Before the job is posted and advertised, where does the recruiter/HR professional/hiring manager look for potential candidates? Before they even hit the job boards, they are on LinkedIn. And, if you are not there, then you don’t exist. Let me repeat that – IF YOU ARE NOT LINKEDIN, YOU DO NOT EXIST! People who are [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 7 – Don’t Waste My Time!
April 27th, 2012One of the biggest mistakes a person can make on their resume is wasting the reader’s time. When a recruiter or hiring manager has a stack 2 feet high of potential applicants, they do not want their time wasted. If your resume is not easy to navigate and does not get to the point quickly, [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 6 – Lack of Experience?
April 19th, 2012Parents of recent college graduates may ask why some students are successful procuring a position after college and others are not. Often, students are lacking needed skills and experience and this makes the difference. Classroom education is only one component of post-college preparation. If your student has buried his/her head in the books for 4 [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 5 – Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute!
April 10th, 2012Don’t let great job opportunities “pass you over;” hop to it! The last thing you want is to have a chance meeting with someone or get introduced to someone who asks for your resume and you are unprepared! Or, they say they will look you up on LinkedIn, and they can’t find you! Job searching [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 4 – Hobbies & Interests Section?
April 9th, 2012At one time, this was a standard feature. With the exception of the entry-level graduate (and then only if it is relevant to the job search), this section is not recommended. What does the potential employer think if you have listed your high golf-score or all of the volunteer work that you do at the [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #3 – Professionalism
April 2nd, 2012Competition is fierce and professionalism is crucial for job-seekers! So how can we make sure that the resume reflects a professional image? Contact information needs to be clear and accurate. One designated phone number is best, and that number must have a professional voicemail (in your own voice), stating your name and asking for the [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #2 – Less is Not Always More
April 2nd, 2012Length of the Resume Who told you that resumes must be 1 page? I rarely create a 1-page resume, and when I do, it is generally a recent graduate who has had little experience. If you have been in the workforce for more than a few years, then your resume will most likely be 2 [...]
How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #1 – Cut and Paste?
April 2nd, 2012The Profile: Can someone else cut and paste what you wrote and put it on their resume? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to re-write your resume. A resume is a marketing tool. The #1 goal of a resume is to get an employer to call you and schedule an interview. Employers are [...]
Is Your Facebook Hurting Your Employment Opportunities?
March 25th, 2012The Associated Press published an interesting article this week entitled “Employers ask job seekers for Facebook passwords.” While some may say that they do not want to work for a company that is delving into their personal life, others are afraid that in this competitive job-market, they cannot afford to be turned down because they [...]
Hide and Seek – The Hidden Job Market
February 28th, 2012Do you spend all of your time scouring the job boards for a job and wonder why you can’t find one? Then it’s no wonder why you aren’t out there interviewing. (Companies hide the jobs, yet you continue seeking and not finding any.) The hidden job market is a term used to describe jobs that [...]
Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match!
February 14th, 2012As Valentine’s Day approaches, images of hearts, flowers, and Cupid come to mind. I have always thought of Cupid as an extraordinary Talent Acquisition Manager. After all, just think of some of the “job requisitions” that come across his desk! Are the position requirements realistic? I am reminded of the lyrics in Fiddler on the Roof’s infamous [...]
Interview Tip for the Suburban Job Seeker
February 10th, 2012Even if the interview went exceptionally well, applicant beware! If the person interviewing you offers to walk you to your car, they may have ulterior motives to basic courtesy. If your car is a mess, your potential employer may make a determination about your future work habits. Also, your car may be saying too much! [...]
Get Off Your “Buts”
January 30th, 2012According to a recent survey by CollegeGrad.com, entry-level jobs have increased by 22 percent from last year. That’s the highest percentage in 3 years. So, if you are a recent college graduate and have given up on finding that entry-level job, it is time to get off your “buts.” But, there are no jobs. But, [...]
Quantify Your Achievements
January 23rd, 2012Resume Tip Quantify your achievements. Numbers and percentages help to create a visual for your reader of how much value you offer. Which example sounds better? Increased Food and Beverage / banquet revenue OR Partnered with Executive Chef and increased banquet revenue by 75% within the first year. Captured an additional $750,000 in F&B revenue [...]
Fighting the Unemployment Blues and Staying Motivated
January 11th, 2012The national unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the lowest in nearly 3 years. While we seem to be moving in the right direction, this is not a window of opportunity to “go easy” on your job search. It’s a time to become even more persistent and stay ahead of the competition! While being unemployed can [...]
New Year Career Resolutions
December 21st, 2011As the new year approaches, many of us are in “resolution” mode. What changes do we want to make for 2012? What commitments do we want to make for ourselves and for others? It is a great time to reflect on our careers, evaluate where we have been, and decide where we are heading. Here [...]
CAREER CHANGE – Do I Stay or Do I Go?
November 16th, 2011In difficult economic times and with the national unemployment average holding steady in the 9 percent range, making a career change may be a scary prospect. It is certainly not impossible, but the possibility must be approached strategically and realistically. Statistically, people change jobs 9 times during their lifetime and change careers 4 times. There [...]
A Proactive Job Search
October 5th, 2011A recent New York Times article states that “a growing share of recent college graduates are having to settle for jobs that do not require a college degree, and they are earning less than their peers as a result.” Statistics show that the employment status of college graduates under age 25 is as follows: 22.4% [...]
RESUME SPA TREATMENTS—Does Yours Need a Makeover?
August 17th, 2011What is a resume and why is it a critical document? A resume is a personal marketing tool with one purpose—to get you an interview. Statistically, a potential employer will take less than 20 seconds to scan your resume and determine if they will continue reading, place it on top of the pile for immediate [...]
THE BOOMERANG GENERATION – How can we help you?
June 27th, 2011So what exactly is a “Boomeranger?” In short, it is a term to describe Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers who have moved back home with parents and family, in response to the current recession. While this situation may provide financial relief for the young adult, there are many facets to this arrangement that need exploring. Often after [...]
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