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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.

  • Resume Exclusions: What Not to List on Your Resume


    The task of resume preparation

    Anyone who has ever written a resume will probably agree that composing and structuring one of these documents is a very difficult task, a task which you will have to undertake in the preparation of your own resume; because it takes time and patience to fit your entire professional history within one or two pages, in a way that presents you as the best candidate for the job. While we focus so much of our energy on what must be included in our resumes, we often forget to stop and think about the information that should never be included.

    With that in mind, there are at least five pieces of information you should exclude from your resume, and they are listed in the following paragraphs as an informal guide you can refer to when composing your own resume:

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

    The first two exclusions

    1. Do not get personal – Any information that discloses demographics should not be listed in your resume. Items such as your age, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital status, physical appearance, or your personal philosophies that are not critical to your job performance must be excluded, as these pieces of information could become detrimental, and be used against you – or be mis-used in the hands of an ethically challenged individual. So such information should never be listed on your resume.

    Presenting yourself as a professional to your potential employers is the goal, and as such, the method (resume document) in which you use for your presentation should not be a list of your hobbies or interests. On the other hand, it must be a well formatted listing of your education, qualifications and employment history; so stick to the information that is relevant to the job, as well as to your career objective.

    2. Do not list historical salary information on your resume – This is a strict rule and you should follow it as closely as you possible can, since your employer is more concerned with what your desired salary is, than of what you earned in your first job out of college. If you are asked to provide historical salary information do so in your cover letter, not your resume. As a best practice, always list the minimum of what you are willing to accept for the job, and avoid using a salary range.

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

    Having said that, it is important that you do your research so that you will have a good workable knowledge and understanding of what an acceptable salary is for the job in which you are interested. Whenever possible, leave all salary conversations for the interview with your potential employer.

    Other Omissions: jargon and personal webite

    3. Do not use jargon or too many “big words” – Unless you are absolutely certain that the person reading your resume will understand the terminology you are using, avoid using jargon in your resume. Pattern your resume as if it was being directed toward recruiters, rather than to an immediate hiring manager, because the human resources associates are usually first to scan your resume. While it is important to showcase your knowledge of a particular field through your education and experience, it is ill-advised to use jargon since it has no place on your well-written resume.

    In addition, avoid using too many “big words” since you don’t want to give the impression that you’re hiding behind your vocabulary; and keep in mind that making your resume overbearing is the fastest way to ensure losing the interest of your employer. Just use the action words that are relevant to your career level.

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    4. Do not list your personal web site – As a rule, you should not include your personal web site if it contains your photo or other photos that may be viewed as inappropriate, especially if it contains jokes (even if they are clean jokes), or your personal blog. In other words, if the site you have is entirely for personal purposes, you are best advised to leave it off your resume. Only include a link to your web site if the pages are set up in a way that showcases your professional portfolio, a copy of your resume, reference letters, presentations, photos taken for professional use, or your web development skills.

    Critical little nuisances must be removed

    5. Do not allow typos or other errors to remain – The most important factor in achieving a winning resume is proof reading. Understanding that you want to put your best foot forward, errors on your resume will defeat the purpose; so if your resume contains grammatical and spelling errors, your potential employer will get an impression that you are not detail-oriented. S/he may also come to the conclusion that you are somewhat sloppy, and as such, will do sloppy work if you are hired.

    As basic a task as proof reading is, there is no other way to say that it is also very difficult to proof read a document you have been working on so closely, so it may be a good idea to– use spell check – although this tool does not catch grammaticl errors. So ask your friends and family members for help, or meet with a career counselor; Dbut do your best to present the most polished and well-written resume you possibly can to your potential employers.

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  • The Inclusion of References on a Resume


    The references catchall phrase

    When the subject pertains to references on your resume, you would not be surprised to know that the most frequently used phrase is that old reliable standard: “References available upon request.” But whether or not this catchall phrase will continue be the acceptable stand-in for an actual list of references on your resume remains to be seen. In fact there is an ongoing debate among professionals about the inclusion of references on a resume, while some individuals still strongly encourage job applicants to include the aforementioned phrase at the bottom of their resumes.

    In a way the catchall phrase lets potential employers know that, if asked, the job applicant can name at least a couple of people who think s/he is a great asset to any company. However, the opposing side will argue the validity of this line as it doesn’t provide any information with a call to action; and therefore suggests that potential employers and other job search professionals should operate under the assumption that every professional with a resume will be able to provide references from his previous employers.

    Yet another group of professionals will urge you, the job applicant, to not only include the “references available upon request” phrase in your resume references section, but to list anywhere from three to five references, along with their titles, contact numbers and a description of your relationship to them, along with a notation that “more references will be provided if needed.” So, how do you know who to listen to?

    A prudent use of references

    In answer to the above question, a good rule of thumb will be to mention references regardless of any other phrase or statement being employed, as it is considered proper resume etiquette to include a section for references at the bottom of your resume. This lets your potential employer know that you not only have professional references, but you understand that checking references is an important part of your interview process. Additionally, you will want to have an employer request references from you so that you can let your references know they can expect to be contacted.

    Finally Revealed: Great Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews!

    Listing someone as a reference on your resume without letting that person know, even if s/he has previously provided a reference for you, is not a good practice; because since you don’t want any job you of your reference list to be caught by surprise when they are contacted, it is important that you let each of them know about the job you’re applying for, and any special circumstances – if any – under which you’ve made application so that they know which qualifications they should highlight when they are contacted.

    If you are posting your resume on job search web sites such as monster.com, or you’re working with a head hunter to find the best opportunities for you, it is best that you simply use the line, “References available upon request” at the end of your well-written resume; and as indicated above, you will want to let your references know ahead of time if they will be contacted by a potential employer or other entity associated with your application.

    Resume blast vs targeted position

    Listing references on your resume and making it available to multiple employers for review may result in calls to your references by employers you may not have even been in touch with directly. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid this kind of annoyance to people you are using as references, since you don’t want to abuse your relationship with them. If you intend to “blast” your resume to multiple employers, head hunters and other such parties, it may be prudent not to include a full listing of references on your resume.

    However, if you’re sending the resume to a specific employer after you have been in touch with the hiring manager or someone at the company that will refer you for the job you are interested in, it is suggested that you include references on the resume. This allows your potential employer to have all the information necessary to consider you as a serious candidate for the job. The reference list should include the reference’s name, his/her title and the company s/he’s working for, the person’s relationship to you and a day-time telephone number.

    In fact, the best practice might be to let your references know about a particular job opportunity before you submit the resume, while letting them know that you are passing along their contact information to the potential employer, or better yet, request their permission to do so. And if you have already submitted a resume without references, but expect to meet with the employer for an interview, bring a printed copy of the well-written resume you prepared and make sure it includes a list of references.

    One stop shop to a good job

    Following a good interview, employers typically check references as a best practice, so you will want to provide the hiring manager with a one-stop-shop (so to speak) of your qualifications and your references, therefore you should always bring a printed copy of your cover letter, your resume and references with you to an interview. Vigilance is sure to make a great impression and bring you one step closer to getting that sought after job you really want. Learn more about resumes, cover letters and interviews!

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  • Education and Skills on a Functional Resume


    Recent graduates seeking employment

    Graduating from college is one of the proudest moments an individual will ever experience. Receiving that diploma validates all the hard work s/he put into that education, including the many all-nighters s/he pulled before exams. An individual’s graduation is a measure of all the individual’s accomplishments as a student, and opens the door into a world of career choices, job searches, and 40-hour workweeks.

    Moreover, if you are that recent graduate, the realization about getting a job that requires experience, and how you will go about doing it, suddenly hits you; especially if you have no actual work experience. As a recent college graduate, you are entering the workforce at entry-level positions with almost any company that hires you, and your potential employers have very reasonable expectations; because they expect you to have graduated from college, and that your major is in line with the job you’re applying for.

    They also anticipate that you have some experience, a summer job, or some kind of an internship; but they are not requiring years of professional experience. They would, however, like to see a few references from your professors or previous supervisors, so that they can get a better idea of your personality and work ethic. Sound reasonable so far?

    Functional resume highlights qualifying skills

    The best way to show your potential employer that you are a perfect candidate for the job is to create a functional resume, since functional resumes focus on your qualifications, not your career timeline. This style of resume will also highlight the skills you have, rather than where and when you acquired or utilized them. In other words, instead of listing your experiences by job titles, your (functional) resume will contain sections titled by your skills, such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction, project management, etc.

    The functional resume style is highly recommended for, and most often used by, college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of college. In structuring this kind of resume resume you begin by stating your career objective, while making sure that your career goals are personal; but your objective should be specific to the position for which you’re making application, and should convey to your potential employer how you intend to utilize your education, as well as how this position will help you develop your experience.

    Your education should be listed next, and in doing so you should list the school you attended and its location, your graduation year, and your major. It may also be helpful to include your GPA, specific courses you have taken, and/or any honors you have received while in school. Any professional skills you have acquired should come next; and this section will include sub-headings as they relate to specific qualifications you want to promote, such as communications, customer relations, managements, and so on.

    Career objective, clarity, mentor review!

    In the professional skills section you can utilize any experience you have that relates to the sub-sections, including your part time jobs, internships, volunteer positions held, community service work, or school-related activities. However, you should only include a work experience/work history section if you have held part time jobs while in school or have had internships you’d like your employer to know about. This list should only include dates, titles, companies, and locations without listing any of your responsibilities, since you will have covered them in the previous section.

    Memberships in any clubs during your school years should be included in a section for activities, in which you will list only those that support your career objective. For example, if you were an editor of your school paper, and you are trying to get a job at a publishing company, make sure you include this experience in your resume. Your last section should list references; and as a new graduate, it is beneficial to include references on the well-written resume you prepared for yourself to ensure that you give your potential employer everything s/he needs in order to consider you as a qualified candidate for the job.

    You have nothing to lose by providing this information ahead of being asked for it; but before you start applying for jobs, take advantage of your school’s career center and have one of the mentors there review your resume and help you perfect both the content and the format. Just remember that, with a well-written and appropriately styled resume, you are prepared to take the professional world by storm. Good luck!


  • Stating Your Responsibilities in a Job Description


    Early stages of resume writing

    If you have ever had to write a resume, you know that the blank page you are looking at just before writing a word on it can be very challenging; so you can imagine the dread and/or intimidation experienced at the same juncture, by individuals who have never had to write a resume and suddenly compelled to do so, especially when they may not fully understand whether they need a functional or chronological resume . It’s very easy for most people to describe job responsibilities to family and friends; but listing them in a resume to showcase how their experience aligns with career objectives is difficult.

    That having been said, let’s talk a little about those early stages of resume writing, including the “getting started” stage, during which you must first consider what type of a job you are seeking. Much like your career objective or summary, this stage should reflect your professional goals, and your current and past experiences must showcase – in a convincing manner – why you are the candidate best suited for the job being offered.

    In listing your current and past professional experiences, it is important to keep focus on those responsibilities that are indicative of your qualifications, and why they place you in a unique position for taking the next step in your career. Considering the fact that more and more companies – as well as job search sites – use scanning software to pick out candidates, it is very important that you use keywords, including active verbs, to describe your skills.

    Key words for your job descriptions

    Instead of beginning your job descriptions with “Responsible for” try to use active verbs such as:

    • managed
    • developed
    • created
    • communicated
    • interfaced
    • achieved, among others

    These key words get straight to the point of describing your responsibilities, which is exactly what employers are looking for. Choose these words carefully though, because you don’t want to say that you “managed a project”, implying you were responsible for the whole task from start to finish, if in fact, you were only responsibly for communicating the project to other associates. Instead state that you “Developed and executed the communication strategy for associates,” thereby describing your role more accurately and emphasizing your strengths; this way you’ll be sure to submit a well-written resume to prospective employers.

    Properly formatting your resume

    Typically, the first job listed on your resume is the one you currently hold. In this case it is important to 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 current day-to-day activities are, and how they compliment responsibilities of the job you are submitting your resume for.

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    All previous jobs should be listed using past tense, and should start with active verbs such as managed, developed, accomplished, etc. Additionally, make sure the 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, such that 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, since such formatting is preferred to paragraphs on a resume simply because it is easier to review quickly. Employers often just scan the resumes and look for key words –and 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.

  • Enlisting Help With Your Resume Review


    Resume objectivity vs. self-promotion

    Anyone who has ever written a resume will probably agree that writing one of these documents is in many ways a process of self-discovery, because when you really give it some serious and more profound thought, writing a resume is actually the process by which you market yourself to your potential employers, which in itself is a very difficult task, since we have to walk the fine line between objectivity and self-promotion. That having been said, please read on as we will elaborate a little more on this aspect of resume writing.

    Your resume must summarize the educational achievements, professional experiences, and adequate-to-the-task qualifications – inherent as well as acquired – in a way that best meets your career objective. Composing your entire professional history on one or two pages can be time consuming, because we often spend hours and sometimes days writing and re-writing our resumes in order to make the content and format as perfect as we can possibly get it before the resume reaches potential employers.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    However, after looking at the same content over and over, it can become rather easy for us to miss some very simple typos and grammatical errors; or even poorly written statements that may raise questions in the mind of a hiring manager. Before posting your resume on job search sites, or submitting it to companies in which you are interested to work, it may be in your best interest to have someone else review it.

    Boundaries and goals for your resume review

    This, of course, can be a scary thought in the sense that while you may want help and feedback from your friend on one hand, you may be concerned that, on the other hand, s/he will dislike something aesthetic and you will feel the pressure to make one or more formatting changes; especially after you have already spent a considerable amount of time on your resume and really don’t want to have to start over. There is however, a method you can use to prevent such a scary thought scenario from ever occurring.

    about resumes, cover letters and interviews

    Consider for a moment that you know the benefit(s) that can be derived from having someone else review your resume. If this is the case, you should set some boundaries and goals for that review by ask about specific things which are of concern to you. In other words, if you know that grammar isn’t your strongest asset, ask your friend(s) to proofread the content; and the same method can be used for any gaps in your work history; simply ask your friend to act as a potential employer and review the resume and cover letter together.

    Make sure your “reviewer” friends know exactly what you need them to do; ask if they have any questions about your work history, or have you addressed everything in your cover letter? Accept feedback about content, but make sure that your friends are raising valid questions about the statements you’re making. If they suggest that you change an action word, can they give you a valid reason behind the change? Or is the reasoning based on their personal preference? Don’t get into an argument over formatting; just– do your research ahead of time and know what the acceptable resume style is for your field.

    The benefit of a resume writing service

    It is also beneficial that you have more than one additional person review your resume before you send it to your potential employers. This helps you in recognizing whether or not the feedback is based on personal preferences or professional concerns. Ideally, the person you ask for help should have experience in your chosen field, and can therefore help ensure that the action words or phrases you have chosen are appropriate for your industry and position level.

    If you are unsure that you are on the right track with your resume, and you feel the research you have done is overwhelming and not helpful, seek assistance from a professional resume writing service. A professional resume writer should be able to help guide you in the right direction, revise your current resume or create a new well-written resume for you. Make sure that the professional you are working with can provide you with references and samples, and that they are well versed in writing resumes for professionals in your field of work.

    While the resume writing service option requires you to pay for assistance from someone elss, it can prove to be a more beneficial option in the long run. Of curse, you can also serve as your own resume editor by stepping away from the resume document for a while, give yourself some time – usually a day or two – between writing the resume and then reviewing it. This allows you to be more objective as you review the final draft of your resume, because you are not as intimately involved with it at the moment of review, as you would be immediately after completing a draft.

    Keep resume mistakes to yourself, don’t share them with employers!

    No matter what option of review you chose, make sure that you do in fact review your resume before submitting it to your potential employer; because you certainly don’t want your hiring manager to catch your mistakes, do you? An error-free and otherwise well-written resume is more likely to get you noticed, and help you secure the job you really want.

    Give it all you got

  • The Importance of Resume Action Words


    The resume tone and style

    It is often said, and sometimes repeated over and over again, that a well-written resume is a winning resume; and some might ask, what does that mean? And how can it be determined whether or not a resume is written in a tone and style that employers will respond to? Synthesizing educational achievements, years of professional experience, the numerous qualifications acquired since entering the job market and other inherent employable skills is not easy to document, I’m sure you will agree, if you have been in the position of having to do such synthesizing.

    Every phrase or statement you write has to convince your potential employer that you are the candidate best suited for the job s/he is offering; and to do so, you would have had to use appropriate action and/or power words. Such action and power words are described as keywords (verbs) that add strength and positive implication to your job experience, performance, responsibilities and qualifications.

    That having been said, however, if you are not familiar with such words, phrases and keywords, it is important to make a note of the following: When you submit your resume to a potential employer, there are two scenarios that will occur. First, your application will be ran through a computer software program that searches your resume for key terms as indicated by that employer; and if your resume contains those key words, it will be pulled aside for further review, as it could be deemed a well-written resume per that employer’s criteria.

    Effect of action words on the resume

    Second, a hiring manager – or sometimes a human resources associate – will receive a stack or resumes and scan through them quickly to pick out those that stand out most acceptably, based again on certain key words. It seems clear, based on such computer scans and separation of certain resumes containing specific keywords, that these action words in the resume are critical to your success in obtaining a particular job.

    In view of the above you should be cognizant of the manner in which your employment history is listed on any resume document you’re sending to potential employers. In other words, your resume should list each job’s responsibilities in bullet point form with each statement starting with an action word.

    Under this scenario, the use of power verbs and/or phrases will indicate to your employer that you are the type of individual (job candidate) who is driven by action and results; and that you can effectively articulate your professional experience, thus showcasing your communication skills. Such articulation of power verbs and phrases could look similar to this small sample of action words which might be helpful when formulating your own list:


    Action words to personalize your resume

    • created
    • developed and implemented
    • managed
    • delivered
    • designed
    • facilitated
    • negotiated
    • coordinated
    • budgeted
    • acted
    • communicated
    • consulted, etc.

    This is a very short sampling of action words, but there are many resources on the Internet containing extensive listings of action words and phrases which can be obtained with a little research; but be careful to use only those terms that are relevant to your field of experience. Your best bet would be to locate resume samples provided by professionals in your industry.

    Review these resumes for ideas on how to list your responsibilities, but be mindful that you do not copy exact statements from another person’s resume; and while you can do your own research, you will want to make sure that your resume is personalized to your own professional experience.

    Evaluate and review your resume action words

    Also avoid falling into the trap of using the same action word(s) over and over; and if you have, in fact, managed multiple projects you may want to be a bit more specific about your role in each. For example, maybe you were the communication liaison in one project, while you were the project manager for another. If this is the case, simply begin the first bullet point with “communicated,” and the second bullet point with “managed.”

    However, be aware of the words you are using and consider their value in your resume; but do not get carried away with the use of varying terms, especially those that may change your role or your responsibilities. Additionally, you can find key action words in job descriptions. Review your resume against a job description and make sure that all required qualifications are addressed in your statements.

    The review will also help you identify action words that the employer uses, which you can in turn use to customize your resume or cover letter to that specific job. Always make sure that you are consistent in the way you list all your responsibilities and qualifications, and make sure that your statements exude positive attitude and focus on actions and results. By doing so, you are guaranteed to create a winning resume that will get you noticed.

  • Resume Design Grabs Employers’ Attention


    You, your resume and the job

    Job hunting can be one of the most exhilarating, and yet agonizing experiences in an individual’s life; and while many of us, as young adults, look forward to opening a new chapter in our professional lives, finding a way to stand out from other job applicants who are at least equally qualified for a given position, is often a difficult task. If you’ve been in the job hunt recently, you can probably relate directly to this sentiment.

    You understand that your resume is the first contact potential employers will have with you; and as such, a well formatted and well-written resume will often make a difference between getting an interview followed by getting the job, and being passed over. Most employers receive a stack of resumes from qualified candidates and scan them relatively quickly before they decide whether or not they want to read further.

    Therefore you only have a few seconds to make a positive and/or lasting impression; but don’t panic! Instead, focus on the design of your resume as it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, whether the resume is on paper or in electronic form.

    Avoid using outdated templates

    The most commonly made mistake in resume design pertains to using ready made templates that are available in Microsoft Word. While these templates are resume tools designed for quick formatting and consisting of easy to follow instructions on how to create your resume, they are often outdated and will make your resume appear generic and uninviting. Additionally, such templates, while well formatted in Microsoft Word, will not translate well when emailed or uploaded to job search engine web sites.

    The second most commonly made mistake in resume design is the inclusion of graphics on the page. Your picture and/or other graphics are not appropriate for a resume, because including anything outside of plain text will make you stand out in a way that could cause the employer think that the seriousness with which you take yourself as a professional is sorely lacking, and this is certainly not the first impression you’d want to make.

    That having been said, however, you might wish to obtain a few resume samples which can easily be done with a quick search on the Internet under the particular industry in which you’re pursuing employment, or under the category that makes the most sense for the job you are seeking. After that you can work on a blank page to replicate the look and feel of the resume you like. Take a look at the following basic formatting rules for your resume:

    The resume features list

    • Limit the length of the resume to two pages.
    • Page margins should be one inch; top, bottom, right and left.
    • Use left justification only – as a rule, and resume content should not be centered.
    • The font and font size should be consistent.
    • Bullet points should be basic. –Use circles or squares, but never any symbols that may not translate well when sent electronically.
    • Headlines can be in all caps; but the remaining text should not have special formatting.
    • Do not underline any of the information in your resume since it could be mistaken for a hyperlink.
    • Headline font size should not exceed 14 points; and font size for the remainder text should not exceed 12 points.
    • Use the Tab key instead of your Space bar to create spaces between the text in your resume.

    Check and recheck resume for errors

    As a last formatting check point, ask your friends or family members for help in reviewing (critiquing) your resume. Simply email resume file via email to a few of your friends and– ask them to review it resume to make sure nothing seems out of place. Print out the resume and review it to make sure that margins are accurately set, and the content doesn’t appear crowded on the page. Keep in mind –that when it comes to your resume, a sleek simple appearance, and great writing will help you obtain your sought after job.