Who's and What's Concerning Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Interviewing, Job Search

Jobvite Recruitment Survey - Surprising Results for Jobseekers

2009-06-01T09:22:00.006-05:00

Jobvite Recruitment Survey - Surprising Results for Jobseekers
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

As career professionals, we write articles, blog, and consult clients on the changing job-search landscape ... some of us, in fact, have been doing this for well over the last year.

Social networks are here to stay, and a recent recruitment survey performed the Jobvite adds more validation to what job-search experts and some not-so-expert "experts" have claimed for some time.

The survey tells us hiring professionals are expected to ramp up use of social networking channels such as LinkedIn, FaceBook, and Twitter for the sole purpose of recruitment.

If you believe Dan Schawbel from PersonalBrandingBlog.com, social networking tools are to be the demise of job banks. I say, not just yet. The 5-year timeline given by Mr. Schawbel seems farfetched too.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves ... did you forget some of us are slow to adapt technology? What that means is the recent migration to social networks is probably the tip of the iceberg.

Do you watch TV? Of course you do. =-] A latest Verizon commercial stated only 26% of us know what Twitter is, and well, if 74% are still in the dark on one of the tools being pursued for talent recruitment purposes, we have a long way to go before the Big 3 social networks shut down the Big 3 job boards: Monster, CareerBuilder, and Yahoo HotJobs!.

It certainly can be expected however that smaller job boards are on the chopping block, and their days are numbered.

Copyright 2009, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Cover Letter Tips

2009-02-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

Jobless = More Sex? Unemployment Should Have Perks Too.

2009-01-20T14:04:00.006-05:00

Jobless = More Sex? Unemployment Should Have Perks Too.
Posted by Teena Rose

“Counter the draining effects of job-search by having invigorating daytime sex with your significant other. Being unemployed should have perks too.” -- Teena Rose

There, I said it!

When approached with a publishing opportunity recently, I couldn't resist ... for anyone in business, who can really? The piece was with the well-known New York Post. The publishing proposal came during a time of stress, and rather than take my typical route when answering a simple question, I decided to take a different route ... a fun and playful approach, if you will.

The question asked of me was simply, "What's the best piece of advice you would give to someone who's out of work?"

One’s first thoughts about unemployment are negative, am I right? Loss of income; how to address the gap within an interview; maybe job loss caused chip to individual’s self-worth. Going through a recent career change with my husband, I realized first-hand that words, advice, and how-to's aren't always an anecdote to what the employed person is feeling. Unemployment is sometimes embarrassing, shameful ... and provide a whole slew of other negative feelings.

The question posed was easy enough. I could present typical advice; i.e. stay positive, work your network, go back to school. But I think jobseekers are tired of hearing suggestions for what they already know. Do you agree?

What I suggested was simply taking time to not only search for that new position, of course, but to also “counter the draining effects of job-search by having invigorating daytime sex with your significant other. Being unemployed should have perks too.”

For me, the suggestion was merely a way to make those unemployed smile or chuckle. Hopping between the sheets during the day is hardly routine advice given by today's job coaches, I'm sure you'll agree.

The more I thought about my quote, however, the more I thought "why not"?

"Being unemployed should have perks too."

Before you dismiss my candor advice, let’s look at some obvious benefits ...

* First, an increased sex level will help offset the stress associated with being unemployed. Very true! With stress being linked to illness, simply don’t make time for it. People increasingly mistake their identities with that of their jobs, and unfortunately, stress is a byproduct of our "earn, earn, earn" society.

* Second, an increased sex level will help rekindle your relationship which may have been neglected due to work stress or a previously demanding work schedule. Work weeks have turned into work weekends and work evenings. Why not look at unemployment as your way to patch up issues between you and your partner that have been festering for weeks, months, or years? Unemployment is the perfect time to look around and rediscover what is actually important.

* Third, and this is just a hunch [wink], but an increased sex level could make you feel and appear more confident during phone discussions, interviews, etc. Give it a shot. I'm sure it can't make things worse.

Copyright 2009, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

New Mistakes People Are Making with Their Resumes in 2009

2009-01-08T11:16:00.011-05:00

What are new mistakes being made when writing a resume?
Posted by Teena Rose, teenarose.com

Hands down the use of old resume guidelines for the job-search environment of today hits the top of the list. Jobseekers can no longer afford to utilize outdated resume-writing techniques to compete for top jobs — or any job for that matter. Cookie-cutter intro statements, standard and overused resume layouts, and flat content can all be *resume killers*. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again.

The Internet is packed full of bad resume-writing advice. I estimate there must be 398 million so-called resume-writing experts on the net today — well, maybe I inflated that number a bit. =] But you get the idea, I hope.

Everyone seems to be a resume expert these days, yet hit the online forums and blogs and people are struggling everywhere on writing their resumes. Could 398 million “experts,” for the moment anyway, be passing around bad advice? Yes, I think a fair number of them are doing just that.

In their defense, I feel some aren't doing it intentionally. In order to provide well-informed advice, you first need to know a variety of things:

First, examine the person's complete background.
Second, factor the person's current job target and how it plays relative to that background.
Third, know the person's assets as well as their liabilities -- we all have them. =]

Without (minimally) armed with the above information an "expert" cannot adequately advise (I believe) on any person's resume. The challenge is that not all careers are alike; not all education levels are alike; not all skill levels are alike.

... and therefore, not all resumes can or should be alike.

I didn’t realize just how bad advice is out there until I participated in a resume writing challenge that was judged by (most on the panel) non-resume experts. It was amazing how the submissions were “chewed up” for totally irrelevant reasons and how those on the panel didn’t factor such core resume facets, such as keywords, layout/format, taglines, achievement-based content, and so on. Well, maybe I shouldn’t include layout and format because there were plenty of redundant comments there … but most revolved around those on the panel wanting to see more traditional, outdated, and dare I say old-fashioned techniques. Wow, shocked me.

What the hell?

Put 10 resume "experts" into a room. How many really are experts? How many merely claim to be? How many really see the resumes they're reviewing? Keep in mind resume experts should read, while hiring personnel skim. How many review the content and layout and fail to consider resume management/applicant tracking systems, social media platforms, and proven techniques such as the use of taglines?

When you start the elimination process, I guesstimate only 2 or 3 are actually experts.

So what are "top of the list" resume mistakes? Here are my picks:

1. Writing your resume so it hits all audiences, but fails to focus on the right ones.

2. Writing resume content that focuses too heavily on your soft skills yet fails to highlight the hard skills that introduce keywords and keyword phrases into your resume.

3. Utilizing outdated and old-fashioned resume layouts ... if you are afraid to try something new, yet still remain professional of course, how will you ever stand out? The layout you're currently using; how many others are using the same thing?

4. Failing to recognize that resume content will now transition into other media forums; such as your LinkedIn, FaceBook, and maybe even your MySpace accounts. Stop thinking that a resume is just a resume. Resumes will now and increasingly morph into other forms. If you're not recognizing that you're missing the boat.

5. Developing a resume that not only caters to HR managers and recruiters, but one that caters to those "computer eyes" as well. Every resume should be written with a two-fold purpose in mind. The resume will likely be seen by computer eyes (resume management systems) and then by a human's eyes. Are you failing on both?

Good luck to you!

Copyright 2009, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

BlogTalkRadio Interview: Using Job-Search 2.0 Tools

2009-01-07T22:34:00.004-05:00

Live Blog Interview on The Use of Job-Search 2.0 Tools
Posted by Teena Rose

Last month, I was invited by Roxanne Ravenel of The Savvy Jobseeker to participate within a live blog/radio chat relative to tapping and properly utilizing job-search 2.0 strategies. Of course I accepted.

Some of you might not know what job-search 2.0 strategies means. You've probably heard of Internet 2.0, am I right? Well, job-search 2.0 also means that next generation of tools that allow a jobseeker to network, job-search, build a personal brand, and yes, conduct a proactive campaign.

Just to give you a bit of overview on the topics covered, here are some key points on why 2.0 strategies are so critical and should be adopted by jobseekers.

First, the next generation of job-search tools and forums allow the jobseeker to be proactive rather than reactive relative to their job-search and careers. Competition for jobs are fierce, so taking a proactive stand in today's job market is even more critical as job competition heats up.

Second, online networks, blogging, micro-blogging, and maybe even bookmarking services put your candidacy online for on-going performance.

Third, building relationships using social networking channels enable jobseekers to source for information more efficiently and more effectively.

Let's get right to it shall we.

Oh, and forgive me. What for you ask? Forgive the number of times I said "um" throughout the first half of the interview. Sometimes nervousness causes bad speech habits to surface, and well, I'm a prime candidate for such things. =]

Check out my interview with Roxanne Ravenel, author of The Savvy Jobseeker's Guide & Workbook.

Copyright 2009, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Job Jotes - The Job Lead Tracker

2008-12-04T10:41:00.007-05:00

Job Jotes - Simple, Yet Effective, Job Lead Tracker
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Sometimes it's the simple things.

I know all-too-well how clients suffer when going through the pains of job-search. Let's call it what it is ... a pain in the ass! I've been writing resume and job coaching clients for about 10 years, and to be honest, I just don't want to sugarcoat it anymore. You know it's a pain; I know it's a pain. So why beat around the job-search bush?

With today's technologies, one could hope a single, massive system would be in place to handle the world's hiring. You input a resume, career assessment, cover letter, brag book, blog, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, MySpace address (just kidding, you probably won't need the resume if LinkedIn continues to have its ways)

... and voila a ticky-tape (well, maybe something more appropriate like the size of a Twitter Tweet) would spit out and tell you to report at so-and-sos Monday morning for that new job, or minimally, for an interview.

Nope, we're dealing with something far more dysfunctional:

1. A resume that is subjective, hence the reason there are something like 300 million so-called resume writers on the Internet these days.

2. A cover letter that *may* get some eye-attention. Making matters worse, we don't know the full value cover letters apply to highly used resume management systems.

3. A talent recruitment system that seems to work great for recruiters and HR managers, but for jobseekers, well, it's a "club" most can't join. In fact, most jobseekers don't have a clue on exactly the system used by many on the hiring side of the desk.

4. Recruiters and HR managers dealing with a bogged process that generates hundreds or thousand (maybe even tens of thousands for a company like Microsoft) of so-called qualified candidates for *ONE* job opening.

5. A system (job posting to interviewing to hiring) that drags on and on (yes, I'm looking at you USAJobs!)

So, I'm one of the little people who tries to make your "job of searching for a job" just a tiny bit easier. It's frustrating system even for those of us who have what some would consider an inside edge.

My latest freebie on the job-search trail includes Job Jotes. Not a superior invention by any means, but it's an easy-to-follow Excel spreadsheet that allows you to track positions that have caught your attention while job-searching.

A time (and dare I say sanity) saver. =]

Don't expect too many columns. As I mentioned, you need a system that serves its purpose but doesn't take long hours to maintain. A tracking system that keeps target jobs within a nice cubby system to satisfy your job-search tracking wants and needs with a few quick glimpses.

Enjoy!

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

ResumeFit LLC; Does It Fit You?

2008-12-02T18:39:00.012-05:00

Introduction to ResumeFit LLC
Posted by Teena Rose; high-quality resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

The following represents an interview with Tom Schmidt of ResumeFit LLC. Bringing you new and potentially important job-search tools is important in staying competitive in today's job market, so I plan to spend the next few weeks drawing attention to tools you should already be using ... as well as other tools, such ResumeFit LLC, which are certainly worth your consideration.

Now, I'll pass your attention to Tom Schmidt ...

Let me start by saying, the big problem is worldwide and well known: résu-mess. Every resume silo in the world contains one type of data: self-authored by the candidate. Resumes are inherently untrustworthy.

Some employers actually develop “trustworthy” data about those candidates who make their shortlist. All employers would like to do this, but the majority don’t because they’re a small businesses who can’t afford it. Presently the interview is the primary criteria for many employers making candidate selection decisions.

“Trustworthy” data is developed from doing background checks and/or asking the candidate to complete an assessment or knowledge based test.

This data is rarely shared with the candidate and the candidate definitely cannot take it with them and use it with another prospective employer.

The hiring process is primarily and some would say exclusively employer-centric.

Enter ResumeFit.

We offer the candidate the opportunity to complete an assessment that measures their 29 workplace personality dimensions and 54 workplace competencies, such as analytical thinking, leadership, ambition, and many more.

We will very soon offer the candidate the opportunity to verify their degree or certification.

Since everyone has a resume they’re already using, s/he just uploads it and ResumeFit inserts the “trustworthy” data into their resume utilizing MS Word. This is critical because any improvement to the resume MUST BE in MS Word (it’s the de facto resume/CV file standard worldwide).

We return the candidate’s resume to him/her with our digital signature from VeriSign™ on the resume. This insures no one, not even the candidate, can edit or alter the contents of the document.

The candidate can now transmit/upload their Next Gen Resume™ to a job board’s resume silo such as CareerBuilder, Hotjobs, and Monster (it works perfectly at the big 3 job boards).

The Next Gen Resume™ also is machine readable so that a recruiter can easily differentiate the inserted “trustworthy” data from the candidate’s self-authored data.

Resume silos can now contain “trustworthy” data whereas they previously contained only candidate self-authored data.

Recruiters can then search for someone who is ambitious, multi-tasking, analytical, etc. and know that the data is “trustworthy” from a scientifically-based assessment and/or information that has been verified by a trusted 3rd party. This is a huge deal.

Every stakeholder who handles a Next Gen Resume™ benefits.

-----------~~~***~~~-----------------

FAST FACTS

How long has ResumeFit LLC been online?
3 plus years.

How long did it take to develop your service? Were you inspired by a particular event or time in your life to develop ResumeFit’s technologies?
5 years to develop. Too many new hires coming and going. It was always the, “I wish we knew then what we know now about so and so.”

For jobseekers, how will your service revolutionize how they job-search?
Job seekers can better represent themselves with their Next Gen Resume™.

How would jobseekers start integrating your service?
By completing their assessment and uploading their resume at www.resumefit.com.

For hiring managers/recruiters, how will your service change their internal processes, hiring strategies, and so on?
Recruiters can now search a resume silo and differentiate between the candidate’s self-authored data and the “trustworthy” data that a trusted 3rd party inserted, ResumeFit.

There’s been buzz about how traditional resumes may be replaced by other technologies, such as LinkedIn and FaceBook. Do you agree with these claims? If yes, how will you migrate ResumeFit LLC to those new technologies?
The key is whether the candidate’s data is “trustworthy.” The candidate’s data at the websites you mentioned and all others are entirely self-authored by the candidate. Glowing references are also questionable at best.

A few final words ...
The candidate is required to control/own their data. Credit scores used to be exclusive to merchants/lenders. Now credit scores are being watched/managed by the individuals who will benefit or be harmed by them. Same holds true with resume data.

Candidates can better represent themselves with a Next Gen Resume™ and employers can make more well-informed candidate selection decisions.

Our Next Gen Resume™ is a viable alternative to a video resume. Candidates think they can better represent themselves and employers think they can learn something of the candidate’s workplace persona or character. We provide scientifically-based candidate differentiation and employers can search “trustworthy” data to ascertain the candidate’s workplace persona.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Inquiring Minds Have to Know ... Will LinkedIn Replace the Traditional Resume?

2008-12-02T15:45:00.004-05:00

Will LinkedIn Replace the Traditional Resume
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

As a resume writer, I’m not new to resumes. I’ve written thousands since starting business online in the late 1990s.

Why is the traditional resume facing such extinction? Well, some feel the traditional resume is an outdated piece of job-search collateral, and when facing new technologies applied to perform job-search tasks (intentionally or unintentionally) such as FaceBook and LinkedIn, one really needs to wonder exactly when the Internet *meteor* will arrive to finally “kill the resume.”

When you need an answer who do you call? You call on the experts; those on the hiring and recruitment side of things to ask …

“Will LinkedIn eventually replace the resume? What's the view from your side of the desk?”

I’m amazed and honored with the responses I posted within the Q&A section of LinkedIn. The massive pool of skills, professional, and just overall wonderful group of people congregate within some of those HR and recruitment groups. For that, I say "thank you, thank you." Sometimes people are so giving that one thank you doesn't seem enough.

What I will say upfront is 80%-90% who responded to my questions stated no, they don’t feel LinkedIn will replace the resume at this moment nor with its current limitations. I’m not surprised. After all, LinkedIn hasn’t filled all the gaps and benefits of the resume -- however I feel they’re working on it. =]

In some ways, LinkedIn provides the details resumes do not … or maybe, should. For example, recommendations. Who doesn’t love reviewing credentials, online blog involvement, Twittering, and all those other applications available via LinkedIn, in tandem with active words of praise from third parties?

LinkedIn has become a primary stop for hiring personnel as part of the research and selection process.

Google beware. Instead of the once common saying, did you "google" that candidate, we might see LinkedIn's name used as a verb.

No doubt, LinkedIn is a perfect resource to only, at this moment, complement a resume.

So, back to the question posted to recruiters and human resources managers. What’s the view from your side of the desk? Of the responses I received, Prashanth Menon provided what I thought was a nice response covering some of what I myself had been thinking … but honestly, he put it more eloquently.

Here’s what Prashanth Menon, an Executive Search and Headhunting Specialist with Focus Direct Management Consultants had to say:

LinkedIN and similar enterprising network sites will definitely be replacing Job sites and their ineffectiveness, however it will not be surprising to see LinkedIN with further developments in the future which eradicates the need to manage ones resume elsewhere. Classic example has been the recent endeavor of LinkedIN developers to include a download-able PDF resume in the profile page.

As more and more LinkedIN users embrace the power of networking and understand the possibilities of a functional and dynamic online resume / biography the probability of LinkedIN replacing resumes will largely increase and be imminent. Most of the current users shy away from elaborating their profile which largely renders it as an ineffective replacement for a resume in the present scenario.

For career seekers tools like LinkedIN are a great way to generate headhunting calls and open doors to new opportunities which largely increases their value than a resume in some job site. They have the option of looking up current employees in an potential organization to get a feel of their cultural fitment.

As a hiring manager or search consultant LinkedIN opens door to multiple possibilities like identifying client competition, specific candidates, reference and background checks to a potentials virtual behavior and skills in discussions. Resumes largely are ineffective in delivering a wholesome package which include misrepresentation of core skills to suit the particular opportunity and cliched references which results in screening a lot of chaff.

There would be a great need for users to better represent their online profile and I would not be surprised to see a new breed of Online Profile/Resume Writers to fill that vacuum.

What do you think? Are resumes slotted for extinction?

Regards,
Teena

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Naymz: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools

2008-11-22T11:39:00.007-05:00

Naymz: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools
Posted by Teena Rose. Download the Naymz publication, along with several others at no cost. Check 'em out here: My Job-Search Home Page..

Virtually new to Naymz, I discovered five main benefits offered by this service over many others ... and for top professionals, these are benefits you shouldn't live, and well "work," without.

Learn how to leverage Naymz relative to your online personal brand: Naymz: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

LinkedIn: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools

2008-11-18T15:01:00.009-05:00

LinkedIn: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools
Join me on LinkedIn! Visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/teenarose

Do yourself a favor.
Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Tap leading job-search tools, such as LinkedIn, to not only broaden your current network but to build a solid base of contacts to help when searching for that next new position.

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Learn how LinkedIn can leverage you the next time you're on the hunt. For a quick how-to presentation, click LinkedIn: Leveraging Job-Search 2.0 Tools.

Military are Getting Short-Changed on the Job Front Too

2008-11-10T16:47:00.009-05:00

Military are Getting Short-Changed on the Job Front Too
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/teenarose.
Let's excel and grow together. =]

A recent article at MarketWatch.com on the length of time separating military spend finding a job really hit home to me.

My husband retired in May 2007 after 20 years of service in the Air Force.

He was in a very specialized area, however he had extensive inspections experience that was/is transferable to warehousing, distribution, and other inventory control areas.

So translating that experience to the outside world (we thought) wouldn't be a challenge. But we were wrong.

It took him just over 12 months to locate a position that is 3 to 4 pay grades below his skill level. Why did he accept such a lower paying position? To put it simply, he had grown tired of the job-search process ... and how little the affect his military career played in alleviating that search.

The Top 4 Lessons We Learned on Transitioning from the Military

1. Transition assistance programs (TAP) can sometimes be disappointing and lack fulfillment ... well, they certainly were in my husband's case. Classes were continuously full, or conflicted with his every 2-month TDY schedule.

2. Military career sometimes plays a minimal role in the overall scheme of things ... a true statement for us anyway. Because my husband had extensive inspections experience within a specific military area, hiring agents couldn't get beyond that highly specialized skill set and see him fulfilling their own unique area of need.

3. Securing a position through USAJobs was not an easy task ... nor was the hiring process. Since civilian companies failed to see my husband's full potential, he pursued and secured a GS job within his area of specialty. It took months; from the time of application to the actual start date.

4. Start planning military separation at least 1 year (preferably more) in advance. Had we to do it all over again, we would have started job-searching 12-24 months before his actual separation date.

Securing any certifications needed for the civilian world, and finishing any incomplete degrees would certainly go a long way during that time too. Civilian hiring companies sometimes place too much emphasis (in my opinion) on formal education, and less on work experience, skill set, dedication level, and military tenure.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Stay Put: Why Jobseekers Can’t Afford to be "On the Market" Right Now

2008-11-07T14:40:00.008-05:00

Stay Put: Why Jobseekers Can't Afford to be "On the Market" Right Now
Written by Teena Rose, Resume to Referral
Want an easier job search? Want to culminate jobs from countless job boards ... all in one swoop? Use the free job-search home page which will save you hours. Bookmark it; make it your home page. You’ll be amazed at the difference the Job-Search Home Page will make to your search.

Be grateful I’m underpaid and under-worshiped, you say? Ten years ago, I wrote about how the job market had yet again changed. Jobseekers were in ample supply as online job boards such as Monster and CareerBuilder took hold and changed how jobseekers searched for jobs and how employers filled openings.

Millions were looking for greener grasses, while online job boards seemed to spring up and prosper with little effort. Those with an updated resume were on the market; some were active jobseekers while others were merely passive seekers.

Fast forward to 2008, and well, the job-search landscape has changed yet again to almost beyond recognition. Major Job boards are seeing declines in traffic, revenues, and in my opinion market share as new and niche boards continue to erode the foundation of those past.

No longer do my resume-writing clients flock to the major job boards to post their resumes — on the contrary. Jobseekers are seeking other job promotional and personal branding alternatives, maybe because of the bulk of spam received and bogus job listings found within these boards.

Employers itching to eliminate staff might fire an employee for one reason or another. Did you know that companies have been known to fire employees after learning of their active job searches? Is it legal? Depending upon the state you reside, you might find a legal battle on your hands to determine just that.

So, who should stay put? Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know the state of today’s job market. Even the retail sector is feeling the pinch, according to a NYTimes.com article entitled Retailers Report a Sales Collapse. In short, don’t expect to easily land a retail job — it seems those will be fewer this season, and in high demand.

Plus, something tells me the tolerance levels of managers might be under strain too, especially as managers and executives shoulder their company’s pains within this slowing economy.

I hate to be the bearer of doom and gloom, but even a bad job is a great job at this stage of the game, so my overall advice is to stay put. Don’t make a job move unless you’re absolutely forced.

Tough it out if you can stomach it. =]

Yes, you may feel overworked, under-worshiped, under-paid, and abused on some level, but as long as those weekly payroll deposits keep showing up, well, how bad can that job actually be?

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Resume Page Length Relative to Job-Search 2.0

2008-10-27T00:34:00.003-05:00

Resume Length Relative to Job-Search 2.0
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Questioning about resume page length is an age-old question that really should be put to bed -- and let me tell you why.

Your resume shouldn't be more than 1 page in length.
Really, why? Tell that statement to some college grads, and you'll get plenty of nodding heads in agreement. Tell that same statement to someone with 10+ years of work experience, and well, you'll hear grumbling. How does a person with 10 years of tenure squeeze all that into one page?

What is the big obsession about resume page length anyway?

What you should concern yourself about ...

1) Is my resume thorough?
2) Is the layout professional?
3) Does the content look full, not sparse?
4) Have I covered (and highlighted) all relevant skills?

A person can no longer afford to get hung up on page length when it comes to their resumes.

Additionally, resumes need to be shaped and customized to “fit” each job-search vehicle; if one page is necessary, then yes, one page should do the trick. For other instances, let's say for submission to USAJobs.gov. Well, a one-page resume transitioned to the site's Resumix system probably won't suffice. Plus, this site -- much like many others -- run off of keywords. So, when you focus on a tight, one-page resume, you might be short-changing yourself in the keyword department.

That's definitely something to consider when you're trying to conform your resume to what others think is "in your best interest."

So what's changed? Well, the places people put their resumes for one. You see resumes on Craigslist, MySpace, and LinkedIn, and these sites are just the tip of the iceberg.

One could argue that attention spans on the Internet are short, so content should get trimmed ... true, I'll chew that. But couldn't one equally argue that the Internet is infinite and with the storage capacity of such sites as MySpace and LinkedIn, couldn't jobseekers want more storage and posting space to incorporate other "nuggets" relative to their job hunt; i.e. links to reference letters, their blogs, downloadable copies of their resumes, lists of projects, and well, almost anything that has some value in the job-search realm.

Wake up and see the bigger picture! Today's resumes just *ain't what they used to be.* [wink]

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Job Quantity Hurts More Than Just the Resume

2008-10-20T23:35:00.005-05:00

Job Quantity Hurts More than Just the Resume
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Jobseekers are now changing jobs every 2-4 years, making it difficult for HR personnel, hiring managers, and yes sometimes your resume writer, to interpret your full skill set. The next time you change jobs, think about how your continuous job changing is affecting the clarity of your resume and your candidacy with new hiring companies.

"When the Job Market is Crowded, Step Up Your Value"

Over the years, I've oftentimes coached clients on how to make strategic job moves ... focusing on quality succession from one role to the next.

Now more than ever, it's important to make slow and calculated decisions when it comes to jobs. Specifically ...

1) Plan on remaining with employers for a minimum of 2 years, sticking it out even when the job doesn't turn out as you'd hoped. Have you heard the saying, "you've made your bed now lie in it"? Yes, not the smoothest medicine to swallow, but, it's important to remain steady and not be hasty or erratic. In cases where your work environment is uncomfortable, find a solution that doesn't involve changing companies.

2) Do the necessary research before accepting any role. Know what will be consuming your time. Who you will be working with? What current problems exist within the department? What the company expects from you over the short-term as well as over the long-term.

What's the big deal? Well, a small quantity of jobs reflects stability and commitment.

Food for thought: how would you apply your hiring dollars ... on a candidate who has changed positions every 24 months or one who possesses a committed record of employment? Who will generate the best return-on-investment? Since companies spend a fortune on training new employees, the jobseeker who stays put for a nice length of time may be more attractive to hiring managers over the others with spotty employment records -- appearing more high risk, if you will.

Click here to learn more about how job quantity hurts more than just the resume

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Working with a Resume Writer - Lesson #1 Response

2008-10-09T11:14:00.016-05:00

Working with a Resume Writer - Lesson #1 Response
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

For those on you just tuning in, I opted to throw my hat into the ring for a resume-writing challenge conducted by Jobacle.com. Yes me, Teena Rose. It seemed a bit silly at first because I’ve been writing resumes for nearly 10 years. I’ve worked with the crème de la crème … the echelon of the working world, if you will. But, I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m still a work on progress when it comes to resumes, cover letters, and the like.

I've never been much for joining challenges, since I've always built Resume to Referral off the growing successes of my happily employed list of clients. But, I heard about the Jobacle Resume Writing Challenge completely by accident; and since my workload was light at the time, I said, "sure, why not."

After all, I had some spare time. =]

Jobacle.com owner, Andrew GR (full name concealed for privacy purposes), is a professional Internet 2.0 strategist. For those of you who don’t know what Internet 2.0 means, the term simply refers to the next generation of the Internet to include social networking, blogging, podcasting, twittering, and so on.

Andrew applies his skill set to his personal endeavors, such as Jobacle.com and The Working Podcast, however, he also applies his online brand building and marketing strategies to his day job as well.

I’ll be forthright. I don’t write many resumes for professional bloggers, podcasters, and social networking gurus. Although, I suppose that’s about to change over the coming years (or maybe as minimal as the coming months). It’s not as if I’m new to the stuff. I blog. I twitter. I contribute to career forums. Compared to some, I’m probably on top of the new 2.0 tools, while others might feel I’m way behind. So, you could probably say I’m nestled somewhere in the middle. I know enough, but not everything.

So, accepting the challenge was going to put me out of my typical comfort zone. You see, I’m one of those crazy people who see unusual job titles and think, ooh, I wonder what’s involved in his job description. For example, I was watching a news broadcast where a terrorist consultant was being interviewed. It’s insane that anyone would even care about what a terrorist consultant does in his or her day-to-day job, but well, welcome to my world.

The purpose of the Jobacle Resume Writing Challenge was not only to receive a great resume (I’m guessing he plans to use one of the many he’s received), but to also blog about the experience and lessons learned while working with a resume writer.

Well, I thought it would be fun to turn the tables a bit.

This way, I can share the challenges that we as resume writers experience when working with a client. Of course, I contacted Andrew for his approval to blog about him. His response was as follows:

You are encouraged to blog about the process and the contest; though whether or not you choose to do so will have no impact on the challenge's outcome.

I kindly ask that you do NOT post anything we might discuss that I deem 'off the record.' Mainly, details about my current full-time job. I plan on making myself as available as possible to deal with whatever your writing process might be. However, please keep in mind that I do work full-time and am not always available to talk during business hours.

This is a new experience for us here at Jobacle. I think we might be on to something big...

Be well,
Andrew

With this said, specifics about Andrew’s job (i.e. employer name or any job tasks that might hint to his employer) will remain confidential.

Here we go …

Andrew's Lesson #1
When searching for a resume writer, have an understanding of how involved you want to be in the process and how much time you have to commit.

Andrew is absolutely correct on this one. Don’t expect the resume writer to receive your job titles and write a quality and thorough resume and cover letter without your input. It’s near impossible.

Sure, we can somewhat write and build docs without you. Let’s face it, most outside sales professionals have similar duties. What differs, however, are products and services sold, scope of clients, territorial focuses, proposed or new market-entry strategies … and well, you get my point.

Specific identifying details about your job can only come from you.

Now, what Andrew also references in his post is how he “logged hours upon hours of time talking and e-mailing with different resume writers.”

Resume writers vary on how they collect the details needed to write a customized resume. The method of collection is really based on the resume writer’s comfort level, as well as, the client’s preferred method of contact.

Resume writers might use …
* Email
* Phone
* Combo Email/Phone

From my experience, I float between the three choices. It really depends upon my client. I have some that prefer email, maybe because they work during the day so phone consults are impossible. While others, specifically my executive clients, prefer phone consults.

I really don’t prefer one method over another. My objective is to cater to the client’s needs and preferences, so I simply follow their lead.

Over the coming weeks I’ll attempt to keep up with Andrew’s blog posts, writing my thoughts and comments in response to his thoughts and comments. Should be fun, right?

Regards,
Teena Rose

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Cover Letter Tip #1 from Jimmy Sweeney

2008-09-08T14:19:00.002-05:00

Cover Letter Tip #1 from Jimmy Sweeney
Written by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.
The following was adapted from one of the many articles and cover letter tips written by Jimmy Sweeney. Click here for more details about Jimmy Sweeney's Cover Letter product. Download within minutes.

"End your job-search cover letter with a postscript––a P.S," advises Jimmy Sweeney.

It's an interesting suggestion, if you think about. The next time you receive a junk mailing in your mailbox, open and review it. You'll notice that professional copywriters utilize a postscript (aka P.S.) at the bottom of their mailings, along with a variety of text and font size variations to help attract readers.

Utilizing a P.S. seems unusual, I'll admit. After all, sales copywriters (not jobseekers) have been using the postscript technique for years. Why? Because they work.

So, Jimmy Sweeney suggests utilizing this technique the next time you write a cover letter. A technique I don't actively utilize with my client projects, although I can't see any negative results lurking from it.

What do you think?

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Job Title/Word Jumble

2008-09-04T13:25:00.003-05:00

Job Title/Word Jumble
Posted by Teena Rose, Resume to Referral

1. TCAUNCO TEXEECVIU
2. GAERMTKNI RODEICTR
3. SPVIUREROS
4. GAANEMR
5. RPDLNACEAS
6. OCTRCITONSUN WKROER
7. DHAE FHEC
8. CIIAPETRIDNA
9. REHTACE
10. POICLE FIFREOC
11. NTYTARNOE
12. TI STALAYN
13. ENSUR DIAE
14. DWLREE
15. STAIASTNS
16. TAOU MSLNASEA
17. FGTIERHRTIF
18. KTCRU RVDERI
19. CVEI PDEENISTR
20. RSAEOTN

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

2008-08-27T00:19:00.000-05:00

Tips for Gaining Respect in the Workplace

2008-08-26T23:19:00.007-05:00

Tips for Gaining Respect in the Workplace
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Being respected in the workplace is an important component to feeling satisfied with your job. Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where you are not feeling respected, or you may be entering a new position and want to start off with the respect you feel you deserve. Respect is often not given out freely, but must be earned. As a new employee, this will take some time, but people will learn their cues from your behavior. If you act like a doormat, you will be treated that way. If you portray confidence and show respect to others, you will likely be treated similarly. You may encounter a few self-absorbed egomaniacs out there, but with most people respect can be gained!

Respect is closely associated with trust. If you can gain your co-worker’s trust, your battle with respect is won. To win someone’s trust, you must follow through with promises and obligations. This means meeting deadlines, keeping meetings on schedule and staying on top of your responsibilities. Once you are seen as reliable or consistent, you are on your way to gaining their trust and respect.

Communication is a key element of respect. Your ability to communicate well can make or break you when it comes to gaining respect at work. Some tips to consider when communicating is to keep things relevant, copy everyone involved, and avoid gossip at all costs. The way you communicate in a crisis or when things are not going well is also important if you want to gain respect at work. If you find yourself in a bad situation at work, it is best to take it first to your boss. Don’t hide the truth, be honest and tell them what you are going to do about the problem. Don’t shift the blame to others but concentrate of moving forward. Your boss and co-workers will respect your ability to face a difficult situation rather than hiding under your desk or taking the phone off the hook.

The way you treat your co-workers will also help you gain respect. Listening is an often under-valued skill. When communicating with your co-workers, listen without interruption, ask relevant questions and offer suggestions when asked. If you work on a team, and you personally have received praise for your work, recognize your co-workers who helped along the way. Don’t take credit for the efforts of others. By appearing modest and gracious, you will be gaining trust and respect from your co-workers.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

How to Be Self-Assertive in the Workplace

2008-06-25T10:54:00.001-05:00

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How to Be Self-Assertive in the Workplace
Posted by Teena Rose, resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Why do people say “yes” when they want to say “no”? One reason is that they want to be liked – it’s a natural human tendency to desire the approval of the people around us. But sometimes saying “no” is what we need to do in order to get our own jobs done, or to protect our boundaries. People who can’t say “no” are people who need to develop assertive communications skills to apply in their personal or work life.

However, it is important to remember that assertive behavior and aggressiveness are not the same thing. Many people get them confused, and think by being assertive they have to snap at others and be rude or mean. Nothing could be further from the truth. Aggressive behavior means being selfish and pushing for what you want at the expense of others – being hostile, threatening, and making unreasonable demands. Aggressiveness may work in getting your immediate goal, but it also sets you up for failure in the longer term – nobody wants to work with an aggressive jerk.

The assertive person, by contrast, is not unreasonable or hostile. They simply set their boundaries and hold to them. “Get me a coffee right now!” is aggression; “Jake, part of your job description is getting the partners’ coffee each morning, so please go get mine for me now” is assertiveness.

So when do you say “no”? When is the proper time to show assertiveness? When you’re in the midst of a project and are legitimately busy, and someone demands some of your time, assertiveness is saying “I can’t do it right now – send me an e-mail with your availability and I’ll set a time to meet with you when my decks are clear.” If something is simply not the right task for you, a self-assertive response is saying “That is really outside my area of competence, it would be better if you found someone who was a better fit.”

Remember that people are not likely to stop liking you just because you are being assertive and defending your boundaries. If their regard for you was dependent on you being a doormat, then they never really liked you in the first place – they liked that they could push you around. People who genuinely respect and like you will continue to do so even if you are not being a pushover.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

Tips for Corporate Team Building

2008-06-24T15:34:00.002-05:00

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Tips for Corporate Team Building
Posted by Teena Rose; resumes and cover letters to give you the advantage.

Everyone has different strengths, areas of knowledge and experience that create our individual self. It is no wonder that building a good team is a challenge. Successful teams capitalize on the individual strengths, bringing people together as a collective body for a specific purpose. Look no further than Ziglar Training Systems for proof. A company started by staff development and training Zig Ziglar, Fortune 500 companies, as well as, a pool of government, non-profit, and academic entities, spend millions with ZTS each year. After all, ZTS helps improve productivity, build sales, and even harmonize their staffs, utilizing individually developed corporate team building programs and workshops.

When working with a team, it is of utmost importance that everyone understands the role of the team, why it was created and what outcomes are expected. If you do not have this basis, your team is destined to fail. Clear expectations are one of the most important components of building a good team. All team members must understand and buy into their role on the team. Understanding the authority granted to the team, the scope of their charter and what is expected from each member will help the team succeed.

When putting together a team, it is important to recognize each team member for their diverse skills that you expect will broaden the collective knowledge of the team. It is important that every person on the team feels that have a value to add and a purpose for being there. The team must understand that for it to succeed there must be collaboration, and that the team must come first. While each person may have an outside interest and other alliances, it is important that they understand their job on the team is not to advocate for other purposes but to meet the goals and expectations of the team.

Some of the most effective teams also show the most respect to their teammates. This is not necessarily an easy task when dealing with diverse individuals, but through modeling the behavior you expect and setting some easy to understand ground rules for the team, it is achievable. One of the first rules is summed up in the phrase “deliver the mail to the right address”. This means that if you have a problem with someone on the team, you need to take that problem to them directly, not by sending the message through everyone else who will listen. This is one of the most destructive behaviors for your team.

Another ground rule for successful team building is to hold each other accountable to doing their part for the corporate team. There must be appropriate recognition for excellent work and honestly taking the responsibility and consequences for poor work. Both team work and individual performance should be recognized as a benefit or a determent to the overall goals.

Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved

7 Simple Steps To An Amazing Cover Letter

2007-11-07T01:26:00.008-05:00

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7 Simple Steps To An Amazing Cover Letter
Learn about Jimmy Sweeney's Cover Letters

Dear Job-Seeker:

It's a fact. A well written cover letter can land you many more job interview requests. BUT, a truly "amazing" cover letter is not a cover letter at all…it's a SALES letter.

7 Quick and Easy Steps to Cover Letter SUCCESS

1.Put three paragraphs on one page. Number 1: State the job you want. Number 2: List your qualifications. Number 3: ASK for the job interview clearly and directly. Ask and you shall receive.
2.Write only three or four sentences in each paragraph.
3.Create generous margins, leaving plenty of white space. Be sure to double space between paragraphs. Use numbers or bullets to make the letter easy to read.
4.Capture the reader's attention by putting the first sentence of each paragraph in bold face.
6.Read your letter carefully to catch errors, then print it out for one final edit.
7.Keep your cover letter to ONE PAGE, no exceptions.

Picture the employer opening your cover letter––and finding a friendly, well-written page that contains only what is necessary to evaluate you for the job. Make it easy for the employer to say "yes."

There you have it! SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS to an amazing cover letter that will inspire any employer to read yours from the first word to the last, and then reach for the phone and offer you an interview that could lead to the job of your dreams.

For additional assistance writing a Cover Letter, visit CoverLetterCentral.com

It’s a Blizzard Out There

2007-09-22T10:46:00.003-05:00

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It’s a Blizzard Out There
Blizzard Entertainment is just one of the many video gaming websites raking in big bucks from online gamers. Intriguing story lines, engaging designs/graphics, and the ability to play with gamers throughout the World is proving a profitable choice for companies … and jobseekers!

What’s the Forecast?
How would you like working for a company supported by an estimated 8 million customers a month with a solid record of employee satisfaction? Recently, the game creator, Blizzard Entertainment, announced they’re rapidly hiring new employees. A fast-growing gaming company, and the mastermind behind the World Of Warcraft, the company has also scored big with other hit games such as StarCraft, Warcraft 1-3, and Diablo. With an estimated $1.5 billion in revenue, the company is showing no signs of slowing down. Currently in the development stages are 3 new games slotted for release. With strong market growth and increased sales, demand for game development personnel grasping fresh resumes is a huge must.

Know the Company
Blizzard Entertainment began back in 1991. Working on video game titles that fell by the wayside, the company changed direction and began developing their own games, eventually finding great success with the Warcraft series. Drawing a following, the company has experienced consistent and fast-growing revenue growth since. With over 250 employees, the company doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Employment with Blizzard Entertainment would require relocation to Southern California or Austin, Texas, so keep that mind when applying. Positions currently available include:

• Lead 3D Character Artist - Next-Gen MMO
• 2D User Interface Artist
• Associate Brand Manager
• Web Designer

As you can see they’re not only hiring programmers but for positions for people with diverse skills as well. If you have what it takes, take advantage of this rare opportunity. A complete listing of job opportunities is available; Blizzard Job Opportunities. Remember, a great job oftentimes requires taking some career risk. If you shoot for the moon and miss, you land amongst the stars. Good luck!

Road Map to Career Success?

2007-09-14T14:44:00.005-05:00

Posted by Teena Rose, President of Resume to Referral, an Executive Resume Writing Service

Can you improve your stature as a valuable employee and push a potential move up the “business ladder”? Caroline Levchuck's first tip, “Make your boss look good – even when she doesn’t,” is very useful and interesting. I can't help but wonder, however, what happens when you've done everything right in your job, career, and your business relationships, yet things go terribly wrong. You don't receive the fruits of your labor; no promotion, no raise.

You saved your boss's butt when needed. You went above and beyond the nine-to-fiver, oftentimes staying beyond others. You drew attention to your boss's talents in front of her unit manager and colleagues. When time for a yearly review, you're dissed. She doesn’t remember your over-the-top work ethic. Well, that's not acceptable. Can you simply remind your boss or is there a friendly gesture that will surely jog her memory? If not, it may be tricky to get that promotion you've been wanting and needing if your boss doesn’t recall that you schmoozed her professional image in front of her superiors. Perhaps, you could focus her attention on your job performance by volunteering for special projects or assisting other associates in a different department. This might single you out as a very beneficial asset to her team and tempt her to bestow upon you a few extra bucks. The point being made is that if everything doesn't go as planned, be prepared for a sit-down discussion with your boss to discover what went wrong. Initiative within your day-to-day job may also require a rap session to ensure promotions and career advancements are rightfully received must as rightfully deserved.

Are You Ready for Your Big Break?

Monster Breach

2007-08-30T14:50:00.005-05:00

Written by Teena Rose, President of Resume to Referral, an Executive Resume Writing Service

The BBC announced that Monster.com was hacked into last week. Somewhat small scale when you factor social security or credit card numbers were not involved. Overall, jobseekers should understand that limited personal data was released, probably no more than what a person could get from a phone book.

But wait! One item of concern that may not appear to be an issue, at first anyway, is password. Since individuals tend to utilize the same password throughout countless online registrations, the chances of someone applying your Monster password to login elsewhere is not out of the question.

What do you do? Change your Monster password immediately! While you're at it, revisit other sites and change your log-ins for those as well.

NetworkSolutions.com states, "Always use 'strong' passwords (randomly combine letters and numerals) at least eight characters long, change them frequently, and never share them with anyone." Take their advice.