Resume Writing - Free Online Help

Today I have the opportunity to speak to a group of about 150 job seekers at the Dakota County Workforce Center near St. Paul, MN. There will be a panel of us businesses and interviewers, talking about resumes, interview skills, follow-up interviews and answering other job seeking questions.

A great FREE resource to assist with resume writing is not only the Minnesota Workforce Center, but here is a link to several great examples and templates on Careerbuilder.com.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1340-Cover-Letters-Resumes-R%c3%a9sum%c3%a9-Samples/?sc_extcmp=JS_1340_advice&SiteId=cbmsn41340&catid=cl

Resumes are essential--and there is free help for job seekers.

Jennifer

Resumes - Plain and Simple

I've written several times about the importance of a good resume. Now, for the technical stuff.

1. Your resume should be plain and simple. No fancy fonts, graphics, colors, backgrounds or photos, please. Why? Many employers use software for applicant tracking. Your resume goes into their database electronically. Not only is the document saved electronically, but content is scanned and coded so that you and your specific skills can be "found" for future job openings. If your resume is too fancy, you can't be found.
2. Some graphics or formats are just too sophisticated for our software! If you've made it a work of art, it may get caught and eliminated by our SPAM filters.
3. Include a cover letter so that we know which job opening you are applying for--be specific, and reference the actual job posting as specifically as possible. Unsolicited resumes (or ones that appear to be just a random submittal) are usually not considered.
4. Follow up to make sure we received your resume, and find out what next steps you need to take. Be specific and politely persistent--you are in charge of your search. Just because we receive a resume doesn't mean we're obligated to walk you through all of the next steps--especially if we can't tell what you are sending the resume for. It is your career search--take charge of it.

Now for the exceptions: if you are in an art or design-related field and want the interviewer to see your artwork displayed on your resume, make that an additional attachment or next-step documentation. But when sending that initial resume, keep it plain and simple.

Happy Job Hunting!

Customize Your Resume--It Is Worth The Effort

Here is a scenario that you can avoid, with a little time and effort:

3:35 p.m. I scan a resume in my e-mail box, sent in response to a SALES position--100% new business development, cold calling, lead generation in a technical manufacturing niche market. The resume is 100% technical, 0% sales.
3:37 p.m. I email the candidate, informing him that his background is not a fit for this sales position, since his background is technical with no sales.
3:40 p.m. The candidate emails back--"Even though my resume doesn't show sales, it has been a huge part of my career."

My response: "Duh."

3:45 p.m. The resume goes in the "Thanks for applying, we have no positions for you" pile. And I'm irritated I wasted 10 minutes on a candidate that did not take the time or make the effort to highlight how their relevant business experience qualified them for the job at hand.

Please, do your homework. If you are interested in a position and feel you are truly qualified, make sure that your resume reflects relevant skills and experiences. Don't make the hiring manager work to find it, or guess that it might be there even though it is not listed. We don't have the time, and it doesn't show you to be a serious candidate.

If you are applying for sales--show sales (the technical is great, but it isn't sales, and vice versa). If you have the skills in the job posting, show me and tell me why YOU and YOUR skills should be given top consideration.

It may take a few extra minutes for each job you apply for, but believe me, if you are qualified, it is well worth the effort.

Check out "The Four Least Wanted - how to counter and neutralize poor candidate etiquette" on RecruitingBlogs.com

Check out "The Four Least Wanted - how to counter and neutralize poor
candidate etiquette" on RecruitingBlogs.com

While this is advice to hiring managers and recruiters, candidates should take heed.

To view this Blog Post, visit:
http://recruitingblogs.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=502551%3ABlogPost%3A72
6256

"Send Resume"

The good news is . . . many of our client employers are starting to hire again. What is not to like about that? Putting people back to work is my favorite thing to do.



So what is the catch? So many of our applicants/employees do not have a current resume, or lack any resume at all. People! In this day and age, not having a resume sends a message, loud and clear, that you are not prepared to be a serious job seeker, or be taken seriously as an applicant.



Here are three SIMPLE points to keep in mind, and look at past BLOG postings here for resources on resume writing:



1. Keep it simple, but make sure it includes all relevant job information and is perfect--no typos, no mistakes, and everything is accurate and honest. One page is fine for entry-level or new job seekers, please don't go beyond two pages. If there is an abundance of technical or certification information, or detail that would be important in certain fields, make an attachment with the detail on it so the HR manager or initial screener (recruiter) can quickly ascertain your skills and make a decision about your viability as a candidate quickly.

2. Take the time to craft a cover letter that is relevant to the specific job you are applying for. The cover letter should be just a few sentences, explaining why YOU should be considered for the particular opening you are applying for. Trying to save time with a one-size-fits-all cover letter shows you aren't taking the time to seriously consider each job opening and your skillset for that particular opening. Do the work to make it pertinent for each individual opening.

3. Follow up appropriately--don't assume that each job you apply for will contact you, take some initiative and follow up with a phone call, an email or both. The hiring manager can give you information on the best way to follow up for that individual job assignment.



I am surprised by the number of folks who are calling our company, in dire need of a job, but do not have a resume nor do they take the time to create one when it is requested. In this day and age, having a current, valid and electronic (e-mailable) resume is crucial.



Contact me if you would like sample resumes or help making your resume a winner.

Get Noticed!

I attended a fabulous smalltown 4th of July Parade. There were many floats and entries, all trying their very best to get noticed as they paraded up and down Main Street, in front of a crowd of thousands of spectators. There were balloons, bands, candy being thrown, loud horns, royalty in crowns and gowns, clowns, unicyclists and more.

Whats the point? And what does a parade have to do with a job search?

Simply this: each parade participant, as is true for each job applicant, is trying to stand out, get noticed and get their message across in a noisy, crowded and confusing environment (ever see a busy HR manager's desk??)

Here are some tips (think PARADE) for you as you try to get noticed in a crowd of resumes and job applications:

1) Have a great "parade banner"--i.e., your subject line of your email, or your top few lines of your resume, should SHOUT OUT your specific job-seeker message. Some examples:
"Experienced MIG welder with construction and foreman experience"
"Executive-level administrative support, expert in MS Word, PowerPoint, 85 wpm accurate"
"Technical sales, metal stamping and related manufacturing, with documented growth in annual new business in the seven figures; road warrier."

See how these catch-phrases make it easy for the hiring manager to quickly pick up on your skill set?

2) Toot your own horn! The parade floats make a lot of noise, all saying "Look at me! Look at ME!" Make your resume an easy read, with bullet points outlining accomplishments. Your cover letter can explain why YOU are the ONE CANDIDATE uniquely qualified to fill their specific opening (be factual but not modest). Because hiring managers are currently inundated with applicants, don't assume you'll get to explain how great you are in an interview. Make sure you get your point across quickly and convincingly so you'll be asked in for that all-important interview.

3) Give a shout out! In case your message got lost or forgotten, don't forget to give a shout out by phone or follow-up email to make sure your application/resume is given another look. Parade floats have a banner, and also often are accompanied by singers, musicians or someone handing out flyers--all designed to get the message across in a number of ways.

Yes, everyone loves a parade. Think of the noisy, crowded confusion of a parade the next job you apply for--and do what you can to stand out and get noticed.

Jennifer Brigham, President/CEO
Brigham Group Staffing
jbrigham@brighamgroup.com

Jennifer Brigham sent you an article from startribune.com

This Article from StarTribune.com has been posted by JenniferBrigham. The full Article, with any associated images and links can be viewed here.

Perfecting Career Sales Pitch Brett Pyrtle, Star Tribune In the not-so-distant past, the most common way people could distinguish themselves during a job search was to write a compelling cover letter or use persistent follow-up approaches. Today, the sales pitch begins well before any first contact with a prospective employer. And if you're in a job search – you're in sales. "More and more hiring managers are using online search techniques to mine for candidates," says Jennifer Brigham, president of Brigham Group Staffing, a contract and career placement firm based in Apple Valley. "That's why it's smart for job candidates to consider how these technologies can help sell their skills more effectively." While a national unemployment rate over 8 percent makes the job market especially competitive, there are simple steps to help cut through the clutter. These include: Establish And Manage An Online Presence Regardless of a candidate's experience or career field, Brigham says they should establish an "online billboard," such as a LinkedIn page. Once that is in place, job seekers should carefully add details about their experience, seek and highlight references, and publish contact information. In addition, they should conduct regular online searches on their own name, so they stay abreast of flattering - or potentially unflattering - items that turn up. Selling Key Skills Name searches often work well to source candidates with highly visible professional or volunteer experience. On the other hand, many well-qualified job seekers will not turn up on a Google search, and have little interest in adding an online profile. In that case, Brigham suggests that candidates design and post an online résumé that calls out key skill areas. "If I get a request from a manufacturing facility looking for someone who has run a specific type of press, I'll often go to Monster, Career Builder or the state Job Bank and do a keyword search for that machine or industry until I find people out there with résumés to match," she says. Take A Proactive Approach In this economic downturn, Brigham has heard many candidates say, "I'll do anything" in an attempt to gain interviews. While empathizing with their personal situations, she says that approach to employment marketing simply won't work in an overcrowded market. "Instead, candidates would be better served by seeking out special certifications, technical training, or anything else that helps them stand out from the crowd." Brett Pyrtle is principal of Turning Point Communications LLC, a marketing communications firm based in St. Paul.