What to Do If You Dont Know How to Write

February 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
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What to Do If You Dont Know How to Write a Resume

Are you interested in changing careers or changing jobs? If you are, have you started your job search? Even if you have started your job search, but you are currently coming up empty handed, you are urged to take a close look at your resume. Speaking of resumes, are you even using one?

When it comes to finding a new job or changing careers, it is important that you have a resume. Unfortunately, many job seekers mistakenly believe that job interviews are the most important component of finding a new job. While this can be true in many cases, it is important to remember that a quality resume is what enables you to get a job interview in the first place. That is why it is important that you not only submit a job application, but that you also attach a resume as well.

As important as resumes are, there are still many job seekers who do not submit them. One of the many reasons for this is because resumes, especially ones that are considered perfect, can occasionally be difficult to write. If you are unsure as to how you can go about writing a professional resume, namely one that will land you multiple job interviews, you will want to continue reading on. Just a few of your many options are outlined below.

If you are interested in developing your own resume, but you are unsure as to how you should proceed, you may want to turn to the internet. Online, you can find a number of websites that are commonly referred to as career websites. These types of websites often have information, including tips, on creating a professional resume. It should also be possible for you to find free resume templates online. These free resume templates can be used as guides for you, when looking to create a perfect, resume.

In keeping with finding free resume templates, did you know that many computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Works, have free resume templates available with them? If you are using these two programs or other similar ones, you will want to examine your programs templates. What is nice about using your computers template programs is that you often have a number of different options. It is not uncommon for you to find ten or more free resume templates, that come in a number of different styles, already installed in your computer.

As outlined above, you have a number of different options if you are looking to create a professional looking resume on your own. As nice as making your own resume is, as it is free to do so, you may not have the needed time or you may be unimpressed with your own resume. If that is the case, you may want to consider seeking professional assistance. One of the best ways to do this is by using the internet to your advantage, namely a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you may want to search with phrases such as resume writer, or professional resume writer. Although you will have to pay to use the services of a professional resume writer, you and your prospective employers will likely be satisfied with the end result, which should be a great resume!
As outlined above, you have a number of different options when looking to have a professional resume to submit to all prospective employers. No matter which option you choose, you should find that having a resume, let alone a professional one, should increase your chances of finding a new job.

Should You Quit Your Job Before Finding a New One?

January 30, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Career Hunting Tips 

Should You Quit Your Job Before Finding a New One?

Are you unhappy with your current job? Whether you are unsatisfied with your pay, with your position, with your supervisors, or with your coworkers, you may be interested in seeking employment elsewhere. If you are interested in finding a new job, do you have a plan of action? If you not, you will want to continue reading on.

Of course, the decision to quit your job, as well as when and how you do so, is your decision to make. With that in mind, it is important to not put yourself, your family, or your finances in danger. That is why you should not quit your job until you at least have a plan of action in place. For many individuals, that plan of action should include a new job already lined up.

When it comes to leaving the workplace, there are many individuals who wonder why it is so important for them to first have a new job lined up. In todays society, it has been reported that a good percentage of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. If you are one of those individuals, do you know what could happen if you were to impulsively quit your job? You may go weeks, possibly even months without a paycheck. This is a factor that many do not take into consideration, but you should as you will likely find yourself ineligible for unemployment compensation.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, it is advised that you take the time to find a new job before submitting your resignation, no matter how unhappy you will be. This is particularly important if you have a family to support. You will also want to make sure that you are able to pay your rent or mortgage payments, as well as any car payments or auto insurance that you may have. These are bills that many cannot live without. The last thing that you will want to do is risk losing your home. This may seem like common sense, but many individuals do not always think of this aspect, especially when presented with a work related conflict.

Since it is advised that you do not submit your resignation until you have a new job lined up, you may be curious as to how you can go about doing so. It may be a little bit difficult, but it is more than possible for you to work full time and also search for a new job at the same time. You can easily do this thanks to sick time, vacation pay, lunch breaks, and the internet. The internet enables you to search for job openings at just about any point in time. Sick days, vacation time, and lunch breaks can be used to attend any job interviews that you may be awarded.

If you are financial stable enough to quit your job before you have a new one lined up, you may still want to proceed with caution. It is advised that you try and give your employer at least two weeks notice. If you are unable to do so, you may risk losing your current employer as a job reference. If you have worked at your current job for some time now, you may want to keep this important point in mind. That is why you should try and give as much notice as possible, even if it is only two or three days.

Should You Follow-Up On a Job Interview?

January 27, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Career Hunting Tips 

Are you in the process of finding a new job? If you are, you may have job interviews already lined up. In fact, you may have already had a number of job interviews take place. If that is the case, did you follow up with the interviewer or the employer in question? If follow-up contact, such as a telephone call, is an action that you have yet to take, you may want to examine your options.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should follow-up on all job interviews that you have had, like with a quick office visit or telephone call, there are many job seekers who are unsure as to how they should proceed. Since many are unsure of the action that they should take, many just do nothing. If you would like help in determining what you should do after attending a job interview, you will want to continue reading on, as a number of advantages and disadvantages to job interview follow ups are outlined below.

As for the advantage to follow-ups with the employer or interviewer in question, you will find that there are a number of them. One of those advantages is the impression that you can create of yourself. Checking to see how the selection process is coming along or if you can answer any additional questions is a great way to show that you are truly interested in the open job position. It also shows initiative on your part. This is something that many companies look for in their new hires.

Another one of the many advantages to following up after a job interview is the answers that you may get. If the employer in question has yet official make a decision, but your name is still in the running, you may be told to call back later or wait for a phone call, which should arrive when a decision has been made. On the other hand, if it has been determined that you are not the right candidate for the job, you may be notified of this when you make your first contact attempt. This notification is ideal as it encourages you to explore your other options without wasting any precious time.

Although there are a number of advantages to following up after a job interview, you will also find that there are a number of disadvantages to doing so as well. As previously stated, an interview follow-up may help to create a good impression of yourself. What you need to know, however, is that this impression can work both ways. Some employers view follow-up phone calls as unnecessary distractions. If you were told to wait until you heard from the company, you will want refrain from making any follow-up contact, as your actions can have negative results.

The above mentioned advantages and disadvantages are just a few of the many to job interview follow-ups. As previously stated, you will want to try and make sure that you follow the advice or instructions given to you by each employer or interviewer. This means that if you are asked to refrain from making contact, you will want to do so. It is also advised that you avoid calling during known busy times, such as lunch or right before the workday ends.

Job Interviews: What You Shouldnt Discuss

January 3, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Career Hunting Tips 

Are you in the process of finding a new job? If you are, you will likely have a number of job interviews coming up in the next few weeks or months. Job interviews, although nerve-wracking, are often a lot easier than originally thought. With that in mind, there are preparation steps that you can and should take to ensure that your next job interview is a successful one.

One of the most important tips that you can remember, when looking to prepare for an upcoming job interview, is what not to say. There are some topics that need to be discussed during a job interview, but there are others that should be left out of the conversation. For more information on what you should or shouldnt discuss at one of your upcoming job interviews, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many topics that you should refrain from discussing at one of your upcoming job interviews involves your personal life. For instance, you may not want to talk about your family or any friends that you may have. If you are asked if you are a parent, you will want to respond, as well as answer any other questions, but you will want to try and refrain from brining up the topic yourself. You will want to try to keep your personal and professional lives separate.

Bad experiences at past jobs are another one of the many topics that you may want to refrain from discussing at job interviews. For starters, your information may be deemed as gossip. You will also want to refrain from divulging important information about your past employer, especially if they can be considered competitors. Simply taking the high road and avoiding any topics that have to deal with poor experiences at your previous places of employment should help your public perception.

In addition to bad experiences at one of your previous jobs, it is also advised that you refrain from speaking poorly about any of your former supervisors. No matter if your boss was in the wrong, you will want avoid speaking about the conflict. That doesnt mean that you should lie if asked, but it does mean that you should at least use your best judgment. You will want to show all prospective employers that you have respect for management, even if you dont like the management members.

If you were ever terminated from a job, you will want to proceed with caution during your job interviews. Discussing a job in which you were terminated from may not work in your best interest. With that in mind, it is important to examine the reason for your termination. Anything serious such as sexual harassment or theft may want to be avoided during a job interview. However, if you will receive a background check, this information may come into light anyways. Once again, you will want to use your best judgment.

Bad pay is another topic that you may want to refrain from discussing in upcoming job interviews. It is not uncommon for pay to be discussed during a job interview. With that in mind, should you find the starting salary to be lower than you may have thought, you will want to keep your composure. It would be impolite for you to leave in the middle of your interview or complain about the pay. What you may want to do, instead, is spin it in a somewhat positive matter that can still display your disapproval. You may want to consider asking about the other benefits, like sick days or vacation days, which can be used as other forms of compensation.

The above mentioned topics are just a few of the many topics that you may want to leave out at your next job interview. Of course, during a job interview it is important to answer all questions asked, but just be cautious with your answers and do not divulge more information than needed.

A Resume Reference Guide

December 23, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Career Hunting Tips 

Are you in the process of finding a new job or changing careers? If you are, you may also be in the process of creating a resume for yourself. Although resumes can be complicated and nerve-wracking to develop, they are usually a lot easier to write than originally thought. With that in mind, there are still many problems or complications that arise. For many resume writers that problem has to do with references.

On your resume, there is a good chance that you will list references. These references can typically come in two different formats. These formats are personal references and professional references. You will find that many employers actually like to see a combination of them both. Also, on average, most hiring companies like to see at least three references on their job applications and resumes.

Now that you know what many companies look for, in terms of references on a resume, you may want to start listing your references right away. While this approach is one that you can take, you may want to proceed with caution. As previously stated, one of the many mistakes that resume writers make involves their references. Some of the most common mistakes, as well as ways to prevent those mistakes from happening, are outlined below for your convenience.

One of the biggest mistakes that a job seeker, possibly just like you, makes involves listing no references at all. If you are simply submitting your resume, you may be able to get away without having any references listed, but you may not want to take any chances. If you are currently still lining up your references, you may want to have the phrases references available upon request, under the heading of references on your resume. Should you fill out a job application and are asked to provide references, you will want to do so. Omitting information on a job application may cause your application to be overlooked.

Another mistake that many job seekers make, in terms of their resume references, is not asking to use a reference in the first place. In almost all cases, you will find that your references are checked. That is why it is important that you ask each individual that you would like to have listed on a resume or a job application before officially listing them as a reference. If you have already submitted your job application and resume, without asking first, you will want to let each individual know, as soon as possible, that you used them as a job reference and that they may be receiving a phone call. This is important, as you do not want your references to be caught off guard, as it may impact their responses.

As previously stated, most companies like to see a combination of professional and personal references on their job applications and on all submitted resumes. This is a mistake that many job seekers also make and one that you will want to not make. For that reason, you may want to consider listing four references on your job applications or resumes. This would allow you to have an even number of personal references and professional references.

The above mentioned mistakes are common mistakes that many job seekers make when writing a resume for themselves. By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you can ensure that you do not make similar ones. This should automatically improve your chances of landing the job of your dreams or at least a job interview.