Five Fabulous Resume Tips for College Grads (or Anybody)

Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Green trees. Colorful flowers. It's springtime! All of these things bring thoughts of joy and serenity to most people, but to you, dear college senior, it is usually a hectic time, full of final exams, decisions to be made, Graduation Day, and looking for a job. Sure, the job search is a major thing on your to-do list, but having fun, studying, and exams usually take the top spots as the months wind down and Graduation Day nears.

In all the preparation for Graduation day, you've probably forgotten about the most important tool needed to land that perfect job. The resume. This handy little tool is the key to getting your foot in the door just to speak to someone. And you forgot? Don't you know that the resume is your calling card and it can make or break your chance of getting an interview to have a chance at a job that is being sought after by hundreds of other graduates.

Never fear my dear college senior, here are five tips to making the best impression with your resume.

1. Maximize your experiences.
Whether you helped out at your dad's office for the summer or planted trees for the local Arbor Day foundation, those experiences adds up to know-how. Think about all of the skills you used on each task and list them. Use lots of adjectives and please use the active voice.

2. Toot your own horn.
Did you increase sales by 50% (you go girl, er guy!)? Did enrollment jump from 350 to 1,000 because of you (you are incredible!)? Did you increase the efficiency of the sundae-making procedure (so industrious, aren't 'cha?)? If you changed the way your company or organization did something, say so. Employers like to see initiative in potential employees, so by all means toot your own horn. Just make sure that it's the truth. Which brings me to the next point.

3. Be honest.
It is now standard practice for employees to do a background checks on a person's credentials, credit, and references so be sure that all of the information on your resume is accurate. Even if a background check is not done at the time of hire, one could be done in the future and your job could be terminated if you were dishonest on your resume.

4. Make it pretty.
Okay it doesn't have to be pretty but it does have to be neat. As a recent graduate you want to keep your resume to one page, one and a half at most (K.I.S.S. Keep It Short Sweetie). The format, how it's arranged on the paper, should be easy to read. Leave plenty of white space so the eye (of your prospective employer) doesn't get tired. Use white or ivory, executive-type paper. If you are e-mailing your resume, keep it simple. Don't use bullets, lines, etc. because it will more than likely not be formatted correctly in the recipient's e-mail reader. Copy and paste the resume into the body of the e-mail because most people are leery of opening anything with attachments because of computer viruses.

5. List your skills.
This may seem obvious, but too many times people only list their hard skills such as computer software or hardware knowledge. It's good to list soft skills as well such as written and oral communications skills, initiative, organizational skills, and being a team player. These skills are all highly sought after and they could make the difference in whether you are hired or not.

Spring is here. The birds are chirping. Graduation Day has come and gone and now you are faced with the start of your career. Your resume is your calling card, so use it as the first tool in your arsenal of getting a job. Remember the 5 tips list above: 1. Maximize your experiences. 2. Toot your own horn. 3. Be honest. 4. Make it pretty. 5. List your skills. Next time we will talk about negotiating your salary. Ciao.

10 Key Career Success Questions

At some point in every professional or managerial career, there is a time when one start thinking: Is it time to move on or do something else? However, before you quit your job and take a fling at something else, realistically evaluate your career and potential options by asking yourself these ten career success questions:

  • Do I really like my work or am I hanging on marking time?
  • Am I promotable or am I seen as a disposable commodity?
  • Am I visible to potential employers, as well as my current boss?
  • Am I growing or stagnating or just standing still waiting for the next wave of change?
  • How smooth are my interpersonal relationships with my boss and co-workers?
  • Am I being rewarded at my true worth?
  • Have I recently checked out my value in the marketplace?
  • How valued and diversified are my skills and competencies?
  • How can I distinguish myself from competitors?
  • What will it take to get where I want to go from the place I am right now?

    While setting distinct goals is a critical factor in career advancement, remaining flexible is important too. Climbing the career ladder with blinders on could mean missed opportunity. Career success involves staying open, staying flexible and making sure you're using your talents to the fullest. Remember, control your destiny or someone else will!

    • Wake Up and Learn Something New

    The US Government has just released last month's job creation figures. It was the lowest number in two years. This is a revealing and disturbing snapshot of what is actually happening in the real economy, not the one artificially created for the headlines. Our US GNP or Gross National Product, is based upon manufactured durable goods. Unfortunately, the manufacturing economy in the US has not yet recovered from the devastating collapse it saw commence in the spring of 2000. The recent improvements in jobs and growth are substantially confined to the service sector. Manufacturing is what drives the US economy and it is suffering.

    Do you work in this market segment? Are you comfortable? Do you feel stable? Have you yet realized that there is no such thing as job security anymore? That concept is gone. Unlike our parents and their parents before them who could count on working in a selected field for a given employer for life and then retire, we of this generation, working in any aspect of manufacturing have no such luxury. Our job, or even the company we work for, could change overnight or possibly be gone in a heartbeat. The face of the Fortune 500 is drastically different than it was just 10 years ago. Many companies are gone forever or have been acquired other firms or holding companies. Many have split up and others are now manufacturing off-shore in China or India. So where is your security?

    What is it that you can count on during this period of instability? Where is your value as an employee? Unlike our ancestors who relied on a strong back to work the fields or do heavy labor, we rely on our knowledge and skills. Our value, what we have to offer employers, is located between our ears.

    Aside from your intrinsic value as a human being, a creation of God, do you offer enough real value your employer so that when the tough employment decisions have to be made, you are one of the people who stay? Do you offer enough value to demand that a new employer will hire you if you are not so fortunate? These are tough questions. We do not really like to examine these possibilities, but examine them we must, for there is no more job security.

    I recently spoke with a man that I had not seen in some time. He is the Quality Assurance Manager for a large, well-known manufacturer of consumer audio goods. He said that business was great, but he was fearful of his long-term prospects with his employer of 8 years because scuttlebutt had it that the company was quietly building their first plant in China, due to open in late-2006. He realizes that even though their products are technical in nature and superbly crafted, the plant's operations were basically assembly and packaging, and those functions could easily be done as well overseas at a much lower cost. Over the past year, he wisely reviewed his options, studied for and acquired his real estate license, and has begun selling homes part-time. He saw that he had little choice but to take action now, well in advance of what may occur to the plant next year.

    He woke up and decided to learn something new. Such a need exists for almost everyone else as well. This manager decided that if he was to maintain his lifestyle and have a promising future, he had to take charge now. He had to learn new skills, because the skills he had been trained in would possibly soon be rendered useless, at least to his existing employer.

    Could he locate to another position in a similar capacity at another company somewhere nearby? Possibly, but what guarantee would he have that they same thing would not happen there. There are no guarantees. He was forced to take action and expand his skills now.

    Some people are not as fortunate, and we hear about them everyday in the news. This plant is closing their doors. That company is reducing employment by 60%. Another company is expected to only hire 15 people instead of the 45 that they originally thought. It goes on and on. What do these people do now? They have to act fast. They typically have to learn new skills so as to be able to offer value to a new employer somewhere else.

    The bottom line is that since we no longer have any real job security, life-long learning is more important than ever. What is this life-long learning? It is the concept of continuous learning. Many people go through primary and high school, possibly college and declare that their education is over. It does not work that way anymore. We must at least be continuously learning additional skills in our chosen field and possibly even expanding our skills into new fields. In this manner, we offer maximum value to our employer or possible a future employer who may even operate in a different industry.

    Wake up and learn something new. Sitting idle and dormant will surely prove costly to you. There is no other real alternative. You need to get busy now.

    Mastering The Lunch Interview

    Interviews can be nerve-racking, brain-draining, headache-inducing experiences. These days, recruiters have found a way to make the interview even more difficult by combining the experience with a meal. This means that in addition to listening to the interviewer, formulating intelligent responses, and trying your hardest to be confident, you now have pay attention to how you look while eating.

    Interviews over lunch or dinner are an increasingly popular recruiting tool. This http://www.WorkTree.com career article gives you the need-to-knows of the meal interview.

    1. Mind your manners
    2. The dish dilemma
    3. Consume and converse
    4. Finish with a bang

    1. MIND YOUR MANNERS

    It may seem unnecessary to mention, but those basic table manners you were taught as a child still matter. In casual settings, poor manners are not always corrected. Therefore, you could have picked up some habits that your mother would be ashamed of and more likely than not, your interviewer probably will not be too be impressed by them either.

    Here are just a few of the habits you should be mindful of during a meal interview:

    - BE POLITE. In addition to evaluating your answers to questions, an interviewer is also assessing your personality. Be courteous and respectful to everyone, especially the wait staff. Words such as "please" and "thank you" speak worlds about your character.

    - BE AWARE. Keeping you elbows on the table, chewing with your mouth open, talking with your mouth full all convey a negative impression. Pay attention to even your smallest actions.

    - BE PREPARED. If you feel uncertain about your table manners, consult the experts. Emily Post's books on etiquette are considered to be among the definitive works on etiquette. There is no shame in doing research; after all, this is an interview.

    2. THE DISH DILEMMA

    Even though you are being treated to a nice meal, you are not free to order any dish you like. You are in an interview, and therefore, you have the duty of maintaining a certain level of professionalism and formality throughout the meal.

    There are no definitive rules of food selection, and you may have to make a game-time decision. However, following these rules will help you steer clear of trouble:

    - AVOID MESSES. Steer clear of foods that have to be eaten with your hands or have a tendency to splatter. It is hard to recover from the embarrassment of splashing your interviewer with spaghetti sauce, nor do you want to inadvertently adorn yourself with gravy or cream sauce. So stick to foods that can be cut into small pieces with a knife and fork.

    - NO STENCHES. Avoid foods that have a strong or unpleasant order. You are better off having an interviewer not remember you at all rather than as the candidate with bad breath. So no matter how much you love onions and garlic, lay off the stinkers for one meal.

    - KEEP IT QUIET. You need to be able to conduct a civil conversation. Avoid foods that are crunchy and noisy to eat. In a public setting there is a lot of noise that could drown out the voice of a person sitting across from you so try not to order food that would add to the problem.

    - FOLLOW THE LEADER. You may be wondering if a menu item is priced too high or if to order an appetizer first, etc. The answer is to follow your interviewer's lead. Try to order food in the same price range as the interviewer and order the same number of courses. You do not want to be sitting idle while the recruiter is still eating.

    3. CONSUME AND CONVERSE

    You are at an interview and also dining out. This means you need to not only be talking, but also eating. It can sometimes be difficult to do both.

    Try and keep these issues in mind when posed with the challenge of eating and talking at the same time:

    - YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Don't feel so pressured to talk that you don't eat at all. This can be interpreted as nervousness.

    - ASK QUESTIONS. When going to an interview, it is always a good idea to have questions. This will allow you get more information on the company and show that you have done your homework. During the meal interview, it will also give you the opportunity to actually eat as your interviewer responds to your questions.

    4. FINISHING WITH A BANG Unlike that of a standard interview, the end of a meal interview does not just end with a handshake and a "Thank You". There are other things to keep in mind including:

    - DON'T OFFER TO PAY. It's never expected of a job candidate, and you don't need to do it.

    - NEVER ASK FOR A DOGGY BAG. No matter how delicious the meal was, requesting to take a portion of it home is not appropriate for the setting.

    - REAFFIRM YOUR INTEREST. Let the interviewer know how much you would like to work for his/her company.

    - A "Thank You" AND HANDSHAKE CAN'T HURT. As in any interview, don't forget to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. In addition, be sure to be gracious and say that you enjoyed the meal and end the interview with a firm handshake. Make sure to follow up with a thank you letter in the morning.

    CONCLUSION

    The meal interview is tricky, but not impossible. With a little guidance and a lot of confidence, you can sail through them with flying colors. Just try to keep these helpful hints in mind. Good luck and bon appйtit!

    We hope you found this edition helpful Selin, and we promise to bring you even more valuable career advice and tips next month.

    Just a Series of Choices

    Steve's a pretty regular guy - wife, 4 kids in their blended family, 12+ years of engineering experience, a degree, mortgage, car payments, some debt? and feeling depressed because he waited to look till the end. Last time he transitioned was 5 years ago for more money and he liked some of the people and it was simple?this time he's heard some in his professional association have been looking for almost a year...and they weren't lightweights. No wonder he's sweating.

    Steve's wife can't figure out why he's so moody and angry?she doesn't understand that Steve has feelings of rejection from a company he had been loyal to for 5 years. He had poured heart and soul into his projects. Even though he didn't always agree with his manager's direction, on a project he shepherded, he had been recognized for achievement. Gosh, only 2 years in and already a rising "star".

    In hindsight, Steve saw he had subtly butted heads on how the team was treated by management and that he made suggestions that "his bosses' way" was backward. Things began to slip. It was more real when he didn't get a merit raise. He didn't fathom the basic tenet that consistent values with the management are fundamental to longevity. You see, Steve made an "easy" choice to compromise his work ethics and principles because he thought he was on the upside of lots of growth (money).

    Choice #1 - Choose based on values - not only on personalities in the organization.

    Now that his desk was cleared out, a few weeks to wind down was in order before he could mount the energy to start looking. After all, he deserved a break, didn't he? It gave him time to think over what went wrong?to concentrate, to brood over the calamity that landed on him because others hadn't done their jobs. It simply wasn't fair?Jesse, their 6 year old, couldn't understand why "daddy just sits in the den and won't play with me anymore?"

    Choice #2 - You have power to choose your reaction to difficulty. It was business, not personal, and even if it was personal, so what, get some support, get some direction, get some help to tackle this bump in the road and get on with life.

    Steve's wife finally pushed him to get his resume posted online?this is easy! What he didn't know was the internet is only about 4% of the market and that less than 10% of the companies who have posted have ever hired someone from the internet. He has complacently fallen into a deadly trap believing quantity will always yield quality positions!

    Choice #3 - Choosing to get a career by coincidence will seldom (read seldom as never) yield a role with expansive growth potential and long term satisfaction. It is not easy; it takes expertise, competitive edges of timing, better exposure and more powerful communications about capacity to win a position of your choice.

    Eventually, Steve let a recruiter encourage him to "get his foot in the door" in a company a few states over. It was his only "egg in his nest" and a few steps back to where he had been 8-9 years earlier?and he'd have to leave Sundays and come back home Fridays since relocation wasn't even offered. But what choice does he have - it's been 11 months since he was let go and savings have dwindled and he's tired of being a stay-at-home dad.

    Choice #4 - Choosing to take a job will only spiral down his career, his confidence, his perceived capability and his cash. Being talked into - that is recruited/sold - a cookie-cutter position versus taking a position that has been engineered around him. There should be no question.

    Well, Steve has gotten accustomed to the commute and his efficiency apartment and really looks forward to seeing his kids next weekend. The job is just that - he's surviving, but there's no challenge?same-o every day. That recruiter called back to say he's got another job like this on the East Coast - Steve hung up on him this time?about all the energy he could muster. Been feeling really exhausted.

    Choice #5 - Choosing to ignore his body cues of exhaustion only leads Steve to depression and powerlessness and feeling trapped again. Choosing to have proper rest, diet, exercise and balance of life invigorates.

    Steve's 17 month anniversary is coming up - he's looking a little haggard from the day-to-day grind. It's Friday, about 2 and Steve's boss wants him to come to the conference room?and the HR person is there?

    Choice #6 - Steve can choose to run this cycle again?or choose to purposefully utilize his full potential by proactively marketing himself.

    It's Steve's choice?it's his career?it's his life? Then, again, maybe it's not Steve; maybe it's you???

    What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job

    Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and distressing experience at the best of times. If you are over 40 and can't find the job you deserve, you will need great inner strength and self belief to come out on top.

    Could this be you?

    You're working at your family's welding business during the day, and then go to your second job at night. You're 50-some years old, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that if you're 40 years old and have a career that requires you to wear a name tag, then to just shoot you!

    Not that there's anything wrong with working at Target or wearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are all honest jobs. It's just that after 20 years with your previous company, and with your education and expertise, you hadn't exactly planned on ramping up to your golden years asking customers if they'd like to save ten percent on their purchase by opening a store credit card.

    You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as you knew, the numbers were good. At least they were good. Then competition took over and the owners decided it was a good time to bow out gracefully. You were hoping you weren't going to be one of the countless main wage earners to get let go. But sadly, you were. Unemployment ran out. You sent out literally hundreds of resumes and still nothing. Your spirits are down, you're frustrated (that's an understatement) and you even had to humble yourself to get some help from a local food pantry.

    You've done all the online courses; you have tirelessly pounded the pavement and scoured the classified ads. You've even hit up all the online sources to jobs such as www.monster.com www.usajobs.com hotjobs.yahoo.com and about 800 other job boards that you regularly surf. If one more person tells you that a door closes and a window opens or that good things come to those who wait, you think you're going to puke.

    You have a family counting on you; so now what? For starters, keep plugging along. Keep on keeping on. You know a job isn't going to fall from the sky, so you need to just accept that your job right now is finding a job. You are working and you're working harder than most at this task.

    More importantly you need to keep a positive outlook. Yes that's easier said than done. But if you can't control the circumstances you can control your attitude toward it. You can either look at downsizing as an opportunity to do something different or to learn something new; or you can view it by accepting that you've been dealt a bad hand of cards and now all you can do is play it out. Do not view yourself as a victim. No good will come from that attitude.

    You wouldn't have advanced nor had the longevity that you did in your former career had it not been for your wherewithal and internal drive. You need to find that strength again. If you're still having a pity party, it's time to get over it. If you've sent out that many resumes and exhausted what you believe to be all your leads and you're still bitter and feeling sorry for yourself, it's time to reevaluate. If you haven't already accepted a job that you're overqualified for and underpaid, then it's time you did.

    Pride can be our biggest downfall. Working a family business that you never wanted to, or working nights at the concession stand may not be what you envisioned for yourself. View it as temporary. View it as a paycheck. View it as an opportunity to network with people you would have never had the opportunity to cross paths. Maybe your next customer could be a business owner that you've been attempting to get an interview with.

    As for the people who give you clichйs - know that they mean well. People who have not been a mile in your shoes don't understand it. They don't know what to say. Remember downsizing sometimes sucks, but it may be forcing you into a new opportunity that you really love. Make the best of it.

    Cracking the Connection Code: Networking for the Introverted

    We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and network!" If it was that easy, we would already be doing it. So why is it so hard? Well, you're an introvert, aren't you? Enough said.

    However, unless the prospect of a really long job search excites you, you have to get out there and connect with people who don't know you but who could benefit from your expertise.

    Below are a baker's dozen tips to help you crack the connection code.

    1. Attend with a purpose in mind. Be choosy about the events you attend. Pick the ones that interest you most. It could be a ribbon cutting for a new business, a chamber of commerce mixer, SPCA benefit, or pink slip party.

    2. Take a friend. Make a game of it. Challenge each other to beat your stated goals with the winner treating for ice cream.

    3. Plan ahead. Set a networking goal to talk with at least five people and collect business cards from three individuals in your industry, profession, or career of interest.

    4. Split up. Rule #1 is you can't talk to your networking partner until you've met the goals you've set for yourself. That means you can't sit with each other, hang around the food table together, or accompany each other to the rest room. However, you may smile encouragingly across the room.

    5. Surprise, it's not about you! Walk up to someone you don't know. Ask the other person an opening question. It can be something as simple as, "What made you decide to attend tonight?", "What brings you to this meeting?", "Do you attend often?", or "What kind of work do you do?"

    6. Focus on them! Ask compelling questions: "Tell me more about your work or business." "What is a good referral for you?" "What are you hoping to achieve tonight?" Get them talking about themselves and then offer a little information about yourself.

    7. Create a compelling commercial. When it's your turn to tell them about yourself, take fifteen seconds or less to capture their attention and make them want to know more. Help them understand what you hope to achieve at this event and how they can help.

    8. Take little steps. Don't force yourself to join a large boisterous crowd. Instead seek out a friendly looking individual who isn't part of a group. Smile and extend your hand in greeting. He's probably as relieved as you are to connect with a friendly stranger.

    9. What's in it for you? Everything! Seventy to eighty-five percent of jobs are found through networking. It's not who you know; it's who your friends know that makes the difference! So use this networking opportunity to make friends.

    10. Visibility is key. As an introvert, I've learned three important things about networking: You've got to get out there and be seen; the more you do it, the easier it gets; and the more people who know you, the greater your chances for making meaningful connections.

    11. Get on the fast track. Join a networking group. Your comfort level and connection quotient will grow astronomically when networking is part of your regular routine.

    12. Smile! Be approachable. Make others want to meet you and get to know you better.

    13. Make a date to follow up. Make it your goal to connect with at least one person that you would like to get to know better. Invite him or her to meet by telephone or for coffee. Look for ways to make the meeting mutually beneficial.

    You have a whole world of valuable contacts to share and new ones to make, so apply these networking tips. Before you know it, you will crack the connection code!

    Conduct An Informational Interview

    Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as you can about the industry and career you're seeking a job in from people who are already in that career.

    Many job seekers don't conduct informational interviews because the purpose of this type of interview is NOT to ask for a job. But, when you talk with people in your area of interest, you establish rapport with them, get salary ranges for the position and hopefully, have your name passed along to the hiring manager when there is an opening in their company.

    Conducting an informational interview can be a very powerful job seeking tool for you. As you conduct these interviews, you're:

  • Establishing several important contacts
  • learning more about the industry you want to work for
  • and getting your name out there before anyone else in case a job opens up.

    You can also take the information you gathered from these informational interviews and apply them to a regular one-on-one job interview. For example, you'll be able to negotiate your salary better because you found out beforehand what the salary range was for the job you're seeking.

    The informational interview is almost like a hidden secret for job hunting success, since so few people use this technique. Get the advantage over other job seekers by adding this powerful tool to your job search.

    • Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews

    It takes a lot of time and effort to get invited to a job interview. Don't blow your chances by being misunderstood by the interviewer. Not many people are aware that giving one word answers to questions, substantially increases your chances of conveying the wrong impression.

    Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews

    During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you take on more than one project at a time?" If you respond, "Yes," you may want to rethink that answer. According to Dynamic Listening: Interview Skills, a computer based training module from Mindleaders in Columbus, Ohio, you should avoid one-word or one-sentence answers.

    Be specific. And speak money-language. Here's a preferred answer to the question above, "In general, depending upon the type and length of projects, I believe in efficiently handling more than one project at a time. This could save a company as much as 30%." Let's check out the definition of "active listening skills" and learn more to help with your next interview?

    Active Listening Skills

    Just as everyday "speaking" is not the same as public speaking; "listening" is not the same as active listening. Active listening means two things: analysis and response to the message being communicated.

    An active listener maintains eye contact and good posture with a slight lean towards the speaker. During the interview, the listener nods, smiles and takes notes. Be ware, however, that a daydreamer or pseudolistener, can adopt these behaviors. So a listener's physical response does not necessarily mean good listening skills are at work.

    Nonverbal communication, more than just the nod or smile, is important. Gestures, appearance, timing, voice responses, facial expressions, spatial distance - all affect how the speaker (or interview) interprets the listener. So a person preparing for a job or work project interview should consider the cultural climate and norms of society of the interviewer. In short, perceived active listening based on nonverbal signals can vary from culture to culture.

    Especially in this age of such great cultural diversity, be courteous of others regardless of cultural, sexual or societal backgrounds. If you are a woman and get to a door before a man, open it. If your interviewer doesn't speak English very well and looks puzzled at your words, go back and explain yourself again in different words and re-establish a good communication exchange.

    Note: a major part of active listening is paraphrasing. It's not the same as summarizing. A summary is a shortened version of the original message, focusing on the main point. To paraphrase means to re-state the message in your own words.

    Active listeners take notes by paraphrasing or restating what the speaker said in their own words, and summarizing main points. A good listener is not the same thing as a silent listener. Good listeners ask questions, even something like, "Is this an accurate paraphrase of you have said?" to let the speaker know that you understand the message being communicated.

    Resumes Arent Important - They are Everything When it Comes to Getting an Interview

    Employers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for every position they are trying to fill. To select their shortlist of candidates to interview, they look for the most common resume mistakes most applicants make and eliminate them first.

    To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.

    Ten Resume Mistakes to Avoid

    Whether you've been downsized, are looking for a career change or are just starting out, your resume speaks volumes about you. If your resume doesn't make it past the first cut, you're doomed; no matter how qualified you are. Below are ten common mistakes to avoid when putting your resume together. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

    1. Multiple pages - You need to be concise. Keep it to one page and one page only. If you can't highlight your talents on one page, you're giving the message that you are unorganized and tend to go on and on.

    2. Fancy paper - If your skills don't speak for themselves, then your fancy paper isn't going to make a bit of difference.

    3. Fancy font - Same as above. Don't try to set yourself apart with a different font on your resume. Set yourself apart by being uniquely qualified.

    4. Irrelevant info - No one really cares that you were a singing waiter if you're applying for an accountant job.

    5. Outdated information - Does it matter than you had a newspaper route and were on the high school cheerleading squad 24 years ago? No, not in the least. Leave it off.

    6. Typos and misspellings - You would think this is an obvious one, but you'd be amazed at the number of resumes received with big blaring mistakes.

    7. Falsified information -Greatly elaborated credentials are the same as lies. Do not list diplomas, certifications, affiliations or awards that you did not earn. Just don't do it. It'll come back to bite you in the butt.

    8. Attachments - At the resume stage do not send any attachments, whatsoever. If you are granted an interview, at that time you could bring in whatever it is you're so hot to get into the selecting official's hands. The person accepting the resumes will likely just throw it in the round file.

    9. Elaborating too much - Place of employment, job title and brief, very brief description of job responsibilities are all you need. Don't complete a whole paragraph for each job you've held.

    10. No cover letter - Writing a good cover letter is a bit of an art. However, any cover letter is better than none. Just keep the same principles in mind with your letter: Brevity, relevant and free from typos.

    If you can avoid these simple ten resume mistakes, you're more than half way there to getting an interview. Once you have your foot in the door you can really shine for the boss. If you don't make it past the first cut, due to any of the above fatal mistakes, your beautiful resume will be used to wipe up coffee spills or will be added to the recycle pile! Don't let that happen to you.

    Resumes Arent Important - They are Everything When it Comes to Getting an Interview

    Employers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for every position they are trying to fill. To select their shortlist of candidates to interview, they look for the most common resume mistakes most applicants make and eliminate them first.

    To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.

    Ten Resume Mistakes to Avoid

    Whether you've been downsized, are looking for a career change or are just starting out, your resume speaks volumes about you. If your resume doesn't make it past the first cut, you're doomed; no matter how qualified you are. Below are ten common mistakes to avoid when putting your resume together. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

    1. Multiple pages - You need to be concise. Keep it to one page and one page only. If you can't highlight your talents on one page, you're giving the message that you are unorganized and tend to go on and on.

    2. Fancy paper - If your skills don't speak for themselves, then your fancy paper isn't going to make a bit of difference.

    3. Fancy font - Same as above. Don't try to set yourself apart with a different font on your resume. Set yourself apart by being uniquely qualified.

    4. Irrelevant info - No one really cares that you were a singing waiter if you're applying for an accountant job.

    5. Outdated information - Does it matter than you had a newspaper route and were on the high school cheerleading squad 24 years ago? No, not in the least. Leave it off.

    6. Typos and misspellings - You would think this is an obvious one, but you'd be amazed at the number of resumes received with big blaring mistakes.

    7. Falsified information -Greatly elaborated credentials are the same as lies. Do not list diplomas, certifications, affiliations or awards that you did not earn. Just don't do it. It'll come back to bite you in the butt.

    8. Attachments - At the resume stage do not send any attachments, whatsoever. If you are granted an interview, at that time you could bring in whatever it is you're so hot to get into the selecting official's hands. The person accepting the resumes will likely just throw it in the round file.

    9. Elaborating too much - Place of employment, job title and brief, very brief description of job responsibilities are all you need. Don't complete a whole paragraph for each job you've held.

    10. No cover letter - Writing a good cover letter is a bit of an art. However, any cover letter is better than none. Just keep the same principles in mind with your letter: Brevity, relevant and free from typos.

    If you can avoid these simple ten resume mistakes, you're more than half way there to getting an interview. Once you have your foot in the door you can really shine for the boss. If you don't make it past the first cut, due to any of the above fatal mistakes, your beautiful resume will be used to wipe up coffee spills or will be added to the recycle pile! Don't let that happen to you.

    Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews

    It takes a lot of time and effort to get invited to a job interview. Don't blow your chances by being misunderstood by the interviewer. Not many people are aware that giving one word answers to questions, substantially increases your chances of conveying the wrong impression.

    Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews

    During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you take on more than one project at a time?" If you respond, "Yes," you may want to rethink that answer. According to Dynamic Listening: Interview Skills, a computer based training module from Mindleaders in Columbus, Ohio, you should avoid one-word or one-sentence answers.

    Be specific. And speak money-language. Here's a preferred answer to the question above, "In general, depending upon the type and length of projects, I believe in efficiently handling more than one project at a time. This could save a company as much as 30%." Let's check out the definition of "active listening skills" and learn more to help with your next interview?

    Active Listening Skills

    Just as everyday "speaking" is not the same as public speaking; "listening" is not the same as active listening. Active listening means two things: analysis and response to the message being communicated.

    An active listener maintains eye contact and good posture with a slight lean towards the speaker. During the interview, the listener nods, smiles and takes notes. Be ware, however, that a daydreamer or pseudolistener, can adopt these behaviors. So a listener's physical response does not necessarily mean good listening skills are at work.

    Nonverbal communication, more than just the nod or smile, is important. Gestures, appearance, timing, voice responses, facial expressions, spatial distance - all affect how the speaker (or interview) interprets the listener. So a person preparing for a job or work project interview should consider the cultural climate and norms of society of the interviewer. In short, perceived active listening based on nonverbal signals can vary from culture to culture.

    Especially in this age of such great cultural diversity, be courteous of others regardless of cultural, sexual or societal backgrounds. If you are a woman and get to a door before a man, open it. If your interviewer doesn't speak English very well and looks puzzled at your words, go back and explain yourself again in different words and re-establish a good communication exchange.

    Note: a major part of active listening is paraphrasing. It's not the same as summarizing. A summary is a shortened version of the original message, focusing on the main point. To paraphrase means to re-state the message in your own words.

    Active listeners take notes by paraphrasing or restating what the speaker said in their own words, and summarizing main points. A good listener is not the same thing as a silent listener. Good listeners ask questions, even something like, "Is this an accurate paraphrase of you have said?" to let the speaker know that you understand the message being communicated.

    How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview

    Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are your resume will end up in the trash bin without even being looked at.

    On the other hand, a well written cover letter can almost guarantee you get an interview.

    Interview Winning Cover Letters

    Ok, you may not win any awards for the cover letter that you enclose to your resume, but you may increase your odds it actually getting read, if you follow a few simple steps.

    1. Keep it brief. Your resume is the document that conveys your qualifications, therefore your cover letter need not go on and on about how wonderful you are.

    2. Remember it serves a purpose. It is announcing you - and your enclosed information, your resume.

    3. Tell them what you're doing: I'm applying for the position of? Enclosed is my resume for the position of ?

    4. Clearly state what position you're applying for. Don't assume the Human Resources person will automatically know what job you want or that they only have one opening.

    5. Highlight a few of your strong suits. Although brevity is the key here, you don't want to merely say, "Here's my resume. Bub Bye."

    6. Don't be redundant with contact information. All that pertinent information should be on your resume.

    7. Don't staple your cover letter to your resume. Often photocopies need to be made and it just frustrates the person making the copies to have to remove your staples. Use a paperclip if you feel the need to attach it; else just send it on top of your resume.

    8. Typos. That's an obvious one. It's hard to proof your own work. Find one other person to give both your cover letter and resume a glance over. You're dead in the water if your cover letter has misspellings, poor grammar or typos.

    Below is a same letter you can use as a guide:
    ---

    Date

    Human Resources, COMPANY NAME HERE
    RE: NAME OF VACANT POSITION

    Enclosed please find my resume'. I am very much interested in working with you as your POSITION TITLE. As you will see from my enclosed resume' I am qualified in a variety of areas. (Or I am uniquely qualified for this position because of my vast experience in ?). My college degrees are in Business Administration with a minor in Management. I have spent the last two decades performing INSERT SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.

    I am anxious to discuss this opportunity with you further.

    Respectfully,

    Your Name ---

    You as can see, the above cover letter is short and to the point. It serves a purpose of prefacing your resume. Don't waste your time going on and on and on. It will not get read. As it stands, you have a 50/50 chance that anyone will even read your cover letter. Are you willing to take 50% odds that it will be read, only to have a lousy cover letter that will essentially hinder your resume from consideration? Follow the above simple steps and you'll make a great first impression. Of course, it's up to you to have knowledge, skills and abilities to back it; but at least you're starting off right!

    Ask For That Raise!

    For nine years Jeff worked for company G as an engineer. Flying airplanes was his first love. His job came in a close second place. That changed when Jeff met Judy. Their relationship quickly turned serious and they married.

    When Jeff and Judy sat down to do financial planning as a couple, Judy learned Jeff's salary was surprisingly low. With a human resource background, Judy knew the salary range for Jeff's type of work, and what his credentials were worth. Jeff was seriously underpaid.

    Jeff was shocked and somewhat crestfallen. His attitude was, "I'm lucky to do what I love AND GET PAID for having fun!"

    As Jeff began to understand his market value he felt betrayed. Had he been duped? Had he been a fool for years? Was his company taking advantage of him? He wanted to keep his job. Asking for a raise was painful. The idea of asking for a 30% raise was excruciating!

    With a wife and future family it was time for Jeff to pay attention to his compensation.

    Jeff had read The Ripple Effect, Speak Your Mind Constructively, and sat down to write his request. He was flooded with anger, frustration, fear of hearing "no raise for you", and possibly the prospect of looking for another job. He felt disloyal yet asking to be paid a fair marketplace value was good business, not disloyalty. With a tug of war going on in his head, Jeff stayed focused on the conversation that would impact his future.

    When he sat down with his boss Jeff got to the point. "I have worked here for nine years. My reviews have consistently been good to great. I've worked in several departments and handled every task assigned to me, competently. I love my job and have been very happy working here. I feel I'm underpaid and I am requesting a raise of $13,000. I know you need time to talk with upper management. When can I expect an answer?"

    Jeff's boss was dumbfounded. Jeff was asking for five times what their typical raise amount was, yet he sensed Jeff had a fresh understanding of his value and was dead serious. Jeff did not cloud his request with emotion, accusations, or justifications. Jeff did not threaten to leave if he did not get the raise. He stated his position and was specific about his needs.

    Caught off guard, his boss simply said, "I hear you. Give me 48 hours to get you an answer."

    The next 48 hours were agonizing for Jeff and Judy. Finally, Jeff was called into his boss' office. "After careful consideration we are prepared to offer you $12,000. Will that work?"

    Now Jeff was dumbfounded. He was thrilled he had made the request. "Yes. That works fine. When will it start?" was Jeff's response.

    Jeff had newfound respect for himself and his credentials. He did what was right in his mind for his future. He followed the four steps in the Ripple Effect on how to create an effective message. He spoke in words that were comfortable for him. Emotions could have derailed his request but Jeff was careful to check his statements against the one principle and edit out any ineffective comments. Negative messages can trigger resistance, or resentment. Jeff disliked conflict and was happy with his behavior.

    We all live complicated lives. Using proven communication tools is easy when we simply get to know them. When we communicate effectively, we are able to omit ineffective tactics, knowing they are likely to foil our efforts.

    The Ripple Effect gives you an advantage. You can create outcomes that move your life forward and get your needs met consistently.

    This is a true story. The Ripple Effect, Speak Your Mind Constructively, demonstrates how everyone can address sensitive issues effectively. With one, easy to remember principle and ten communication skills, you can express your truth in your unique way, and know you said the right thing.

    Hiring the OverQualified Employee or Mining for Gold

    I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable resource such as the "over qualified employee is having such a hard time getting a job. Something seems to be out of whack here. How is that as a society we deplore people who live on welfare and rape our system, but at the same time, refuse to hire people who are out of work because they are seemingly over qualified for the job, EVEN when they are willing to work for thousands of dollars less than they would normally receive.

    Now this seems really weird to me. I can understand on the one hand why an employer may not want to hire the person who is overqualified. They may fear he will be unhappy in the position and will try to leave as soon as possible. This is a valid concern, however, think about it for a moment. This person is knocking at your door and willing to take thousands of dollars less because they CAN'T get a job. You have a gold mine walking into your office- why aren't you mining for gold?

    It seems to me that a change in perspective might be in order here. Think about the follow scenario from a Coaching perspective?..

    Imagine that you are in the market for mid range car such as Ford Focus and when you get to the dealership, the dealer is having a fantastic special. Today, he is selling BMW's and Audi imports for the SAME price as the domestic?no catch!! Please be honest here, are you going to purchase the upgrade for the same price or are you going to stay with your original decision. Which will it be? are you going to turn down the import or are you going to say "thank you very much" and drive out of there as fast as you can in your beautiful beamer before someone changes their mind? This is exactly what is happening when you hire the person who is over qualified for the job.

    You have an incredible opportunity from a strategic viewpoint to hire the knowledge, expertise and advice that this high price tag employee normally comes with, for an affordable price today. Think about how taking this person on can better your organization, even if it is for a limited time. We all know there are no guarantees in business today. Companies are downsizing to bare bones. Doesn't' it make sense then to maximize the employees that you do have? The way to do this is to hire the talent but for less money. Don't worry about how long they are going to stay with your organization. Obviously they were having a tough time getting hired in the first place if they were lowering their price and job expectation. Use them to implement new ideas and strategies that will propel your organization forward. Have them mentor your staff so that whatever knowledge they do come with, becomes enterprise property when they leave. This is like winning the Lottery.

    Thinking in the short term and wondering when this person will leave your organization, is taking a negative view of the situation. Instead, try putting a positive spin on this windfall, and think about all the improvements and implementations that may take place while they are under your employ. Try to give them a bit of autonomy, after all they were probably former managers and even CEO's, but if they are willing to take the job, then let them, and thank the Universe for the forces that led them to your doorstep.

    Frankie Picasso is an Entrepreneur and Customer Service Expert who has spent the past 20 years in Marketing and Customer Service consulting for both Public and Private Sector organizations. She is now a Motivational Speaker, Certified Master Trainer Coach in Leadership and Executive Business Coaching as well as a Professional Certified Life Coach with her company called Conversation with My Shoes.

    Seven Ways to Stand Out in a Sea of Applicants

    Is your rйsumй getting lost in a flood of rйsumйs? Are you certain you could demonstrate your value to potential employers, if you could just get in front of them? Do you want to dramatically increase your chances of getting a follow-up call from employers? Bait your job-search hook with these seven tips and you'll catch a whale of a good job.

    1. Write a focused, accomplishment-centered rйsumй. Make sure that your rйsumй includes several examples of how you added value in previous positions. Include what you did, the outcome and why that is important. I guarantee you will stand out from the crowd if you target your rйsumй, highlight key skills, include success stories complete with results, and make it easy on the eyes.

    2. Respond to appropriate ads. The owner of a successful job-search website often hears employers complain about job seekers who apply without offering any relevant qualifica-tions. Do yourself and everyone else a favor by responding to those ads that are obvious matches for your skills. If you have the right experience but your rйsumй doesn't show it, write a new rйsumй! Are you attempting to break into a new field? Do your homework first so that you can state your qualifications and background in terms that apply to the new job or industry. Remember, it's okay to have more than one version of your rйsumй. There is no such thing as good generic rйsumй.

    3. Take time to write a cover letter that addresses the specific requirements of the position. Use the job posting to identify requirements then match them to your qualifi-cations. Include examples of accomplishments that demonstrate the required skills.

    4. Make the subject line compelling when sending your rйsumй by e-mail. Simply writing rйsumй in the subject line is boring, boring, boring. How many e-mails in an employer's deluge contain rйsumй in the subject line? Thousands, I suspect. Use your subject line to immediately engage the reader and make him or her want to open your rйsumй first! If it lives up to the subject line he or she may never move on to the next one.

    5. Whenever possible direct your rйsumй and follow-up call to the person who has the power to hire you. This requires that you do some investigating to find out the name or title of the person who is the hiring manager. Yes, this takes a little more effort but the payoff is worth it.

    6. Call to follow up. Most job seekers send out their rйsumй and never follow up. They expect the employer to call them. Demon-strate that you are a go-getter by picking up the telephone and making that all important connection. First, confirm that your rйsumй has been received. Then politely inquire about the position and the next steps in the process. Ask when it would be appropriate to check back with them. Treat whomever you speak with on the telephone with respect-you could be talking with the decision-maker.

    7. Be prepared to sell yourself over the telephone. Most companies pre-screen applicants by telephone. Don't make the mistake of thinking this isn't a real interview. You need to shine here or you won't make it to the next level. Be prepared. Smile when you answer the telephone. It's show time

    Searching for an Executive Job

    A job search for executives is far less complicated today than it has been in the past. Anyone who is looking for an executive job can simply look to the Internet where there are hundreds of employment websites, with many specifically geared towards executives. These websites offer individuals the opportunity to network with other executives in order to share ideas, offer communication about opportunities and support that can be useful during a job search.

    The best way to begin looking for an executive position is to have an exceptional resume that provides any potential employer with an individualized declaration of that person's educational and employment history, in addition to their professional direction anticipated for the future. The resume is such an important part of a job search that it can truly mean the difference between landing an interview and having the resume discarded. There are a number of things that can set one candidate apart from another, and an outstanding resume can be a great start.

    Job search websites for executives often work closely with recruiters from a number of specialty areas in order to make the right connections. Meetings and interviews can take place on the Internet or via phone. Some job search services come with full support from a professional staff to provide answers and counseling during the process.

    Many executives who are looking for a job are in a position where they would like to keep the fact that they intend to change companies a private matter. Posting a resume on a job search website might seem risky, but a lot of these sites provide only resume information, and it is up to the individual posting the resume to release any contact information. Be sure to confirm the site's confidentiality options before proceeding.

    Auto-Disqualification - When Your Resume Never Reaches the Decision Maker

    How would you know if your resume did or didn't reach the appropriate decision maker? You can truly never know for certain. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your resume does not get "auto-disqualified", or provide obvious reasons not to be hired.

    There are several "mistakes" commonly made in resumes that give immediate reasons why you will not be offered the opportunity to go to the next step in the hiring process.

    The usual first step in obtaining a position is the submission of your resume. Typically that is to the staff in a Human Resources department.

    Often, HR is given a specific group of parameters the hiring manager is seeking in a particular applicant. If a resume does not reflect those parameters it is often filed away and never given to the decision maker.

    Age is often a factor in this process. Age discrimination happens. It happens to applicants that are too old for a position or too young. Companies are not allowed to ask an applicant's age, but often times they don't have to. Many people reflect this information voluntarily in their resume. By giving a high school graduation year, college graduation year, or even the dates you attended schools gives the reader ample information to decide if you are too young or too old for the position. Age is never a reason you will be hired, but it certainly could be a reason you are not hired. Why give them this information?

    Many applicants are concerned that they have worked for only one company or in only one industry and that their skills are not transferable to other industries. This is when your marketing skills are truly tested. Marketing yourself is very similar to marketing a product. Find out what is going to make you attractive to the employer as a potential employee and showcase those skills in your resume.

    So, how can you avoid "Auto-Disqualifying"?

    Example: If you are applying for a management position but have never held a manager's "title," showcase the fact that you have managed others or supervised projects so the person reading your resume understands that you have the necessary skills even though you have not held the title. If your resume is not reflecting your skills, then it is probably being disqualified before it reaches a true decision maker. This is commonly known in the employment industry as "auto-disqualifying."

    Education, or lack of, is a tougher hurdle to overcome. Many positions have an educational requirement that some people have not achieved. This again brings us to marketing yourself. Showcase, through your resume, that you have the skills and knowledge to succeed at the position they are trying to fill. There are very few "perfect applicants" for any particular position, as a result decision makers typically must choose whom they feel is right for the job based on skills, experience and you're your ability to fit into their team.

    Do you know if your resume is reaching decision makers? Market your skills in your resume to ensure that your resume is actually reaching the true decision maker. Do this and increase your chances of landing that interview!

    5 Steps to Standing Out Above the Crowd at Work

    Do you feel like one in a million at work - and not in a good way? When you run into your boss in the hallway, do you get the impression she isn't sure who you are? Are the juicy projects always going to someone else?

    If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you need to raise your work profile. Here are some tips to get you started.

    1. Listen more than you talk. If you offer an opinion, suggestion, comment or question at every opportunity, soon people will run away when they see you coming. Remember when you were in college and there was always one smart-aleck who, when the class was asked, "Are there any more questions?" would shoot his hand in the air and hold the class up? Don't be that student in the boardroom. If you listen carefully and confine yourself to intelligent and to the-point remarks, you'll end up looking smarter than most of the people in the room. And when you do have something to say, everyone will listen.

    2. Meetings aren't for airing dirty laundry. If you have a problem or gripe with someone, bring it to his or her attention privately. When you point fingers or air departmental problems in a group setting, you (a) blindside the person you're complaining about, and (b) have just about ruined your chances for a peaceful resolution. Besides, the next time you make a mistake, that person will fall all over himself to make sure to bring it up in a large meeting just to watch you squirm.

    3. Try to catch people doing something right. Whether boss, co-worker or subordinate, people love to be told they're doing a good job. You don't have to turn into Eddie Haskell to be aware of opportunities to compliment someone. Keep it short, low-key and honest. It's even better if you can pass the compliment to someone else. "Hey, boss, Jim was a huge help to us on the Acme project - he made some suggestions that should save us $20,000." What are the chances that the boss is going to mention it to Jim the next time he sees him? Pretty good.

    4. Know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Pick your battles. If you've made the best case you can for doing something a certain way and the boss decides to do it Sally's way, smile and go along (unless doing it Sally's way is going to send you to jail). If your way really is better, people will remember that when Sally folds like a cheap card table. When you do decide to keep fighting to do it your way, make sure it's something worth fighting for and not just because you can't stand to lose. If you only start a war when the stakes are high you have a better chance of coming out on top than if you try to fight every low-level skirmish like Sherman going through Atlanta.

    5. Don't hide your mistakes. As soon as it becomes apparent that something has gone wrong, take it to your boss and be upfront about what happened. Have a plan laid out to correct the problem and limit the fallout. You should be able to tell the boss that you've already put the recovery in motion and exactly what the final outcome will be. The key here is to accept the blame without hand wringing or whining and pointing fingers at your subordinates or other departments. You take the responsibility, and then you take the lead in fixing it.

    Looking for more career advice?

    Joan Schramm is a career, executive and personal coach with twenty years experience in management, training and coaching. Joan can work with you to figure out exactly what you want from your life and your career, and how to get there without a lot of detours.

    You Are Not Entitled to a Job!

    Some basics about job hunting...

    First of all, nobody owes you a job! This obvious fact is often overlooked by the eager job hunter -- at least for a couple of months -- when he or she gives up looking for a job! Many people think employers should hire them because of their award-winning personality.

    You have got to have a little something to show for yourself besides your pretty smile. The simple truth is, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd so that your potential employer will actually listen to what you have to say.

    A great rйsumй is the best place to start. Action statements about what you have accomplished really stick out on a rйsumй. Vague statements can really hurt your chances for a position. Your rйsumй is the first chance to impress an employer. Do not ruin that chance with silly spelling errors and cloudy information. Employers love concise, well thought out rйsumйs. Your rйsumй is your map to a job. It should lead to a job and not the garbage. Write it like you spent the last year perfecting it. It should never sound like it was slopped together in an hour.

    A good way to STAND out from the competition is by expressing your desire for the job with a little extra effort. There are ways of straying from the convention and yet remaining in the norm. A paper rйsumй is the norm. Rйsumйs can take any form your imagination takes you. Some employers will welcome creativity and other formats such as portfolios or website rйsumйs. A great place to discover new ways of impressing employers is at Vision-Rйsumй. This extra effort might just help you stand out from the crowd and provide the traction needed to remain in an employers mind. However, standing on your creative submission alone is not very wise. You should back up your portfolio or website with a traditional paper rйsumй as well to appease the unmoved hirer.

    The most important thing to remember in this battle-ground of job seeking is that employers do not owe you a thing. They have a position to fill and you are just one of a few, if not hundreds of persons asking for the job. So, enter the task of job-hunting as if looking for a soul mate. It takes effort, and only the most dedicated win the best jobs.
    Rйsumй Tips

    Some basics about job hunting...

    First of all, nobody owes you a job! This obvious fact is often overlooked by the eager job hunter -- at least for a couple of months -- when he or she gives up looking for a job! Many people think employers should hire them because of their award-winning personality.

    You have got to have a little something to show for yourself besides your pretty smile. The simple truth is, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd so that your potential employer will actually listen to what you have to say.

    A great rйsumй is the best place to start. Action statements about what you have accomplished really stick out on a rйsumй. Vague statements can really hurt your chances for a position. Your rйsumй is the first chance to impress an employer. Do not ruin that chance with silly spelling errors and cloudy information. Employers love concise, well thought out rйsumйs. Your rйsumй is your map to a job. It should lead to a job and not the garbage. Write it like you spent the last year perfecting it. It should never sound like it was slopped together in an hour.

    A good way to STAND out from the competition is by expressing your desire for the job with a little extra effort. There are ways of straying from the convention and yet remaining in the norm. A paper rйsumй is the norm. Rйsumйs can take any form your imagination takes you. Some employers will welcome creativity and other formats such as portfolios or website rйsumйs. A great place to discover new ways of impressing employers is at Vision-Rйsumй. This extra effort might just help you stand out from the crowd and provide the traction needed to remain in an employers mind. However, standing on your creative submission alone is not very wise. You should back up your portfolio or website with a traditional paper rйsumй as well to appease the unmoved hirer.

    The most important thing to remember in this battle-ground of job seeking is that employers do not owe you a thing. They have a position to fill and you are just one of a few, if not hundreds of persons asking for the job. So, enter the task of job-hunting as if looking for a soul mate. It takes effort, and only the most dedicated win the best jobs.

    Searching for a Federal Job

    Many years ago searching for a federal job was a long, complicated and drawn out process. Today, it has been become far less complex and is now just a three-step process. Finding a federal job used to be accomplished through postings in a government office branch and sometimes in libraries. Today, finding an opening can be done right on the Internet. There is a web site that lists federal jobs also lists many state, local and even private business positions. Many of the federal, state and local jobs can be applied for right online. If a position requires a resume, individuals can take advantage of online resume development and transmission.

    Looking for a federal job can be done at most Federal buildings around the country and even through an interactive voice response telephone system for the hearing impaired. A search may turn up something called a 'hot job', which is a job that needs to be filled immediately. The office of personnel management usually posts these for those who are in need of immediate employment. If a person performing job search would like to work with a specific federal agency, many times each federal agency will list their job openings right on their individual web site.

    Most individuals looking for a federal job can complete the application process by submitting a resume, a federal employment application or even other written form of application approved by the department accepting applications. The federal government does provide application forms like the optional application for federal employment form OF-612 and the SF-171.

    If an individual has done a job search and found positions that he or she would like to apply for, whatever type of application is submitted should contain important information. Applicants should include all of the job information that was included in the job listing, the applicants personal information including all contact information, the applicant's educational history, previous employment record and any pertinent experience related to the job position. Once the federal job search and application process is complete, applicants simply need to wait for a response.

    Is Job Loss Making You Sick?

    Job loss affects most of us like any other loss in life. Yes, there are other losses that are greater, but this one comes close too!

    From my experience, job loss can make anyone sick! There can be terrible anger; anger which turns into depression. Even euphoria, has its other side; depression is it.

    Relief at getting out of a bad job should be enjoyed while it lasts. Relief and euphoria can prepare the job loser with a second wind!

    It's at the time when anger, depression and frustration set in that the job "loser--soon to be job seeker" can hit some rough spots with displaced anger; sleeplessness, and a feeling of mild despair.

    Again, from my point of view, this is the time of job loss to exercise at something. Exercising not as drudgery, but at something that is fun.

    The most important thing to do is to get emotional support. Never mind whether it is from a friend, family member or an agency. Support is crucial in avoiding illnesses, which can surface even after getting a new job.

    Talk, talk, talk it out. Write, write, write it out. This experience will not last forever.

    When you look at the experience from another point of view, MAYBE this is a new time to think of WELLNESS; when you look for your next job.

    Practice new skills before setting new goals, laugh a lot, and be good to yourself at last!

    How to Tell if You are Fired and Just Dont Know It

    No one should be fired and be surprised about it. There are always warning signs. The trick is in learning how to recognize the signs and to have a plan of action. Many time subtle hints are given that allude to the ax falling.

    Here is a checklist of early warning signs that add up to impending doom:

    Subtle

    * You are asked to update management on all your currents projects.

    * You no longer get asked to join meetings that you have always attended in the past.

    * You are pushed to wrap up longstanding projects.

    * You have a general sense of unease at work.

    * Your expense reports are closely scrutinized and require explanations.

    * Things that were expensed previously are now being questioned.

    * Time off for personal reasons is denied or questioned.

    * Your office space is downsized or moved to a distant location.

    * You are asked to transfer to an out of the way facility. * Your duties are changed to some not critical to the company's success.

    * You are asked to prepare a job description and explain your duties.

    * You walk into a room and there is silence.

    * Performance reviews are either canceled or rescheduled as an emergency.

    * Communications that were by mouth about your performance suddenly appear in written form.

    * Your income is frozen for no apparent reason. * No one invites you for drinks, lunch or social events. * HR wants to meet with you to update their records.

    Boss

    * Your boss meets with you less frequently with a much shorter duration.

    * You are suddenly given a performance review.

    * Your boss seems distant and unavailable.

    * Someone sees your boss outside the office with what looks like a job candidate.

    * Your boss seems inordinately interested in your contacts and resource base.

    * Your boss starts making your decisions and directing outcomes.

    * Your boss seems particularly interested in your project outcomes.

    * Management is conducting interviews for a job that is similar to yours.

    * You start reporting to a new boss who is a more junior manager.

    Subordinate

    * A new committee is formed to restructure the department and you are not on it.

    * You are no longer copied on memos and internal communications.

    * Other employees seem uncomfortable in your presence.

    * You are asked to explain your job to a subordinate.

    If you checked one or none of these items then you are probably safe for the time being. If you answered yes to a couple of these, it could be an early warning sign that there are problems ahead, and your boss is laying the ground work.

    If you answered yes to five or more, you better begin to update your resume. You are probably fired and just don't know it yet.

    JoAnn Hines' specialty is PACKAGING PEOPLE. Whether you want to be paid more, you just lost your job, or you want to progress in the one you have, Ms. Hines advice and expertise can help you transform your personal brand. She can show you how to package yourself and make your brand a hot commodity. It's easy once you know the ropes and begin to utilize her insider's secrets. She shows you step by step how to increase your visibility, credibility and marketability with easy to use tutorials and templates.

    It is time to get started "Packaging Yourself."

    Interview Tips - Ten Top Dos & Donts for Winning Interviews

    In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult to even get your foot in the door and get an interview; once you've accomplished that you will want to make sure you continue to put your best foot forward and nail the interview as well. Unfortunately, as great as their skills, experience and education are; the interview is where many people lose a job opportunity to their competition. Understanding what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in an interview are critical to receiving a job offer.

    Tip # 1 Dress appropriately. If you don't take the time and effort to wear appropriate clothing to the interview, you will lose the job before you even get a chance to explain why you are the best candidate. What you wear to the interview will greatly depend upon the industry or field for which you are applying. Any office related position will require that you wear clothing that is no more casual than a button up shirt, slacks and tie for men and either a nice slacks/skirt and blouse combo for ladies or a dress/suit. Only under rare circumstances would you need to wear anything more casual and this generally includes fields such as transportation, construction, mechanics, etc. Additionally, clothing should be conservative and preferably reflect neutral tones. Avoid excessive jewelry. Don't go overboard on the use of cologne or perfume. Many people suffer from allergies and the last thing you want to do is cause your prospective employer an allergy attack.

    Tip #2 Go to the interview alone. There is absolutely no reason for anyone else to attend the interview with you and this includes parents, children as well as spouses and significant others. If you are having a friend or relative drive you to the interview, politely ask them to wait outside for you. If for some reason, you are unable to obtain childcare for the time of your interview, phone ahead and politely ask to reschedule. While this is not the best way to start off your relationship with the employer, it is a much better option than taking your child with you.

    Tip #3 Pace your conversation during the interview. There is a fine line between not talking enough and talking too much. Answer questions directly, elaborate when necessary but don't ramble.

    Tip #4 Make sure you are polite to everyone you meet while you are waiting for your interview. This is extremely important because 1. These people may be your future co-workers and 2. You never know who has the boss' ear and will report your rude behavior or unseemly conduct once you're out the door.

    Tip #5 Arrive early. If your interview is scheduled for 1:00 pm; make sure you are there no later than 12:30 pm. It is quite common for employers to ask candidates to complete applications and other paperwork prior to their interview, whether they specify this when they schedule the interview with you or not.

    Tip #6 Make sure you are prepared for the interview. This means that you have both practiced for the interview and have brought along all materials that you may need for any circumstance. (pens, pencils, notepad, extra copies of your resume, etc.) Also make sure you have copies of your drivers' license and Social Security card in case the employer needs to make copies for future employment records.

    Tip #7 Be honest! This cannot be emphasized enough. Employers many times move in the same social circles and there is a very good chance that if you fib during an interview you will be found out sooner or later. Even if you have already been hired, lying on an application or during an interview is grounds for dismissal with most companies.

    Tip # 8 Don't smoke or chew tobacco just before or during your interview. Also remember to spit out gum, if you chew it. Additionally, if you do smoke, remember to spritz yourself with light cologne or perfume before you meet with the employer as well as pop in a breath mint.

    Tip # 9 Turn off your cell phone and pager prior to your interview. There is nothing more insulting to an employer or disrupting during an interview to have a cell phone or page continue to ring/beep. Let your voice mail catch any incoming calls.

    Tip #10 Be enthusiastic! Let the employer know how interested you are in the position and what a great job you can do.

    Students Searching for a Job

    Searching for a job has become easier than ever for those who are graduating from school and looking to enter the workforce. Many schools offer guidance services as well as networking opportunities for graduates looking for work after finishing school. Recruiters often work hand in hand with career services on a number of campuses to connect with the kind of individuals they have in mind for specific positions. While these types of services can open doors to several people, hardly anything offers more in their job search than online employment web sites.

    The number of online employment web sites with thousands of positions just waiting for the right person to apply for them are plentiful - and most likely one of the best places to do a student job search. Online job websites feature a number of entry level positions as well as higher level positions to those who meet specific qualifications. Those who aren't limited to a restricted location for employment can benefit from online employment web sites that feature national job listings. People who have a specific locale that they need to work in can often narrow down their search by region.

    When students begin their job search, some flexibility and focus is necessary to broaden the number of opportunities that can be applied for. Online employment websites don't usually limit the number of jobs that can be applied for, so submitting resumes or applications to several job opportunities could result in more interviews. While carrying out a job search, it is crucial to make as many professional connections as possible and network extensively.

    A student searching for jobs through an online employment website provides an individual with a number of valuable tools and exposure to countless of potential employers. Advice and ideas can be found online as well as helpful services including resume writing, resume posting and distribution, and job search ideas. An online job search can be the most effective tool an individual has in finding employment.

    After Your Interview - What Must You Do Next?

    Other than actually landing the interview itself and living through it, waiting after the interview and wondering whether you will get a phone call or a rejection letter can be one of the most difficult aspects of searching for a job. What you do after the interview should actually start while you are still 'working' the interview.

    Prior to leaving make sure that you have noted the name of the person or persons who interviewed you. This will come in handy later for a number of purposes. Also, do make sure that you shake hands once again with your interviewer and thank them for taking the time to meet with you. Also, it's not out of line to ask when they expect to be making a decision. This gives you a timeline to go by.

    Always be sure to send a thank-you letter. This practice not only demonstrates good social etiquette but it also helps to keep you and your skills fresh in the mind of the interviewer. On some occasions an interviewer already has an idea by the time the interviews are completed who they will be calling to offer the job; however on many more occasions they still remain unsure who will be awarded that coveted slot. Sometimes they want a little time to 'sleep' on the decision or they may need to consult supervisors or others within their organization regarding the hiring decision. If a decision has not already been reached in the mind of the employer when all of the interviews have been completed, taking the time to send a thank-you letter can go a long way toward making sure you don't get lost in the shuffle.

    While it's a good idea to send a polite thank you note to the person who interviewed you it is not a good idea to pester that person to no end. The only result you are likely to achieve through this strategy is alienating yourself from them and assuring that you won't get the job. Although 'don't take no for an answer' is a strategy that many aggressive job coaches recommend; it is still always best to observe polite social standards.

    That is not to say that you should sit by the phone and allow several weeks to elapse, waiting, while you hear nothing and do nothing. Ideally, your thank you letter should have gone out the same day as the interview, no later than the following day. This means that the interviewer should receive it within one to two days following the initial interview.

    Keep track of when the employer indicated a decision would be made and if that time has come and gone, it is perfectly permissible to go ahead and phone them. However; when you do make the call, be polite. State your name, the date you interviewed and the position for which you interviewed. You may say that you are following up to inquire as to whether a decision has been made.

    At this point, the conversation can go a number of ways. The employer may indicate that a decision has been made and all candidates who were not selected will be receiving a letter in the mail. If this is the response you receive, it is your cue that you were not hired. Had you been, you would have received a phone call from the employer by now.

    Thank them for their times, ask them to keep you in mind for any future vacancies and get off the line. Don't burn any bridges. It could be that there was simply a better qualified candidate for that particular position, but they might consider you for a different, future position.

    On the other hand, the employer may state that they are still reviewing resume, conducting interviews, etc, etc. This type of response could mean a couple of different things. It could mean that they really have made a decision and the person just doesn't feel comfortable telling you on the phone that you weren't selected or it could simply be taken at face value.

    Perhaps something came up and their initial timeline has been forced to be extended somewhat. In either case, always remain polite and thank them for their time. After you end the call, make a note of the date on your planner and set a tickler to remind yourself to call back in a week if you still haven't heard anything. Call back once a week, every week until a decision is made. Once a week is persistent; a trait which is to be admired. Once a day is pesky; a trait that should be avoided at all costs.

    While it can be difficult to wait around after the interview, the most important two things that you should do is not blow the opportunity by annoying the employer with numerous pesky phone calls and by all means do not show up announced at their office door asking if they have arrived at a decision. Finally, make sure that you don't pin all your hopes on one job. Yes, it may have been your first choice and your ideal dream job; however; this is probably also true for someone else as well. Use the time while you are waiting to hear back from the employer to line up your 'B' plan. Continue job searching, scheduling interviews and most importantly, reminding yourself that you can do this.

    Job Search - 6 Tips to Boost Your Campaign

    Does your job search feel like a big weight on your shoulders?

    Are you confused about what you should do next?

    Do you have starts and stops in your search activities?

    Are you beating yourself up because you haven't done enough?

    Okay, first things first.

    Conducting a job search can be overwhelming under the best of circumstances.

    Add to that a full time job, kids and/or other pressing responsibilities, and it gets even trickier.

    And the higher you are on the food chain, the longer it takes to find your next position.

    On top of all those pressures, are you making things worse by what you're telling yourself?

    Clients beat themselves up because they don't feel up to the task.

    There's too much information and they don't know where to start, so they do little and then give up.

    Or they berate themselves because they haven't done "enough." Time for a reality check!

    Here are some tips to keep it real:

    ? Set realistic standards and expectations. If you have locked-in time commitments (full-time job, kids, etc.), you need to be extra careful in planning your activities. Set weekly goals that you can comfortably meet. Under-promise and then, if you do more, you'll be happy with your progress.

    ? Learn to wait gracefully. Do you want it all now? Ahhh, if only. . . Deal with your impatience! The older I get, the more I realize the importance of being patient. Nothing happens overnight. All those folks who made it big spent years building, waiting and never giving up. Allow your career plan the time it needs to unfold.

    ? Have a plan. Before you take step one, what are your career goals? A new job? Positioning yourself for promotion? What's your timetable? I can't stress enough the importance of a written plan. That way you'll see the steps you need to take, can check off your accomplishments, and keep track of your progress. Remember to celebrate your wins.

    ? Don't put the cart before the horse. Can you compellingly and succinctly describe what you want? Don't expect people (recruiters, your networking contacts, friends, etc.) to connect the dots. Until you can easily articulate the kind of job you want and what you'd like to be doing, networking will be a wasted opportunity.

    ? Write a resume only after you are clear about your job goals. I get calls from prospective clients saying, "I need a new resume." After a few minutes of conversation, they admit they're unsure of their next career move. They expect a new resume to replace the pre-work they haven't done. Your resume should reflect your carefully thought out career objective.

    ? Find a committed listener and have them hold you accountable. You will accomplish more and feel better if you have a trusted friend to talk to on a consistent basis. This person can be a sounding board and can give you support when you hit a speed bump.

    We spend our lives trying to reach our goals. Yet, the time we actually spend reveling in our achievement is minimal. Aren't you always thinking about the next thing you want? By accepting that your job search is a process that happens over time, you give yourself permission to relax and enjoy what's in front of you today.

    Resurgence of the Time Sheet: Why You Should Write Down Your Workday Activities

    One day I walked into my boss's office and said, " I think all staff should do a time sheet, including you, from now on." I definitely surprised her but the results of this request certainly got the attention of all of our staff.

    I work for an email marketing software and services firm. I am currently wearing my third hat within this firm. We have been under a 'massive spring cleaning' for about six months. We have new staff, new websites and new tasks. I work in the Marketing/Send Service departments where I have specific tasks and responsibilities but often I take on various new tasks. I began to wonder if my productivity was affected by the quantity and variety of tasks I was working on within a single workday. This uncertainty, lead to my request of implementing the use of time sheets to my boss. In past careers, I had experienced the use of time sheets as well as time clocks and I was quick to remember how a sense of efficiency as well as commitment went with this practice.

    I printed off a weekly calendar with time slots. Each time I switched between my tasks I documented it. Often I was multitasking - deleting spam and updating paper work at same time. I was amazed how my little squares for each hour block could not hold my description of tasks being completed. Often lunches were consumed while updating a mailing list or proofreading new copy for our new website. In my job, I am expected to stay on top of market trends and ideas - but in my Inbox I have a lonely folder of 180 unread newsletters and articles. Why? Our company found the answers in our timesheet and you will too.

    After tracking our actions for three weeks within our company, we were beginning to see how unacknowledged work time, with simple documentation of the five minutes here and ten minutes there (in an eight-hour work day you only have 48 instances to have 10 mins) can add up and was affecting productivity as well as our bottom line. Below are the results we found from keeping time sheets.

    1) We work too much overtime.

    2) Committed staff took on various tasks to get the job done but an individuals' main job was not always the largest percentage of their daily activity. The sub-tasks assigned consumed more than 40% of workday time on average.

    3) Customer oriented activities are heavy time consumers in a workday. Good companies survive on their personal contact and relationships with customers but we were not accounting for the time it took to conduct basic courtesy emails and phone calls.

    4) Sometimes when an issue occurs within the workplace it requires the abilities of other staff, which then was taking away from their current assigned tasks.

    5) Holidays and days off for a staff member lead to responsibilities being spread amongst other staff. A common occurrence though is to put in overtime before time off and then once returned in order to make up for time away from the office to return to your regular pace.

    This activity has allowed us to recommend as well as implement some changes within our company, some included: Undertaking a systemized process of reviewing individual tasks and actually reassigned some responsibilities to different staff members. We also recognized that we needed to review the fee structure in certain scenarios to warrant the specialized attention we can provide to our customers.

    All employees and boss/owner would benefit from doing a time sheet of tasks, not only to learn more about how you spend your time at work but learn to be accountable to yourself for the variety of tasks and activities that you do in a day.

    Julie MacLean is a marketing manager with MailWorkZ. MailWorkZ is an innovative company focused on developing effective emarketing tools. With products like Broadc@st's Email Marketing Software and services like ezTrackZ online ad tracking, and the newest addition, Black List Monitor, thousands of MailWorkZ customers have a suite of products to help increase market share, revenue and profits, as well as improve their customer relationships.

    Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business

    There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac's, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what's the answer? We need great home-grown cooks who are not into the fast food obsession. Do you love to cook and suffer from severe withdrawal when denied the opportunity to prepare your famous spinach stuffed chicken breast served with broccoli and roasted garlic? Do you want to profit from the food you prepare in your kitchen?

    How often have you dreamed of a kitchen make-over where you were wearing a chef coat and torque? You may want to try your hand at starting a small catering business. You are destined for the catering field if your friends rave over your food and are willing to pay you to prepare their favorite dish. Can you answer yes to the following questions?

    1. Have you ever worked in a grocery store or a restaurant?

    2. Do live, breath and think about cooking food all the time? (Note, I did not say eat.)

    3. Do you have a collection of what you would consider some of the most delectable recipes on the planet?

    4. Do you take every opportunity to give friends and family food gifts?

    5. Do you make every family meal a memorable one but paying close attention to every detail of the meal?

    6. Do you love to cook for big crowds?

    7. Do you dream of selling your food to the public?

    8. Can you take stiff criticism? (Note, catering is tough business and you must have thick skin.)

    9. Do you have access to a commercial kitchen/large kitchen?

    10. Can you see yourself working as a caterer?

    If you answered yes to all of these questions you may well be on your way to a catering career. You may first want to contact a caterer in your community and spend a day with her. Ask if you can volunteer to work a catered event. If you want this and you are hungry, really hungry, you will do whatever it takes to make your dream a reality. Start small, ask lots of questions, get a mentor and perfect the fine skill of being totally organized. You could well be the next Paula Deen, of the Food Network's Paula's Home Cooking. She parlayed her southern delights into a catering business, and ultimately opened her own restaurant. Remember, nothing beats a failure, but a try.

    Four Job Interview Mistakes That Can Torpedo Your Chances of Success

    What are the worst mistakes job hunters make? It turns out there are four big ones. These four mistakes turn up repeatedly when executives responsible for hiring talk about the reasons why someone didn't get a job offer.

    If you make even one of them, you'll drastically reduce your chances of getting selected.

    Interview mistake #1: Thinking like a job hunter

    The only reason why an employer hires you is because they want you to achieve certain results for them. Or solve specific problems. In other words, you have something of enormous value to offer the employer.

    Yet, most who turn up for a job interview think that the only one with anything worthwhile to offer is the employer. Result -- they treat a job interview as a one-sided affair where the interviewer holds all power.

    To be successful at interviews, it's essential that you become a full participant in the meeting, retaining equal power. Just as the employer must judge if you're the right person for them, you must judge if this organization offers the right opportunities for you.

    Go in with clear objectives of what you need to know about them, while putting your best foot forward in responding to their questions. Obviously, this does not mean being rude or arrogant. It does mean that you are proactive in directing the conversation and getting the information you want.

    This is very different from the traditional job-hunter's mentality. It's about developing an assertive, confident mindset that'll get you results. Try it.

    Interview mistake #2: Getting lost in generalities

    When you are asked what you do at work, does your reply sound like a dull recital of an official job description written by a committee?

    If so, you're losing a big chance to score at the interview.

    Yes, employers do want to know what your responsibilities are. But they're more interested in hearing what results you achieved, your specific accomplishments and skills.

    To put it another way, they want to hear how you performed at a task rather than just hear about what the task was. Use actual stories with names, products, places and so on.

    Make sure you prepare beforehand, outlining specific accomplishments in brief story form. Convey slices of life rather than dull job descriptions.

    Interview mistake #3: Not knowing enough about your target organization

    It's not enough to read just the job description in an advertisement before you walk into an interview.

    All other candidates have that same information. If that's all you know, you won't be able to distinguish yourself nor be able to tailor your responses to what they're really looking for.

    Do your research. Tap your network, online sources, the company's website, people who currently work there -- in short, use any lead that can give you information about the organization and the job.

    Apart from basic facts about the organization, find out a bit about their culture, what the position you're applying for is actually all about, the people you'll be working with and more. This kind of information serves two purposes.

    One, you'll get a feel for whether this organization will truly fit in with what you're looking for. Second, it helps you prepare better for the interview. You'll be able to fine-tune your responses to anticipated questions.

    Both are critical to success in your job search.

    Interview mistake #4: Not being natural

    A remarkable thing happens during job interviews. Someone who's normally down-to-earth, genuine and personable transforms himself into someone else who's formal, stiff and obviously on his best behavior.

    He sits with an erect posture, dutifully answers all the interviewer's questions and in general, tries to do everything just right.

    By not acting naturally, he ends up not connecting with the interviewer. When that connection doesn't happen, he will lose out. Irrespective of how much research he has done or how well he has prepared his responses.

    That's why one of the best pieces of advice for job interviews is -- be yourself.

    Stay clear of these big interviewing mistakes and you'll automatically better your odds or winning.

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