Resume Writing ::

Changing Careers? 7 Details to Include on Your Resume

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Editor

Every so often we feel the need to change our career. It is always a daunting step to go through and could feel like going back to zero. You think about updating resumes again, waiting for emails and calls, attending interviews and just falling in line again with other job seekers. Surely, shifting careers is not an easy decision. But…

What Not to Include in Your Resume

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Michelle Riklan

You can add one page to your resume for every 10 years of your career, according to Google’s Head of HR. Of course, that’s not necessarily in your best interest. Many people with less than 10 years of experience have two-page resumes. However, not all applicants know what’s worth including in their resume, so some end up with a resume longer…

How to Add Pizzazz to Your Resume Summary

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Michelle Riklan

Your resume needs a hard-hitting summary if you want recruiters to keep reading it. A great summary includes a combination of your skills and notable achievements, which sounds simple in theory until you actually sit down to write it. In this article, I’m going to show you how to add some spice to your summary statement so you can wow…

Truth about Resume Myths Revealed

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Michelle Riklan

Writing a resume that gets you an interview is hard enough as it is. The resume myths I keep hearing about make this process harder and confusing especially for clueless job seekers who rarely write a resume. This article reveals some of the resume myths I keep hearing about, so you can stop worrying about them and get on with…

Body Language Tricks to Succeed in a Job Interview

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

It’s not what you said, but how you said it. Sounds familiar? This is true for relationships and job interviews. As a job applicant, you need to remember that the way your body moves says a lot about you. Body language is one way people communicate without talking. If you want to get a job offer, you have to be…

Three Crushing Experiences Every Job Applicant Experiences

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You usually feel pretty good about your work experience, education, and your resume. That is until you start looking for the job of your dreams. Suddenly, your alma mater isn’t as impressive as your colleagues’ schools and your previous experiences don’t look as appealing. Your resume just didn’t sparkle the way it seemed to just a short time before. So…

Get Your Children Off the Couch – Radio Interview with Ed Tyll

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

What an honor it was to be invited on the Ed Tyll show on Starcom Radio! The topic was How to Get Your Children off the Couch and Into the Workplace. I am pleased to share the audio (please click here) as well as the entire transcript. Ed was a gracious host with thoughtful and insightful questions and it…

Six Tips for Proofreading Your Resume

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Your resume is still a vital component to getting you the interview to the job of your dreams. It’s one of the first impressions that a hiring manager will have when you apply to a new job or position, and one of the biggest determinants about whether or not you will get called for an interview. While you can upgrade…

Professional Resume Tips: Your Resume, Redone

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Editor

If you’re ready to get serious about your career, the first thing you will have to do is give your resume a good once, twice, or thrice over! The reality is your resume is your career calling card. Along with networking, good references, experience, a strong LinkedIn profile and connections, your resume is what gets your foot in the door…

5 Skills that Look Good on Any Entry-Level Resume

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Editor

If you’re a freshly-minted graduate, you’ve had the summer to take a break and recover from you hard work as a student, and maybe even relax on the beach, by the pool, or do some traveling. Perhaps you took on a job to save some money and gather your thoughts, or simply spent time meandering over what you’d like to…

4 Steps to Spring Clean Your Resume in Less than 90 Minutes

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Editor

You probably have a resume. If you’ve been at the same job for a number of years, it likely lives in your computer somewhere, in some folder that contains important documents that you never really look at. It’s always a good idea to keep your resume fresh in case a golden opportunity pops up. That way, you won’t be wasting…

10 Great Cover Letter Tips to Give Your Application an Edge

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Editor

Writing a resume is rather straight forward. What you should do with a cover letter is less obvious. However, if you stick to certain principals, you should be able to draft a great cover letter to supplement your resume. Below are 10 great cover letter tips that should help. 1. Start with a Good Opening Like any piece of good…

5 Ways to Close Questionable Employment Gaps in Your Resume

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Editor

You’ve got the skills, years of experience, and carefully selected references. You are ready to send that resume. Except, well, there’s the small matter of a gap in your employment history. Recruiters and companies are known to question employment gaps in an applicant’s resume. It’s important your gaps don’t paint you as incompetent, unfit for work, unstable, or unemployable. A…

Why I don’t do “Objective Statements”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Editor

I got this interesting question about resumes last week: “I always thought a resume should have an objective statement. Is that true?” Well, Kristen, career experts are still divided on that matter. Ten years ago, the career objective, aka objective statement, was a standard part of any resume. This statement mostly explained the job applicant’s wishes or target in his…

Michelle Riklan’s Resume Article Featured in the Business Insider

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Michelle Riklan

Where do you draw the line between creative embellishment and flat-out lying on a resume? Read Michelle Riklan’s article, Resumes: Does It Have to Be Truthful or Is There Creative Leeway? featured in the Business Insider (original article, The 4 Most Common Lies People Tell On Their Resumes, CareerMeh) to learn the top 4 ways we stretch the truth on our…

Stay at Home Moms: How to Hide the Glaring Employment Gap in Your Resume

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Michelle Riklan

As a stay-at-home mom, updating your resume is perhaps the most overwhelming task you’ll need to do after deciding to rejoin the workforce. I know it’s a bit overwhelming and ironic to some extent, considering you’ve done well raising your kids – updating your resume should be a piece of cake, right? It’s trickier than it seems. Sure, it’s easy…

September is International Update Your Resume Month! Have You Updated Yours?

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Michelle Riklan

Career Directors International (CDI) has declared September as International Update Your Resume Month to emphasize the importance of having an updated resume ready. Personally, I couldn’t agree more. September marks the start of another phase. Fall is just around the corner and the kids are back to school, and that gives us more time to focus on our career or job-hunting efforts….

References Available Upon Request

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Michelle Riklan

Whenever I see this line on a resume, I often scratch my head and say to myself “Really?” Well of course a candidate should make references available upon request. So, stating the obvious is a waste of time and adds absolutely no value to the document. I never put this line on a resume. However, they truly must be available…

Your Resume: Save or Trash?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Michelle Riklan

If your resume is not winning quality interviews – then consider that what you are sending out is ineffective. Your resume has approximately 6 seconds to make a lasting impression. 5-4-3-2-1. That’s it! Then it’s either in the trash can or in the “save” to call for an interview pile. Below are 3 quick questions to see if your resume…

RESUME SPA TREATMENTS—Does Yours Need a Makeover?

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Michelle Riklan

What 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 consideration, or toss it. How…

Does Your Résumé Have Enough Gravy or is it a Dry Turkey?

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Michelle Riklan

As we prepare for the holiday season, I find myself comparing my work to feast preparations. Is there a difference between a well prepared holiday feast and a microwaveable frozen dinner in a box?

Common Resume Myths and Mistakes

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Michelle Riklan

If you ask 10 people what they think of your resume, you will get 10 different opinions. Resume writing is not an absolute process and must be individualized to best market the job seeker. There is no definitive or best way to write a resume. Every career counselor, recruiter and hiring manager will have his/her preferences. However, there are common…

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