You Have to Play the Cards You’re Dealt

None of us has any real control over economic conditions, especially when our country’s prosperity is tied to that of overseas nations and our government’s policies – good or bad. We do have command when it comes to our response and the action we take.

An interesting article on Mashable poses the provocative question – “Why Can’t Millennials Find Jobs?” After all, they’re highly educated and in many cases motivated – or plain scared because their student loans are due. Eventually, they want to settle down and have a family, buy a house, all the things most of us in this country have taken for granted. So, what’s holding them back?

It’s Not That They Feel Entitled

Pew Research conducted a study that concluded millennials aren’t focused solely on high-paying jobs. They want an appropriate work/life balance that includes happiness in their private lives. That’s not going to cut it on Wall Street or at a high-powered law firm where 100 hour work weeks are the norm.

Add to that their inexperience in the workforce. The Mashable article cited a survey of Adecco recruiters that concluded “66% of hiring managers do not believe college graduates are ready for the workforce. Rather than hiring new grads for entry-level positions, recruiters are looking to bring in people with experience.”

In a way, you can’t blame them. No one likes to train new hires. Still, that leaves millennials with the age-old question, “How do I get that needed experience?”

It’s All in How You Look at the Situation

Are you the type of person whose glass is always half empty or do you see it as half full? For a millennial, the latter observation is the required one. If no one is hiring in your industry, unless it’s someone with years of experience, then you have to find another route. Consider these paths:

• Take an unpaid internship. Your bills will keep piling up, but at least you’ll be working in your selected industry. If you perform well during the internship, you may be asked to stay on in an entry-level position. At the very least, you have your foot in the door. It’s always easier to seek positions of increased responsibility – and pay – when you’re a part of the team, rather than on the outside hoping to get in.
• Volunteer. Research not-for-profit organizations and donate your time in an area that will help your career. For example, if you have an accounting degree, offer to work on the organization’s accounts payable/receivable. It’s real-world experience you can list on your resume. What’s more, you might become such a valuable asset, the organization may offer you a paid position.
• Freelance. Job boards are filled with contract positions. The pay isn’t the best. There are no benefits. But there is experience and exposure in your industry. It’s better than sitting around the house playing video games or watching reality shows.
• Submit resumes tailored to each job posting. Don’t write one document and submit it to hundreds of positions, hoping one will bite. That’s not going to happen in this economy. Hiring managers and recruiters are looking for the ideal candidate, the perfect fit. If you don’t prove to them in your resume that you’re their best choice, they probably won’t make the connection.

Once You Get an Interview

Know how to behave and to fit in with the culture of the company you’re targeting. The Mashable article listed the following points as being those that killed an applicant’s chances:

• Not making eye contact with the hiring manager. Not only will that make you seem too shy and unable to handle an office situation, it could make you seem untrustworthy.
• Fidgeting. The hiring manager may wonder if you’re a bundle of nerves or if you can’t wait to escape. Neither comes off well.
• Checking your cell phone for messages or texting. This is a no-brainer. The hiring manager’s time is valuable. If you make him or her wait while you conduct your own business, you’ll never work at that company.
• Showing up late. That’s rude and unprofessional. However, you shouldn’t arrive too early either. Ten minutes before your stated interview time is the norm.

Although unemployment for millennials remains over 10%, there are 90% of that group who are working. Perhaps it’s freelancing, volunteering or in an unpaid internship. Maybe not the best scenario, but they are making strides toward their career goals. In this economy, you can’t sit still and hope for the best. Time and hidden opportunities will pass you by.

The certified writers at ResumeEdge have helped tens of thousands of job seekers to reach their career goals. We specialize in 40+ industries in resume writing, resume editing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching through our JobInterviewEdge service.

The post Millennials and the New Normal appeared first on ResumeEdge.

Ah, the resume. Your testament to personal success. Your life is a novel, your career an epic. But will just seven pages do?

Don’t do it. Less is more with resumes. The resume is a marketing tool—not your life story. “An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details,” British writer Roald Dahl famously said.

A resume is more like an advertisement designed to capture attention, attract interest, and land an interview. Why is less more? Because hiring managers might spend as little as seven seconds reviewing a resume unless it commands attention.

“Many resume screeners will automatically toss multi-page resumes…they may groan when they get one. Longer resumes do not make people assume that you have more experience,” points out Gayle Laakmann of the Career Cup site.

“Just because your resume is longer does not mean people read more. Long blocks of text scare people. Longer resumes cause people to miss the most important stuff,” Laakmann adds. “You are not THAT awesome.”

Information Overload

Your resume is competing against cluttered email inboxes and file cabinets not to mention cell phones, computers, TVs, and tablets. A billion or so websites and blogs. Hundreds of advertising messages. A 24/7 media barrage. It’s too much. Sometimes only a sound bite squeezes through.

Your resume is likely competing against a zillion other applicants. Most resumes sent to large companies are impersonally processed by software that scans for job-matching keywords. HR managers are looking for just the right fit. Therefore, your enriching cultural experience with tribal basket weaving probably won’t help. Read and heed job postings to tailor your resume.

“Remember, when looking at your resume, think like the person hiring for the job and trim off anything that would be useless to them,” advises Lifehacker.com. “Consider your resume a template you should tweak for each job you really want. It’s tempting to shovel the same resume into the furnace of huge job sites like Monster or Careerbuilder, but you’ll get better results for your time spent if you take the time to customize it each time.”

TMI: What to Leave Out

We all know about “too much information (TMI).” TMI can be an unctuous form of “over-sharing” burdensome to friends or hiring managers. Sharpen the scalpel. Consider removing these unless they are directly related to the job:

• Objective Statements: Outdated, vague, and self-serving. Focus on the employer.
• Personal Details: Marital status, children, religion, year of birth: all TMI these days.
• Hobbies and Interests: Maybe employers should care, but probably don’t.
• Every Job Ever: Recent and relevant only; 15-20 years ago should be deleted.
• High School: No, except for first resumes with no college or job experience.
• Typical Tasks: These are assumed. What are your results? Unique accomplishments?
• References: This goes without saying. Don’t waste the space.
• Personal Pronouns: I, me, we. Use the implied first-person “I” instead of third person.
• Little White Lies: Embellishments. Bending, padding, and fluffing.
• Tedious Job Descriptions: Go for results, not tasks.
• Irrelevant Awards: Golf trophies. Merit badges. Awards should support the job goal.
• Fired? This one’s tricky. Some say keep, some omit. It’s situational. Go with your instinct.
• Special Skills: List relevant skills for the job. Windows and Outlook don’t count.
• Gauche Decor: Funky fonts, unusual colors, personal photos, fancy formatting.

What To Leave In

Once you’ve decluttered, the good stuff can be dressed up and packaged neatly. Succinct, clear, and readable. Gold was buried in all that silt.

“Think of your resume like a movie preview,” suggests Meghan Koehler of Workbloom.com. “In a preview you don’t get the whole story; you get an overview of the central theme along with a few significant scenes, just enough to capture your interest and make you want more. And like a movie preview, your resume should be presented in a way that exhibits your selling points and makes the reader want even more—which they’ll get when they call you for an interview.”

Crafting a great resume is an art and science, even after housecleaning. It’s a good idea to let a professional resume writer showcase your finest accomplishments, skills, and abilities to get more for less.

Whether you’re reentering the work force after a long absence, transitioning to a new career, or making your mark in your chosen industry, the certified writers at ResumeEdge can help. We specialize in resume editing, resume writing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and interview coaching through our JobInterviewEdge services. Our writers are skilled in 40+ industries and have decades of experience.

The post Less IS More With Resumes appeared first on ResumeEdge.

This video details what hiring managers want to see in a candidate’s resume.

Hiring managers from Select Staffing, Target, and Robert Half, Intl. weighed in with their opinions on the following topics:

Which Kind of Resume is Best?

They discussed the differences and the pros/cons of reverse chronological or functional resumes. As a hiring manager and a resume writing expert, I have learned that functional resumes are generally used by candidates who have something negative in their background. That could be job hopping and long stretches of unemployment. If you use a functional resume, you might be hurting your chances.

Should You Use an Objective?

Although the hiring managers in this video used the term ‘objective’ interchangeably with ‘summary’, the two are quite different. An objective tells a hiring manager what you want (eg: a position with career advancement), while an opening summary tells the hiring manager what you can do for the company (eg: accounting graduate with internship experience in tax audits). Hiring managers and recruiters prefer to know what you can do for their company, rather than what you want from the company.

Is it Wise to Include References?

The hiring managers had no consensus on this. However, the rule of thumb is that references should not be offered until you’re invited to interview.

Page Length?

The reasoning on this point was that the resume should contain only relevant information. Therefore, if you’re including nonessential data in your resume, as it pertains to the job search, your resume may be too long.

Are Cover Letters Essential?

One hiring manager said yes, the others had differing points of view. If you do include a cover letter, make certain it’s targeted to the specific job opening. Hiring managers do not like one-size-fits-all cover letters in which they have to guess what job position you’re applying for.

What Not to Do…

The hiring managers pointed out many mistakes candidates make that diminish their chances of an interview. Use of slang or IM writing on a resume was one of them.

How Do Hiring Managers Choose Candidates?

The professionals on this video explained what makes them choose one individual over another. Important information everyone should heed.

The certified writers at ResumeEdge have decades of experience in crafting achievement-based resumes for 40+ industries. We specialize in resume writing, resume editing, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.

The post Tailor your Resume to Your Audience appeared first on ResumeEdge.

If you’re facing a furlough, the prospect of a smaller paycheck can be unnerving. But there are ways to keep money in your pocket during that time. Being strategic and resourceful will put you ahead of the competition—and may even help you make your next career move.

No Job Is Safe Anymore

As federal sequestration unfolds and government furloughs are enacted, unpaid leave might be in your future if you’re a federal employee. A government job  used to be known as a “safe” one. In these tough economic times, that’s no longer the case—and a growing number of other sectors across many industries are using furloughs to cut expenses. This approach is used to help save jobs, protect staff numbers, and keep the company competitive once the market starts to improve. So remember to keep a positive attitude during this time. You still have your job and your benefits. Getting laid off could be worse.

Creative Compensation

Being furloughed means you will lose money. You’ll need to compensate for that loss. Start by contacting your human resources department to learn if you qualify for unemployment benefits during a furlough. If you’re required to take the leave in week-long increments and not days here and there, and if your hours are significantly reduced, you’re more likely to qualify. Rules vary by state, and the Department of Labor lists unemployment offices by state.

Next, evaluate your monthly expenses and cut out all unnecessary ones; then be creative with your furlough. If your company pays employees for unused vacation days, try to schedule your furlough days when you would normally take vacation, such as around the holidays or during school breaks, rather than cashing in unused vacation days at the end of the year.

If your employer offers the choice to take all furlough days consecutively, other costs can be defrayed if you take that option. Lumping furlough days into one week could be a way to avoid daycare expenses during that time period. You can also cut back on costs like commuting expenses, dry cleaning, and pet-walking more easily if you take your days all at once.

Career Advancement (You Now Have the Time)

Try to resist the temptation of viewing your furlough as a holiday, an opportunity to sleep in, or a chance to clean out your closets. Instead, take advantage of a furlough to update your resume, network, and prepare yourself for a future job search. Hire a reputable professional resume writing company, such as ResumeEdge, to make your resume the strongest and most effective it can be. Create a LinkedIn profile, and begin linking in your professional contacts. Start researching other positions and learn or hone the required skills.

A furlough can also provide a good opportunity for transitioning to another field. Your time on leave can be used to research industries that interest you, talk with recruiters, arrange informational interviews, and attend industry events.

Just remember that it is often easier to find a new position if you already have one. While you still have a job on furlough, the fact that a furlough was implemented could also mean that budget cuts at this time won’t be enough for later—and your employer might need to make actual job cuts in the future. A furlough gives you time to prepare. It’s best you make the most of it.

Whatever your professional background or employment situation, the certified writers at ResumeEdge can help you stand out among the competition. We have helped job seekers with our services that include resume writing, resume editing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching via our JobInterviewEdge service.

The post Making the Best of a Furlough appeared first on ResumeEdge.

If your answer is ”yes”, then a job in which you’re being micro-managed daily is never going to work for you. If you possess an innate entrepreneurial spirit, it’s important that you  put yourself in a position to take advantage of those strengths.

Entrepreneurs Make the Economy Run

Entrepreneurs drive innovation and are a major boon to our economy. However, you don’t have to be a business owner to take on the same kind of role as an entrepreneur. In fact, taking on an entrepreneurial role within a company can have the same rewards, such as increased pay based on your performance and freedom to make most of the decisions while eliminating much of the risk that comes with opening your own business.

Many of the largest companies in the United States need employees who are filled with entrepreneurial spirit and are driven to create success while being self-reliant. Companies that embrace these ideals often are looking for a specific type of person to join their ranks. Consider the following five questions when thinking of making a career change. It’s quite possible the enterprising business world could be the right fit for you.

1.     Do you want to be managed or be the manager?

 This seems like such a straightforward thought, but would you rather be in charge or have someone assign and control your daily work?  Job seekers looking for an opportunity at an entrepreneurial company MUST be comfortable in a leadership role, even if that means just leading yourself. Chances are your tenure at the company will provide the opportunity for you to be an independent thinker, manage your own tasks, explore new avenues, and dive into ideas that fall outside the proverbial box.

 2.     How much do you trust your gut?

 A successful entrepreneur is one who trusts his or her gut feeling about a decision. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wrong, but companies who value their employees, in turn, value their knowledge and ability to make smart, critical decisions. Consider whether or not your temperament is truly independent—if you are comfortable with going against the tide or not. If so, a position in an entrepreneurial company could be just the fit for you.

 3.     What’s your view on salesmanship?

 At Hajoca we often ask our candidates for their view on salesmanship during the interview process. As a company that highly values an entrepreneurial spirit in our employees, we want to know if that question invokes a positive or negative response. The reason is simple—employees must have at least a small amount of “salesman” in them to be a successful entrepreneur. Communicating the value of the product you sell or service you provide is just as important, if not more so, than the actual product or service. If explaining its importance to customers, employees, suppliers, and vendors is difficult, you’re going to have a hard time succeeding in an entrepreneurial environment.

4.     Do you have a “by any means necessary” quality?

Enterprising personalities are those that see the end goal and will always find a way to achieve it. Entrepreneurial companies often require employees to go above and beyond what’s expected in order to reach their goals. It’s this personal sense of drive that defines the right employee for the job.

5.     Are you comfortable with taking risks?

 There’s no doubt that entrepreneurship goes hand in hand with risk. Entrepreneurs don’t have as many safety nets or others to turn to when decisions and situations go awry. If the idea of potentially failing doesn’t make your stomach flip but instead you see it as an opportunity to prove your worth, consider companies that value risk-taking when looking for a job.

The post 5 Ways to Tell if an Entrepreneurial Job Is Right for You appeared first on ResumeEdge.

What are Your Aspirations? What Motivates You?

Recently, I conducted a focus group with hiring managers and recruiters to determine what they most want to know about a candidate once they’ve determined that individual has the required skills. The majority of the group said they wanted to know what motivated the job seeker. What their aspirations might be.

This might seem a bit unusual to someone who isn’t in Human Resources and has never recruited talent. After all, if candidates have the required expertise and skills, what does it matter what excites them? If you look at it from a hiring manager’s perspective, the question makes perfect sense. After all, you may be a competent accountant, very detail-oriented. However, if you’re hired for a position that you feel is too demanding or boring, you won’t stay with the company for very long. If you’re the type of employee who is content to do the same job year after year, but the position you’re applying for is on a fast track to an upper management position, you will probably become frustrated at the demands made upon you, or outright overwhelmed.

Employee goals are as important to a well run company as candidate core skills.

Employers Want the Full Picture

In an article on QLP blog, four employee personality traits were identified that hiring managers most want. The first two are very telling.

• Self Motivation - To illustrate this trait, let’s go back to the employee who prefers to do the same tasks day after day, year after year. That individual is not self-motivated. He or she wants a set list of responsibilities. Once they’re complete, that’s it. There’s no thought given to how a task might be simplified or replaced with another, more efficient system. This kind of individual would never be good in a management position where action must be taken constantly to keep the business running smoothly, and change is ever-present.
  

That’s why a recruiter will ask “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” “What makes you happiest at a job?”

• Positive Attitude - Someone who is simply getting through the day, collecting a paycheck and dreams about time off isn’t going to be fired up at work. These are the individuals who usually complain about additional responsibilities, any kind of change (unless it makes the job easier) or anything that upsets the status quo. Again, this type of employee would not be good in a management position.
  

Clearly, it’s important that you know what you want – and what you are comfortable with – before you go into the interview or even apply for the position.

You Need to Be Honest with the Hiring Manager and Yourself

If you’re not excited about climbing the corporate ladder, then don’t apply for positions that will lead to advancement, even if you are qualified. It won’t work out in the end. Either you, or the company, will realize it’s a poor fit. Don’t lie during your interview, stating that you’re a self-starter if you’re not. Or that you’re highly motivated to see the company succeed if all that you really want is a paycheck. The truth will come out with your performance. And a poor review will hurt your chances for the next position.

To succeed in a job or a career, you need to know what excites you, what you can live with and what you cannot. Use that as your guide in applying for positions and in answering the question of what truly motivates you.

To maximize your job search, the certified writers at ResumeEdge have decades of experience in crafting achievement-based resumes for 40+ industries. We specialize in resume writing, resume editing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching through our JobInterviewEdge service.

The post What Hiring Managers and Recruiters Really Want to Know About You appeared first on ResumeEdge.

In times past, if you had completed some college coursework, you could expect a fairly comfortable salary. However, a bachelor’s degree was key to opportunities that led to high paying, executive-level jobs.

Today, having a 4-year degree is not only a requirement for many positions, its value has diminished somewhat given that most professionals have attained one. With many candidates equally qualified, at least academically, it’s natural to wonder if a graduate degree may now be necessary to succeed.

A Guide for Potential Grad Students

An informative guide put together by Peterson’s staff for potential grad students  will help you determine whether or not you should consider going back to school depending on your circumstances and motivations.

The guide is divided into seven different sections:

1. 20 reasons to go to graduate school
2. 15 reasons not to go to graduate school
3. Types of graduate programs
4. 10 tips for balancing work, family, and studies
5. 10 sources of funds for graduate school
6. What about web-based graduate programs?
7. How much is graduate school really costing you?

Grad School: Should You Go Back?

Another view is covered by Pia Sarkar, who writes in an article featured on cbsnews.com: “With the economy still suffering and jobs about as easy to come by as a winning lottery ticket, you might think now would be a great time to duck out of the grim job market—if you haven’t already been kicked out—and go back to school. By getting an advanced degree, you can better your chances of landing a higher-paying job when you graduate, not to mention save yourself from having to look for a job in what is probably the worst market in your professional life. But higher education offers no guarantees. Going back to school is a significant investment of time and money, and can leave you with a pile of debt. Annual tuition for master’s degree programs in the U.S. can run anywhere from $5,000 to more than $38,000.”

When you are passionate about a certain field, that enthusiasm can be a big motivator in expanding your knowledge. If you’re targeting management-level positions, an MBA certainly can be an asset. If you can think of the investment in your education as an investment in your future, receiving an advanced degree can open doors to jobs that you otherwise wouldn’t be qualified for. With an increase in salary range, the long-term benefits can offset the costs of the graduate programs. It all depends on the points mentioned earlier and also where you see your career heading.

Professional Resume Preparation Can Give You an Edge

If you do decide to go the route of graduate school, many institutions require a specific number of documents to be submitted with your application. These should be professionally prepared since it is always in your best interest to submit a well-written resume and cover letter to help you present yourself in the best way possible. Our certified writers at ResumeEdge are able to craft new resumes or edit current resumes. Everyone’s situation is different, and our variety of services can be tailored to fit your exact needs. Let ResumeEdge help you get to the next level of your career.

The post Will an Advanced Degree Help You Get the Job? appeared first on ResumeEdge.

The items break down into these categories:

Personal Information

That would include information hiring managers in the US aren’t allowed, by law, to ask. Such as:

• Your date of birth
• Martial status
• Religious affiliation
• Sexual orientation
• Race

Keep in mind that other countries have their own guidelines, and some may require personal information to be on a resume. When in doubt, Google the country you’re planning to work in to find out what their requirements are.

Photo

Photographs are generally not used on US resumes. Again, overseas resumes may require them. The only time a photo may be appropriate in this country is if the candidate is applying for a high-profile sales position in which appearance matters. Or if the individual is in the performing arts. In those instances, make certain that your photo is professional. No vacation shots.

Links to Facebook or Other Social Media Accounts

An employer can find anyone on the Internet these days. No need to give them the links. What’s more, before you apply for a position, make certain that any damaging or embarrassing information is removed from your social media accounts. Candidates frequently miss out on job opportunities because of their online presence.

Interests

As a rule, employers are not interested in anything that is not work-related. They want to know how your skills, knowledge, abilities, can positively impact their company’s bottom line. Therefore, personal interests on a resume are irrelevant. More importantly, they can be damaging to your chances. If you’re an accountant, but state you have an interest in collecting rare coins, an employer might wonder where you’re getting the funds to do so given that the job only pays thirty grand a year. If you boast that you like extreme sports, the hiring manager may fear that you’ll be using their medical insurance for your injuries.

References

You can omit ‘References Available Upon Request’ at the end of your resume. It’s understood. If an employer is interested in you, you will be asked to provide references at that time.

The important thing to remember is not only what to put on your resume (achievements, results), but also what to exclude so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities.

The certified writers at ResumeEdge have decades of experience in crafting achievement-based resumes for 40+ industries. We specialize in resume writing, resume editing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching through our JobInterviewEdge service.

The post Data You Should Not Put on Your Resume appeared first on ResumeEdge.

Resumes Continue to Change

An article on The Job Pyramid tackled the subject of keeping resumes fresh and relevant for 2013. Many of their points were spot on. I’ll address them here.

A Tracking System Will See Your Resume First

Many, if not most, companies these days have applicant tracking systems whose sole purpose is to eliminate candidates. With the poor economy and job prospects, no hiring manager or recruiter has the time or desire to sort through dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes from individuals who don’t meet the company’s requirements. That’s why it’s important for candidates to make their resumes not only results focused but rich in keywords. You’ll find the most useful keywords in the actual job posting under responsibilities. Keywords for a nurse might be:

• Critical Care
• Intensive Care
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Brain Injury

WordStream offers a free keyword tool that can help you pepper your resume with the most common keywords for your industry and position.

If You’re a ‘Creative’ Consider Graphics or Infographics for Your Resume

Nothing is more visually arresting than photos of an architect’s work in a resume. Or graphics by a web designer. Within seconds, a hiring manager or recruiter can see the skills that applicants possess. Infographics are also a great way to get noticed among the hundreds of other applicants for a position. However, keep in mind that tracking software won’t be able to ‘read’ the graphics, so you do need to keep your content keyword rich so you get past the software to the hiring manager.

Examples of infographic resumes are found on PInterest.

Social Media is a Tool You Must Use

Most of us use Facebook to update friends and relatives on what’s happening in our lives. Business professionals use LinkedIn to increase their visibility to colleagues and industry and to update them on their careers. LinkedIn is possibly the single most important social media tool an individual can use to remain relevant in this new economy. With jobs at a premium, and with too many candidates for each one, we all need to be looking for our next position while we still have our current one. The best way to do that is to maintain an active presence on LinkedIn. Recruiters and hiring managers find endorsements and recommendations from your peers and colleagues on LinkedIn to be trustworthy and valuable.

Make certain you fill out your complete profile. Use LinkedIn as a complement to your resume. Whereas your resume should be tailored to a particular position, with LinkedIn you’ll want to ‘cast the net’ more widely. LinkedIn is an excellent way to brand and market yourself to hiring managers and recruiters.

Results are What Matter

When a hiring manager is faced with two equally-qualified candidates, the interview and possibly the job will go to the individual who showed results. Too many resumes detail tasks without results. That can be fatal to your candidacy. If you worked at a company for five years and never achieved anything, don’t expect to be called in for an interview from a new company. Hiring managers don’t want to know what you did as much as they want to know what you achieved. When you reorganized your division, was that simply busy work, or did it positively impact the company’s bottom line? When you retrained staff, did that increase their productivity or was it an exercise in futility?  Without results shown, most will conclude that the retraining wasn’t a success.

Resumes should always be results focused rather than task based.

The certified writers at ResumeEdge have decades of experience in crafting achievement-based resumes for 40+ industries. We specialize in resume writing, resume editing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and interview coaching through our JobInterviewEdge service.

The post Resume Success Tips for 2013 appeared first on ResumeEdge.

Your Opening Paragraph is Critical

There’s an interesting article on careerrealism.com that addresses effective methods of opening a cover letter. Each of the article’s points reinforce the ResumeEdge brand – that is, accomplishment based data, rather than listing your skills without results.

(Logo: CareerRealism.com)

The article addresses:

• Job Titles and Stellar Accomplishments - Begin your cover letter with your title and the name of the company where you’re employed. If the concern has great name recognition, such as GE, Oracle, Bank of America, you’ll certainly capture the hiring manager or recruiter’s attention. List your most stellar accomplishment as it relates to the targeted job within the opening paragraph. That’s an amazingly strong way to start. You’ll be miles ahead of most other candidates who don’t use this approach.

• Use Keywords That Prove You’re the Perfect Candidate - Take keywords from the position opening and use them to begin your cover letter if you have those skills or abilities. Most companies use scanning software to eliminate inappropriate candidates. In order for your cover letter and resume to be read by the hiring authority, you have to get past this software. The way to do that is to pepper your opening paragraph with keywords relevant to the position. Keywords for an accountant might be: CPA, tax audits, P&L (Profit and Loss), Payroll.

• Demonstrate How You Can Positively Impact the Company’s Bottom Line - When it comes to equally-qualified candidates (those who have the same professional and academic background), the only way you can outshine your competition is with quantified accomplishments – those that can make the company money or reduce expenses. For example, you write:

As the Director of ABC Industries, I’ve realized a 79% improvement in productivity, generating savings of $11,000 annually by reorganizing divisions, cross-training team leads and eliminating duplication. Last year was the most profitable in our 27 year history.

This kind of opening paragraph is rich in results. Past performance is predictive of future performance. Use your achievements to keep the hiring manager and recruiter reading your cover letter and then your resume.

An Important Note

Whatever accomplishment you put in your cover letter shouldn’t be repeated verbatim in your resume. It gets tiring to keep reading the same information again and again. It also appears as though you’re padding your resume because you don’t have that much to offer. Your resume should  build upon what you stated in your cover letter. Keep it fresh. Provide additional data.

ResumeEdge specializes in cover letters, resume writing, resume editing and interview coaching through JobInterviewEdge. Our certified writers have decades of experience in 40+ industries. They can craft a cover letter that will wow a hiring manager and compel that individual to read your resume.

The post The Best Ways to Begin Your Cover Letter appeared first on ResumeEdge.