04 Dec 09 Avoiding Resume Mistakes When Job Hunting
Hunting for work means writing, or updating your resume numerous times. Especially if you want to apply for a broad range of jobs, and increase the likelihood that you’ll be chosen for one. The importance of personalizing your resume cannot be understated, especially if you want to stand out from the crowd. But in addition to avoiding writing mundane formatted resumes, here are a few more pitfalls you’ll want to side step.
Make sure your resume is properly up to date. The last thing anybody wants to see is an old resume that you’ve been using for a few years. That shows no initiative, a lack of effort, and will reflect poorly on your work ethic. You definitely don’t want a potential boss counting strikes against you before you even have a chance to interview.
Keep your resume professional. While I always stress making your resume unique and tailored to each job that you apply for, don’t step out of the professional mold. Keep your font generic and readable, and stick to the standard resume format. Just tailor the information to each job that you apply for. That’s the best way to make a great impression.
Don’t send your resume without a cover letter. The cover letter is the standard starting point of any application, and a resume sent without one is incomplete. The resume only serves as a list of professional accomplishments and goals, the cover letter is where you put these into perspective with your personality. The cover letter sells you, and shows that you are the best employee for the job. Take advantage of the opportunity.
Finally, make your objective statement absolutely clear. You have to have a clear cut idea of what you intend to give, and get from the job you are applying to get. This is extremely important to a potential employer, so you want the statement to be as clear and understandable as possible. You wouldn’t want someone tripping over the first, and most vital part of your resume.
Tags: Boss, Cover Letter, Crowd, Initiative, Job Hunting, Likelihood, Mold, Objective Statement, Personality, Perspective, Pitfalls, Professional Accomplishments, Resume Format, Resume Job, Resume Mistakes, Resumes, Send Resume, Side Step, Strikes, Work Ethic
02 Dec 09 Find A Job Quickly
Finding a job quickly means being persistent. The only way to find a job quickly is to keep trying, and work hard at finding one. The recession has been declared over, but the jobs will be the last thing to come back. After such a bad one, that can take a while, which means competition will be intense. But as long as you remain persistent you can still succeed.
Every application needs a cover letter, and a cover letter is your chance to shine. So take advantage of that opportunity and be original. The last thing you want in a cover letter is to sound mundane, or like the cover letter is the same form that you’ve sent to every other company you’ve applied. Personalize and let your personality show. That’s what a cover letter is for. Sell yourself, and let your originality shine, and that will make your cover letter stand out from the rest. Just remember to remain professional and courteous.
Being persistent means letting the company know who you are. After you’ve turned in an application make sure to follow up. That means waiting a few days, and then visiting the company again to check on the status of your application. This shows initiative and a genuine desire to work. That gives you an edge as most people think the process is done after submitting an application.
Finally, remember once you have that interview, the job is far from done. Be confident, and do your research. You need to know what you’re talking about here, because a bad interview will always lose you the job opportunity. Stay positive, and confident, and know your facts concerning the company. Use those facts to work for you, and to outline your desire to work there. Performing that to great effect will make you a top candidate for the job, and will best increase your chances for landing the position as quickly as possible.
Tags: Application Letter, Cover Letter, Few Days, Find A Job, Find Job, Finding A Job, Genuine Desire, Initiative, Job Finding, Job Opportunity, Jobs, Originality, Personality, recession
