Your Resume as a Reflection of You

Before you hand your resume in to a company do one very important thing. Check it! Your resume is a reflection of you . Look it over for any problems and update it. This usually involves adding your current job and inserting any skills, experiences, and responsibilities gained by that job. You also may need to update your list of references as well. But this is something that almost every job seeker does.

Unfortunately, a lot of people in the job market forget to do the one thing that should be done by rote by everyone who uses a word processing program on their computer: they don’t use spell check.

Spell check and grammar check are in computer programs for a reason – and that reason is not to let you look like a fool in front of your potential employer. So remember to check your spelling and grammar before you turn in your resume.

Changing Jobs and Providing Your Resume For A New Career

Changing jobs has to be one of the more difficult decisions you can make. Staying in the work environment you are used to can sometimes be easier than having to change careers and having to write a resume to prove your professional qualifications and credibility. The decision for change becomes that much more difficult if the new job you want means changing your career. While you will face a challenge in trying to get the job that meets your new career objectives, writing your resume should not be one of them.

On the Internet alone, there are numerous resources for career changers. From helping you decide which career you are best suited for to providing helpful advice on how to succeed in your new job, you will find an overwhelming amount of resources to help you in your new journey. While most of the information you find will be helpful, be careful about the sources you utilize in order to put together the most persuasive resume for your new career choice.

There are really two basic elements to successfully writing a resume for a career changer: research and transferable skills. Most people put a lot of thought into changing careers. They consider their families, their living and financial situations, their competitive advantage in the new field, etc. After you convince yourself that changing careers is the right thing to do, you will have to convince your potential employers to give you the job you are seeking. To do so, you have to do your research. Demonstrate to your employer that you have an extensive knowledge of the industry, even if you don’t have the accompanying experience.

Before you begin your new career, make sure that you understand what professional paths are available for you, and determine what your ultimate goal is. This will help you form the career objective for your resume. Additionally, make sure to do your research on the company you are interested in, as well as their competition (if you are interested in non-profit organizations, make sure to brush up on other organizations with similar missions); if invited for an interview, you will want to appear very knowledgeable not only about their company, but about the industry as a whole. You will have to convince your potential employer that you the best person for the job, better than the candidates with experience – to do that, you have to showcase not only your enthusiasm for the opportunity, but your eagerness to learn and your knowledge about the field.

Transferable skills, those skills that can be utilized in numerous fields, are also a key to a successful career change. Consider your qualifications to date. What experience have you acquired that can be transferred across industries? Transferable skills include verbal and written communication, people management, customer relations, organization and project management, development of new processes, generation of new ideas or concepts, etc. Such skills can be adapted to all organizations, and you should utilize them to showcase your qualifications for the job you are seeking.

For example, if you would like to ditch the 9-to-5 desk job for a hectic, unpredictable life of a high school teacher, let your potential employer know that your previous experience in leading by motivation makes you a perfect candidate for the job (even if that marketing project you managed has nothing to do with teaching English composition). Making a list of all your professional experiences and the qualifications needed for the job you are seeking will help you in determining which skills are transferable to your new career. Once you define your transferable skills, use a functional resume to assure most (if not all) of the qualifications needed for the new job are met in your resume.

In addition to your resume, use your cover letter or email to let your potential employer know why you are changing careers, and that your new interest is not a passing one. Make sure that your resume reflects your new found interest in a genuine and professional manner, and you are sure to have a successful career change.

Printed Resume Tips

As professionals, we rely on the Internet to search for jobs and to apply for them. We create our resumes and cover letters to fit the electronic format, so it is not a surprise that having to print out a resume can result in concerns and mistakes.

First, let’s discuss when a printed resume is needed. While you are completing numerous job applications online, you still need to have a printed resume to bring on an interview with you. You also must keep in mind that it is very likely your potential employer will print out your resume from a job search web site or from the message you sent expressing your interest in the job. Thus, it is very important that you print out a test copy before submitting your resume to employers to assure the layout is what you want it to be.

As a rule, when printing out your resume, make sure to use white or ivory paper. You can get a stack of resume paper at any office supplies store. You will want your resume to appear as clean and professional. Do not use color paper, or change the color of the font in order to make your resume stand out; your employer will find this unprofessional and childish, which is not the first impression you want to make.

If your resume is longer than one page, print out multiple pages. Don’t print on the front and the back of a single page; rather, include headings in your resume file, indicating page numbers and print each page on its own sheet of paper. You should not have any handwriting on your resume; make sure that page numbers are in fact printed along with the rest of the resume content.

Make sure that you let your resume sit on the printer for a few moments before picking it up. This will help you avoid smudging the ink of the paper, especially if you are using an Ink Jet printer. You want to assure that the resume doesn’t have any smudging, stains, or crumpling when you are handing it to your potential employer. First impressions are important – you don’t want yours to be that of someone who is sloppy and careless.

When going in for an interview, you should bring multiple copies of your resume with you. Some people think this is not necessary because your potential employer already has your resume. This is a common misconception. You should always have several copies of your resume printed out and with you when at an interview. Often times, the hiring manager may ask another associate to meet you during the interviewing process, and he/she may not have a copy of your resume. Having extras makes you look professional, prepared and organized, which helps you set your best foot forward.

Additionally, it is helpful that the copy of the resume you bring in for an interview has a complete list of references. You can include the references directly on your resume (typically at the bottom of the page), or you can include a separate sheet of paper with the list. The first option is preferred, because it provides the employer with all of the critical information about you in one place. Including your references preempts the employer from asking you for this information; it also shows that you are seriously interested in the available position.

Having a well-formatted, clean and professional resume will only help you make a great first impression, and help you get the job you are truly interested in.

How To Make A Resume – Tips For Success

Your resume can determine whether or not you are worthy of a job. That is why you must realize the importance of creating an excellent resume. If you are simply typing a brief employment history on a sheet of paper, that is not enough. How you’re going to impress someone is by having a resume that adequately highlights your skills, gives a detailed work history so that they can see how you can benefit your company, and shows that you are the needle in a haystack that they have been looking for all along. Knowing how to make a resume is the key.

The first step is to ask yourself, “What sort of skills do I possess that could benefit this company? Once you have figured out what your skills are, write them down with pen and paper. The fact of the matter is, we are all human beings and human beings can’t remember everything off of the top of our heads.

The next thing you want to ask yourself is, “What do I think this company wants out of an employee? If you know the answer to this, write it down. You then need to ask yourself, “What about me is beneficial to this company? You want to make sure you have something to offer or you will get the job and wonder what you were thinking when you sent them your impeccable resume. You also need to take a look at your experience so that you can pinpoint where you will excel in the company.

Once this information is taken down, it is time to create the resume. You will start with what your objective is and how it is you plan on benefiting this company. After that, you move on to your employment history. You always want to ensure that you include all of your job duties here because even the smallest of duties may be relevant to this potential position. Leaving something out could be the difference between getting the job and not getting it.

The next section of your resume is where you outline any relevant experience that you have, such as in volunteering. You will also want to include any licenses or certifications that you may have. You never know when one of these things may be relevant to the job that you are applying for. There are things that can really impress a potential employer, so don’t leave out anything.

Lastly, you have your reference section. You may decide to include your references on your resume. Some do prefer to state that references will be provided upon request and others prefer to go ahead and give that information.

Basically, you shouldn’t slack on your resume in any way. Although there are individuals who state that a one page resume is the best, it is something that is impossible for some to do. You want to be able to show your skills, but sometimes you may have so many you cannot condense it that much.

Furthermore, make sure you use a high quality paper. You don’t want to use the paper straight out of your printer. This is because that is a lower quality paper. You can go to your local office supply store and purchase resume paper, which looks and even feels professional. When you combine your excellent expertise with a fancy looking resume, then your chances of landing the job increase exponentially.

Click the link for more information on Making A Resume

Making Your CV or Resume Count

You will need a current copy of your CV when applying for a Asda job vacancies. A resume is a one to two page document summarizing your career objectives, professional experiences and achievements, and educational background.The heading should contain your name, address and contact information with the body broken into the following sections: career objective, profile/summary, professional experience, achievements, scholastics, and references. You should have a brief, one or two sentence, career objective that gives your prospective employers a look at your goals for your career.Your resume or CV does not need to contain personal information which is not directly related to the job vacancy, so details such as ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital status or sexuality need not be included.When detailing your assets to the job, only a brief summary is needed. A few well-written sentences are meant to gain the employer’s attention and encourage them to read your CV further and invite you to interview.

Your employment details should be listed in chronological order, starting with the job you current hold or last held. Working through each job, one by one, include the company you worked for, the job title and a summary of what the job entailed.

You will then need to look at your skills, qualifications and professional achievements. Detail your school, college or university achievements, including what you studied and what you achieved. Any professional qualifications should also be listed, these may be training courses or specific qualifications related to your profession or the job you are applying for.References should be listed if requested, achievements, volunteer positions, publications and interests should also be listed.

Your first step to getting that interview and hopefully that job is your CV. It is your first and possibly only chance of selling yourself and convincing potential employers that you are a worthy candidate for the job. Any errors in your CV could make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. Read through your CV several times and, if possible, get someone else to read through it for you. They may see things that your eyes haven’t.

It is very important to know that you need to keep colour, font, and formatting of your curriculum vitae consistent so it will looks professional not only in person but online as well. Restrict it to one or two pages – any additional pages give an impression that you either don’t know how to concisely summarize your education and experience, or that you are listing unnecessary information for the sake of taking up space.

If this is the first time you have written a CV or resume, there are lots of resources to help you along both in books or online. If you still don’t know where to start the why not try a professional CV writing service, you will pay a fee for this service but it will be worth it in the long term when you have your ideal job.

Do Not Make These Five Common Cover Letter Mistakes

With every resume submission, you should have a cover letter that accompanies it and presents you as a positive and qualified candidate for the job. A cover letter should highlight areas of your resume which promote your professional experience, and should address any questions an employer may have about hiring you for the job. There are five common cover letter mistakes outlined below that you must avoid in order to get through the first round of resume review and move one step closer to getting the job that you want.

1. Addressing the cover letter using a generic greeting, or misspelling the name of the personal contact or the company. The address line is the most prominent part of the cover letter; it should be included even if the cover letter is sent via email. Generic greetings are not favored; they make it seem like you have a template for your cover letter and you simply send it to all employers you are interested in working for. Do the research and find out who the appropriate contact is for the cover letter. However, make sure that they name and the company name is spelled correctly. If your address line contains errors, your cover letter is likely to never make it to the hiring manager.

2. Telling the company what they can do for your career. Simply stated, employers care about your qualifications and what you can do for the company. Do not spend your time telling the company how working for them can be great for your career. While that could be true, it certainly is not what the employers want to hear. Your potential employers want to hear how you can benefit their team; they want to know what you can bring to the table that is innovative, and focused on results. Make sure that your resume lets your employer know just why you are the best candidate for the job.

3. You re-state your resume. Do not go over the information that is in your resume in your cover letter. Your cover letter is meant to entice, and provoke the employer to review your resume in great detail. Re-stating the information in your resume doesn’t address what the employers want to know, which concerns reasons why you are the best candidate for the job. Highlight certain areas of your resume but do so in the context of your career goals and how such qualifications benefit the company.

4. Starting every sentence with “I”. While your cover letter is about you, starting each sentence this way will make your employer believe that your communication skills are not up to the level of your professional background. Discuss your qualifications, your goals and what you bring to the table in terms of the company, and your professional attributes.

5. Asking the employer to call you at their convenience. The most generic closing statements in cover letters ask the employer to contact you at their convenience. If you are truly excited about the opportunity with the employer, you won’t want to wait for them to call you back whenever they feel like it. What you should do instead is let them know when you want to follow up – and then do your follow up. Close your cover letter by letting your potential employer know that you will contact them, as well as the manner in which you will do so. This shows your interest, and your take-charge attitude.

Action Words Or Power Words Add Strength To Your Resume

You’ve heard it over and over again – a well-written resume is a winning resume. What does that mean? How can you determine whether your resume is written in a tone and style that employers will respond to? Synthesizing your educational achievements, years of your professional experience, and numerous qualifications you have acquired over the years into one to two pages is not easy to accomplish. Every phrase or statement you write has to convince your potential employer that you are the best candidate for the job. To do so, you will need to use action or power word.

Action words, or power words, are keywords (verbs) that add strength and positive implication to your job responsibilities or qualifications. When you submit your resume to your potential employer, there are two scenarios that will occur.

One, your application will be ran through a computer software program, which searches your resume for key terms as indicated by the employer. If your resume contains those key words, your resume will be pulled aside for further review.

Two, a hiring manager, or most often a human resources associate, will receive a stack or resumes and scan through them quickly to pick out those that stand out the most, again based on certain key words. It should now be clear why these action words are critical to your success in job hunting.

When listing your employment history, each job’s responsibilities should be listed in bullet point form, with each statement starting with an action word. Using power verbs or phrases will indicate to your employer that you are driven by action and results, and that you can effectively articulate your professional experience (thus, showcasing your communication skills).

Here is a small sample of action words:

• created
• developed and implemented
• managed
• delivered
• designed
• facilitated
• negotiated
• coordinated
• budgeted
• acted
• communicated
• consulted

This is a very short sampling of action words. Many resources on the Internet contain extensive listings of action words or phrases. Do some research and use only those terms that are relevant to your field of experience. Your best bet would be to locate samples of resumes by professionals in your industry. Review those resumes for ideas on how to list your responsibilities. Important note: do not copy exact statements from someone elses resume; while you can do your research, you will want to make your resume personalized to your professional experience.

Don’t fall into the trap of using the same action word over and over. If you have in fact managed multiple projects, you may want to be a bit more specific about your role in each. For example, maybe you were the communication liaison in one project, while you were the project manager for another task. Begin the first bullet point with “communicated,” and the second bullet point with “managed.” However, be aware of the words that you are using and consider their value in your resume. Do not go overboard with using varying terms, especially those that may change your role or your responsibilities.

Additionally, you can find key action words in job descriptions. Review your resume against a job description and make sure that all required qualifications are addressed in your statements. This will also help you identify action words that the employer uses, which you can in turn use to customize your resume or cover letter to that specific job.

Always make sure that you are consistent in the way you list all of your responsibilities and qualifications, and make sure that your statements exude positive attitude and focus on actions and results. By doing so, you are guaranteed to create a winning resume that will get you noticed.

Chronological Resumes Versus Functional Resumes

There are two main resume styles: Chronological and Functional. As its name implies, a chronological resume is one that lists your experience and education in order, starting with the most recent jobs or achievements.

Chronological Resume

This type of resume is sometimes also referred to as reverse chronological resume, because the order of the listing starts with your current employment. This type of resume preferred – employers will want to know what job you currently hold so that they can better assess your qualifications for the job of your interest. The same is true for your education; your potential employer would rather know your most recent scholastic achievement. Listing your experience and education in reverse chronological order also shows your potential employer your overall career progress. It also helps in determining the length of employment at each organization, and indicates any gaps in your career (in case of gaps, make sure to address them in your cover letter as to not lead your employer to believe that you are omitting information on purpose).

Chronological resume should list your current job, as well as two to four previously held positions. Don’t skip any employment information on purpose; if your employment history is long, or if you have held jobs further in the past that align well with your current career objective, you can address these qualifications in your professional profile or in your cover letter. Chronological resumes are the most commonly used style, and work best for anyone who has had some professional experience.

Functional Resume

Functional resumes focus on your qualifications, not your career timeline. This style of the resume highlights what skills you have, rather than where and when you acquired or utilize them. In other words, instead of listing your experiences by your job titles, your resume will contained sections titled by your skills such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction, project management, etc. This resume style is recommended for college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of college, for those with no professional experience, those who have not worked for some time, or for career changers. While potential employers will appreciate the overview of your skills, if you hold any professional experience, consider using the chronological resume, or a combination resume, over the functional format.

Combination Resume

A combination resume, although not often discussed, has become a popular format in recent years. As its name implies, it is a combination of chronological resume style and functional resume style. This hybrid style allows professionals to highlight the qualification they have that are critical for the job of their interest, while at the same time listing employment and educational history in reverse chronological order. A word of caution – don’t try to do too much when using a combination resume by going over board with the type and number of sections you include in your resume. It is best to keep the information listed, even in the combination format, to what is relevant for the job.

Same rules apply for each style. Don’t exceed two pages, tailor your resume to your career objective and put your best foot forward in order to get the interview, and eventually the job.