A Few Words on Making Your Resume Pop Without Blowing It

I recently read an article in the March 2017 issue of MONEY magazine, on “How to Get a Better Job in 2017.” Part of the story covered tips on putting together a professional resume. Overall, it has some good tips on promoting your own brand and providing key metrics.

I have personally seen the evolution of resumes over the past ten years. Gone is  the objective, replaced by a  summary. Today, it’s important to consider personal websites and video resumes to help support your chances alongside your resume.

TIP: I encourage anyone in the job hunt spend part of their day reading up on current tips and skills needed. It can really help in updating your resume and getting it in front of the right people.

Over the years, in a hiring role, I have seen resumes on colored paper, resumes with photos, 1/2 page resumes, 3 page resumes, job experience with huge gaps in employment (without explanation), resumes with typos, some on heavy card stock, it goes on and on. It is important to get noticed in that big pile of paper, but, nowadays, you FIRST have to get the electronic hiring program to notice you.

TIP: Many companies utilize a specialized online program to “sniff” out potential candidates, looking for keys words reflected in the original job posting.

PERSONALIZE TO FIT THE ROLE

So, it is vital that you personalize your resume to the job description. Gone are the days of “one size fits all” with your resume. Reflect those job description key words in your resume, adjust where necessary, all the while keeping it accurate. There is nothing worse than misrepresenting yourself of stretching the truth on a resume. If you have the qualifications, great, apply! If you don’t have the necessary experience, keep looking!

MONEY SUGGESTS…

The MONEY article talked about how your resume layout should have your name in a huge font at the top (maybe with a bit of color) followed up with key examples promoting yourself. The rest should include the traditional professional experience, skills, highlights and education.

In my opinion, that’s all fine and dandy, if you are presenting this resume at a job fair or physically delivering it to a prospective employer.

As I described above, and in my own experience, many job programs will now populate from an uploaded resume, saving you time filling out all those text boxes. You want to make sure that the program will be able to load the pertinent data from your updated resume, that is usually found on a more traditional resume (name, address, phone, e- all in one section of your more traditional resume.) I will do some more research to see how the newly suggested layout will work with an online content populating program.

It is true that all of us need to stay current when it comes to our resumes, cover letters, job searching and more. Experiment a bit on your resume layout and get noticed!

 

Non-Compete Clause Heats Up Hiring

As the New Year has many people thinking of new employment opportunities, or a renewal to find work after a layoff, a recent Wall Street Journal article discussed how non-compete clauses and contracts/agreements are becoming more common in the job-hiring process.

Essentially, the non-compete clause requires that, upon termination, or if you quit the current job, you won’t work at a similar company or in a similar field for a certain amount of time (usually 1-2 years.) This could really tie your hands upon accepting a position, because, if you love the field of work you are in, it could be disastrous for your future, if things don’t work out.

Now, many of non-compete clauses are mainly for jobs that may have high security, or share sensitive information, that would be of value to the competition. The company you work for certainly want you to be happy in your position, but they have to protect themselves, also. They likely spent alot of money training you, and they don’t want you getting a few months in and finding better work. Double-edged sword, for certain!

Researchers at the University of Michigan released findings around non-compete contracts:

• 12 percent of American workers have signed such contracts;
• 28% of those were in engineering and computer fields;
• 40% of those who signed read it quickly or not at all.

What might be more surprising is that 10% of those who signed were in non-traditional fields, like repair services or personal care.

So, make sure you add “Ask about non-compete contracts” to your list of questions when you sit down with the hiring manager.

Now, let’s go out there and do something good together!

 

Out of the Mouths of Grads: Words of job search wisdom

College graduates have their work cut out for them, when it comes to employment opportunities in 2015. Susan Tompor, (Twitter: @tompor)  personal finance writer for the Detroit Free Press, recently ran a column aimed at college grads and their initial job search. Millennials certainly have struggled as of late in landing a job, but some stats shared in the column showed some promise, as more baby boomers head towards the retirement finish line.

Susan shared three tips for college grads, that, once I read them, can be applied to anyone looking for a new job. Let’s review:

1. Get a job coach. We all recall how tough it was out there in looking to get that first job.

To this day, I still have my initial rejection letters from at least 10 Detroit-area advertising firms, to remind me that, while I was certainly rejected, part of getting that job was making the effort to apply in the first place.

Search out a peer or former colleague to bounce ideas, review your resume and build contacts. A mentor is great (and usually free, beyond maybe buying lunch), but there certainly are job coaches you can hire.

Some of the job coach tips shared include grads not sending out a generic resume. The same can be said for any0ne looking for work. You must make an effort to tailor your resume to the job posting. Watch for keywords, specific duties. Sell yourself for the job. As FOX 2 Business Editor Murray Feldman (Twitter: @MFeldmanFOX2) recently said, the idea is to get noticed with your resume, land that first interview and get your foot in the HR office door. Use that interview to land the job!

2. Get out of the house. As I can attest to when I was unemployed for a year, it is essential that you make networking a priority! Volunteer, ask peers to meet for lunch, tell your friends you are looking for work.  One of the college grads in the article said “I wouldn’t waste your time going through all those websites.”

I pretty much agree with that statement, but certainly would encourage anyone to build and maintain a LinkedIn page. This will allow you to see what is going on in your own industry and build some business contacts.

3. Get motivated. Again, this ties back to networking and getting moving. Rarely, does a job prospect or job come to you. It’s up to you to go out there and get noticed. Set stretch goals, make a call, set a lunch.

So, whether you are working on getting that first job, or looking to bounce back after a layoff, finding a mentor and getting out there are some good steps to help you land that job!

Now, let’s go out there and do something good together!

Rock that Resume – Six seconds to launch!

I recently came across a new article, related to the attention span of the hiring department. Read the article here. A few numbers to consider:

250 – On average, the number of resumes received for each corporate job opening.

200 – The number of seconds that pass before the first resume is submitted for an online job posting.

427,000 – The number of resumes posted on Monster alone every week.

6 – The number of seconds a resume is scanned during the review process.

Now, if you have hung around this little part of WordPress, you know that I stress the importance of networking.

I liken job websites as more of barometer, related to how many jobs are available in your field and hometown at a given time.

But this article really stresses the importance of being very clear with your submitted resume. Six seconds is just enough time to see where you worked, your title, a few keywords and your education.

Here’s one more stat:

61 – The percent of recruiters that will dismiss your resume instantly due to tipos…typoes…typos!

So, take your time, and here’s a tip: Read your resume back to front to see every word. When you read a sentence you mite miss a typo. But read typo…a…miss…mite…you…sentence….a…read…you…When, the typo can stand out!

Pass that resume around. Have someone read over carefully. And try your own six second scan. Does it work?

Now, let’s go out there and do something good together!

Social media skills are a must in the job market

Recently, a story on CNNMoney (click here) discussed the importance of social media skills when it comes to the job market. Part of the article revealed:

While U.S. unemployment hovers around 8%, job postings requiring social media skills rose 87% from 2011 to 2012, topping 13,000 in one month alone earlier this year.  Among Fortune 500 companies, 73% now have company Twitter accounts and 66% have Facebook Pages (FB).

That first statistic, job postings requiring social media skills rose 87% from 2011 to 2012,certainly drives home the importance of knowing your way around the social media world.

I’ve always stressed in my blog that you must, must take that first step in securing a Facebook account and a LinkedIn account at a minimum. I also have a Twitter account, but I will be the first to say that I don’t update it as much as I should.

Another interesting statistic from the story:

Among Fortune 500 companies, 73% now have company Twitter accounts and 66% have Facebook pages.

As you continue your job search while you are unemployed, or you are looking for your next opportunity, part of your research should be looking up a companies Facebook and Twitter pages. You can gain insight as to the daily goings-on within the company, learn about trends, their products, events and other programs they have. Many times, such short postings will give you much more insight than going to their traditional website.

Once you build your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, it is up to you to keep it dynamic. Postings are important. I tell people that if they make the effort to build a social media account, they must keep it updated. A potential employer that sees a Facebook account that hasn’t been updated in three months, could reflect poorly on whether you get that all-important phone or face-to-face interview.

It doesn’t matter if you are 18 or 58. If you are in the market for a new job or trying to find that next great opportunity, being well-versed and immersed in social media, can help you stand out from the competition.

Hmmm….I’d better lead by example and update my Twitter account!

Now, let’s go out there and do something good together!

Throw away the catalog during your job search and interview…

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discusses how General Motors is trying to get back on track after its government bailout. It tells of struggles internally about ways to reorganize the group and resistance from some of their managers.

A passage in the full-page article stood out to me. Joel Ewanick, GM marketing chief, recalled how when he assumed his new position at GM, he was handed a furniture catalog and a budget of $55,000 to furnish his new office.

Ewanick, unhappy with the selection and prices in the catalog, instead opted to buy his furniture locally from Target, Costco and IKEA. Total cost? Less than $5,000.

Wow! He spent less than 10 percent of his budget! What a concept! Breaking the corporate mold and figuring ways to save money! But GM bureaucrats said that the furniture wouldn’t last and gave the thumbs-down on the purchase, even after saving 90 percent of his approved budget.

Ewanick bought the furniture anyways.

So, is he a rebel? A troublemaker? Simply because he questions authority, that even though they did it one way for years and years, he comes in with another idea? I say he is a visionary, a forward thinker!

So, how do you tie this example into your job search and interview? Well, as I’ve discussed on this blog time and time again, you have to stand out from the competition. You have to go beyond a stellar cover letter and resume. I really dislike this phrase but you have to “think outside the box.”

In order to do that, here’s a few bullets of advice:

Point out an opportunity for improvement – In your cover letter, discuss an aspect of their website. Example: “I’ve been on your website and I notice that there isn’t a prominent way to search for stores in my community.”

Offer a suggestion – “A simple Mapquest link could help customers find you even better and drive traffic and sales to your walk-in locations.”

Make the close –  “This free application, which is easy to load online, is something I would be happy to discuss with you.”

Shine at the interview – Prepare a simple handout, expanding on the example from your cover letter.

Just like GM’s Joel Ewanick, there is no harm in offering a suggestion to do something better.

Now, I’m certainly not telling you to nitpick and tear apart the company’s website or corporate image (see past blog, here.) And, yes, you may give away something to them that they might just do themselves.

But by showing that you took the time to do a little bit of homework, can help your image and set you apart from the competition.

Now, let’s go out there and do something good!

Employers aggressively tap online social media (WSJ – 6/1/10)

Read an interesting article in today’s Wall Street Journal (Managing your Career – Greasing the Inside Track to a Job – page D4, 6/1/10) where some very cool social media info was listed. Great examples as to how it is of the utmost importance to make social media work for you, whether you are unemployed, looking for a new job, or a promotion from within…

The article reads in part:

“Other employers aggressively tap online media. Internal recruiters connect with workers’ LinkedIn accounts so they can pinpoint promisign contacts and arrange introductions…A special new tool lets workers at Concur Technologies Inc. in Redmond, Wash., list openings immediately on their LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts.”

Further, “Employee referrals through social networking have changed the hiring game,” says Shelly Holt…

The article further discusses how LinkedIn offer several ways to forge inside ties and has roughly 500,000 specialized groups that can be mined for connections.

Great examples of how you can harness social media in your continued job search!

Here’s the entire article – required reading!

Sharing information online – how it can affect your job prospects

Recently, I came across an article in Crain’s Chicago by Freddie Laker with a group called Sapient, Inc.

Titled “What social media will look like in 2012”, he lists 11 predictions about changes in social media.

While the list is interesting, the first prediction really made me take notice. In its entirety, it reads:

1. Privacy expectations will (have to) change
There will be a cultural shift, whereby people will begin to find it increasingly more acceptable to expose more and more of their personal details on different forms of social media. Sharing your likes, dislikes, opinions, photos, videos and other forms of personal information will be the norm and people will become more accepting of personalized experiences, both corporate and personal, that are reacting to this dearth of personal information.

The part that jumped out at me was the passage: “people will begin to find it increasingly more acceptable to expose more and more of their personal details on different forms of social media”….

Now, I advocate giving social media a big hug. You have to embrace it, whether you are looking for work (either unemployed or working) or simply just trying to be a better communicator (professionally and personally). But I want to warn you about being TOO acceptable when it comes to sharing information online.

MORE COMPANIES DO THEIR HOMEWORK…

More companies are doing their homework before hiring someone today. It is becoming commonplace for companies to require drug screening, criminal background checks and even credit checks before having you sign on the dotted line. However, you can also know that companies can and do “Google” potential employees as part of their background check.

And that’s where I differ with the second part of his first prediction…

“…people will become more accepting of personalized experiences, both corporate and personal, that are reacting to this dearth of personal information.”

COMPANIES SCRUTINIZE MORE THAN EVER…

In my opinion, companies scrutinize candidates more than ever and will continue to do so. The competition is fierce, especially in SE Michigan and companies are investing time and money to make sure they have the right candidate for the job.

You really need to audit yourself online when looking for a job. Set aside your vanity and type in your name into a search engine and see what pops up. If you list your social media on your resume, make sure it is current and innocuous as possible.  You need to curtail the kegger pictures from years back or anything that casts you in a negative light. Now, I’m not saying you need to be as pure as the new fallen snow, but you do need to make sure you are putting your best foot (URL in this case) forward.

While social media may continue to explode in 2012, I just don’t see companies relaxing standards when it comes to doing reference and background checks on individuals. So likely could be best to err on the side of caution when job searching…once you are in, well, you can post those pix again!

Great interview: Just 3 rules matter in business – apply them to your job search!

As I continue discussing employment, unemployment and social media in helping you find a job, I recently read a New York Times interview with William D. Green, chairman and C.E.O. of Accenture. He discussed, in part, hearing 68 rules during a managers training meeting over three days at Accenture. Baffled by the myriad of rules that bombarded new hires, he realized only three rules really matter in business.

According to Green:

The first rule is competence — just being good at what you do, whatever it is, and focusing on the job you have, not on the job you think you want to have.

The second rule is confidence. People want to know what you think. So you have to have enough desirable self-confidence to articulate a point of view.

The third rule is caring. Nothing today is about one individual. This is all about the team, and in the end, this is about giving a damn about your customers, your company, the people around you, and recognizing that the people around you are the ones who make you look good.

You can apply these rules to your employment search. In developing your resume and during interviews, you need to make sure your competence, confidence and caring come through.

So let’s take a look at the three…

Competence. When you apply to a job and prior to an interview, learn about the company. Look up their annual report on the web, check out recent news releases to see what the company is accomplishing. Set yourself apart from the competition by showing competence about the company.

Confidence. Show in your cover letter and interview that you are a confident individual. Highlight accomplishments, look the interviewer in the eye.

Caring. While it is hard to be choosy in getting interviews in this economy, show how you would be a caring individual to your prospective boss, team, superiors and more.

The article gives great insight. I hope you’ll take the time to read the article.  Now, let’s get out there and do something good together!