By: Frank Traditi
If you earned a dollar each time you asked yourself that question, your money problems would disappear, right?
There's a good reason why. It's the alarming fact that most people are never taught how to look for work. They may learn how to interview, write their resume, or take a career assessment, but these are individual skills useful at some stage of the process. The job search process itself is rarely included in school curricula or taught at career and placement centers. So instead of designing an effective job search campaign, the typical job-seeker begins looking for work by reading ads in the newspaper or postings in the Internet.
Sadly, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that between 74-85% of all jobs are never advertised. According to a Forrester Research study, 73% of the people who find work locate their job by a method other than applying for an advertised position. It's no wonder that job-seekers spend so many months on their job search, or become so frustrated that they give up looking for work. They are looking in all the wrong places.
Successful job-seekers refuse to ask that dreaded question of themselves or others. Instead, they consistently employ four key principles throughout every job search. Each principle is critical on its own. But to successfully land the job they want, they know that each one interacts with and supports the other.
The Four Key Principles of Successful Job Seekers
1. Use job search strategies that work. Two of the biggest challenges job-seekers face are knowing which job search approaches are the most effective, and figuring out where to start in finding job opportunities. Successful job-seekers know that any approach that helps them find and connect with the right people will eventually land them the job they want. Answering want ads and Internet postings are a waste of time. Developing relationships through networking, referrals, informational interviewing, and recruiters gets them closer to, if not right on top of, their ideal job. They know that in a competitive job market, they cannot rely on passively looking for positions already advertised. They actively market themselves to the people who are likely to hire them.
2. Stick to a step-by-step, action-oriented process. The typical job-seeker quickly becomes overwhelmed by his or her job search. There are million things to do, places to look, and people to talk to, but they don't have a system for putting the pieces together. Job-seekers who know the score, design and implement a game plan that includes setting a specific and attainable goal, actions steps to take every day or week, and a system to track their progress. If they don't realize the results they want to achieve, they don't abandon this plan. Rather, they make adjustments that get them back on track.
3. Stay motivated in face of frustration and rejection. Rejection letters, no return calls, and outdated information are all part of the normal working day of a job-seeker. Most people get frustrated and angry with this every-day occurrence and give up. The successful job-seeker sees this as opportunity or a positive learning experience. They don't let the fear of rejection get in the way of their progress. By sticking to their plan, they don't give up during the job search. They are motivated by the goals they've set and nothing will deter them from that accomplishment.
4. Know when to ask for help. Looking for a job can sometimes be the loneliest job in the world. Uncertainty and doubt set in with many a job-seeker when things don't go right. Perhaps even a sense of pride sets in and the thought of asking someone for help makes them feel like a charity case. Conversely, successful job-seekers know that they cannot do this alone. They stack the odds in their favor by adding some outside help to their job search campaign. They want to be accountable to someone other than themselves. They need to get a different point of view, or perspective, on their progress or challenges. And, they seek out support from people who care about their progress or help them develop the tools they need to win.
The next time you ask yourself or someone else, "why can't I find a job," you now know all is not lost. Implementing a solid action plan, sticking to your goals, and seeking help when you need it most, puts you in charge of your destiny. Simply put, you are just a few steps away from being a success.
Copyright © 2005, Frank Traditi
Frank Traditi is the co-author of Get Hired NOW!: A 28-Day Program for Landing the Job You Want. He is an author, speaker, career strategist, and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience in management, sales, and marketing for Fortune 500 companies. Frank works with talented professionals to design a game plan for an extraordinary career. For a copy of his free guide "How to Find a Job in 28 Days or Less," visit www.gethirednow.com
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden and Frank Traditi or subscribe to the Get Hired NOW! E-Newsletter.
Showing posts with label job hunt davao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job hunt davao. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
How to Check Whether Your Resume is Formatted Correctly
by Heather Eagar
Many job seekers have no idea that their resume’s formatting is just as important as the content on the resume. In other words, if you don’t have a decent setup, many hiring managers won’t give your resume a second look.
Is there anything that job seekers can do? Really, there are quite a few ways to take advantage of formatting in your resume. It’s just a matter of making some necessary tweaks to your resume to move it above your competition.
Make Sure Your Contact Information is at the Top
This may seem like a no brainer to some, but it is important that you place your contact information at the top of your resume. But not just on the first page – on every page. The main reason is because your resume will most likely be mixed in with other resumes, so by having your contact information as a header, there will be no doubt that the hiring manager is looking at yours.
Keep Your Paragraphs Brief
One major turnoff for hiring managers is to see extremely dense paragraphs on a resume. If you have paragraphs that are longer than four to five lines, there’s a good chance that you won’t hear anything back from the company. Looking through resumes is already a tedious job for hiring managers. It certainly doesn’t need to be complicated with long explanations.
Don’t Use Too Many Bullets
While using bullets is popular on resumes because it helps to highlight certain aspects of your career, there is a such thing as using too many. Keeping your bullet use to about 4 6 points per section keeps them fresh and effective. The purpose of bullets is to highlight specific info, so don’t use too many, and don’t use too few or the hiring manager will be confused as to why the bullets were included in the first place.
Watch Your Font Size
Sometimes it may seem fun to try different font styles and sizes to make your resume standout, but there can easily be a fine line between it being unique and cartoonish. Use a 10 point size for most fonts such as Tahoma, and an 11 point size for slightly smaller fonts such as Times New Roman.
Keep the Appropriate Margins
Margins are important when formatting your resume because they ensure that it doesn’t look too crowded or look as though the words will spill off the page. The recommended margin width is usually between one half and one inch. This is because it’s great to maintain plenty of white space, something adding margin space can do.
Use Bold, Underlining and Italics Consistently
Using word formatting options such as bold, underling and italics can be a great way to make certain details of your resume “pop” or stand out. However, there is a such thing as using these formatting tools to often or not enough. A good rule of thumb to follow is to use them only under certain conditions (i.e. underlining your previous job titles and putting past company names in italics). This can help the hiring manager easily hone in on the bits of information that he or she is looking for.
Do you feel that you now have more working knowledge of resume formatting? Well then it’s time to work on yours so that you can feel confident that it is well formatted.
Is there anything that job seekers can do? Really, there are quite a few ways to take advantage of formatting in your resume. It’s just a matter of making some necessary tweaks to your resume to move it above your competition.
Make Sure Your Contact Information is at the Top
This may seem like a no brainer to some, but it is important that you place your contact information at the top of your resume. But not just on the first page – on every page. The main reason is because your resume will most likely be mixed in with other resumes, so by having your contact information as a header, there will be no doubt that the hiring manager is looking at yours.
Keep Your Paragraphs Brief
One major turnoff for hiring managers is to see extremely dense paragraphs on a resume. If you have paragraphs that are longer than four to five lines, there’s a good chance that you won’t hear anything back from the company. Looking through resumes is already a tedious job for hiring managers. It certainly doesn’t need to be complicated with long explanations.
Don’t Use Too Many Bullets
While using bullets is popular on resumes because it helps to highlight certain aspects of your career, there is a such thing as using too many. Keeping your bullet use to about 4 6 points per section keeps them fresh and effective. The purpose of bullets is to highlight specific info, so don’t use too many, and don’t use too few or the hiring manager will be confused as to why the bullets were included in the first place.
Watch Your Font Size
Sometimes it may seem fun to try different font styles and sizes to make your resume standout, but there can easily be a fine line between it being unique and cartoonish. Use a 10 point size for most fonts such as Tahoma, and an 11 point size for slightly smaller fonts such as Times New Roman.
Keep the Appropriate Margins
Margins are important when formatting your resume because they ensure that it doesn’t look too crowded or look as though the words will spill off the page. The recommended margin width is usually between one half and one inch. This is because it’s great to maintain plenty of white space, something adding margin space can do.
Use Bold, Underlining and Italics Consistently
Using word formatting options such as bold, underling and italics can be a great way to make certain details of your resume “pop” or stand out. However, there is a such thing as using these formatting tools to often or not enough. A good rule of thumb to follow is to use them only under certain conditions (i.e. underlining your previous job titles and putting past company names in italics). This can help the hiring manager easily hone in on the bits of information that he or she is looking for.
Do you feel that you now have more working knowledge of resume formatting? Well then it’s time to work on yours so that you can feel confident that it is well formatted.
About the Author: Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume writing services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Article Source: ActiveAuthors.com
Monday, November 30, 2009
Basic Resumes are Detrimental to Your Career
Written by Teena Rose, a columnist, public speaker, and certified/published resume writer with Resume to Referral. She's authored several books, including "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer" and "Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales."
With technology advancement, a resume that lacks keywords or key phrases relevant to your career field may hinder your job search. Referenced in Resumes in Cyberspace, written by Pat Criscito and published by Barron's, she writes, "According to U.S. News & World Report, more than 1,000 unsolicited resumes arrive every week at most Fortune 500 companies, and before the days of applicant tracking systems and resumes canning, 80 percent were thrown out after a quick review." Mrs. Criscito also informs readers, "Instead of opening and reading thousands of resumes, companies can now scan them and sort them by keywords."
With technology advancement, a resume that lacks keywords or key phrases relevant to your career field may hinder your job search. Referenced in Resumes in Cyberspace, written by Pat Criscito and published by Barron's, she writes, "According to U.S. News & World Report, more than 1,000 unsolicited resumes arrive every week at most Fortune 500 companies, and before the days of applicant tracking systems and resumes canning, 80 percent were thrown out after a quick review." Mrs. Criscito also informs readers, "Instead of opening and reading thousands of resumes, companies can now scan them and sort them by keywords."
What do you do if you're a new graduate with limited experience? You dig deep, VERY deep. Covering all the bases will ensure your resume reflects key information that is relevant to your career. It's important to focus on the assets you bring to the table, and it's even more important not to forget every career tidbit. Here's a checklist with some select experience you may possess, but may have forgotten:
¨ Technologically advanced equipment and tools
¨ Advanced writing courses
¨ Computer platforms, software, LAN/WAN capabilities, and so on
¨ Volunteer work, externship, and internship positions
¨ Research or college projects (e.g., mock marketing plan for a small business)
¨ Special assignments
¨ Family business positions
¨ Leadership positions, such as coaching
¨ Foreign languages
The contents of this list will not apply to everyone, of course. In order to take full advantage of the experiences you possess, dissect your entire history. Of course, I have tips that will recognize valuable resources for tracking down all relevant experiences.Related Resume Articles & Resume Samples
Sample Resume for Human Resources Executive
First, refresh your memory by reviewing a date book or planner in search of seminars or committee participation (among others) that you might have forgotten. You'll be surprised at those things you did over the last 12 months that slipped your mind. Select only those elements that reflect leadership or other aspects important to your short- and long-term career objectives.
Second, access your personnel file at your current employer or personal copy at home. Superiors, in addition to evaluating your performance, sometimes make small notations as thanks for helping with project deadlines and so on.
Third, talk to your friends and family. Individuals tend to enjoy giving their "two cents" on topics concerning other people, so ask their thoughts on the types of skills they feel are critical. Make notations concerning your conversations. Log every bit of free advice that you didn't receive from your previous interviewee. Run with it! Cross off those that you've already considered, and research and include those that slipped your mind. Concentrate on those satisfying your current career agenda and put others towards the bottom of the resume.
Incorporating focused keywords and key phrases in your resume will allow for beefier content and enhance the return of your resume. A better return means that it will get more show time and ultimately increase the number of interviews you attend. The only purpose of the resume, after all, is to produce more interviews.
First, refresh your memory by reviewing a date book or planner in search of seminars or committee participation (among others) that you might have forgotten. You'll be surprised at those things you did over the last 12 months that slipped your mind. Select only those elements that reflect leadership or other aspects important to your short- and long-term career objectives.
Second, access your personnel file at your current employer or personal copy at home. Superiors, in addition to evaluating your performance, sometimes make small notations as thanks for helping with project deadlines and so on.
Third, talk to your friends and family. Individuals tend to enjoy giving their "two cents" on topics concerning other people, so ask their thoughts on the types of skills they feel are critical. Make notations concerning your conversations. Log every bit of free advice that you didn't receive from your previous interviewee. Run with it! Cross off those that you've already considered, and research and include those that slipped your mind. Concentrate on those satisfying your current career agenda and put others towards the bottom of the resume.
Incorporating focused keywords and key phrases in your resume will allow for beefier content and enhance the return of your resume. A better return means that it will get more show time and ultimately increase the number of interviews you attend. The only purpose of the resume, after all, is to produce more interviews.
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