Resume Formats using a Word Processing Program
When you are in the hunt for a new job, resume formats are vital to this search. Convenient for you, Microsoft Word can be utilized to spruce up your resume. Even if you are not a pro at resume writing, Microsoft Word can assist you in completing your task at hand.
Almost every job application requires some sort of resume. The resume is one of the most important factors potential employers look at when evaluating you for a possible position. A quality resume will help you get the job you are after. If your resume is unformatted, loose, or printed on stationary, employers may eliminate you from the job consideration.
Contrary what some might think, it is unadvisable to use the standard default template that Microsoft Word provides. Could you imagine how many other people have probably used that same template when applying for the same job you are after? One idea that has been successful for me is to download a sample template that can be implemented into Microsoft Word. There are many free resume templates available, so cost is not an issue.
Typically, resumes are formatted as follows: objective, achievements, honors, experience, education, skills, and ending with your hobbies or interests. A variation of this format would be: objective, experience, education, skills, interests, achievements, and finally honors.
From my previous experience, each will get the job done. If you are interested in a job that is outside the writing industry, the second example works well. A properly formatted resume is essential when applying for a job, however it is also advisable to use positive words throughout your resume. If you use negative wording, many employers may discard your submitted resume.
Proper resume formatting is only half the battle when it comes to resume writing. Bad grammar, poor word choices, and uninformative content can lead to a dismal resume. The goal is to tie everything together to provide a well documented paper regarding your work history and prior experience. Utilize the tools available online for resumes and you can land the job you are after.
Find The Perfect Job In No Time
Its about who you know, NOT what you know! But, what if you don’t know anyone? Then what are you suppose to do? You suppose to go hunting and make contacts. When finding any job the first rule is to make looking for a job your JOB!
Finding a Job Is Your Job
If you are unemployed then you should put aside at least 6-8 hours of each business day for applying to jobs, making contacts, interviewing, and staying on top of your industry. This strategy will always award you a job in less time. Your goal should be to apply to a minimum of 3 jobs per day. You should manage a list of contacts of everyone you directly or indirectly make contact with.
If you already have a job, then you shouldn’t be looking for a job. But, if it is imperative that you find a new job, then it will be more difficult to find the adequate time to job hunt, therefore you should put aside the time for your job search as it becomes available.
Analyze Your Craft
You should know your craft. Know the skill you hold and the level at which you best perform. Rate yourself fairly, do not underrate your talent. Know your worth, but better know the least (salary) you are willing to accept.
It is important to know your skill set. Knowing this information will help you better asses the position which you are seeking. Getting a job isn’t only about the employer finding the perfect fit, it is also for you to find the perfect fit. Research the salary for your position, such as Salary.com, SalaryExpert.com, and PayScale.com. Once you are familiar with the salary you should stay at least $5,000 within that range (e.g. if the salary for the job is expected to be $45,000 then you should seek opportunity within the range of $40,000-$45,000 or $45,000-$50,000, depending on your level of skill for the position).
Prepare Your Resume
You should update your current resume or create a new resume. Your original resume should be generic, but keyword-rich. The generic version should NOT contain any formal greets to any particular party. Basically, you should be able to apply to any job with the generic version without any editing. It should be readily available for fast access and quick apply. The generic version will be used to post on job boards, for employers to view when searching the database. Editing your resume for formal greets should be done at the time of applying to a job.
You want your resume to be keyword-rich because when employers/recruiters search databases for resumes they usually use keywords to find employees. If your resume has the proper keyword density and strategy then your resume is more likely to be returned within the search results (e.g. if the job you are searching for is ‘customer service’ then your resume should focus on the keyword ‘customer service’).
Many argue that a one-page resume is the best resume, but in my experience a one-page resume doesn’t provide enough information for those with extensive backgrounds. In this case I suggest not exceeding 2 pages, unless the job you are applying for is information technology related or relies on extended details within the industry, then it is (sometimes) best to list or add every product, program, service, and technology which you have touched, worked with, or have knowledge of. Even still do not exceed 3 pages at this point, and that may be too much. Though, I must admit I have seen 5-page resumes which are highly detailed and keyword-rich that receive a very high response rate.
Never boast or brag on your resume. Be truthful and list your objective, skills, professional experience, education, and knowledge.
If you do not have the ability or time to create an award-winning resume then it may be worthwhile to invest in a professional resume writing service.
Build Your Contacts
The best way to make contacts is by calling the employer or recruiter directly. Usually this information is made available when applying for a job online. If you are at a job board site such as: Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, or a niche-based job board such as: DataCenterLife.com then more than likely the contact information is found on the job post page. If you are applying through an employer site then more than likely the contact information can be found under the “Contact Us” page usually found on the sites’ navigational bar. Respect the wishes of employers and recruiters who state NOT to contact by phone.
You should create a contact for any job you apply for.
Manage Your Contact List
Every employer or recruiter you make contact with directly or indirectly should be added to your contact list. Your contact list should include the company name, contact name, email address, phone number, and position title. You should also have a field or method which denotes the last time you spoke with or contacted each contact. This is important so you do not make the mistake of contacting someone you spoke with days earlier as well this helps you manage your time between each contact. You should follow-up with your contacts at least once every week or every 7 business days.
Out of Work. Out of the Loop.
Just because you are unemployed doesn’t mean you need to fall behind in your industry. You should still stay familiar with your industry and spend your time wisely. Study your industry market and know the new technologies being used inside your job industry. Stay afloat, use your resources such as: the internet, newspapers, media, friends, and ex co-workers to know what is going on in your job industry. If you are out of work for months and have no idea of a new application that is being used by all professionals in your industry, then it will look bad in an interview when you have no clue what they are talking about and you are claiming to be a skilled professional in the industry. Keep your eye on the prize and know your stuff. Even if you are not an expert at it, at least have the basic knowledge.
Don’t Answer That Phone
You only have one chance at making a good impression, do not blow it! Do not answer the phone if you are too busy to talk, if you see a number that you do not recognize assume it is an employer or recruiter and you should not answer the call, if you are too busy. There is nothing worse than a crying baby in the background, a large bulldozer from a nearby construction site, the sound of a flushing toilet, a third-party conversation going on in the background, or being in a drop-call zone when an employer or recruiter calls. You should be focused, relaxed, calmed, and ready to answer all questions swiftly without any interruptions when the phone rings, otherwise allow your voice mail service to get the call and return the call later when the time is more convenient.
Give Yourself a Break
I also suggest taking off Friday, don’t do any job hunting or interviewing this day, enjoy yourself. Have yourself a 3-day weekend. The only reason you should schedule Friday for interviewing is if the employer or recruiter schedule it, never inconvenience your interviewer unless it is life-threatening or extremely important. Also, you should still answer your phone on Friday when you have the time, if you are too busy or unable to answer your phone then make sure you have a voice mail service set up.
Interviewing
Getting an interview is what you worked hard for. Having a successful interview is just as important as getting the job. This determines everything. Preparation for your interview should begin the minute you are scheduled for your interview. You should study the background of the company. You should be familiar with what the company does and their procedures. Most of this information is usually found on the company’s website (sometimes buried within the site so you may have to do some digging). You should prepare questions which you may have for the interviewer about the company and/or position. You should familiarize or refresh yourself with the requirements/qualifications of the position. And most importantly you should have a good night sleep before the interview, at least 8-10 hours of rest.
You should have at least 2 business suits/attire for interviewing. If you have a second interview you should have the ability to switch to a different suit. Your suits should be only of the three colors: black, navy, or gray. Make sure you are well groomed for the interview.
You should arrive to the interview between 10-15 minutes early. You should never come to an interview empty handed. You should at least have a business folder with notepad paper, a writing pen, and a hardcopy of your resume.
When interviewing you should relax and be yourself. You should be focus, articulate well, and be keen. Make non-offensive eye contact with your interviewer. Ask questions about the company and the position. Ask the interviewer about their position and the length of time they been with the company. Ask the interviewer why the position is available and why did the last person leave the company? Ask the interviewer how soon do they hope to fill the available position? Ask the interviewer for a business card or way to contact them if you have any questions later.
Just remember to be yourself and remember that the interviewer is only human just like you. If you don’t get the job then try and try again, until you get a job. Many times an interview is a display of your personality and character. If you have truthfully and appropriately represented your skill set on your resume, then the interviewer already know you are capable of handling the job.
You’re Hired!
Find a Job Now!
Are you in desperate search of a new job? Don’t worry; I’ve certainly been there myself. It can be difficult finding the right job to suit your interests and pay the bills.
I mean, we all want a career that allows us to kick back with our 1000 dollar shoes up on the desk and gaze happily out at a million dollar view each day. Oh, and from the hundredth floor of some billion dollar business. Did I leave anything out? Okay, well unfortunately most of us don’t find that exact job, but we do have the ability to find a career that makes us happy. Have you researched any jobs online lately? You can definitely stumble across a job opportunity if you do some browsing. Cyberspace is practically overflowing with them.
What kind of job opportunity are you looking for? I asked my 17 year old daughter this the other days since she’s about to graduate. She gave me a serious look and informed me that she would like to be the head of some large, billion dollar corporation. I was speechless. Then she said, “How can I do that right now?” I couldn’t help but laugh. I honestly don’t know what kids are thinking these days. I looked her square in the eye and said, you can’t. First you have to go to college, get a bachelor’s degree, then hopefully a master’s. Following your diploma will come an entry position at some company, and you will continue to work your way up. She frowned and thought I was nuts. Well, in the real world no one enters a company after high school and becomes a CEO or president. As much as that would be ideal, it just doesn’t work that way.
If a job opportunity is what you’re searching for, then the perfect place to start is online for all jobs why not start in a office job and work your way up. So you’ve got your bachelor’s degree and you’re seriously looking for that perfect job opportunity that suits your skills. It’s time to pop open Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com. These are easy to navigate websites that will help you discover that perfect job opportunity. You can browse positions in your immediate area or nationwide. Punch in the field you prefer and do a quick search. If this doesn’t give you the desired results, you can also punch in your degree for more feedback. That job opportunity you’re looking for is out there if you browse in the right place. You can even send your resume to a potential employer via the World-Wide-Web.
Ways to Impress Hiring Employers After the Interview
Are you currently on a search to find a new job? If you are, you may be preparing yourself for upcoming job interviews. Although a good percentage of your time should be focused on mastering the interviews at hand, you may also want to examine your actions and what they should be after an interview has ended.
As previously stated, it is advised that you spend a good percentage of your time focusing on mastering the interviews which you should have scheduled soon. These preparation tips may include familiarizing yourself with common interview questions, creating a list of questions that you should ask interviewers, as well as choosing a professional outfit for you to wear. As soon as you have each of these preparation steps out of the way, you may want to take the time to focus on after the interview.
After the interview? If you are wondering what you should after a job interview, you are definitely not alone. Unfortunately, this is where many job seekers make mistakes, possibly costly mistakes. Many believe that as soon as they finish up a job interview, the rest is in the hands of the management staff. While this can ring true in many cases, did you know that there are still steps that you can take to improve your chances of getting the job, even after the interview has ended?
One of the many steps that you can take, after your job interview has ended, is by going out of your way to thank the interviewer. In most cases, you will find that this person would be your supervisor if you were to get the position. Be sure to thank them for the job interview opportunity. Also, if you had a scheduling conflict or were late to your job interview, be sure to thank the interviewer for being patient and accommodating to you. This may improve your chances in more ways than you could have ever imagined, especially if you were late. Be sure to shake hands. Many view this as the official, closing of a job interview.
When you leave the interview room, there is a good chance that you would have to walk through the rest of the establishment. Whether you have to walk fifty feet or five hundred feet, there is a good chance that you will come into contact with other individuals, namely other employees. Be sure to acknowledge them with a quick hello as you pass. This is particularly important if a company supervisor is escorting you from the building or at least watching you leave. Acknowledging other coworkers shows that you are able to go out of your way to get along with them. This is a good sign that you may be a great team player.
Once you return home, you will want to prepare a thank you letter to mail out to the interviewer. There are many individuals who have pre made thank you letters. In fact, some will even mail out their thank you notes on their way home from the interview. While it is possible to do so, you may want to add a personal note to your thank you letter. This will help to prove it wasnt a necessarily a preplanned gesture. With that in mind, the sooner that you can mail out your thank you note, the better shape you will likely be in. You will want to try and have your thank you note reach its recipient before an official decision has been made on who gets the job.
As outlined above, there are a number of different ways that you can go about landing your dream job even after the job interview has concluded. What is nice is that these steps are relatively easy to implement. In fact, you rarely have to take any special action. These steps may not always lead you to be hired for the job, but there is no harm in taking a chance.
The Importance of Politeness When Dealing with Prospective Employers
Are you looking to find a new job? If you are, you will likely come into contact with a number of different individuals, likely from a number of different companies. No matter whom you are dealing with, it is important that you are polite at all times. For more information on the importance of politeness, when dealing with prospective employers, you will want to read on.
One of the best ways to understand the importance of politeness is to put yourself in someone elses place. For starters, imagine yourself as the hiring manager for a local retail store. If you were to come into contact with two job applicants, one of which who responded with please and thank you, and another that acted as if speaking to you was just a waste of their time, which individual would you be more likely to hire? It is likely that you would respond with the candidate who was polite. It is no secret that employers do not want to hire those who are impolite or have bad matters.
One of the many reasons why it is important for companies to hire polite and compassionate people is because their employees can either make or break their business. This is particularly true when direct customer contact is required. In keeping with the retail setting, retailers want and need employees who are warm, welcoming, and inviting. An employee with a poor attitude can cause customers to take their business elsewhere. That is why it is important to be polite when dealing with all prospective employers, no matter which type of industry you are interested in working in.
It is also important to mention that you should be polite at all times and to whomever you come into contact with. Unfortunately, many job seekers make this mistake. Many mistakenly believe that the only person they need to impress is the individual conducting the job interview. Yes, most of your focus and politeness should be focused on your job interview, but you need to keep other instances in mind. For instance, should you drop off a job application or a resume, it is advised that you greet the acceptor in a pleasant and positive matter. It is not uncommon for some employees to pass word on to their supervisors about poor experiences they had with those dropping off applications or resumes.
Should you receive a call asking to schedule an interview, there is a good chance that the supervisor conducting the interview will not be the one on the telephone with you. Often times assistants or secretaries handles these types of scheduling issues. This is something that shouldnt impact your behavior or demeanor when speaking to the individual in question though. That is why it important that you are polite to whomever you may be speaking with on the phone. Whether you dealing with a secretary or an assistant manager, it is advised that you are polite as possible. Answering another telephone call, not saying thank you, or quickly ending the phone call can land you in hot water.
The above mentioned scenarios are a few of the many situations in which it is important to be polite when looking for a job. As a reminder, politeness comes in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. In most cases, saying please, and thank you, should be enough for those of importance to take notice.