It’s said that an potential employer will give your professional resume the once over for a matter of six or seven seconds only before it’s regarded as a ‘maybe’ or simply kept in the ‘round file’ (or if your really unlucky, into the ‘shreds things up in * A GOOD START – Open with a punchy statement that highlights the very best of your key strengths and achievements. RELATING DIRECTLY TO THE JOB IN HAND. This of course will be backed up further on, but serves to get the facts in first.

* NO TO NOVELTY – no wacky colored paper, photographs or ‘original’ methods of delivery please. People haven’t got time to be impressed.

* Hit ‘EM – Don’t use convoluted or flowery language. Attempts to be unnecessarily technical won’t go down well either. Short and to the point language gets the message home every time.

* TAILOR MADE – Make sure your resume is targeted exclusively to that particular job or company. Be aware of the specific company needs and promote your skills and experience accordingly each time. Identikit DOES not attract attention.

* CLARITY IS KING – your resume needs a clear and concise structure. Nobody wants to be flipping back and forth for information.

* PANTS ON FIRE – It sounds obvious, but make sure your resume tells the truth. Embellishment would be fine, if there is evidence to prove it. Don’t forget, a quick google by HR could find you out easier than you thought.

* MIND THE GAP – To avoid any embarrassing silences during an interview, make sure there are no glaring spaces in your career history. Maybe you had to take a 6 month break to look after your poorly parrot. Just tell ‘em.

* CHECK THIS! – If you show sloppiness with spelling and grammar on your first impression, it says a whole lot more about you than your lack of English skills.

* AND CHECK IT AGAIN – Get it proofread, again, again, and again.

* MAIL RETURNED – Make sure your precious spanking new resume goes directly to the right person. Don’t waste your time assuming it’s been received either. Send it the right way, to the right person.
to hamster bedding’ file.)

Your resume represents you. It is your first impression and the only way for you to let prospective employers know just how good you are. Added to this, it will usually be competing against many other resumes and cover letters. You might be the perfect person for the job, but if your resume is not up to scratch, you’ll be passed by. There is a fine line between submitting a stand alone resume and a gimmick that screams ‘I’m crazy’.

Make it count – remember it’s your first impression.

Here are ten points you should consider to make sure your resume is a keeper.
Article Source : http://resumesstarthere.wordpress.com/

So, the resume is all rosy, you’ve got the elevator pitch off pat and your interview technique rivals Barbara Walters.Cover Letter

But wait, what’s missing?

You know we always say that the resume is a first impression that needs to last?.

We sorta lied.

Because , really and truly, even though the resume is job worthy perfect, if that covering letter aint up to scratch, then you’re really letting down Team You.

You see, the covering letter is the ‘amuse bouche’ to the resumes main course. You need to impress, but this isn’t your resume, you need to whet their appetite and leave them wanting more.

Writing the cover letter is fairly straightforward, but important to get right. Here’s a few cover letter tips from to get you going

Writing the cover letter is fairly straightforward, but important to get right. Here’s a few cover letter tips from to get you going:
1) The Job Advertisement itself is your number one starting point. Take key words, requirements and responsibilities from the employers list of expectations and craft your copy around this. Without following them to the letter, these words will resonate with the reader and match you, in their minds eye at least, with the person they have in mind.
Article Source : http://resumesstarthere.wordpress.com/

Writing the cover letter is fairly straightforward, but important to get right. Here’s a few cover letter tips from to get you going:
1) The Job Advertisement itself is your number one starting point. Take key words, requirements and responsibilities from the employers list of expectations and craft your copy around this. Without following them to the letter, these words will resonate with the reader and match you, in their minds eye at least, with the person they have in mind.

1. Insight of your Skills – While your resume only states a summary of what you previous work and acquired skills, your blog further explains your experience and will have concrete details of what you have achieved through.
2. Preview of your Experience – No matter how frequent you publish your posts, your viewers (and future employers) will see how you progress in your working as well as your learning experiences. They will see your growth in both your professional and personal life.
3. Continuing Profession – Your growth and transition in your profession is often manifested in the posts you write. Potential recruiters will have a good review of how you were doing in transition between jobs, what may be the reasons why you left the previous company, etc.
4. Unadulterated Thoughts – Blogs are often products of personal thoughts from authors (except if you’re writing to promote a company’s business or writing for paid reviews). It’s a reflection of your thoughts, how you think and react in certain situations, it’s “you” in your own words.

Do remember that a blog is only a supplemental part for your resume. It’s your magic wand towards better and efficient personal branding. You still have to ensure that your resume rides above the rest.
Article Source : http://resumesstarthere.wordpress.com/

Let’s relax a bit and entertain ourselves for a while. Now we know it’s a bad idea to laugh at other people’s mistakes but what we’re going to show you are common resume blunders you might want to avoid (and they are funny!)

Now let’s see why these errors spread the laughter:

The classics from HumorMatters:

“I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience.”

“I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreasheet progroms.”

“Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.”

There’s a reason why typographical errors are the top resume errors, now you see why

The dumb stuff from Resume Hell:

“My hobbies include regular attendance at my local gym and swimming poo”

“Hobbies/Interests: drawing, singing, art, music, surfing the net, collecting Happy Meal toys”

“6/2007 – Present – Supermarket Sales Assistant

i as a online shopper .our dept,its called grossory online.i m a shopper,n do all the work in absence of supervisour n manager.managing the dept well.i.e doing paper work,making sure tht we have enough shoppers n drivers 2 make sure the deliverys is on time,allocating vans to drivers n work to shoppers accordingly.”

“Wendys – Cashier

Successfully handled money. Received money from customers.

And successfully issued the correct amount of change back to the customers”

I think those are self explanatory already… Let’s move on with the others.

The resume gaffe from Linked Intelligence:

“I prefer lunch to be gin at Noon everyday.”

“I want to work in a fast paste environment.”

“Experienced Writter Available”

I’m sure they wrote their resumes in a fast paste way. Looks like it.

Here’s an archive from Resumania:

“EXPERIENCE: More than seven (8) years of general experience, of which more than four (5) years is in analyzing, designing and testing client/server applications.”

“TECHNICAL SKILLS: Phone tap.”

“EQUIPMENT: Human brain 1.0.”

“POSITION DESIRED: Profreader.”

That’s prof enough for you to take a second look at your resume.

Funny mistakes on That Was Funny:

“I am extremely loyal to my present firm, so please don’t let them know of my immediate availability.”

“Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as ‘job-hopping’. I have never quit a job.”

“Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”

“Please call me after 5:30 because I am self-employed and my employer does not know I am looking for another job.”

Now we’re hoping their jobs were not at all imaginary.

JobMob has the whole shebang of the 150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers, and Blunders Ever just to brighten up your day while you sort out your resumes if you are a recruiter or thinking of that next resume to write if you are a job seeker
Article Source : http://resumesstarthere.wordpress.com/

You have that professional resume, a polished cover letter, and that stylish suit for the your job interview. Now wait, interview? You’re not prepared, are you? You don’t really want to ruin that opportunity with a nervous state of mind. No need to worry, we’ll help you prepare for that much awaited discussion with your future employer. Here are 8 job-winning interview tips that you should know by now.

1. Research About the Company – Don’t go into the war without ammunition. Do your homework and research about the company especially if it’s for an international job opportunity, their profile, products/services, history, etc. Having familiarized the company profile gives you an idea what exactly they are looking for in a candidate. Besides, doing your research will give you that jumpstart point in the interview

1. Research About the Company – Don’t go into the war without ammunition. Do your homework and research about the company especially if it’s for an international job opportunity, their profile, products/services, history, etc. Having familiarized the company profile gives you an idea what exactly they are looking for in a candidate. Besides, doing your research will give you that jumpstart point in the interview.

2. Be Truthful – Do not ever underestimate the power of background check. You can’t get away with lying on your resume or on your interview. Do not embarrass yourself with false information. Be honest. Lay down your limitations and weaknesses in the job profile. Employers will appreciate you for it and they’ll know what (and not) to expect from you on the job.

3. Be Presentable – This must be the oldest trick in the books. Just as presentation is a vital part in your resume, your physical appearance is as important in landing that job. If you don’t know what to wear for an interview, a decent shirt with tie and trousers would be a good start, but having a suit would definitely give you an edge.

4. Study the Job Description – You’ve probably heard of this line: “I’m sorry, what position am I applying for again?” Trust me, those candidates who have asked that gained the much needed negative points enough for the interviewer to drop their resumes. Look through the job posting and study the position. Remember the details and be sure your skills and experience match the requirements of the employer.

5. Practice Your Questions – The internet has a vast amount of interview resources like common interview questions. Use these resources to your advantage. The more you practice your answers the more you’ll be confident in coming in for the interview. But don’t rely on these questions alone, have them as a supplement. The best tools you have are your resume, skills, knowledge, experience, and your better judgment.

6. Be Confident – Sure we understand that anxiety you have whenever you have interviews. It’s 100% normal. But if you want that impressive impression from the employer, be confident or at least act like it. Think positive and you’ll have better way of answering questions and conversing with the interviewer.

7. You Can Ask Questions – Yes you can ask questions provided they don’t go beyond interview ethics. You can imply your deep interest in the company by asking details about them that are not provided in the job posting or on their website. Or you can ask the interviewers if you have said something that would make them believe that you are not the right person for the job. If there are any confusions on their part, clear your statements and create that chance to redeem yourself.

8. Send a Follow-Up Note – When you have successfully completed with your interview, be sure to send them a note or an email thanking them for the time given for the discussion. If you have been given a time frame by the interviewers for their reply, wait for it. Don’t be that annoying candidate that keeps calling recruiters asking for that untimely feedback. If after that stated period, the interviewer/recruiter has not called you for the feedback, you can drop them a note asking whether or not you have passed the interview or whether you are qualified for the position and what would be the next step.

Article Source : http://resumesstarthere.wordpress.com/

SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW TIPS

If you haven’t been in the working world for a while, for whatever reason, you probably need to refresh your skills or add some new ones in order to make yourself attractive to potential employers. What skills do you need to get back into the workforce? What skills do you already have that may just need to be polished a bit?

Let’s look at first things first. Take stock of what you already know and skills you already have. Some of these skills may be as seemingly obscure as being organized. But organization takes skill and not everyone is organized or even has a clue how to be organized. What other skills fit into this category? How about excellent spelling and grammar, planning and organizing events from small meetings to large gatherings? What about the skill of being able to effectively interact with many different types of people at different levels? You might be asking yourself how you would even come by these skills without “working”. Well, you come by them by participating in community clubs and organizations, what about your place of worship or places where you volunteer like the local elementary school or the nearby hospital? All these activities lead to developing and maintaining skills that are desirable to employers. Can you write an excellent business letter? Did you recruit volunteers for the community food drive? These things are all very valuable. Maybe in a previous job you worked on a computer and you are familiar with certain programs, even if you aren’t well versed in the updated versions of those programs. Maybe you are a fast and accurate typist. Maybe you spent a lot of time of the phone dealing with customers and you’ve developed a very polite and diplomatic manner. What about writing the company newsletter, or even the family newsletter. These are marketable skills. Take time to really think through what you know.

Once you’ve taken stock of what you already have, you can look at where you may need to fill in the blanks and brush up. Do you need to update your knowledge of certain versions of software? How about new software? There are online tutorials that can be found on virtually all programs. You need only to look for them. You can also find tutorials and articles on how to write and format a top-notch letter, or any number of other topics. Or you can take a class or seminar. These are usually fairly inexpensive, quite comprehensive and are offered through community education, nearby colleges and online. You should make every effort to research what employers are looking for in the types of jobs you’re interested in. Make a list of what you need and start working on accomplishing that. In the meantime, see about taking a part-time or freelance position that will utilize existing skills while adding experience and knowledge. You’ll be on the road to rewarding employment in no time.

Laura Spawn-Owner of VirtualVocations.com
http://www.virtualvocations.com

Job interviews are a very stressful part of life; it is extremely challenging to answer appropriately on the spot without any preparation and yet it may seem almost impossible to properly prepare for an interview. It might be a little stressful and even scary but with these preparation and interview tips, you will do much better, increasing your chances of getting the job you love and maybe even finding a lasting career.

Before interview

Tip 1: Plan Ahead. Really get to know the company you wish to work for. This will allow you some valuable insight into what kind of questions may be asked. (If you wish to work at a job that requires teamwork, you can expect questions will be brought up regarding past teamwork experiences). Be ready to bring up past examples of jobs that you have worked that show necessary skills for the job you are applying for.

Tip 2: Role Play. Once you finished studying, pretend you are in the room with the interviewer and describe your past experiences and achievements. Try to make it clear and straight-forward. Be sure not to get off topic or ramble on. Also make sure you don’t repeat what you have already said.

During interview

Tip 1: Maintain Eye Contact. Don’t stare but make sure you don’t seem intimidated by the interview. This does not mean to act arrogant in any way, rather, confident. Employers will be more likely to hire someone they deem to be confident and ready for the job.

Tip 2: Stay Positive. Smile; show that you are very excited to have an opportunity to work for their company. Don’t comment on any negative employers you’ve had in the past. Keep the interview positive.

Tip 3: Encourage/Adapt. Encourage the interviewer to share some information on the company. When shared, demonstrate your interest on the possibility of a job there. Once you know a little more about the company, you might have to change your answers to the qualities a job at the company might require.

Tip 4: Be Natural. Don’t seem like you’re reading off a script when answering the questions. Make your answers seem spontaneous. You might have to add a few “umm’s” and “ohh’s” to make it seem more natural. Change your tone of a voice when warranted. Make sure you don’t keep a flat, droning tone.

These tips are merely guidelines, they are not written in stone but hopefully after reading them you have gained a new insight into how to approach an unknown interview.

David has been writing articles for many years now, check out his new website about Collage Picture Frames and Large Picture Frames

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Z

In this rapidly changing world, there is a growing demand for career advice among many college students as well as people working in companies. It is no wonder that many people seek a career change either due to the same old work they do or because they may wish for a new level of experience.

The very question of “which career is ideal for my growth” continues to exist over several decades. Due to rapidly changing global economy, current employment status shows that many people are experiencing career changes.

Change is not always constant, but we do require some sort of change in our career in order to experience more knowledge and enjoyment. While many people have lost their jobs recently, this is the ideal time for new job seekers to perform some soul searching and find out what kind of job will suite their career.

You need to interrogate yourself as you look at this possibility:

1. How interesting was my old job?
2. What were the most problematic issues of my old job that made to seek a new job?
3. Did I use my talents to perform well at my old job?
4. What is my passion?
5. Why do I require a change in my job nature?
6. What sort of career is ideal for me?
7. What do I look in for in my dream job?

Asking these entire questions to yourself will let you to know more about upcoming career changes and growth in your life. If you wish to get professional career advice, browse the net. Experts out there will guide you in all aspects and provide good career advice.

In this rapidly changing global economy, one has the desire to seek for a career change. Why is this change necessary? How to shine in your Industry? Well, to get solutions for all these questions, read my article on career advice and get to know about career advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janani_Jaan

In most career paths there comes a point where the role is great, you’re positioned where you should be at this stage of your development, but you just hate your job. There can be many reasons, and often it is the company culture of particular human elements that are the cause of your unhappiness, but in all cases it’s an issue of the job making you miserable even though your career is on track.

We need to take ‘change’ in its broadest sense here: we can either work to change the current situation for the better, or else make a bigger change and leave the job behind altogether. The big change sounds cleaner and simpler (and less work) but can represent a major loss in terms of accumulated career credibility and success within the company. Sometimes if you ride out the bad patches, there can be good things right around the corner.

Identifying the cause of your discomfort

Otherwise known as, ‘what’s the problem?’, the first step toward a better job situation is to work out exactly where the problems lie. Is it a company or cultural issue, something related to your job specification or perhaps a particular person or group of people making your life miserable?

The problem supervisor

This is a common cause of employee dissatisfaction, the boss from hell. Often it isn’t even the ‘big boss’ at the top of the org chart who is causing the problems but rather lesser supervisors with limited authority who have within their powers the chance to cause you significant grief on a daily basis. Spending some time researching the ‘type’ of person you are dealing with and gathering hints as to best managing their quirks will be time well spent.

Just like in the playground, grown up bullies and problematic personalities (those who don’t play nicely with the other children) usually have insecurities at work which can be negotiated without incident if you can identify what they are. It is sometimes the case that a recently appointed manager feels vulnerable and overcompensates for their lack of knowledge by being hard on others; equally, an experienced older manager might be concerned about the young go-getter who might be out to take their job.

The lesson here is to know thy enemy, and to remember also that thy enemy may leave the company next week, in a month or in six months: decide whether it’s really such a problem that you can’t manage it instead of moving on. If necessary, you might choose to involve a more senior party (though this can result in reprisals from the problem person and may not engender the kind of open communication we are aiming for).

The problem organization

When it’s the company that presents a problem, the choices are more limited. Where sexist or discriminatory behaviors are getting you down; that’s illegal and can be reported. Where the culture just doesn’t quite fit… like last year’s jeans that looked great on the dummy but didn’t suit you in practice, well then you are the one who doesn’t belong and the best course of action is to find another similar role at another organization.

Organizational cultures don’t change quickly, so if you love your career and hate working where you are; seek out the help of a career professional to source new employment opportunities where the ‘fit’ is better. As long as the continuity of your career development is unimpeded – it will all be fine in the end.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper

When you start writing your resume, you need to pay attention to a lot of different things. It’s a little like golf. Keep your knees slightly bent. Follow the ball with your eyes. Swing all the way through the stroke. It just goes on and on. How is one person supposed to remember all of those things at once?

It’s the same way with resume writing. Keep all of your verbs in the same tense (usually past tense). Inject enthusiasm into the resume wherever possible. Show your accomplishments rather than relate the tasks you have handled in the past. Leave enough white space on the resume so that it doesn’t look cluttered. It just never seems to stop.
One way to make the whole process a little easier is to plan your resume out before actually drafting it on a computer. Focus on one thing at a time and move ahead when you feel like you have one step conquered.

Writing a resume isn’t much fun. When you do it yourself, though, you have a great opportunity to learn more about yourself, which in turn helps you answer those tough interview questions later on. Think of the resume writing process as a self-improvement project. You will have a chance to reflect on your career, your personal and professional skills, your accomplishments and your future career goals as well as be better prepared for the future.

To make the most of the opportunity, take a look at the Three C’s of Resume Creation shown below. Each “C” word will help you focus on a different aspect of the resume and will help you ensure that it accomplishes what it is supposed to accomplish.
Here are the Three C’s of Resume Creation
The first “C” – Content

There are two basic elements of a resume. The first is design and the second is content. The design is the format (chronological, functional, combination). The second is the tough part as it entails the aspects of your personal and professional background that make up the “content” of the resume. The content is what determines if you are called for an interview or not. First and foremost, make sure your resume is free of flaws. If you have typos and grammar errors, you do not stand much of a chance of being seriously considered.

The second “C” – Character

This is a subcategory of the first “C”. An employer wants to know what kind of person you are. Show the employer that you are a problem solver, results-oriented, loyal and determined to succeed and you will do much better at making a good impression than someone who simply states their employment history.

The third “C” – Competency

This is also a subcategory of the first “C”. You have to prove that you can do the job. Are you adequately trained, educated and accomplished? Use active language to clearly SHOW just what you have achieved and how your qualifications match the exact needs of the organization.

You can create a resume that looks fantastic and impresses the employer, but it takes effort and thought. Do it right. There is no point in crafting a resume if it doesn’t accomplish what you want it to accomplish. Put the time in to make it a professional document and you will find that the job of your dreams is very likely just around the corner. Just remember “The Three C’s of Resume Creation”.