Archive for 'online job search'

Free Resume Help

Here are suggestions to improve your resume. I review resumes often and these mistakes are very common but easily fixed.

  • Use bullet points for easy scanning.
  • Keep paragraphs to no more than two to three sentences long.
  • Use the title of the job you are applying for as a resume objective.
  • Use a strong summary of qualifications. This section needs to be a big picture view about the dynamic and professional person you are.
  • Don’t use I’s on resumes. Instead, start sentences with action verbs.
  • Use common section headers such as Professional Experience or Related Experience or Education instead of something unique.
  • Use year dates for the jobs held throughout your resume…2008-Present; 2006-2007; 2004-2006.
  • Use keywords relevant to the type of  job you are applying for on your resume.
  • Get rid of the responsibility/job duties bullets. Instead use accomplishment statements. One way to do that is to finish the thought by telling, “which resulted in…” at the end of each bullet point.

Online Career Resources

laptop_man

Here are a few links you may find to be useful tools to complement your career decision making. These are online tools but remember the best method to actually finding a job combines accessing your personal network and using online tools.

To access your personal network simply go to your family, friends, and acquaintances with a question such as this, “Who do you know at The Widget Company?” or “Who do you know in sales and marketing?” or “Who do you know who might be looking for part-time administrative help?” Customize the question to the type of position you are looking for and be sure to follow up with any leads they give after first asking, “Is it okay if I mention your name?” If they say no, you can still follow up with the new lead by reporting that you have heard their name dropped often in your personal networking so you wanted to say hello.

For online job search here are some handy sites you might want to bookmark for when you need them.

Chimby.com – career advice search engine

Fab Job – ebooks with specific insider information on a careers

Best Careers Report for 2008

FlexJobs.com – a job search site for telecommuting jobs

JobRapido.com – a great way to search many job search sites at once; send email alerts to yourself for your fav searches

InterviewUp.com – a good site to check when you are doing interview preparation

PayScale.com – very good site for salary research

Web 2.0 changes everything

In job interviews of the past, potential employers saw only the papers handed to them and the impression that was made when a person entered the interview room combined with what others said about the interviewee beforehand. Now potential employers can and do get an even more accurate sense of personality, skills, and history based on an online presence before a person is invited to an interview.

Social networking websites strive to bring people of similar interests together in a “meeting place” online. I like to say that it is almost as good as attending a convention in person without the costs of travel or vacation time. Of course, meeting in person is ideal, but with the multimedia capabilities of today you can establish new, and even deepen existing relationships with a little online savvy. With social networking online it becomes easier to visualize your personal and/or professional networks. You can also connect people you know with other people you know quite easily using online introductions—a powerful networking strategy.

Social media is powerful and it is here to stay. There is potential for competitive advantage by having a presence online, but you have to manage your online identity in a way that positively serves you. By using social networking technology, you provide proof of your technology and communication skills (or lack thereof) depending upon how carefully you utilize the medium. And, by the way, the absence of an online presence is becoming a detriment to successful networking and job search too.