How Your Resume Can Date You

The best thing to be in this job climate is cutting edge. At the very least, we should all make sure our resumes are up to date not only with our experience but with resume trends. Yahoo! Finance posted this great article about making sure your resume style and content doesn't date you right out of the competition.

7 Ways Your Resume Dates You
Porcshe Moran
Monday, September 27, 2010

The turbulent economy has forced many people to go back into the job market for the first time in years. If there is a thick layer of dust on your resume it might be beneficial to learn the new rules of resume writing and presentation before you start submitting applications. Even the most qualified applicant might not get called in for an interview if his resume creates the impression that he is out of touch with the current business environment. Do not assume that an impressive cover letter can serve as a substitute for a poorly written resume.

1. References Upon Request

There is no need to waste valuable resume space on this outdated section. Employers assume that you will provide references if asked. Instead, keep a separate page with the names and contact information of your references ready to supply to the employer once you have advanced in the interview process.

2. One Resume Fits All

While it is smart to keep a master resume on file, you need to customize it to fit each job for which you apply. Job-seekers who take the time to tailor their resume to the employer's needs will stand out from the pack. Eliminate the details that don't apply to the position and emphasize the ones that make you look the most qualified. It might take a little extra time to apply using this technique, but it will be worth it when your interview offers increase.


3. Objective Statement

The professional summary or profile has replaced the objective statement. Employers are focused on what candidates can do for them, not what the business can do for the candidate. You will sell yourself better with a concise bulleted list of the qualifications and accomplishments that make you a match for the position.

4. Single-Page Resume

One of the most touted resume rules is that the document must be one page. Many people will go to extremes to follow this command, resulting in tiny, unreadable font sizes just to avoid having a resume that extends onto the second page.

Unless you are a newcomer to the job market, it is entirely possible that you'll need more than a page to adequately showcase your skills and qualifications. If you have enough job experience that fits the position, it is acceptable to extend your resume length to two pages. Keep your resume succinct and relevant, but don't go under a 10-pt. font size.

5. Lack of Social Networking

Websites such as Facebook and Twitter might be considered distractions in the workplace, but they can be an asset on a resume. Employers want to know that applicants are up-to-date with current technology and communication trends. Links to a professional online portfolio, blog or LinkedIn page should be included in your resume header. There is a good chance that employers will do an internet search to find out more about potential employees, so make sure that all of your social networking profiles project a professional image.

6. Too Much Information

It is not necessary to give your life story on a resume. In fact, providing an employer with too much information can be detrimental to your chances of employment. Delete information about where and when you graduated high school. Ditch irrelevant jobs from 15 years ago. Although it was standard practice in some industries years ago, it is now inappropriate to include personal details in a resume such as information about your hobbies, religion, age and family status. Not only does it look unprofessional, but that information could be used to discriminate against you.

An employer will ask if they want to know why you left previous positions, so don't mention it on your resume. The rule of thumb is to pare down your resume to only include things that show why you are the perfect fit for the specific position for which you are applying.

7. Outdated Terminology and Skills

Skills in obsolete computer software and systems should be removed from your resume. Technical experience is critical in nearly every industry and employers often use technology keywords to find resumes in electronic databases. Listing basic computer skills such as word processing and using an internet browser is not recommended because employers will assume that you have those proficiencies. The job description is the best guide to determine the terminology and technology skills that should show up on your resume.

The Bottom Line
In a fast-paced and competitive job market the parameters for writing a resume continue to change. Resumes that do not reflect knowledge of the current needs in the workplace and the new rules of how to present yourself to an employer will likely end up in the trash.

Resume Keywords

Anytime a job seeker pursues advice on resume writing they are asked to make sure the resume has the appropriate "keywords". What does that mean exactly? Careerbuilder offers this article on the topic.

Solving the Keyword Conundrum
Résumés for Career Changers
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Ready to launch a new career, but no one seems interested in interviewing you? Your résumé -- and its lack of keywords -- may be to blame.

Keywords are terms or phrases that are specific to a particular industry or profession, and they're an essential element in the résumé-scanning process. Today, employers and recruiters are increasingly searching résumés electronically for keywords to help them weed out candidates whose résumés do not reflect the skills, qualifications or credentials they're seeking.

This stage of the job search can be problematic if you're trying to break into a new industry or profession.

"For career changers, keywords are particularly relevant and require a great deal of thought because you don't necessarily want to include keywords that are descriptive of your past experiences. Instead, you want to include keywords that reflect your current career goals so that those words are the ones that will get your résumé noticed and not passed over," explain Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark in their book "Expert Résumés for Career Changers."

According to Enelow and Kursmark, the following keyword strategies are especially helpful for career changers:

In sections throughout your résumé, integrate keywords from your experiences that directly relate to your current career goals. Even though certain tasks or accomplishments may have been a minor part of your experience, they should be highlighted on your résumé if they relate to your current career goals.

Include an "objective" section on your résumé that states the type of position you are seeking and the associated responsibilities. For example, "Seeking a position in purchasing management where I can utilize my strong skills in research, analysis, negotiations and product management." This is the recommended strategy if you do not have the appropriate experience (keywords) in your background to include in the career summary and experience sections of your résumé.

Not sure which keywords you should be using? Enelow and Kursmark offer some guidance:

"Just by describing your work experience, achievements, educational credentials, qualifications, objective and the like, you might naturally include most of the terms that are important in your new career field. To cross-check what you've written, review online or newspaper job postings for positions that interest you. Look at the precise terms used in the ads and be sure you have included them in your résumé."

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

10 Things to Leave Off Your Resume

MSN Careers strikes again with this great article.

10 Things to Leave Off Your Résumé
By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Everybody knows that in most situations, less is more -- your accessories, eating habits and especially your résumé.

Job seekers do themselves a disservice when they send out résumés with too much information. Employers don't have the time or the patience to sift through irrelevant information like your hobbies, interests or how many grandchildren you have. Just stick to the basics and you're good to go.

Here are 10 things to leave off your résumé and why:

1. Your picture
Why to leave it off: Unless a job posting specifically asks for your picture (very few jobs will), don't include it just for fun. Not only are your looks irrelevant to your potential as an employee, but you're putting employers in a bad spot. If they have a picture of you and choose not to hire you, it's possible that you could come back with a discrimination lawsuit. In most cases, they'll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether.

2. Interest and hobbies
Why to leave them off: Unless your interests and hobbies have something to do with the job you're applying for, there's no reason to include them. If you want to show how your passion for art would be asset to a graphic design position, that's one thing. But telling employer that you love to skydive on an actuary application is another. In general, make any applicable connections between your hobbies and the job in your cover letter. Better yet, save them for the interview when you're asked what you like to do outside of work.

3. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
Why to leave them off: Most employers assume that if you're OK with sending out a résumé littered with typos and mistakes, you'll have the same lack of concern for the work you do as an employee at their company. While spell check picks up most errors, it can miss something major (did you work the late night shift? Or did you forget to include the "f" between "i" and "t"?), so have several eyes look over your résumé before sending it out to employers.

4. Personal attributes
Why to leave them off: Similar to sending in a picture with your résumé, your height, weight, age, race or religion are all unimportant to an employer. Though it's illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants because of any of these factors, some will do so, regardless. Keep everything on your résumé pertinent to the job, and you'll be fine.

5. References
Why to leave them off: Many job seekers still include references on their résumé or they include a line that says, "References available upon request." This tactic is not as effective as it used to be. Jack Harsh, adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Robins School of Business, says that when he receives a résumé with references attached, he gives them virtually no weight. "They seldom are specific to the role my company seeks and are not meaningful in considering qualifications or traits of successful candidates," he says. Wait to broach the topic of references until you're asked for them.

6. Minute details
Why to leave them off: Hiring managers don't need to know the details of every task you've ever done in every job you've ever had. It's just too much information, and most of the time, half of that information isn't relevant. Employers want to be able to see at first glance that you're a great candidate, so pick out those details that are most relevant to the job for which you're applying and omit the rest.

7. False information
Why to leave it off: Plain and simple, no one wants to hire a liar. Don't say that you have a master's degree if you've only earned your bachelor's; don't say you're presently employed at a company if you've recently been fired; don't list your salary history as 20 percent higher than it was. Everything you tell an employer can be verified, so play it safe and be honest.

8. Flair
Why to leave it off: No one wants to look at a résumé on fluorescent paper, covered in crazy fonts and symbols. Similarly, links to personal Web sites, your photo-sharing site, or strange e-mail addresses can also be left off. Employers are less likely to respond to likes2party@email.com than just DMiller@email.com.

9. Negativity
Why to leave it off: Never put anything negative on your résumé. Don't include your reasons for leaving. If you left the position due to a layoff or you were fired, for example, bring it up only if asked. Never write anything bad about a previous employer. Don't explain gaps on your résumé by stating that you were in prison for 10 years for killing your husband. Keep your résumé all positive, all the time.

10. A selfish objective
Why to leave it off: Employers are trying to determine whether you're a good fit for their organizations, so everything on your résumé should point to your experience. Employers would rather see a summary of qualifications that displays your accomplishments and background than a generic objective statement like "To gain experience in..."

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ.

Spell Check Your Resume for Typos

I saw this post on a mailing list that I subscribe to.

DON’T FORGET THE SPELL-CHECK
Survey Finds a Single Resume Typo Can Ruin Job Prospects


The adage "It’s not what you say, but how you say it" holds particular weight when it comes to resumes, a recent survey shows. Eighty-four percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors in a resume to remove a candidate from consideration for a job opening; 47 percent said a single typo can be the deciding factor.

The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.

Executives were asked, “How many typos in a resume does it take for you to decide not to consider a job candidate for a position with your company?” Their responses:

One typo 47%
Two typos 37%
Three typos 7%
Four or more typos 6%
Don’t know/no answer 3%

"Resumes often are a job seeker’s first contact with prospective employers," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Candidates who submit application materials with typographical or grammatical errors may be seen as lacking professionalism and attention to detail, and thus spoil their chances for an interview or further consideration."

Domeyer noted that in addition to running a computer spell-check, it is crucial for job seekers to proofread their resumes and ask friends and family members to do the same. "A fresh pair of eyes can help candidates spot mistakes overlooked by the spell-checking function," said Domeyer. "I've often seen simple errors -- such as a job seeker applying for the position of 'office manger' -- derail even the most talented applicants."

Form over Function

SI Review, a leading publication in the staffing industry, included this information in its "Last Words" column on page 37 of their January 2010 issue.

Form Over Function

When it comes to crafting a perfect resume, a "top down" approach is still employer's favorite, an Accountemps survey reveals. Seventy-five percent of hiring managers polled said they prefer a chronological resume with the most recent work history first, over those organized by job function and skills.

"Chronological resumes allow job seekers to present their career progression to prospective employers in a straightforward, easy-to-follow way," comments Accountemps chairman Max Messmer. "Functional resumes, which emphasize skills sets rather than jobs held, are popular among professionals in career transition or who have had lengthy gaps in employment, but they are not a favorite or employers. It is often better to address a career change directly than to try to write around it."

No author/contributor information provided.

Job Seeking Goals for 2010

Yahoo! Hotjobs Recruiting Roundtable feature has posted this great collection of advice for job seekers moving into the new year.

Resolutions for Getting a Job in 2010
Hiring Pros on What Job Seekers Must Do in This Tough Market

The Recruiter Roundtable is a monthly feature that collects career and job-seeking advice from a group of recruiting experts throughout the United States. The question we put before our panel this month is:

With unemployment rates at record levels in many parts of the country, what would you say are the one or two things job seekers MUST do in order to succeed in landing a job in 2010?

Exhaust All Options

Exhaust every resource at your disposal. Let members of your network know the type of job you seek and work with a recruiter that specializes in your field. Refine your resume and look for opportunities, such as courses or seminars, to enhance your skills and industry expertise.

Also, in your resume and interviews with hiring managers, stay focused on how you can help the prospective employer. The onus is on you to show why you are the right person for the job and will be a valuable contributor to the success of the organization, making it imperative to customize your resume for each position and research companies thoroughly before submitting your application materials and meeting with them.
-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International

Do Thorough Research

If you're interviewing with a company, diligently research all aspects of their products, company strategy, executive team, and latest organizational changes. When you are in a situation with a recruiter or company representative, be yourself and don't be nervous. But be able to talk about the topics that interest you with passion.
-- Ross Pasquale, recruiting/sourcing consultant, Monday Ventures

Tailor the Resume and Network

In order to land a job in 2010, you will need to network and tailor your resume specifically for each position.

Think of everyone who might be able to help you -- family, friends, social acquaintances, former business associates, leave no stone unturned. Don't be shy! You can get the word out without being obnoxious or sounding desperate. Join a professional organization and attend the meetings. You'll get useful information and leads by networking with those who are active in your field of expertise.

Create a general resume that can be customized. Be aware of keywords. Use bullet points for a cleaner look and just state the facts. Recruiters will not spend time on a resume that contains errors and doesn't have a professional appearance.
-- Debbie Dean, recruiter, Wells Fargo

Go for a Realistic Match

Job seekers must remain focused on opportunities that are a solid match to their background, skills, and abilities. While it might be tempting to apply for every open position out there, a targeted search will be a much more efficient use of job-search resources and will give the best chance of success. A hiring manager's number one question is, "Why did this person apply to my job posting?" To be a successful finalist, you need to have a better response than, "It was open."
-- Noah Apodaca, lead recruiter for staff at the University of California, Irvine

Not all Resume Advice is Good Advice

Advice on how to write a resume is as varied as you might imagine. Shine by Yahoo today posted an article by Shine Blogger, StyleCaster. Below is the posting along with comments by myself. The key is to take all the advice and process it to best suit your own job search and lifestyle.

Is Your Resume Costing You a Dream Job?
by StyleCaster, on Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:36am PST

Contrary to Legally Blonde, dyeing your resume pink and bathing it in Chanel No. 5 will not get you into Harvard, nor will it get you a job. In case you take career advice from Elle Woods, below you will find the worst resume mistakes in the history of resumes mistakes, followed by why these little errors are the reason why you're not even granted a pity interview. Spell check doesn't catch everything, and no one cares how active you were in Girl Scouts, unless you traveled to India to empower girls to sell Thin Mints. Which, in that case, we'll take two boxes.

The header

The idea of a resume is to fit the most pertinent information into a small space. (On that note, a resume should NEVER, under any circumstances, be more than one page long.) Your name and contact information should not be size 40 font, and you should include multiple ways of contacting you; phone, address, and email are sufficient.

[Here is where I disagree with StyleCaster. Recruiters today don't expect professional candidates to squish all of their important information on to one page. It is not only acceptable but also common to have your resume on two pages. However, don't let the information get out of control. Keep it succinct and professional and don't let it progress past two well-tailored pages. The ten page resume gets deleted just as quickly as the one page with no margins and too much information squeezed on.]

The objective

This should be no more than 5 or 6 words, and should state exactly what you are looking for. Keep in mind your wording could give them an impression of how experienced, or inexperienced you are. If it says "Seeking an entry-level position," guess what? That's the salary you'll be offered.

[Many recruiters also suggest that you leave an objective off all together. If you still feel the need to include it, tailor it to each individual company that you apply to. Recruiters will not consider a resume where the objective is "To seek a position in Accounting" that has been submitted to a clearly labeled Receptionist job posting. Instead, you may want to consider a summary or just begin your resume with relevant experience.]

Your experiences

Think of a resume like an upside-down pyramid. The most important information should be on the top, and the farther down the page you go, the less important the information is. Your potential employers knows how to skim resumes, and if they don't see something impressive in the beginning, they will move on. Make sure your experiences are first, recognizable names and companies are more impressive than what school you went to.

[Another rule of thumb for resumes is to keep it to the last ten years of professional experience. Recruiters and hiring managers don't need to see that you worked at McDonald's in college if you have also had 15 years of otherwise professional experience.]

Things not to include

Reasons why you were fired or left from a job, winning a spelling bee in high school, and your high school GPA and SAT scores. Also, do not include typos. Have ten people read your resume over after you, so that they might catch any grammatical errors that you may not have caught. Also, do not include your Myspace or Facebook page link. Chances are, if you're being considered for the job...they'll see it soon enough, anyway. Also, do not link to your personal blog unless it is somewhat successful or extremely relevant to the job you're applying for. Lastly, do not rhyme. (Saying you have a passion for fashion is more than not okay.)

[Not completely inappropriate advice. However, I would encourage you to use your LinkedIn page link on your resume. It is becoming a common standard for today's professional networking. But I do agree with the advice about your blog. If you have a successful blog that matches your career path, by all means include it. This also applies to hobbies; if your hobby directly relates to the position to which you are applying, feel free to include it. If not, leave it off along with other personal information including your birth date, photographs, or marital status.]

The worst thing you could do

And finally. Never appear at an interview without a copy of your resume. Can't find a printer in time? Reschedule the interview. Unless you won the Nobel Peace Prize, showing up sans resume is what Liz Lemon calls a dealbreaker, ladies.

[This is true - recruiters and hiring managers typically have a copy of your resume, but it shows another level of attention to detail if you bring one yourself. However, I believe it is negligent advice to reschedule an interview just because you have been unable to locate a printer. Be a 100% professional candidate and don't let either event happen.]

Functional vs. Chronological Resumes

As the job market becomes more and more competitive during the current economic climate, our candidates frequently ask us about resumes styles. Resumes are like your employment fingerprint, each one is different. Individuals reviewing resumes are often looking for very different things as well and what one manager loves about a resume another manager may strongly dislike.

Common advice is to customize your resume for each position you are applying for. There is no bigger turn-off for a client than advertising for a "Receptionist" position and getting a resume that indicates in the objective that this person wants to be an "Accounting Manager". It shows that the candidate is not very detail oriented, a common corporate requirement these days.

Candidates applying with DISCOVER STAFFING often ask us for our professional opinion regarding resume styles. Should they create a traditional "Chronological Resume" or try experimenting with a "Functional Resume"?

WikiAnswers provides some quick definitions here:
In a chronological resume you have to list your job experience in date order, starting with the most recent first.

The sections of a chronological resume are: Personal Details, Personal Profile or Job Objective, and Career and Related Accomplishments including Work Experience, Education, Professional Affiliations and Interests. You'll need to highlight your job experience. [Please also keep in mind that if you include interests in your resume, make them related to your professional experience. If you enjoy blogging indicate how you have created a blog for a volunteer organization you belong to. If you enjoy knitting, leave it off the resume.]

Here is a link for formatting a chronological resume.

Functional resumes are best used in situations where specific skills and accomplishments gained through experience or academic qualifications will demonstrate the candidate's competency. Your skills should be listed in order of their importance.

The functional resume is ideal if you're looking for a complete career change. This resume is ideal for students who have no previous work experience and are applying for their first job. Avoid the functional resume when you are applying for traditional jobs, especially positions within government entities or private institutions.

A functional resume's categories are based on: Personal Details, Career Objective, Professional Experience, Work Experience(optional), Professional Affiliations, Education, and Awards.

Here is a link to an example of a functional resume.


And finally here is a great resource for resume examples based on specific situations.

"Minding the Gap" When Returning to the Workforce

The recruiters here at DISCOVER STAFFING are always talking to individuals who have been out of the corporate world for one reason or another and are now looking to return. Here is an article from JobBound that gives some practical advice for how to tackle a resume with gaps of employment.

Mind the Gap: Tips for Re-entering the Workforce
by Brad Karsh, President, JobBound

It’s perceived to be one of the most difficult transitions in life: rejoining the workforce after an extended layoff. Maybe you were raising your children, maybe you were caring for a relative, or maybe you were downsized and had trouble finding a job. In any case, it’s a daunting proposition to pull out the business suit, polish up the resume and start looking for a job.

To be sure, it’s not an easy task, but if you prepare appropriately, and attack the search smartly, it’s not as intimidating as you may think.

With the right Mindset, the proper downtime Approach, and some specific Strategies, you can get back out there and land work.

The Mindset
You have a gap in your resume.

So what!

There is this obsession that having a gap in your resume is a horrible sin. It’s not. The fact is, it’s incredibly common these days. Layoffs unfortunately are an everyday occurrence. Work/life balance awareness has increased to the point where more people are taking time off for personal reasons.

Twenty years ago, the typical job situation had the male breadwinner getting a job out of college and spending the rest of his career working for one company until his gold-watch retirement party at age 55.

Those days are long gone.

There’s no need for you to be shy about the fact that there’s a gap in your resume. You are part of a large and growing population of job seekers that have taken time off for a variety of reasons. There’s no need to fret.

The Approach
The biggest issue that employers have with employees returning to the workforce is their perceived lack of being "out of the game." Technology, industry trends, and job skills can all change rapidly over the course of a couple of years.

As such, you want to make sure that you can show your aptitude in some of these areas. Take computer classes, get involved with trade organizations, and stay abreast of industry happenings by reading trade publications during your time off. It does take some time, but not nearly as much as working full time.

Then when it comes time to interview you’ll be able to say something like, "I knew it would be important for me to stay current on my computer skills, so I took classes in the most recent version of Microsoft Office while I was taking care of a relative."

The Strategy
Packaging your "gap" in a resume or on an interview takes careful consideration. Don’t try tricks like changing dates or writing about how you honed your managerial skills negotiating with three children under the age of ten. Recruiting Directors simply want to know that you’re in the game and ready to contribute.

Of course it would always be ideal to be able to tell your story in person, but often you don’t have the luxury of meeting someone face to face. As such, the cover letter becomes a great tool to let a potential employer know about your resume gap and why it’s not a big deal.

Mention why you’re reentering the workforce now
"I had always wanted to return to the workplace, and now that my children are in school full-time, it’s the perfect opportunity."

Talk about how you stayed in the game
"I wanted to stay involved in nonprofit as much as I could after our company closed our office, so I’ve volunteered at the American Cancer Society and took an online class in development."

Ultimately it’s not going to be easy to get back out there. But with the right game plan, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think.

How To Get Your Resume Noticed

Yahoo! Hotjobs has posted this great article including tips to getting your resume noticed.


Be Gutsy at Work
12 Tips to Get Your Resume Noticed
by: Tory Johnson

Gone are the days of simply mailing your resume, receiving a call, shaking hands at the interview, and agreeing on a start date for that new job. The Internet has taken over the recruiting landscape, and everyone is required to submit a resume online. While that brings greater efficiency to the process for employers, it can be awfully maddening for job seekers. But it doesn't have to be that way if you know how to navigate the system.

Consider these 12 tips before pressing "submit" to send your resume:

1. Search job boards and the websites of employers that appeal to you. Print out the job postings that you're interested in pursuing before you apply.

2. Use a highlighter to mark the keywords and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities.

3. Compare those words and phrases to the language that appears in your current resume.

4. Figure out how and where to add the most relevant keywords to your resume, assuming you have the specific knowledge, skills, and experience. Applicant tracking systems will search for keyword matches -- the more matches, the better, which often determines if a recruiter opts to view your resume.

5. Once you're confident that your resume reflects a strong match, go ahead and submit that targeted resume online.

6. If the system requests a cover letter, write a short one that expresses why you're a strong match and why you'd like to join the organization. This is a chance to tout your research on the role.

7. Never submit a generic, one-size-fits-all resume or cover letter. If you really want the position, you'll customize all documents for each job.

8. Once you apply, get to work to find an internal referral to make a personal introduction. Here's how:

Make a list of 50 people you know and ask each one if they know someone who works (or has worked) at that employer.

Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.

Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn.com or Facebook.com, which boast a combined 60 million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection.

Create a free Twitter.com account and "follow" friends and post requests for help. (You can follow me at Twitter.com/ToryJohnson where I post job leads and where fellow followers can help with contacts.)

Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.
Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.

Talk to your unlikely network. For example, look at the class list of the parents of your kids' friends. Anytime my kids hear about a friend's mom or dad who's lost a job, they tell them to call me. Even though we don't know each other, we have a common connection that can sometimes lead to a contact.

9. Follow up with a call or email to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, "Did you get my resume?" Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You'll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the email.

10. Don't know the name of the right person? Cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn't work, do a Web search on the term "recruiter" or "HR director" along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you're trying to find. LinkedIn is another resource to find the correct name.

11. Stay top of mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you're welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who'll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you're politely persistent without crossing over to a pest.

12. Ask directly for advice on how and when to follow up. A simple question, "What's the best way to keep in touch?" will give you the details you need to stay ahead of the pack.


Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire and the Workplace Contributor on ABC's "Good Morning America." Connect with her at womenforhire.com.
The opinions expressed in this column are solely the author's.

Writing Cover Letters

MSN Career and Careerbuilder have presented this article on writing a perfect cover letter.

Write a Winning Cover Letter in 15 Minutes
By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Most job seekers know that to land an interview they need more than a strong résumé. They need a well-written cover letter to go with it. That doesn’t stop them from trying to brainstorm any excuse they can to avoid having to write one.

Yet, skipping this critical step in the job search is one of the worst faux pas a job seeker can make.

"Job seekers should never send a résumé to someone without explaining why," says Michael Farr, author of "The Quick Résumé & Cover Letter Book".

"Whether you’re mailing, faxing or e-mailing your résumé, it’s important to provide a cover letter with it. Even when you post your résumé to a job bank or employer Web site, the site often has a place where you can upload or paste a cover letter. The fact is most employers expect candidates to send both."

Writing a cover letter shouldn’t be difficult or time consuming, even though many job seekers mistakenly believe it is. If a person has 15 minutes to spare, he has enough time to write a cover letter, according to Farr.

Fifteen minutes?!

"You can write a cover letter that is personal and effective in about 15 minutes. It may take you longer at first, but after a few times, you should understand the process well enough that you’ll be able to quickly create the letter, review it and send it to employers," says Farr.

His process for crafting a quick and effective cover letter includes the following steps:

Write to a particular person
Whenever possible, avoid writing “To whom it may concern” or other impersonal openings. Instead, make an effort to find out who the hiring manager is. Call the company or research on the Web. In the case of a “blind ad,” a generic salutation will have to do.

Provide a friendly opening
In addition to stating why they have sent their résumé and cover letter, job seekers should remind the reader of any prior contact they may have had. For example, "I am following up on the brief phone chat we had earlier today," or "I enjoyed our conversation at the recent CPA Society meeting and, as you suggested, I am forwarding my résumé with this letter of interest in joining your organization."

Personalize your content
Job seekers should steer clear of merge mailings that allow them to send the exact same letter to multiple employers. Hiring managers can see right through these and are seldom impressed. It’s important that whoever receives the letter believes it was written specifically to him.

Target your skills and experience
Include any relevant background or achievements that may be of particular interest to the employer. To know which details to include, job seekers must have a little knowledge about the organization. This can be gathered from Internet research or talking with people who are familiar with the organization or its staff members.

Close with an action statement and contact information
Never leave it up to the employer to make the next step. Job seekers should express an interest for further contact and say which steps they will take next. For example, "I will contact you next week to request an interview for current or future positions. Feel free to contact me sooner at (555) 348-7987."

Once the letter has been written, proofread it several times and gather feedback on it from other people. Next, choose which method—mail, fax or e-mail—is most likely to quickly get the cover letter and résumé to employers.

Most importantly, don’t forget to follow up once the résumé and cover letter have been sent!

Job Search Tips

This article by Alison Doyle at About.com offers several practical tips for your job search.

Job Search Tips
Ten Time Saving Tips to Speed Up Your Job Search
By Alison Doyle, About.com


Is your job search off to a slow start or getting stuck? Here are some quick time-saving job search tips that will help your hunt for a new job go smoothly.

Be Prepared. Have a telephone answering machine or voice mail system in place and sign-up for a professional sounding email address. Put your cell phone number on your resume so you can follow up in a timely manner. This job search toolkit will help you get everything you need set for your job search.

Be More Than Prepared. Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send - even if you are not currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that is too good to pass up might come along.

Don't Wait. If you are laid-off, file for unemployment benefits right away. You may be able to file online or by phone. Waiting could delay your benefits check.

Get Help. Utilize free or inexpensive services that provide career counseling and job search assistance such as college career offices, state Department of Labor offices or your local public library.

Create Your Own Templates. Have copies of your resume and cover letter ready to edit. That way you can change the content to match the requirements of the job you're applying for, but, the contact information and your opening and closing paragraphs won't need to be changed.

Use Job Search Engines. Search the job search engines. Use the job search engine sites to search the major job banks, company sites, associations, and other sites with job postings for you.

Jobs by Email. Let the jobs come to you. Use job search agents to sign up and receive job listings by email. All the major job sites have search agents and some web sites specialize in sending announcements.

Time Savers. Strapped for time? Consider getting help writing or editing your resume. Resume posting services that post your resume to multiple job sites at once can save hours of data entry.

References Ready. Have a list of three references including name, job title, company, phone number and email address ready to give to interviewers.

Use Your Network. Be cognizant of the fact that many, if not most, job openings aren't advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Ask if they can help.

This tip isn't a time saver, but, it will broaden your online job search resources.

Don't Stop. Don't limit your job searching to the top sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs. Check the smaller niche sites that focus on a particular geographic location or career field and you will find plenty of job listings.

Also remember that DISCOVER STAFFING is another resource to help you in your job search. Send your resume to alpharetta@discoverstaffing.com or gwinnett@discoverstaffing.com for consideration.

Resume Writing

The art of the job search really comes down to a successfully designed resume. Yahoo! Hotjobs, where you can also find the most up to date DISCOVER STAFFING job postings, has a great resource for resume tips.

Some people suggest using a resume writing service to prepare your resume. Most recruiters will tell you that this is a waste of your money. Resume writing, though it may seem daunting, is a relatively simple endeavor. Once you follow some basic steps the rest is simply making sure that the resume format is easy to read. Don't make your resume too busy by including lots of different font styles, graphics or colors. By no means should you include a photograph of yourself on your resume. Let your experience speak for itself. It is also a good idea to tailor your resume for each position. This allows you to really showcase the skills that relate to the particular job.

One last suggestion regarding your contact information. This may seem like a small thing, but make sure you are using a professional sounding email address. Most of the time it should be some form of your own name such as your first initial and last name. Don't use that personal email address like "FootballNut44" or "Superscrapbooker". And please make sure that your email address isn't inappropriately suggestive in any way such as "hotmama08". Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo are free services where you can create new email addresses and manage your inbox. That way, you can still use your personal email address for friends and family.

You can find more information on resume mistake that annoy hiring managers in this article from Careerbuilder.

Best of luck with your resume and in your job search.