Envoke

Watch out for these Resume Writing Myths

Envoke — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:10:51 +0000

A resume is not an extensive list of everything you’ve done and achieved. HR consultants and hiring managers are not interested in all details from the beginning of your academic and professional career. Rule of thumb is to go back 10 years. If a resume with excessive data arrives, they just throw it in the rubbish bin and by including too may years of experience you may be excluding yourself from consideration due to age.

A Resume is not a document that will guarantee you an interview or an employment offer. Writing your resume is the beginning of your job search, and it certainly does not guarantee the end result. No matter how beautifully a resume is written, if your background doesn’t closely match the requirements of the job you will not be called in for an interview.

A Resume is not a document that will please your spouse, parents, colleagues etc. The only audience that matters are the HR consultants and hiring managers. Relatives, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances may be well-meaning, but they are not experts in resume writing.

A Resume is not a document that reflects your personality: Unless you’re in the performing arts or involved in the creative industry, a resume should be professional end of story. Use of fancy fonts and quirky formats will get you noticed but may get you quickly dismissed as not being serious enough for the position.

A Resume is not a document that tells the HR consultant or hiring manager what you want. Hiring managers do not care what you want. They are only concerned with what you can bring to the company in terms of increasing profits, reducing costs and whether you can be a team player.

A Resume is not document that is perfect in every way. Accomplishments and appropriate skills seem to matter most in a resume. Worrying about cosmetic changes, eg. should there be one or two spaces after periods, or tweaking the content till the end of time won’t get you an interview. HR Consultants and hiring managers are not looking for perfection in a resume, they are looking for the appropriate skills that you can bring to their businesses where you will an asset.

Tips for Older Job Seekers

Envoke — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:07:44 +0000

In our youth-oriented culture many older workers, some as young as 40, worry that their employment options with each passing year. Showcase your unique skills and qualifications, but how do you do it correctly.

Exclude early positions that do not enhance your skills for the position you are applying for.

Modern resumes generally do not go further back than 10 years. Why? Industries change so rapidly, early skills are replaced. And most employers want to know what you have been doing most recently, not what you did when you first graduated from school or university.

Exclude dates of university graduation, although it maybe considered unorthodox by some, excluding dates of education certificates and degrees etc especially if you left university or high school in the early 70’s, will minimize the risk of age discrimination. For seasoned professionals especially, university graduation is not the hook it may once have been. Career history, accomplishments, and unique skills may shown you in better light.

The Resume Billboard – How to get noticed

Envoke — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:05:38 +0000

Suppose you had an opportunity to advertise yourself on a billboard overlooking an intersection or a motorway, and that the passing motorists had only 4 to 8 seconds to glance at it. It doesn’t matter what your occupation, qualifications or skill set is. How would you make the advertisement work for you?

Start thinking of your resume as a version of a billboard and the motorists are driving past at 100km an hour. HR professionals, Managers and other employment personnel don’t have time to read a biography of a job-seeker, and they don’t want to read about your previous job description. They generally aren’t interested in knowing that you report to work and that you do what an employer expects of you, nor the daily tasks for which you are paid for.

They want to understand what makes you special, how you can add value to the workplace and how you can make a difference in their business. They want to glance at your resume, spot your qualities and ascertain if you have the skills they need, this is what will prompt them to ask you to attend an interview to meet you.

It’s not easy and it is sometimes very uncomfortable for some people to try to sell themselves this way. There’s a fine line between bragging or showing your egotistical side and effective advertising. Our Resume writers know the difference, and can turn a jumbled list of responsibilities or accomplishments into a powerful marketing tool that will work for you.

Professional Resume Writing Hints

Envoke — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:01:47 +0000

One of the most important things to remember is that the content, layout and format of your resume are extremely important. A resume that is written in small font and has far too much information will be quickly thrown in the rubbish bin by the hiring HR Manager or Supervisor, they want clean, easy to read, well-spaced document resumes. The use of bullet points, even margins and consistent spacing between paragraphs.

Do not make the mistake of including every single duty you did at a previous job. The best way is to list key duties, add minor and major responsibilities that highlight your skills if they are relevant. You can then expand on your previous responsibilities in a cover letter and hopefully during the first interview.

Does your resume set out transferable skills related to the position for which you are applying? HR Managers and hiring personnel often glance at a resume looking for key phrases and skills that they want in their next employee. These highlighted key phrases and skills may get you past the employers web-based application filter and generate enough interest for that first crucial job interview.

A professional re-writing of your resume will include many of the above points, its important to get it right, to get that job interview.

How to make your Resume work for you.

Envoke — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:57:17 +0000

You have just had your resume fixed and revamped, and it’s looking hot. You have researched who you want to work for. Now its time to get an interview.
Don’t worry about if there is a job opening. Follow these steps:

Seek and find that person who makes the hiring decision. This may not the Human Relations person listed on an ad or in the company directory. The final decision usually is a department manager or team supervisor.
Ask for an informational interview, even if no job openings exist, this could lead to employment if you impress them.
When you get an appointment send a thank you letter confirming your appointment.
Dazzle them with your knowledge of the company because you’ve done your research, and this is easy on the internet.
Always leave your resume with the person after your interview with them.
Send a thank you letter repeating a few of your qualifications which are relevant for a position you want, and express gratitude for the person making themselves available. Ask to be considered when a position becomes available.

Even if you don’t get to talk to the manager, assistant managers and supervisors can make your visit worthwhile.