Resume Trends For 2012

Employment numbers for November of 2011 showed great improvements in the numbers of jobs created that exceeded expectations. The job market did so well that unemployment dropped from around 9 percent to 8.6 percent. These figures gave analysts optimism for economic growth and improved employment for 2012.  If conditions remain positive, job seekers will need to use updated practices for their resumes to compete for openings in the coming year.

Be Specific. Gone are the days of using generic self-promoting terms like "motivated", "team player" and "detail oriented". This is the era of transparency where employers are seeking employees that will help them generate revenue, save money and protect assets. Time is becoming the most valuable commodity in business and hiring authorities want to see numbers and achievements where candidates helped productivity and improved efficiency. Resumes can also be customized to the position being sought to show how well the job seeker matches the employer's needs. 

Use video. The ability to produce videos online has become so easy that about 48 hours of video is uploaded to the website youtube every minute. Job seekers are taking advantage of this by making video resumes to show off their achievements and personality to employers. Video resumes allow job seekers the opportunity to show their presentation skills and demeanor. Video resumes make an impact to employers and help job seekers stand out.

Employing social media. In 2011 social media helped organize mass social protests and brought down heads of state. Social media is becoming a common way for candidates to promote themselves. Job seekers need to use all means available to grab the attention of recruiters. Sites like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn can help update career highlights and connect with professionals. These help augment the résumé by making you a more memorable candidate. It is important to maintain online presence to reflect professionalism as companies increasingly use social media to screen applicants.

Incorporate Your Brand In The Resume

One of the features that has been prominent in the last few years for job seekers is defining themselves though a professional brand. The brand refers to the skills and values that an applicant brings to the workplace as an individual. Much like products seen at a grocery store the brand is used to distinguish a job seeker from other candidates. It shows employers what you can bring to them to ensure success as an employee.  The professional brand should not only reflect what you can bring that makes an immediate impact but also what long term features you can contribute to the hiring authority's productivity. There are ways that your personal brand can be inserted into a resume that conveys the message and gets you noticed.

1. Make A Statement. In a targeted resume, the job title being sought is listed first. This should be folowed by a statement of the benefits you bring to the company and why. It is started with an action verb and uses career related statements. For example if seeking a job as a media salesperson, the position sought would be followed with a statement like:"Poised to bring exceptional sales and revenue through relationship building and  persistent record of acheivement".

2. Support Your Brand. Your initial statement sets the tone for your brand. You can sustain this through consistent messaging in your resume. A Career Highlights or Performace Profile section should contain references to acheivements with previous employers that add value to you. This could be activities that helped bring in revenue or mitigated losses for previous employersthat are tangible and easily identifiable. Job desriptions should also be written to reflect your branding statement.

3. Consistent References Your references may or may not be included in the resume. However, they should be individuals that will support your acheivements and help identify who you are as an individual. Make sure you select references that speak well of you and can recognize what you did for their organization. Utilize people who know your standards and principles and how these can be brought to benefit potential employers.

Developing a professional brand may not happen immediately. It may be a continual process of seeing what works and what does not to make it clear and consistent. Just as we develop in our professions, our brand will progress in relation to it.

How to Find the Best Resume Service

Interviews, high salaries, great careers – it all just seems a click away. But there’s one document that holds the key to all these: the resume. In today’s competitive job market, it is important to stand out. There are many qualified candidates out there; what makes you stand out? It is important to realize that thousands of qualified candidates are rejected on a daily basis because of the simple fact that their resume is not up to standards.

Tip the scales in your favor by looking for the best resume service. Below, we’ll look into the factors you need to consider before hiring a professional resume writing company. In addition, this article will also include some advice on the “aftersales” process. That is, what you can do if you’re not satisfied with the results.

Tips in Finding the Best Resume Service

There are literally hundreds of resume writing companies out there. Follow these simple tips to help you find the right one.
• Start asking around – there are people who had been on the same boat as you. If they took advantage of professional help, ask them about the company and their experience. Get honest opinions from several people before making the decision.
• Read reviews – online resume service reviews can give you a better idea about which company provides great service. Take note though that some companies hire staff to write good reviews about their services. So make sure to dig deeper and check different websites to find the real deal.
• Browse the company website – this can tell you a lot about how the firm treats customers. For example, do they accommodate rewrite request or offer refunds if the work is unsatisfactory? You’ll also know about their payment terms and rates.

Things to Check after Receiving the Resume

Once you’ve chosen a resume service company, the task should ideally be finished. However, there are cases that even a reputable firm doesn’t deliver on client expectations. This can occur if the writer they assigned doesn’t understand the industry you’re in or didn’t outline your qualifications properly. Here are some factors you need to look into after receiving the resume:
• Grammar – in getting professional resume service, grammatical errors shouldn’t be a problem. But it can still happen because errors like misspellings, typos, bad sentence structure, and grammar mistakes can be easy to miss. Proofread everything and ask for revisions or even a refund if you see these types of mistakes.
• Cover Letter – if you’re using the resume for a specific position, then it might be a good idea to hire a professional to write the cover letter as well. Determine whether it conveys what you want to say to the employer.

Finally, after hiring the resume service company and checking the quality of the output, the next step is to add the finishing touches.
Remember, no matter how good the resume looks, it should still retain a touch of your personality. If you think it’s already perfect as it is, then the resume writer did a great job. You can submit it to the employer with confidence.

Boosting Your Job Search with a Resume Website

Millions of people are struggling to find work again. If you’re tired of being one of the statistics, it’s time to do something about it. A job offer won’t magically arrive at your doorstep. In fact, even if you submit your resume to hundreds of companies, it is possible that you may not even hear back. There are just so many applicants who want the same job. What can you do to differentiate yourself from the rest? Creating a “resume website” may be the answer.

So what exactly is the resume website? It is basically a site that showcases your background, credentials, and portfolio. It makes you stand out by giving the recruiter a deeper glimpse of what you’re capable of. For example, if you’re applying as a landscaper, a graphic designer, or even a writer, there is a world of difference between saying that you worked as this so-and-so company from actually giving the recruiter a chance to see the actual output.

Of course, the resume website can also contain interesting tidbits about you, if relevant. Be sure to include your educational qualifications as this information generally makes the site look more professional. Aside from showcasing your talents, creating the website will also show the recruiter or prospective employer that you are proactive, technically knowledgeable, and are willing to go the extra mile. If you’re still not sure what to include on the website, read on below for some suggestions:

• Home Page – the home page generally contains an overview of the purpose of the site, links to other pages, and even your picture. If you’re running a blog, it’s possible to integrate it into the main page so that it’s constantly updated.
• About Me Page – this page should contain your location, an overview of your educational history and work experience, and even the reason why you’ve created the website. Ideally, the “About Me” page is the section where entertaining things about your life should be placed.
• Resume Page – the “Resume Page” is the serious-stuff page. There are a number of individuals who place their resume (whether it is in chronological or functional format) as it is on this web page. On the other hand, there are also individuals that make their CV easier to scan and read. It is recommended for you to opt to use the latter to keep reader attention focused.
• Portfolio – the portfolio page increases your chance to land a job significantly. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity. Showcase the best pieces you’ve ever created. Whether you’re a web developer, 3D artist, or a model, the portfolio page shows off what you’re capable of.
• Contact Me Page – then of course, there’s the “Contact Me” page. This is important because you should remove the address and even personal telephone number from the “Resume Page” for privacy purposes. This page is the best way for recruiters and possible employers to contact you.

By following the guidelines above, you can create an effective and compelling resume website that will let you land the job of your dreams.

Using a Resume Builder to Make an Affordable, Professional Resume

In today’s tough job market, it is more difficult than ever to land any job, let alone a great job. That’s why applicants are finding creative ways to stand out. If you don’t want to lose out, then it’s time to ramp up your game as well. Many people would recommend that you hire a professional resume and cover letter writer to leave a good impression. But these services tend to be expensive. What if you can’t afford it? Here’s where resume builders come into the picture.

The resume builder basically contains a set of processes that will guide you in building the resume. Depending on the tool you use, it may simply require you to enter your name, address, contact number, work history, skill set, educational attainment, and other relevant details in selected fields. The resume builder will then format the resume according to the template you choose.

There are both free and paid resume builders that are easily available on the internet. Some of the major job sites have a resume builder integrated within their interface. These sites will display your resume in their selected format to employers. On the other hand, if you decide to use a paid resume builder, there are important features you need to look for. You may find the following features beneficial:
• High-quality resume templates – first impression lasts and the template of your resume plays a great part in letting it stand out.
• Real time preview – this helps you save a lot of time. Instead of going back and forth when you’re editing the resume, the real-time preview lets you see the change as you make it.
• Resume website with hosting – there are some resume builders that lets you set-up a resume site. This is particularly beneficial if you work as a freelancer or independent contractor.
• Ability to share your resume on Facebook and Twitter – don’t miss out on the opportunities offered by social media sites. There are resume builders that can promote your resume automatically on Facebook and Twitter.
• Downloadable formats – most builders let you download the resume in various formats including Word, PDF, Html, ODT, and text files among others.
• Custom adjustments – adjust the fonts and margins as you see fit with this feature.
• Multiple resume capabilities – manage multiple resumes quickly and easily if you’re using a sophisticated resume builder. It can let you create customized resumes for every job you apply for.

These are just some of the available features you can expect from high-quality resume builders. Some resume building tools may offer better features while free or basic plans may contain less.

Overall, it makes sense to use a resume builder to help you with writing. But it is also important to remember that the resume builder is still just a tool. It is up to you to cinch the interview to land that job. Make sure to proofread the resume that has been generated prior to sending it out. The format should look professional and everything should be properly aligned.

Reviews of Top Resume Software

Resume Software has become very popular among the large number of job-seekers in today’s society. People are willing to spend money on software that will give them the competitive edge over their fellow job-seekers. There are many different companies that sell their own resume software. Here are our thoughts about the following resume software programs.

Pongo Resume

Pongo is one of the leading resume software programs you can buy. Users and reviewers alike have rated it 5 stars across the board, including the following categories: ease of use, navigation, turnaround time, navigation, value and technical support. Users love Pongo because of the way the software asks personal information and then creates the best resume layout in regards to the information provided. Another outstanding feature of Pongo is the database of cover letters available to users. Users are able to slightly tweak these cover letters in minutes and send them in with their resumes. Pongo offers a free trial period and a year’s subscription will cost you $59.95.

Resume Maker Professional

Resume Make Professional is another resume software program that gets great reviews by its users. One of the most valuable features that this program offers is the ability for more than one person (user) to use the same program. This means that the whole household can use it for the same price as one user. This software also gives users the ability to upload their finished resume to the internet and publish it as its own website. This comes in handy because you can direct potential employers to your “website”. Professionally formatted e-mails are also made possible by Resume Maker Professional, which are sure to impress any future employer. This software costs $29.95 and an additional $19.95 for the upgrade.

Resume Works Pro

Resume Works Pro is another decent resume building program. It lacks some of the specialized features that the programs mentioned above come with. Nonetheless, Resume Works Pro is equipped with over 1000 sample cover letters and resumes to help its users. It has a feature that allows users to burn their resume along with their portfolio to a CD/DVD. There is also a database of pre-formatted response letters that can be used when contacting a potential employer. Taking all of these features into consideration, the Resume Works Pro is a useful program that only costs $19.95.

Resume Power (Resumepower.com)

This resume software is different from all the others because it allows users to collaborate with resume experts. In other words, someone takes the information that has been entered into the software are creates a unique resume and/or cover letter for you. The software gives users access to all the features of the other software programs, plus more. They can form resumes for different uses (i.e. networking, etc.) and create a blog with your resume. Resume Power guarantees you will be satisfied with your package and will revise it if you are not. With all this, it is no surprise that Resume Power software comes with a very large price tag. Their packages are all customized but the most basic package starts out around $279. 

Resume Builders That Work

When hunting for the right resume builder, it can be difficult to determine which one is going to be right for you.  There are a lot of different things that you may want to take into consideration.  Not only your current needs, such as focus industry, but also potential future uses.  You also need to consider how effective it will be at creating a useful, productive resume that can land you those first interviews.  Fortunately, there are is a set of criteria that is used on a fairly consistent basis.  Here is a closer look at some of the basic elements that you need to pay attention to in order to find resume builders that work.

1. Features

Features is a fairly broad category, however there are certain things that you should look for in your resume builder to ensure that it has everything that you will need and can do whatever you want it to do.  For example, you probably want a word processor along with templates (both resume and cover letter) in order to ensure that your resume builder is easy to work with, especially if you plan on making a number of edits to the resume once the builder has created your first draft.  You may also want to use a resume builder with functions like: interview simulations, social networking integration, automatic phrase generator, video resume creator, and many more.

2. Ease of Use

It doesn't matter how great a piece of software can be if you don't know how to utilize it.  Plus, learning a new piece of software shouldn't be your primary focus.  Your primary focus should simply be creating a resume and getting into those interviews.  There are several different ways that you look at the ease of use.  One of the most common way is with the general navigation.  The more intuitive the resume builder is, the easier it will be to use.  If you are not someone who naturally learns or understands software, then you may also want to look into resume builders with pop-up tips and/or audio tips.

3. Support

In the perfect world, you would purchase a resume builder and automatically know how to get the most out of it.  Unfortunately, this isn't always the case.  While support will rarely be your primary decision factor, it can definitely be used to separate your short-list when everything else seems to be pretty even.  In terms of support, there are a variety of different things that you may want.  This includes; call center, email, online forums, live chat, tutorials, etc 

How to Spot Resume Builders That Work

In order to spot resume builders that work, it will normally end up being a combination of three factors: features, ease of use, and support.  Normally, these three factors will be weighed in that order.  If it doesn't have the features that you want, then you won't be satisfied with it.  If it isn't easy to use, then it doesn't matter what features there are.  Finally, if there is no support, then if a problem does arise, you will have no way to resolve it.

How to Write Your First Resume

Figuring out exactly what to say on a resume is often a difficult task for even the most experienced person.  When it’s your very first resume it all seems very daunting.  You can rest easy in knowing that from the entry level receptionist all the way up to the president of the company – everyone has at one point in their career had to construct their “first” resume.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of creating your first resume is the fact that you may not have a whole lot of experience to begin with.  After all, you’re creating this resume so that you can land a great job.  Yet, employers are expecting you to have substantial experience on your resume before they want to hire you.  So which comes first, the great job or the great resume?  In most cases, it all starts with a great resume.  You may use a resume software for assistance since it is quite difficult to do this the first time around.

Before you start on your resume, it’s important to sit down and do a quick assessment of yourself.  On a blank sheet of paper write down every accomplishment or credential you can think of that applies to the type of position you’re looking for.  Some of these things might include volunteer experience, educational degrees and awards, school club leadership, and extracurricular activities.  Now that you have a starting point to draw from as you construct your resume.

In addition to your name and personal contact info, every good resume includes five basic sections: objective, summary of qualifications, experience, education, and skills.

Objective

This section is intended to state the type of position you want.  This section can be changed to fit whatever position for which you’re applying.  Your objective statement can be broad, but it should never be vague.  An example of a good objective is: “To obtain a customer service position in a team environment.”  An example of a bad objective is: “To obtain a job at a great company.”  Your objective statement shouldn’t state the obvious.  Rather, it should state that you have some sort of focus around your job search.  The objective statement goes at the beginning of a resume.

Summary of Qualifications

This section is where you should summarize the key points of your qualifications that you want to highlight.  This is where you should mention things like how many years of experience you have in certain areas of expertise or your expert skills.  If someone was looking for a position as a receptionist, for example, they might write something like, “Two years of experience with multi-line phone systems.”  The summary of qualifications should be brief, bulleted, and comes directly after the objective.

Experience

Of all the sections in your resume, this is the most important.  Potential employers want to know what you’ve done in the past.  They want to see if you have previous experience that matches or would prepare you for the position for which you are applying.  No matter how irrelevant you may think your previous experience is it’s important to list something in this section.  You want to look like you’ve been productive up until this point.

This section should include your past employment history, including dates, location, company names, your position(s) held, and your responsibilities in each position.  If you don’t have a lot of previous work experience you can also list volunteer experience in this section.  Just because you weren’t paid doesn’t discount the experience.  When listing accomplishments or responsibilities of your previous positions, always use past tense.  For example, “Recruited and managed a team of three volunteers.”  The experience section should make up the bulk of your resume and should be directly after the summary of qualifications.

Education

This section should highlight any formal education you have.  Formal education generally includes college, university, vocational training, and accredited certificate programs.  If you are still in college or haven’t attended college, you can also include high school information.  Each school or degree should be listed separately along with the type of degree or diploma, date of completion (graduation), and major or minor if appropriate.  Sometimes it’s also beneficial to list your grade point average.  If your gpa is particularly low, you may want to omit that information.

If you are lacking experience, the education portion of your resume becomes more important.  Those with less work experience may want to also highlight certain courses completed.  The education section of a resume doesn’t have a set location.  Generally, it comes after the experience section, but it can also be at the top of a resume, just after the objective statement.  New graduates in particular may want to highlight their education by listing it higher up in their resume.

Skills

This section should highlight any special skills that would interest employers.  This isn’t the place to mention that you’re a black belt in Tae kwon do (unless of course, that pertains to the job).  You should, however, list things like what types of computer platforms and programs you know, typing speed, programming languages, and spoken languages.  These are just a few examples of the types of things to be included in this section.  The skills section should be toward the bottom of your resume.

The great thing about structuring your first resume is that once you’ve done it, you can always tweak it as needed along the path of your career and never have to start from scratch again.

How to Explain a Layoff on Your Resume

If you are on the hunt for a new job thanks to a layoff you may be wondering how you should explain that layoff on your resume. While layoffs are never a good thing when they happen to individuals, in the turbulent world of business, they are somewhat the norm. Therefore, most potential employers will not view your layoff as a negative when they are considering hiring you.

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between being part of a layoff, which is typically due to a financial reason, and being fired, which can result for a number of reasons. However, in either case, this can cause an employment gap in your resume which may not look so good. While you should try to shore up any gaps as quickly as you can, you may or may not want to include the reasons that you left any job on your resume.

If you do decide to explain on your resume that you were in fact laid off then you should do so in the following manner:

·         Truthfully: Never lie on any portion of your resume, including any explanations you give for a layoff. You never know who knows who in today’s tight knit business world and if you lie about the circumstances of your layoff, you are likely to be caught. In the end, lying looks much worse than being laid off.

·         Concisely: If you feel that you want to explain your layoff, so in a clear and concise manner. Don’t write a book, just a sentence or two to explain the circumstances.

·         Accurately: Be sure that you give accurate dates and details if you choose to explain your layoff. As with any other information on your resume, it is important to get all the details right. This will avoid you looking like a fool due to inaccuracies on your resume.

·         Professionally: Save the ‘woe is me’ and simply state what happened. If you try to make it seem like the world is against you, a likely result will be a potential employer who is turned off.

You can also take the approach of explaining the employment gap in your resume. Instead of just explaining the reasons behind your layoff, explain what you have done in the meantime. Maybe you went back to school or maybe you increased your volunteer work. By putting down what you have done since the layoff, the potential employer can see that you have not simply been sitting around stagnant while awaiting another job opportunity to pop up.  You can ask a resume writer his opinion on this as well.

What is most important is to be able to explain thoroughly what happened in regards to the layoff when you do in fact go in for a job interview. Therefore, you need to be sure that whatever you write down as far as an explanation goes on your resume, that your story inside the interview matches it. Keep in mind though, potential employers understand that layoffs are part of the business world game and as long as you explain yourself in a professional manner, everything will likely be fine.

How to Create a Resume that gets Noticed

Hunting for a job can be a daunting task, especially when it comes creating the perfect resume. It is hard to believe that employers even look at your resume when they are receiving hundreds of resumes for one job opportunity. Researchers state that over 95% of resumes are looked over for a few seconds and then trashed. If you haven’t received a few calls after submitting your resume to different employers, your resume probably needs something.  You might want to consider using a resume builder.   Here are a few tips on how to create a resume that gets noticed.

1.       Tailor Your Cover Letter to Fit Each Job Opportunity

This might sound like a lot of work at first, but then again, you are trying to land a job. Many employers cringe at the sight of generic resumes and cover letters because it shows them that the applicant is putting forth much effort to impress them. Remember the old saying “A first impression is a lasting impression?” Well, it rings true in the resume world as well. Look at the requirements listed in the job posting or consider what might be a requirement for the particular job. In your cover letter address these requirements with an explanation of why you would be the perfect candidate for the job.

2.       Spend Time Creating a Top-Notch Employment History Section

One thing that irritates employers or hiring managers most is a resume that has a non-informative and poorly written job history section. This is your section to list your accomplishments, in regards to employment, from the last few years (or more) of your life. Spend time on this section and include more details than you think are required. Don’t rewrite the job description for your past jobs, but rather include your accomplishments from the job. Did you move up the ladder three times in one year? Did you receive employee of the month? It is details like this that will make you stand out in the eyes of an employer of hiring manager.

3.       Skills, Skills and More Skills

Employers want to know how you plan to be an asset to their company or business. One method of relaying your experience within the industry is to create a highly marketable skill section on your resume. Resume writing experts suggest that you include three different types of skills: job-related, transferable and adaptive. Job-related skills are obviously skills that you possess which will help you execute industry-related tasks (i.e. web development, QuickBooks, etc.). Transferable skills are broader and can be used across different industries, like critical thinking and problem solving. Adaptive skills are characteristics about you, such as, determined and social. Include a few of each type of skill within you job skill section.

These are just a few strategies that can be used to make your resume more noticeable during a job hunt. Remember, your resume represents you. If you submit a weak resume then you aren’t giving yourself a fair chance in regards to landing job. Whatever you do, be patient and persistent. Your next job is only a resume away! 

How to Choose the Right Resume Writing Service

If you are looking for a job you should already be aware of the fact that a resume can be the most effective tool in landing the job of your dreams, or any job for that matter. Resumes can be hard to write for a variety of reasons. You must know how to put complete thoughts down on paper, have a decent command of the English language and be able to convince the potential employer that you are the best candidate for the job.

With this being said, sometimes it is more effective to hire a writing service to create a powerful resume for you. Choosing a resume writing service can also be a difficult task. How are you supposed to know which company will write you the best resume possible? Here are a few strategies to keep in mind when evaluating different resume writing services.

1    
       1. Consider the Company’s Experience

Proven experience accompanied by effective results is a good indicator that a resume writing service is legitimate. Question the company about their history and experience. Ask questions like “How many resumes have you written for clients?” and “What kind of results can a person expect after purchasing your company’s services?” A reputable company should show you their accomplishments, testimonies and achievements before you have to ask. 

2.       2. Check Actual Capabilities and Services

Ask yourself, “How is this company going to go about creating the best resume possible for me?" If that question is difficult to answer then the company most likely isn’t the right one for you. Look for things like customer support and how the resume experts will communicate with you. Do they allow you to collaborate with a resume expert when forming your resume or do they simply have you fill out a worksheet and spit a resume back out at you? These are all very good questions to consider. A top-notch resume writing service should provide things like interactive worksheets, examples of past clients and resumes and an action plan to help you build the perfect resume.

3.       3. Cost is Always a Consideration

The cost of resume writing services can vary greatly, depending on the company or the individual providing the services. Large companies will obviously have to charge more because of the operating costs they incur on a daily basis. On the other hand, larger companies might provide you with a better resume because of the large amount of experience they have. Everyone has a different budget and that means that there is a resume writing service that is a perfect fit for anyone. Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for. If you find a company that offers extremely low rates for their services you might not get the quality resume you are looking for.

These are just a few tips to keep in mind when looking for resume writing services. Remember, a resume is one of the most effective tools you can use to land a job. Make your first impression a lasting one by choosing the right resume writing service.