How Long Should You Stay at Job?

There is often the discussion of longevity and loyalty on your job resume. You don’t want to look like a job hopper. Therefore, how long should you stay at a job you dislike or underpays you, so you maintain a quality career history? Some of the answers to this question will depend greatly on the situation. There is no true standard. In many circles, the year mark is significant, not only because it gives you enough time to truly evaluate the position but also to see the role in a full cycle. Still, if you are in a hot career … Continue reading →

Writing An Objective Statement On Your Resume

One of the most important parts of writing an effective resume is the objective statement. Simply listing your experience, doesn’t let your potential future employer know what your long term goals are. It also doesn’t let your employer know what type of position you’re looking for. Remember that when writing a resume first impressions count, and your objective statement is your first impression of your resume. An Objective Statement Should. . . * state what position you’re applying for * briefly summarize your main qualifications * use the company’s language when referring to the position and qualifications An Objective Statement … Continue reading →

Monday Morning Funnies: Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume

Resume writing, or maybe it’s just writing in general, seems to be a lost art. It should go without saying that your resume should be free from grammatical, spelling and syntax errors. But apparently that’s not common sense. Here are a few mistakes to definitely avoid when presenting a resume. (These are taken from real resumes. I hope these applicants are not wondering why they didn’t get the job!) It’s all about the word choice! As a writer, I’m acutely aware that my word choice is a key element to my writing. Be succinct and to the point, but for … Continue reading →

Make the Resume Shine

Many of people put a lot of thought into the outfit they will wear and the things that they will say during an interview. Unfortunately, not everyone puts that much effort into the resume. This just doesn’t make sense, since the resume is often the first thing that a potential employer will see of you. If you are applying for a job, you will probably first send out a cover letter and a resume. If your resume is not written well, the employer will probably toss it aside or, worse, into the trash because it has not effectively told the … Continue reading →

Résumés For People With “Nothing To Offer”

First of all, there is no such thing as a person “with nothing to offer.” Recent college graduates and homemakers or anyone else with little work experience often feel that way, but it is an illusion, a negative, self-defeating illusion. Know you are not alone in the misery of preparing your work history, for even seasoned executives have trouble prioritizing their experiences, accomplishments and skills. Chances are, you have skills you don’t even know your have, and the trick is to capture their essence on a tricky little piece of paper known as a résumé. How does one do this, … Continue reading →

A Résumé For The Electronic Age

How can you write an electronic résumé? The answer is easier than you might think, for it is done by simply removing all highlighting, which prevents proper computer scanning. Once it is scanned, your résumé becomes “cyber-fodder” as it can be searched by companies of all types through the use of keywords. It is estimated that this type of selection process will dominate this computer age in which we are all trying our best to survive and thrive. Many companies today have sophisticated equipment that scans thousands of résumés. According to statistics, however, it does seem that networking is just … Continue reading →

Your Résumé and Difficult Questions

It is very important for your résumé to speak for and not against you. Some questions can present problems and need to be handled very delicately. For example, if you recently left a job or know that your job is about to end, should you bring attention to that fact by highlighting an ending date on your résumé? Or should you simply say “to the present”? The answer depends on what feels right for you. You can go “to the present” route as long as you come clean when the interviewer asks you if you are still there. Most résumés … Continue reading →

Still More Résumé Tips

Consider your résumé as a major tool in your box of “job tricks.” There are many aspects to preparing a résumé that will help to get you the job you want. What is the best and quickest way to handle difficult job titles and company descriptions? What about questions you might not want to answer or at least avoid? (The last time someone asked me my age, I replied: “Somewhere between forty and death.”) This may work sometimes, but not on a résumé. Besides, George Burns is dead. Help is on the way. Parentheses help a great deal in setting … Continue reading →

Other Tips for A Power Résumé

Although your résumé may never enable you to run a little faster or lift an extra weight or two, an effective one will give you power where you need it most, namely, the market-place. How so, you may ask. Good question. All of your tools are part of your job campaign, and that includes even those you might not consider as such. Take your phone number for instance. On a résumé, you must list one number where you can be reached during the day. (If you double as a vampire and live from midnight to dawn, this could be a … Continue reading →