How Resume (job-search) Writing Impacts your job search
No commentsBy Darryl Strosnider
Resume writing (especially poor resume writing) is the second most frequent reason that people are not hired regardless of their expertise. The only reason that it comes in second is because the #1 reason people do not get the jobs they want is because they do not apply. Whether they do not think they have what it takes or do not have the time, many people cut themselves from the running before they even get started by not applying to jobs.
Once you have gotten past self-doubt and are starting with the resume writing process, there are many different things to take into consideration. There are hundreds of different formats of resumes, endless ways to write them, and millions of gurus out there who will tell you that they know the secret to great resume writing. The big secret: there is not one. You just need to approach resume writing with an informed mind and be willing to invest the time to master resume writing. Do this well and you will be on your way to getting a job in no time.
It does not matter what level you are at in a career; not having a unique and flawless resume almost guarantees failure in your job search. There are so many resume books and websites that there is no reason you could not write a proper resume that fits your career field. It is important to remember that every resume will be different. If 111 people apply for a job and every resume looks the same, the employer will not be impressed and might not hire anybody. However, if one candidate takes the time to make his/her resume stand out from the other candidates, he/she will probably be first in line for an interview.
How do you make your resume stand out when you do not know what others are doing? While you cannot know how other candidates are approaching resume writing, you can however do everything you can to make yours as close to perfect as possible. First, avoid grammatical errors and use simple formatting with clear fonts and adequate spacing. Then focus in on other elements that will enhance your resume. For example, look for keywords in the job announcement and use them in your resume. That way, you will catch the attention of the recruiter. Also, if you use headlines and bold fonts (carefully) to highlight important elements of your resume, you will create a way to stand from the crowd.
It does not matter what type of resume you are creating or what career you are at. All candidates must provide unique resumes that stand out from the crowd in order to make the best impression on a employers.
Let Employment911’s certified resume writers help you write a resume that will get you job interviews guaranteed.
How to Write an Executive Cover Letter
By Darryl Strosnider
You may have prepared a cover letter before, but an executive cover letter needs something really special. It can’t be “a standard cover letter” that just tells a prospective employer you want a job interview because these types of jobs are very high profile, because there is a lot of competition, and because you’re going to have to really look like you know what you’re doing. This means your cover letter should be absolutely perfect.
Don’t just send a cover letter that’s not grammatically correct, boring, or otherwise simply “average” to substandard. Would you appear for an interview in old jeans, a dirty T-shirt, and tennis shoes? Why not? Answer that question, and you know why your cover letter should be flawless as it’s your “first impression,” the one you present to the prospective employer.
Why should your letter be different?
For one thing, you’re not just applying for any old job. Many more people will be reading your letter than usual They’re going to be screening out poor candidates before choosing the best ones to interview. That means that many people in the company, from human resources to the VP or maybe even the CEO is going to read your cover letter (and your resume), too.
Because higher caliber people in the company are going to be reading your cover letter, it has to be unique and be much better than your average cover letter. Your cover letter has to be much more sophisticated than the average cover letter.
However, it doesn’t mean using exaggerated, convoluted, extravagant, “show off” language that will simply make you look unconfident and downright foolish. Instead, straightforward, concise writing that gets to the point and then finishes rapidly and cleanly is best. Remember that this is going to be the first impression they have of you, so you want it to show your best.
You need to show that you are willing to take responsibility, that you are effective, intelligent, that you work well with people, and that you’re easy to get along with. Most importantly, you want to show that you are a problem solver, because that’s the reason companies hire executives. You have to solve some sort of business issue that the company is facing, and you have to show them that you can fix it. You do this by showing how you fixed other similar situations.
Lastly, be sure the recruiters who are going to be reading your letter understand that you have a “can-do” attitude and that you really like the type of work you are applying for. After all, executives put in a lot of time on the job, so you have to show that you’re up to it.
One last thing. Close your cover letter telling the reader what he or she should do to facilitate the hiring process. Something to the effect of, “I look forward to hearing from you so that we can discuss this position further. Please call me at number at your convenience, to set up a time to do so.” Then, sign off with “Sincerely,” and your name. Voila. You got a cover letter that should certainly get you interviews, and show that you’re a great candidate for the job.
Visit Resume.info for more resources about cover letters and executive resume writing.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Federal Jobs
By Darryl Strosnider
An employer that will always be hiring in your region is Uncle Sam. Because of this it’s almost always desirable to work for the government, but there are a few other reasons as well. For example, there are some amazing advantages associated with working for the government. Along with the benefits however, there are a few disadvantages that you will need to understand. That being said, let’s take a look at a few of the pros and cons related to getting a Federal job.
Pros
The 1st and most evident advantage to a federal job is the medical programs in place for federal employees. Other than the military, the government provides some of the most diverse health care plans on the market. There are life insurance plans, dental plans, and even long term care plans.
Retirement benefits are also very prevalent in the federal job system, as you will figure out.
Paid vacations are offered by almost every government agency. They also offer remunerated education leave among other things. These are very appealing benefits for potential employees as you can imagine.
Cons
There are often no routes to advancement in the Federal government. Most of the time you will stay right where you started unless you can go to school.
Federal jobs tend to suck people in. You might intend on only being there for about a year, but you end up being there for ten to fifteen years.
Federal jobs have a steady paycheck, but you will not get rich. As a result, it would be best to view any Federal job as temporary unless you are planning to become a senator or even president. It is vital to keep your goals in mind, and move on when it’s time.
As you can see, government jobs do have plenty of benefits for you to take into account, but before you rush into it you will need to make sure that it is really for you.
Federal Resume Org provides free resources about Federal resume writing and jobs.
Your Online Guide For Growth And Opportunity
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 5:40 pm and is filed under careers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
