10 Resume Elements to Energize any Job Search

By Brad - Saturday 12 Jul 1:05 pm

No matter how perfect a person is for a job, potential employers cannot find them without an effective resume. Invigorate your job search with these ten resume updates.

1. Use keywords. Spend any time searching the internet and you notice that the more specific your keywords, the more likely you are to find what you want. The same is true for your job search. Many companies use resume scanning programs that search your resume and cover letter for keywords. Make sure you use what employers are seeking.

2. Limit jargon. While a resume requires effective keywords it should not be buried in jargon. The first person to screen your resume may be a human resources contact or manager with little experience with the jargon. Don’t set your job search up for failure by being unclear or generic.

3. Be honest. Don’t lie on your resume.

4. Use active verbs. With active words your resume will illustrate what you’ve done and won’t look like every other applicant claiming they are organized, self-motivated or responsible.

5. Be specific with short, simple sentences.

6. Leave lots of white space. Don’t jumble or overload your resume. Most initial scans of resumes last less than fifteen seconds. Let your resume demonstrate you are organized and efficient in a single glance.

7. Make it relevant. Don’t put irrelevant jobs on your resume unless they fill a questionable gap in your work history. Provide detail for the skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

8. Focus the objective or skills summary to the employer’s needs. Be clear and concise. Vague or extravagant objectives with no focus serve no purpose for the employer. Employers want to know that you can fill their position not that they can fulfill yours.

9. Provide numbers and statistics. When including, for example, that in your previous position you improved customer service, the statement becomes imminently more effective when you say “Improved customer service by five percent in two year period”. Share proof of your accomplishments.

10. Consider a resume critique. Nothing helps your job search better than a second pair of objective eyes looking at your resume.

Make your resume work for you with clear, active statements that the future employer needs to know. Choose quality substance instead of gimmicks and your resume will boost your job search.

Posted in: Job Search

5 Ways to Make my Online Job Search Effective

By Brad - Wednesday 2 Jul 12:39 pm

 

In less than a decade more than 75 million people have established a job search account at Monster.com. Millions more have used sites like Careerbuilder.com and Hotjobs.com or some other website dedicated to employment opportunities. With all these people searching no one wants to get lost in the crowd. Consider these five approaches to making your job search effective.  

 

1. Focus the search with keywords. Don’t waste time and energy searching too wide a variety of job listings or applying for jobs you don’t want. Know what you are seeking then use keywords to focus your search.

 

2. Use multiple sites. Limiting your search to one job search website limits your opportunity. Employers don’t list on every available site; it isn’t cost effective. Some industries have their own career websites. Look around or consider a site like Indeed.com when you begin your search. Indeed.com and others search multiple job sites at the same time which may speed up your job search.

 

3. Market yourself professionally. Employers who list online screen applicants to weed out a large portion before they even start planning interviews. Don’t get eliminated for an unprofessional package. Prepare cover letter templates and resume ahead of time in plain text document so they can be read no matter what programs the employer is using. Have them reviewed and edited to avoid typos and errors. Establish an email address for your job search that is simple and professional. Some employers are just as savvy online as you are and can easily check your social networking page. Drunken photos, sexual innuendo (or worse) are not professional and may cost you the chance at a second look.

 

4. Follow directions listed in the job listing. Employers do not want to hire people who cannot follow instructions. Read the job listing and follow the instructions regarding what they are looking for and how they want that information. Many toss out any applicants who do not follow instructions without even glancing at the resume.

 

5. Apply for positions you are qualified for. Don’t waste time – yours or the employer’s. Know whether you are qualified and apply only if you meet the employer’s basic needs.

 

In order to make your online job search effective you should use the tools to your advantage. Start with these five simple rules and your search will yield more advantageous results.

 

Posted in: Job Search