Before Going to a Professional Resume Writer...

There are a lot of resume services popping up. Some are established and have been around for a long time. They were there all along but we never needed them so who knew to look for them? Lately, because of the employment situation, some people are opening Resume Chop Shops to make a quick buck. During times of uncertainty there are always people who will take advantage of any situation. If you are leaning towards a resume service, do your homework. Ask how long a company has been around. Ask about their success rate and their charges. Do a little comparison shopping and compare the services and benefits. Make sure that you are happy with the services provided.

Prior to going to a resume writer, try to figure out some things on your own. The following steps will help you plan the content of your resume. Should you decide to use a professional service, it won't hurt to bring this information along with you.

1. Identify your strengths and development needs (a nicer term for weaknesses). Go to any of the free career assessment sites and take a few assessments.

2. Dust off your old performance appraisals. In what areas were you rated “Above Average” or “Excellent”? Also review your accomplishments. How did you save time or money? Did you bring in more customers? Did you display outstanding customer service skills or team work or goal setting? Make a list of these accomplishments and development needs.

3. Look up your job on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and review the wording. Do the descriptors sound like something you have done in your previous jobs? Yes? How can you frame this wording to you and your accomplishments?

4. Look up the type of job you’re seeking in Indeed.com, Monster.com or any of those sites. Look at the job requirements. Can you do that? How? Have you done this in your past? How? What were the results? Jot down responses.

5. Review any outside/volunteer/professional group activities. What is your role? Do you have a leadership role? Are creativity, problem solving, writing, goal setting, team building involved? What descriptive words can you use to describe what you do with this team? What are the results of these activities? Did you increase donations for this organization? How much? Did you bring in more members? How many?

6. Draw a two column table. In one column jot down the job requirements for your position. In the second column write down all your accomplishments as they relate to these descriptors.

This exercise will further clarify your past accomplishments and you will be better prepared to speak about them with a professional resume preparation service. On the other hand, now that you have done all the work, you might want to review various resume templates and create your resume on your own.

Finally, make sure your resume is editable. Each and every resume should be tailored to an open position so you have to be able to modify it at will.

No One is Hiring the Unemployed- Huh?

Maybe it’s because I grew up in the '70's and still buried deep in me is the protest gene. Maybe it’s from my father who always told me to stand up for what is unjust. All I know is that I have been hearing and reading stories about the long-term unemployed who have been labeled as "lazy", "unqualified", "untrainable" and more because they have been without work for some indefinable standard of "too long". There are thousands of heartbreaking stories of highly qualified and motivated people who are losing their homes, families and self-dignity because the corporate ivory tower deems them not good enough to work at their firms. They would rather select a person who is currently employed over someone who is unemployed. On top of it all, many times it is the older unemployed person who is thrown out of the selection process from the start.
What has happened to this country? What has happened to our definition of motivation and skills and drive and knowledge? Have ethics been thrown out the window? It is happening all over this great nation of ours and I simply can't get my head around it. Unfortunately, the news media hides it or turns a blind eye to it while it concentrates on the banal stories of the $5 million the Situation from Jersey Shore will bring in or who the next Dancing with the Stars celebrity will be.
One group that I am aware of is trying to catch the attention of the policy makers and I pray they are successful. They started a petition to stop these unfair hiring practices. Take a look at the stories on the petition - they'll tear you up. Unfortunately, no one is listening.

Freelance Jobs

The Wall Street Journal published an article today describing the many white collar workers who are "moonlighting" to make ends meet. They mentioned this website for freelance/contracted positions. Perhaps it can help you or someone you may know.

Go Google Yourself

I read an article on Forbes.com about using social media for your job search. It was good and it mentioned many of the things we've talked about such as using key words, not blasting your resume, being specific to your skills, etc. What caught my eye was something I haven't done as often as I should and that is to Google or Bing yourself weekly. You'll be either delighted, disappointed or upset at what you'll see. Your LinkedIn profile is there as are your Facebook, Twitter and any other accounts you may have. You might also see your donations to political groups, your college or other public listings.

Last year I had a MySpace account because I wanted to comment on some of the songs my son had written and posted (good mom!). I entered my age, location, basically everything it asked for to find out that all that information was listed in Google. Yikes! I didn't want to whole world to see my age or my motherly comments to my son. I immediately went into MySpace and cancelled my account. It took a few days to go away.

Needless to say, clean up all your accounts including pictures and language and stay away from taboo subjects in your messaging. You never know what will come up.

Integrating Critical Skills into the Job Search

The American Management Association recently published a listing of the four critical business skills needed to succeed in today’s work environment. How can you make them work for you in your job search?

The skills are:
1. Critical Thinking
2. Communication
3. Collaboration
4. Creativity

You can include them in your professional skills (again only if you have them and can state accomplishments relating to them) in your resume. You could also add them to your brand or impact statement and your cover letter. Make sure that you can come up with real accomplishments related to these skills.

While preparing for an interview, try to come up with STAR (Situation, Task, Actions, and Results) examples of where you have used these skills. Tie them into your previous work or outside activities. Also, while reviewing any company information, look to see if there are any references to these skills in the organization’s mission and vision statements. Think of ways these skills can be used with the products or services this company provides.

Some last thoughts; while these skills have been around most workplaces forever, many companies are only just realizing the impact they have on company growth and the bottom line. Also, in these days of the leaner workplace, these skills are just plain necessary. Finally,needless to say, don’t overlook the skills and competencies stated in the job description. You may find some overlap.

Upcoming Job Search Training Sessions

These job search classes are free and open to the public. They are funded by various grants to the local libraries. If you are interested in attending, contact the library listed. All classes are fun, interactive and provide real tools to help you in your job search. Come see us in action! You'll walk out energized, pumped up to get started and with new network connections.

*The three sessions offered through Raritan Valley Community College have a small fee associated with them.


8/30/10- Interviewing for Success. New Providence Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

9/11/10 - Resume Preparation. Bound Brook Memorial Library, NJ. 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

9/13/10 - Networking for Success. New Providence Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

9/14/10 - Career Evaluation. Keynote Speaker for IAAP. East Hanover, NJ. 5:30 - 8:30pm.

9/22/10 - Job Search for the Age 40+ Employee. Morristown Public Library, NJ. 10:00am - 12:00pm.

9/25/10 - Interviewing Skills. Bound Brook Memorial Library, NJ. 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

9/27/10 - Career Change. Franklin Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

9/29/10 - Career Assessment and Resume Preparation. Red Bank Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 9:00pm.

NEW! 10/02/10 Book Signing and Back-to-Work Fashion Event. Annie Sez, Bridgewater, NJ. 12:00 pm - 5:00pm.

*10/05/10 - Mothers Returning to Work Part 1. Raritan Valley Community College, NJ. 10:30am - 11:50 am. (Fee involved)

10/09/10 - Subject to be announced. Edgewater Public Library, NJ. 2:00pm - 4:00pm.

*10/12/10 - Mothers Returning to Work Part 2. Raritan Valley Community College, NJ 10:30am - 11:50am. (Fee involved)

10/18/10 - Writing a Winning Resume and Cover Letter. Franklin Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 8:30 pm.

*10/20/10 - Telephone Interviewing. Raritan Valley Community College, NJ. 6:00pm- 8:50pm. (fee involved)

10/27/10 - Interviewing for Success. Red Bank Public Library. 7:00pm - 9:00pm.

10/31/10 - Job Search for the Age 40+ Employee. Ridgewood Public Library, NJ.2:00 pm - 4:00pm.

11/08/10 - Interviewing for Success. Franklin Public Library, NJ. 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

11/09/10 - Book Signing. Clarence Dillon Public Library. Bedminster, NJ. 5:30am - 6:30pm.

Saving your Resume in a Different Format

Today I want to focus on saving your resume. Many people don’t realize that when they complete an on line application that they need to change its format. If they don’t, the resume will look like junk. The bullets will be all over the place, the spacing will be off and the person on the other end will wonder what’s wrong with you. They’ll most likely toss your resume.

Now, most anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not the most technically savvy person. But I do know how to format a document.

Many on-line open positions require you to format your resume into Plain Text. To do this:
1. Click the Office Icon at the top left of your tool bar.
2. Click the “Save As” feature
3. Click the “Other Formats” selection
4. Your directory of saved documents will show up. The box will say, “File Name” and “Save as Type”. Obviously, you will name your document. I suggest you name your document as your name, resume and the words plain text. (Nancy Anderson Resume Plain Text)
“Save as Type” is where you change the format of your document. When you click the arrow in this category, you will see the variety of format options. Look around and will see the “Plain Text” option.
5. Click “Save” and you’re finished.

You may want to save your document in any of the other formats. If you do, just make sure that you remind yourself of the format (Nancy Anderson Resume PDF.) Needless to say you should keep a copy of your resume in your regular Word (the file extensions that end in doc. or dox.).

Now your resume is ready to post into a job applicaton or open position. By the way, you can do the same thing for your cover letter.

I’m sure there will be people reading this and saying that these are obvious steps and they’ll be right. This is for everyone else.

Preparing for the Telephone Interview

Today in one of my LinkedIn groups, someone wrote about completing an on-line application and some of the materials you should have with you to make the application process easier to complete. It made me think of a similar exercise in planning for a telephone interview.

Telephone interviews “Ain’t what they used to be.” Rather than a simple phone call between you and a human resources department representative, they are now more focused on your accomplishments and your responses to the questions and statements at this point may determine an invitation for a face-to-face interview.

So how do you prepare for this “new” telephone interview? Other than the obvious rules of no gum, stand up or try to use a land-line, etc., there are a couple of things to do to prepare:
1. Have a stack of labeled folders. Each one should contain:
a. The position and company details
b. Key words from the open position – the job requirements
c. Your accomplishments in relation to the job requirements
d. A list of questions focused on this company
e. Any network contacts that may have assisted you with getting an interview with this company
2. Pad, paper, writing instrument
3. Copy of your resume
4. A calendar or your computer
5. A list of your job related strengths and development needs (weaknesses). Make sure you also include how you have gone about eliminating those job related weakness.

The better prepared you are, the more you will be able to concentrate on the open position. Your preparation will come across as a stronger presence on the phone. And that will help get you invited in for another interview.

PS: Colored folders are on sale at Target this week for $.15.

Creating Your Personal Brand

The other day I talked about some of the ways you can enhance your personal brand for your job search. I was recently asked to write an article on the "what" and "how" of personal branding for an an informative website called My Boomer to Boomer.
Do you have a personal brand? What went into it?

Job Search for Moms Facebook Group

A while ago I created a Facebook Group called Job Search for Moms. I thought I would provide some job search tips related to the topics in my book. Since moms aren't the only people looking for jobs these days, the Group provides job search topics and suggestions for anyone from grad to dad. Please join us and jump into the conversation.
The link is Job Search for Moms on Facebook. I hope I get to see you there!

Career Assessment - What Are Your Core Values?

A while ago we talked about career assessment and some of the things to think about before plunging in the job search. There are a ton of tools out there - some good and some just plain worthless. I guess they are better than nothing if you don't know where to begin. One of the things I suggest in all my career assessment classes is to focus on four areas:
1. Values
2. Interests
3. Personality
4. Skills

Today let's look at your values. Your values are your core beliefs. They are the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that you bring to the career search. They came about as a result of how you were brought up and your belief system. They certainly make an impact on how you view work and what makes you happy, satisfied and motivated while there.

Before doing anything job search related it’s important to inventory your values and compare them to the type of career you are looking for. There are plenty of work value inventories on the internet and most cover two areas:

a. The Work Environment: Salary/benefits, retirement, savings plan, job security, working conditions, family friendly, good community citizen, diverse employees, telecommuting options, etc.
b. The Job Requirements: Recognition, power, leadership, autonomy, creativity, research, analysis, influence, teamwork are only some of the various values associated with typical jobs that each individual craves.

Once you inventory your personal work values you can move ahead and sort through your career interests, personal work style and skills set. We'll get to those in separate blogs. For now, write down what values you prefer in a position and compare them to the wording you see in various job descriptions. Do they match? This is your starting point.