And it might seem obvious to the point of stupidity, but hear me out:

Basically, the strategy is really simple.

Diary your job search in your Facebook status update.

I just took three recent clients we were working with and had them each keep posting about their job search on their Facebook status updates.

Applied to 3 positions today? Ok, put that on your update.

Interview with a company today? Ok, put that on your update.

It seems really simple and maybe a little obvious, but it worked. And right away. 2 of the 3 clients have already found new positions and the 3rd got at least one good interview out of it.

The key seems to be to include details. Don’t just say, “Brian is looking for a job.” Say: “Brian is looking for an accounting job in the Toledo area.” Don’t just say you applied to 3 jobs today, say: “Brian just sent resumes to Proctor and Gamble, Dell and Monsanto.”

That’s the beauty of networking… you never know what little nugget of information will lead to a connection.

Specific case in point (names changed for privacy reasons): One of our clients started doing regular status updates on his job search. For 2 weeks he kept at it. At this point most of his friends probably got the message: OK. Dave is looking for a job. And yet, still nothing turned up… aside from some encouraging words and a tip here or there. But nothing solid.

But then one day last week he mentioned on his status update that he had applied to a local university. And he mentioned that university by name.

It turned out some Facebook Friend was married to a woman who worked at the university. It further turned out she could expedite his application by making a personal recommendation (and earn a referral bounty to boot). The client said to me in an email:

It’s not like everyone didn’t already know I was looking for a job. It’s just that Kevin didn’t think far ahead enough to help me out. His first thought was “Well, there’s no job I know of that I can turn him on to.” It didn’t occur to him I might apply for work at the U and so it didn’t occur to him to tell me his wife who I’ve never actually met worked at the U and might be able to get me an in. It was the status update that sort of put the lightbulb up over his head.

I’ve experienced this sort of thing before myself. Once, when we were having a technical server issue, I posted randomly on my Facebook status update: “Brian is confused by PCI compliance.” Turns out, one of my good friends from college (who I knew was in IT… vaguely) was someone who SPECIFICALLY did PCI compliance for a living. And so he helped me out. It hadn’t occurred to me to ask him for help. He hadn’t know I NEEDED help. But the randomness of the network made the connection anyway.

So, my advice is basically that: immediately start posting every boring detail of your job search. Do it every day.

Because the other key part of this strategy seems to be persistence. Drill it into people’s heads. You can’t know what little nugget of information might provide a lead, so you just gotta keep putting nuggets out there.

Won’t your friends get tired of hearing about you and your lonely job search?

Sure. But they’re probably already tired of hearing about how your daughter is sick again or about the coffee you spilled on yourself during the drive in to work today.

So, even if it seems a little obvious and simple (You mean social networking might lend itself to networking in general? Gee, Brian, you’re a genius!) if you haven’t started sharing your job search with your friends and family on Facebook, maybe you should start doing so.

Now.

And, as always, if you need the best resume writing help in the business, you know where to go.

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If you have career or job search question you would like answered on this blog, click here to Ask Brian.

D. asks:

How long should one expect to wait to get approval on a vacation request? I have three weeks vacation and have only used two.

Vacation request? This time of year? I think you’re reading your calender upside down!

But, it seems my “how long to wait” answers are very popular. So…

Brian has an answer after the jump…

Brian Sayz:

…

Vacation request policy varies from employer to employer.  If your employee manual does not spell out a requested lead time for vacation requests or your employer does not have an employee manual, then it is time to ask either Human Resources or your boss.

I know some industries prohibit vacation during certain times of the year, so it is important to gain understanding if your employer has such restrictions. In addition, your employer might have already planned out the labor budget for the next few months and already has you booked for work.  Also, some places of employment have a vacation calender that allows for only a certain number of people to be gone on any given day. You need to make yourself aware of any of these vacation caveats.  Here is the method of how I would approach my boss or HR on inquiring about the proper lead time.

1. Have in mind particular dates that you want off.  It is inevitable that your boss/HR will ask when you think you want to take your vacation time.  Be prepared to have alternate dates in mind, too.  Being that it is almost October, it is pretty late in the year to give notice for a week of vacation.
2. Send an e-mail or phone ahead to ask if your boss/HR has a few minutes to discuss possible vacation time.  This way your boss/HR will not be grumpy when you spring a last minute week off on them.  If I recommend that if you have to be gone last minute for some reason, it isn’t a bad idea to preempt your request for a meeting with an apology. A meeting may also be required between you and your boss  strategize on how your work will get done or be covered while you are away.
3. Submit your Vacation Request per the outcome of your meeting.

Now you are versed in your company’s Vacation Request Policy.  Congrats and Bon Voyage!

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