Resume Writing Success

A resume is essential when looking for a job. If you don’t believe me, try conducting your job search without one. Even if your lucky enough get an interview without a resume, you will be faced with explaining why you do not have one when someone ask you for your resume at the interview. More than ever before, employers require resumes. And, more than ever before, employers will use your resume to determine whether not to grant you an interview.

An attractive, strategically sound resume can speed you along on your job search. But beware, there are strategic blunders that you can make on your resume that will hinder your job search and, in some cases, bring it to a screeching halt. With today’s technology, nearly everyone has an attractive print shop quality resume. However, the keys to an exceptional resume do not lie in the appearance, but in content and organization, i.e. strategy. How important is resume strategy? I have witnessed qualified clients who went literally from zero interviews to more interviews than they could handle by changing nothing more than their resume content and organization. If you want to get the most out of your resume, you need to come up with a resume strategy that will work best for you in your particular situation. Also, you must avoid the strategic pitfalls that every resume writer needs to be aware.

Day in and day out, I help people evaluate their resume strategies, and after more than 19 years of taking note of such things, here are the ten (in no particular order) most common strategic blunders I have seen people make on their resume:

1. Being less than a straight shooter. I am more than a little surprised by the number of clients I work with who want to include exaggeration or lies in their resume strategy. Their reasoning is that everyone lies on their resume -- that is how you get ahead. Don’t believe it! There is no surer way to put limits on a career than building it on something less than the truth. By lying, you may experience some short term success, but the higher up you, go the more vulnerable you will be to exposure. Companies can tolerate some dings, nicks, and shortcomings in your past far more than they can tolerate being deceived or lied to. The higher up you go, the more thoroughly you will be investigated. Also, at the higher levels, you will run into remarkably skilled interviewers who know how to ferret out half-truths, lies and deceit.

2. Following old, outdated, and inappropriate advice. One of the most common and most damaging mistakes you can make on your resume is to continue to use the advice from your college career advisors long after it is relevant. They probably told you to, "Keep it to one page! Use short bulleted phrases! Start each sentence and phrase with an action verb!" This strategy may have worked when you were 22 years old with little or no work experience, but this advice has an extremely short shelf-life once your career is under way. Once you get some experience under your belt, you can probably throw your college resume away.

3. Blindly following absolute rules. The first rule of good resume writing is that there are no absolutes. Any rules you have heard about resume writing can be broken if you have a compelling reason for doing so. There are resume writing guidelines that have evolved for practical reasons, but they are simply guidelines, not absolute rules. If you are getting advice that resumes should always be formatted one way or another, or should always be a certain length, or always contain or omit certain information, take this advice with a grain of salt. Effective resume strategy precludes the limitations of absolute rules.

4. Using gimmicks to get noticed. A resume is first of all a business document. Being outrageous to get noticed works against a qualified candidate. Employer’s value professionalism over flashiness. You can dismiss any claims to mysteries, secrets, or tricks that will get your resume noticed or read. Like with all forms of print advertising it comes down to content and organization.

5. Inappropriate style for your industry. Many industries have evolved their own distinctive resume style. If you don’t want to look like an outsider, you need the right resume for your area of expertise. Resumes in some professions may be credentials based, while other professions may have higher regard for hands-on experience. Professions frequently have their own jargon and set of buzz words. Here is a partial list of professional areas with their own clear stylistic variations: technical; legal; finance; medical; academic; entertainment; consulting; art/music/TV/film.

6. Being overly broad. While I can certainly understand being open to a variety of positions, you can not come across as if you haven’t a clue about what kind of job you want. Resumes that give no direction at all are generally useless. If you don’t know what you are good at or what you want, you cannot expect a potential employer to figure it out for you.

7. Failure to let loose. If you have a hard time writing good things about yourself, get some help. Your resume needs to be as persuasive as you can possibly make it. You are expected put your best foot forward on your resume. Employers have no problem with that as long as you are not telling them a bunch of lies.

8. Failure to have a Headline: A Profile/Summary/Highlights section at the top of the resume. Your resume should start out, in as few lines as possible, by telling the reader why he or she should be interested in you. Don’t let any narrow-minded resume traditionalist talk you into leaving this out of your resume. There are many reasons for this strategy, and two compelling are: 1) It gives the potential employer a quick snapshot of the person submitting the resume. They know right away where you are coming from, and have a good idea of what you have to offer them. They can then read the rest of the resume to see if your claims are credible. 2) It gives you an opportunity to generate interest by presenting your skills, abilities and accomplishments right at the top of the resume in the strongest possible terms.

9. Failure to include accomplishments -- both tangible and intangible. The quickest and easiest way to improve your resume is add accomplishments. It indicates that you have done things right in the past and, therefore, are likely to do things right in the future. If you have been working for some time in an area where results are quantifiable and verifiable, such as sales, your failure to include accomplishments will be conspicuous by its absence. Some jobs may not be quantifiable, but you can still include intangible accomplishments. This might include participation in projects, improving operations, formal recognition, etc.

10. Including negative information. You control what goes in your resume and what does not go in your resume. Though everything that is in your resume needs to be accurate, you do not have to put everything in your resume. To the point: you do not have to include information that can harm you. I like to call this "strategic omissions." For example, if you have significant gaps in your work history, there is no rule that you must put dates of employment on the resume. Will this raise some eyebrows and cause you to lose some interviews? Possibly, but you will you have to decide which is more harmful, to include the dates or omit them. Other common areas for strategic omissions are brief periods of employment, jobs out of your field, jobs held more than 10 years ago, and date of graduation.

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How to Become A Travel Agent

There is no big mystery as to why so many people jump at the chance to get rich quick with a minimum of work. After all, money opens many doors in life, and when you do not have to work very hard to get it, you have plenty of time left over to enjoy the good things with your family. Unfortunately, these kinds of arrangements are hard to find. That does not mean that a lot of people are not trying to sell them.

It is not easy to stumble across get rich quick schemes on the Internet, and many people are tempted to jump into them. One such online business offer is the Coastal Vacations business opportunity. But, the question is, can it really be the answer you have been looking for to make the kind of money you want on a schedule you want? Or is this another scheme set up to exploit your dreams and use them to separate you from your hard earned money?

Coastal Vacations is a program that sets people up essentially as travel agents. For an upfront fee that varies, the company sets you up with a website that you can use to sell vacation packages. You then split the commission with the home company. It sounds pretty straight forward, but there are some red flags with the Coastal Vacations business. The first red flag is that many of the websites that are set up by the company are set up to sell the business idea and not the different travel packages.

This kind of set up means that many people are making money simply by recruiting new people to be part of the sales force. This illegal trading structure is known as a pyramid scheme is a notorious way for people to lose their hard earned money. Another red flag is that in addition to a sign up fee that is not insignificant, salespeople have to give the entire amount of their first two sales to the home company of Coastal Vacations. They keep no commissions. This makes the initial investment even more substantial and is a worrying sign.

Last but not least, the Internet is filled with people claiming to have had a bad experience when trying a Coastal Vacations business opportunity. With such a sizable initial investment, getting burned by Coastal Vacations is a big deal. What does all of this mean for you if you are interested in a Coastal Vacations business? It does not mean you have to discount it outright, but it definitely means you need to do your homework.

Before you hand over your money, make sure you understand how you earn money selling vacations and that you are not only going to be trying to recruit new salespeople to pay sign up fees. Find out their policy for handling complaints and find out if you can get your money back within a certain time frame if you are dissatisfied with the outcome. As with any business opportunity, protecting yourself first is crucial.

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3 easy steps to a carrer comeback

Even if it has been a number of years since you last held a job outside of your home, you will need to rely on a number of different skills to help see you through this transition. Approach every interview as an opportunity to begin or restart your career.

Once you have made the decision to return to the workforce, you will want to do your homework. Research what kinds of industries your particular skills or training are best suited for. Not every person is right for every company. The idea is to find out which ones are the best match for you and then target your search in that direction.

The steps that follow will help you find employment bliss!

1. Assess your skills

Your job search should really begin with you. You will need to determine if you have a unique skill set or what you are really good at. For example, you might be a great typist or have extensive knowledge of computers. These are skills that you should use to your advantage.

Before you even begin to write your resume, write down those things that make you a good job candidate. Everyone has skills that a potential employer could benefit from but remember you have to stand out from the crowd.

2. Build A Powerful Resume

The resume that you will circulate in your job search is a reflection of you. From that piece of paper, you have the power to highlight your skills and experiences. You will need to tailor your resume to the needs of the employer. Your resume is an ever-changing, constantly evolving document.

While you want to highlight your skills, you also want to be truthful. You have to be able to actually do what your resume says you can do. Your resume might land you the interview - but remember, you will have to back your resume up with proof. Falsifying information will make any potential employer think you are untrustworthy, an undesirable quality in any employee.

3. Build Your Network

After you have armed yourself with your resume and interviewing techniques, you are ready for work - or are you? Don't forget to build a network of professionals and friends. They can be a source of invaluable information as well as job leads.

It is a good idea to join a professional association in your line of work. You can also attend job training seminars, various networking functions, or even job fairs. Job fairs are great to perfect your interviewing skills.

Whenever one of your contacts gives you a tip or job lead, be sure to send a quick thank-you note, regardless if the opportunity proved to be fruitful or not. Kindness goes a long way and you will find that they will be happy to provide you with assistance in the future if they think their efforts are appreciated. You might even be able to use a reliable contact for a professional reference.

Whatever the case maybe, always nurture your professional relationships.

No matter how long you've been out of work, you can revitalize your career. You just have to be smart about it.

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Basic Steps for Career Advancement

Being the best at what you do is very important when it comes to career advancement, having the drive and ambition to reach your goals is also just as important. Advice in a person to become the best at anything he or she does is easier said than done, this article will provide you some useful pointers you can follow when you are trying to get a job, change your current career or simply become the best at anything you do.

-- Start Building up a Network of Friends

This is something not many people do but it is extremely important to pay attention to such activity, we're not going to say that friends are in valuable "tools" needed in order to get ahead in life however, if you build it trustworthy network of friends you can all mutually help each other find the best career opportunities and get in a better financial situation.

It has been estimated that nearly 40 to 50% of all jobs are or originated and obtained through contact networks, friends and family members qualify as part of your contacts. They contact network becomes extremely useful when you're trying to change carriers or when you are leaving your current job for a better one.

When to start working at a company make sure to become friends with as many people as possible, get their phone numbers and keep yourself in touch with them in a way that won't bother their individuality and make you look like a hassle. An occasional phone call or quick conversation is good enough to keep your network of contacts "alive"

-- Take Your Time to Research and Identify Your Next Job

No one feels happy working at a place where doing repetitive tasks that won't be enjoyed, in order to have a successful career your dream job (or field of work) must be first identified. If you fail to identify the niche you're happy working in, it is still not late to take a couple days to research the field that will make you feel good with yourself and you will enjoy.

Make sure to take in consideration of your desires and future plans in direct relation to the financial compensation, matching his factors with the right profile will help you find not only a job but a great career.

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Mistakes job seekers make

With the amount of jobseekers actively looking for employment, when you apply for your dream job – you are in competition. It is vital that you optimize your odds by appearing to be the most appropriate applicant. There are some common errors that many jobseekers will inevitably make without realising it.

When looking for a job, most people will revise their old CV and add any recent experience that may be absent. This sounds like the first thing to do when starting a job hunt, however, if you want to assert yourself as the ideal candidate, it is important to do more that just dust off an old CV. To impress employers, your CV should be adapted to each specific position you apply for.

Consider the skills and qualifications this particular position will require. By writing a CV that appeals directly to the employer’s needs and necessities, you will improve your odds of success. When reading a CV, employers will generally examine it for an about 30 seconds. If they notice something relevant to the position, eg experience or certain skills, they are more likely to read through thoroughly.

Once you have completed your CV, you should improve your chances further by writing a covering letter to be sent with it. Many people are happy to write this in a very general and impersonal way so that it can be sent out to numerous companies. Employers will most certainly be more interested in those candidates that have made a reference to the company itself, for example “I would like to work for your company because…”

Before sending your CV and covering letter, ask a few friends or relatives to read through it to check for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Both documents will be considered as examples of you work and should therefore be good quality.

Many positions advertised today will be open for application through the internet. This means that for many jobs, you will need to apply via email. If this is the case for your position, your email should be more than a quick note with an attachment. You should consider each email you send as an example of your writing skills and avoid using shorthand for example ‘hav’ instead of ‘have’ and ‘u’ instead of ‘you’. This will look unprofessional and employers are far less likely to even consider your application. Print out both the email and attachments before sending them and review their content. It may also be useful to send the email to a friend first to ensure that it will be received as you want it to look.

When invited to attend an interview, some are aware that it is more than just an opportunity for employers to get to know you. Employers will be more compelled to consider your application if you sound genuinely interested. When your interviewer asks whether you have any questions, always think of some to ask. Before you go along to the interview, have a list of a few questions that you would like to ask. This will not only make you look more prepared, but also more interested

Following an interview, it is a common misconception that there is nothing to do but wait to hear your interviewer’s feedback. It is never a bad idea to send a ‘Thank you’ letter or email, thanking your interviewer for the opportunity as well as his/her time. If you do not hear from your interviewer after a few days, it is a good idea to telephone. It is tempting to keep your distance to avoid ‘getting on anyone’s nerves’ but the persistent jobseeker is usually a successful one!

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How to write the perfect cv

Print your CV on decent paper. Don't go overboard with watermarked or decorated paper, but don't print it on scrap paper with failed print-outs on the reverse. This document represents you.

Keep it simple. Employers don't want to see colourful titles, text or images, the information should be presented as clearly as possible with headers to distinguish the different sections. Think of it as a business document. You don't want your clients to think you spend all day making colourful titles or adding clip art. Your focus should be on the content itself.

Proof read your CV yourself. Computer spellcheckers are not as good as a brain and a dictionary. Particularly if the job you are applying for requires communication skills, you should ensure your CV is grammatically as good as it can be, as this is the first piece of work your potential employers will be judging you on.

Contact details

There is a certain amount of information which CVs should contain :

- Name
- Address
- Phone number & email address

Think twice before including any sort of networking website URL (such as your Facebook or Bebo profile), as you should be fully prepared for employers to look at all the information provided on your page when assessing whether you are the right person for the job. Even if you are careful about what you put on your page, what if a friend posts a message about a crack smoking weekend or a fight you were involved in?

Personal profile

It is a good idea to have some sort of personal profile at the top of your CV. Don't go into too much depth or explanation but you should summarise your skillset and experience, maybe even with an idea of what you want to do next (make sure it is in line with the job description you are applying for).

Skills, Employment & Education

There's no mathematical equation to writing the perfect CV. Many people will offer you set ways of doing things but your CV should be uniquely tailored both to you and the job you are applying for. Things which you might include on a CV for certain job applications would be a waste of space on another. The best idea is to read the job description and custom-build your CV to match the specification.

You should include a list of skills you possess, but whether this should be a list of skills with descriptions or a list of jobs or qualifications with a skills breakdown is your choice. Many people format their CVs with Education and Employment sections with descriptions of the different roles, duties, skills and responsibilities held.

Sometimes to list your employment and education is missing out a lot of your more important accomplishments. Let's say you organised a cake sale for charity, or a school newsletter - Education or Employment? It doesn't fit into either category neatly but clearly displays you are a motivated and organised person - Sometimes exactly the qualities employers are seeking. Consider an 'Accomplishments' or 'Achievements' section for any activities you have taken part in which show you in a good light. Remember to relate everything to individual skills; teamwork, organisation, responsibility etc.

Other CVs will have a more general list of skills (Communication, IT, Organisation, Teamwork, Customer service...) with reference to certain jobs, education or experiences contained elsewhere on the CV.

Even if you decide to have a less formal skills list, you should still list all your academic attainment and at least your last 2 years of employment with dates so potential employers can see how you have spent your time. Often graduates who do not find jobs immediately after education can have trouble finding a job because employers can see by their CV that they haven't worked since they graduated. If you have gaps of months or years on your CV be prepared to be asked about them. You can talk about spending time with family, volunteering for philanthropic causes or helping someone start their own business. Employers expect applicants to be slightly creative with the truth on CVs, but be prepared to be quizzed on your volunteer work or business start-up.

Interests & Hobbies

Many people put a 'Hobbies' or 'Interests' section toward the end of their CV. This is not the opportunity to tell your employer how much you like to pick your nose or watch television. Employers will either be looking for interests relevant to the job (for example being interested by the media for a PR job) or interests which show you to be a rounded, popular person (meaning you will probably fit in well to the working environment).

References

References are important, but are often excluded from a CV to save space. If you are going to miss out references to make room for your skills, employment and education it is good idea to just write "References available upon request". Employers will want a reference who has known you in a professional or academic context, preferably someone in a position of power and/or responsibility.

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How To Start A Consulting Business

Starting your own consulting business can be one of the most challenging but rewarding entrepreneurial endeavors an individual can embark on. If you have a great deal of expertise in your field and your skills are highly sought after, then you might have what it takes to go independent and really start earning what you are worth. Some consultants may be surprised to discover how much their employer is billing the end clients for their hours, and seek to capture 100% of those hourly rates. However, a career in consulting is not ideal for everyone. As with any important decision, conduct as much research as possible before making up your mind.

The advantages to becoming an independent consultant are numerous, and the right preparation can help to ensure the early success of a consulting business. Financial backing is, of course, crucial. Whether it is a robust savings account or the support of a financial patron, it is vital to have a strong foundation financially. In many cases, an independent consultant will also need to be able to pay for their own medical benefits, disability insurance, general liability business insurance and professional liability insurance at high individual rates; unless an umbrella company or employer of record is utilized to secure group rates. You’ll also need to research what to charge for your hourly or project based billing rates. The right rate needs to cover you for the additional overhead of being in business for yourself, while still remaining competitive in the marketplace.

In order to achieve success working independently, an individual must be well organized and self-motivated. For many, having the freedom to define your hours, at least to some degree, is incentive enough to start a consulting business. Still, there are several aspects to consider before setting out on your own. Managing one’s self can prove difficult for some. Without proper planning, scheduling and organizing can be a challenge. There is the financial aspect to starting a consulting business as well. Finding jobs for yourself can be a grueling process that can test your confidence and your bank account simultaneously. To succeed as an independent consultant you will need to be able to handle the pressures of motivating and organizing yourself.

Another important aspect of successful consulting is going through the process of building your individual business. Using an Umbrella Company or an Employer of Record can also help you take care of particulars such as benefits, taxes and insurance, however they are not in the business of finding work for you - you must have your own clientele. A staffing firm is an organization which can help you find work, however the exchange is that they will typically take a high markup on your rate. Be sure to compare prices with other types of companies. An umbrella company or an employer of record may not be quite as expensive if you have the ability to line up your own assignments and clients.

Another way to structure your company is by self incorporating. In this scenario, the independent consultant is responsible for all legal and insurance needs. An alternative to self incorporating is working with an umbrella company or an employer of record. Self incorporation involves freedom and independence, but also a great deal of responsibility and administrative overhead.

Beyond these structural elements, there are a few important steps that can be taken to help make a consulting business successful. It is crucial to be constantly marketing yourself. Building clientele, following up with clients and creating a professional image for yourself are all necessary if you are to find success as a consultant. It is also important to get on the vendor list. This will help you become recognized by larger corporations which provide the most lucrative consulting projects. Working with an umbrella company or an employer of record can help in this regard as well. Joining one of these organizations can be a great benefit for any consultant. Plugging yourself into a larger corporate structure can help you obtain contractor compliance and vendor qualifications that will provide an important avenue to big clients.

To succeed in independent consulting one needs to be an expert in their given field. However, expertise is not always enough. Staying up to date on trends and developments can help in convincing companies that you are the individual they need to help them reach the goals they are working towards. You can also help yourself by obtaining skills that are indispensible. In order to get companies to consistently pay for your services, offer them something they cannot get anywhere else. Often, companies can save money by outsourcing. Help make their decision easier. Simply put, provide your clientele with services and expertise that makes you a necessity.

Request rates that are competitive but reasonable. This is another important aspect of individual consulting. If you offer services for too little you may have trouble convincing a company that you possess the level of professionalism they will require. Charging too much can make it difficult for you to find work.

For many, independent consulting is a rewarding profession. But be sure to prepare yourself adequately before you get into the business, though. There are clear advantages to working for yourself, and an umbrella company or an employer of record can help pave the way for your consulting career to become a success.

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Five Best Part time jobs

If you're looking to work at home, but don't have the money to invest in a large endeavor then consider the free work at home jobs posted below. Not only are they free but most of them offer good pay and benefits.

1. Survey Taker

This free work at home job requires no experience and very little time dedication. If you can spare just 4 hours a week then being an online survey taker is a great option for a free work at home job. As a survey taker, you're required to complete market research surveys for various companies.

The surveys are on an assortment of topics and vary in length from 5-60min. You choose the ones you want to complete. Longer surveys offer larger cash incentives. Some companies reward survey takers in points that they can redeem for cash later.

2. Online writer

Success in this free work at home job takes some experience, as writing for the web differs from writing for print. However, many web based companies seek help from established writers to provide content for their websites.

You will need to solicit your own work if you want to make a decent income. This is very easy to do online as there are many job boards on the internet and most companies seeking freelance writers ask queries to be sent via email.

3. Blogger

Blogging is huge and many people are using the ease and power of blogs to make money online. While some blogs can cost anywhere from 10-100 dollars, you can set one up for free with several companies. Thus, blogging can be a viable free work at home job option for anyone who wants to make a lot of money on a small budget.

Once you've done your market research and have at least 5 posts you can add affiliate links, and advertising revenue onto your blog. The more traffic your site receives the more you'll make.

4. Data entry

While there are hundreds of companies that charges a fee, some companies offer this work at home job for free. Looking for a free work at home job in the data entry field can seem taxing but they are out there. The jobs vary; however, most of them ask the candidate to fill out forms of various products and services online. You are not paid by the number of hours of you work (beware of ads that claim that they pay by the hour) you're paid by the type of form you fill. The longer and more complicated the form the more you'll make.

Some data entry work involves typing out ads for companies when someone clicks on the ad you've typed and purchases the product you earn a commission. This is also referred to as affiliate marketing.

5. Medical Transcriptionists Editor

Medical Transcriptionist is a growing field in the online jobs community. Legitimate companies look for candidates that are already experienced with the equipment and job tasks. Because this free work at home job is associated with several scams, the best way to avoid scams and spending any money is to solicit your own work.

Agencies may be able to pair you up with companies seeking your help but since many of these agencies are scams you would be best to write your own ads and send your own queries offering your service. Most legitimate companies offer competitive line rates and benefits that include health, dental, optical as well as a 401k plan.

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