Resume Help Blog

Archive for December, 2008

Here’s a flash! If you have not looked for a job in the last few years, you probably don’t know how to write a resume. So let’s walk through the steps. It could mean the difference between being called in for an interview or being passed over for a better prepared job candidate.

Everyone knows times have changed. But did you know that nowhere is this more relevant than in today’s successful job search strategy?

If you are thinking that all you have to do is create a pleasant, well-formatted “pretty” resume, put a stamp on the envelope, and mail it out you had better read on.

The Three Resume Formats

There are not one, but three, essential resume formats you need to be familiar with. All three are  used in any successful modern-day job search. Here they are:

The Presentation Resume

The Presentation format is probably the one you are most used to. It is the standard format traditionally used for mailing or faxing, or presenting directly to an interviewer. However, since  these are not the only ways your resume will be distributed, you need to know the other formats as well.

The Keyword Scanable Resume

The scanable format is a relatively new invention. In today’s high-tech corporate climate, the bigger companies will often scan resumes into a database for future retrieval. Occasional you will find a smaller company that does also, but primarily it’s the major companies. For this format your resume will need to be stripped of some of its fancy fonts or decorative things like lines or any decorative things. These have no place in a resume anyway. A simple format like Arial or Tahoma works best. It is essential to make sure none of the letters or other elements touches each other, that’s why we recommend either of these two fonts (Verdana works well also) since this can confuse optical scanning software.

Just as if you were optimizing a website, this resume format is also optimized with a specific list of keywords, separated by commas or periods. Use the most commonly nouns that indicate your experience such as your job title (e.g. Systems Analyst or Account Executive), software you are familiar with: (Microsoft Excel, or other software.), or Education (Masters of Business Administration, BS in Engineering). You would place this keyword summary just before the Professional Experience section.

The ASCII Resume

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) resumes are the third type of resume. This type of resume is essential to any modern-day job search, especially if you are emailing your resume to a prospective employer. It also can be used for posting your resume to an online job-bank site such as Monster.com. Like the Keyword Scannable Resume, it should ideally include a Keyword Summary. One major difference that is unlike the Keyword Scannable format, this one uses a proportional font (generally Courier or Courier New)

Unless the employer already knows and trusts you, you are going to have to send it this new way. The old ways are long gone.

If you follow these directions you will find your job hunting a little easier

This means you are going to basically strip your beautiful resume of all its attractive “bells and whistles.”

Sound simple? It really is, once you have done it. Remember, things are changing and the only way to succeed is to change with them

Good luck!

Be sure to repeat this process for your cover letter. When cutting and pasting the cover letter to an email document, just place the cover letter before the resume with some kind of separation indication, such as, you guessed it, COVER LETTER. After the cover letter is finished, cut and paste the resume with the indication- you guessed it again- RESUME. Difficult, right? Now just simply zip it away to the employer of your choice, and you’re done!

In case you missed last Monday’s headlines, the announcement by the National Bureau of Economic Research made it official: we’re in a recession. I doubt many folks were shocked by this grim news, as it only reinforces what most Americans already knew – times are tough and belts are tightening.

Layoffs are an unfortunate by-product of economic recessions, but if you take steps now to recession-proof your resume, you won’t be caught unprepared if you find yourself downsized. Here’s how:

Emphasize Ways You Have Boosted The Bottom Line For Your Employers

Now more than ever, employers will be trying to preserve profits and pinch pennies. Use your resume to prove your talents in this area and you’re bound to leave a favorable impression. This might include contributions you have made (either independently or as a member of a team) to cost-cutting measures, revenue-generating efforts, customer acquisition/retention initiatives, or productivity/efficiency increases. Wherever possible, quantify these achievements with numbers for maximum impact and credibility. Here are a few examples using dollars, percentages, and before/after comparisons:

• Saved company $5K annually by transferring print newsletter to online format.
• Minimized costly rework on widget product line to increase profit margin by 15% (equivalent to $2.8M in annual revenue gains).
• Served on continuous improvement taskforce that cut store excess inventory in half  to deliver annual bottom-line gains of $17K+.

Showcase Examples Of Resourcefulness

Employers value candidates with a proven history of innovative thinking. In other words – the ability to do more with less. But these skills become even more sought after during tough economic times.

A friend of mine who’s in the HR field calls this the “what if…” factor. She says that even when limits are placed on hiring, she’s always on the lookout for people who excel in asking “what if?” questions. As in, “What if we did it this way instead of that way?”

Think about ways that you stepped outside the box to add value to customers without increasing costs to your employer. Or instances when you came up with a unique solution or creative idea that improved processes or increased efficiency. Or examples of how you have adopted a “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” philosophy in performing your duties. Showcase a few of your best “resourceful hero” stories on your resume and you will definitely be noticed!

Highlight Versatility, Flexibility, And Adaptability To Change

Have you assumed expanded responsibilities beyond the scope of your initial job duties? Are you handling tasks that previously were performed by two or more employees? Have you led or participated in successful turnaround or change-management initiatives? Individuals who can demonstrate their abilities to help employers survive – and even thrive – during tough times are sure to be a hot commodity now and in the months ahead. Include a few key details of your strengths in these areas in your opening profile summary at the top of your resume, and/or add a few bulleted accomplishments relating to change-agent leadership and adaptability in the “Experience” section of your resume.

Start A “Kudos” File

If you don’t already keep copies of your performance reviews and letters of appreciation, client thank-yous, or congratulatory emails you receive, start now. This provides excellent fodder for your resume. You can include quoted excerpts right on your resume, either in a separate “Endorsements” section or sprinkled throughout the resume.

Keep Your Resume And Online Profile Updated

If you’re worried about your job security due to the uncertainty of the current economy, your best strategy is to keep your resume updated. The same goes for online profiles you may have on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, or FolioClick.

Have you ever asked this question of yourself? I know I have several times. I was talking to a friend of mine just two days ago. He told me he had been laid off from his sales job. His firm was a new start up company selling medical equipment and hired 35 people. His equipment was pretty expensive but being the new kids on the block it was hard to get a toe hold and their financing dried up. Hence, no job!

Unfortunately this is happening all over the country as you well know. Well what’s the answer? Many times it is getting new training in a field where jobs are available. “Where’s that?” you ask. Here’s where:

In their recent “Who’s Hiring in This Economy?” special report, a Cleveland, OH TV network news affiliate checked the latest numbers from Manpower (the world leader in temporary, temp-to-hire, contract, and permanent employment services); Forbes magazine; and the networking service to find what each consider to be the top “recession-proof” jobs. They predict continued job openings in areas including:

• Accounting: The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
• Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, with openings at many hospitals.
• Physical Therapy: Openings exist at many hospitals.
• IT: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
• Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
• Security: You can’t have enough security these days.
• Building Maintenance: As companies hold off on new offices, it’s paramount that they take care of existing facilities.
• The U.S. Census Bureau: Now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010.

And here’s more positive news: regardless of the industry and field you are targeting, there are a number of strategies you can adopt to increase your chances of recession-era job search success. Here are my top picks:

Arm yourself with a recession-proof resume. With increasing numbers of laid-off workers competing for jobs, it’s important that you have a flawless, compelling, keyword-rich, and employer-focused resume. Consider hiring a resume writing firm to write your resume. Your initial investment is well worth the competitive edge you’ll gain, and it will be more than recouped in your first paycheck.

If you need training in any of the above areas, get it! Help is available for learning computer repair. Do you know how much these people charge per hour? From $65 to $75 per hour, but you had better know your stuff for that much money.

How about commissioned sales people? In the right field the sky’s the limit, but again you need specialized training. Yes even in this economy, at this time many sales people are doing it! They are down from where they were when the economy was red hot but jobs are there.

Security? With the right background (Police science or comparable) you can start your own firm and do quite well. Everyone is jumpy and security is a hot item right now.

For many others the answer is to take their skills and experience and free-lance it. There are jobs to be had, you just have to be creative and look.