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#JobSearch : Crafting an Executive Resume that Leads to Interviews. Here are Some of the Basic Tips for Writing Resumes that Get you Hired. MUst REad!

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There’s no single secret to help executives create the perfect resume that will lead to an interview with every application. However, when you’ve incorporated key components within your resume, the chances of landing an interview increase exponentially. The best executive resume writers will keep their resumes as clear and concise as possible, only offer information relevant to the job itself and will never have any errors.

Here are some of the basic tips for writing resumes that get you hired.

Make Your Resume Targeted

One of the best ways to create a resume that leads to interviews is to target the specific employer. This will not only grab the attention of the reader immediately, but it will also show you’ve done your homework and are legitimately interested in the company. Research companies and identify their needs. Then include information about how you have addressed those needs in the past. This will show a potential employer that you can do this in the future. Include statistics and numbers of successful achievements, pointing toward the fact that these are repeatable in a new organization.

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

Stick With Providing Relevant Information Only

It’s tempting to put as much information on your resume as you can think of and hope the reader will pick and choose what they want to read. The truth is, if they see irrelevant information, they may stop reading the resume altogether. When you’re thinking about relevant information to include, think about the experiences you’ve had that could lead to success in the role you’re applying for. You may be proud of a certain accomplishment or certification you’ve earned in the past, but if the experience doesn’t translate to your potential new role, then it’s just wasting space on your resume.

 

Use Clear And Concise Wording And Formatting

Every professional resume writing service will highlight the importance of being as clear and concise as possible in every aspect of your resume. The length of your resume should be no more than about two pages, and the formatting should incorporate enough white space to make it easy to read. Bullet points are great to use, as they highlight important achievements and are impactful to the reader. Also use fonts and bold to draw the reader’s eye to what is most important. The good news is you don’t have to be an expert at tightening up your resume. You can put the relevant information in a document and rely on your professional resume writing service to clean it up for you.

 

Eliminate Grammatical Errors

You can never proofread your resume too much. It doesn’t matter how clear and concise your resume is, or if you are clearly the best candidate for the job from an experience perspective, grammatical errors can quickly get your resume thrown out. Your resume is the first opportunity to make an impression to a potential employer, but the chances of even getting a phone interview diminish quickly when there are glaring typographical errors on it.

 

Professional Resume Services wants to help you write resumes that get you hired. The end goal of every resume you write should be to ultimately get the job, but the first step is getting an interview. No matter what stage you’re at in your resume writing adventure, we can help whenever you need us. Never hesitate to contact us along your journey to finding the executive position you’ve always desired.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – November 29, 2021

#JobSearch : Customizing Your LinkedIn Profile to Communicate Your Unique Expertise. Are you in a Job Search or Looking at a Potential Position with your Current Employer?

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Are you in a job search or looking at a potential position with your current employer? You never know when an opportunity is going to present itself, so you need to be prepared!  One way to do so is to optimize your online presence, and LinkedIn is the site to showcase your experience, achievements, skills, and leadership acumen on a global scale.

Your LinkedIn profile should be one of the most utilized tools in your job search tool chest, so you need to ensure that it is sharp, fully optimized, and maintained well during your job search and beyond.

Depending on what type of device your profile is being viewed on (PC or mobile), the reader will only be able to see a fraction of your profile. That fraction has to be creative and appealing enough to make the reader want to continue to learn more about you. Don’t know where to start? Right from the top!

Banner Photo:

  • LinkedIn automatically places a blue banner when you open an account. Get rid of it!  This is the first place you have the opportunity to pull the reader in – be creative!  You can personalize the banner to show a little bit about yourself with keywords to help communicate your brand.  Have a special saying or motto that motivates you?  It can easily be included here. Use a website like Canva to design your own banner or hire someone to do it – either way – don’t use the default banner! #lame

Name/Credentials:

  • Your LinkedIn profile should have the same name that is on your resume, so that your name is consistently known by anyone who views your resume or online profile. Add any relevant credentials after your name, and try to ensure that you don’t use a nickname.

Profile Photo:

  • We all know that a lot of us don’t like advertising pictures of ourselves on social media – but on LinkedIn, people want to see YOU! Be sure to include a profile picture that is professional looking and done at a level that matches the position you’re seeking.  Executives should have a photo that looks like an executive and an entry level photo could probably be a more casual photo.

Stay away from photos where you have cropped yourself out of a group, at a bar/party, or have a lot of distractions in the background.  Again – people want to see YOU – not a backdrop from your trip to the Grand Canyon (unless you are a travel blogger – lol).

 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

 

Headline:

  • When you sign up with LinkedIn, your current job title automatically defaults to this section. Change it as soon as you can. Your headline gives you 220 characters to share your value, expertise, and skills.  Done effectively, your headline can attract ATS systems and recruiters who are looking for candidates in your industry and is a very easy way to quickly tell people what you have to offer in your field. I like to add keywords and branding to it as well.

About:

  • Take some time to reflect about what you really want to communicate in this section. Don’t just add a one-liner, and certainly do not make yourself sound desperate to find a job (even if you really are).  Like your headline, this is a great place to share your brand – so make it strategic, appealing, and value-added! As with your resume, the summary at the beginning of your LinkedIn profile should be strategically written, compelling, and a quick synopsis of the best you have to offer, your highlights, and even some of your skills.  Using bullets and color in this section will make it stand out more than just including paragraphs of text.

Consider adding a “call to action” at the end of the summary to let people know you are available for interviews or are actively looking for a new position. You have 2,600 characters in this section, but only the first few lines may show up when people are viewing your profile, and the key is getting the reader to click on the “more” to read the rest. Make your first few lines appealing, inviting, and clear.

Skills:

  • The skills section is great but can also be a bit subjective. You need to add the skills that are the most relevant to your industry and position, whenever possible. Use strong keywords in this section, and make sure you are focusing on unique terms that make you stand out. “Staff Leadership & Development” sounds a lot better than “Leadership” and “Global Sales Operations Management” sounds way better than “Sales”.

As for the endorsements, this is where the section gets a little subjective. LI automatically puts the skills with the most endorsements at the top of the section; however, the top 3 skills are something you can…and should change, so that they are your strongest skills and the ones that are most relevant to your job search, regardless of the number of endorsements.

You have the option of including 50 terms in this list and that fills up pretty quickly – use the best fit and stay away from “fluff” terms that are expected in today’s professional world, like “Time Management” or “Team Player”.

These sections are just the tip of the iceberg in creating an amazing, optimized LinkedIn profile – but they are so important if you want to be “found” on LinkedIn, so you need to ensure that the content is unique to your job goals, industry-specific, and an effective marketing tool for your job search!

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – November 9, 2021

 

 

#JobInterview : “But Wait, There’s More!” Your 60 Second Commercial. How to Answer – “Tell Me About Yourself”.

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This is the first question in any interview, where the applicant has the opportunity to brand themselves, deliver skill sets and achievements and create an agenda of points they can refer back to throughout the interview. Most job applicants fail to take advantage of this perfect opportunity to make a great first impression. Out of nervousness, they may talk excessively and reveal personal information, which can be damaging.

Interviews are performances and performances must be practiced. You are being judged the minute you open your mouth. Like it or not, you are performing – so know your audience. Be sure to address their needs, find their pain and show them how you can solve their problems. Everything that you share should be relevant to the job and the company.

When one of our clients delivers their TMAY, the interviewer’s jaw usually drops. That’s a good thing. The interviewer is delighted to hear a structured statement that is personalized to the company and the position. The applicant has immediately established a rapport and created an agenda of what they will discuss throughout the interview. They have taken control in the first minute of conversation. They can now expand on the skills and talents that they advertised in their opening statement and can easily refer back to the accomplishments that they strategically inserted in their TMAY.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

We put our clients through a process that starts with a formal script. The content is structured and organized and includes a power close. It is important to have a definitive close – wrap up the TMAY with what you can offer the organization:

 “With my PMP certification, expertise in lean manufacturing, and application of Six Sigma principles, I will increase productivity and profits for a progressive organization.”

 

We then have the client read the script word for word. They sound scripted, awkward and over-rehearsed – but they are familiarizing themselves with the structured beginning (branding statement), middle (their accomplishments), and end (a power close), which were all customized for the job opportunity.

 

We now discuss their performance. Did she remember her Three Es? Energy – Enthusiasm and … Energy?  Was she confident and believable? How was her pacing and enunciation? Was her energy consistent from beginning to end?

 

The client then reduces the script to four bullet points:

  • Opening (branding statement)
  • What they do

  • How they do it

  • Power Close

We then turn the script over, and the client presents their opening statement from the bullet points. This allows them to speak naturally, use their personality, and powerfully close their statement in under one minute. It’s amazing to watch this transformation. The client speaks with confidence, maintains eye contact, and delivers the message with clarity and conviction.

Few job applicants open with clear and concise statements. When you are preparing for the interview and organizing your thoughts for your TMAY, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. How am I branding myself for this position?
  2. What are the key components they are seeking for the perfect applicant?
  3. How can I close by showing them that I am qualified to fill this position?

If you know yourself as a professional and know how you can successfully accomplish the company’s goals and objectives, you can deliver your TMAY credibly, anytime, anywhere.

*Visualize Yourself at Your Best.

 

FSC Career Author:   John Singer is a Career Coach (Professional Development Strategies), Speaker and author of Resume DNA – Succeeding in Spite of Yourself. Professional Development Strategies provides Outplacement Services and Career Development Workshops for Companies, Universities and individuals throughout the United States.   www.pdscareers.com

 

FSC Career Blog –  October 28, 2021

 

 

#YourCareer : How To Get A New Job So You Can Leave Your Boss. #1 Reason People are Leaving Today, is to get Away from their Manager. Great REad!

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As a busy career counselor, I have been working with many executives and professionals who will be quitting their jobs just as soon as they can find a new one. Some have already left their jobs to begin a search. Of course, seeking a higher salary is always a motivation, and being overworked during Covid is another. But the number one reason many people are moving right now is that they want to get away from their manager.

Deborah is a perfect example. She holds a director role in a Fortune 500 company. She came to me for resume writing assistance, stating that she had always been highly successful in her career and at her current company. Three months ago, her boss left, and she got a new manager. She told me, “I now work for a manager for Satan reincarnated. It is such a stressful situation now. After all these years, I can’t believe that I am thinking of leaving the company I love simply because of my new boss. But I cannot stay here. It’s impacting my whole life because he is making me miserable.” Deborah is not alone. People leave managers most of the time, not companies. That has been true for a long time. But now, having lived through the pandemic, many people are reevaluating how happy they are at work. I am hearing that they have done some serious soul searching and realized with the current economy so rosy for job hunters, it’s the perfect time to jump ship and get away from a bad boss.

If you are trying to move, here are some guidelines to follow.

Polish up your resume. Results are what impress employers. Add in all your accomplishments and stress the results you are responsible for in your current and previous roles. Employers respond to seeing accomplishments. Most people make the mistake of just describing the job. Instead, emphasize the results and outcomes you have delivered. For example, have you saved money or time, made money, or created something new? Also, use statistics whenever possible and numbers to denote the size or amount to illustrate the magnitude of your accomplishments. For example, you might say, Developed and implemented a new automated process improvement. Result saved 200+ hours of staff time and increased employee productivity by 12%. Or, instead of I managed a team, say: I supervised 8 direct reports and 13 indirect reports. 

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

Have a complete and impressive LinkedIn profile. I continuously see that many people have an incomplete profile. The work history often lists job titles, and the headline which is so critical has the default of your current job title, which is missing the mark not having the right keywords to be noticed by recruiters. Some have a poor photo that diminishes your appeal. Others have no personal photo at all, or the one up is 10 years old. Take the time to create something impressive that better reflects you and all you have done and can offer to a new employer.

Cherry pick. Don’t use the shotgun approach and apply for everything and anything. Instead, be very selective. Do some research. Investigate the company, the job specifics, and read the LinkedIn Profile of the hiring manager. Ask friends what they have heard about this organization. Make sure every application is the best you can produce. Use a cover letter where it will be beneficial. Read this article to see a cover letter example: Cover Letters Are Now Essential to Standout to Employers–Here’s an Example.

Network! Many people rely only on job listings found online. It’s more effective to talk to your connections and see if any company is looking for someone with your skills. Devote half your job search time to this effort, as it often pays off with being the inside candidate for a new role. I recommended you read this article on how to use your network to be successful: Here Is A LinkedIn Secret Weapon To Land A Job.

References should not include the current boss. You offer the names during the job interview. Create a list of people that speak highly of you, such as former bosses, vendors you work with, or other colleagues who interact with you at work. Be sure to let them know they may hear from potential employers. Note on the list the reference name, contact info, and how you know them.

Avoid directly criticizing your terrible soon-to-be-former boss. Complaining about your boss or the company will reflect badly on you. During interviews, you’ll very likely be asked why you’re leaving. You’ll come across as a stronger candidate if you discuss your current employment situation objectively and non-emotionally. Focus on stating you want a new challenge or want to do more of the type of work you enjoy. If the company is making people return to the office and this employer is not, say “I enjoy working remotely as I’ve been very productive and am not interested in onsite work at this time.” Be sure you know that working remotely is acceptable before you use this specific answer.

Forbes.com Author:  Robin Ryan
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | October 26, 2021

#BestofFSCBlog : How to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Noticed. Over 3K Reads! GReat REad!

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If you are currently employed or actively seeking employment, chances are you have already established a presence on LinkedIn so recruiters and hiring managers can find you (and if you aren’t on LinkedIn, then quit reading, sign-up on the site, and then come back to this article). My question is…what are you doing/including on your profile to ensure that you actually can be found? Are you networking in industry-specific groups?

Making connections with colleagues in your field? Applying for jobs? Whatever you are doing, you need to ensure that your profile contains quality content that communicates your value and markets you effectively for the jobs you’re applying to. How do you do that? It all starts with saturating your content with targeted keywords and keyword phrases that are in line with the skills and qualifications hiring managers and recruiters want to see when looking for candidates in your field.

LinkedIn is actually a large database that uses certain fields to sort information on user profiles. Utilizing effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies (i.e. keywords) on your profile is how you will get “selected” during database searches.

Keywords are just what they say they are  – “KEY” words that you need to have on your profile to not only be found in candidate searches but also to show that your skills match the qualifications companies are looking for.

Here are a few areas of your profile where it is so important that you are using keywords, and not just any words to tell your career story.

HEADLINE:

Your headline is located just below your name, so it is seen immediately when somebody clicks on your profile. You have 220 characters (yep, that’s it) to pull the reader in to want to learn about you-make the most of that space.  Note: LinkedIn automatically uses your current job title in the headline when you sign-up so check to make sure that is what you want on there. Otherwise, you need to change it immediately. Use keywords that are relevant to the positions you’re applying.

For example, instead of “Sales Manager at Acme Products” (which may be your current job title), make your headline “Business Growth Executive: Sales & Operations Management, Marketing & New Accounts | Territory Expansion, Branding, Account Development | Accelerating Revenue & Igniting New Business Opportunities

You have just used 196 characters to tell the world what you can do and not just what your current job title is.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

 

ABOUT Section:

Once the reader sees your amazing headline, the next step will be to find out more about you in your profile’s “About” section.  LinkedIn allows 2,600 characters in this section-plenty of opportunity to tell your career story.

Think of your “About” section as you would a cover letter, tell a little about yourself and your career trajectory. Include some quantifiable highlights and your keyword list, or a list of core competencies.

This is an ideal section to get the most bang for your buck when you are trying to get the right keywords for SEO purposes. Be creative and clear when using keywords to share your best attributes.  Don’t just put “Management”, instead use “Global Operations Management”.  You have the space; you just need to use it to your advantage to effectively market your skills and competencies.

SKILLS Section:

You only get 50 entries in this section, so it’s imperative that you make each one count.  As with your “About” section, you want to use the right keywords (skills). Instead of “Leadership”, try “Executive Leadership”.  Not only does that tell the reader that you are a leader, it also tells them what level of a leader you are! Are you in HR?  Do you really want to consult and not just be in one spot?  Then add “Human Resource Consulting” as one of your skills.

Once you start putting information into this section, LinkedIn will automatically give you some suggestions as to other skills you may want to use that are related to your field.  If the skill fits, use it. Try to fill this entire section, but if you can’t, don’t try to fill it in with soft skills or fluff.  Your skills must appear relevant and dynamic–fluff won’t help you get found during an SEO search.  Hint: you can always look at the profiles of some of your colleagues to see what industry-specific keywords they are using in their “Skills” section.

The bottom line…the “key” to increasing traffic to your online profile is to ensure you are applying effective SEO techniques and strategies. Use the right keywords in the right places so that you get noticed by hiring managers and recruiters looking for candidates in your field!

 

FSC Career Blog:   Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – September 21, 2021

#YourCareer : How To Create An Impressive LinkedIn Personal Brand. Your Career Identity is Your Professional Reputation. A MUst REad for All!

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Not everyone using LinkedIn is looking for a job. Today, John sought my help as he is the CEO and Founder of his own company. His goal was to take the skeleton profile he’d had up for years and make it a fantastic marketing tool for himself, mentioning his products and service. This is done by developing John’s personal brand, so his professional reputation online shines.

Poor first impressions are so challenging to overcome. Advertising your strengths, talents, accomplishments takes great finesse. However, presenting the best possible image of yourself can be a winning combination. By establishing a career identity that uses your natural and best talents, you can distinguish yourself from your peers, attract more business and impress job candidates who are considering coming to work for your organization. So, how exactly do you improve your current profile’s effectiveness? First, you create a career identity in a way that’s similar to how a company makes a brand vision for a product. The significant difference is that, in this case, the product is you.

Ask yourself this question: Do I know what my career identity is? Not your job title, but your career identity, that unique reputation you have and advertise to the world. If you don’t have an answer that automatically rolls off your tongue, you are not alone. Most people haven’t given much thought to how they are perceived. But everyone needs to think about that question if they wish to become the best they can be.

The most common mistake individuals make is simply ignoring their profile and not ensuring it’s updated and complete. If you haven’t touched it in years, then it needs a major overhaul. And it needs to stress your unique personal brand. Unfortunately, many people get confused about exactly how to do this.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

Your career identity is your professional reputation, and it is also known as your “personal brand.” It reflects other people’s opinion of you as a worker, leader, the associations they make when they think about you, and what you do or don’t do well. Your personal brand, which I refer to as “Brand You,” communicates your career identity to the world. A job title is a title, but it is not who you are when we refer to your personal career identity.

Throughout your professional life, you must continually define and promote your personal brand to keep it vibrant and to distinguish yourself in the workplace. You need to set yourself apart by emphasizing your talents in a way that showcases what is distinctive about you. You can develop a mark of excellence that reflects your unique talents and abilities in the tasks or activities that you do best. People who display an excellent personal brand find it is the very reason for their success.

What is Brand You?

Your career identity is not some slick piece of advertising. Brand You is based on the authentic, talented, genuinely unique, and special person you are. It is not phony and conceited or an exaggeration, nor is it a trick or a fleeting fad. The components of Brand You are the essence of you as a person, which include: your work strengths, accomplishments, your image, passion, and personality traits, along with others’ perceptions of you, applied in a work environment.

There’s quite a crowd of human beings out there competing for recognition, new business, jobs you’d like to get. To stand out means utilizing Brand You, especially when most everyone else is largely undefined. Advancing your personal brand is the most effective career development strategy you can implement. Consider how you want to be thought of by others. Do you want them to see you as just plain, ordinary, average? The answer is an emphatic no.

Applying personal branding to distinguish yourself

Rick came to me with a challenge. He was a CEO of a company he had founded. He realized people were checking out his LinkedIn profile, and Rick needed to update and complete it so he would impress potential clients and prospective employees. He came to me with his challenge. He said: “Robin, I have hired two other companies in the past to develop my LinkedIn profile, with poor results. Can you help do this?”

I define a person’s career identity and translate it into their LinkedIn Profile. Approach your profile by answering these questions that I asked Rick.

What are your top strengths?

What are the talents and things you are best at performing?

What are the most important accomplishments you’ve made for each job title, mainly focusing only on the last ten years of work experience?

Once you have these answers, incorporate these facts into your Professional Experience section and the About section. Note this when writing:

Professional Experience section is written in the third person and states facts using the formula YOUR ACTIONS = RESULTS. For example:

 

  • Created and executed product roadmaps and strategy to develop new tools (scheduling, pricing, contract-building), adding essential automation to support 300+ internal customers. Results delivered a cost savings of $28M.

 

About section is written in first person. It is more personal and should offer a few nuggets about your personality and should cover what you are best at. For example, another CEO client’s section began:

 

  • As a result of becoming a father, I have dedicated myself to helping families effectively solve two critical problems and ease their parenting life.

 

He then explained the issues and how he founded and ran two companies that effectively solved both problems. You create a positive impact on readers when you make this section more personalized and genuine.

Your Recommendations Matter 

As the CEO of your own personal brand, your job is to actively build and shape your reputation into a very appealing one. LinkedIn is the most powerful tool in your career arsenal in today’s competitive workplace in your references or on LinkedIn, professional recommendations. It’s the comments in the recommendation from past bosses, colleagues, coworkers, business associates, or employees that define your career reputation. Asking a few select others to write you a professional recommendation is essential. The best way to ensure you get one is to ask a colleague to write one for you. In the request, make a note of what you’d like them to cover and write out a few lines that they can easily copy and post on your profile page. Only 1st connections can post, so be sure you only ask 1st connections. It’s wise to write and publish a recommendation on that person’s profile, mention you have done so, and then ask them to return the favor.

By differentiating yourself from the competition, you show your uniqueness and impress anyone that looks at you online via LinkedIn.

Your last step is to lay this all out in LinkedIn, converting your brand so it is apparent to anyone who reads it. This step-by-step guide, E-Guide for Creating a LinkedIn Profile, takes you through that process and will be most helpful in completing your profile.

Forbes.com – September 14, 2021 –  Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : Tips to Tailor Your Resume to the Role. Writing a Resume to ‘Cover All the Bases’ is a Great Way to get Passed for an Interview.

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I spoke to a client recently who wanted a resume to “cover all the bases.” In other words, it needed to be general enough in case he wasn’t the right fit for the position he was applying for, he may be considered for other open positions the company had. This is a great way to get passed over for an interview! And if your resume doesn’t have the right keywords an employer is looking for, it won’t make it past the automated applicant tracking system they may be using.

Tailoring each resume to the position you are applying for by matching it to the job description is the best way. You probably have heard from an executive resume service that it’s important to do so, but in what ways are you supposed to match them?

Here are some tips to consider when writing your resume.

 

Identify Keywords in The Job Description

It’s time to grab your old-school highlighter, print out a hard copy of the job description, and make every keyword you can find. These keywords should describe the particular candidate the employer is looking for, as well as the strengths and skills you possess. Once you identify them all, plug them into your resume as high on the page as possible. Include as many keywords as you can, but be careful not to stuff too many of them in to make it sound unnatural.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

Article continued …

 

Consider the Reader

When writing your resume, you have to think about it from the reader’s perspective. They are looking for specific keywords, but they are also thinking about the company’s pain points and seeking a candidate that can address those. When writing, it can be easy to focus on your past experiences and accomplishments, without giving thought to what may be relevant to the position you are applying for. They want to see how you have solved problems in the past that they may have or how you have added value. If you have done it for someone else, chances are you can do it again. They aren’t necessarily interested in anything else. By looking closely at the job description, the best professional resume writers can identify what’s appropriate to mention and what should be avoided.

 

Discover What You Truly Want From A Job

A common misconception about writing an effective resume is it should be more general instead of focused. The idea is the more general your resume is, the better your chances are of landing another open position, even if you don’t qualify for the one you really want. This can lead to a sloppy resume and an unfocused job search effort. Taking the time to truly discover what you want from a job, from a salary standpoint, cultural standpoint, work/life balance and more will help you target your resume.

When tailoring your resume to a specific role, be clear about your career goals, think through what the reader is looking for, and focus on the keywords the job description has mentioned. Do this with every position you apply for, tweaking your resume carefully to address each employer’s specific needs. This is the best way to showcase your specific skills for a specific role.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – August 5, 2021

 

#JobSearch : How To Get Hired For A Job That Isn’t A Perfect Match. See Postings you Do Not Match their Qualifications? MUst REad!

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If you see a job posting where you match some qualifications but not others, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t apply. Job postings are often inaccurate. The hiring team may not be sure exactly what they need, so they draft the posting with what they know and this changes later on, but no one updates the posting. The posting could be a copy-and-paste creation from a similar job that’s close enough, but not exact. Or, the posting might be more aspirational – i.e., including every single thing the hiring team hopes to get – but they would be willing to settle for less.

That said, when I recruited, I saw too many candidates apply for jobs where they had absolutely no relevant experience. This was interpreted as laziness on the candidate’s part since they didn’t bother to read the posting. It also showed poor judgment because the candidate was wasting their and the employer’s time. I once did a search for an After Effects animator, and some applicants didn’t have any After Effects experience, or even worse, no animation experience at all. Applying for a job where you don’t meet the main requirement is not a stretch; it’s delusional.

As a candidate, how do you know if you’re stretching or delusional?

Focus your case on the most important aspects of the job

Look at the main responsibilities of the job as described in the job posting. Can you be productive from day one? If the job is focused on financial analysis and you have that experience, then you match the most important aspects of the job, even if the job posting might mention a database you didn’t use. On the other hand, if you happen to know that database because you have been an IT manager and part of your job was rolling out that software, but you didn’t actually use it for any financial analysis, then you shouldn’t apply for that job.

If you could explain to your prospective manager how you would approach the role from day one, then you have enough of a match to apply. It may turn out that certain aspects of the job are more important than you initially thought and therefore you aren’t an exact match or you actually aren’t interested, but you won’t know that now. I would err on the side of applying v. not because job postings are often not completely accurate.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

 

Appeal to the main decision-maker

Your resume is the first thing the prospective employer sees if you apply to a job posting as your first step. If your background isn’t obviously relevant – for example, you worked in a different industry or your job title isn’t an obvious match – then you might be overlooked because resumes are reviewed in seconds. Whether or not the application calls for a cover letter, you should include one, either combined with your resume or as a separate upload. If the application doesn’t call for a cover letter, I would combine the cover letter with the resume to ensure the employer can’t view one without the other.

In a cover letter, you can personalize your appeal and explain exactly how your background matches the role. Even better than a cover letter would be a verbal pitch to the hiring manager, either through a referral from someone who knows both of you and can make an introduction or by reaching out cold. If you don’t think you have a compelling enough pitch to make the hiring manager want to listen to you, then you may not be as strong a match as you think!

Anticipate and address objections

In the cover letter and/or verbal pitch, as well as all along the interview process if you do get called in, be prepared to address any push back that you are not an exact match for the role. What will you say about the qualifications that you are missing? You could point out examples of how you are currently learning skills you are missing. If you have experience that translates (say, from one industry to another), show specific examples of how the apparent differences actually line up.

I had a client who had changed careers from financial services to education and was hired for a role despite competition from very experienced educators. While she had no education industry paid work experience, she did have volunteer and Board work (you can work on a career change outside your current job!) which demonstrated a genuine commitment. More importantly, she showed how her analytical experience from finance was aligned with introducing a more metrics-driven performance culture, a key priority for this prospective employer. Rather than her finance background being a liability, she made it part of her unique value.

Use stories to make your evidence relatable and memorable

When you do make your case that your background is a good match, don’t just provide a laundry list of skills, experiences or even results. That’s a basic requirement that should already be evident in your resume and LinkedIn profile. People hire people, and your average person isn’t going to be able or interested in regurgitating back a list. Instead, tell stories in your cover letter, your email outreach and your interviews about how you got your results, how your experiences unfolded and how your skills were developed and put into good use.

People remember stories, and after they read or hear yours, they can then relay the highlights to the rest of the hiring team. People are moved by stories, so you can enroll them on your quest to land this job. As much as we like to believe we’re all rational decision-makers, we are swayed by emotion and then justify with reason later on.

Matching the job posting is just one step in the hiring process

Getting past the job posting In the application process is the first step of multiple interviews, potentially sharing a work sample and reference checks. Preparing for job interviews right now, even when you’re in the application stage, is crucial to ensuring you have enough time to adequately prepare. Interview preparation is also a great way to curate stories, ways to address objections, specific words to sway key decision-makers and the elements of your case to prove you are indeed a match for this job. You don’t need every single qualification in order to apply, but you do need a solid case that you can do the job from day one.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com Author:  Caroline Ceniza-Levine

Forbes.com | July 24, 2021

#JobSearch : Network without the Social Anxiety (my friend is an introvert). There are Ways to Effectively Network without Causing Stress. GREat REad!

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She said she would rather have a root canal than walk into a room full of strangers and be expected to talk. The thought makes her cringe. She just shakes her head and says, “No. Uh-uh. Nope. No.” 😅

Can you relate?

Now that we are getting back to face-to-face gatherings, for some, in-person networking brings on a host of feelings including anxiety, social awkwardness, and energy depletion.

However, networking is a big part of a career as an executive, so being reluctant or hesitant to take part in different networking events can be a problem. If you don’t put your name out there, the chances of them getting into the right hands decrease significantly. There are ways to effectively network without causing stress.

✅ Choose events wisely. Research to find out what companies will be there. Decide if it is something you’d really like to do.

✅ Get there early. Whether it’s a Zoom meeting or an in-person gathering, the earlier you arrive, chances are there won’t be as many people and you can chat with the few that are there.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

✅ Don’t work the room. Plan on talking to five people–more if you are up to it. This way you know you have an “out” but still feel good that you talked to five people.

✅ Ask questions. If you don’t want to talk, listen! Most people like talking about themselves. This is networking without extending too much of yourself–yet the other person ends up thinking you are great!

✅ Observe body language and be approachable. Standing in the corner of a room with your arms crossed isn’t a good way to appear approachable. Look around and see what other people are doing. If you see someone handing out resumes and cover letters, approach them and do the same. A smile and a handshake are two of the easiest ways to be approachable, and neither require much effort.

 

✅ Always make eye contact. Simply making eye contact with another person shows you have confidence. And if you don’t have confidence just yet, make eye contact anyway. Faking your confidence over a period of time will eventually lead to you actually getting more confident.

✅ Who will be there? Research to find out who will be there. Who do you want to talk to? What do they do? How will knowing them help you?

Having a basic plan to “get in and get out” will alleviate networking stress and make the event more enjoyable for you.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – July 5, 2021

#BestofFSCBlog : #SocialMediaNetworking – Leveraging the Power of LinkedIn Groups. A MUst REad for All!

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No doubt, you know by now that LinkedIn is the place to be if you are an executive or professional looking to advance in your career. But just how can you leverage the power of LinkedIn to do that? One of many ways you can leverage LinkedIn is by participating in different groups. Joining a few groups can boost your LinkedIn profile development, since you’ll naturally gain more connections as a result. However, you have to be careful with how you approach these groups.

Here are some great tips on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and expand your network by joining groups.

 

Be Wise When Choosing Groups

Currently, there are over 2 million active LinkedIn groups with 8,000 joining the ranks each week. You could join 50 groups, but you can’t actually utilize that many, nor do you need to join that many to leverage LI’s power. Consider joining groups related to your industry, your social life, interests, hobbies, school affiliation, and other similar groups. The more groups you join with relevance to your interests, the better chance you’ll have of expanding your network properly with people you can relate with.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

Observe Group Conversations

Once you join a group, watch and learn. Don’t jump into the conversation right away. People in groups are generally familiar with one another, so they may not like it if you barge in on their discussions. Instead, sit back and observe conversations for a few days or a couple of weeks. See how the group members interact with one another, so you’re able to fit in more naturally once you become more active in the group.

 

Introduce Yourself

After taking some time to observe the climate and determining whether this group is a good fit, write a nice introduction to the group. Tell them to visit your LinkedIn profile to learn your background, but also tell them things about yourself that aren’t on your profile. The more you talk about yourself, the wider range of people you’ll be able to relate to. When you’re trying to boost your LinkedIn profile with more connections, relating to people is the best way to go.

 

Become Active

Now that you’ve introduced yourself, be sure to reply to any comments welcoming you to the group. From that point on, people are at least familiar with your name and would enjoy having you in discussions. One mistake people often make is not being active in a group, so other members will forget about you. Activity in LinkedIn groups is the best way to expand your network. The hard part is over—find the group and introducing yourself. Now, be active and participate in the group.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – June 15, 2021