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Common Resume Mistakes

Common Resume Mistakes

  1. Typos & Grammatical Errors

Probably the most obvious of all resume writing tips: It needs to be grammatically perfect. It seems almost too easy, but these errors can really reduce your prospects with a hiring manager. You know how to spell just fine, but you’ve stared at your resume for so many hours and know it front to back, so it’s easy to miss a spelling typo or grammatical error. You’re not a professional resume writer; the easiest way to combat simple errors is to have someone else give your resume the once-over by proofreading it again for you. Keep in mind the resume is one of your most important financial documents.

  1. Lack of Specifics

You need to put real, quantitative tasks and accomplishments on your professional resume. It’s one thing to put descriptions about your former positions on your resume, but you need to be specific when detailing what you accomplished.

Vague job descriptions simply sound like you cut and pasted from a job listing. Think like a resume specialist, put content in terms of what you accomplished and how. It will sound better than simply listing just your title and everyday tasks.

  1. Attempting One Size Fits All

Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. But, you’re not a professional resume service. It is not feasible or practical to pay someone to write a new resume for each job you seek. Group your experience with job descriptions you are applying for. For example, for a customer service resume, group that experience and align to jobs you will be applying for.

If you’re not willing to read the job descriptions and tailor your resume for those jobs, they may think you don’t care enough about the job, they may think you aren’t qualified, and they won’t think it’s worth their time to meet with you. Hiring managers expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position.

  1. Going on too long or cutting things too short

There are no real rules governing resume length because people who will be reading it have different preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned. Note: as a professional resume writing service, we know that often times the first review (filtering) of a resume is done by a computer system. The more keywords in your resume the better chance you have of passing through computer systems and having a human reviewing your resume. It is all a balance to acceptable norms. As certified professional resume writers, we help clients navigation the proper optimization of content that is keyword-rich as well as being easily scan able by humans to ensure our clients get interviews.

That doesn’t mean you should start sending out five-page resumes, of course. In general, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don’t feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don’t cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it conform to an arbitrary one-page standard. There are several things to consider. It is not a one size fits all. Each client is unique. As a professional resume service, having reviewed tens of thousands of resumes, we can quickly make an appropriate recommendation upon reviewing you resume or information.

  1. Bad summary

Employers do read your summary section. This is your headline! Give employers something specific and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own. As a resume writing service, we think of it as what you can do for the employer.

But wait, you’re not done yet! Now that you’ve made sure your resume is error-free, get another pair of eyes (we recommend asking a resume service) to double-check it and review for you. Let’s be clear, crafting a resume is not an easy job. Creating an error-free resume is almost impossible. Sometimes, in resume writing, you just need a reminder of what’s important to add to it or leave out.

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Top 5 Tips to Get a Job Next Week

1.    Cover Letter
You MUST have one. It must be professionally written and reinforce your experience and value proposition to the hiring company. It needs to be to the point and precise. In today’s market your cover letter is what will either get your resume additional consideration or the fast track to the “Do Not Call” list. The cover letter is you being able to speak to the potential employer and tell them why they should hire you versus your competition. Not having a cover letter or a less than perfect cover letter will put you at a distinct disadvantage in today’s job market.

2.    Resume
Is you resume up to date, is it correctly and consistently formatted, does it have key points? Most of all is the spelling correct and the punctuation? Are you reviewing your own resume? If so, have a friend or family member conduct a “Resume Stress Test” for errors and areas for improvement. Ideally, have a professional resume writer create for you a resume from your career experience. With the vast amount of resumes being submitted for open positions, yours has to be outstanding! Get professional help from a resume writer. Recruiters will only give about 10 seconds to scan your resume; do your key points stand out, does it call attention to the main points of what you can do for the company? Does it have the proper structure to keep the attention of the recruiter?

3.    Preparation
The first step as in anything is to be prepared, just like preparing for an exam. Also, consider the following questions to focus your preparation; What jobs are you looking for? Do you know where to search and find the job that you want? Once you decided the direction you are going, have you studied the companies that lead in that industry? Don�t do just a Google search; you need to be well prepared and ready. For example, if it’s a retail company, visit a few of their stores, observe the customers, and even strike up a few conversations. Talk to existing employees–ask them what it’s like working there. Become familiar with the history of the company. Who started it? Where? Who runs it now? Be creative, and do whatever you believe the other candidates don’t have the guts to do.

4.    Network
Companies tend nowadays to rely heavily on employee referrals. Make a list of all of your friends, relatives, and acquaintances. Call each one and ask them if they know of any openings that they could recommend you for. Be prepared to send them an expertly prepared resume. Do not be too humble, tell them what you are looking for, but let them know that you’re flexible and that if they have any suggestions, you’re open to them. A referral name can often open the door and allow you to step in and get a job before it is advertised.

5.    Prepare for the Interview
You need to be ready to give solid answers to interviewer questions when asked. Candidates should begin interview preparation well before an interview is scheduled just take a list of 20 common interview questions and start preparing responses. Then practice with a friend you as the candidate and them as the interviewer. Record your mock interview and improve your responses. Don’t wait to start this preparation! Job seekers can complete interview preparation within 2-weeks for those 20 basic interview questions. Now with interview preparation complete, candidates should be confident and be able to control an interview. Continue with general interview preparation until a real interview is scheduled then just focus preparation on the specific job opportunity and company.

Follow these five steps and you’ll accelerate your job search. You’ll quickly find work even in the worst economy in the last 25 years.

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Resume Writing Tips

A resume is a tool to present and effectively sell a person’s most relevant and positive credentials for employment. It is a document to market your personality, accomplishments, and experiences to a 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 invite you for an 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 accomplishments prior to writing the resume. You can easily organize and structure the content of your resume when you already have a specific accomplishments at hand. Writing a resume with no clear purpose 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 a design that grabs attention. In order for you to entice a 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 keywords listed in employment 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 benefits of your strengths to potential employer. Determine which skills support your career accomplishments. 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 and 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 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. 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 resume content. You have the data but we know how to put it together to create a winning resume. You 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.

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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 during 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 experience. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the company�s needs.
7. Encourage the interviewer to share details 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.

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“Hire Me” Resume

Making a “Hire Me” Resume

Clients come to us with a variety of needs: they need a resume fast — like yesterday, they need a resume coach, they want a certified professional resume writer, etc. Our challenge is to understand each client’s uniqueness and create a “hire me resume” that relates their past experience to their future career goals. We aren’t looking to create a biography for clients, we create effective documents (resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn Profiles, etc.) that market candidates to hiring managers. Our goal is to create documents (resumes and cover letters) that get our clients interviews and ultimately get them hired with follow-on documents (thank you letters and follow-up letters).

  1. Format Your Resume Wisely.

Make it easy for the Hiring Managers to quickly review. Generally, a resume gets scanned for 25 seconds or less. Scanning is more difficult if it is hard to read, poorly organized or exceeds proper length.

  • Always use a logical format with wide margins, clean type and clear headings
  • Appropriately apply bold and italic typeface that helps guide the reader’s eye
  • Use bullets to call attention to important points (i.e. accomplishments)

As a professional resume writing service that reviews thousands of resumes annually, this first point, which is easiest, is usually not done well. Resume designs for Best Price Resume were originally created by a graphic designer. We use good design principles to get as much as possible on a page while still maintaining readability.

  1. Responsibilities versus Accomplishments

You should avoid listing just duties you had in your previous jobs. As certified professional resume writers, we look to blend duties that are keyword rich and supplement them with uniqueness of your accomplishments.

  • Focus on what you did (accomplishments) in the job, NOT what your job was
  • Include a few keyword-rich job duty bullets first, then list your accomplishments
  • For each point ask yourself, what was the benefit of having done what I did? Did it increase sales, reduce cost, improve morale, etc. How can you use the accomplishment to highlight your experience towards the new position(s) you are seeking
  • Accomplishments should be unique to you, District Employee of the Year, etc.
  • Avoid using the generic descriptions of the jobs you originally applied for or held. Instead, transform your descriptions into keyword-rich content that gets flagged by computer systems and/or aligns with the new positions you are seeking.
  1. Be Selective

It’s tempting to list every job, accomplishment, volunteer assignment, skill, and degree you’ve ever had. But don’t. A resume is a very selective body of content. It’s not meant to be comprehensive. Details are not helpful, if they doesn’t contribute to convincing the hiring manager to talk to you. As a professional resume writing service, we know the task of trimming your resume to a few pages can be challenging. Many of our clients, have discovered, they really don’t like to cut anything. When they realize their resumes are running long, they will try to force content in the existing format rather than making cuts. This all defeats the whole purpose of putting together a resume, which is to get an interview.

Editing for length is never easy. It takes a certain ruthlessness and a degree of confidence. But as resume writers, we know it is necessary. Often, it is easier to have another person assess what is the best mix of content for your resume.

  1. Use a Summary instead of an Objective

A Summary is designed to give a brief overview of who you are and what you do for the company. Whereas, the Objective is very dated and the reverse. It is all about what you want the company to do for you.

  • Grab a hiring manager’s attention right from the beginning, remembering you only have a few seconds to make a good impression
  • Spend time developing a summary that immediately gets attention. Write a summary that accurately and powerfully describes you as a solution to their problems. Finally, and we realize as resume creators, it is important to align your past experience to your future career goals.

If you do the above, you will quickly increase the number of invitations for interviews. It is a lot of work. If you consider paying someone to write your resume, please contact us Best Price Resume at 888-215-1159.

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Common Resume Mistakes

Common Resume Mistakes

  1. Typos & Grammatical Errors

Probably the most obvious of all resume writing tips: It needs to be grammatically perfect. It seems almost too easy, but these errors can really reduce your prospects with a hiring manager. You know how to spell just fine, but you’ve stared at your resume for so many hours and know it front to back, so it’s easy to miss a spelling typo or grammatical error. You’re not a professional resume writer; the easiest way to combat simple errors is to have someone else give your resume the once-over by proofreading it again for you. Keep in mind the resume is one of your most important financial documents.

  1. Lack of Specifics

You need to put real, quantitative tasks and accomplishments on your professional resume. It’s one thing to put descriptions about your former positions on your resume, but you need to be specific when detailing what you accomplished.

Vague job descriptions simply sound like you cut and pasted from a job listing. Think like a resume specialist, put content in terms of what you accomplished and how. It will sound better than simply listing just your title and everyday tasks.

  1. Attempting One Size Fits All

Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. But, you’re not a professional resume service. It is not feasible or practical to pay someone to write a new resume for each job you seek. Group your experience with job descriptions you are applying for. For example, for a customer service resume, group that experience and align to jobs you will be applying for.

If you’re not willing to read the job descriptions and tailor your resume for those jobs, they may think you don’t care enough about the job, they may think you aren’t qualified, and they won’t think it’s worth their time to meet with you. Hiring managers expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position.

  1. Going on too long or cutting things too short

There are no real rules governing resume length because people who will be reading it have different preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned. Note: as a professional resume writing service, we know that often times the first review (filtering) of a resume is done by a computer system. The more keywords in your resume the better chance you have of passing through computer systems and having a human reviewing your resume. It is all a balance to acceptable norms. As certified professional resume writers, we help clients navigation the proper optimization of content that is keyword-rich as well as being easily scan able by humans to ensure our clients get interviews.

That doesn’t mean you should start sending out five-page resumes, of course. In general, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don’t feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don’t cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it conform to an arbitrary one-page standard. There are several things to consider. It is not a one size fits all. Each client is unique. As a professional resume service, having reviewed tens of thousands of resumes, we can quickly make an appropriate recommendation upon reviewing you resume or information.

  1. Bad summary

Employers do read your summary section. This is your headline! Give employers something specific and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own. As a resume writing service, we think of it as what you can do for the employer.

But wait, you’re not done yet! Now that you’ve made sure your resume is error-free, get another pair of eyes (we recommend asking a resume service) to double-check it and review for you. Let’s be clear, crafting a resume is not an easy job. Creating an error-free resume is almost impossible. Sometimes, in resume writing, you just need a reminder of what’s important to add to it or leave out.

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Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

  1. Writing isn’t your forte.

As professional resume writers we know how to write resumes. We have completed tens of thousands of resumes over the years. You are likely a pro in your industry, but that doesn’t mean you know how to market your career expertise in a way that will entice prospective employers to invite you in for an interview.

  1. You have emotional ties.

A professional resume writer can easily assess each piece of your information objectively from experience of reviewing thousands of resumes and from a hiring manager perspective. For example, an accomplishment that holds personal significance to you may not add value to your resume. If you list a sales accomplishment from decades ago prior to your career in nursing, it probably isn’t relevant and only serves to confuse the reader. Your professional resume writer can help sort through the details that they may feel are important to the client but are unimportant to a hiring manager.

  1. You don’t know what to include.

How far back should your employment history go? How long should the resume be? What will recruiters care most about? If you don’t know where to start, consider getting some help from a professional. It’s the resume writer’s job to know what recruiters are looking for and how to best highlight that information. You might find it difficult to describe your experience in clear and simple terms. A resume writer can serve as your resume coach and provide guidance though the entire process.

  1. You take too long to write.

Professional resume writers are faster. For example, for our clients at Best Price Resume, we have all resume documents back to our clients within 24 hours. Often times the same day. We have clients who have spent weeks or months writing their resume and they still can’t create the quality we do in a very timely and affordable manner. Hiring a professional can accelerate your job search by rapidly increasing your response rate and number of interviews. Again, at Best Price Resume we have your completed resume documents available within 24 hours.

Best Price Resume (888.215.1159) will help you develop an effective resume and can help you gain a competitive advantage over your competition. It is worth considering paying someone to write your resume. Resume writing is a bit of an art, and it can be more efficient to just send all of your information and hand it off to a professional resume writing service.

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Fatal Resume Mistakes

Fatal Resume Mistakes

  1. Including an objective statement

Use a Summary of Qualifications instead. Summarize your experience and qualifications for the reader. Briefly explain what you’re great at, most interested in, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer. Make this about what you can do for the employer. The dated Objective Statement is about what the company can do for you, and it should be left back in the 20th century.

  1. A cover letter is not necessary

Yes, you need a cover letter! There is little downside in using a well-developed cover letter and tremendous upside to distance yourself from your competition. As professional resume writers, we know the cover letter is the best place to introduce yourself, identify your goals, and briefly describe why you are a good fit for the position. At Best Price Resume we create cover letters at an affordable price while balancing your experience to positions by being strong, but flexible for multiple opportunities.

  1. Using an inappropriate email address

Cute email addresses you used in college are not the best choice to represent your professional brand today. The same goes for shared family accounts and email addresses that are from last century (you’ve got mail and no job offers). Consider signing up for a free email account through say Gmail and use it exclusively for job search-related activities and LinkedIn.

  1. Using free resume-generation programs

Avoid using free resume builders. We see these all the time – our first impression is like it looks good and then we remember the format looks familiar to the dozens of others we have seen with the same formatting. Hiring managers will spot them in an instant too. Then the devil is in the details, we start to read and errors everywhere and we stop. For us, a professionally written resume has a great design, but it is also error free and unique to the client to get them above their competition.

  1. Your resume is unfocused

Don’t think that a resume is one-size-fits-all. Not only is each individual unique, you want content that has competitive differentiation to get you to the top of the hiring manager’s pile of resumes. Your resume should clearly state what you do, what you are good at, and what you have accomplished. If you need help, consider paying someone to write your resume.

Best Price Resume (888.215.1159) can write you an effective resume to help you gain a competitive advantage over your competition. It is worth considering paying someone to write your resume. Resume writing is a bit of an art, and it can be more efficient to just send all of your information and hand it off to a professional resume writing service.

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Is a professionally written resume really an investment?

Is a professionally written resume really an investment?

With the large number of applicants vying for jobs, catching the attention of hiring managers with a strong resume and cover letter is a must. An impressive, professionally prepared resume could help you land a higher percentage of interviews, resulting in more job offers for higher paying jobs. Then add that up over a 40-year career and it is clear – a professionally written resume is one of your most important financial documents and can literally be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There are numerous advantages of professional resume writing.

  1. Stop agonizing over what to include and how to present yourself. Get an outside perspective on your experience and qualifications on what to include. Get help identifying and quantifying achievements that will make your resume more effective.
  2. Ensure that your resume is error-free.
  3. Get to hiring managers faster via Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are widely used by employers by injecting appropriate keywords. Not having keywords, can work against you (even eliminate you) before your resume even reaches a hiring manager’s desk. Our professional resume writers at Best Price Resume can create an effective resume in line with ATS programs.
  4. Ensure that your resume is well-written, increasing the chances of hiring managers actually reading and understanding it. A professional resume writer is a trained expert and truly knows what employers are really looking for in a resume.
  5. The resume writing investment often pays off VERY quickly. Although some are reluctant to spend the money, hiring a professional resume writer is affordable and will actually save you money in the long run. We, at Best Price Resume, provide clients with outstanding value and in a timely manner (24 hours).

Best Price Resume (888.215.1159) can develop an effective resume and can help you gain a competitive advantage over your competition. It is worth considering paying someone to write your resume. Resume writing is a bit of an art, and it can be more efficient to just send all of your information and hand it off to a professional resume writing service.

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Best Resume Writing Practices

Best Resume Writing Practices

  1. Proofread. Always.

The first thing to keep in mind is that you must proofread your resume several times to check for typos or to edit details and information. Spelling and grammar errors can make an applicant seem inattentive to details. You should also ask a friend or a professional resume writer to review your resume. It is important to get a fresh set of eyes on the resume document to ensure you don’t miss any errors or areas in need of improving.

  1. Use Summary of Qualifications

Make sure that your job titles, duties, and responsibilities clearly justify the skills that you list on the resume. This section works best when included at the top of the resume before the professional experience section. Consider this your headline section to align your past experience to future career goals. It’s important not to include extraneous information that distracts hiring managers — you don’t want recruiters to stop reading your resume before getting to your experience. A professionally written resume should focus on the skills and attributes that align your experience to career goals.

  1. Use Professional Structure and Headings

Keep it simple and professional with the use of formatting that allows hiring managers to quickly scan your document with headings that require no explanation. Similar to a well-written book with chapter titles, your headings should deliver as promised. Professional resumes need to have consistent formatting. For instance, if you use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements at one position, be sure to use bullet points on all other positions as well.

  1. Seek Professional Help

Writing a resume is hard work and it’s important to get help. It is generally more efficient to have a professional create the resume for you. The small investment will pay off in time saved and increases in compensation from a new position. Consider using a career counselor or professional resume service to help you make sure your resume is professional and polished. Treat your resume, for what it is, one of your most important financial documents.

Finally, a best practice that often is overlooked is to make sure to use quality resume paper and have at least 3-5 updated resumes handy and available during interviews. Don’t assume the hiring managers have printed out your resume ahead of time.

Best Price Resume (888.215.1159) can help you develop an effective resume to gain a competitive advantage over your competition. It is worth considering paying someone to write your resume. Resume writing is a bit of an art, and it can be more efficient to just send all of your information and hand it off to a professional resume writing service.