Archive for January 2010

Crafting Your Resume – Don't cut Corners

Volunteers fit new windows at The Sumac Centre...
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Today’s job market is fiercely competitive so you have to pull out the big guns for your job search. The first thing you must start with is an effective list of qualifications that will sell your skills, knowledge and experience to potential employers. No matter what your qualifications are, your resume and cover letter will determine whether or not you get an interview. In this article, we’ll give you some valuable tips that will help you stand out from the crowd.

The purpose of the resume and cover letter is to get potential employers to notice you. Managers want to know about a job seeker’s skills, experiences and interests. While your employment history is important, do not spend too much time describing the companies you have worked for. Instead, emphasize your duties, responsibilities and accomplishments. Your documents should be factual, impressive, readable, and tailored to the position you are seeking. This is a key point. If the job listing that you are responding to requires a certain skill, be sure to emphasize your training and experience with that skill.

Employers want to be able to read your paper profile quickly, so forgo padding the page with unnecessary information. Instead of complete sentences, use short descriptive phrases in bullet form to give your documents a clean and organized look. However, be extremely careful when checking for grammatical and spelling errors. Nothing irritates a potential employer than spelling mistakes because it conveys the message that the job seeker in not thorough, nor detail oriented.

In addition to creating a professional profile, you should also demonstrate what kind of person you are. Include a section that lists awards, volunteer work, philanthropic activities, sports you may be involved in or any other extra curricular activity. This raises your value to a potential employee because it demonstrates commitment and the willingness to work hard.

It may sound ridiculously obvious, but do not forget to include your contact information on your resume and cover letter. Don’t just include a home phone number. Include a cell number, IM address, and email addresses. You absolutely do not want to put yourself in the position of playing phone tag with an employer. After two tries, they probably will move on to a candidate who makes themselves available. Finally, before you send your documents out, go over them with a fine tooth comb to make sure there are no spelling errors, missing words or incomplete information. You may even want a friend or family member to proof read them. Once you are sure they are perfect, polished and professional, submit them with pride.

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Employees – Skillfull landing in a New Job

You’ve just landed a , and you want to know how you can most effectively adjust to the office culture in a way that will get you noticed by the boss and other employees in a positive way. There are a few rules that employees may need to follow no matter what the position, and when you follow these guidelines, you may be looking at a promotion sooner than you think.

One of the most important things for you to remember is that while first impressions matter, the overall impression that you give at work has a lot to do with how people perceive you. Take a look at how the other employees at your new job dress on a daily basis, and use this information to determine how you will put your work outfits together. If you’ve just been hired in a corporate setting, especially bright colors or form-fitting skirts or pants are definitely not appropriate. If you’re on staff at a place that thrives in creativity and artistic expression, your professional dress should have a little more character to it. While this may not seem like a major issue, your overall daily presentation will give people the perception that you value your appearance, and therefore value your position.

You should also find out what you can do to be thought of as a leader in the workplace. This may require your working with other new employees to teach them how to set up new software, or compose a company memo. Making yourself available for these tasks will definitely get people in management positions to take notice, and you may be asked to take on new tasks in the coming months that will prepare you for a management position in the future. Making sure that you are friendly and modest when you’re dealing with other workers can also improve your office reputation; even if you’re an expert at something, boasting about your skills will not cause you to be looked at favorably at the office.

Employees should also be aware of any rules and regulations that may not have to do with the position directly, but are an important part of office culture. For instance, if your office has a break room, make sure that you do little things like washing out your dishes or coffee mugs at lunch. And, don’t take anything in the refrigerator that doesn’t belong to you, unless it’s been made plain that the food is for everyone. Employers observe things like this, and while it may seem trivial, your interaction with other employees says a lot about your potential to move up in the company.


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How to Find a Job

Whether you’re looking for a part-time job that will help to supplement the income that you’re bringing into the household, or you need to find a job that will pay you more money overall, there are several things you can do to land a position that will meet your financial and professional needs. Even though the economy is not at its best right now, if you have the right qualifications, it is still possible for you to find a position that you can be satisfied with.

One of the first things you will need to do when you’re trying to find a job is to update your resume. It’s important to make sure that your resume is presentable and eye-catching, so that you can attract more employers to your skills and interests. There are several computer programs that you can use in order to create a resume using a template that is acceptable for most employers. It’s also a good idea to include a summary in your resume that will let employers know what you’re qualified to do, and why you would be an asset to their corporation.

You can also find a job by searching through as many online sources as possible. You can set up accounts with online databases like Careerbuilder or Monster, and this will allow you to get email notifications each time a is posted that matches your skills or interests. You can also save a resume on the site, so that you can send it off each time you are . These sites will let you know more about positions in your field all around the country, so you can find out more about the job market in another city if you are thinking about relocating.

Don’t forget to use referrals to find a job in your city or state as well. Chances are your friends and family know about your career training and academic qualifications first-hand, and can tell you about companies that are hiring that may not be featured online or in classified ads. Your friends or family may also be able to tell you inside information about mixers and networking events that will allow you to meet individuals in managerial positions that can help to advance your career.

During your , it’s important for you to stay current with certain financial and economic trends, so that you can refine your search. This will help you to find a job based on realistic salary expectations, and will let you know more about what you should be expecting in terms of benefits once you are employed.


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