An effective up-to-date resume plays a vital role in your job search. The following easy to follow tips will help you make your resume more effective.
Step I - The Basics
• Take time to do a self-assessment on paper.
• Sketch out on paper everything from your work experience to extra-curricular activities.
• Prepare a web page that should reflect your professional ambitions.
Step II – Preparation of Content
• Contact Information
o Contact information at the top of the resume
o Do not use any nicknames.
o Choose an email address that sounds professional.
o Include your web page address.
• Career Objective
o Be specific about what job are you looking for. For example, mention the aim clearly as ‘to obtain a managerial position within a financial institution that requires strong analytical and organizational skills’.
o When you apply to different companies, tailor this objective to match the job you seek.
• Summary
o Give the big picture of what you do in brief. For example, ‘A post graduate in English and a freelance content writer with two years of experience’.
• Key Competencies
o Design the list of your key skills and abilities in a way that it should target the job you are applying for.
• Education and Training
o Show you have the educational qualification to do the job.
o Include your most recent educational qualification and subjects you have studied that are relevant to the position.
• Work Experience
o Give the employer a brief overview of work that has taught you skills.
o Use action words, such as achieved, acquired, assembled, collaborated, conducted, developed, implemented, motivated, organized, trained etc to describe your job duties.
o Include your work experience in reverse chronological order. Put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job.
o Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.
o Specific skills should include communication skills, Teamwork skills, Analytical skills, Computer skills, organizational skills etc.
• Activities and Interests
o Design this section in such a way that the employer could build a picture of you.
• References
o Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume, "References furnished on request."
Step III - Revision and Review
• Run a spell check
• Do a grammar review.
• Proofread
Step IV – Formatting and Design
• A4-size, white or off-white paper
• Font size – 12
• Font face - Arial
• No italic or underline words
• No graphics, no shading, no horizontal or vertical lines
• Give your resume a simple and professional look
Most people do not pay the requisite attention to writing out a well formatted, clear resume; consequently missing many job offers. Remember, you are just four steps away from an effective, up-to-date resume.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Get A Job - Negotiating The Salary
There are always jobs out there for you somewhere. Therefore, eventually, you will go through this stage when you have to use your negotiation skills to get a better salary package. It is where the following tips will prove a great help to you.
You Cannot Compel Your Boss
If you force your boss to increase your compensation using subtle threats and coercive tactics, it can be potentially damaging to your working relationship with him or her. Give logical reasons and try to convince him that you deserve a better salary because of your experience and qualifications.
Make a Realistic Approach
You must aim high, but at the same time, you must make a realistic approach. You should suggest ideas to which your boss can realistically say yes.
Avoid Coercive Behavior
Never try to use ultimatums, threats, or other coercive behavior, as it will certainly damage your professional relationship with your boss, or you may lose the job you got, much before joining. Therefore, be careful and use tact and diplomacy. Whatever you want to say, present it in the right tone so that your boss should understand your views. At the same time, your tone must also show that you are also trying to listen and understand the views of your boss. This way you can both work together to address this issue.
Address Things That Are Important To Your Boss
Remember, just as you have your own needs and concerns, your boss also has his/her needs and concerns. Therefore, use your skills to anticipate your boss’s interests. Make sure that all your ideas address those things that are important to him. This way you can easily persuade him to say “yes”.
Try To Reach Mutual Understanding
The best way of negotiating salary is to create several options. You should first create possible solutions, and then let your boss decide among them. This way, the resulting joint brainstorming will prove very effective, and whatever is the final decision, it will satisfy both you and your boss’s interests.
Give Strong Reasons
You should firmly ground your proposal on objective criteria; for example, you can say that people of like experience are getting a higher salary in other companies and the offered salary does not match up to the industry standards. Such strong logic may persuade your boss to agree with your proposal.
Be Ready with a Back up Plan
Think through your alternatives, so that if your boss does not agree, you should not face embarrassment. Create a specific back up plan for yourself so that you know what you have to do if your proposal is rejected.
If the boss does not accept your proposal, do not feel bad about it. After all, the best way to improve your negotiation skills is to learn from your experiences. With experience, you will become a skilled negotiator, and get the raise that you want.
You Cannot Compel Your Boss
If you force your boss to increase your compensation using subtle threats and coercive tactics, it can be potentially damaging to your working relationship with him or her. Give logical reasons and try to convince him that you deserve a better salary because of your experience and qualifications.
Make a Realistic Approach
You must aim high, but at the same time, you must make a realistic approach. You should suggest ideas to which your boss can realistically say yes.
Avoid Coercive Behavior
Never try to use ultimatums, threats, or other coercive behavior, as it will certainly damage your professional relationship with your boss, or you may lose the job you got, much before joining. Therefore, be careful and use tact and diplomacy. Whatever you want to say, present it in the right tone so that your boss should understand your views. At the same time, your tone must also show that you are also trying to listen and understand the views of your boss. This way you can both work together to address this issue.
Address Things That Are Important To Your Boss
Remember, just as you have your own needs and concerns, your boss also has his/her needs and concerns. Therefore, use your skills to anticipate your boss’s interests. Make sure that all your ideas address those things that are important to him. This way you can easily persuade him to say “yes”.
Try To Reach Mutual Understanding
The best way of negotiating salary is to create several options. You should first create possible solutions, and then let your boss decide among them. This way, the resulting joint brainstorming will prove very effective, and whatever is the final decision, it will satisfy both you and your boss’s interests.
Give Strong Reasons
You should firmly ground your proposal on objective criteria; for example, you can say that people of like experience are getting a higher salary in other companies and the offered salary does not match up to the industry standards. Such strong logic may persuade your boss to agree with your proposal.
Be Ready with a Back up Plan
Think through your alternatives, so that if your boss does not agree, you should not face embarrassment. Create a specific back up plan for yourself so that you know what you have to do if your proposal is rejected.
If the boss does not accept your proposal, do not feel bad about it. After all, the best way to improve your negotiation skills is to learn from your experiences. With experience, you will become a skilled negotiator, and get the raise that you want.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Get A Job - Understand Different Types of Cover Letters
Remember, not all cover letters are the same. Following are the four different types of cover letters. Follow the tips below in order to make each letter impressive enough to win the interview for you.
1. How to Respond to an Advertisement
• Be specific and focused. Highlight your skills and qualifications and respond to the specific requirements stated in the advertisement.
• Write directly to the contact person stated in the advertisement.
• If you are responding to a recruitment agency, refer to ‘your client’ or ‘your client’s organization’ instead of ‘you’ or ‘your company’.
2. How to Write Cold-call or Canvassing Letters
When there has been no specific job-advertisement put out, but you still want to find out about and express your interest in the jobs that might be available now or in the future, you have to write a canvassing cover letter.
• Clearly, mention in the opening paragraph that you are inquiring if a position is available.
• Describe thoroughly the type of position you are looking for.
• Design the letter content in a way that should interest the reader enough to contact you.
• Research and gather information regarding the structure, history, achievements and goals of the company in order to match your selling points to the needs of the company.
3. How to Write Referral Letters
When you want to apply for an interview in a company or a recruiting firm on the recommendation of someone in your network, such as your friend working in that company, you need to write a referral letter.
• Mention the person who is recommending you as an introduction in the opening paragraph. However, make sure that you have taken the permission to use the name of the person who has referred you.
4. How to Write Online Cover Letters
In the present age of Internet, online letters are the most used method of writing cover letters. In an online cover letter, you write an email to respond to the advertisements published on the Internet, in the newspaper or on a touch-screen.
• Use the ‘subject’ line of the email to write the title of the position you are applying for.
• There is no need to use the full mailing address of the person you are writing to. That does not make any sense. Simply, use the salutation line, such as ‘Dear Mr Thomas’.
• Design your content in a way that is easy to read and to the point.
• Keep your paragraphs short.
• Use bullet style format.
• Avoid bold type or italics.
• Writing all in upper case is a definite NO-NO. Remember, in an email, it is considered a form of yelling!
Hence, identify which type of letter you are writing, and follow the above tips in order to ensure your call for the interview.
1. How to Respond to an Advertisement
• Be specific and focused. Highlight your skills and qualifications and respond to the specific requirements stated in the advertisement.
• Write directly to the contact person stated in the advertisement.
• If you are responding to a recruitment agency, refer to ‘your client’ or ‘your client’s organization’ instead of ‘you’ or ‘your company’.
2. How to Write Cold-call or Canvassing Letters
When there has been no specific job-advertisement put out, but you still want to find out about and express your interest in the jobs that might be available now or in the future, you have to write a canvassing cover letter.
• Clearly, mention in the opening paragraph that you are inquiring if a position is available.
• Describe thoroughly the type of position you are looking for.
• Design the letter content in a way that should interest the reader enough to contact you.
• Research and gather information regarding the structure, history, achievements and goals of the company in order to match your selling points to the needs of the company.
3. How to Write Referral Letters
When you want to apply for an interview in a company or a recruiting firm on the recommendation of someone in your network, such as your friend working in that company, you need to write a referral letter.
• Mention the person who is recommending you as an introduction in the opening paragraph. However, make sure that you have taken the permission to use the name of the person who has referred you.
4. How to Write Online Cover Letters
In the present age of Internet, online letters are the most used method of writing cover letters. In an online cover letter, you write an email to respond to the advertisements published on the Internet, in the newspaper or on a touch-screen.
• Use the ‘subject’ line of the email to write the title of the position you are applying for.
• There is no need to use the full mailing address of the person you are writing to. That does not make any sense. Simply, use the salutation line, such as ‘Dear Mr Thomas’.
• Design your content in a way that is easy to read and to the point.
• Keep your paragraphs short.
• Use bullet style format.
• Avoid bold type or italics.
• Writing all in upper case is a definite NO-NO. Remember, in an email, it is considered a form of yelling!
Hence, identify which type of letter you are writing, and follow the above tips in order to ensure your call for the interview.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Get A Job - Job Interview Etiquettes
The success of your interview depends upon various factors, but most of all it depends upon your body language and your interview etiquettes. The following tips will help you improve on this area and consequently will maximize your chances of success.
Before The Interview
The following are must as far as personal appearances go:
• The interviewer usually notices your overall appearance. Therefore, be careful about what you wear to your interview. Wear what is appropriate for the post and the company.
• If there is no dress code as such, it is better to overdress than be shabbily or inappropriately dressed .
• Do not wear too much cologne or perfume.
• For women, minimal jewelry and make up.
• Make sure your shoes are polished and coordinate with your suit or dress
• Clean and combed hair.
• Clean and trimmed nails
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before the interview starts.
• Put your mobile phone on silent mode, or better still, turn it off.
During The Interview
• Be assertive. Give a firm handshake to interviewers and address each of them by name. This will make a positive first impression on the interviewer.
• Avoid ‘uh’, ‘you know’, and slang. Use your ability to communicate effectively and try to maintain a professional tone while you speak.
• Do not use technical terms or jargons until and unless they are appropriate to the question.
• Speak to the point. Do not talk too much, as you will not receive extra points for that. Be quiet and focus. Listen to the questions carefully and keep your answers to the point.
• Do not slouch in your chair. You should always look attentive and alert.
• Do not squirm or fidget.
• Sit comfortably with both feet on the floor, leaning slightly towards the interviewer.
• Look the interviewer in the eyes. If there are many interviewers, look at the one who is talking. Eye contact is an effective nonverbal communication method and it can make a significant difference to how you present yourself. However, be careful, you just have to maintain eye contact, so do not stare like a snake.
• Some interviewers perceive people with moustaches as being aggressive. Therefore, if you have a moustache, you must consider shaving it off. It might sound funny but it is important. After all, you can always grow it back once you have the job!
After The Interview
• Shake hands with each interviewer and thank him/her by name.
• Send a thank you note after the interview as soon as possible.
Following interview etiquettes and maintaining a right body language make you appear a well-balanced and confident individual. Therefore, following the right etiquette guidelines will give you an edge over others.
Before The Interview
The following are must as far as personal appearances go:
• The interviewer usually notices your overall appearance. Therefore, be careful about what you wear to your interview. Wear what is appropriate for the post and the company.
• If there is no dress code as such, it is better to overdress than be shabbily or inappropriately dressed .
• Do not wear too much cologne or perfume.
• For women, minimal jewelry and make up.
• Make sure your shoes are polished and coordinate with your suit or dress
• Clean and combed hair.
• Clean and trimmed nails
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before the interview starts.
• Put your mobile phone on silent mode, or better still, turn it off.
During The Interview
• Be assertive. Give a firm handshake to interviewers and address each of them by name. This will make a positive first impression on the interviewer.
• Avoid ‘uh’, ‘you know’, and slang. Use your ability to communicate effectively and try to maintain a professional tone while you speak.
• Do not use technical terms or jargons until and unless they are appropriate to the question.
• Speak to the point. Do not talk too much, as you will not receive extra points for that. Be quiet and focus. Listen to the questions carefully and keep your answers to the point.
• Do not slouch in your chair. You should always look attentive and alert.
• Do not squirm or fidget.
• Sit comfortably with both feet on the floor, leaning slightly towards the interviewer.
• Look the interviewer in the eyes. If there are many interviewers, look at the one who is talking. Eye contact is an effective nonverbal communication method and it can make a significant difference to how you present yourself. However, be careful, you just have to maintain eye contact, so do not stare like a snake.
• Some interviewers perceive people with moustaches as being aggressive. Therefore, if you have a moustache, you must consider shaving it off. It might sound funny but it is important. After all, you can always grow it back once you have the job!
After The Interview
• Shake hands with each interviewer and thank him/her by name.
• Send a thank you note after the interview as soon as possible.
Following interview etiquettes and maintaining a right body language make you appear a well-balanced and confident individual. Therefore, following the right etiquette guidelines will give you an edge over others.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Get A Job - Choosing the Right Career With Honest Self Assessment
When it comes to choosing a right career, the most important thing for you is to know what you actually want. Having an understanding of yourself will help you to make choices and decisions about your career direction and is essential for presenting yourself to employers in a competitive and confident way. On the other hand, if you do not understand yourself, you will end up making choices that do not work for you.
Identify Yourself
In order to identify yourself, ask the following questions to yourself. Be honest in doing that.
• What are the things that you think you are good at - computers, statistics, economics, accounts, writing, music or something else?
o The right answer to this question will help you choose the right occupation for yourself.
• What are the special talents that others see in you?
o Assess yourself by comparing adjectives, such as confident, competent, capable, practical etc. You can ask for help from your teachers and family members in order to get a right answer.
• Which location do you like to work in - home, city, country, country town, or suburbs?
o However, location would more depend upon what occupation you have chosen, and whether the employment in that occupation is available in your chosen area. Still, you must be aware of where would you like to work.
• Do you want a field job or an office job?
• What shift do you prefer to work – day shift, night shift, weekends, or flexible hours?
• What are your academic qualifications? Do you have any plans to improve on it?
• What other job-specific skills do you have – analytical skills, computing, typing etc?
• What does personal freedom mean to you?
• What are the things that you cannot live without – family, integrity, faith, wisdom, peace, friends, love etc?
• What dreams do you have now and for the future?
Making Decisions
• Stay focused. Test each option and choice against your values and your definition for personal freedom. Eliminate the ones that do not fit on it.
• Come up with ten options. Prioritize your options according to what is important and valuable to you.
• Remember, you have to accept the full responsibility for your choice. Therefore, think about an alternative. Think about what you would do in case you do not get your preferred job.
• Once you have come up with the best choice, re-evaluate the same. Think about how you feel now that you have taken your final decision. If you still feel confused and not that happy, you have certainly made a wrong choice. Go back. Evaluate your choices repeatedly until you reach a choice that makes you feel empowered.
Choosing a right career is thus all about evaluating yourself and your preferred choices. No body can tell you which is the right career for you. So assess yourself properly, since the decision lies in your hands.
Identify Yourself
In order to identify yourself, ask the following questions to yourself. Be honest in doing that.
• What are the things that you think you are good at - computers, statistics, economics, accounts, writing, music or something else?
o The right answer to this question will help you choose the right occupation for yourself.
• What are the special talents that others see in you?
o Assess yourself by comparing adjectives, such as confident, competent, capable, practical etc. You can ask for help from your teachers and family members in order to get a right answer.
• Which location do you like to work in - home, city, country, country town, or suburbs?
o However, location would more depend upon what occupation you have chosen, and whether the employment in that occupation is available in your chosen area. Still, you must be aware of where would you like to work.
• Do you want a field job or an office job?
• What shift do you prefer to work – day shift, night shift, weekends, or flexible hours?
• What are your academic qualifications? Do you have any plans to improve on it?
• What other job-specific skills do you have – analytical skills, computing, typing etc?
• What does personal freedom mean to you?
• What are the things that you cannot live without – family, integrity, faith, wisdom, peace, friends, love etc?
• What dreams do you have now and for the future?
Making Decisions
• Stay focused. Test each option and choice against your values and your definition for personal freedom. Eliminate the ones that do not fit on it.
• Come up with ten options. Prioritize your options according to what is important and valuable to you.
• Remember, you have to accept the full responsibility for your choice. Therefore, think about an alternative. Think about what you would do in case you do not get your preferred job.
• Once you have come up with the best choice, re-evaluate the same. Think about how you feel now that you have taken your final decision. If you still feel confused and not that happy, you have certainly made a wrong choice. Go back. Evaluate your choices repeatedly until you reach a choice that makes you feel empowered.
Choosing a right career is thus all about evaluating yourself and your preferred choices. No body can tell you which is the right career for you. So assess yourself properly, since the decision lies in your hands.
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