Home » Blog » Tagged: resume

The Hidden Benefits of a Well Written Resume

Have you ever thought about the benefits of having a well written resume? If you think the only benefit is finding a job, think again.

Back in January, my usually upbeat handyman confided to me that he was in a funk. Business was down and he could barely meet expenses. He decided to seek employment as a Superintendent or Facility Manager. While he enjoyed doing home repairs, he needed the security of a full time job. A change in situation would create a steady income and allow him to serve private customers after business hours. The problem was he lacked the personal awareness to effectively market himself.

After a brief discussion we agreed on a barter arrangement; I would write his resume and cover letter in exchange for his taking care of several projects around my home.

My familiarity with his work helped me to create a resume that would attract the opportunities he was seeking. The profile boasted about his talents, the skills section featured every tool he had operated and the professional skills he offered. I included a logo that depicted a hammer and nail to catch the attention of hiring managers.

The interview process and completed document gave my handyman the language he needed to market himself. What he learned about himself during the interview process of the resume program gave him a better understanding of his value to others and the role his previous experience in played in achieving his goals.

About a week after his resume was completed he called to tell me about all the opportunities that were coming his way. The newly created resume enabled him to clearly speak with friends and members of his congregation about his career goals. To his surprise he found people were more than willing to share contacts and job leads. I listened as he enthusiastically told me he was going to apply for a seasonal maintenance position with the Trump Organization…It has since occurred to me the real benefit of what I do is give people the confidence and hope they need to pursue their goals.

6 Good Reasons to Update Your Resume

Repeat after me, today is the day that I will update my resume. Today is the day that I will update my resume. Rarely has a person contacted me because they were happily employed and wanted to update their resume as part of their healthy career management program. By keeping your resume current you will:

  1. be ready when an unforeseen opportunity presents itself
  2. be ready to launch your job search if you are suddenly laid off
  3. have a healthy awareness of your unique strengths, skills, and accomplishments
  4. be less stressed should you find yourself in an unexpected job search
  5. be ahead of the competition because you will also be active in your  professional and social network and have a strong online presence.
  6. be in a better position for promotions and salary increases

6 Word Resume

There’s a new meme going around for a 6 word resume at G.L. Hoffman’s blog. The goal is to come up with a 6 word resume that captures the essence of who you are. This is great exercise for defining your brand.

Hint: What do you stand for? What distinguishes you from everyone else?

  • Here are some famous and not so famous examples:
  • “Women should be obscene and not heard.”
    Groucho Marx

    “They always leave a little taller.”
    The Little Gym

    “80% of success is showing up.”
    Woody Allen

    “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
    Abraham Lincoln

    “Energy and persistence conquer all things.”
    Benjamin Franklin

    “Whatever you focus on, will expand.”
    Steadman Grant

    “Dare to Dream – Dare to Do”
    Anonymous

    “Inner Gremlin Tamer, Life Purpose Guru”
    Anne-Marie Ditta

    “Change has come to America.”
    Barack Obama
    Victory speech in US presidential election, home state of Chicago, November 4, 2008.

    Excellent Career Advice!!!

    “It’s time for you to shut out all of the gloom and doom on the TV and just focus on one, simple, small job: your next one!”

    Marc Cenedella
    Founder & CEO
    TheLadders.com, Inc.

    Every week I receive tons of emails from friends and colleagues. While there are way too much for me to read, every now and then one will catch my eye as the aforementioned quote has.

    Fear is running rampant and our nation is being called to to live with less while we huddle close and hope the monster of unemployment will pass by our doors. The crisis will eventually pass but the question remains how gracefully will get you get through it?

    Just like Marc Cenedella, I urge you to focus on one thing; take control of your career and let go of what is beyond your power. What you can control is:

    - Your attitude: Like any other project, every great job begins with an achievable vision.
    - Your process: Finding a job that best matches your unique qualifications and skills requires you to create and stick to a strong project plan, schedule and specific milestones.
    - Your resume: Always, always, always keep it current. You never know when your next great opportunity will appear.
    - Your network -: Creating an active job search team means that you will keep in touch often, be both a generous giver and a gracious receiver. Coach your friends, family, colleagues and peers in the specifics, i.e. your goals and how they can help you achieve them.
    - Where you look: When used properly, the internet is a great tool for finding employment. Make a list of employers you are interested in working for and look under the “Careers or Join Us” section of their websites.
    - Your knowledge: Whether it is learning a new technology or completing your PMP, you must commit to being a lifelong learner to stay competitive in this market.
    - Your image: From your head to your toes present a professional image. Always make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes are neat and crisp, you are well groomed and your smile is broad and welcoming.

    Recession Proof Your Career, Now!

    Unemployment is up to 7.2%, 13 people were laid off by my husband’s employer, my phone is ringing off the hook; the job market is looking pretty scary for everyone. Having tremendous success with the Job Club I lead on behalf of the Center for Women of New York, I was inspired to present this program in my own backyard of Westchester. Whether you are unemployed or facing a lay-off, this unique program will help you develop powerful skills and proven tools to manage your job search or navigate career change.

    THE JOB CLUB:
    TRANSCENDING FROM CRISIS TO OPPORTUNITY

    Wednesdays: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
    January 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25,
    April 1, 15 and 22, 2009
    Wainwright House
    260 Stuyvesant Avenue, Rye, NY 10580

    In a safe and supportive environment, learn how to:
    • Embrace change and use it to propel you forward
    • Explore and identify career paths that best fit your strengths and interests
    • Prevent your Inner Gremlin from standing between you and your goals
    • Effectively build and mobilize your network, even if you are shy
    • Address spoken and unspoken objections and work around challenges
    • Define your Personal Brand for use in your resume, cover letter, online presence,
    sound bites and messages that capture the interests of hiring managers and key contacts
    • Conduct an effective job search using the Dispatch Method
    • Transform interviews from interrogations into business meetings
    • Identify and answer illegal interview questions while maintaining your cool
    • Negotiate better salary and compensation packages

    Pre-registration is required

    http://www.wainwright.org/Program_DittaAnneMarie_series.htm
    Phone registrations: 914-967-6080, Monday – Friday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
    At other times, please leave a message and a registrar will return your call and take your registration and credit card information.
    12-week series
    $540 for members \ / $600 for non-members

    Monster: A Portal or Hinderance to Employment

    Chances are registering with Monster could be slowing your job search down. According to an article in the Westchester Journal News over 80+ messages per day flooded the inbox of Yorktown Heights resident John Gembecki after he registered with Monster. The emails were all job or career related.

    This information supports my assertion that job boards are not the best way to find the job of your dreams. In my opinion word of mouth or building a personal connection is still the best way to get yourself hired. Below are several examples of how 10 clients that I coached found employment over the last year:

    • After 30 years with the same company Rick (not his real name) was offered a new opportunity after he saw the posting online. Instead of sending his resume he called the company directly. Instead of agreeing to a screening interview over the phone he offered to come by, citing that he lived within minutes of the office. He was offered a 6-figure postion at the end of the first interview.
    • Barbara had played a key role in launching a world renowned financial services organization over 20 years ago. Within 3 years of being relocated to another country she was downsized. She called her former employer who had left the organization the previous year and he began tapping into his network to help her find a new opportunity. After 4 months of interviewing she landed a new position as Executive Director of Marketing.
    • A true strategist, Khalil has a goal of reaching a C-level position by 2012. In order to position himself for the challenge he needed a promotion from Director of Project Management to Senior Vice President of Program Management. He made his goals known to key executive leaders including his boss. He was surprised by the support they provided. One CTO even stayed late to help him revise his resume after a series of positions opened up within the organization. He called last week to let me know he received the promotion.

    The next time you think of registering with an online job board, you might consider  reconnecting  with that former colleague you think about from every now and then.

    View the Journal News article in its entirety  http://lohud.com/article/20081228/BUSINESS01/812280320#pluckcomments