Monthly Archives: May 2010

Sample Resumes: Make Sure the Information is Your Own

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The use of sample resumes is becoming more and more common amongst resume writers who are looking to ensure that their own personal resumes are 100% legitimate and laid out properly. In fact, experts recommend that resume writers take advantage of these sample resumes in order to adhere to industry standards in resume writing. Just make sure the information is your own when you look at your completed resume.

Many resume writers will simply take a sample resume and will blatantly steal the information that is provided in these sample resumes. They will simply change individual specific information and a few words here and there, but will more or less plagiarize every aspect of their resume. This includes stealing a resume ‘objective’ and using it word for word, or taking a cover letter from a sample resume and claiming that it is their very own.

There are two major issues with this type of information theft. First off, this type of ‘borrowing’ is not ‘borrowing’ in reality. It is rather considered ‘stealing.’ Most sample resumes are covered by a creative commons copyright or a professional copyright. If you are using the information from these sample resumes without changing them, you are simply in violation of copyright laws and are literally stealing from another writer.

The second major issue is that many companies will actually scan resumes and will check them against other resumes and sample resumes found online. If a potential employer discovers that 95% of your resume is pulled from a sample resume they have found online, they will immediately lose trust with you and will most likely no longer consider you for their open position. 

This is why it is of the utmost importance that you make sure the information is your own when you submit your final resume to a potential employer.

How Can I Be Sure The Information Is My Own When Using Sample Resumes?

The best way to make sure the information is your own when using sample resumes is to write your resume section by section simply using the sample resumes as a model. You can then read over the sample resume section and compare it to your own resume. You should be able to quickly determine how “like” your resume is with the sample that you have used. Make sure that you don’t use direct quotes or phrases from the sample resume. Find a way to take these ideas and put them into your own words.

The idea is to take the information that you have found and like in these sample resumes and “spin” them, in order to make them unique and more aimed at your personal specifics and skills. You need to basically take the general ideas you like in the sample resumes and completely rewrite them so that they don’t resemble the original version. With a little practice and a little patience this entire process is very simplistic and will ensure that the information is your own.

To double check yourself you should have someone read over the sample resume you used and your personal resume to see if they can spot any instances of plagiarism.

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Printing Your Resume Professionally

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When you set out to compose your resume, one of the aspects you will need to take into consideration is the manner in which your resume will be laid out. The layout of your resume is a key factor to creating a professionally designed resume. If you use a layout that is not professional and effective, chances are that your resume will never gain the attention that you desire.  Moreover, you should also consider printing your resume professionally in order to further create an air of professionalism around your resume.

The content that you place within your resume is of course the most important element of your resume. However, if you don’t present your resume in a professional manner, then chances are that many employers will not even give your resume a second glance. Therefore, you must seek out a way to successfully go about printing your resume professionally. 

The first step is of course choosing the perfect layout for your resume to enhance the manner in which it will be printed out.

Choosing The Perfect Resume Layout

The first thing you will want to consider when it comes to selecting a resume layout is the type of industry for which you are seeking out employment. Once you have this determined, you can begin to search online for layouts that are designed with your specific industry in mind. If your resume is for general employment, then you can avail of general employment layout samples which you find online. 

Just be sure that you only shortlist and use recent and updated layout resume templates that have been released in the past year. This way you can be sure your resume layout is up to date with the current industry standards.

How To Go About Printing Your Resume Professionally

Once you have composed your content and decided on a proper layout, you will then need to be sure that you go about printing your resume professionally. You will first want to consider the grade and type of paper that you use when printing your resume. It is usually best to go with a medium grade paper that is an off-white shade. Flimsy or cheap paper tends to tear easily and paper that is brilliant white can actually hurt the eyes of the reader and you want to avoid both these scenarios, which is why you want to take serious consideration when choosing the type of paper that you will be using.

It should be noted that there are several paper manufacturers that actually offer specialized resume printing paper. This may be the easiest route to choose when you are considering printing up your resume at home on your own. However, you are not limited to this form of printing. There are several professional services that you can take advantage of that offer professional printing of resumes for a fee. 

Either way, just be sure that you take your time when laying out and printing up your resume in order to ensure that you are being as professional as possible. Remember, your resume is your first impression! Make it count!

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The Importance Of Being Honest In Your Resume And Interviews

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When seeking out employment at any type of company, it is crucial that you are completely open and honest in all aspects of your interviews. This also includes being honest with the information that you are presenting in your resume. Oftentimes individuals will blatantly lie in their resumes or will provide false information in hopes of gaining attention from potential employers. Other applicants will place what they consider to be little “white lies” in their resumes in order to make themselves appear more experienced and more valuable.

The problem with these types of lies is that you are completely getting off on the wrong foot with these potential employers. Not only that, but you also run the risk of being terminated from the company to which you are applying. If a company discovers that you have been dishonest in the way that you presented yourself in your resume or in the information which you provided them during your initial in person interviews, they are legally able to terminate you. This is just one of the main reasons and most important reasons that you should consider when it comes to not being honest in your resume.

Why Are People Dishonest In Their Resumes?

There are two main areas of interest on resumes wherein most applicants are dishonest. The first area of interest is their job history. Many applicants may have gaps between years and places of employment. They are fearful that these gaps in employment will present a negative image for themselves and they go to great lengths to fake or decrease the amount of gaps in their employment history in order to convince a potential employer that they are reliable and are responsible. 

The problem with lying about these gaps in work history is that a potential employer can quickly and easily check your past employment history when running your references. They can contact your past employers and can determine what your exact years and months of employment were. They can also determine if you left the company on your own terms or if you were terminated from your position.  

Given the many loopholes that are bound to arise once you start lying, you should never even consider not being honest when it comes to this section of your resume. Keep in mind that it is relatively easy for a potential employer to check out any of the information mentioned in your resume. It is crucial to be honest if you truly want to gain employment.

The second most common area of interest within resumes wherein applicants are dishonest is in their education section. Most applicants are under the impression that employers will not bother to check out the education of their applicants before hiring them. That’s not true; many employers will actually ask you to provide them with proof of your diploma or degree before they will even consider hiring you.

Whether it is your education or your experience, it is always best to be honest when it comes to your education or lack thereof. Just be ready to explain to a potential employer why you have not graduated or sought out further education or why you chose to leave your previous employ.

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Using Examples During An Interview

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When you attend a job interview you will either make or break your chances of winning the job that you applied for. Given the utmost importance of the interview, it is imperative that you take a few moments and truly prepare yourself for the way that you will present yourself in your interview. You should consider each and every part of the interview process and should look into using examples during an interview. Interviewers enjoy it when a potential employee can take an example from a past work experience or life experience and can use it to answer a question backed with facts.

If you truly want to make an impact during your next interview, you should begin by researching the types of questions that you may be asked during your interview. The good news is the Internet features numerous websites and references that you can take advantage of in order to obtain sample interview questions. Once you have acquired such a list, you should begin to determine how you will answer each question prior to attending your interview. You may even want to enlist the help of a friend to assist you in this process. Your friend can read the questions to you and you can simply practice how you will successfully answer them.

Once you have a sample list of questions, you will want to begin figuring out how you can begin using examples from your past experiences to add more depth to your answers. Some common interview questions will already encourage example use. For example, a common interview questions is: “In the past how have you dealt with a negative complaint from a customer?”  A question like this requires using examples during an interview.

How else can I go About Using Examples during an Interview?

Using examples during an interview is very simple if you compare each and every interview question that you are asked with another job in mind or with a past experience in mind. For example, when asked a question such as: “What do you bring to our company?” You should be able to quickly consider any positive effects that you had in your previous place of employment. You can then reveal what it was you did at your past place of employment in order to use this experience as an example of what positive effects you will have at this new place of business if you are potentially hired.

Every interview question that you are asked is an opportunity for you to take advantage of examples. This allows you to show a potential employer your various achievements and the positive effects that you had at your previous place of employment.

This method of using examples during an interview is much more productive and effective than just giving general answers during an interview.  With the use of examples you can prove to a potential employer that you are well worth your weight in gold.

When taking part in your next interview be sure to prepare yourself with examples in mind so that you can truly impress your interviewer.

How to use examples during a job interview…

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Getting Past Age Discrimination

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One major concern amongst individuals who are seeking out employment is the question of age discrimination. Older individuals who are looking to get back into the workforce are more acutely aware that age discrimination does exist in this current day and age. With that in mind, more and more people are looking for innovative ways of getting past age discrimination so that they can be gainfully employed despite being considered “old”. The good news is that getting past age discrimination is not as difficult as it may seem. 

First and foremost, you should be aware that age discrimination is illegal.  Therefore, a company cannot simply decide against hiring you just on basis of your age. If you are physically and mentally capable of completing the job, then you cannot be turned down just because of your age. Moreover, if you have the skills and training necessary to complete any job, age is a non-issue.

The first step that you can take in getting past age discrimination is by being careful in the way in which you compose and craft your professional resume.  Start by seeking out current resume formats. The format of resumes that you once used when you first got started in the work world would most probably be considered outdated when compared to the resume formats that are considered standard today. Therefore, you will need to be sure that you are planning out and laying out your resume in a professional and effective manner that is current with the times.

How To Avoid Age Discrimination From The Get-Go!

Many older individuals will make major notice of their age in their resume and will craft detailed cover letters that clearly point out their age in the manner in which they reveal information about themselves. This will generally put up a “red flag” that you are an older individual. The idea to avoid age discrimination from the beginning is to be sure that your resume never truly lays out your age in an obvious manner.

What you want to do with your resume is show a potential employer that you have the skills and education needed in order to seriously be considered for a position at their company. You want to show them that you are the best person for their job. If you can do this without revealing your age, you will be triumphant in defeating the bug-bear of age discrimination. 

Once you have proven to a potential employer that you are qualified for their position through the use of your resume, you will succeed in getting your foot in the door. These potential employers will not be aware of your age until they meet you in person for your interview. However, you will already be one step ahead of your competition by the mere fact that you have already enticed them to invite you in for an interview based on your previous work experience and skills.

The best way to avoid age discrimination is to not let your age affect you!  If your age does not affect you, then chances are it also will not affect your chances of obtaining the desired employment.

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How to Become a Solution For Your Target Employer

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When seeking out employment you must have an effective and proven strategy in place.  You need to realize that when it comes to filling a vacant position at a specific company, you are most likely not the only individual who is seeking out that position. Therefore, you will need to formulate a strategy that will make you stick out and that will put you ahead of your competition. Once such strategy presents you to try to be a solution for your target employer.

Here is the truth: all employers are hiring employees to fit and meet a specific need at their place of business. They need to find a person who will act as a solution in filling this position and carrying out its responsibilities in a professional and effective manner. Regardless of your skill set and previous experience, all you need to do is prove to any potential employer that you are the solution to their problems. If you can prove yourself to be a solution then you will be able to acquire the position that you desire over your competition with very little effort.

How can I Make Myself Appear to be the Solution?

The first thing you should consider is “first contact.” Your first contact will most likely be in the form of your personal resume. The first thing you should do is learn everything you can about the position you are applying for. You should consider the responsibilities that are involved in this position. Then, look back at your work history and determine which are the other positions you have held that match up with or feature the same type of responsibilities as this new position you are applying for.

From there you should compose a very strategic cover letter that states that you have read the responsibilities of the position for which you are applying and that you already have the skills necessary in order to fill this position and to carry it out without concern. You should shortly cover these past experiences in order to truly show a potential employer in your resume that you have the training and skills necessary to fill this position and that you are eager to get involved.

Never hesitate to add in this personal aspect. Feel free to tell a potential employer that you hope to excel at their company and in their position. You need to immediately show them that you are the solution to their vacancy and that you are more than trained and eager to get started in the position.  You don’t need to be robotic in your resume. Add a degree of personality to show them how you truly feel about the position you are applying for.

Try to be a solution for your target employer to show them why they should choose you. Try to be a solution for your target employer so that you can show them why you should be considered above your competition. The quicker that you become a solution and prove to a potential employer that you are the solution to their needs, the quicker you will able to acquire the position you desire.

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Resume Writing: Achievements Vs. Responsibilities

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Many resume writers are uncertain how to express their achievements vs. responsibilities. This is because many responsibilities can often seem to be achievements and most achievements can appear to be responsibilities. To avoid any confusion, you must take great care in determining which qualities and experiences that you have gained through the workforce can be classified as achievements and which ones can only be classified as responsibilities. This way you can ensure that you are presenting yourself, your skills, your responsibilities and your achievements in a clear and professional manner in your resume.

In order to do this, you must first be aware of the differences between an achievement and a responsibility when it comes to the work place.

What is an Achievement in Relation to the Workplace?

The dictionary defines an achievement as follows: “The act of accomplishing or finishing. Something accomplished successfully, especially by means of exertion, skill, practice or perseverance.” This is a clear picture of what achievements vs. responsibilities are.

An achievement would be a type of certification that you have acquired through work or through outside sources. This could also include but is not limited to various types of trainings and classes that you may have taken in order to gain more skills for the workplace. Achievements are those things that you have actually gone out and achieved on your own through hard work and dedication.

Consider your college education. Your diploma or degree is proof of your achievement. Your responsibilities to acquire this degree were attending classes, completing assignments, and passing tests. These were the responsibilities that you had to carry out in order to gain the achievement that you desired.

What is a Responsibility in Relation to the Workplace?

When you consider achievements vs. responsibilities in the workplace you must look at the details of your position. What are you responsible for doing in your current or past positions? You could surely sit down and create a list of each and every thing that you are responsible for or were responsible for on a daily basis in regards to your position.

Now let’s say that you carried out your job responsibilities in such a fantastic way that you were promoted to a management position within your first three months in a specific line of work. This promotion would be your achievement for following through on all of your responsibilities.

The difference between a responsibility and an achievement is very simple to see. Your achievement is your end goal, while your responsibilities are generally those things which led up to the “big pay off.” Once you fully understand this you will have a much easier time when you set out to compose your resume in a professional manner. You will now be able to distinguish between these two important elements and will be able to list your responsibilities and your achievements in the appropriate place. Without a full understanding of achievements vs. responsibilities you could end up making some crucial mistakes in the fashioning of your resume that could make you appear less professional than you really are.

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Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

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When seeking out employment in an industry that you are passionate about, you may often be tempted to speak negatively about a past employer in order to gain favorable attention from a potential new employer. Many people feel that if they are staying within the same industry and they speak poorly about another company in the same industry that will help them curry favor with their new employers and earn them huge brownie points. While theoretically this may sound like a good idea, you should avoid slamming your old employer at all costs! In fact, the moment you say anything negative about an old employer you could actually jeopardize any chance you may have of clinching the job.

This is very true when it comes to both, in person interviews as well as information that you present in your resume. Many resume writers will use their cover letter to point out their negative experiences while working for the company’s main competitor. When you do this, not only do you create a bad image of your old employer but you also create a poor representation of yourself. A poor representation that could actually endanger your chances of gaining the employment that you desire.

Why You Should Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

One of the main reasons you should avoid slamming your old employer is because it immediately creates a poor image of yourself. A potential employer could see your slamming of an old employer as a poor quality trait. They may assume that you are a whiney person who is simply looking for any reason to complain. Therefore, they may pass up on hiring you, fearful that you will constantly complain while working for them or that when you leave their company that you may turn around and slam them as well.

No one wants to hire an individual who seems to be bitter. The moment you show a potential employer that you are bitter person who holds grudges, they may assume that you will bring that same attitude to their company. Most employers are also aware that this type of attitude can quickly spread from one person to another and if they were to hire you, they would be fearful that your attitude would affect everyone else around you that you work with. This could result in a collectively poor work ethic and could result in future problems for the company.

How To Avoid Slamming An Old Employer

The best way to avoid slamming an old employer is not to talk about them unless asked. Even when asked about a past employer, avoid speaking negatively about them. Just explain why you are no longer employed with them in as professional and respectable a manner as you can muster. There is no need to recount every reason why you hate your old employer and why you are now looking for new employment.  

As the old adage goes- “if you have nothing nice to say; don’t say anything at all.” It’s far better to just keep your opinions to yourself rather than to say something or to place something in your resume that will reflect poorly on you in the long run.

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Placement of Information on a Resume

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The layout and manner in which you choose to place information in your resume can make or break your resume. You should know that, given that many major employers receive literally hundreds of resumes a week, most employers will at first only browse through the first page of these resumes. Whether or not they continue reading any further is largely dependant on how impressed they are with what they’ve read so far. They simply do not have the time or patience to read all the resumes in their entirety. This is why it is crucial to focus on the placement of information when you are setting out to compose your resume.

Consider the elements of your resume that are the most important to employers. This is the information that you will want to present in your resume first. Other information that you may feel is important, such as your personal achievements and what-not, may not rank high on a potential employers list. What is important is that you need to consider your resume layout as if you were an employer. Based on the first things that you read when looking at your resume would you hire yourself?

Self-analysis is a very valuable tool that you can take advantage of in order to truly decide on the placement of information in your resume. If you wouldn’t hire yourself based on the information you discover in the beginning of your resume, then chances are that you need to consider the placement of information. You will have to make some minor or even major changes in order to create a more effective and dynamic resume that will instantly leap out and grab the attention of potential employers!

How To Ensure Proper And Effective Placement Of Information

It has often been said that “imitation is the best form of flattery.” This is very true when it comes to learning how to place the important information within your resume first in your resume. When setting out to compose your resume, you should take the time to seek out what are known as resume samples. Resume samples are easily available online and are definitely worth taking a look at. While there’s nothing wrong with checking out resumes of different industries, what you need to focus on primarily is seeking out a good resume sample that is designed around the specific industry that you are looking to gain employment in.

You can use these professional and industry specific resume samples to learn how to properly format your own resume in order to ensure that all the important information is presented at the beginning of your resume in order to quickly gain the attention of potential employers. You can simply model your own resume around these samples and can improve the chances of an employer finding exactly what they are looking for from the get-go the moment they turn to your resume.

Another thing to consider is your cover letter! Be sure to include all your important and relevant information in your cover letter. Many employers will look at a cover letter and will read no further unless they find what they are looking for in the cover letter. Therefore, be sure to use your cover letter to its fullest in order to gain the type of attention and results that you truly desire.

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Word Format Vs. Text Format And Why You Need Both

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Apart from crafting the content within your resume in a professional and effective manner, you will also need to consider how you will format your resume. This is especially important if you are submitting your resume online. You have to keep in mind that most employers who seek out and accept resumes online have very strict formatting rules in place to ensure that they can easily view your resume without any problems. With that in mind, you must consider Word format vs. Text format and why you need both.

At one time most companies who accepted resumes online would simply ask for potential applicants to submit their resumes in the body of emails.  However, when it came to printing up these resumes companies would immediately run into various formatting issues. Therefore, companies began to accept resumes in two general formats; Word or Text format. 

The problem is most people who put their resumes together will simply format them based on their personal preferences or based on the writing software that they use. However, just because you prefer one type of format or one type of writing software, does not mean that all potential employers will accept this type of file format.

For years many people would convert their resumes over to Adobe .PDF format, believing it to be the most professional manner in which to submit resumes online. However, more and more companies frown on this type of format due to the size of the files that are produced and in some cases because the company does not have the proper software to open and view these types of resumes. Given all these issues, it has now become an accepted industry standard that all resumes are either presented in Word or Text format.

How Do I Convert My Resume Into One Of These Two Formats?

90% of all writing software that comes packaged with computers allows you to save your resume in both Word format and Text format. So all you have to do is go to the “SAVE AS” function in your writing software and choose the Word or Text file extension.

If your writing software does not feature these options you can simply run an online search for a free conversion website or utility that you can use in order to convert your resume to either Word of Text. The good news is that there are literally hundreds of these free services available.

How Do I Know What Format I Should Submit My Resume In?

When it comes to Word format vs. Text format and why you need both, you will need to check this out with the company you are submitting your resume to. You will simply have to ask them how they would like for you to submit your resume and in which format they choose. Just be aware that 95% of all companies within the United States will accept either Word or Text format. This is why when it comes to Word format vs. Text format and why you need both, you should simply have a file version of each on hand so that you will be ready to submit your resume no matter what file extension and type that they desire.

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