Posted By Amanda Collins on December 21, 2009

Start 2010 with the skills you need to land your next job!
Professional résumé writers and career counselors provide tips for job seekers.

Glendale, Ariz. (December 21, 2009) – With the unemployment rate climbing each month and no end in sight, the job market is getting more and more competitive. The same skills used just a few years ago may not work in quite the same way with employers today. As job seekers look at entering 2010 without a job secured, they are seeking alternatives to the more traditional means of approaching the job search.

The Résumé Writers Council of Arizona (RWCA) has a solution. On January 4, 2010, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., RWCA will host a free job-search strategies panel at the Glendale Public Library, 5959 W. Brown, Glendale. The panel will consist of RWCA members, including professional résumé writers, interview and job coaches, and career counselors. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn best practices in résumés and interviewing as well as some innovative and proactive methods for conducting a successful job search.

This presentation will shed some light on many of the misnomers about job seeking. For instance, “a résumé doesn’t need to be one page and is not merely a summation of your work history,” states Donna Tucker, president of RWCA and owner of CareerPro Résumé Center. “A résumé is a marketing document, and if it takes two pages to share the value you offer a new employer, that’s okay.”

While a résumé’s objective is to get an interview, the interview is the means to the job. “It’s just as important that the job seeker have the opportunity to ask questions of the interviewer at that crucial meeting. The trick is to know the right questions to ask,” says Martha Rockwell, interview coach and owner of A+ Résumés and Career Coaching. “An interview should be viewed as an opportunity,” says Rockwell, “and the prepared job seeker stands a much better chance of securing the position.”

Did you know that your online résumé should be updated every three weeks or so? “Recruiters are looking for the recent applications, typically those posted in the past few weeks. If yours appears to be older than that, it might be overlooked,” shares Amanda Collins, résumé writer and owner of The Grammar Doctors. It’s tips like this that can give job seekers an edge in today’s environment.

The Résumé Writers Council of Arizona is a professional organization of résumé writers and career champions dedicated to enhancing and improving the résumé writing and career search industry of Arizona; ensuring quality work, fair prices, and ethical practices; and remaining current with changes in the industry. The RWCA advocates community service, and this panel is a representation of that charge. The free event is open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring their current résumés for review by the professional panel following the formal presentation.

For more information, please contact Donna Tucker at 602-788-3121 or jobsaz@att.net.

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Tags: events, job search, resume, resume coach

Posted By Amanda Collins on December 18, 2009

Even Mark doesn’t regard himself as a salesperson. That says a lot for someone who possesses the depth of experience in sales that Mark has. Instead, Mark lets his customers know that he provides solutions. He works with customers as a trusted partner, gaining insight into the challenges they’re facing so that he can devise answers using the products and services in his “bag of tricks” to add value and revenue opportunity to those he serves.

Mark has worked with some heavy hitters, Mitel and Intel among them. He has played an active role in creating opportunities, both for clients and the company, through business analysis and strategic planning. While some people are content to have an employee mindset, Mark is able to call on his entrepreneurial spirit to ensure that projects get completed when they’re supposed to at a quality level that exceeds expectations. A customer service advocate, he makes himself available during consultations, midway through implementations, and post-sales. Calling on acquired technical abilities, Mark is able to troubleshoot issues before and as they arise to mitigate further complications. His dedication has been recognized time and again by his customers and managers.

The best compliment a sales professional can receive is for his honesty – and this is where Mark excels. He once told a hard-to-reach potential customer that he would only call on him when there was something of value to offer. Following through on that promise, Mark soon gained a new client for his company.

Mark is a talented solutions consultant who lends a higher level of service to each interaction. Just don’t call him a salesperson.

Want to get in touch with Mark about opportunities in your organization? E-mail me and I’ll connect you.

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Tags: job search, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on December 16, 2009

Creating harmony and synergy from chaos

Chris has a depth of experience in print production. While you may be thinking that print is dead, let me assure you that the skills Chris has acquired will readily transfer to another industry. When I met with Chris, I was extremely impressed with his vast set of talents, not only in the print industry but also in business development, IT / technology, training, and project management. Chris is used to working within extremely tight deadlines – like putting out a daily paper. To him, there is no alternative when it comes to completing projects, and he always finds a solution.

Another fantastic value Chris will offer his next employer is the ability to translate creative jargon into technological directions – and vice versa. He is just as comfortable working with graphic designers, ad agency executives, systems administrators, clients, and production line workers. Not only can he change hats quickly, he treats each person with respect. And if they don’t know what he’s trying to convey, he takes the time to train them and really communicate, an art often overlooked in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Chris is currently seeking an opportunity as an IT Production / Print Manager. He will help the company with which he works expedite and streamline processes and stay on task moving into the next decade. He can analyze business directions and create strategic marketing plans that result in increased revenue – all with a smile on his face.

Want to learn more about Chris? Send an e-mail and I’ll get you connected.

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Tags: job search, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on September 10, 2009

I’ve been writing résumés since 1996, and at that point they were little more than prettified job applications with little or no focus on differentiating the client. They were a series of lists saying what you did at each job. And they all started with objectives. In essence, they were about applicants.

Today, résumés are no longer past-oriented; they are very much targeted to the reader and future-oriented. Far from the days of lists, the best résumés today highlight your value proposition and accomplishments you’ve had across your career to paint a picture to the reader and let them know how you can make their business better. The driving factor behind résumés is WIIFM: what’s in it for me? – meaning what’s in it for the employer.

If your résumé starts with an objective, doesn’t have a summary / profile, and you’re not sure what accomplishments really are, you’re likely not hitting the right note with HR managers and recruiters. Remember that you need to market yourself as the expert, the one candidate they cannot afford to pass up. If you do that, you’ll likely see a turnaround in your responses to your job-search efforts.

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Tags: accomplishments, job search, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on August 4, 2009

On the majority of résumés I see, people are missing a key component – the summary. As a marketing document, your résumé needs to sell you in a matter of seconds, and your summary will speak volumes about you. So make sure you grab readers’ attention immediately with an amazing summary that really showcases the value you offer and makes employers want to pick up the phone.

Although it is the first part of the résumé the reader sees, I write the summary last. I like to get a full sense of accomplishments and themes before I head up to write the summary. It’s kind of like trying to write the back cover of a book before the book itself is complete. I look at themes to get keywords out of experiences and accomplishments. Things like Product Management, Cost Controls, Operational Streamlining, and Systems Architecture are areas that may stand out when I reread the rest of the résumé. Someone told me today he heard of a colleague saying he optimizes your résumé as the SEO Résumé Writer. Well, all good writers should be doing that, so don’t be fooled. You do it too by adding those keywords.

Then, as I’m looking at accomplishments and the keywords I’ve culled, I start to see the picture of the individual. It also helps to have clients answer the question, “Why should an employer hire you?” That’s the crux of the summary, really. If you can’t share that in 30 seconds or less, you’re headed to the “no” pile. So think about it. What do you bring? Why are you the best candidate?

Too many clients will tell me they’re nice people or reliable, the soft skills you might have said in an interview 10 years ago. While it’s great to be the person in the office everyone likes, it’s more substantial to share some back-able, quantifiable results you can bring. Think about what you do. Are you the best marketing person, who has successfully expanded brand recognition through your initiatives? Do you create solutions for clients following development of a relationship?

Another trick is to look at the job description. They give you the answers right there, so use them! If the job write-up says they want someone with a demonstrated track record in supply chain management and channel development, make sure you write a sentence about that in your summary and add those words into your keywords section. No need to reinvent the wheel. Most companies are sifting through résumés with a scanning system, so the more words you use in your résumé from the ad, the better your chances of being found.

While there is an art to creating an eye-catching summary, these hints should get you started on the right track. Try to stay objective about yourself and look at your accomplishments from a new viewpoint so you can brag a little!

Category: resumes, writing | 1 Comment »
Tags: accomplishments on resume, resume, resume summary, seo resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on July 27, 2009

Chad Graham, a reporter with The Arizona Republic, did a feature story in yesterday’s CareerBuilder section about hiring a résumé coach. Luckily, it’s online in his blog: http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/AzJobTawk/58749

Members of the Résumé Writers Council of Arizona are featured, The Grammar Doctor among them! Good article. Thanks Chad!

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Tags: resume, resume coach

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 30, 2009

If you haven’t written a résumé in a while, you probably don’t have any accomplishments on your document. That used to be the case, that a résumé was basically a fancy job application. However, in this competitive market, it’s more important than ever to demonstrate WIIFM: What’s in it for Me? – meaning for the employer. Your summary and accomplishments will showcase these points.

Great accomplishments are CAR statements: Challenge, Action, Result. Consider how you made things better at previous positions. Look at increasing revenue, saving money, improving customer service, or increasing efficiencies. Did you create / execute systems and processes? Of course, quantitative statements are best, but many professions can’t track numbers, so that’s okay too.

Sales people have no issue coming up with numbers, but remember that just saying “Increased sales 25% in six months” isn’t saying a whole lot. I could tell you all day I’m 6′ with long blonde hair, but if I don’t have a picture to back it up, I’m just making pie-in-the-sky statements (I’m really 5′4″ with short brown hair). When you write accomplishments, share the way you ended up with that result. That way, the reader is more likely to see you in the new company: “Wow, Joe increased sales 25% by implementing an employee appreciation program. I’ve been considering doing that. I need to call him in and ask him about that.”

My basic rule of thumb is one accomplishment per year worked, but don’t have 10 accomplishments if you were at a position 10 years – that’s overkill. Highlight your “key” accomplishments. Remember that a résumé is a marketing piece designed to showcase your best attributes so an employer will be left wanting more – and need to call you for an interview.

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Tags: accomplishments on resume, resume, resume keywords

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 18, 2009

Some people use the terms résumé and CV interchangeably, but the truth is they’re not quite the same. CVs are used almost exclusively outside of the U.S. where employers are expected to share more about themselves and their personalities, so that’s very different. In the States, however, the differences are pretty clear.

CV: Curriculum Vitae
If you just look at what CV means, you get a better view into what’s included. CVs are typically reserved for folks in academia or the medical field because they include speaking engagements and publications, as well as additional information such as professional memberships and community involvement. For a university president, a CV can be 10 pages or more because it’s highlighting a depth of experience that may span a few decades. CVs tell a story.

Résumé
A résumé is a more standard introduction when looking for a job.They are between one and three pages and span only 10-15 years in depth. Résumés are succinct, acting as a marketing piece to highlight only the great things you’ve done that relate to that position. Additional information may be included as appropriate, but it’s also okay to allude to publications and speaking engagements, then include an addendum with the additional information.

So, unless you’re living outside the U.S., the terms CV and résumé shouldn’t be used interchangeably because they’re very different documents.

Questions about creating your résumé for the American market? http://www.grammardocs.com/resumes/

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Tags: academic cv, cv, medical cv, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on May 27, 2009

Truly, there is an art to writing a résumé. Too many people think of it as a glorified employment application that is all about the applicant’s past. In actuality, a résumé is a marketing document showcasing the accomplishments, skills, and education you have to offer to provide value to a potential employer. A well-written résumé will include:

Title
Tell the employer who you are for them. Unlike the old objective, a title is clear, concise, and is not about you.

Summary
Like the trailer to your movie, this is your “commercial” to highlight all the reasons the employer needs to (A) read more about you, and (B) call you in for an interview. It is the answer to the question, “Why should I hire you?” Focus on demonstrable traits as opposed to soft skills. Everyone will say they’re nice and easy to work with, but only a few will talk about their consistent ability to deliver results.

Core Competencies
Keywords are a huge component of a résumé, primarily because that is how employers will search for you among their database of scanned résumés. Make sure you’re including the words mentioned in the job description / want ad, which should definitely be reflected elsewhere on the resume.

Professional Experience
Employers want to know where you’ve worked, a little about the company, the dates, the location, your job title, an overall job scope, and accomplishments. When looking at your accomplishments, consider times you’ve had to overcome obstacles to reap a reward. Think about increasing revenue, decreasing spend, improving customer service, or bettering employee morale. If your paid experience is minimal, incorporate volunteer opportunities.

Education
If you’re a new graduate with limited work experience, this should follow the “core competencies” section. If you’re re-careering or a professional, this can go to the bottom, although it will depend on the individual person. Include the degree, major area, school, and location of school. If you’re basing most of your “saleability” on your education, it’s a good idea to list relevant classes or school groups in which you’ve been involved. If you have a college degree (or are working on one), there’s no need to include your high school. If you’ve not yet graduated, list the expected date of graduation.

Additional Information
Some new grads will include professional memberships, community involvement, or other sections that support the career goal.

Remember that everything on your resume should support what you want to be when you grow up. If it doesn’t, it’s not a good use of important real estate!

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Tags: accomplishments on resume, key components in resumes, resume, resume summary

Posted By Amanda Collins on April 16, 2009

If you’ve seen “Legally Blonde,” you remember when the main character was applying for positions using pink, rose-scented paper for her resumes. Certainly, that made her stand out – but was it in a good way? How do you stand out among hundreds of resumes in a fiercely competitive market? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, as much as I love pink and roses, scented and colored paper won’t do it.

Most employers use a scanning system to track their resumes, so you need to make your resume come up in keyword searches. As noted in Candice Arnold’s latest blog on CollegeRecruiter.com, keywords play a huge part in making your resume stand out (in a good way). Of course, the most obvious place to add keywords is in the keyword section, often referred to as “Core Competencies” or “Areas of Expertise,” this is a small section at the end of the summary that clearly illustrates your transferable skills. When I’m writing a resume, I write the experience section first, then seek trends across positions, summarizing them in the keywords area. Another great way to populate this section is to look at job postings. Employers usually are rather blatant about what they want from applicants, so use that to your advantage! As I tell clients, the resume information below “Professional Experience” will remain static, but the “Summary” area is dynamic. Reread it for each new position, making sure you have the right words and answer the questions posed in the job posting.

Get more keywords in your experience section by thinking about buzzwords in the industry. Some of these may include: training, business development, penetrating accounts, client / vendor / employee relations, mentoring, global, international, or companywide. Your keywords will be different from someone else in a different industry, so be aware of your industry. If you’re working with a resume writer unfamiliar with your industry, tell her what the keywords are (a good writer who knows her limitations will ask).

By adding in some great keywords on your resume – and cover letter – you’ll boost your chances of coming up on searches, which will increase your interview opportunities!

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Tags: resume, resume keywords