Many people would love to get a better job. And most ofthese same people have the proper training and skills to achievethis goal. Unfortunately, so many job hunters have very poorcommunication skills. They are unable to clearly tell potentialemployers about their job qualifications. In short, they do nothave good job seeking skills. In many cases, this prevents themfrom getting a high paying job that they could easily do. Often,the job will go to someone who is less skilled but who haswritten a eye-catching resume.
Often, job seekers have a few mistaken opinions aboutpotential employers. They believe that employers are able toeasily separate the qualified job applicants from the lessqualified applicants. But this is likely not true. Sometimesthere are from 30 to 300 resumes for the same job. So theinterviewer first does a fast screening of all the resumes toeliminate as many as possible. The "good" resumes usually make it through the screening process. Many times the best job candidateis screened out due to a poor resume.
In today's business world there is often many qualifiedapplicants applying for the same job. What if, out of all ofthose who apply, one job seeker turns in a skillful resume? Whodo you think stands the best chance of getting the job? It's theone with the "best" resume, of course. This is so often true even through some of the other applicants may be better qualified forthe job.
In order to get a good job you must communicate to theemployer that you are ready, willing, and able to do the job. Soif you are capable of producing a top notch job resume, youdefinitely increase your chances of getting a better job.
Virtually every potential employer will want to see a resumefrom you. The resume will determine who gets a job interview.Your resume is a mini-statement about yourself. After readingyour resume the employer should have a better "feel" for you as a person and as a potential employer. It serves to get acquaintedwith the employer so that they can decide if they want to knowmore about you.
The resume is the first step, your introduction to anemployer. First impressions really do count. If you make a poorfirst impression, you'll never get to step two -- the jobinterview.
To the purpose of your resume is to make a good first impression. In effect, your resume should tell the employer that you have good abilities and are truly interested in working. This report will help you make that good first impression. And it could very well help you to get the better job you're looking for.
RESUME BASICS
All good resumes follow the same general basic guidelines. Whilethere is some flexibility in these guidelines, you don't want tostray too far from them. You want a resume that is bold,exciting, and enticing. But not too much so. You also want aresume that is somewhat conservative. In other words, it must bebold. Not flashy. You must show that you have confidence in yourabilities, but not sound like a braggart. You must sound eager to do the job, but not desperate. So there is a fine line that youmust walk in order to produce the best possible resume.
You want to use intelligent language. However, you don'twant to try and impress the employer with long, flowery, oruncommon words or phrases. Use everyday language wheneverpossible. Of course, if you are applying for a highly technicalposition, it's acceptable to use some of the special terms usedin that particular profession. But as a rule you should keep itsimple and straight to the point.
The word resume comes from the French word "resumer" whichmeans to summarize. So the exact purpose of a resume is tosummarize your experience, knowledge, and accomplishments.Therefore, you must avoid being too wordy. Say exactly what youmean in the least number of words possible.
The length of your resume is important. Resumes should befrom 1 to 3 pages long. Don't be tempted to make your resumelonger than 3 pages, even if you have a lot to tell. Remember, aresume is supposed to be a summary. A resume that is too longsimply will bore the reader. There will be so much material thatnothing will stand out and be remembered.
RESUME APPEARANCE
The overall appearance of your resume is also important. Asloppy looking resume will greatly lessen your chance of gettinga job interview. The first thing that an employer, or personnelmanager, evaluating your resume will notice is it's appearance.There are several different things that can be easily done toincrease the overall appearance of your resume.
The first of these appearance factors is the paper that yourresume is printed on. There are many different kinds of paperother than regular typing paper. You could make an improvement by using a colored paper. I suggest a subdued color like brown, off- white, or gray.
Next, you could use a better grade of paper. Go to a localoffice supply store and examine the different types of writingpaper. You'll notice some big differences. Pick out a nicelooking, more expensive grade of paper for your resume.
The next thing to consider is the quality of the materialthat is typed onto the resume. Never use a low quality typewriter to type your resume. If necessary, rent a good qualitytypewriter. Then make certain that it has a fresh ribbon in it.It's very important that you make sure the writing on your resume looks good. This means clean, crisp, and sharp looking letters.
Another good way to produce a top looking resume is byhaving it typeset. If your resume was produced using a computerand saved on a disk, you can hire a commercial typesetter who can use this file. Or, you can locate another computer user who ownsa laser printer. Laser printers can produce a good grade oftypeset documents. The other alternative is to find a local wordprocessing service that can typeset your resume for you.
You can use the typeset master copy of your resume to makemore copies. But be certain that you use a top notch copyingmachine. Otherwise, you'll still end up with poor lookingresumes. Another alternative is to have the typesetter produce as many original copies as you need to ensure that they all lookgood.
A third aspect of your resume's appearance is moresubjective. It takes into account such things as the letterspacing, how each section is arranged, and it's overallappearance. Some resumes simply look better because of the waythey have been designed. At the end of this report, you'll see an example of a properly prepared resume.
Never overcrowd the resume. Leave some "white space" so thatimportant points can appear to pop out. Never submit a resumewith handwritten corrections. You can highlight sections of aresume by using a different typeface or size or by using"bullets."If possible, use larger letters for the headings used in the separate sections of the resume.
Never try to be too fancy by using wild colors, cutegraphics, and so forth. Don't be overly creative. A simple,straightforward, factual resume will do nicely. Make it standout, but stay conservative.
Another phase of your resume's appearance is it's accuracy.Make sure there are no misspelled words! Mistakes will create the wrong image.
Make sure that the punctuation is correct. And make surethat all of your columns line up. See that all of your facts arecorrect. Don't say you attended 3 years of college, but only show two years worth of grades. Potential employers will note allinaccuracies and wonder why they appear in your resume.
OPTIONAL DATA
There is a variety of personal data that may be somewhatcontroversial if included in your resume. In the past it wasacceptable to include all kinds of personal data, but times andlaws have changed. Affirmative Action laws have made it illegalto discriminate based on such things as age, sex, marital status, race, religion, and so forth. Therefore, most experts recommendagainst placing this kind of personal data into your resume.
Your salary requirements should not be listed in the resume,if you can avoid it. The reason is that if you put too low of asalary, you might be paid less than the real value of the job. If you put down a figure that's too high, you may not get considered for the job. If an employer likes you, it may be possible tonegotiate a higher salary during the interview stage.Another thing that your resume doesn't need is yourphotograph. Potential employers can decide if they are interested in you after reading your resume. They can see what you look like during the interview.
RESUME STYLES
There are several styles of resumes along with numerousvariations. Your experience and the kind of job you are applyingfor will help to determine the style of resume you use. The twobasic styles are: Chronological Resumes and Functional SkillsResumes. Some of the variations include the main themes ofbusiness, academic, general, student, standard, professional, orengineering.
A Chronological Resume lists work experience in reversechronological order (the most recent experience first). Itincludes some descriptive text about each position, usuallydescribed in about one paragraph.
This type of resume offers several advantages: it is widelyaccepted, they are easy to read, and they show a clear pattern of your development. The disadvantages include: it does nothighlight your major accomplishment(s), nor do they effectivelyshow your other skills.
Functional Skills Resumes highlight your skills andaccomplishments rather than providing a chronological record ofyour job history. Your accomplishments and skills are listed atthe beginning. Your job history is listed at the end of theresume.
This type of resume allows you to call attention to yourachievements. The major disadvantage is that employers may findit difficult to follow your work experience.
Many people discover that a combination of these two kindsof resumes is the best way to go. You may want to try severaldifferent types of combinations before settling upon a finaldesign.
WRITING YOUR RESUME
Some specific topics that your resume should cover are:
(1) Job Objective -- lets the employer know that you areinterested in a specific type of work. This can be done in 2 or 3
sentences.
Example: work in an analytical chemistry laboratory thatfocuses on environmental samples. Oversee and coordinate theactivities of other lab technicians.
(2) Summary of Qualifications -- is a short paragraph thatsummarizes your experience and skills. Example: I have 8 yearsexperience working on all p samples for metals C. Used CLIP and SW846 methods hases of analytical chemistry.Including work with a wide variety of instruments and computers.Was second-in-command of a lab with 8 technicians.
(3) Professional Skills -- is the section where you givespecific details about your qualifications. Example:
INSTRUMENTS OPERATEDA. Atomic Absorption SpectrometerB. Microwave Digestion SystemC. PolarographD. Laser FluorimeterE. IBM Computers
ADMINISTRATIONA. Supervised 8 technicians when the Department headwas absent.
ANALYSISA. Waste oils for metalsB. Water and soil
(4) Work Experience -- in this section you give a oneparagraph summary for each of your previous jobs. This shouldinclude starting and ending date, reason for leaving, job titleand duties, and any special accomplishments for each of the jobs.
(5) Education -- gives a summary of all schools attended,degrees earned, and special seminars or training courses that you have attended.
(6) Honors and Awards -- it's a good idea to list anyspecial awards you have received.
(7) Personal -- information about your hobbies andactivities should be included.
(8) Others -- professional organizations that you belong to,computer or programming skills, articles or books published.
(9) References -- you can state something like, "referencesavailable upon request," or list at least 3 on your resume.
It's important to include all of the basic information onyour resume. But, what is also important, is the way you say it.Don't use dull, lifeless statements. Instead use action words.Here are some typical action words:
Accelerated, achieved, advised, approved, assisted, built,calculated, completed, conceived, controlled, coordinated,created, decreased, defined, designed, developed, directed,earned, edited, engineered, evaluated, found, generated,implemented, improved, invented, managed, operated, organized,planned, proved, revised, scheduled, tested, trained, verified,wrote.
These words give the correct impression that you have beenresponsible for do different kinds of jobs tasks. In other words, you weren't just a follower. Of course, you should always betruthful. Don't try to oversell yourself by claiming you didthings that you didn't do.
As you can see, a resume is really a very simple document.It is not that difficult to produce a good resume, if you followthe simple steps outlined in this report. By dividing it intosections it becomes a much easier job. These different sectionsalso help you to stay organized. If you have worked on a specialproject or had a lofty responsibility on a previous job, you maywant to include that in a section all by itself. Example: "Iorganized a training department for AMCO Scientific and wasresponsible for overseeing the production of training lessons."
Another good way to get familiar with proper resume writingtechniques is to review a good resume. There's an exampleincluded in this report. You can use it as a model. Then produceseveral different resumes for yourself until you find the bestpossible combinations for your specific skills. You may also want to have a friend to read your resume and point out any problems.
UNCOVERING JOBS
Many people do not have good job hunting skills. They arenot experts at locating job openings for which they may bequalified. Here are some ideas to help you uncover those jobs.
NEWSPAPER ADS -- usually draw the greatest number ofapplicants, so you'll end up with a lot of competition. If youhave no geographic restrictions, you may want to check out ofstate newspapers.
Find a way to make your resume stand out so that it isn'tlost among the many applicants. Here are a couple of ideas:
(1) Send a customized cover letter with your resume.
(2) Call before you send the resume in. If possible, talk tothe person who will be doing the interview or who you'll beworking for. If this isn't possible, talk to the personneldirector about the job and let them know that your resume iscoming. This will help them to remember your name and may helpyou get through the resume screening process.
PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES -- these are agencies that tryto match employees and employers. These agencies vary in the waythey work. Some can be very helpful. Others are somewhatunscrupulous.
Your best chance is to go with an agency that specializes inyour field. Beware of agencies that continually run the same adbecause, often, they are just trying to build a list ofcandidates. I recommend that you only use agencies that don'trequire you to pay a fee.
TRADE JOURNALS AND PERIODICALS -- Are often the best placesto look. This is one of the primary means of job advertisementfor some types of professions. Example: The magazineEnvironmental Science continually carries ads for environmentalprofessionals.
Other good places to look include: trade shows andprofessional conventions, personnel offices, college placementoffices, friends you have who are in the same profession as you.
Another method is to simply go through the yellow pages andlook for companies which may need a person with your skills. Then contact these companies by phone and follow-up by sending in your resume.Job seeking is a skill that requires persistence. You mustnot become discouraged. Keep making plenty of contacts. Sooner or later, you'll find the job that's right for you.
THE JOB INTERVIEW
Most people are nervous when they go to a job interview.However, by preparing beforehand you won't have anything to worry about. Believe it or not, occasionally the person conducting theinterview is nervous, too!
Most interviewers will make a decision within the first 5 to10 minutes of the interview. There are a number of steps that you can take that will greatly improve your chances of getting thejob.
The first (and perhaps the most obvious) thing to consideris your appearance. No matter what type of job you apply for, you should dress appropriately. A nice suit is your best bet. Darkblue or a gray pinstripe are the best colors. Don't wear a loudtie. Make sure all of your clothes are wrinkle free and that your shoes are polished.
Women should wear a conservative suit dress. Avoid excessivejewelry, make-up, perfume and bright nail polish.
Interview do's and don'ts:
(1) Arrive early. If you arrive late, you'll be rushed andthe interviewer may consider you unreliable.
(2) Walk briskly, with purpose, and stand up straight.
(3) Don't smoke, chew gum, slouch, read a novel, or othersimilar activities while you are waiting in the lobby. If some of the company's literature is available, read that instead.
(4) Give the interviewer a firm handshake, and don't beafraid to look him or her in the eye.
(5) Be prepared. Carry an extra copy of your resume andacademic record.
(6) Don't talk too much ... or too little.
(7) Above all, try to be natural and relaxed. Be yourself.
Questions that the interviewer may ask you include: whatare your career goals? How many sick days have you taken in thepast two years? What are your strong points? Do you have anyhobbies? Why do you want this job? Tell me about yourself. Whatdid you like most or like least about your last job? Do you haveany questions? She or he may also ask you some specificquestions that relate to equipment or procedures you'll need touse on the job. This is a way of determining your overallknowledge and skills.
Before and during the interview ...
(1) Be positive and enthusiastic.
(2) Try to focus upon your accomplishments and achievementsin past jobs.
(3) Find out as much as possible about the job duties andrequirements of the position you are applying for. This will help you to be able to ask further questions.
(4) Find out as much as possible about the company.
(5) If you are really interested in the job, let theinterviewer know about it.
(6) Questions you need to ask include: when will the jobstart? To whom do I report? What would a typical day be like?
(7) Don't be too concerned about salary and benefits atfirst. If you are selected, they will make you a salary offer.Toward the end of the interview you can ask about benefits.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
There are a number of things that you can do after theinterview that will make you an even more attractive jobcandidate. Here are a few tips:
(1) Write a thank you letter. If you really want the job,say so in the letter.(2) If you have not heard anything within 8 to 10 days, youmay want to call. Assure them that you are not trying to bepushy, but that you are just interested.If you aren't hired, you can still send a thank you letterto the company and ask them to keep you in mind for any othersimilar job openings. Also, you may want to ask the interviewerfor a specific reason as to why you weren't hired. Thisinformation will help you as you search for other jobs.
CONCLUSION
Getting a good job that you want is not always easy. Thereare many qualified people after every top paying position that is available. But if you use the strategies described in thisreport, you'll stand a much better chance of success. Bepersistent and don't sell yourself short. You could end up with a much better job in a very short period of time.
SAMPLE RESUME
Jerry Jobseeker
12345 Main St.
Anytown, U.S.A.
555-5555
SKILLS
Professional Skills: Experienced in operating a wide variety of
analytical instruments including, Flame and
Furnace AA, Microwave digestion, Laser
flourimeter, and more.
Familiar with the full range of EPA and CLIP
methods and protocols for inorganic analysis
Expert with IBM-PC computers and have over
ten years of computer experience.
BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE
1971 to 1977Austin Powder Company, McAuthur, Ohio
Chemistry
Chemist:
Performed a wide range of chemical analysis
on raw materials, finished products and
competitor's samples. Used classical wet
chemistry methods.
1977 to 1982Mead Paper Company, Chillicothe, Ohio
Mead Research
Paper Technologist:
Worked to improve paper formulations, solve
problems, and improve quality using pilot
plant and mill studies. Performed a wide
range of paper tests, wrote reports, and
evaluated results.
1982 to PresentMartin Marietta, Piketon, Ohio
Senior Chemist:
Performed a full range of analytical methods
for metals on all types of samples (soil,
water, air, waste samples). Responsible for
quality control and in charge of department
supervising 14 technicians when supervisor
was absent.
EDUCATION
Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
BS in Chemistry, 1971
Minor: History, Math
GPA: 2.4 Concentrated in inorganic chemistry
PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETIES
1975 to PresentAmerican Chemical Society
PERSONAL DATAI am very active with a number of hobbies
including: golf, gardening, baseball,
computers, and writing. I have authored a
number of books about computers and various
chemical related subjects.
REFERENCESAvailable upon request.
Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: www.best-internet-businesses.com
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