Guest post by Joe Franklin

Writing a resume that will stand out like a firecracker on the Fourth of July is certainly no easy task. With nearly any job today, there are always more qualified applicants than there are positions to fill. The ongoing challenging economic times are making the job market more competitive, as is the advent of computer scanning technology that can screen resumes just by looking for pre-set keywords.

No matter how great a candidate’s resume may be, since the first set of “eyes” that will likely view it will be electronic, knowing how to write a great business resume will make all the difference between getting left out in the cold and getting a shot at interviewing for the position you want. Luckily, with the use of resume scanning technology has also come a more formulaic approach to resume writing that takes away some of the guess work from the pre-computer resume screening days. Learning how to write a perfect resume for business can make a world of difference.

Perfect Resumes are Specific and Keyword-Driven

The first thing you need to remember when writing your resume is that today’s resume reviews are highly specific. In particular, they are all about keywords. Keywords encompass skill sets, strengths, job experience, prior titles and education, including specific information about degrees, certifications and grade point average (GPA). As an example, if you attended an online university based in Scranton, PA for your undergraduate and graduate degrees, writing “online Scranton University degrees” on your resume is not sufficient. You need to write the specific name of the university you attended, the year you graduated and your GPA, as well as the city and state. Do this for both your graduate and undergraduate degree.

In the same way, if your degree comes from a program that is an AACSB accredited online MBA program, if you use the acronym AACSB be sure to add in parentheses (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International). Don’t make the recruiter hunt for this information; they don’t have time and because of this, they will probably just put your resume in the “no” pile and move on. In terms of using specific keywords, often you can find critical position-specific keywords by reading the job description itself. Once you have found them, you can insert these keywords throughout your resume wherever they fit in naturally and then a computer will pick them up. As a result, your resume will be placed in the “short stack” to be reviewed by a real person.

Content Order

The next important step in writing the perfect resume is content order. Each recruiter is going to need certain pieces of information in order to even rule you as a candidate. They will need to know your education level and GPA. They will need to know about prior work experience, including the position(s) you have held and your job titles, in addition to what you did at each job. They will also need to know about any relevant certifications, volunteer positions or other credentials that are pertinent.

They will then look for something called an “objective statement,” which tells them why you are applying for their particular position and why you are a good fit. Having all of these elements present and in their proper order will give you a leg up over other candidates, because you will make the recruiter’s job of screening resumes easier. Also, a word about sharing past job roles – for business candidates in particular, using the “STAR” system can really aid in making your resume shine. STAR stands for “situations, tasks, actions, results.” Be as concise as possible, but explain about each aspect when describing relevant work or volunteer experience.

Brevity and Professionalism is Key

Finally, remember that in today’s job market, for every position that is announced, a recruiter might get 100 or 1,000 resumes for that position. While computer scanners can simplify the process, the recruiter will still not want to waste time scrolling through pages of your resume to find the information they need to prescreen you for the position. While a resume up to two pages long can work if you are applying for an executive-level job, for any position lower than that, keeping your resume to one page is best.

Statistics state that the average amount of time a recruiter spends reviewing each individual resume can be 30 seconds or less. Be brief, be succinct by following the STAR system, be sure to proofread your resume and have a second set of eyes do so as well. Finally, strive to make your overall presentation and contact information professional, which includes checking your voicemail message and choosing a professional-sounding email address. If you follow each of these steps to the letter, you improve your chances of writing a resume that can pave your way to landing any business job you want.

About the Author: Joe Franklin is a business school student who has written and re-written his own personal resume several times. It wasn’t until he brought his resume to his student career services office that he discovered the key elements he was missing.

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Most professionals would love to land their dream job but when it comes to writing a resume that would qualify them to make the jump; they end up stuck with what to say and how to say it.

Not knowing how to create an interest-generating opening statement is a common problem and can quickly lead to job seeker discouragement before the job search even begins!

Here are 3 tips to creating a powerful opening statement that will quickly get you positive attention:

Tip #1 Do Create a Qualifications Summary

A qualifications summary should go at the very top of your resume. It does not explain what your professional objective or goal is, but it does give a clear and powerful overview of who you are and what you can do. Why don’t you want to use a professional objective? Because your resume needs to be focused on what you can do for a company versus what YOU are looking for.

Tip #2 Create an Authentic Opening Statement

To maximize your focus and clarity try a simple writing trick:

Begin to write about what you are doing when you are at your very best, followed by your other key strengths and attributes. Do not edit as you freely write up to a page of information. After a quick break, return to what you wrote and begin to highlight the key words and phrases you feel are the most powerful. Your document should be reduced to about half at this point. After another break, return to your document a second time and repeat this exercise. Now you have a powerful, authentic, and compelling draft statement describing where you really shine!

Tip #3 Use Universal Language

Another common mistake professionals will make is to load their opening statement with industry jargon. Yes if you are a CIO, corporate counsel, or a VP of Finance, you have very specific language that you use. However, your resume has to be written for multiple people in multiple departments. In many cases your resume is being viewed (and thus must be equally compelling) to directors of human resources, division presidents and various managers.

Scan your opening statement for red flags, including acronyms that are not spelled out, information on specific companies, too much detailed technical jargon and sentences that are only decipherable to people intimately associated with what you do.

These key tips will help you to easily create an authentic statement about who you are when you are at your career best, and command the attention of the companies that are looking for someone… just like you!

Want step-by-step instructions for completing your resume with custom online resume templates suitable for all career levels that you can download and keep for just $3.99? Grab the amazon bestseller: The 21^st Century Resume by Mary Elizabeth Bradford

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*Warning: this article contains some “tough talk” and will probably offend some readers.

Sometimes I will have a client call me and share that while networking, they showed their new professionally designed resume to:

1. Their friend or business mentor whose opinion they trust
2. A powerful networking connection
3. A human resources person
4. A recruiter

And my client posed the question, “what do you think of my resume?”

Well, a large amount of the time, if you have had your resume professionally written by an experienced and certified writer, the response will be positive.

But sometimes they will interpret your question as an opportunity to attack your resume using all their powers of critical analysis – in the name of “helping you” (gee, thanks).

If you have ever been in this situation, you know the result – your confidence is shaken; you begin to doubt yourself; the focus becomes that there is something “wrong” with your resume. You call your writer demanding to know why they used that particular color or font because Suzie who just got a job in the HR department at Target last week knows well that this font color will keep you from realizing your dreams – or at least ever landing a job at Target.

Okay, I am being a little sarcastic, but isn’t that the weight that we end up putting on all these opinions we open ourselves up to? Some people are very caustic; they will tell you with authority they absolutely know what they are talking about (I have seen this to be true especially with College Career Counselors and recruiters. No offense – just stating fact).

So who, or what are you to believe?

• In a job search, common sense tells us we must preserve our energy, our positive attitude and our confidence. Rather than asking everyone who will give you 5 minutes what they think of your resume, the wisest thing to do is ASK A CERTIFIED, EXPERIENCED RESUME WRITER. This does not mean asking THE LADDERS or JOB FOX, who will give you a free “resume critique,” and no matter how wonderful your resume is and how much you invested to have it properly done, they will most likely tell you it stinks and you need to pay them $700 to rewrite it. No, I mean going to Career Directors International and looking up the award winning writers, the Certified Writers, the Writers who have their work in reputable Resume and Career books and/or the writers who may specialize in your field. And although this does not completely shield you from conflicting advice, it does dramatically impro ve your chances of getting a professional and discerning critique of what your resume truly needs (or might already have) in order for you to achieve your career goals.

• Please, refrain from asking everyone what they think of your resume. This opens you up to criticism from people who are may only be partially (at best), qualified to critique how your resume lines you up for your next career move. Don’t go asking your best friend who is accounting about your resume which is  focused on your B.A. in human resources. She will have no insight into what employers are looking for! Instead, get a clear focus of direction on what you want including industry, position title and your driving motivators like ideal companies and positions, your compensation range, where you want to live, and how much you will travel, to name a few things. Couple that with a little research on growing and stable industries.

• Don’t say you are “wide open” to explore a wide range of opportunities, because in today’s job market, you have to demonstrate your value very specifically (this is part of the whole “branding” thing you hear everyone talking about). You need to demonstrate that you know what you want. This builds your network’s confidence IN YOU. You don’t have the luxury of “being wide open,” so please start taking control of your situation and embrace a self-directed and entrepreneurial approach to your job search. This is what is working in today’s job market.

• Once you have your game plan down regarding your focus of direction and where you want to steer your career, ask your friends how they can help you with that. Don’t ask them to help you find a job and don’t ask them who is hiring and don’t ask them what they think of your resume! This is a waste of your time! Learn how to network so that you stay in control of the conversation. I think the reason people hate job searching the most is because they feel they have to take such a passive, submissive role in it. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE! You don’t have to feel hat-in-hand, begging for a job. I teach my clients in my Job Search Success System how to network in a confident and dignified way and they love it. It preserves their sanity, confidence and gets them great results! There is absolutely no reason why you have to roll over in complete submission just because you are in a job search.

• Do not discount the power of critical feedback! You may LOVE your resume and so do 50 other people, but I have seen it time and time again that a single negative critique will leave you doubting everything you ever thought was true! You cannot afford to “go there” in your job search! It’s not the most exacting comparison, but will 50 people look at a piece of famous art from an abstract expressionist and have the same exact option about it? I think you know the answer.

• If you have not had your resume professionally written and you want someone to critique it, your best and safest bet is to go to Career Directors International and look for help and support there. Generally speaking, resume writers are a heart-centered group (especially women) and they find genuinely helping others get what they want in their careers deeply satisfying. You have a great shot at talking to a person who really cares and can really help you at CDI. Writers who take the time to obtain difficult certifications and pay money to keep them current every year generally take their career as seriously as you probably do. And in an unregulated industry such as Career Services, you need that insurance to help protect your interests and investment.

• If you HAVE had your resume professionally done, then I will share with you what I share with all my clients, which is this – you need 3 main things in your job search to be successful:
  • A clear focus of direction.
  • A great resume and value proposition (cover) letter that supports your focus
  • The right job search strategies.

As a general rule, after you have paid a certified writer to analyze your career situation and craft you a resume to get you where you want to go, your entire focus should be on the right job search strategies. I am primarily focused on showing my clients how to go direct to companies by tapping the hidden job market because it works so well, but every job search is different and some job search strategies will work better than others. You may take a multi-pronged approach to your job search strategies, which could include recruiter, venture capital and/or private equity firm distributions, direct mail, targeted networking, working through associations, and learning how to use social networking like LinkedIn to land interviews, to name a few.

In closing, I have not seen it beneficial for you as a job seeker to hold up your resume and state “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” Not because I as a writer am trying to avoid criticism, nor am I trying to protect other professional resume writers. And I am not stating that there might indeed be things in your resume that need improving. But if you want the right advice, your safest bet is to go to the experts. Doing otherwise may derail you and detract from your ultimate goal.

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Guest post by Christopher Wallace

Your social media sites can speak more to your employability than a resume.

While social media makes it easy to keep up with family and friends, it has also turned our lives into open books. For the 900 million plus Facebook users around the world, a simple name search will turn up an entire timeline of life experiences – and not all of them are ones we might want to share with future employers.

Before applying for your next job, whether it’s an internal move or a jump to a new company, consider the resume you already have floating around on the internet. More and more, today’s companies are checking social media sites before contacting potential employees for their first interview. And if they come across content that they find disagreeable or feel would reflect poorly on their business, you might have lost a job before the first interview.

Facebook: Free and Clear

Along with the new timeline set up, Facebook has also improved its privacy settings. With more versatility on who sees what, your Facebook page has the potential to be a great tool in your job hunting efforts. But first, you’re going to have to slap on some gloves and grab a scrub brush. If you’ve been using Facebook since high school (it has been around since 2004), then there are probably a lot of posts, pictures and tags that are going to need your attention.

Start by cleaning up your privacy settings. Along with the option of making your posts visible to the public or just friends, you can also create custom privacy settings, with posts visible only to a customized list of friends and/or hidden from individuals or a customized list of others.

Additionally, under “Profile and Tagging” you can edit who posts on your wall and opt to permit tagged pictures or posts before they’re made public.

One of the most significant changes in Facebook’s privacy settings is the ability to limit the people who see your old posts. This can be done en masse by limiting old posts so only friends see it, but if you’re potential boss or employees of the company where you are applying are listed under friends, then it might be a good idea to go through and do a little hands-on cleaning. On each post you have the option to make it visible to the public, friends or only to one of your customized lists. If you’re concerned at all about any past posts, spend some time flipping through your page and specifying on potentially objectionable posts. This applies to post and picture tags as well.

Lastly, double check your personal profile. Update your settings so that only certain people can see specific sections. For example, you would want your potential employer to see your work history (and don’t forget to update it while you’re there), but you might not want him or her to see what bands you like or your personal philosophy. To change who sees these, just click the little world button next to the text form and select who can see that section.

Tidy up Twitter

If you’re a Tweeter, now would be a good time to go through your account and delete any old comments or pictures that might put your resume in a bad light. Think about it. A politically incorrect comment about the Japan tsunami last year lost comedian Gilbert Gottfried his job as the Aflac duck (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gilbert-gottfried-fired-as-aflac-167382). A photo of Congressman Anthony Weiner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Weiner_sexting_scandal) resulted in his letter of resignation being read on the floor of the House of Representatives less than a month later. While you may not be celebrity status, uncouth comments could leave a bad taste with your potential employers. To be on the safe side, visit your Twitter profile page and clean out old questionable comments by hovering your mouse over the message you’d like to delete. The option to delete will appear in the upper right hand corner of the post. While deleted updates might linger for a little in a Twitter search, the Twitter help center (http://support.twitter.com/articles/18906-how-to-delete-a-tweet#) notes that they will eventually clear out.

Un-pin your Pinterests

Pinterest is not something most people think about as a profile, but what you pin can say a lot about your personality. If you’ve pinned or re-pinned some pictures that might leave employers with less of a smile and more of a firing frown, it might be wise to un-pin them from your boards.

Before applying to that next job, consider all of the social media sites that you connect with and make sure you’re not potentially leaving the wrong impression with prospective employers. Be judicious in what you post and make sure those comments only intended for close friends aren’t reaching the wrong ears … or eyes.

Christopher Wallace is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Amsterdam Printing, one of the nation’s largest providers of promotional products for businesses large and small. Amsterdam specializes in custom pens and other promotional items such as calendars, laptop bags and T-shirts. Christopher regularly contributes to Amsterdam Printing’s blog.

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Unemployment is a difficult phase to endure, and the longer you remain unemployed, the more this status hurts your chances of getting hired. Employers look at the time gaps between jobs when reviewing resumes, but you can make use of your free time to enhance your credentials and negate the time spent unemployed. The following tips can help improve your resume and provide you with impressive answers when the interviewer asks what you did during gaps in employment.

Volunteer work is an excellent source of networking and skill-building. Filling your time with meaningful work can also raise your self-esteem and motivate you to continue the arduous job hunt. The people you meet can offer you jobs, connect you with employers or provide professional references. It is best to choose organizations that relate to your field so that you can hone your skills and learn new ones to enhance your career profile. For example, an IT professional can work on websites for free, and a medical technician can volunteer at hospitals. Cleaning up the litter in your community may make you feel better, but it will not enhance your resume for an accounting position. Do not spend too much time searching for volunteer work if nothing is available. According to news reports, charities have reached their maximum capacities for volunteers since unemployment rates have increased. Looking for a new job takes priority over free labor.

Extending your education and training can make your resume stand out against the competition. You may not qualify for grants or loans, but community colleges offer inexpensive courses that teach you new skills with up-to-date technology and methods. Online groups and services can also connect you with free or inexpensive training events. LinkedIn is a valuable tool once you create a full profile and utilize its searches for events that meet your interests and career needs within your location.

If you are a member of any trade organizations or online groups, you may have access to free or low-cost webinars that offer valuable information. You can also use Google to find free webinars relating to your field. The speakers offer insight into new technologies and methods of communicating with others professionally, and these tools can enhance your current expertise or teach you new skills. Webinars range from software tutorials to interviewing techniques, so there are plenty available to increase your chances of gaining employment.

Sometimes, you feel like you are in need of professional assistance and consider services for job-seekers. Agencies offer everything from resume writing to complete career coaching, but you must consider the cost of such services before hiring anyone. Success varies between individuals, but the advice you gain may provide you with the edge you need to create an effective resume. Most job-seekers have the best luck when they choose an agency that specializes in their industries.

The majority of your unemployment time should be spent searching for a new job, but you can network with professionals who will provide you with good leads, great references and new skills while continuing the hunt. While filling out online applications and sending out hundreds of resumes, watch out for local career fairs and other job-related events. These opportunities can enhance your skill set and provide you with invaluable advice that gives your resume the edge you need to enter the employment status.

Rachel Doyle
Marketing Director for CMN.com
Find More Information on Career Paths

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I am a big fan of Timothy Ferriss and have read both his books. His first book, The 4 Hour Workweek, helped me to cut my work week down by 20%.

Imagine how tickled I was when i saw on Amazon that my new book had outranked his. Atleast for a day….:)

Just want to say thank you again to everyone for your support and for spreading the word.

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If you have been considering having your resume professionally designed, then you might be interested in something special I am offering right now:

I am gifting my next 10 clients with a 20% discount on my resume/cover letter package. What makes this even better is that I am including at no charge, a 60 day membership in my Job Search Success System Coaching Group. The coaching, eBooks and bonuses you get with the group are valued at over $1000. But if you are one of my next 10 clients…you don’t pay a thing.

This is an incredible offer and you can check out the details and purchase your package here:

http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/resume.php

***When you check out just key in coupon code: preferred, to get your discount.***

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Dave was an attorney with a big law firm. His dream was to move into a corporate counsel role with a big corporation. When he first hired me to write his resume he spent a lot of time telling me about how underappreciated he was at his current firm.

When we would brainstorm ideas on how he could transition into his chosen industry he constantly repeated that he “already tried that.” In fact, Dave spent a lot of time shooting down most ideas I knew would help him tremendously.

When we talked about job search strategies he shared with me he didn’t have any time. “Surely you understand,” he would say.” I am an attorney and I work incredibly long hours. Plus I have a family.”

When we discussed his salary goals he said he had to make at least 30% more than what he currently made to “justify the move.”

When I asked him why he had been fired from his last position he said that he and one of the partners could not get along. He refused to elaborate.

Despite the building complexities Dave was creating for himself, he maintained he wanted to be in a new position in less that 60 days. When I attempted share with Dave that it appeared that he was neither ready nor willing to do what it would take to move forward – he simply ignored my comments.

Dave never did make his corporate counsel move. He took a job with another firm…. A job that a recruiter had called to pitch him over the phone. It was the first and only opportunity Dave ever explored.

The story above illustrates how brilliant professionals can undermine their own career progress through not taking responsibility for their job search goals.

And then there was Brian.

Brian hired me as a career coach during a major transition in his life. He drove all the way from Houston to San Antonio to meet with me in person and discuss his situation.

He was a SVP for a mid size company in Houston and he was really ready for a CMO position with a large firm. He had done his research and picked two industries he was interested in exploring further.

He knew he had one chance to make a great first impression and he wanted to do it right. He wanted help researching particular companies, identifying what job search strategies would give him the most leverage and he wanted to make sure his resume was written to best position him for a CMO title.

I will always remember how positive Brian was. He always seemed to see the glass as half full. He took responsibility for his ultimate success and he stayed focused on the strategies I showed him to get quality interviews. He knew the power of a team approach.

Brian was busy and had a family too, but he made his career transition a priority during that window of time.

He landed several high quality interviews and accepted an offer from a company he was truly excited about – at the compensation level that met his goals. It didn’t happen overnight but it did happen within four months of our working together.

One of his goals was to work out of his home one day per week. With the coaching I gave him he successfully negotiated this into his compensation package.

Brian invested in himself and in his career move because as he put it, he knew that “for every $100 he put in he would get $1000 back.”

Brian was willing to listen. That was not true for Dave.

Being “successful” has so much to do with one’s mindset. And coupled with an industry expert’s guidance, moving forward happens much more quickly and easily.

So if you want to get yourself and your job search “unstuck” it’s a wise move to first make sure you are committed to doing what it takes to reach your goals before you hire a career coach or resume writer. However once you are certain about your commitment to your own success, these partnerships can make getting there faster and easier, and your confidence, clarity and motivation will soar.

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One of the wisest things you will do in your job search is learn the best non-traditional job search methods that fit your particular goals.

One method (and it happens to be my favorite – read on to find out why) is finding and following up on what I like to call corporate growth opportunities.

Growth opportunities are windows when a company is experiencing some form of growth. These can include moves, expansions, launching new products or services, mergers or acquisitions, awards and new rounds of venture capital funding, just to name a few.

Because of the fact that in so many cases when a company is experiencing a major change and/or growth there is a hiring need, it is truly a perfect time for YOU to make an introduction!

A few of the benefits you will enjoy when you capitalize on growth opportunities are:

• You set the pace for leadership and control vs. answering an ad, which positions you as the less desirable, passive/receiver.
• You maximize your leverage, options and opportunities in your industry of choice. In other words, you are in control.
• You are introducing yourself at a time when that company may be investing considerable sums of money to find great talent (like YOU!).
• You have little or no competition.
• You are putting the focus on THEM and their particular situation – highly flattering to the decision maker who you are connecting with – which makes you look fantastic.

Sounds great right? Believe me, it is! And it’s easy to find and follow up on growth opportunities in your specific target market using internet resources including: US Business Journals, Google news alerts, article finders and even associations related to your industry of focus.

Each week you can connect with key decision makers associated with the various growth opportunities that interest you. Send a short value proposition letter and don’t forget to attach a copy of the article and follow up in order to maximize your favorable responses.

This particular method can increase your response rate to 20, 40 and even 60%! Compared to the 1 to 3% response rates you will get through submitting your resume to jobs posted on major job boards there is simply no contest. Learning how to follow up on corporate growth opportunities can easily become your most powerful and effective job search strategy.

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There is a pattern I see with my clients. It goes somthing like this:

Once I have helped my clients map out their career focus and goals,  I send them a resume draft.

I can almost feel the shockwaves coming back when they say things like:

I can’t believe this is me!

Can I really do this?

I didn’t realize how much I had accomplished.

Are you sure I should go after such a large title/big company/big salary?

And of course, the majority of my clients DO go on to accomplish their career goals! But my point is this:

It takes more than just a fantastic resume to land your dream job.

It takes you actually believing you can do it!

We all like to dream. And dreaming is “safe” isn’t it? Committing to moving forward and making your dream a reality also means stepping out of the safe zone.

And when stepping out of the safety zone, it’s very easy to start playing small.

I have seen a few highly accomplished and highly talented professionals play small with their careers and wind up right where that road takes them…. which is not very far from where they are.

You have heard “change can be scary.” I would add that “committing to be successful can be scary.” Just knowing that the road to the success you wish to achieve can be scary can help to gain a foothold on emotional responses you may have to actually seeing yourself in a different light.

And by understanding these reactions are normal – you can allow yourself to feel those feelings without letting them stonewall your plans.  By accepting that “wow – this really is me”, you give yourself permission to take the next step in moving forward with your career!

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