Business Savvy » Resume Writing Tips

Reinvent Yourself for Today’s Job Market

Jennifer — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:51:19 +0000

(ARA) – The economic downturn in the United States has caused major job losses in recent months. With more applicants seeking fewer jobs, it becomes increasingly important to do more than simply “dust off” your resume.

Anthony Davis, director of career services at Brown Mackie College in Fort Wayne, Ind. offers advice to help those now seeking employment. “If a worker has been laid off, the first priority is survival! Pay the bills, feed the kids, and hope that no major medical expenses come during this time,” he says. He goes on to offer these insightful tips:

1. Escape your own paradigm.
“We tend to get locked into one view of ourselves. It can be helpful to consider re-inventing yourself before applying for any positions,” says Davis. “Before updating your resume, consider what skills and abilities you have that can transfer to your job search.”

“The priority in evaluating yourself should be to become aware of your skill base,” says Davis. “It requires introspection to identify both hard and soft skills.” Hard skills are demonstrable, measureable abilities. They include proficiency in working with different computer programs, or the number of years of experience. Soft skills are intangible. They include interpersonal skills, and critical thinking — skills that are difficult to measure, but ones that can be included in a resume and mentioned during interviews.

“For example, someone who worked as a food server could list sales skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills and the ability to multi-task. This can open whole new areas of prospective employment. People don’t readily think of their own assets this way,” Davis says. “Look at yourself as a total person. What hobbies do you have? What sports do you play? What skills have you picked up through life that you can transfer and apply to an occupation?”

2. Keep your expectations high, but realistic.
“We’re in recession. Those who love to eat steak may need to consider hamburger,” Davis says. “What’s available in your labor market right now?” He recommends considering work values in addition to money. “Values change based upon life circumstances. It’s not just a one-time process. People change with age and circumstance,” says Davis.

Are you looking for authority on the job, or do you prefer to work alone? Is creativity important to you? As Davis points out, “Living true to your work values equals work rewards.” He emphasizes the importance of matching prospective career fields, and employers, with your own work values. “Don’t make yourself out to be something you’re not,” he says. “Be truthful. You may sell something else to land the job, but you won’t be able to maintain it. It’s OK to say ‘No’ to an employer based on values.”

3. Do your research.
“Research everything. Look into the category, the prospective employer, and your local labor market,” says Davis. “Consider where you live and where you are willing to work. Read projected outlooks from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and talk with others in the field. Find out what qualities you need to cultivate to be a good prospect.”

In summary, Davis points out, “If the old saying ‘you get what you put into it’ holds true, then if you put four hours per week in your job search or career change, you should find yourself a great four-hour-a-week job. Keep the faith in yourself and give it your all. Make finding your next position a full-time job.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Rounding Out Your First Resume

Jennifer — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:21:51 +0000

When you’re ready to enter the workforce after high school or college, compiling your first résumé can feel daunting — you know you have the skills and a good head on your shoulders, but how do you convince someone else that you have what it takes to do the job well? However vicious the cycle seems, quell your worries and the anxieties of future employers by really focusing on your résumé.

When you’re first entering the workforce, resist the urge to compile a traditional résumé. If you don’t have previous experience working at the job title you are applying for, then you shouldn’t have a conventional résumé that will only highlight your lack of experience as opposed to showcasing your relevant skills. In addition, tailor your résumé to the specific job for which you are applying. Examine the specific qualifications the employer is looking for, and evaluate how you could meet those standards. This is just the beginning; below are some helpful tips for ways to elevate your first résumé:

* Don’t write a chronological résumé. If a specific degree or level of education is required, list your education at the top of your résumé, followed by a section entitled, “Relevant Experience” that details the skills you’ll bring to the table. If a degree is not required, put this at the bottom of your resume.

* Find a job description for your ideal position by using job postings on popular Internet job boards and identify key terms used within. Under the “Relevant Experience” section, use your experiences from life, high school or college to mirror the job description, and try to use the same terminology used within the job description. For example, if you’re looking for a job in sales, and the job description requests experience with “cold calling,” you might list any fundraising calls you’ve made as, “Performed cold calls for fundraising efforts.” Using the same terminology will tie your experience to the specific skills the employer is looking for in a candidate.

* List internships and job experience in chronological order at the bottom of your résumé, and specify if a position was summer employment. If you held a position for a few months this could raise flags for a potential employer. But, you can avoid being crossed off the list by offering clarification. Next to these entries on your résumé, you should provide a brief explanation in parentheses such as, “Summer/Part-time employment to finance education.”

* Highlight extracurricular activities and your role within the organizations to which you belonged. Showing employers that you are able to balance extracurricular activities with other activities demonstrates time-management skills. Likewise, if you held leadership positions in any organizations, you should list those to exhibit your leadership abilities.

Before you mail off your résumé, remember that it will be your first impression — spell check your cover letter and résumé thoroughly. If you’re in college or even high school, ask a career counselor to go through your résumé to check for grammar and spelling errors. Once you have your base-model résumé completed, it will be easier to adapt the document for other positions that interest you.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

The author, Heather Mayfield is vice president of training and operations for Snelling Staffing Services. Snelling delivers temporary, career and professional staffing solutions to companies, with almost 200 offices throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.snelling.com.