Your Resume Again - A Work in Progess

When I first lost my job, I blew the dust off my resume.  I tweaked it, shared it with a few co-workers for critique and started submitting it.  Then I sat back and waited for the phone to ring. The phone never rang.  How could that be? How could a company not see the value, enthusiasm and well, just ME that I could bring to their workplace? What was wrong with them?  What was wrong with me?  It stung. 

I then brought it to the attention of a career counselor at the outplacement office that my former company so graciously offered (by the way, if your company offers this, swallow your pride and use it).  He diplomatically pointed out to me that my resume, “ah um, aged me.”  He was right!

That was two years ago and since then I have learned a lot about creating a resume.  This may seem like old news to some long term unemployed but if it helps and you take a second look at your resume, then my job is done.  Here’s what I know:

1.    The resume you create today is a template only.  It needs to be adjusted for every position for which you apply. Seriously. For some reason, many people skip this step.

a.    Align your resume with the key words in the position.  Look at the job description and requirements and use this wording as guidance.

b.    Support your resume statements with measurable results (money saved, processes improved, and percentages of whatever great things you did).  ***

c.    Your resume is not a job description so stop writing it like one.

2.    Format your resume for electronic submission. Review the submission requirements (Plaintext, pdf.) and submit your resume as requested.

3.    Dump the Objective and refresh your resume with a Personal Branding Statement.

4.    Toss the “References Available upon Request” statement. Prepare them on a separate document.

5.    Capture the last 10 – 15 years of employment only. The position you had 16+ years ago is not relevant. The exception to this is if you are applying for a job similar to what you had back then.

These are the top five issues that I see again and again in my Resume Preparation classes.  I know that it is extra work to tailor your resume for each position but if it is going to make you and your hard work stand out from the rest of the hundreds of application, isn’t it worth it?

NOTE

** I heard a great tip the other day.  Someone in class said that tailoring a resume to every position can be a recipe for disaster (i.e. pain in the butt) because you may leave yourself open to typos, grammar and spelling mistakes etc.  Another class participant provided this tip:

Prepare a Word document containing ALL of your job accomplishments. Put these measurable accomplishments under various headings.  This man's Word document is over 25 pages long!  This document should be spell and grammar checked by software and people.  When it is time to prepare a tailored resume for a job, go through the document and choose the appropriate wording/measurements to copy and paste into your resume template.  Ah, priceless advice.  I liked it because it is also a good way to review your past and validate your wonderful accomplishments.

UPDATE 1/30/11: Here is an article about the same thing.

Job Search for Moms

Job Search for Moms is available for a limited time at a 15% discount.  Just enter coupon code OPENBOOK305 at checkout.  Sale ends Monday January 31, 2011.

Are Your Happy?

Losing your job, being snowed in, eating for comfort, no one to talk to, facing the same chores, noticing that the format of your favorite newspaper or website has changed...fill in the blank.  Change is uncomfortable and whatever the source, it may make us feel anxious, depressed, moody, lonely or unhappy.
 
I heard a statistic the other day from Dan Buettner, author of Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way who said that people need several hours of interpersonal contact a day in order to feel content. As I listened, I thought of the job seeker, especially the person who has been looking for a long while.

If you lose your job, especially in the winter months, you may feel very isolated and lonely.  At least in the summer, it is easier to get out of the house. We talked about a similar issue the other day in the blog, How Do You Get Over the Job Search Blahs.  It’s tough to hit the wall in your job search.  I have several suggestions but would love to hear your suggestions.

1. Call your doctor or another health care professional if you notice that you feel out of sorts for a while.
2. Get out of the house and join a networking, walking, singing, exercise group.
3. Go to a class.  There are plenty of free classes and your library may be a good resource.
4. If snowed in, turn off the television and listen to some music, dance, read, etc.
5. Call a friend.
6. Volunteer.
7. Journal your feelings.

Please add to the list.  One other thing, if you have a friend who has lost his or her job, please reach out to him or her.  Your friendship can make a big difference.

January 27, 2011 Snow

Another snow storm, another opportunity to see the beauty of the season. Shovel, worry, complain... I prefer to view it in silence for just a minute and let it restore me.

Professional Services Group - PSG

I've noticed quite a change over the past two years in the job search process and job seekers are becoming quite savvy.  Yesterday I gave a "Job Search for the Age 40+ Worker" class for a local Professional Services Group (PSG).  There must have been 50 people there and they were all on top of the newest strategies and tools to help them with their job search. How’d they do that, I wondered?  The answer was right in front of me.  They make it their business to stay on top of the job search process.

PSG groups offer many services for the job seeker.  You'll find trainings, career fairs, social events, websites, member profiles and so much more. What I liked best about this group was their terminology and support.  Right before they started the meeting they went through the list of those who had "landed", or found a job.  Whether or not the person was in attendance, the room erupted into applause.  It was so warm, genuine and almost as if I had walked into someone's living room.

If I were a local employer, I'd attend one of the PSG Monday meetings. The expertise is extraordinary.  I watched people making an effort to get involved in committees so that they could sharpen their existing skills and learn new ones. I watched people who I knew never did any public speaking in their former jobs, take a microphone and announce a project or make a request.  I saw train-the-trainer huddles going on as people with hopes of landing, passed on their expertise to the newer members.  It was like a business being run on a Monday morning; only the local office was a church basement. 

Bravo to the PSG and other networking groups that sharpen the skill sets of the unemployed and give them a sense of community and purpose.  For more information on Professional Service Groups, please contact your local unemployment office.  I met with the Central Jersey PSG Chapter; please see what your state offers. 

Articles for Moms Returning to Work

Angele Sionna, Earl Childhood Parenting Examiner from the examiner.com™ has introduced a series of articles focused on mothers returning to the workplace. According to her opening article, “the series will include tips and interviews with human resources experts, resume experts, and successful moms with stories that inspire as well as taking a look at resources to help moms looking to dip their toes back in the workplace water or jump right back in. It's for stay at home moms, work at home moms, moms who work part time and moms that have gone back to work full time."

The article yesterday focused on the identifying skill sets and designing a functional resume. I was interviewed for today’s article, Back to Work Moms Q&A: Advice from Job Search for Moms author about the challenges of returning to work.

Do you or someone you know have similar concerns or challenges?  Please share your thoughts.

How Do You Get Over the Job Search Blahs?

The other day one of my blogging friends posted a note about writer's block and "hitting the wall" as far as coming up with content.  I responded with some suggestions and let her know that I was pretty sure that it was only temporary thing. Her other friends offered similar encouragement and who knows, all that talk and support may lead to new, exciting blog content.

Well guess what? I hit that same wall this morning. All my ideas for job search tips or techniques have disappeared today. I didn't write any content ideas down (as I had suggested to my friend) and my mental gas tank was on "E" for empty.  I don't know why I couldn't write anything today.  It could be the weather, the rain, the snow, arguing with my son last night, the fact that the Christmas tree was still up, the laundry, wanting a vacation... I'm sure that you get the idea. What I was left with today was a feeling of discouragement and the "blahs". 

I did realize something though.  As a job seeker, a job search trainer or a blogger, we can't be up and positive every day.  It's normal to feel discouraged at times or totally frustrated that nothing seems to fall into place. It's OK.  Sometimes we need to give ourselves a day off. Read a book, take a walk, listen to music, dance, play basketball, meditate or do something that will make you feel better.  I took down the Christmas tree.  Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to get back on track. 

What do you do to beat back the blahs?