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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.

  • About the Content and Formatting of Resume Headings


    The basics of resume headings

    The first and most prominent item on your resume is your name and contact information. Your name is typically in the largest font, standing apart from all other text on your resume. A common mistake made by many professionals is trying to emphasize their name in a special font type. As it is difficult to anticipate which software and version your potential employer is using, you run a risk of not knowing exactly how your name will appear on their screen.

    In view of the above it is advisable to stick with basic font types like,– Arial and Times New Roman which are two of the most commonly used, and are least risky when it comes to formatting your resume, and you should also be mindful not to go overboard on the font size. For example, your name should be in point size 14 or 16 and all other headings should be in 12 or 14 point font, while the remaining text of your resume should be in the range of 10 and 12 point font.

    Along with your name, the very top of your resume should contain your mailing address, your email address, and at least one phone number where you can be reached. It is best to include a physical mailing address instead of a P.O. Box, whenever possible; and you should never include an email address at your current place of employment (yes, it happens). A helpful hint about listing your email address is to make sure that it contains your name, as this helps you appear more professional.

    Resume inclusions reflect professional image

    You can create a free email account with one of the leading providers of such service, e.g. Gmail, MSN, Yahoo, etc. and it might be helpful to have one email address as a point of contact for your job search. At least one phone number should be listed; but make sure to indicate if you are listing a home or a mobile number. If you have a professional website, the site address can also be included along with your contact information.

    Please note that you should only provide a website address if the website does not contain anything that is personal, or any personal identifiable information (PII) because the only reason a potential employer may want to look at a website is if your professional portfolio or a copy of your resume can be found there.

    Whether you decide to create a chronological resume or a functional resume, you will need to separate the information by with the use of headings; and the best advice you’ll get anywhere is to keep the section headings professional and stick to the basics. Don’t try to come up with creative titles for your professional summary, or for your qualifications. If you use a chronological resume the following sections/titles should be featured:

    Contrast in resume heading styles

    • career objective
    • professional summary (optional)
    • professional experience/work experience/experience
    • education
    • publications/special achievements (if applicable)
    • qualifications/skills
    • references/references and portfolio

    A functional resume is slightly different, and the headings you choose will really depend on the skills you’re trying to highlight. Features should include:

    • career objective
    • education
    • professional skills/professional qualifications (this section will include sub-headings as they relate to specific qualifications you want to promote, such as communications, customer relations, management positions, etc.)
    • work experience/work history (if applicable; should only include dates, titles, companies and locations without listing responsibilities)
    • volunteer work/activities (if applicable)
    • references

    To conclude with…

    The above mentioned features are typically those that are found in chronological and functional resumes; but you might want to do a little research on resume styles to find sample resumes of professionals in your industry; and if the need arise, simply adjust these headings based on your field, but be mindful of keeping the content consistent across industries.

    Stick to the basics, and don’t try to be creative in order to stand out, because a professional and polished resume will get you noticed. So do your best to create a resume that is error free, and which best supports your career objective.

  • To List Foreign Education & Job Experience on a Resume


    The value of education and diversity

    In American society we pride ourselves on the diversity of our citizens and residents, while making conscious efforts to appreciate the cultures and backgrounds of each other. In any given company located here, you can find training teams conducting inclusion classes, and openly discussing diverse work environments. Diversity, in other words, has become a part of our culture both in and outside the work space, and it is something that we seldom stop to appreciate.

    A sizeable portion of the American workforce has acquired at least part of their education in a foreign country; and if you are in that group, one of the main challenges you will face when composing your resume, is transferring your education and any experience you may have from another country in a way that smartly conveys to a potential American employer, your qualifications and achievements as they relate to your career objective.

    When it comes to your scholastic achievements, make sure that you understand the educational system in the United States, and familiarize yourself with the various levels of college degrees. But make sure you understand the difference between trade schools, colleges and universities, as well as the various degrees you can obtain at each of these educational facilities. You don’t have to translate your degree directly, but make sure the terminology you are using is appropriated to educational achievements in the US.

    Foreign skills aligned with job duties

    Should it become necessary you may have to seek assistance from a translating service, or from a resume writing service that might have a staff member who speaks your language, or is familiar with your country and its culture. This will ensure that the education and employment information you acquired in another country is properly listed on your resume; do not make a mistake however, of exaggerating the position you held, or the degree you received in that other country.

    Consider the fact that your potential employer has very limited resources, and verifying the foreign education or employment you list on your resume may be less a priority to that employer, when compared to hiring another applicant for the position. This doesn’t mean you have a free pass to make things up; you should instead gather any documentation you may have that shows your achievements.

    If you have any transcripts or degrees from your school, or any awards from your previous employment, take them to a translating service that will recreate and notarize these documents in English; and make a note on your resume or in your cover letter that you can show such documentation upon employer’s request.

    Full disclosure can be advantageous

    Additionally, if English is your second language make sure to list, under your Qualifications, any additional languages you speak fluently. And always be mindful that a resume free of typos and grammatical errors will indicate to a potential employer that you have taken the time to learn the language, and that you place high emphasis on your communication skills.

    As a best practice, if your resume includes education or work experience you acquired in a foreign country, your cover letter should address any concerns that may be brought up as a result of conveying this information. Your employer may have questions about why you left the country where you previously work, or if you intend to go back after some time (if you came to the United States to further your education, indicate the length of time you are staying).

    Keep these things in mind –and put yourself in a position of a potential employer who is reviewing your resume and anticipate any questions they may have about your professional history. Addressing any concerns about your resume ahead of time will assure that you are taken seriously as a qualified and credible candidate who happen to have had training and job-related experience abroad.

  • Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume?


    Recognized resume styles

    As was indicated in one of our earlier posts, there are two types of resumes; one identified as a chronological resume and the other a functional resume. A chronological resume is structured by listing past employers and education in order, starting with the most recent jobs and/or achievements, and proceeding in reverse order with the previous of such listings until a reasonable number (5 recommended), or the very first event is reached. This type of resume is also – at times – referred to as a reverse chronological resume because of the order in which the listings starts and ends.

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

    Functional resumes, on the other hand, focus on an individual’s qualifications instead of his/her career timeline, in the sense that it highlights the skills s/he possesses rather than where and when s/he acquired or utilized them. In other words, instead of listing the job applicant’s experiences and job titles, a functional resume will contain sections titled as they relate to that applicant’s skills; such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction and project management, among others.

    Best uses of a functional resume

    The functional resume style is recommended for college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of college; for job seekers with little or no professional experience, or for career changers. This resume style allows job seekers to reference their hobbies and interests in a way that apply to their career objectives only; but the listing of hobbies and interests outside of the job seeker’s career objective is not recommended as such outside listings do not promote that individual as a professional in any way.

    Consider for a moment that you are a job seeker composing your resume and you would like to prepare it in the most professional way you possibly can. The important you must do to accomplish this is to keep your career objective uppermost in your mind. You want to present yourself in a best possible light to your potential employer, so the information on your resume must answer one very important question:

    Why are you the best candidate for the job? And the bet way you can prepare yourself to answer this question is to maintain constant focus on your career objective while composing your resume.

    Resume mistakes to be avoided

    The biggest mistake some job seekers make on their resumes is including information that is not related to their professional experience. Facts pertaining to your volunteer positions, community work, interests and hobbies that disclose your race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or other personal descriptors that do not directly impact professional performance must be excluded from your resume.

    Understanding that the functional resume does not require you to list names or organizations you have worked or volunteered for allows you to list any experience you have acquired at a given company or organization without potentially disclosing any demographic information.

    Additionally, you should not create a separate section on your resume for hobbies and interests since this is typically seen as amateur, thereby detracting from your resume by rendering it less credible. Listing hobbies and interests as they apply to the position you are applying for should be done under specific functional sections.

    Use hobbies & interests ONLY to enhance resume

    For example, if you are seeking a position in graphic design, and have samples of related work that you have done as a hobby, indicate this fact on your resume or in your cover letter. In fact, any of your hobby activities that are related to the type of work you are seeking should be listed on your resume, but only such a listing will be advantageous to you

    And if you’ve read books or completed seminars at the local community center that are applicable to your chosen job, make mention of them and many potential employers will welcome the opportunity to have you demonstrate those qualifications that make you a perfect candidate for the job or position they’re offering.

    As a final step, have a friend review your resume, or if you are a college student, seek assistance from a career center at your school. Having another person review your resume will help uncover any items that may raise questions about your experience or education, as well as point out whether or not the inclusion of your hobbies and interests works to support your career objective. Perfecting your resume will go a long way to assure your potential employer that you are the best candidate for the s/he is offering job.

  • How to List Self-Employment on Your Resume


    Questions raised about self-employment

    Being self-employed comes with many challenges, among which are,– determining your niche, finding clients, having adequate insurance, hiring qualified help and many others which are too numerous to list here; and even if the self-employed individual has little or no requirement for a staff, thereby preferring to work as a freelancer, contractor, or other type of one-person operator, s/he must be determined, passionate and patient if s/he is to be successful.

    Since some of the above mentioned characteristics are similar to those needed to successfully hunt for a new job, the question of why self-employment listed on a resume should be a concern for potential employers is an interesting one. Be that as it may however, listing self-employment on the resume when looking for full-time job often does raise questions for potential employers. Such questions can take the form of:

    • Were you self-employed because you were in between jobs, or because you wanted to start your own business rather than work for a corporation?
    • Are you still working on your own, as a freelancer or a consultant? If so, do you intend to continue this work in addition to your full time job?
    • Will your self-employment present a conflict of interest for any company you work for?
    • Are you working as a freelancer or a contractor on part-time basis, and never intend to have this replace full-time employment?
    • Does your long-term career goal include owning your own business?

    From the new employer’s perspective

    All of these questions are valid from your potential employer’s point of view, because companies do not want to hire any individual, train that person and provide him/her with benefits, only to have the individual quit after a year to start a new business. This is the main reason previous or current self-employment raises red flags for the hiring organizations; but there might be an acceptable (best?) way to address any self-employment on a resume. Utilizing this method would require an applicant to highlight the positives of working as a freelancer or managing self-owned business.

    It is obviously important that an individual’s resume includes honest and forthright employment history that is relevant to his/her career goals. However, if you are the applicant and you pick up a freelance project infrequently which is not intended to be a full time career, you can omit such experience from your resume. The only time you would list occasional freelance work on your resume is if it allows you to fill any gaps in your professional experience; but if you have worked as an independent contractor for a period longer than three months, or if you have ever owned your own business, it is important that you indicate that on your resume.

    When self-employment enhances the resume

    Highlight those attributes of the job experience that qualify you as a perfect candidate for the particular job you are seeking; and make sure job responsibilities are listed in the same way as they are for any other full-time job being sought. Also the job applicant focus on those responsibilities which best meet career objectives, and achievements should be quantied when possible. For example, if you are the job applicant, it would help to exemplify your self-starter attitude under the Qualifications section of your resume; and make sure to list any inherently-employable skills you have acquired or strengthened while self employed.

    As a final indication of your commitment to the job you are seeking is to ensure that your cover letter or email addresses any anticipated concerns of your potential employer. Make references to anything on your resume that may raise questions, and if you still own your own business, but are looking for full-time work, you should make sure to let your employer know what your long-term professional goals are, and how you intend to balance your roles at both businesses.

    There’s really no need to apologize for being self-employed; but your resume and cover letter should present you as a credible and passionate professional. Just focus on the positive experiences and skills you have acquired as a self employed person, whether you were a sole proprietor, independent contractor or any of the various types of freelancer, just make sure to let potential employers know how these skills and attributes will benefit the company if you are their chosen candidate.

  • Matching the Job Title with Job Responsibilities


    A job title-to-responsibilities equation

    A friend of mine recently asked for my help in composing her resume, and once she told me some of the reasons she wished to work on her resume I could certainly understand the motivation. You see, my friend works as an Office Manager for a small business, and in that role she assumes all the responsibilities of an Office Manager; but she also partners with the company owner to set policies, works with freelancers on marketing materials, serves as a liaison between vendors and shipping service companies, and conducts calls for sales leads that are collected at trade shows.

    In other words, her title doesn’t encompass all of her job responsibilities and this has led to several potential employers raising concerns about the difference in her title and her overall position in the company, and wondering if she had exaggerated her importance on the resume. Such exaggeration was not the case however, because my friend’s resume reflected exactly what her title was and the responsibilities she undertook while holding that title.

    Many professionals run into situations where their title at certain current jobs is so specific to the company that it carries no meaning outside of the organization; or it implies that they are a level or more below their actual work responsibilities. The difficulty we face in these situations, and the manner in which we deal with them, must be accurately accounted for; and our professional experience must be adequately represented on resumes so that we can advance in our careers.

    Equivalence of title to responsibilities

    There is no easy way to address this, as you want to remain truthful on your resume; but you wouldn’t want your potential employer calling for a reference check and getting an impression that you lied about your work history, right? In fact, there is a debate among professionals about listing job titles versus job functions on your resume; and some people prefer listing their title as it is followed by a list of responsibilities, while others strongly prefer finding a way to rephrase certain job titles to encompass all job function(s).

    However, if you are in the job market and want to make the best of a difficult resume predicament, the best option is to find a happy medium and list your job title along with a few words that best describe your job function, before you begin listing your job responsibilities. It might be possible to write such explanations in the cover letter, depending of course on how many responsibilities need explaining; or you could prepare an addendum to the resume for this purpose.


    First, let’s explore making changes to the job titles as you include them on your resume; and if your title is unusual, or very specific to a particular organization, you should try to find an equivalent title that is well accepted and understood within your industry. For example, if you work as a customer support representative with responsibilities for a specific product and your title contains the product name, you can simply list Product Support Representative on your resume, while being careful to not exaggerate your title.

    Elaborate on work duties with confidence

    But you should not change your title so that it implies a change in responsibility or salary level; and do not change any area(s) of the organization where you work(ed), or change your title in a way that suggest you are directly reporting to a person in a higher position than that of your manager. Any such changes on your resume are dishonest, and will negatively impact your credibility with the potential employer.

    If your title implies less responsibility than you hold, choose the middle ground option described above by listing your actual title on the resume. For example, if you are a Product Support Representative but are also responsible for training new hires for your team, list your title as: Product Support Representative/Customer Support and New Hire Training. This is truthful with a little elaboration in your job title to include a brief description of your job function.

    Following such a title you must make sure that your resume includes power statements describing your actual job and the responsibilities associated with it in order of their importance and relevance to your career title. This method is preferred because you are honest about your title, but you are also indicating to a potential employer that your responsibilities are slightly different than what the title implicates, so that all your cards are laid on the table and there will be no need to worry later on about anything you stated.

    That having been said

    When all background checks, reference calls and due diligence searches are conducted, you can feel confident in the fact that any information provided about you will not conflict with anything you previously stated, because you did not misrepresent your title, or create a reason for anyone to raise questions about your credibility. Above all, your resume must be honest and you must do the best you can to remain objective when it comes to your job titles and functions. Just focus on the positives, and you are sure to have an impressive resume.

  • Work History Gaps Must be Dealt with Smartly


    Fill in all resume gaps

    Listing your professional experiences on a resume can be a difficult task, especially when considering the many elements a resume preparer must incorporate into the document, if it is to adequately serve the purpose it is meant to serve. Items like job titles, time frames, key responsibilities, transferable skills, and other such descriptions and attributes must be included and properly listed where and when appropriate. The process becomes even more difficult when these elements are in an individual’s work history.

    Potential employers will not have a way of knowing why there is a three and a half year gap in an applicant’s professional experience just by reviewing his/her resume. Moreover, the employer might wonder if you – in the case where you are the applicant – skipped over one of your past jobs because it does not meet the career objective you listed.

    It is also not unreasonable for a prospective employer to assume that you did not work at all during the omitted time frame; so it is not in your best interest to intentionally skip any information in your jobs history. Simply (honestly) explain any gaps. There are a few general rules about resume gaps that could help to guide you through:

    Rules of the ‘resume gaps’ road

    1. Any unaccounted-for time that is shorter than three months does not need to be explained. Having a 60-90 day period between jobs is not very unusual, and often goes unnoticed within the structure of a resume anyway. However, any gaps extending beyond three months should be addressed in your cover letter or an e-mail. Whether you had personal or professional reasons for not working, the gaps in your employment history need to be explained as you don’t want to leave the employer to make their own assumptions.
    2. Be honest! We can’t stress this recommendation enough. If you are honest with your potential employers, you might not have to worry about them checking your references, doing a background check, or surprising you with questions in an interview.
    3. Don’t exclude months of your employment from the job listing. You are better off explaining the gaps in your resume than trying to cover them up, and you’ll likely discover that honesty is really the best policy when it comes to your resume.
    4. If you have held jobs that are not applicable to your career objective, list them on your resume anyway. Rather than create gaps in your resume, explain why you held jobs outside of your chosen field in your cover letter, or in an email to your potential employer. Again, whether the reasons are personal or professional, explain yourself honestly and don’t leave room for assumptions on the part of your potential employer.
    5. Regardless of the reasons for the gaps in your professional history, it is important that the tone of your cover letter and your resume remain positive. Do not sound apologetic!– Life happens and you don’t need to be sorry for taking time off from work for good and/or justifiable reason(s). Be positive! And show your potential employer that you never lost focus on your career.

    Diligence, honesty and education pays off

    While we all agree that life often takes unexpected turns and understand that there will be circumstances which result in resume, we can always consider the following actions in order to stay competitive in our field:

    • Apply our time and experience to volunteer positions, community projects, consulting and/or freelance work.
    • Take a class at a community college or at the community center that improves your work-related skills and allows you to interact with people of similar professional backgrounds.
    • Read about new developments in your field, get a subscription to a professional publication/magazine, or get the newly published books that discuss changes or improvements in your profession.

    Most of all, be honest and stay positive, because you can’t change your work history, so do your best to show your employer that you are a perfect/best candidate for the job by focusing on your experience and your education, as well as highlighting your achievements and your qualifications.

  • About Chronological and Functional Resumes

    Use of a chronological resume

    The typical resume is a one-to-two page document summarizing an individual’s career objectives, professional experiences and achievements, as well as his/her educational background; and while there are numerous ways to format a resume, there are two basic resume styles. The chronological resume and the functional resume.

    As its name implies, a chronological resume is one that lists your experience and education in order, beginning with the most recent jobs or achievements. This type of resume is sometimes also referred to as reverse chronological resume, because the order of which items are listed begins with the individuals’ last or current employment details and continues in reverse order to the first or oldest employment details.

     

    A chronological resume is generally preferred by –employers, since they will want to know what job an applicant currently holds so that they can better asses his/her qualifications for the job in which s/he has interest. The same is true for an applicant’s education since a potential employer would rather know that applicant’s most recent scholastic achievement. By listing experiences and education in reverse chronological order, a job applicant shows his/her potential employer the overall career progress s/he’s made.

    Emphasis on employment history

    Such reverse listing also helps in determining the length of employment at each organization, and indicates any gaps in the individual’s career (in case of gaps, make sure to address them in the cover letter as to not lead a potential employer to believe that s/he is omitting information on purpose). If you are the job applicant, a chronological resume should list your current job, as well as two to four previously held positions.

    However, you should not skip any employment information intentionally; and if your employment history is long, or if you have held jobs further in the past that align well with your current career objective, you can address these qualifications in your professional profile or in your cover letter. Chronological resumes are the most commonly used style, and work best for anyone who has had some professional experience.

    When a functional resume is useful

    Functional resumes focus on the individual’s qualifications, not his/her career timeline, because this style of the resume highlights what skills that person has, rather than where and when s/he acquired or utilized them. In other words, if you are an applicant writing a functional resume, you would forego listing your experiences by job titles and, instead, your resume will contain sections titled by your skills such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction and project management, among others.

    This resume style is recommended for college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of school; for those with no professional experience; those who have not worked for some time; or for career changers. While potential employers will appreciate the overview of your skills, you should consider using a chronological resume if you have any professional experience; or you can even use a combination resume over the functional format.

    Combination resume: A hybrid of resume styles

    A combination resume, although not often discussed, has become a popular format in recent years; and as its name implies, it is a combination of chronological resume style and functional resume style. This hybrid style allows professionals to highlight the qualification they have that are critical for the job of their interest, while at the same time listing employment and educational history in reverse chronological order.

    A word of caution, however: Don’t try to do too much when using a combination resume, by going over board with the type and number of sections you include in your resume. It is best to keep the information listed – even in the combination format – to what is relevant for the job. The same rules apply for each style. Don’t exceed two pages; simply tailor your resume to your career objective and put your best foot forward in order to get the interview, and eventually the job you desire.