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#JobSearch : Why Your Resume Isn’t Working For You — And How To Fix It. Great Read for All!

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I see a lot of resumes in my work with professionals seeking to reimagine their careers, change jobs or bounce back after a layoff. The number one flaw I encounter? Their resume is perfectly tailored to get them exactly the same position they are leaving. This is a real problem for ambitious job seekers who are looking for career advancement or to pivot to a new area or industry. If you are hoping to make a change, you need a resume that is not merely descriptive of your past experience but instead positions you for your next role.

Your resume is your main marketing document. It is a door-opener and a springboard for conversations during interviews. If you aspire to make a change in your career, your resume must build the case for your readiness to take on the next challenge. No recruiter is going to do this for you, because their main objective is to find a clear match to fill a defined role. And hiring managers don’t have time to figure out how your various disparate experiences add up to the whole package. You have to connect the dots and make it easy for them to see how you are a perfect (or at least plausible) fit.

Many job-seekers use the format they probably learned when applying for their first job: start with their most recent experience and work their way backward. For each position, they describe the job. Maybe they even start each with an active verb.

But unfortunately, they fall into two traps: first, because they present what is essentially a job description, they do not convey the impact or value that they contributed; and second, they fail to demonstrate their ability to take their skills and experience to the next level. As a result, the reader will likely see them as the ideal candidate for the same old job but may not see them as qualified for a stretch role.

Here’s how to avoid this pitfall and position yourself for your next role:

Start with a summary describing who you are, your qualification and what value you contribute. This creates the filter through which a reader will view the rest of your resume and helps shape the narrative of natural progression and readiness. It tells them what to pay attention to and how to assemble a coherent picture of your professional capacity. It typically includes a descriptor, like “sales leader” or “seasoned engineer,” a thumbnail of your skills and experience and what you are known or recognized for. Here are some excellent examples.

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

Article continued …

Tailor your resume to the job you are seeking, not to your prior jobs. Review the posted job requirements and make sure that you highlight those elements in your resume. It can be helpful to use key words from the job description, both to help get through the screening algorithm and to highlight those aspects of your experience when you are being interviewed. You want it to be easy for your reader to imagine you in the desired role. Note that, if you are pursuing a variety of roles or industries, you will want to have a basic skeleton resume and then create a few different tailored versions.

Demonstrate value by quantifying your results where possible. Don’t just describe the “what” — your actions or responsibilities — paint a picture of the “so what?” Highlight results, not just actions. What difference did you make or how did you contribute? Value can be demonstrated in terms of anything that can be counted: profits, revenue, savings, customer retention, satisfaction, efficiency, time, volume, size of team, etc.

Choose your words carefully. The subtleties of language can help you convey your “brand” — the qualities that are associated with your aspirational role. If you want to move from a job that is focused on execution to one that is about vision and strategy, avoid words that make you sound like a worker bee, like “diligent,” “tactical” and “responsive” and emphasize “strategic,” “proactive” and “influence.” You may also need to translate the language of one industry or field to another. Should you refer to “clients,” “customers,” “users,” or “stakeholders”? Adopt the vocabulary of your target role and industry.

Be positive. A job change is an opportunity to stretch and grow, and it requires you to project competence and confidence. Inside you may be a quivering mass of imposter syndrome, but your resume needs to tell the story of why, even if you have not done precisely this job, you are equal to the task. It starts with strong positioning in your summary. In addition, you can convey this by highlighting a track record of learning quickly, advancing, scaling rapidly and adapting. Finally, when you get to the interview, be sure to express excitement about the challenges and opportunities as well as a sincere commitment to adding value.

Author:  Hanna Hart – I am an executive coach with more than ten years experience in business, tech, law, foundations and other organizations. I help leaders to understand themselves better,

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Forbes.com | August 10, 2020

#JobSearch : Talking Yourself Up on your Resume. Your resume is the place to SELL YOURSELF. Think of Yourself as a Product.

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Are you bragging about yourself enough on your resume? I don’t mean bragging in an obnoxious or fictitious sort of way, but in a “look what I can do” sort of way.

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           Question: How do you stand out?

One of the main things I notice with my clients and their existing resumes is that they don’t BRAG enough about their accomplishments. They don’t talk enough about what they’ve done above and beyond their daily responsibilities.

My worksheets are very C.A.R.-oriented. The C.A.R. methodology is this Challenge, Action, Results. What Challenge did you face? What Action did you take to rectify it? And lastly, what were the Results? It is a very accomplishment- focused method and works wonderfully every time I have a client who doesn’t talk enough.

When I send these out to clients, I am amazed at the achievements that come pouring out. Why did it take sending a worksheet to get this VITAL information out of them? I ask each client. The response is generally the same– either, “I didn’t know how to word it” or “I didn’t want to sound too braggy”. Many of us were raised to be humble about our accomplishments, not to be boastful. I know I was. Not that we couldn’t be PROUD, but it was just kept a little on the quiet side.

Here are a few tips about bragging in a non-braggy way on your resume to get yourself noticed:

1) List your daily responsibilities clearly in your narrative under the job title. Even the ones you think aren’t worth being mentioned. If there are too many for more than a 5 or 6 line paragraph, then summarize.

2) Think of each thing you did in that made a difference, something you were praised for, something that saved the company money. Readers LOVE to hear how you saved the company money or drove revenue by 43%, etc. For example:

** Currently implementing a new sales method that will eliminate 6 trucks from the road and save company $45,000/year.

 

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

Article continued …

3) Add the accomplishment, even if it has a negative undertone or you were fighting challenging conditions. For example:

** Despite negative sales growth in Michigan’s harsh economic climate, met the challenge of producing positive topline growth successfully while managing net revenue and contributing to margin gains.

See how this one sounded? Even though my client struggled the last 2 years and saw a -2.2% sales decrease, to her company this was a good thing because of Michigan’s dismal economic climate.

4) Your resume is the place to SELL YOURSELF. Think of yourself as a product. What would you buy? The new ‘OKAY’ car model that has all the basics and does its job but has nothing super special about it? Or would you buy the ‘WOW, THIS CAR IS AWESOME’ car that is fully loaded, has a mini fridge in the dash, and wings to automatically make you airborne if traffic looks too heavy? The ‘WOW’ car may cost you a bit more, but isn’t it worth it? The same goes with your salary… but that is an article for another time. You have to sell yourself and turn yourself into the ‘WOW’ car. You have what it takes, you just need to put it on paper.

I hope this helps you rethink that bland little ‘OK’ statement, “streamlined processes and increased productivity” with something more ‘WOW!’. Let’s face it, we all want the WOW! car.

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 |  August 10, 2020

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#JobSearch : Tips to Craft a Resume Full of Achievements. Great Resume Tips!

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I work with clients every day who have a difficult time writing about themselves. We typically are not very objective when it comes to evaluating our work, looking at what we have accomplished.

If you are starting a resume from scratch, it can be overwhelming, especially if you are writing it yourself. Sometimes, you may think that you don’t even have enough achievements to fill an entire resume. If you have been working for more than a few years now, YOU DO. It’s all in the way you look at tasks you’ve done.

I work with clients every day who assume that the achievements must have numbers or metrics attached to them. Or, they’ll tell me, “Oh, well, that isn’t really a big deal. It’s just something I came up with to make that process easier.” They shrug off what would make a really good accomplishment. This is one reason it can be helpful to have a professional resume writer assist you in helping you in writing your resume. We just aren’t good at evaluating ourselves or promoting what we have done.

However, if you are writing your own resume, here are tips on how to gather valuable experience for crafting your resume.

☑️ Identify Strengths & Weaknesses

You may already know what your strengths and weaknesses are, but if not, talk to close, trusted colleagues or friends. You can also review past performance reviews and read what has been said about what you do well, and what areas you need to improve on. When you have identified them, you know what to highlight on your resume. If your strength is cultivating customer relationships, focus on that. (it may be another candidate’s weakness!).

 

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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’ ?

Article continued …

☑️ Pay Attention to Daily Tasks

Start by reviewing your job description or making a list of tasks you do each day. These are usually the things that keep your department running smoothly. Just because you do them every day doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Review each of them and look for the strengths that you bring to them. Don’t discount them. What hole would there be if you didn’t do them.

☑️ What is Your Impact

Think back over the past months, even looking at your calendar for meetings you were a part of or conferences you may have attended. What have you contributed to or been a part of? What was the impact or result? Write down the specific results from the decisions made and include it.

☑️ Teams & Connections

We all develop connections at our jobs. Think through each of these relationships and how they may have impacted the company. Have you helped build new relationships? Did this create opportunities? Have you partnered with other teams to help lead an initiative? Your daily collaborations make a big difference.

Your resume is a marketing document, selling yourself to a potential employer. If you don’t write about the value you bring, how will they know.

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 –  August 6, 2020

 

#JobSearch : How to Create an Effective Job Search Plan. The Landscape of Job Searching has Changed Drastically Over the Years.

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Not too many people truly enjoy the time they spend searching for a new job. While working with an executive resume writer can be an enjoyable and pleasant experience, it’s not the first place executives want to be at any given day. Sometimes you can’t control how long it takes an employer to hire a candidate, but you can take some steps to use your time more wisely and shorten the search process.

Here are a few effective time management tips to consider when job searching.

Know Exactly What You Want

Think about your past experience, what value you bring to the table, and what you actually want to do. There may be some aspects that are non-negotiable, so be sure to identify those in your thought process. Just remember to be realistic in this regard so you don’t eliminate yourself from too many potential jobs. Once you know exactly what you want out of a job, you can start writing an effective resume geared toward it.

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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’ ?

Article continued …

Be Realistic When Setting Goals

If you’re unemployed and looking for a job, it’s usually unrealistic to think you can spend eight hours per day on a job search. Burnout is just as real with a job search as it is with jobs themselves, so consider designating a couple of hours each day to work hard at it. This can involve visiting a professional resume writing service, networking, tweaking your social media profiles, and more. Setting realistic goals will help you prevent burnout and keep you motivated.

Network

Many job openings are filled through networking rather than through traditional channels. Your time can be spent wisely by attending and actively participating in networking events. You never know whom you might meet at these events, so always be sure to bring your best. And it’s wise to also ask an executive resume writer to take a look at your resume to ensure it’s polished and ready to go.

Get Professional Advice with Your Resume

You don’t want to waste any time sending out resumes with mistakes on them. You could essentially be spinning your wheels with your job search and not even know it. Get ahead of any potential issues by working with a professional resume writing service upfront. They can help identify and fix any problems on your resume and modernize it for today’s job searching landscape to make your time be spent more efficiently.

The landscape of job searching has changed drastically over the years. The days of looking in newspapers or job boards are gone, especially for executive level positions. You need to have a game plan in place and work your plan to achieve your ultimate goal.

 

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 –  July 27, 2020

#JobSearch : 5 Errors to Avoid on Your Executive Resume. Great Checklist !

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Writing the perfect resume may seem difficult to accomplish with all of the tips and tricks you have heard about. The top resume writing services can point out mistakes on your resume that you may not even believe is an issue.

For example, we’ve all heard about the value of using bullet points in a resume, but did you know using too many bullet points is a sign of desperation in the eyes of an employer? Identifying mistakes like this can be tough, so here are five of the biggest errors the top resume writing services can help you discover and prevent. 

Not Including Your LinkedIn Profile

Nowadays employers are going to look for social proof rather than simply relying on your resume to tell them what they need to know. Not including your LinkedIn profile link at the top or bottom of your resume may indicate you’re hiding something or you don’t want them to search for you online. Employers will try to find your LinkedIn profile anyway, so make it easier on them by providing the link.

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

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’ ?

Article continued …

Too Many Bullet Points

While it’s tempting to list out every achievement, skill and accomplishment you’ve earned over the years, try not to put them in the form of too many bullet points. Having more than about five bullet points may indicate you’re trying too hard to appear qualified for the job. It’s best to narrow down your most relevant attributes to the job you’re applying for and only include those. 

Not Enough White Space

You never want your resume to be more than two pages, but you also shouldn’t stuff as much text as possible into those two pages. The best executive resume format will leave a good amount of white space around the perimeter of the document and between each section of the resume. This makes the entire document look cleaner and it’s much easier for the hiring manager to read. 

Listing Political Affiliations

You may feel strongly about your political affiliation, but your resume is not the place to list it. One of the only times the top resume writing services will recommend listing your political affiliation is if it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. Otherwise, it’s generally a big risk to include it. 

Inconsistencies or Typographical Errors

Proofreading your resume thoroughly for typographical errors or inconsistencies is essential. Don’t rely on spell check offered by your software program, since it doesn’t always catch everything. Once you believe you have everything in order, allow a friend or a resume expert to proofread and critique it as well so you don’t miss anything.

After putting forth time and energy creating your resume, don’t make these easy to correct mistakes and have your resume end up in the recycling bin.

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| July 9, 2020

 

#JobSearch : Resume Quiz To See If Employers Will Respond To Your Resume. A MUst REad!

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Writing a persuasive resume is challenging for most people. Yet, a top-quality resume that effectively sells your skills and accomplishments to an employer is essential to your success. Is yours good enough to grab a recruiter’s attention? As a result of the COVID-19 recession, many employers are being flooded with resumes that will likely never get through the Applicant Tracking System so no HR person or recruiter will ever physically see it.

I have created this quiz, based on dozens of hiring surveys, hundreds of employer interviews, and nearly 30 years of resume writing experience. It doesn’t matter what generation you are from, I’ve worked with Baby Boomers, Gen Z every age in between to create eye-catching resumes that landed jobs.

Take out your resume as we put it under a “hiring microscope.” Looking over your current resume, take the following quiz to see if your resume would be selected from today’s competition.

Place a check mark by each question that you answered correctly.

1.   __How long is your resume?

ANSWER: Two pages is the current maximum that employers want to see or are willing to read. Whether you are a 60-year old executive or a professional who recently graduated, being brief and concise works best. Employers glance at your resume giving it a 15-20 second glance. Be a skillful editor, deleting the portions which are not relevant or are least helpful to supporting the particular job title you currently seek. Emphasize your more recent experience in the last 7-10 years.

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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 @

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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’ ?

Article continued …

2.    ___Do you list a career objective?

ANSWER: A generalized resume won’t resonate with employers. They are hiring a specialist. Emphasize what your specific skill set is geared towards and the targeted job you’re looking for. Therefore, list the appropriate job title you are seeking even if it’s the next level, i.e., Project Manager or VP Sales or Marketing Manager. If you have varying and different job titles that you can do, i.e., Trainer versus Program Administrator, create two resumes, one for each of these positions. Be specific and target each resume to the different job title.

3.    ___Did you use keywords?

ANSWER: CNBC reported that over 75% of resumes never get seen by human eyes. An uploaded resume goes through scanning software called the applicant tracking system or ATS. To be found by a human recruiter or hiring manager, you need to add appropriate keywords. This does not mean copying every word from the job opening and putting them into your resume. Most employers are seeking your hard skills as determined by the work tasks you have done in the past. Try making a list of your job functions. If you review several job openings, you will see a pattern that the employers all want certain skills. For example, a software engineer needs to list the technical programming languages they use but also the other similar skills that employers desire.  If words such as project management or process improvements show up as responsibilities in the ads, you’ll want to include those in your resume.

4.    ___Does your resume use lengthy job descriptions?

ANSWER: Long paragraphs with wordy job descriptions often are too generic to work. Results and accomplishments are what recruiters and hiring managers want to know about. Employers want proof that you can do the job. Specifics that demonstrate your achievements are crucial. Using bulleted statements are easier to read and more effective. Outline what you have increased or decreased, how you saved money or time, made the organization money, created something new that solved a problem, and contributed to employee productivity and the bottomline whenever possible.

5.   ___Is your resume visually appealing?

ANSWER: The appearance of the resume cannot be overemphasized! Don’t get creative with your resume. Fancy fonts, tables, columns, text boxes, color inked, graphics, charts, headers, and footers are often not able to be read by some of the ATS bots employers use. Instead, you get blanks or garbled, unreadable text. Use a standard format. Make use of italicizing, CAPITALS, underlining, bolding, indentations, and bullets to emphasize your essential points. Keep your font readable, size 12 is best and only use common fonts like Arial or Times Roman. PROOFREAD carefully to make your resume a perfect example of you!

6.   ___Does your resume include a Summary of Qualifications section?

ANSWER: This 4-6 sentence section includes your experience and top-selling points to do the job. It has a high impact on employers, but most candidates neglect to include it. This part of the resume has an incredible impact since employers reported that this was one of the very first areas they read. And, if the briefly stated summary demonstrates solid ability to fill the advertised job, it then causes them to slow down and give that candidate more careful consideration. (Read more on this section in the Forbes article Time To Update Your Résumé—Here’s One Secret To Use)

7.   ___ How do you start each sentence under professional experience?

ANSWER: Begin sentences with descriptive action verbs, such as established, analyzed, implemented, designed, or researched. They add power to your sentences by demonstrating actions. Never use the word “I” in your resume. Action verbs help you create powerful statements by listing the step you took and the results the action created.

8.    ___ Have you used acronyms and abbreviations?

ANSWER: Spell out names of schools, cities, work acronyms and abbreviations completely. It is better to give complete information, as employers may not recognize abbreviations or acronyms. They often glance quickly over the resume, and you don’t want them to get tripped up or annoyed when you don’t state the entire phrase.

9.   ___Does your resume get you interviews?

ANSWER: This is the ultimate test to determine if you have written an effective resume. If you are not getting appropriate interviews, you may need some professional intervention to learn why it is not working. Typically, it’s not getting through the ATS, or it may be too generic without specific accomplishments. Then again, you may be applying for jobs you aren’t qualified for. No interviews mean you need to overhaul and edit it to stress your crucial work tasks, your past actions, and the results achieved.

Author: Robin Ryan – I am a career counselor that helps clients land jobs. I offer Resume Writing, LinkedIn Profile Writing, and Interview Coaching services. I’ve appeared on Oprah, DrPhil

…
Forbes.com | June 9, 2020

#JobSearch : Is LinkedIn going to Replace Resumes? What Do You Think? Welcome your comments.

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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word LinkedIn? Well for me LinkedIn is all about building a chain of links! which is nothing but “Networking”. The soul purpose of the platform was to help people share their thoughts, ideas , collaborate and work with like-minded people eventually. LinkedIn is considered to be a professional yet social networking platform all over the world. With the changing times, advancement in technology and a global pandemic hitting us all , things have changed quite a bit!

The economy has come to a standstill all over the world, people are getting laid off, the health facilities are collapsing, and people are giving in to depression and anxiety. Many of the people who have been laid off were at good managerial positions and were working for the top MNC’s and organizations in the world.

There are multiple reasons why these people were laid off. Ranging from, some of the employees being incompetent, some were not updated and equipped with the latest technology, companies were no longer able to cater to a huge bandwidth of employees and the list goes on. Amidst this chaos the importance and relevance of LinkedIn has increased just beyond being a place for showcasing your laurels and achievements.

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’ ?

Article continued …

Recruiters have extensively been using LinkedIn as a platform to look out for the right talent. Your LinkedIn profile not only contains all aspects covered in a resume, but also showcases your other talents and accomplishments via the posts and content you put out for your network. Recruiters see who are the people engaging with your content?, what kind of people are a part of your network? What kind of volunteering and collaborative work are you doing ? etc. These things help recruiters to know you beyond the surface. Not just restricting them to view your educational history, work experience and achievements.

There is no doubt that a Resume is indeed essential and speaks volumes. Having said that we cannot change the fact that it is only a document or a piece of paper, as opposed to LinkedIn which is a digital platform where you get to create a life-long impact. It adds on to your digital footprint on the internet as well. When you start making meaningful connections on LinkedIn, they eventually lead you to being offered unexpected opportunities and collaborating with people you would have never thought of. You create your own personal brand and people endorse your skills, write you recommendations and even approach you for jobs in their organization once you build that network and trust.

Make sure you are posting relevant and consistent content on LinkedIn. People still have no idea how this could land them a job. Well just doing this won’t but connecting with the right people and  increasing your reach via your work and posts on LinkedIn will. Use LinkedIn insights to know about the trending jobs and the companies that are hiring. You also get insights on the skills they are looking for in a candidate for a particular role. LinkedIn learning provides a plethora of self-paced learning courses in all the fields possible. They add value to your profile and resume as well.

Hence it goes without saying that LinkedIn is surely moving on the path to becoming a dynamic platform. It is an amalgamation of being a networking platform, a digital resume showcasing platform, a platform to share your opinions, views, content and lastly a platform where there are endless opportunities available. Start using LinkedIn effectively to supplement your resume and add more value to your personality and profile.

It cannot be certainly said if LinkedIn will actually go on to replace resumes, but it is surely the trending thing that is coming up and people who will harness it’s features in the right way are surely going to benefit a lot more than the ones who won’t.

 

NEW FSC Career Author: : Ms. Dhairya Gangwani – Dhairya is a  Electronics and Communication engineer who loves Management Consulting. I am an optimist, who loves interacting with people, travelling, learning new languages, content writing and public speaking.  Contact Dhairya @  dhairya3024@gmail.com  or connect with her on LinkedIn @  www.linkedin.com/in/dhairya-gangwani-306634177

 

FSC Career Blog | July 6, 2020

#LinkedIn : Should Your ‘LI About Section’ and ‘Resume Summary’ be the Same?

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Every executive should know their resume and LinkedIn profile should be treated differently. If not, it’s one of the first things executive resume services will point out. But what about the summary section of each? Many people make the mistake of using the same summary for both their resume and their LinkedIn profile, thinking a hiring manager won’t think twice about it.

The truth is, hiring managers look at both and want to see different information to learn as much as they can about you before calling you in for an interview.

Here’s how to differentiate your summaries.

Your LinkedIn About/Summary Should Be Longer

Your resume needs to be condensed as much as possible. If you’re like many people, you tend to be a little too wordy on your resume, so executive resume services can help tighten up your sentences for you. On the other hand, a LinkedIn profile writer will tell you the more detail you can provide, the better off you’ll be. You want to be specific with your strengths, what you bring to the table and offer a brief summary of your career up to this point. Think of your LinkedIn summary as a way to pull back the curtain a bit and give a recruiter or hiring manager a glimpse of who you are outside of just a name on a resume.

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

Article continued …

Formal vs. Informal Tone

Part of your LinkedIn profile development should be writing in an informal tone and showing a bit of your personality. In other words, when a person reads your LinkedIn summary and then hears you speak, they should be able to easily identify you as the same person. Of course, an informal tone can’t be confused with unprofessional, because you still have to present a professional demeanor on your LinkedIn profile. Just tone it down a bit from the formal language used in your resume summary. 

Why It’s Important for These Summaries to Be Different

A hiring manager wants to know as much as they can about you upfront before they even invite you for an interview. So, if you simply copy and paste the text from your resume summary to your LinkedIn summary, it either indicates you aren’t taking your job search seriously, or you may have something to hide. This is why a good LinkedIn profile writer will create their summary separately from their resume summary, while still pointing out all the important facts about them.

Job candidates may not think their resume or LinkedIn summary is important, but the reality is both are looked at closely. If you don’t take the time to write a unique summary section for both, don’t expect a recruiter to take time with you.

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 | July 3, 2020

#JobSearch : How to Effectively Brand Your Resume & Why It Matters.

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When writing an effective resume, demonstrating your personal brand is critical. Most executives have similar skills and achievements, so what can set you apart from the rest is the overall value you bring to the table. While your brand is what it is, you can tailor the message in your resume depending on the company you are targeting. This may mean one of your most important achievements at your current company shouldn’t go on your resume when applying for another company if it’s not relevant.

Companies today want to know what value you have to offer them specifically and here are some tips to help you show this clearly. 

 

1- Utilize Keywords Effectively for SEO Purposes

You’ll have a hard time demonstrating your c-level personal branding if you don’t have a keyword-rich resume. Search Engine Optimizatio n (SEO) is critical in the landscape of job searching today to give your resume, LinkedIn profile, or anything else a chance of being discovered. The good news is an executive resume writer can help you incorporate appropriate keywords while also keeping your brand in mind.

 

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

Article continued … 

2-Show Some Personality

A quality aspect of c-level personal branding is showing what you’re most passionate about and what you will bring to the table at your targeted company. You can show some personality in your resume without getting personal. For example, when you write about your leadership style and techniques, the reader can get a good idea of the type of person you are and how you work with others. Without this personality, your resume may look the same as the other hundreds of resumes that come across a recruiter’s desk.

 

3- Include Metrics When You Can

Another key to writing an effective resume is incorporating metrics, statistics, and numbers when they are appropriate and relate to the job you’re applying for. Don’t be shy about talking about these in your resume. Backing up your claims with actual numbers is powerful and can really hit home for a hiring manager when it relates to their company.

 

4- Only Show Relevant Information

The biggest mistake an executive resume writer always sees is when someone includes their past achievements that aren’t relevant to the job they’re applying for. Companies aren’t necessarily as concerned with what you’ve done in the past as they are with what you’ll do for them in the future. Don’t rely on the reader to make connections between the two. Your biggest accomplishment at a previous employer may not be beneficial at all to your future employer, so don’t include it if it’s not relevant.

C-level personal branding is what sets many executives apart from the rest. Executives often believe branding only happens during networking events. While this is true, your brand has to also be evident in your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and anywhere else. Once a hiring manager can clearly see what your overall brand is, you’ll have a better chance of landing the job.

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 26, 2020

 

#JobSearch : The COVID Effect on the Job Market. A MUst REad for All!

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As I write this blog article, the United States economy just moved past the 80th calendar day since the international pandemic (Corona-Virus 19) in which the quarantine sent everyone scurrying behind locked doors and face masks.  Companies who relied mostly on technology were mostly insulated from business losses during the quarantine.  Other companies moved to ‘curb-side’ service, online meetings (using Zoom, Adobe, and Google meeting cloud platforms).

Some businesses (online shopping, health care, e-commerce) were able to still perform ‘as usual’ – especially if already providing services and products ‘virtually’ (employees moved from offices to homes to work via telecom technology.  Those companies most impacted, e.g., non-essential retail, restaurants, hotels, travel, and entertainment are still struggling and many are facing bankruptcy.

What does this mean for workers or those looking for new jobs and careers?

1- Job seekers will have more competition for the job they would normally have been a ‘shoo-in’ pre-pandemic; in this economy, it’s now an employer’s market for hiring. Expect to be rejected more often as an applicant.  The company may have a hiring freeze or slow-down, but there also may be jobs not advertised.  Keep on posting your resume into the ATS on the recruiting system for the company(ies) you are targeting.

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

Article continued …

 

2- Sharpen or add technology skills on the career resume for the job search. If you have the skill sets that enable to you to work from any location – job site, in the field, or from home, this will showcase your adaptability.  Have you worked from home during the quarantine? Are you able to adjust to a personal work schedule and reliability? Mention that in your resume to showcase capabilities.  Jobs ‘on-site’ in the past may be virtual go forward.

3- Job seekers need to update and ensure their computer has with telecom capabilities – camera, speakers, and access to Internet for online meetings; and it’s important to realize the vital need for updating one’s resume and LinkedIn profile for recruiters to more easily find you online. Test your meeting software and equipment with friends and family member (virtual dinner party, anyone?).

4- Review the field or industry – you may need to move to new careers. Job seekers need to target industries for ‘core business industries’ e.g., advertising, tech, delivery companies [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][packages, food], tax assistance, video communications, instruction and teaching platforms [e.g., universities, colleges, tutoring], essential businesses [pharmacies], healthcare services, and/or cleaning and sanitation [janitorial]. The companies to avoid targeting for job searches are those related to travel – hotels, airlines, sports, and automotive. My husband takes Viagra for a couple of years now. I always wondered if it could help me become better in bed, so I decided to take a pill. Well, I can’t say that I felt anything different, but the sensations during intercourse were definitely better. I suppose it was due to better lubrication, which, I suppose, was the result of my experiment.

5- Refresh your resume on the big boards (e.g., Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed) – the older resumes float to the bottom of the resume pool; even if you add a dot or space, those ATS platforms categorize the resume as a ‘new’ (refreshed) resume.

6- Be prepared for ‘more’ online virtual meetings, interviews, and panel discussions (hiring committees) versus driving to the location for the meeting (this is good – saves gas, and you can wear a nice shirt and jacket over your pajama bottoms).

7- Be prepared to do more email and online networking – the face-to-face networking is ‘out’ with social distancing in place (likely for the next 6-18 months). Do continue to make phone calls to friend, peers, past co-workers and bosses to let them know you are available for work. Who do they know is looking to hire?

8- Recruiters won’t be able to rely on ‘body language’ in virtual interviews, so it’s important for job candidates to look sharp, act like they are paying attention during the online cloud meetings, and to ensure the dog or cat won’t interrupt the meeting. The interview candidate may have to project more to demonstrate a positive attitude and don’t forget to clean up the area behind your computer to look like a more professional work environment.

9- In the past, recruiters may have been able to make a job offer and have a candidate in the seat in two weeks. The pandemic has slowed the process down to ‘whenever it is safe to physically come to work.’ Expect delays in the hiring process – some college grads who were extended job offers aren’t able to work for their new employers until as late as July or August while the company struggles to determine health and safety protocols. There will be a slow-down in the decision-making.  Companies may take a while before business picks up again to justify the hire and bringing the candidate onboard with a start date.

10- Job seekers who have lost their jobs need to be aware the extended benefits from the Payroll Protection Act are for a small and finite period. If your employer laid you off and you refuse to come back to work – you will lose your unemployment benefits.  Even if you get paid more in the PPA, it is vital for you to get back to work so you have a job after the benefits run out.

11- Do not lose hope. If you have a ‘side’ job, you may need ramp up the sales and services to bridge the financial gap between the last job and the new post-Covid career move.

 

FSC Career Author: Ms.Dawn Boyer, Ph.D., is a FSC Career Coach & owner of D. Boyer Consulting – provides resume writing, editing, and publishing (print-on-demand) consulting. Reach her at: Dawn.Boyer@me.com or visit her website at www.dboyerconsulting.com.

 

FSC Career Blog |  June 12, 2020

 

Bio: Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D., has been an entrepreneur and business owner for 20+ years, with a successful business and consulting firm (CEO) in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond, VA.  Her background experience is 24+ years in the Human Resources field, of which 12+ years are within the Federal & Defense Contracting industry. She is the author of 812+ books on the topics of business, human resources research, career search practice, women and gender study, genealogy and family lineages, quotes for motivation and self-improvement, and Adult Coloring Books.  Her books can be found on Amazon.com under her author’s page for Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]