Resume Writing Tips.
A resume is a tool to present and effectively sells a persons most
relevant and positive credentials for employment. It is a document to
market your personality, accomplishments, and experiences to a hiring
company. An effective resume gets you an interview that is why it must
be properly organized and developed in an appropriate format to entice
hiring personnel to ask you for interview.
Below are 10 effective resume writing tips to help you
generate interview offers:
1. Use job titles and headings that relate to the job you
desire.
Determine your career objective prior to writing the resume. You can
easily organize and structure the content of your resume when you
already have a specific objective at hand. Writing a resume with no
clear objective in mind will leave your resume vague and unfocused.
2. Make sure your resume is easy to read.Construct
your resume to read easily. Remember that hiring companies have a lot
of resumes to review, so create one that helps the reader scan your
resume efficiently and effectively. Type your resume using a standard
font type, such as Arial and Times New Roman.
3. Use design that grabs attention.In
order for you to
entice your potential employer, your choice of resume design should
also be taken into consideration. The first thing that employers notice
when scanning resumes is its design and format. The design of your
resume must direct attention at the same time showcase your skills and
accomplishments. Also, do not use fancy design details as hiring
personnel might not consider your resume. Make it formal but not
boring. The resume must also be error free with consistent formatting.
4. Create powerful content that sellsWhat
really
matters for potential employers is the substance and depth of your
resume. The design grabs attention, but powerful content which
quantifies your achievements can generate more interviews.
5. Organize the content of your resume.
Put the most important information first. Prioritize data according to
their importance, impressiveness, and relevance to the job you are
applying for.
6. Analyze job ads to identify top skills that potential
employers need.
Review job ads in order to match the needs of the hiring company. Read
the company description and use the keywords listed in the ads.
Remember that the job description is the key element in making an
effective resume. A tailored resume for a specific position can
definitely increase your chances of getting interviewed.
7. Highlight and sell the benefits of your skills and
accomplishments.
Showcase the benefit of your strengths to potential employer. Determine
which skills mostly support your career objective. Back up your
qualities and accomplishments with real work experiences. That way,
hiring personnel will be hooked and not be bored with the list of
skills/qualities you provide.
8. Have someone else review your resume.
Get an outside expert opinion on your resume before you send it to
potential employers. You should always ask a third party to review and
give comments because sometimes it is difficult for you to note all
your accomplishments. You must encourage them to give feedback.
Feedback will really help you discover things you inadvertently missed
out in your resume.
9. Use power or action words to make your resume stand
out.
Power words can add life and cause your resume to stand out. These are
action words that relate to the level of position you desired.
10. Consider getting professional help.
Not all of us are expert resume writers and do not know how to organize
the content for our resume. We have the data but we do not know how to
put it together to create a winning resume. We lack the knowledge to
determine what information is relevant and essential. If you are having
a hard time creating your resume or you are not getting interviews; you
could consider seeking a professional resume writing service. There are
both local and online options available, and the investment is almost
always worth the money.
Interview Tips
Job interviewing is a critical part of an individual´s job search. This
is the time to sell your skills and experiences. It is critically
important to practice prior to your interviews. Job seekers only get
one chance in an interview. A job hunting Best Practice is to practice
interviewing with a friend or career coach. This will help you prepare
properly and get you focused on winning the interview for that perfect
job.
1. Research the company before the interview.
You should be familiar with the company you are applying to. Review
company profile, annual reports, mission, vision, and other relevant
information that the interviewer might ask.
2. Practice with some common questions and answers.
Prepare and rehearse responses to frequently asked questions during
interviews. Practice in front a mirror or with an audience such as your
friends, family members or ideally an expert. They can provide feedback
of what to do and not to do during interviews.
3. Respect the time of your interviewer.
Time is gold in every business or institution because everyone is busy
with their respective duties. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. This
way you will have time to relax and not look stressed before the
interview as well as not waste the interviewer´s time.
4. Display confidence in your behavior and the way you
communicate.
The interviewer can easily perceive if you are confident through your
posture, dress, walk, energy, and eye contact. Greet the employer with
a firm handshake. Let the interviewer start the dialogue and listen
carefully. Always welcome questions with a smile. Before answering the
question, think and develop answers in your head. Ask the interviewer
to restate a question if you are confused. Most importantly, give
honest and direct answers.
5. Demonstrate positive statements and attitude.
Smile, be polite, and try to relax during the interview. The attitudes
that you express must express that you are willing to work. You must
also exhibit willingness to expand your knowledge. You must remember
that employers like to hear your plan for future development and
commitment to learning.
6. If you have worked before, talk about what you have
learned from it.
Review your previous work experiences. Be ready to support past career
accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the company´s
needs.
7. Encourage the interviewer to share about the company
information.
Demonstrate your interest by encouraging the interviewer to share
information about the company. This way the interviewer will appreciate
your interest to the company and your willingness to be a part of their
team.
8. Bring extra information such as a Personal Data Sheet
or Work Portfolio.
An attractive personal data sheet or work portfolio provides additional
information that your prospective employer might want to hold on to for
future references.
9. End the interview positively.
The end of the interview is the time to let the prospective employer
know if you are interested in the job or not. A positive end to the
interview is a way of ensuring your success. At this time restate your
strengths and accomplishments that you have emphasized during the
interview. Express also your appreciation for the interviewer´s time.
10. Review and evaluate your interviews strengths and
weaknesses following your interview.
Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses immediately after the
interview. If you do not get the job consider asking the interviewer
what you did well and in what areas you will need improvement.
Salary Negotiation
Almost half of the jobseekers and employees are embarrassed to be the
first to raise the pay issue even though in reality they are unhappy
with the salary they are offered or salary they are currently
receiving. But, negotiating your salary is not that difficult as long
as you tackle it professionally. Nowadays, salary negotiation is
generally discussed during job interviews.
Ideally,
the first person to raise this sensitive issue is the employer
(interviewer). Before laying your cards on the table of what you are
willing to accept, ask the employer how much he/she is willing to
offer. But, if that is not the case, do your homework. Ask around for
the salary range of employees with the same position and industry you
are applying to. You should be familiar with how much employees
carrying out similar roles and responsibilities are being paid. The
culture and attitude of different employers vary, but at least you have
an idea of the prevailing market rates so in the end you will never
feel like you are the injured party.
It is also essential to find out as much information as you
can about
the company´s financial situation and capabilities. Of course, if you
are applying in major companies, you can demand or ask for a higher
salary. But, if you are thinking of applying to positions in charitable
institutions or small and medium enterprises, then your chances of
getting a higher compensation is not that great.
If asked about how much you are currently earning,
politely avoid answering the question. I always believed I was paid
fairly and I was happy with my compensation, but at this point in my
career I am looking for new challenges. It is a good idea to be honest,
but no need to limit yourself by telling the interviewee your existing
one.
In many cases, if you will be asked what sort of salary you are looking
for, you could tell your prospective employer that you need more detail
of the role you are going to engage in the company. If pressed with
time, it is fine to tell the interviewer that you need time to think
about the ideal salary range, and then move the conversation along.
Most importantly, when you negotiate about pay,
negotiate for a win-win situation with your employer. A good
negotiation is a discussion in which both parties understand and
respect each others position and responsibilities. It ends when all
parties feel that their concerns are heard and their needs have been
addressed well.
Networking for a Job
Some
of the best jobs aren´t listed anywhere but filled through
word-of-mouth or networking. Networking means developing a broad list
of contacts and using them to your advantage when you are looking for a
job. There are networking opportunities every day. It´s done at
parties, dinners, events, small gatherings, birthdays, volunteer
activities, ceremonies and online via social media. It happens at the
gym, the grocery store, and the garage. Talk to anyone and everyone
including those new to an industry and old pros, those in school and
those overseas. They all matter.
Here are some strategies for a successful job networking:
1. Develop Contacts
Contact everyone you know.
You meet people who might have insight into your job search. You talk
to people who know people who could help you out. You talk about it
with strangers at parties. Don´t limit yourself to people who could
clearly help you out.
2. Places to Find Contacts
The best place to start developing your network is with
your family,
friends, and neighbors -- and with their family, friends, and
neighbors, but don´t stop there. Talk to co-workers, colleagues in your
industry, and those you meet at industry gatherings, such as trade
shows and conferences.
3. Be Prepared
You should approach networking opportunities with a game
plan. Find out
who will be at certain places and activities, or do your best to list
who you think will probably be present. Then, decide who you would most
like to meet. When you have your list of potential contacts, thoroughly
research their work and their backgrounds and then make up some
questions and conversational statements that reflect your research. And
finally, think critically about what your goals are for your networking
function.
4. Networking Knows No Boundaries
Business conferences, informational interviews, college
reunions, and
cocktail parties are obvious networking opportunities - you expect to
walk away with a few business cards and some recommendations for
potential employers. Good networkers are flexible people who approach
connection-making as a fluid enterprise that extends far beyond hotel
conference room walls. Don´t let these opportunities pass you by.
Always be ready to make a contact and exchange business cards. Prepare
also a powerful resume. Resumes can serve as detailed business cards,
reminding contacts of you and your accomplishments. Create a version of
your resume for networking alone, one that can be pulled out on short
notice.
5. Follow Up
The key is keeping your network informed of your
situation. Never take
your network for granted. It´s important to keep them updated without
being imposing or invasive. And, of course, if you get that new job, be
sure to tell them and thank them again for their help.
6. Follow the Golden Rule
If you want to be treated with respect, treat others
with respect. If
you want your phone calls and emails returned, call and write back to
the people who contact you. If you want big-wigs to make time for you,
make yourself available to others whom you might be able to help out.
It is that simple.
7. Make it Easy For Your Contacts
When you call, meet with, or write to a potential
contact, make it as
easy as possible for them to help you. Explain what you specifically
want, and ask detail-oriented questions.
8. Be Organized
This is crucial to your success. Keep a record of your
networking. Make
sure your system has plenty of room for contacts names, addresses,
phone numbers, companies, job titles, how you met them, and subsequent
conversations you have had with them.