Robin's Resumes® : resume

Posts tagged ‘resume’

April 28th, 2012

Your Resume: Professional Awards and Affiliations

Your resume should include professional awards you’ve received and your professional affiliations (for example, membership in an industry organization).

There is no such thing as an insignificant award or affiliation. Whether you stood out from a group of 100 or 10, you still stood out. Whether you showed up at meetings once a year or served as President for three years, whether you were recognized for your individual contribution or for your role in a team effort, you still showed active interest and success in your industry.

Often professional awards can be listed under the company which gave you the award (“Best Sales Associate,” “President’s Club,” “Employee of the Month”). If your awards are industry-wide rather than company-specific, you may want to group them under a separate heading similar to that for your employment history.

Affiliations can be listed at the end of the resume or in another location, depending on the resume or CV format and the branding for the resume. I have listed affiliations at the top of a resume when they were important to a client’s brand.

You might title an awards/affiliations section as “Professional Development” or “Memberships” or “Awards and Affiliations,” depending on the content.

Awards and affiliations demonstrate a respected and well-rounded employee. At Robin’s Resumes®, I make sure that your resume contains the right information to make an employer notice you. Call today.

April 8th, 2012

How Do Employers Find Their Ideal Candidate?

Recently on LinkedIn, someone asked how business owners, recruiters, and HR executives find their best candidates. The answers to that question are valuable for anyone who is searching for a job. There are five key steps that employers take in evaluating a candidate:

  1. Check the resume for job history and skills. Recruiters eliminate people who are clearly job hoppers, with one position after another that lasted less than a year; they also eliminate applicants who lack the vital skills they need.
  2. Check the resume for intangibles. It may be important, for example, that the candidate likes to work alone or travel out of the country or make presentations.
  3. Look at social media. A Facebook or Twitter page may reveal that a candidate has a problem the company does not want to deal with, such as excess drinking or anger toward co-workers. Or a company where volunteerism is important, for example, may look for evidence of a candidate’s volunteer activity.
  4. Pay attention to the job candidate’s attitude during the interview. If a candidate arrives late, texts during the interview, treats the receptionist rudely or gives inappropriate or flustered responses to questions, that candidate is considered a bad choice.
  5. Be prepared to train the right person. For some companies, a demonstrated willingness to learn is more important than current skills.

Robin’s Resumes® can help you anticipate these steps when you are looking for a job. I write resumes that put your job history in the best light and make it clear that you have the right skills and attitude. The resume also indicates whether you are a good candidate for training, if the company offers it. Together, we can evaluate your online presence for consistency with your resume.

Let me help you become the ideal candidate for business owners, recruiters, and HR executives.

March 25th, 2012

Five Things to Fix before Your Resume Leaves Your Desk

Recruiters are not very forgiving. If your resume has one of these five errors, you are reducing your chances of being called in for an interview:

(a)    The name, contact information or job title at the company where you’re applying is wrong. Many companies have names that are easy to misspell. Check and triple check that all the contact information is correct.

(b)   You made a mistake in your own contact information. Be especially careful about transposing numbers in your address or phone number.

(c)    You provided your marital status, health or religious preference (unless you are applying for a job with a religious organization). It is illegal for companies to ask for this information and you put them in a difficult legal position if you provide it. And don’t include your social security number—that is an invitation to identity theft. The only exception is a federal resume if the directions specifically ask for the social security number.

(d)   Your email address is cute (skibum@yahoo.com) and the phone number you give is regularly answered by a three-year-old. Companies want to feel they are contacting a professional. You may have to invest in a temporary cell phone to keep your three-year-old from answering when potential employers call, but the temporary investment is worth it.

(e)   You never proofread your resume. You must proofread your resume every time you change it, word for word. Minor mistakes in grammar and spelling creep in and send a major negative message: you do not care about quality and pay no attention to detail.

Do you need help making sure your resume has the best chance of catching a recruiter’s eye? Contact Robin’s Resumes® today. I’m here to help.

March 18th, 2012

Your Resume Is a Sales Document

Businesses have brochures. People have resumes. Both brochures and resumes are a summary of experience, skills, credentials and achievements that differentiate the business or job applicant. Let’s break that last sentence down:

  • Summary. Brochures and resumes are not life stories. The customers who look at brochures and the recruiters who look at resumes are focused on what they need at that moment. In the case of resumes, the focus is on finding the right employee to fill a specific position.
  • Experience, Skills and Credentials. Like customers, recruiters want to know they are getting the best value for their dollar. If you lack the experience, skills and credentials—the requirements for handling the job—you are unlikely to be called in for an interview.
  • Achievements That Differentiate. Every dry cleaning establishment is the same, right? But suppose a dry cleaner’s brochure spotlights their experience preserving wedding gowns. Now that dry cleaner has a niche. Your resume should spotlight your niche, whether that is working in teams, bringing in more sales than your fellow salespeople, a willingness to travel, experience working with regulatory agencies in your industry—your achievements in your career set you apart from everyone else. 

The best brochures let customers know that this company has what the customer needs. The best resumes let recruiters know that you can deliver what they need. With 15 years of experience as a resume writer for employees, managers and executives in private industry and in government, I can make your that your resume is a document that truly sells.

May 1st, 2011

Recent College Graduates: You Can Have a Strong Resume

If you have just graduated and have held very few jobs, you need professional help to make your resume stand out.

Do not mimic the recent college graduate with no experience who constructed a three-page resume by using 2-inch margins and a very large font, then centering all the text. That’s not a good idea.

I create resumes that make the most of a recent graduate’s education, skills and achievements.

Are you worried that your lack of experience will operate against you in a tight job market? You may have more experience than you realize if you have taken any sort of leadership role with a college group or local nonprofit. Your teamwork shows up when you volunteer, participate in a sport or club or help to organize an event. Your job skills are on display in every summer or part-time job, even those outside of your chosen field. And your college courses show your knowledge and willingness to learn.

Do not let yourself fall into the trap of thinking a college degree is not enough. At Robin’s Resumes®, we will help you find a position in industry or government that makes the most of what you have to offer—and we start by making sure employers know how much you bring to their table!

April 24th, 2011

Should You Hire a Resume Writer?

Naturally, I would like you to consider my services if you plan to hire a professional resume writer. But perhaps you are debating whether working with a professional resume writer is the right choice for you. You should consider hiring a resume writer if:

  • You are changing careers, are newly entering the job market or returning after an absence, have multiple job changes over a short time or have any other work situation that seems out of the ordinary.
  • You find it difficult to get started—or to stop. A resume cannot start working for you until it is written and sent. If you cannot begin writing or if you cannot stop editing, you need help.
  • You lack confidence in your abilities. Maybe you have been unemployed for a while; or you were employed by one company for so many years that you have forgotten how to job hunt. As a professional resume writer and consultant, I enjoy the process of re-introducing job seekers to their skills and achievements. A great resume is a real boost to self-esteem.
  • You have had no success so far in attracting interviews. Let me take a look at your resume to see if we can bolster it with keywords and stronger descriptions of your skills and accomplishments.
  • You need an objective, expert champion in your corner. As a Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Certified Federal Resume Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer, with years of experience writing technical, federal and corporate resumes at all levels, I will give you advice you can trust and a resume to be proud of.

April 3rd, 2011

What Employers Want–and Do Not Want–in Your Resume

You are struggling to understand what employers want in a resume: What will make them stand up and take notice? In many ways, what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in.

Employers and recruiters welcome a resume that shows:

  • You have the skills to handle the job.
  • You will contribute something in addition to skills, as demonstrated by achievements at your current job (“chosen employee of the month,” “saved company $1500 in recycle costs”), volunteer work and work-related courses.
  • You take pride in your work, as shown in part by the care you take to create a presentable resume.

What employers and recruiters do not want in a resume is:

  • Your life history. Focus your resume on the requirements of the job. Employers and recruiters want to know that you can handle the job you are applying for.
  • Excuses. If you do not have job experience, stress education. If you lack one skill, stress another and your ability to learn.
  • Inconsistencies. Always tell the truth on your resume. Also, if you use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or any other online site, make sure you appear in a professional light at all times and that the information on those sites matches the information on your resume.

If your resume is giving employers too little of the right information and too much of the wrong, please contact me. I have solved resume problems for countless people and I can help.

March 27th, 2011

Interview Tips: How Your Resume Helps You Interview Well

Recently, several recruiters and business managers replied to an online request for a few interview tips. The tips that they offered most often were to be honest and to show a genuine interest in the company. The best resume, the kind that I pride myself on writing, prepares you for the interview by providing a strongly worded, truthful summary of your skills and achievements. It shows that you understand what a company wants in its next employee.

When I work with you, I make sure that together we capture all of your most important skills and achievements. A well-written resume lets you head out to the interview with a sense of pride in what you have accomplished. During the interview, you will not have to scramble for explanations because your resume truly reflects you.

The best resume is crafted for the job you want, not the job(s) you left behind. Therefore, every word targets the types of industries, companies and positions that you are most interested in. That focus provides the groundwork for the interest you will show during the interview.

Bring a copy of your resume with you to any interview. It is helpful when filling out forms and may be needed by the interviewer. But most important, while you wait for your appointment, you can remind yourself of how much value you will bring to the company.

March 13th, 2011

Organizing Your Resume

Sometimes the hardest part of writing your own resume is knowing where to begin—and end. How do you know which of your many achievements should be highlighted? How much detail do recruiters expect? Will you lose a job opportunity if you leave something out or if you reveal too much? How much space should you give to past jobs compared to your current position? How far back should you go in your career?

Organization is one of my greatest skills. I’ve developed proprietary questionnaires that help you detail all of your skills, background and accomplishments. Then I take that information and create a powerful, focused resume that targets the job you want. As a former engineer and project manager, I know how to marshal facts and describe them accurately, briefly and with conviction.

Once you receive my draft, you have three weeks to review it, making any changes you like. My clients often find that the draft and final resume give them a renewed sense of purpose and boost their confidence, as they realize exactly how much value they bring to future employers.

February 12th, 2011

Fitting Small Company Experience into Large Company Opportunities

Small companies have different structures from large companies. When you are looking to enter a large company, you may find that your job description is associated with a less impressive title. You may find yourself reporting to someone who holds the title you used to have in a smaller company.

This is not a demotion; it reflects the difference in complexity working for a small company versus a large company. A difficulty may also arise in presenting yourself as a candidate to a large company. Suppose the large company needs someone to supervise 80 people. From their perspective, if your last position was with a company of 20 employees total, you could easily be overshadowed by candidates from larger companies.

So what can you do if you want to move from a small company to a large one? These four strategies may help:

  • First, relax your requirements for a title. Concentrate on what is really important to you, such as opportunities for advancement.
  • Second, seek advice about positioning yourself correctly. When I counsel clients transitioning from a civilian role to the federal government, for example, I can determine their “level” based on the amount of control they had in their previous jobs (not just the title).
  • Third, make sure your resume highlights the breadth of your experience. Instead of worrying over the size of your current company, stress the size of your achievements.
  • Fourth, when you interview, carry yourself with confidence. If you know you can do the job, you will go far toward convincing interviewers.

You want the big guys to realize that your small company experience is exactly what they need.

January 23rd, 2011

Identify Your Soft Skills on Your Resume

Recently, several managers were asked what one attribute they would look for in a job candidate, any position, any industry. The responses included innovation, commitment, leadership, teamwork, intelligence and organizational “fit.” Industry knowledge and skills were important but most managers concentrated on what are known as “soft skills.” Managers and business owners know it is much easier to teach someone the information and skills they need for a job than to teach them, for example, how to get along with coworkers.

Candidates who understand that fact often fill their resume with phrases like “innovative and intelligent professional”; “able to work independently or as part of a team”; and “committed to the organization’s growth.”

But I urge my clients to move beyond a bare statement to prove they have the qualities that company’s want.

How do you prove all those soft skills—innovation, commitment, leadership and so on—in a resume? You give examples. You provide testimonials. You state the problem and how you responded to it:

  • “Worked closely with representatives from Marketing, Sales and Finance Departments to identify ten potential cost-savings measures.”
  • “Found an Internet provider to develop the company website.”
  • “Identified service issues, revamped the company’s customer complaint procedure and raised customer satisfaction rates from 85% to 98%.”

When you cooperate on a project with several departments, when you independently locate a new vendor, when you calm an angry customer, when you establish a procedure where none existed before, when you train other employees, when you volunteer to serve a local nonprofit—you demonstrate soft skills that any company would prize.

January 9th, 2011

Details Make Resumes Stronger

Details in your resume give recruiters confidence in your ability and make you stand out from the crowd.

Wherever possible, refer to exact numbers (“supervised a staff of four”), dollar amounts (“brought in $200,000 in new business”), titles (“selected by the VP of Operations”), company names (“acted as liaison to XY Co. and WZ Inc.”), locations (“traveled to vendors in China, Japan and Sri Lanka”) and quantifiable achievements (“ranked 3rd out of 14 sales people”). If you haven’t left your old job yet, now is the time to research and compile those details.

Suppose you are interviewing two plumbers. One plumber says, “I am a plumber.” The other plumber says, “I’ve been a licensed plumber since 1998. On my last job, I came in 10% below the estimate, and I always guarantee my work for six months.”

The plumber who gives you specific information certainly sounds like the stronger candidate. Resumes work the same way: the more specific the resume, the stronger it appears and the more likely it will land you an interview.

If you have trouble identifying places where details would help, contact Robin’s Resumes®. I have proven techniques for sharpening your resume and making it more attractive to recruiters.

January 2nd, 2011

Focus Your Resume

After 20 or more years in the job market, you’ve picked up a lot of skills. One recent contact told me that she had worked in sales, management, website development, marketing, bookkeeping and purchasing at various companies over 30 years. How, she wondered, would she ever fit all that experience into one resume?

She was asking the wrong question. She should be asking, “What job do I want?”

If you have a multitude of skills and experiences, narrow them down to the ones that excite you most, that you’ve achieved the most in, that you can see yourself performing for the next 10, 15 or 20 years—and that employers and recruiters are looking for. Your resume should focus on those areas of expertise.

You may decide that you have two passions and need two resumes. For example, one resume might focus on your sales and management experience; the other might focus on marketing experience, including website development.

But a single resume that qualifies you for every position in every department in every company only serves to convince future employers that you’re a Jack of all trades and master of none. And nobody hires Jack.

December 19th, 2010

Where Buzzwords Fit in Your Resume

Compare these two statements:

  • “Proactive leader of manufacturing teams.”
  • “Achieved a 20% increase in productivity by reorganizing manufacturing teams.”

The first statement uses the buzz word “proactive” but is unsupported by facts. The second statement would light up the eyes of any manufacturing executive or recruiter.

Every time buzz words take over from substantial fact, your resume becomes weaker, until it could apply to any job applicant anywhere. But your goal is to stand out, to become the one candidate everyone wants to meet. To achieve, that, you have to throw out the buzz words and become specific.

Compare these two statements:

  • “Expert in the use of state-of-the-art technology to design fully functional websites.”
  • “Designed corporate website using Joomla for $4 million company.”

The second sentence is three words shorter but a whole lot more impressive. When you avoid buzz words in your resume, you create room for the facts that will win you your next job.

November 28th, 2010

Networking in the Job Market

You have your resume. Now all you have to do is wait for the ideal job to appear in the local newspaper. Right? Wrong!

You and your resume must go on the hunt.

Newspaper ads are only one of the many sources for jobs. Many companies have moved their searches to the Internet. You’ll want to check out the websites of companies you’re interested in, job boards like monster.com and even Craig’s List. In addition, businesses are networking for employees at sites like LinkedIn.com, where one contact leads to another and another, and may eventually lead to a job. I know one individual who followed this advice and received a lead for a local U.S. job from a contact all the way in China. He was hired.

If you belong to a club, nonprofit organization or industry group—or if you’ve thought about joining—now is the time to become a more active member. Tell everyone you meet that you’re job hunting. Word of mouth can lead to an interview for a position that hasn’t even been advertised yet.

Business expos, seminars and events sponsored by the local Chamber offer another opportunity to meet people who may be hiring.

If you hear that a company is expanding, send them your resume. Even if they haven’t advertised for someone in your position, an expanding company may need your skills soon. When they do, you’ll be at the head of the queue.

Need help with networking? Contact us for more advice and for a resume that helps you bring in the job you want.

October 31st, 2010

Advice from Your Next Boss

What do companies look for when they read a resume? Recently I asked that question on an online business site. Replies came from 18 hiring and department managers working in colleges, electronics companies, banks, sales, engineering and human resources among others.

Overwhelmingly (11 out of 18), they first checked the resume to make sure the skills and experience met their needs as outlined in the job description. No one wants to hire a brain surgeon without a medical degree or a chef who’s never worked in a kitchen. Often, the responders defined “experience” as number of years in the field.

Does this mean you can submit a laundry list of skills and job titles and get hired? No.

After that first glance, most of the people responding looked for accomplishments or achievements. Your resume has to explain what you did with your skills. How did the company benefit?

Did you develop a new report, increase sales, interact well with your peers and managers, lead a team, volunteer in the community, meet deadlines, streamline a process, help make a project successful, complete a class, give a presentation, serve on a committee, receive praise from customers or earn a promotion? The way you used your skills to benefit your old company tells your new company what to expect. They know whether you’ll be a valuable addition to their team.

You may find it hard to boast about—or even recognize—your own accomplishments. If you need help, call or email Robin’s Resumes. Together, we can make sure the marketplace knows just how valuable you are.

October 1st, 2010

Just an Ordinary Everyday Person

Recently, I spoke with a woman returning to the job market after years of raising her family. “I haven’t done anything for 10 years,” she said. Coincidentally, I had a similar conversation with an executive just a few weeks later. “I don’t give enough back to the community,” he said. And soon after that a college graduate complained that she lacked enough experience to get the website design job she wanted.

In a short while, I discovered that the woman had held leadership positions in three nonprofits over the years; the executive participated in at least one community event every month, including speaking before high school students; and the college grad had developed websites for two family members (“but they’re family members,” she objected).

The problem is that we all undervalue our contributions and experience. The achievement that you dismiss as nothing special may be exactly what your next employer is looking for.

A professional resume writer can help you discover those talents and abilities you take for granted—and then describe them so that potential employers recognize their value. We cannot be truly objective about ourselves.

September 13th, 2010

References: “Works Well with Others”

Good references are important to any job search; but you need to know when and how to offer them.

In the United States, references do not belong on a resume. First, you want to protect the privacy of your references; resumes go out to the world. Second, you want time to alert your references to the call or email they may receive. If your references are listed on your resume, you lose control.

Employers assume you can give them references if they ask. So your resume should not include the phrase “References available upon request.” It is not necessary and it takes up valuable space on a resume better used to show your accomplishments.

That said, as part of your preparation, create a list of references to have ready when needed. The list should include each reference’s name, title, company name, address, phone number(s) and email. In addition to professional references, you may need a few personal references. Contact all your references to make sure they are willing to speak well of you and to alert them to your job search. Your references need to know they will be receiving a legitimate request for information by a company you’re interested in.

You can ask a company not to contact your most recent employer. Companies realize you may want to keep your job search confidential until you have a definite offer. Besides, current employers are often limited in the information they are allowed to share.

Make sure you have some references who will gladly speak well of you! One of the most damaging references you can get is, “I’d rather not say.”

August 29th, 2010

What Not to Say in a Resume

Some resume mistakes are easy to find: you typed “manger” instead of “manager” or you transposed the numbers on your zip code. But what about this job description on the fourth page of a resume: “Kept books for our company for 5 years before it went out of business due to poor economy.” That one sentence is guilty of several mistakes:

  • Using the first person word (I, me, my, we, us, our) in a resume. The first person is fine in a cover letter—not in resume. Don’t say our, say the company’s.
  • Making apologies. Always stress the positive. If your company went out of business, focus on how you helped to keep it healthy for so long.
  • Resume too long. For most professions in the civilian sector, a 1 to 2 page resume is sufficient (technical professions such as IT, Engineering, Science, Medicine and College Professor are exceptions). In this case, a bookkeeper rarely requires 4 pages.
  • Listing your job duties alone. Your accomplishments are much more important. Every bookkeeper keeps the books. Did you develop new reports or participate in management’s five-year planning committee?
  • Giving up. If you don’t get results from your resume, seek out a professional. A professional resume writer will help you stress the value you bring to potential employers. In addition, most professionals offer advice on job searches, including methods for networking. Go to www.robinsresumes.com to see the services a professional resume writer can offer you.

August 23rd, 2010

Taking Your Job Hunt Online

Paper resumes are still a valuable job hunting tool. Almost all of the current generation of Human Resource managers grew up in the era of paper and still prefer it. But you need to consider posting an online resume also. It widens your job hunting reach, and it gives you a professional presence on the Internet. Many companies will research you online even after receiving your paper resume.

When posting an online resume, make sure:

  • The online information is consistent with the resume you have sent to the company. If a professional resume writer is helping to write your resume, you may want to hire the same person to write your online profile.
  • Any comments or referrals on your online resume are positive and bolster your image.

Is the fear of identity theft keeping you from posting details on line? If you search for your name online, you may be surprised to find out how much information is already available. In all probability, your contact information is widely known, especially if you’re listed in the phone book and have shopped online. However, if you want to hide your real address but still show your local availability, you could rent a mailbox at a UPS store or other mailbox service. Unlike Post Office boxes, commercial mailboxes offer a real street address.

Stay away from resume-distribution sites that request your date of birth, marital status, picture or social security number. That’s where the possibility of identity theft is strongest.
Technology, comfort levels and employment law still have a way to go before all resumes are online. But you want to take advantage of every resource available to you. Do you have a success story to share about your online resume?

August 23rd, 2010

Resume Style

A graphic designer asked an online forum if she should highlight her skills by creating a unique design for her resume. Every hiring manager who responded answered, “No!” They wanted a resume formatted for easy reading, scanning and printing. If a professional graphic designer has to reign in her artistic talent, you should, too. That means:

  • Using a standard font like Arial, Times New Roman or Helvetica If you wander away from standard fonts, the computer that receives your resume may not have that font. Suddenly, your resume file is unreadable.
  • Being careful with clip art, color or other ornamentation. Black-and-white printers/copiers reduce every color scheme to grey. Some scanners turn ornate designs into a mess. Besides, you never know how a hiring manager will react to a resume bordered by flowers, in green ink, on baby blue paper. It is OK to be creative if you are in a creative field and using a paper resume to hand to a person you know; however, even then, you will need to also provide a standard resume which is able to be scanned.
  • Avoiding templates. Some Word templates cause receiving computers and scanners to choke. In addition, if you use a Word template, your resume will look exactly like the hundreds of other applicants using the same template.
  • Making the resume easy on the eyes. Somewhere along the line, a human being will read your resume. Save bolding, italics or capitalization for your most important points; use it consistently and sparingly. Chose a font size of at least 11 pt for Times New Roman or 10 pt for Arial or Helvetica.

With resumes, content always counts more than style. Make sure your style lets your content stand out.