Archive for Resume
What can time do for your career journey?
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I was very impressed when I received this email awhile back from my career coaching client, Robin. Check out how prepared he was for his career fair. It went really well after all the time and effort he put into it!
I researched all 120 companies attending and wound up with a list of 12 I thought were good fits. Further research pared the list down to 4 and I received an invitation from a fifth who saw my profile on the career fair web site and asked me to come talk to them. I prepared folders with my resume, a business card and a cover letter slightly customized for each company. That seemed to be very well received and was an indication of my level of professionalism.
Having a plan and being prepared with information about the company and the positions they were looking to fill was invaluable. The lead company did not even list the position I wanted in the booklet we all received. It was an interesting and very fruitful discussion. Because I knew who I wanted to talk to and what I was interested in, I feel all of the discussions went well and expect good results. None of them may ultimately result in a job, but not for lack of preparation or execution.
When dealing with your job search, it’s always worth going the extra mile. Follow Robin’s lead and put the extra time and effort into preparing for your networking events and interviews. It will pay off!
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Is your resume ready for your networking events? Read this article to help you get organized and prepare for the big event!
Applying for jobs? Remember QUALITY versus QUANTITY
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This is a great article from a Google recruiter. One of the points I want to highlight is quality versus quantity regarding the number of applications you send out.
It is much better to spend more time applying for positions you truly want and that you are most qualified for. This should be done in addition to submitting your resume and spending time networking your way into the organization. It is much better to take extra time making your application the best it can be, than sending out a mass of resumes that aren’t tailored to the positions, and for which you may not be a fit.
Yes the job search game can be a law of numbers, but you’ll increase your odds if you spend more time on each one.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you are on the right track with this quick Ideal Career Quiz!
How to network AND get work experience at the same time
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Struggling to find a job in your industry? Don’t discount the benefit of volunteering. If you volunteer your time in the field of work you are interested in, you still have the option to work a part-time position and make money outside of that industry if needed. This really helps fill gaps in your resume and allows you to network.
Two key benefits of volunteering:
Networking – While you are volunteering you are able to network and make connections within the industry. Knowing people at your ideal place of work can increase your chances of landing an interview down the road. Not only are you meeting people at the company, they get the chance to see how you are taking the initiative to get your foot in the door.
Work Experience – Volunteering is a great way to get experience in your ideal field of work. This will really help build up your resume and help you decide what you like and don’t like about the industry.
Companies like to see people who are proactive in their job search while being unemployed, not just someone who sits on the couch checking job boards. Get out there and do something.
Online submitting is not DEAD
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You might think that when you submit to an online application your resume is going into a deep black hole. While it might feel that way, it’s not always the case.
I’ve had two career coaching clients recently who submitted to online jobs. One client got a phone call within 2 hours to set up an interview. He didn’t get that particular job but through that person he heard about another job and was able to secure a job within 3 weeks of submitting to an online job.
My other client received a call almost immediately. Although the job didn’t end up being a fit, he was again able to build a networking contact who put him in contact with a department that would be a good fit. He is actively pursuing that contact now.
So yes you do want to be cautious about ONLY submitting to online applications and job boards, but you don’t want to completely forget them.
It’s like investing when you need to balance your portfolio with different investment choices; you need a good mix of tactics to land your dream job!
Connect the dots with your cover letter
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In my career coaching practice I consistently hear from clients that they hate writing cover letters. They don’t understand what to include, they are annoyed they have to write one, and they don’t see the point. In our work together, I help them see how the cover letter is really their friend, and how they can use it to their advantage. There is one key reason why:
A cover letter is how you connect the dots for the employer of why you’re a good fit for the job.
The resume doesn’t always connect the dots clearly of how you have the experience and skills to be successful in the job you’re applying for. You do the hiring manager a great service by clearly describing how you are a good fit for their particular job in your cover letter.
Therefore, the best strategy for your cover letter is to follow these two steps:
1) Explain the top 3 reasons you are a perfect candidate for the position. Look through the job description, pull out the skills and experience that you have that match what they are looking for, and highlight these areas in your cover letter.
2) Include quick examples that confirm your experience and skills, so you gain trust and believability that you have the skills you list.
By keeping these two steps in mind, you will create compelling cover letters that grab attention instead of going immediately to the recycling bin. If you’d like more help with writing your cover letter, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
Don’t throw your computer out the window
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I hear this all the time from career coaching clients, “I submitted my resume online and when I copied and pasted it to the form, the formatting was completely lost and it looked like junk.” I know what this is like. This has happened to me before too, and it can drive you nuts!
You need to realize that employers knows this happens. I imagine they give some leeway when it comes to formatting when you have submitted your resume online. It still can be frustrating. You want to get noticed and be seen as someone who’s on the ball and savvy in their job search. Here are two ways to overcome this obstacle:
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Create a PDF version of your resume and attach that, or email it if possible. You can find free PDF translators online if you don’t have the software on your computer.
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Create a notepad version of your resume. Notepad (on PC’s, I’m sure there’s a version for MAC as well) removes all formatting in a document. So if you have a notepad version of your resume on file, you can copy and paste that instead and it will look the same when you insert into the online job boards.
Remember that every little thing you do to make an impression counts in your job search. Good luck!
Get your foot in the door: Snail mail your resume
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My career coaching client Tracy shared a story with me that was somewhat successful regarding physically mailing in her resume to a potential employer. She successfully landed an interview she wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
Tracy had a phone interview with the company and unfortunately, someone else who had more relevant experience landed the position. The success is that she got her foot in the door when she wouldn’t have otherwise.
It can be a risky; you don’t always know how a potential employer will respond to you being assertive. Follow their instructions. If potential employers say to send in your resume via email, do exactly that. If they don’t specify though, I think it’s worth it to do something a little different, like sending a hard copy of your resume in order to make a good impression. It may not always work, but you only need it to work a few times.
Think outside the box when it comes to applying for jobs, many times it will pay off and be worth it.
Create effective job applications in three proven steps
Posted by: | CommentsA problem that I come across a lot when working with my career coaching clients is their ability to position themselves effectively when applying for a job. Last week I was working with a client, Susan. We were putting together her cover letter and resume for a position she was very excited about. Her problem was that she could only focus on the area that she felt did NOT fit the job. This very talented, highly educated professional was focusing all her energy on the one part of the job description where she was not a perfect match. And she was obsessing over that one area.
This insecurity had her completely blinded from all the areas where she was an EXCELLENT fit for the job, and it affected her ability to market herself in her application materials. This is where I stepped in and held up the mirror so she could see how damaging this perspective was. Instead of looking at it from the angle of what she did not have, I turned the tables and explained how much she did have that matched the position.
I was able to language the transferable skills she had into a direct match for what the position was looking for and cover all the requirements, including the area she thought she was missing. Susan was amazed and even more excited about applying for the position right away!
Here are three proven ways to focus on your strengths instead of your insecurities:
- Prior to concentrating on one job description in particular, write out a list of your professional accomplishments. What are you particularly proud of in these scenarios?
- Next pull out the strengths that these examples highlight. For example if you are proud of an award you received at work, what talents and skills did you showcase to win the award? What expertise won you this award?
- Now look at the job description and find where these strengths fit what the job is looking for. If the position is looking for experience with a particular software that you do not directly have, but one of your strengths is to learn technology quickly, highlight that skill in your materials, and provide a concrete example. You obviously cannot make up experience you don’t have, but you can highlight to the employer that you have the underlying skills to be successful.
By accomplishing this you’ll feel more confident that you are marketing yourself effectively in each application. If you are having trouble pulling out your strengths and need an objective expert to lend a hand, contact us for a job search strategy session.
Darcy Holoweski
Certified Career Coach
