Archive for Resume/Cover Letters
Career Search: Adjust Your Resume and Cover Letter to Reflect Your New Career Path
Posted by: | CommentsI want to share with you ways to adjust your resume and cover letter to reflect your new career path. This message is the third of 5 steps to reinventing yourself for your job search or career transition. Listen to this one to help you figure out how to have an effective resume and cover letter.
Do Gaps in Resume Matter Anymore?
Posted by: | CommentsAre you searching for a new job or looking for a career transition? Then, watch this message about any “gaps” you might have in your resume. I have some good news; yet a word of caution about those gaps. If you are looking for your career path, check out this video for resume help.
Are you lying on your resume?
Posted by: | CommentsIn a competitive job market your resume couldn’t be more valuable! I recently came across this article from The Boston Globe about how “more job seekers are ‘dumbing down’ credentials” on their resumes in order to get the job interview.
I thought this topic was really interesting. Here’s my take on it.
Modifying your resume to fit the position you are striving for is a must. You have to do this. If it means leaving something off in order to get an interview, that’s not bad. What is bad is downright lying on your resume about a job, skill, position etc. that you have held and didn’t.
Client example: A career coaching client applied for a job and chose to remove the PhD listing. This client doesn’t go by doctor and it didn’t accurately represent who they were. It wasn’t important for that position or their direction.
When you tailor your resume to a position, it is a balancing act of being honest and truthful versus not presenting yourself accurately. Your resume should present yourself as something that you are. You could always bring anything omitted in interview as needed. .
Please note: There is no one-size fits all answer here as all situations, positions and experiences are different. Again let me emphasize you NEVER want to lie.
It is one thing to not disclose an important thing like a crime that you committed or a criminal record. It’s different not to disclose a PhD in order to get the interview. Remember each situation is individual and needs to be addressed as such.
If you need help with your resume, contact us for a complimentary consultation.
Avoid The Resume Writing Rumors
Posted by: | CommentsThere are so many rumors that circulate about the "right or wrong way" to craft your career resume. Can you recall people in your lifetime, offering you free advice on the proper protocol for resume creation?
"Always list your career history in chronological order."
"Make sure you print on cream or grey parchment paper instead of plain white so you'll get noticed in the pile."
"Don't make even the tiniest mistake or your resume will get thrown into the trash!"
What other resume writing rumors have you been exposed to over the course of your career? Do you feel they're justified, or are some of them just hype?
The fact is, each career opportunity is unique, as is each employer. Something that appeals to one hiring manager may actually be a turnoff to another. You won't know what that might be until the day of your interview… so, there’s no sense in obsessing about it or trying to please everyone.
If you want help avoiding the resume writing rumors, we offer multiple resume and cover letter services that you can check out here.
If you'd like to speak to a professional career counselor about this or other aspects of your career search, contact me.
Standing Out From the Crowd: The Cover Letter & Resume
Posted by: | CommentsI was recently featured in an article about creating a great cover letter and resume for YP Nation.net. It shows how important these elements are throughout your job search. Check it out to get some great tips on creating your cover letter and resume. Here is an excerpt:
Hallie Crawford, a career coach based in Atlanta, Ga., agreed. “[Cover letters] are still very important because they can highlight how you communicate and that you have effective communication skills,” Crawford said in an e-mail to YPNation.
A cover letter should never be longer than one page and it should briefly highlight information from one’s resume–bullet points are generally acceptable, as the letter can then be easily reviewed, Crawford said.
Recruiters’ preferences vary, of course, but the three things Arendt looks for in a resume are: what you did, who you did it for and how well you did it.
Arendt also prefers a chronological form resume to a functional form resume. A functional resume, which focuses on skills rather than chronological work history, “really doesn’t help you stand out as much as the chronological [resume],” he said. A job seeker should also separate his or her accomplishments from job responsibilities to avoid any confusion between the two and to underscore what you have achieved, Arendt said.
Crawford also emphasized the importance of accentuating one’s accomplishments on a resume.
If you want more help on your resume you may be interested in our Resume and Cover Letter Review Session.
Keep Your Resume Out of the Recycling Bin
Posted by: | CommentsA resume is a great first step to finding a new job. But whether you are fresh to the job market or are a relatively seasoned professional who needs to make a fresh start, there’s more to the job search process than just a great-looking resume.
Many job hunters discount the importance of the cover letter that accompanies the resume – or overlook its importance entirely. A solid cover letter is key… it is your first chance to communicate with their potential boss or employer.
Here are some tips to help you when writing a compelling cover letter:
- Be specific and articulate your relevant knowledge
- Specifically address the position for which you hope to land an interview
- Explain how your skills and experience qualify you for the job
Refrain from sending the general ‘mass mail,’ all-purpose types of resumes and cover letters, as they generally end in the recycling bin.
Put some serious effort into a well-thought-out cover letter. This time is well spent; after all, the cover letter is a reflection of you – it offers the first impression to a prospective employer, of who you are and whether you are qualified to land an interview. Make it count!
Need help with your resume and or cover letter? Learn more about our Resume/Cover Letter Review Sessions here: http://www.halliecrawford.com/resumereviewsession.html
Here’s to having a career you love!
Polishing Your Résumé Part II
Posted by: | Comments
Is your résumé the best it can be?
Need to start over from scratch?
Use these insightful tips to create a
winning résumé.
(if you missed Part I, you can read it here)
Résumé writing can be intimidating. We wonder,
what do I include, what do I leave out? How do I make
it look nice? In what order do I need to list everything?
Some of the most common concerns I hear from my career
coaching clients are about how to organize their résumé
and what pieces of information to include. Here are some
tips that can help you get started on either creating your
résumé from scratch or updating it for your next job search.
Keep it Concise and Easy to Read:
Enough said. You don’t want to send a potential employer a novel.
You want the hiring manager to be able to scan your résumé with
ease. Keep it short while highlighting why you’re the best person
for the job. The typical recommended length is one page for an
entry-level position, and two pages for a position requiring more
experience.
Include a Cover Letter: Always include a cover letter with your résumé, unless the person
doing the hiring specifies not to. This demonstrates your communication
skills, shows you are interested in the job because you’re
taking time to write the letter, and it can highlight those items
you really want them to notice on your résumé. If your writing
skills are not great, I highly recommend working with a professional
résumé writer for help.
Show Your Personality:
Give the potential employer a sense of who you are as a person
outside of work. What’s unique or different about you? Where
do you spend your time outside of work? Include outside activities
and organizations that you are involved in—it helps you stand
out in the crowd, or in the pile of résumés, in this case.
Emphasize Contributions, Not Duties:
Résumés should always highlight what you contributed or accomplished
at a job, as opposed to duties or responsibilities. This is
another area where people tend to struggle. They want to merely
list their job description. Don’t do this—explain how you contributed
to that organization. Use action verbs and highlight those
accomplishments that are relevant to the position you are applying
for.
Be Proud:
Make sure you feel proud of your résumé. It will show in the
interview. If you’re pleased with it, that will come across. Your
résumé is representative of you—make sure it’s something you’re
proud of.
If you need help with a resume or cover letter, consider a resume/cover letter session.
Here's to having a career you love!
Polishing Your Résumé Part I
Posted by: | CommentsIs your résumé the best it can be?
Need to start over from scratch?
Use these insightful tips to create a
winning résumé.
Résumé writing can be intimidating. We wonder,
what do I include, what do I leave out? How do I make
it look nice? In what order do I need to list everything?
Some of the most common concerns I hear from my career
coaching clients are about how to organize their résumé
and what pieces of information to include. Here are some
tips that can help you get started on either creating your
résumé from scratch or updating it for your next job search.
Brainstorm:
The best way to get started is to brainstorm about your
natural talents and abilities. Write down everything you’ve
accomplished, even as far back as childhood. This is a confidence
boost and also can help you get everything out on
paper that you could possibly include in your résumé.
Give Yourself Credit:
We tend to downplay the things we are naturally good
at. This is because we assume that since it comes so naturally
to us, everyone must be good at it, right? Wrong. Just
because you can easily organize your office and keep your
files in amazing working order does not mean everyone can
do that. Perhaps you coordinated your local church’s picnic
and did a spectacular job. Not everyone has that particular
skill, so give yourself credit for what comes naturally to
you. Do this, of course, while being honest and accurate.
It’s never a good idea to blatantly lie on your résumé.
Organize in a Way that Is Best for You:
One thing people frequently ask me is, “Do I have to put my
résumé in chronological order?” The answer is no. Ordering your
work experience by date isn’t necessary— relevance is. If you
prefer chronological order, and it seems particularly appropriate
for the job you’re hunting for, go for it. But I typically recommend
highlighting your skills and accomplishments that are relevant to
the position, and organizing the résumé with jobs that are most
relevant at the top. If you have a spotty job record, this also helps
minimize that issue.
Clearly State Your Objective:
Make sure your career objective clearly states the type of work
you desire—the more specific, the better. Specific objectives are
more powerful and hard-hitting. They stand out. If you’re not sure
what type of job you want, consider working with a career coach
or counselor to clarify the next step you would like to take in your
career
If you need help with a resume or cover letter, consider a resume/cover letter session.
Here's to having a career you love!
