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Archive for the ‘Five Star Resume Writers’ Category

With so many individuals competing for jobs, the only thing that will differentiate you from the rest of the equally qualified crowd is what you achieved while on the job. But be warned—an accomplishment must be quantified in order to hold any weight with the hiring manager or recruiter.

Too many times an individual writes: “Reorganized an entire department per management instructions.” That’s not an accomplishment, that is a daily duty. An accomplishment would read: “Generated savings in excess of $25,000 annually by reorganizing the marketing department and employing temp workers rather than full-time staff.” This speaks to what a hiring manager and/or recruiter wants to see: how you can make them money and how you can save them money.

To further strengthen your resume, make certain to put at least one, preferably two, quantified and relevant accomplishments in the Qualifications Summary. This is especially true if you use the word “proven” to describe yourself. For example, you write: “Accounting professional with comprehensive experience and proven results in negotiations with the IRS.”

Proven by whom? You? That’s not enough proof for a hiring manager or recruiter. They want more. It’s better to write: “Accounting professional with comprehensive experience and proven results in negotiations with the IRS as evidenced by the $0.5 million in savings, resulting from the 2009 audit.”

The above clearly states that you saved your company a half-million dollars through your expertise. That speaks volumes to hiring managers and puts you well above the others competing for the same position.

Hiring managers routinely receive hundreds, perhaps thousands, of responses from applicants for any given job. To avoid having your resume sink into this sea of paper, it’s imperative to stand out from the crowd and make a good first impression. A compelling cover letter that meets five essential requirements will convince a hiring manager to read an applicant’s resume.

Rule #1: Create appealing appearance
The resume and cover letter must be aesthetically pleasing and consistent in appearance. This includes using the same heading and fonts for each.

Rule #2: Target your audience
Always use the hiring manager’s name in the salutation. If the contact’s name isn’t provided in the job posting, a bit of Internet research or a well-structured phone call can produce results.

Rule #3: Produce a strong opening
A dynamic opening paragraph is essential to capture and retain a hiring manager’s interest. Pared down to essentials for a quick and effective read, it should reference the position you are seeking and include a brief statement as to why you believe you are qualified to fill the job.

Rule #4: Showcase accomplishments
Include a bulleted area to emphasize accomplishments pertinent to the targeted job.

Rule #5: Close with a proactive statement
Always initiate further action at the end of a cover letter. A proactive closing indicates that you will call within a few days to see if a time might be scheduled to meet. Then, be sure to follow through on the action you include in your letter.

Look at all the company closings. The layoffs. The downsizing in corporate America.

Unless you just landed on the planet you know that the job market has produced record numbers of people looking for employment. It’s time to dust off the old resume. When was the last time it was updated? Does it really reflect your work experience or does it come across as flat or…“bleh”?

With the current job market becoming more and more competitive every day, your resume needs to stand out from the crowd. Recent statistics have revealed that the average job posting receives over 1000 resumes for a single job opening. What makes yours deserve notice?

Been out of work for a while? A professional resume service can help smooth gaps on your resume. You have tried it your way; how is that working for you? If it isn’t then you need help!

Whether you are looking to change careers or have been out of the job market for an extended time, a professional resume service can help translate your current skills to another industry or help you get a job in the same market.

A professional resume service is just what the doctor ordered. I know that many people consider these pricey. But consider what you are getting; it’s a bargain. No one has quite the same experience or qualifications as you, similar but not quite the same. What you need is a professional who knows how to showcase what you are offering.

You get the resume that you deserve. A resume created by a professional resume writer with countless happy customer testimonials and a 100% satisfaction rating. A resume that will make you a star, highlighting just the perfect amount of information needed by an employer to get you that all important job interview which will ultimately lead you to employment.

They will help you shorten your job search, give you a competitive edge, get you a salary that you deserve. A professional resume service will open doors and win you the attention to get your phone ringing.

Whether you are just starting out in the workforce or are a seasoned professional looking for career advancement, it is vital to your job search to have a resume that looks the best it can be and most of us don’t have those skills, but a professional resume writer does. You resume must do one thing and nothing else. It is meant to get you in front of the person that can say…

Your Hired!