Wednesday, March 10, 2010

When Traditional Resume is NOT Enough: How to Position Yourself For Future and Start Crafting Your Online Resume

Although you can read here and there that traditional resumes and cover letters are DEAD, that's certainly not the case - as most people still find jobs the old-fashioned way. However, in today's Internet era, you should not rely on them solely when searching for a job or your next assignment.

Whether you are an expert, consultant, writer, editor, marketing professional, designer; even if you are not looking for a job right now, there are some things that you should be doing to make sure you are always able to find work quickly, if you suddenly find yourself unemployed. Sure, you still may have to write that resume.

But to get a job in today's economy you need to stand out. And having an online presence and a big social network can make you stand out from 1,000 resumes.

If Your Prospective Employers Google You, What Information Will They Find?


For many positions, people will not hire you based on just your resume and cover letter. They will use a variety of approaches to learn more about you and your accomplishments.

One approach may be to "google you".

And if they do, what information can they find about YOU?

The reason you have to start NOW is simple: you cannot build an effective online presence overnight.

DO NOT wait till you are suddenly in full PANIC MODE (having just been downsized or fired), to start a blog, learn to Tweet, shoot video, become an expert writer for Ezinearticles, or whatever; and do it effectively enough to attract attention from potential employers.

Sure, it's easier to just type a few sentences reciting your work experience in reverse chronological order, and email it or snail-mail to a prospective employer in response to a job ad. However, rather than editing your resume for the 20th time, spend your time creating your website, social profiles and/or a professional portfolio, so that when you network you can give the URL to your past work experience. It's got way more info than your resume and will be more interesting to view.

It takes time and effort, as well as some (minimal) computer skills to build an online presence, but you should look at it as an INVESTMENT IN YOUR FUTURE.

Taking the 10 steps outlined below will help you:

  • Build a strong personal brand.

  • Proactively drive your career.

  • Establish yourself, prove yourself and position yourself as an expert.

  • Open up new opportunities you never thought of before.

  • Build partnerships, alliances, and friendships.

  • Learn new, highly marketable and in-demand skills.

  • Build an online business (if you want to)

  • Build passive income streams (if you want to)

  • Become more fulfilled with life (I know this happened for me, and many others, so why not YOU??).


10 Things You Should Be Doing TODAY to Make Sure You Are Never Out of Work Tomorrow


The following are the steps to take to make sure you are never looking for a job or more work - the work will come to you instead!

1. The first thing I recommend you do is Google yourself. Just type your name into the Google search box and see what comes up. If there is no information about you on the first page of search results, that's not a good news for your future career.

2. Define your focus. You will need to define your niche/ area of expertise, and unique selling proposition. Even if you already have a professional niche, or consider yourself a generalist, you need to find a unique angle, something to position yourself as the go-to-expert.

3. Build a website and write a blog. While there are many websites that offer free blogging, such as Blogger.com or WordPress.com, I recommend that you build a WordPress-powered website on your own hosting account. You don't have to call it a blog, just because WordPress is a blogging platform. Call it whatever you want: an Online Cafe, E-Club, online magazine, virtual encyclopedia, or whatever else you want.

a. Choose and register a domain name
b. Choose a hosting provider and set up an account. I use Hostgator.
c. Install WordPress. Many providers (including Hostgator) provide easy, one- click installation.
d. Pick and install a theme. There are many free themes available on the WordPress.org website. For a more polished look and support in case of problems, you can purchase a professionally designed theme for under $100. Themes I recommend: Thesis, Woo Themes, Studio Press themes, and Elegant themes. You can also find many great themes on ThemeForest.com.

4. Set up your social media profiles with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. These three are not the only ones, but they will give you a good start. Continuously grow your network by consistently producing valuable content. Link to articles on your site. Share other people's content. Be active, comment, leave feedback, and answer questions.

5. Provide valuable content. Take your expert topic and deliver valuable, relevant and compelling content. Write articles, ebooks, newsletters, white papers, reports, and industry rankings. Especially effective and viral are How-to-guides, step-by-step tutorials, top 10 lists. But it's not just about writing. Valuable content includes photography, graphics, video, audio, presentations, charts and graphs, and more. If you are a designer, design a WordPress theme and offer it as a free download (with a credit back-link to your site). If you are a programmer, write a plugin or widget. If you are a teacher, create a video explaining a difficult concept.

6. Recycle your content. And I don't mean putting your old articles into recycle bins - whether electronic or real. I mean always looking at everything you have written to come up with new ways to put them to work. So, you've come up with a 10 fresh and exciting ways to do something, and you write an article. A single article can do so many things:


  • Submit your article to an online directory, such as Ezine articles.

  • Modify the article to submit it to a press release service.

  • Post the article on your website or blog and tweet it.

  • Re-write it and make into a Hubpage.

  • Make a Squidoo lens.

  • An article can be submitted to a local newspaper.

  • A generic article can be re-written from a different angle and sent to professional or special interest publications.

  • Compile a set of articles to create an FREE pdf and upload it to Scribd.com.

  • Compile a set of articles to create an ebook or even a physical book, and offer it on your website or sell on Amazon.

  • Include the article in your E-course.

  • Read the article in front of a mirror a few times, then record it with a webcam or camcorder, and make a video clip, and post it to Youtube.

  • Make a slideshow presentation, record it using a screen caputer software, such as Jing, Snagit or Camtasia, and post it to YouTube.

  • Read the article, record it, and make into a podcast.

  • Rewrite your article and offer it to other bloggers as a guest post.

  • Rewrite your article and submit it to even more directories, using automated submission service.


Tip #1: If your title can entice a person’s curiosity you’re already halfway in getting a person to read your article. Use statements and questions that utilize keywords that people are looking for. Provide titles or headers that describe your articles content but should also be short and concise.


Tip #2: You need to craft your "resource box" or "about the author" section, so that people are inclined to go online to find out more about you or your offerings. A boring resource box will never get a job done. Be fun and creative but at the same time show that you have a great deal to offer.



7. Get creative with your distribution channels:

  • Video: YouTube, Vividler, etc.

  • Audio: record podcasts

  • Presentations: Slideshare.com. This is like a YouTube for PowerPoint presentations. Anytime you create a presentation, upload it to SlideShare site.

  • Articles: Ezinearticles.com, Articlebase.com, and dozens of others.

  • PDF/Word/Powerpoint: Scribd.com.

  • Pictures - you, your products, events, etc.: Flickr.com

  • Seminars online and in the "real world". Gotomeeting.com. Record your seminars and offer to your subscribers.

  • BlogTalkRadio allows anyone, anywhere the ability to host a live, Internet Talk Radio show, simply by using a telephone and a computer.

  • Send your best articles to print newspapers, magazines and newsletters.


8. Write and publish a printed book. A printed book is considered the best recommendation anyone can have. When writing your content, think in terms of writing chapters for your future book. In a couple of months, a year, or two, you'll have enough of material to get it published.

9. Do seminars and public speaking. Great way to build credibility super fast. Speaking in public will take the previous steps to the next level. If you don’t feel you have what it takes, join your local Toastmasters, or read the book "Get Your Money Where Your Mouth is" by David R. Portney.

10. Help as many people as you can. Don't make it all about you. If someone asks you for help, recommendation, a guest post, etc. - always say yes.

I've Created Great Content, Now What?


Rather than stand back waiting for you and your content to be discovered, take a proactive approach.

Compile a list of companies you want to work for and then develop a strategy for delivering your content to them.

Social media, and Linkedin in particular, is a tremendous resource for developing your prospect list. Use search functions to locate companies who need what you have to offer. Visit their websites to determine fit and search Linkedin further to discover who the hiring managers are.

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If you do the things outlined above, after a while you may find that a whole world of new opportunities is opening to you.

You may find new employers, friends, and partners.

You may wish to explore starting a business online, building passive income streams online, selling your own products and services, etc, etc.

But that's a topic for a different article or, better yet, entire book.

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More reading:
  • Resumes are Dead. Social Media is Your New Resume

  • Inbound Marketing, Sales & Customer Advocacy

  • Downsized? Fired? Here are the new rules of finding a job by David Meerman Scott

  • Build your social network before you get laid off by Sandy Kemsley
  • Monday, March 1, 2010

    12 Resume Writing Tips Videos

    Here are two videos with some Resume Writing Tips


    How to Get a Good Job : Making a Professional Resume

    Thursday, April 9, 2009

    Top Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

    If you have ever tried to write a resume, for yourself or for someone you know, you are already familiar with the fact that this is not an easy task to take on. So much information goes into a resume; from your career objective to the list of your qualifications, your resume should be personal, convey confidence and set your best foot forward in order to impress a potential employer.

    The following are the most commonly made mistakes - be sure to avioid them:

    Stretching the truth.

    Whether you are simply inflating past accomplishments or coming up with complete fabrications, lying is simply a bad idea. Aside from any moral or ethical implications, chances are that you'll eventually get caught and lose all credibility. So even if you get past the interview, your resume may become part of your employee file if you are hired, and inaccurate information could come back to haunt you.

    Typos and Errors.

    Never present a resume with errors! Proofread, proofread and then proofread again. Your résumé is your one chance to make a first impression. A typo or misspelled word can lead an employer to believe that you would not be a careful, detail-oriented employee. Spell-check software is not enough, since sentences like “Thank you for your patients” would get the thumbs up. Ask several people to proofread your resume to be sure that it is free of typos and grammatical errors. You want to put your best foot forward. Do your best to present the most polished resume to your potential employers.

    Salary Information.

    Never include salary information on your resume. If you are responding to an advertisement that asks for your salary history (what you have earned in the past) and /or your salary requirements, and you choose to provide that information, put it in your cover letter instead. However, surveys have shown that if an employer is interested in you, you will be contacted, regardless of whether or not you have included the requested salary information.

    Including references to personal web sites.

    You may wonder why referencing a personal web site may be a mistake. What if you have a sample of your graphic design work on your site that you want your potential employer to see? It sounds like a great idea, if the site you are referencing only has work-related information available. Many people make a mistake of including their personal web sites that may contain information potential employers may find irrelevant (and now you are wasting their time) or inappropriate.

    As a rule, do not include your personal web site if it contains your photo or other photos that may be viewed as inappropriate, if it contains jokes (even if they are clean jokes), or your blog. In other words, if the site you have is entirely for personal purposes, you are best leaving it off your resume.

    Include a link to your web site if the pages are set up to showcase your professional portfolio, a copy of your resume, reference letters, presentations, photos taken for professional use, or your web development skills.

    Using very small fonts in order to get everything to fit on one page.

    Never submit a resume that is difficult to read. Do not use a small font in order to fit everything into your resume. If you do, noone will want to read it! Be sure to use a font and type size that are easy to read, and select a format and design that are attractive and leave lots of white space to enhance readability.

    One of the most common challenges is creating a resume that formats well on a single page. As a rule, a resume should not exceed two pages. It has become commonplace for professionals to change jobs frequently, and listing all the experiences, in addition to your career objective, education, qualifications and references, can certainly take up a lot of space. Keep in mind the font type you are using – stick to the basics, Arial and Times New Roman are best. Instead of changing the font size, review and revise your resume to make your statements more concise.

    Incorrect company/school listings.

    Refer to the past employers and/or the school(s) that you attended by their full names. Do not use variations of company and school names. Do not use abbreviations unless they are in fact part of the name. If you have attended New York University, list the complete name, not just NYU (even though it’s commonly known and your employer will likely recognize it). You don’t want to appear sloppy or as if you don’t pay attention to details.

    Lengthy paragraphs describing your experiences.

    To list the responsibilities you’ve had in your past professional experience, you are best off using bullet points that begin with action verbs, such as managed, developed, etc. You do not need to use full sentences, and you certainly do not need to use the paragraph format. This makes the information in your resume overwhelming and difficult to review quickly. Make your statements brief and clear; don’t add words to fill in space.

    Vague or unclear objective.

    Make sure your career objective is specific – for example, Position as a Network Engineer” – and not simply a vague statement such as “seeking a position offering training and advancement opportunities. Read also How to write an effective career objective on your resume or CV.

    TopOfBlogs

    Career Objective: How to write an effective and original objective statement

    What is a career objective?

    A career objective, often listed as "objective", is quite simply a statement of your career goals. It sounds easy – you want to land a good job, utilize your experience and education, and get paid well. However, it's really not that easy. In fact, this is probably the most difficult part of the resume to compose, as you are limited to one to two sentences in which you are expected to convey your professional expertise, expectations from a job and an organization, as well as goals for your professional growth.

    Common mistakes when writing a career objective

    A common mistake that many people make is not listing an objective at all. They make the assumption that the objective is not necessary to include in a resume because it states the obvious – your objective is to get the job you are applying for. However, this is a big misconception. Employers are looking for an objective; they want to know what it is that you are looking for in order to determine whether or not you are a good match for their company.

    The second mistake is including a career objective that doesn’t actually express your goals and your qualification. For example, a generic statement like the one below is commonly used is resumes:

    “To obtain a position where my experience and education can be utilized and expanded.”

    If you examine this statement, you will find it doesn’t say anything specific about what you are looking for in terms of professional growth. Avoid using weak statements like this. They will hurt you more than help you in your job search, because your employer will be left with an impression that you don’t have a set a goal in mind.

    Four Tips how to create a winning career objective

    Now that you know what you should NOT do, here are some helpful tips on creating a winning career objective that will get your resume noticed.

    1. Make your career objective personal. Think of your whole resume as a sales tool; your career objective is your opening statement. You want your employer to know what you want, not just restate what other people want.

    2. State your commitment to your career goal. If you are unsure of what you want, how is your employer to believe that you really want the job at their organization and you are not just applying because you want to get out of your current work environment? Don’t be afraid to state what you want from a job and from an organization.

    3. Show that you are willing to take action to achieve your goal. Indicate what direction or action you are willing to take in order to accomplish your career objective.

    4. Be specific about what you are looking for in a work situation. While you can say that you are looking for a “challenging” position, this doesn’t mean anything to your employer, as people define challenges in various ways. Avoid using generic and broad terms. Simply state what you want, and what you are willing to do to get it.

    Keeping in mind these criteria, let’s rewrite the above career objective statement so that it effectively states what you want.

    “To obtain a position of a sales representative in a computer industry, where I can utilize my management and customer relations skills, with the opportunity for performance-based advancement.”

    This objective statement tells your potential employer that you know what you want, what experience you have in order to get the position, and what you are willing do to become a successful professional with the company.

    Thus, you have just created a winning career objective for your resume.

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    Read more tips on How to write a CV, Resume and Cover Letter main page.

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    Wednesday, April 8, 2009

    Describing your professional experience– how far back should you go?

    One of the biggest tasks in creating a CV or a resume has to do with describing your professional experience.

    To get started in developing your resume or CV, answer the following questions.

    1. What is your career objective?
    2. Are you changing careers or looking for professional growth?
    3. What experience have you had so far that will help in meeting your professional goals?

    Make list of all of your previous experience, in chronological order, starting with your latest job on a piece of paper. List the dates of employment, your job title, the full company name and the location of your employment.

    Now, consider just how much experience you have had. In recent years, it has become more common to change positions more frequently and not build your career in one place. So, it is possible that someone with ten years of professional experience following college has had over three jobs. That doesn’t seem all that much to include on a resume, right? Consider someone with over 30 years of experience. It is important to set limits on what you include and what you can freely exclude from your resume under your professional experience.

    Ideally, your resume should not exceed two pages (CVs can typically be longer). Depending on the type of jobs you have held and your responsibilities, having only two pages doesn’t account for a lot of space.

    Usually, the best practice for listing your experiences is not to exceed the most recent five positions you have held. Again, keep the mind the length of the resume when you are deciding on the number of jobs you will list – if your last five jobs and their accompanying responsibilities will take over one page alone, than consider narrowing the experience down to the three most recent positions you had.

    Consiter also the time you spent at each place you have worked for – list up to the last ten to fifteen years of experience. It is not necessary to list every job you’ve ever had to showcase your qualifications and years of experience. If you have a long professional career, focus on the last three to five jobs, but use the profile or summary at the beginning of the resume to highlight the number of years you have spent working, or the number of years you have spent in a certain industry, acquiring specific skills.

    However, when listing your experiences, it is important that you do so in chronological order without skipping any of the jobs you have held. While you may feel that certain jobs are not particularly complimenting to your current career objective you should still include them on your resume.

    Leaving any unexplained gaps in your work history will raise questions by your potential employer – thus don’t create those gaps on your resume by listing your experience out of order or by skipping jobs you have had. Work on highlighting the responsibilities that are transferable across various industries. Finally, make sure that your cover letter accounts for any additional qualifications you would like to bring to the attention of your potential employer that you didn’t include on the resume.

    Your resume should be concise, well written, and sell you as the best candidate for the job. Just remember that it is quality over quantity that counts.

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    Go to How to write a CV, Resume and Cover Letter main page or read the first part of how to write a cv or resume.
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    If you get tired looking for a job, to learn how to earn money online visit the blog Great Ways to Earn Money Online with Niche Sites.

    Words Every CV and Resume Should Include

    If you have never written a CV or a resume, the blank page you are facing can be very intimidating. While you can describe your job responsibilities to your friends, listing them out in a resume and showcasing how your experience to date meets your career objectives is a very difficult task.

    You must first consider what type of a job you are seeking. Much like your career objective or summery should reflect your professional goals, your current and past experiences must demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the position you are applying for. In describing your current and past professional experiences, try to focus on those responsibilities that indicate you are qualified to take the next step in your career.

    Use keywords. Since more and more companies and recruiter sites use scanning software to pick out candidates, it is very crucial to use keywords, including active verbs, to describe your skills. Instead of beginning your job descriptions with “Responsible for” try to use active verbs such as:
    - managed
    - developed
    - created
    - communicated
    - interfaced
    - achieved, etc.

    These key words get straight to the point of describing your responsibilities, which is exactly what the employers are want. Chose these words carefully – don’t say that you “managed a project”, implying you were responsible for the whole task from start to finish if you were only responsibly for communicating the project to other associates. Instead say that you “Developed and executed the communication strategy for associates,” describing your role more accurately and emphasizing your strengths.

    Every word on your resume counts in today's competitive job market. But some words count more than others -- especially those that refer to skills and competencies. For example, teamwork is more important than ever in the workplace. The ability to work well with others to accomplish a common goal is vital for a harmonious workplace. Employees are often organized into teams to manage projects. And many employers believe collaboration increases the quality of work and improves productivity. A team player is an attentive listener, a cooperative colleague and is willing to help others.

    Another important word is 'Flexibility'. Employers value workers who are flexible and able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, so it's just as important to be a jack-of-all-trades as a master of one. You can show that you're flexible by demonstrating a willingness to take on new and varied projects and an ability to handle changing priorities and deadlines. Ultimately, being flexible doesn't only increase the odds that you'll get a job -- it also improves your chances of keeping it should layoffs occur.

    'Detail-Oriented' Employers want to know that they can trust workers to handle a project down to the last detail. Being "detail-oriented" means being organized and meticulous about your work. It also implies that you can work without constant supervision and act independently.

    'Self-Motivated' or "Self-Starter". Such employees can generate their own ideas and follow them through to fruition. A self-motivated worker goes the extra mile. She regularly takes on tasks that may not be part of her job description. She's inspired to work hard not just to reap rewards but also for personal satisfaction.

    Use action words and active voice in your resume to help grab the reader's attention. The words you choose for your resume can help you catch the attention of a potential employer. It is important to use action words and to write in the "active voice" instead of "passive voice."

    For instance:
    • Passive voice: "Monthly financial reports were generated by me." — BAD!
    • Active voice: "I generated the monthly financial reports." — GOOD!


    Nearly every book and article on the topic of writing CV and resumes will advise you to use high-impact action words, and avoid the passive tense. When you sit down and actually write, it is tough to come up with some original words.

    Here is a list of powerful action words you can use to make your resume more attention grabbing and dynamic:

    Ability to
    Accelerated
    Accomplished
    Achieved
    Acquired
    Adapted
    Addressed
    Adjusted
    Administered
    Advertised
    Advised
    Advocated
    Allocated
    Analyzed
    Applied
    Appraised
    Approved
    Arbitrated
    Arranged
    Assembled
    Assisted
    Assumed responsibility
    Audited
    Augmented
    Authored
    Balanced
    Billed
    Blazed
    Brought
    Budgeted
    Built
    Calculated
    Carried out
    Catalogued
    Chaired
    Channeled
    Charted
    Classified
    Closed (a deal)
    Coached
    Collected
    Communicated
    Compared
    Compiled
    Completed
    Composed
    Conceived
    Conceptualized
    Conducted
    Consolidated
    Constructed
    Consulted
    Contacted
    Contracted
    Controlled
    Convinced
    Coordinated
    Copyrighted
    Corrected
    Corresponded
    Counseled
    Created
    Cultivated
    Cut
    Dealt
    Debugged
    Decided
    Decreased
    Defined
    Delegated
    Delivered
    Demonstrated
    Designated
    Designed
    Detected
    Determined
    Developed
    Devised
    Diagnosed
    Directed
    Discovered
    Dispatched
    Distributed
    Documented
    Doubled
    Earned
    Edited
    Elicited
    Eliminated
    Empowered
    Enabled
    Engineered
    Enhanced
    Enlarged
    Enlisted
    Established
    Estimated
    Evaluated
    Examined
    Exceeded
    Executed
    Expanded
    Expedited
    Explained
    Facilitated
    Filed
    Forecasted
    Formed
    Formulated
    Founded
    Gained
    Gathered
    Generated
    Graded
    Graduated
    Guided
    Handled
    Headed
    Hired
    Identified
    Ignited
    Implemented
    Improved
    Increased
    Influenced
    Initiated
    Innovated
    Inspected
    Installed
    Instituted
    Instructed
    Interpreted
    Interviewed
    Introduced
    Invented
    Inventoried
    Issued
    Justified
    Launched
    Lectured
    Led
    Lobbied
    Logged
    Maintained
    Managed
    Manufactured
    Mediated
    Met with
    Modernized
    Modified
    Molded
    Monitored
    Motivated
    Negotiated
    Obtained
    Offered
    Operated
    Optimized
    Orchestrated
    Ordered
    Organized
    Originated
    Overhauled
    Oversaw
    Participated
    Patented
    Performed
    Persuaded
    Pinpointed
    Placed
    Planned
    Posted
    Prepared
    Presented
    Presided
    Processed
    Produced
    Programmed
    Promoted
    Proposed
    Proved
    Provided
    Published
    Purchased
    Qualified
    Quantified
    Received
    Recognized
    Recommended
    Reconciled
    Recorded
    Recruited
    Reduced
    Referred
    Regulated
    Reinforced
    Reorganized
    Repaired
    Replaced
    Reported
    Represented
    Rescued
    Researched
    Restored
    Revamped
    Reviewed
    Revised
    Revitalized
    Saved
    Scheduled
    Screened
    Selected
    Served
    Set up
    Simplified
    Sold
    Solved
    Spearheaded
    Spoke
    Standardized
    Steered
    Streamlined
    Structured
    Studied
    Suggested
    Supervised
    Supplied
    Supported
    Surpassed
    Surveyed
    Synthesized
    Systematized
    Systemized
    Taught
    Tested
    Traced
    Tracked
    Trained
    Transcribed
    Translated
    Tripled
    Underwrote
    Updated
    Used
    Utilized
    Won
    Wrote

    Typically, the first job listed on your resume is the one you currently hold. In this case, make sure that your responsibilities are stated in present tense, as you are still responsible for them. For example, say “Manage accounting activities” instead of “Managed accounting activities.” This will indicate to your potential employer what your day-to-day activities are like and how they compliment responsibilities of the job you are submitting your resume for. All previous jobs should be listed using past tense, and should start with active verbs such as managed, developed, accomplished, etc.

    Additionally, make sure that responsibilities you are listing are relevant for to your career objective. List only those responsibilities which help you put your best foot forward. For example, if you are looking for a job that requires managing a team of people, focus on your development and participation in group projects instead of focusing on solitary activities such as office organization.

    In terms of formatting, make sure that your responsibilities are listed in bullet points. This formatting is preferred to paragraphs on a resume because it is easier to review quickly. Employers simply scan the resumes and look for keywords – if the resume looks overwhelming, with a lot of copy and poor formatting, they will likely discard it. Thus, it is very important that your resume is formatted with enough white space and doesn’t contain any errors.

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    Also visit the blog Great Ways to Earn Money Online with Niche Sites.

    Monday, April 6, 2009

    How to write a Resume? Three Basic Rules

    In today's job-search market, you are often competing against large numbers of job seekers, and your CV or resume has to be good enough to make it past the first screening. The first people who read your CV or resume are often looking for a fast way to weed candidates out of consideration.

    To reduce the possibility of your resume being eliminated during this round by following three simple rules described below.

    One: Include Relevant Keywords.

    If posting your resume on the internet or submitting it in digital format, make sure the search engines can find your resume and flag it resume for closer examination. Do this by including several keywords that are relevant to your desired position and your job skills. Include keywords specific to your industry. Also, include the names of major companies you worked with or for, as this often is important to employers. Include those in the "experience" section, as appropriate.

    For example: Adobe Photoshop, International Standards (ISO), MBA, copy edit, CPMs, medical device, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and search engine marketing (SEM). Some job seekers add a separate "keywords" section at the bottom of digital-format resumes, or others list keywords as part of a "skills" section. These are possible catch-all areas specifically for the search engines to recognize.

    Two: Remember that Less is More.

    Your resume should read like a billboard, not an encyclopedia, so don't reveal everything. A good resume should leave the prospective employer with a desire to meet with you to find out more. So don't fill in all the details just yet. Save that for the interview. Do, however, paint a big picture of who you are and what you can offer.

    Skip the hobbies and personal information. Avoid too much detail that will cause a reader's eyes to glaze over. One page is ideal -- two pages only if you are a 15- to 20-year veteran with a significant growth and promotion history.

    Three: Be specific.

    Don't just tell them what you did, but more importantly, ecplain the benefits of your accomplishments. For example, you may want to include several specific ways you helped your employer make money or save money. Identify measurable results; use numbers, or better yet dollars (or whatever currency is used where you live). Remember, the only benefit you can bring to the table is past performance.

    Present examples of some of your accompishments. How can an employer think of you as a problem solver? If at all possible, state them in terms of money. When you interview (either phone or in person) this is what will be discussed.

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