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Category: Job Search

A job search, also referred to “job hunt” is basically described as an individual’s desire to work for someone else – usually a large company or corporation – in return for money (wages, a salary, etc.) which can be paid in regular intervals – weekly, bi-weekly – in the form of a pacheck.

  • Conveying Your Transferable Skills in a Resume


    When making a career change

    Many of us, when faced with career changing decisions, put a lot of thought into the steps we need to take in order to make the very best decision possible, because a career change can be one of the most important decisions we make. Since such decisions involve our families, living and financial situations and competitive advantages in the new field, among other such concerns, making a career change typically means starting with a blank canvas.

    Of course, an individual may have the freedom to paint that canvas any way s/he wishes; but while doing so, it is important that s/he invests the time and energy, as well as make the sacrifices necessary to prove that s/he’s a credible professional in the new field. S/he also needs to be competitive, motivated, and be able to sustain the drive that is necessary to be successful. And after s/he’s convinced that changing careers is the right thing to do, s/he will then have to convince potential employers that s/he is the best person for the job being sought, and get hired.

    If you are that job seeker faced with a career change – or you are able to put yourself in such a job seeker’s stead – the first thing you should acknowledge is the necessity to do your research; because you must demonstrate to your potential employer that you have an extensive knowledge of the industry you’re interested in entering, even if you don’t have the accompanying experience. Before you begin your new career, make sure you understand what professional paths are available for you, and determine what your ultimate goal is, as this will help you form the career objective for your resume.

    Identifying your own transferable skills

    Additionally, make sure to do your research on the company you are interested in, as well as their competition (if you are interested in non-profit organizations, make sure to brush up on other organizations with similar missions), because if you are invited for an interview, you will want to appear very knowledgeable, not only about your potential new company, but about the industry as a whole. Keep in mind that you will have to convince your potential employer that you are the best person for the job; even better than the candidates with experience. You’ll do this by showcasing your enthusiasm for the opportunity, as well as your eagerness to enhance your knowledge about the field.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    If you possess transferable skills, you know that such skills can be utilized in numerous fields, and can be key to a successful career change; so consider your qualifications to date. What experience have you acquired that can be transferred across various industries? Transferable skills include verbal and written communication, people management, customer relations, organizational and project management skills, development of new processes, generation of new ideas or concepts, and other such skills, both acquired and innate. Skills which can be adapted to all organizations that you should utilize to showcase your qualifications for the job you are seeking.

    Defining your transferable skills

    Consider, for example, that you would like to ditch a 9-to-5 desk job for a hectic, unpredictable life of a high school teacher; you’ll have to let your potential employer know that your previous experience in leading by motivation makes you a perfect candidate for the job (even if that marketing project you managed has nothing to do with teaching English Composition); and make a list of all your professional experiences and the qualifications needed for the job you are seeking, as it will help you in determining which skills are transferable to your new career.

    Chronological Resume Template: Resume Solution, What you Need to Creat your US and Canadian Resume (Template, Resume, Functional, Jobs, Opportunities)

    Once you define your transferable skills, use a functional resume to ensure that most (if not all) the qualifications needed for the new job are met in your resume. In addition to your resume, you should use your cover letter or email to let your potential employer know why you are changing careers, and that your new interest is not a passing fancy or simply an act based on impulse. Make sure that your resume reflects your newfound interest in a genuine and professional manner, and you will give yourself the best chance to make a successful career change.

  • Utilizing Resume Banks for Optimum Results


    Sources of job listings

    In today’s technology driven society most job seekers search for work on the Internet whether they’re looking to change jobs; in between jobs and looking for a new opportunity; or fresh out of school and brand new to the job market. There are two ways a job seeker can find job listings on the Internet: company websites and resume banks; the former is evidenced by the fact that most companies now have a special area on their websites which is dedicated to careers.

    These days the perusal of a typical company website mentioned earlier will reveal listings of available positions from entry level to higher management, with the exception of executive positions which are often filled through head hunters and/or personal recruitment. And larger, more sophisticated companies allow a job seeker to create a professional profile on their website and upload his/her well-written resume.

    This allows you – if you are in search of employment – to apply for an available position in which you are interested, while allowing the company’s recruiting team to match your resume to an available position they are looking to fill. Most companies list contact information for their available positions, so that you can reach out to the appropriate person and submit your resume for consideration.

    Resume banks fill the job void

    However, unless you are targeting a handful of organizations, consider the amount of time it would take you to review web sites and job postings of all the different companies in your area of interest. You would probably get frustrated and give up before accomplishing the goal. It is for this reason that resume banks – more commonly known as resume databases – have grown in popularity and are considered the better resource for job seekers.

    Curricula Vitae

    These databases have two functions: first, they allow you to search a comprehensive listing of available jobs from a large number of companies; and second, they provide the facility by which you can upload your current resume and make it available for many of the same same employers you would have applied with to find you.

    Popular resume databases such as monster.com and careerbuilder.com have been successful in building their online presence because they responded to the growing needs of companies looking for qualified personnel and professionals to fill their openings, as well as meeting the needs of busy professionals looking to expand their careers. Resume databases are usually free, and although you will be asked to register with the website, you should not have to pay any membership fees.

    Register • Upload • Search

    Of course there are a few sites that will allow you to search through a resume database without having to register; be mindful though, that these sites may restrict the number of jobs you can view, or the amount of details you can get from a job posting. In terms of convenience it can be said that registering with a resume bank has its benefits, in the sense that the amount of time, effort and frustration which many job seekers experience will be greatly reduced, because making your resume available to a large number of employers will no doubt, speed up the process.

    When registering, include your contact information and your most up to date resume; but do not post a sample cover letter. Although they are mostly discarded from resume banks, cover letters are meant to be personalized, so posting a generic cover letter along with your resume doesn’t help you get noticed. More important than the cover letter is If you are seeking a new job while still working, which would justify any concerns you have about your employer finding your resume in one of these databases.

    Some people recommend leaving current job information off the resume, but many professionals don’t want to do so because it is their current job that serves as that stepping stone to the next point in their careers, so it can create a dilemma in that respect. You can however, include a title and omit the company name, which would serve both purposes at the same time. Also, consider posting a functional or chronological resume, and make a note in your profile that a detailed and well-written resume can be emailed upon request.

    Keeping your undated resume current

    Make sure that the resume you have posted in the database is current; and make sure not to date your resume; –this way it will not appear outdated to potential employers. Log into the website once every few months and update your profile and your resume if you are actively looking for a job (always provide most up-to-date contact information, even if you don’t have time to update the complete profile).

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    Resume banks, or databases as they are called, can help you gain access to a large number of job postings, so don’t avoid utilizing them; but make sure your profile and your resume are posted on reputable sites such as monster.com. If you are unsure of the credibility of the site, do a little research online and see what others have to say about it; and don’t rely on employers to find you. If you are actively searching for a new job, review the listings regularly and seek out the opportunities that best meet your career objectives.

  • Taking Steps to Quantify Your Resume


    Focusing on career objective

    Resume writers of all calibers will probably agree that the most difficult and time consuming section of any resume is the listing of their work experience, regardless of the level reached in their professional career. That having been said, there are steps that can be taken to make such a listing more interesting, if not less difficult and time consuming; and the first and most important step requires the writer to focus on his/her career objective, and prioritize work in accordance with the goals s/he has previously set.

    If you are preparing a resume and want it to best represent you, it is of significant importance that your professional experience not only showcase the activities in which you have participated while in your previous jobs, but it must demonstrate your qualifications in the way that motivates employers to want to know more. Of course, what is being referred to here are results: any tangible, measurable items that have, and will continue to, impact the bottom line must be conveyed in your well-written resume.

    Let potential employers know:

    • That your project came in under budget;
    • That you adhered to the timeline;
    • That you acquired X number of new customers, and…
    • That you increased sales by a double-digit percentage; plus any other positive results.

    Quantify with numbers and specifics

    Approach your resume preparation with the thought in mind that employers can wrap their minds around numbers, because they work with them on a daily basis; and using this approach you want to let your potential employers know that you can think in the same way as they do, and that you take results into serious consideration as you perform your job on day-to-day basis.

    functional and chronological resumes

    To get started with your work history, you should begin each description with a power word; such as managed, developed, communicated, etc. And do some research on the use of power words and phrases that are appropriate for your industry. Make sure also, that the statements you list first under your job responsibilities quantify your achievements and– don’t be afraid to list sales figures, customer acquisition rates, budget and timeline successes, or any other figures which help put your responsibilities in the context of your business and/or field.

    It is important that you be specific, because the only way your statements would truly be quantified is if you include numbers. In other words, saying that you acquired new customers is significantly different from saying that you increased the customer database by 10%. As mentioned above, this is the most critical aspect of listing past job descriptions on your resume. Your potential employer wants to know what you did, as well as how proficient you were at doing it.

    Convey achievement and make a great impression!

    All these statements should be aligned with your career objective you included at the top of the resume. For example, if you want to get a job in project management, letting your employer know that you managed a team of 20 people and the overall results you achieved will effectively highlight your qualifications. It is important to quantify your job description statements on your resume; however, as a word of caution, do not quantify all statements, just one or two that are most critical to your job and are goal driven.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews< /p>

    Doing so will show potential employers that you think in terms of exceeding your goals; and all subsequent descriptions of your responsibilities should support the first one or two items on your list. Be sure to put yourself in the shoes of your employer. Cross-check the job description and make sure that you address the qualifications required for the particular job with qualifiying information on your resume. Let your potential employer know that you have what they are looking for, and you will certainly make a great impression.

  • Making Your Resume Uniquely Personalized


    Of your resume’s uniqueness

    In view of the fact that a resume is limited to only one or two-pages in length, and yet must summarize a person’s career objectives, professional experiences/achievements and educational background, very important that you present a well-written resume that is also well formatted and free of errors. What may be as important, however, is to make it stand out from resumes of other candidates; and to do so you should consider the information in your resume carefully and make sure that it is unique to you (uniquely yours?).

    That having been said, the following suggestions are provided in the way of tips on how you can go about making your resume unique to you:

    Customize your career objective

    To best accomplish the customization of your career objective, you should think of your overall resume as a sales tool in which your career objective is your opening statement. You want your potential employer to know what you want, not just restate what other people say they want; so state your commitment to your career goal, because if you are unsure of what you want, how is your employer expected to believe that you really want the job at their organization, and not that you are 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, because while you want to state your commitment, you also want to 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; and be specific about what you are looking for in a work situation.

    functional and chronological resumes

    While you can say that you are looking for a “challenging” environment, this doesn’t mean anything to your potential employer, as people define challenges in various ways. So avoid using generic terms that are too broad defined. Simply state what you want, and what you are willing to do to get it, and in most cases that will be enough to give any potential employer a good enough idea of who you are and what you want.

    Highlight best elements of your experience

    This may be the most commonly overlooked aspect of writing a resume; understanding of course, that the entire professional experience section on your resume is, and should be, unique to you so you should take advantage of that particular aspect. Also, try to use power words wherever you can to list your responsibilities, while making sure that you have a winning attitude with each statement.

    Focus on those responsibilities that best describe the skills you acquired while in each job that make you the most qualified candidate for the position you are seeking; and quantify your responsibilities when possible to showcase to your potential employer that you are driven by results, and you are capable of exceeding goals; but don’t be shy about promoting your qualifications, because you earned them with your hard work and dedication.

    Personalize your cover letter

    The biggest mistake many professionals make is not spending enough time on their cover letter; but your cover letter should receive the same attention as your resume as they go hand-in-hand. Address your cover letter to the appropriate person at the company (contact info is typically listed in the job description); and make sure to mention what position you are applying for, while demonstrating how well the information in your resume aligns with the job requirements.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    Your cover letter also allows you to address any information in your resume that may raise questions; so– take the time to do it right, as you don’t want your resume discarded because you chose not to create a uniquely personalized cover letter. Overall, make sure that your cover letter supports your resume and presents you as the most qualified candidate for the job.

  • A Comparison: Resume and Curriculum Vitae


    Resume components and objective

    The resume document is comprised of one or two-pages summarizing an individual’s career objectives, professional experiences and achievements, and his/her educational background. If you are the preparer of your own resume, its heading should contain your name, address and contact information, while the body of your resume should be broken into these sections: career objective, profile summary, professional experience, achievements, scholastics, and references.

    While your career objective should be brief (up to two sentences), it should give your potential employers an idea of how you wish to move forward in your professional life. A concise profile or a summary should discuss who you are and how your skills and experience best apply to the job in which you are interested. The summary, as well as other parts of your resume, should not contain personal information that discloses ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, living situations, or any other personal information that is not directly related to your career.

    Personal profile summary should only contain a few well-written sentences that convey what you can bring to the table in terms of the specific job for which you have applied. It is recommended that you use this section to attract the employer’s attention, but don’t go overboard in trying to be creative; keep it professional. Your experience listing should include information on one to five jobs you’ve held, starting with your current or last job, and listing previous positions in chronological order.

    Chronological Resume Template: Resume Solution, What you Need to Create your US and Canadian Resume (Template, Resume, Functional, Jobs, Opportunities)

    More about the resume

    In addition, your education should include college, graduate and post-graduate work, as well as any courses or professional certifications which are relevant to your career development. Achievements, volunteer positions, publications and interests should be listed only if they are relevant to your professional work experience; and references should be listed if requested; best practices suggest not to list generic statements about references being available upon request as this is understood. Keep the information relevant and concise ion order to present your well-written resume to potential employers.

    The Curriculum Vitae (CV)

    Curriculum Vitae or CV is a collection of documents that describe your education and professional history, focusing on your achievements and showcasing higher level of detail than a resume. Individuals who typically use CV as a form of application are those seeking positions in education, entrance into graduate and post-graduate programs, and/or research; and they are required, in most cases, to discuss their professional philosophies.

    While resumes are often limited to one or two pages, a CV is comprised of a compilation of documents, and has no limit on length; which means it can extend over several pages (typically four or five pages, but can be more based on experience and achievements). In this respect a Curriculum Vitae contains similar information as your resume, but it places greater emphasis on education and scholastic accomplishments.

    Philosophically speaking

    Unlike your resume, a CV would contain information on scholarships you may have received; texts or research you have completed and published; grants you received; community and volunteer work; teaching philosophy; and other such academic work. You will begin by listing your career objective, in summary form, to showcase the level of commitment you have to your goals and the steps/actions you are willing to take in order to achieve them.

    If you are applying for a teaching position, for example, you would provide a brief outline of your teaching philosophy. Immediately following your goals, you’d list your achievements, highlighting your education first. Here, you can mention your thesis project or dissertation, courses that support your career objective, publications and research (in progress or completed), certifications, studies abroad, languages, etc.

    In concluding your CV

    Following the goals and achievements section should be a section for your experience which should emphasize a work history that supports your career objective. This should be the extent to which you go in providing information and therefore should conclude your CV. If you are unsure which form of application to use, do the appropriate research and create a resume or CV that best fits the format commonly accepted in your industry.

  • Method of Listing Publications on a Resume


    Relevance of publications to career

    There are many industries in which publication of an individual’s work is a critical part of his/her career development; and as professionals in industries that require us to actively publish research studies, essays, articles, textbooks, and other literary work, we have to find ways to account for such publications on our resumes. There are a number of things to consider with respect to publications as a resume is being developed.

    First, if you are the subject of particular resume, ask yourself how relevant the publications are to your career objective. If you have recent publications that support your career objective, make sure to create a separate heading on your resume and list the publications in reverse chronological order. Follow the AP style when listing a given publication, omitting your name from the listing if you were the only author of the text, as that is implied.

    Publications that do not support your career objective should not be listed on your resume; and while such works may be helpful to mention to your potential employer via a cover letter, it is not necessary to take up space on your resume with information that does not directly impact your career. Also, if you have a submission in progress, or you are working on texts which support your qualifications – for a particular job – that you know will be published at a later date, include them on the resume under a sub-heading of “submitted to,” or “to be published in,” (publication name).”

    A literary resume section

    However, if you decide to include works in progress, you must make sure that they will get published at some point in the future. This is mostly critical for freelance magazine, newspaper or creative writers; but do not list every article you have submitted for publication, unless you are certain that it will get published; and if your list of publications is fairly extensive, do not dismiss it completely from your resume, because you do want your employer to know that you have either published, or are in the process of publishing, your work.

    To accomplish this you could simply create a section within your resume dedicated to publications, while taking care not to go overboard with the number of publications you list on your resume. It is acceptable form to list three to five publications in reverse chronological order in the section you’ve created. This will give your potential employer an idea of your work, the publications, audiences you have reached, as well as your qualifications. At the end of your publication listing, including a statement that tells the employer a complete listing of publications can be provided upon request.

    Include publications that support career objective

    In your professional summary, or cover letter, you can indicate the total number of publications you’ve had in your career; and you can always create a separate document that includes a complete listing of your publications (if the list is extensive), following the ASP style. Also make sure that your list of publications credits other authors properly. You should have a print-out of this list, along with your resume that you can bring to any job interview, or forward to the hiring manager at their request.

    In addition, if asked about your publications, offer your potential employer a copy of any of articles you’ve written for their review. Overall, you should disclose any information about publications, if such publications supports your career objective and highlights your qualifications for the job. Review the information you list carefully and make sure that names and dates of publications are correct. Keep in mind that –even minor mistakes can raise questions about your credibility.

  • Resume Tips that Teachers May Find Useful


    Whether you are new to teaching, are returning to teaching after time off, or are leaving your corporate job for a teaching position, you will need to make sure that your resume and cover letter address the most important elements of your decision to enter the teaching field, including questions your potential employers might have like those provided in the following paragraphs.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    Compelling reasons for teaching

    Why do you want to be a teacher? This question is very important and you must address it in both your resume and your cover letter. Keeping in mind that the career objective listed in your résumé should have a well-developed statement about your passion for teaching, and your cover letter should elaborate on your goals and teaching style; also your career objective should be more extensive than that of an objective found on corporate-driven resumes.

    Your career objective as a teacher should really provide more of a summary of your passion for teaching, as well as the qualifications you bring to the position; and your commitment to students and their education should be among your top priorities, no matter their level of academic accomplishment. These goals must be clearly communicated as are among the most critical aspects of being a teacher, and doing so can set you apart from other applicants.

    Qualifications for the position you seek

    Do you have the qualifications necessary to be a teacher? The education and certifications you’ve acquired should immediately follow your career summary statement, which of course, is the section that should be titled “Academic Credentials” and should list the various degrees and certifications which make you a qualified candidate for a teacher’s position. Having proper credentials for the job you are applying for is critical in the teaching field.

    Chronological Resume Template: Resume Solution, What you Need to Creat your US and Canadian Resume (Template, Resume, Functional, Jobs, Opportunities)

    In addition, you should point out any cluster of courses you have taken in school that makes you qualified to teach a specific subject; and if you have been published in academic journals, or have written and published textbooks, it may be a good idea to create a separate section on your resume for publications. Also make it a priority to include a comprehensive list of all of your credentials on the resume. Just don’t sell your self short.

    Comparative professional experience

    What part of your professional experience qualifies you to be a teacher? Unlike corporate-focused resumes, where jobs are outlined in chronological order, teachers have to focus on not only their experience teaching (if applicable) but on any professional achievements which make them a great candidates for a given teaching job. In other words, if you are applying for a teacher’s job, and have prior experience in teaching, you should use a functional resume resume formatted with a list that will showcase your work history.


    However, if you are new to teaching, you will need to list any experience you have that helps make you a great teacher; but don’t get discouraged– if you consider your inexperience, because you’ll find that you have the qualifications to be a teacher, as long as you just focus on those qualifications that meet your career objective. In other vwords, you should use a functional resume because that format will be more suitable for your purposes.

    Do a little research and find examples of teaching resumes that you can model your own resume after; and if you are entering the teaching field with corporate experience, list any training you have developed and taught at your company as credible and comparably suitable experience for the position you are seeking. If you have recently graduated, list any mentorship or teacher’s assistant positions you may have had, or any practical coursework you took part in.

    Knock ’em Dead Resumes: A Killer Resume Gets More Job Interviews!

    You can reference any volunteer work, or community involvement that supports your goal of becoming a teacher. For example, if you volunteered your time to an organization like Big Brother/Big Sister, and you mentored a child, note that on your resume. Utilize any experience you may have that demonstrates your leadership, passion for educating others and your ability to motivate and pass on knowledge to others.

    Sharing your professional goals

    What are your long term professional goals? Similar to requirements, concerns and information gathering in a corporation, the school in which you are interested in teaching will want to know, not only why you want to be a teacher, but what your long term professional goals are. You should make a brief mention of your long-term goals in your career summary, and your cover letter or teaching philosophy should elaborate on your long term goals.

    Will you be returning to school for a Master’s degree or a Ph.D.? Are you interested in becoming a high school dean in the next ten years, or will you want to teach more than one subject? Are you interested in teaching grade school first, and possibly teaching high school at the later time? Do you have interest in becoming a department chair at a university? If you are driven toward a long term goal, make your potential employer aware of it; but make sure you have an action plan on how to get there, one which –shows your employer that you understand what it takes to reach that goal.

    The importance of getting it right

    As important as anything else that was already said, make sure that your resume is error-free, and that you have incorporated key words specific to the teaching field; key words such as teaching jargon and acronyms. Do your research and model your well-written resume after samples of other teachers, with the consideration of their experience and teaching level. Demonstrate your passion, your commitment to education and your patience. Doing so will help schools realize how passionate and qualified you are for the position you seek.