NY Resume Writing

Making your resume stand out: Sum it up!

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:01:31 +0000

A basic resume shows an employer what experiences and skills we have and interviews are used to show an employer our characteristics that would otherwise be difficult to put on paper. However, there are other ways to catch an employer’s attention through your resume. Everyone is looking for a job, which means that employers will have more resumes and less time to look at each one thoroughly. As it turns out, most resumes only get about a 30 second look from employers. One way of making them review your resume for more than 30 seconds is to have a summary statement.
A summary statement is a 4-6 lines paragraph that summarizes your professional background. Keep in mind that this is only speaking about your professional background. A summary statement should touch upon core strengths and transferable skills that are relevant to the position, past relevant experiences and notable accomplishments that you intend to repeat in the new position that you are applying for. Do not speak about employment gaps, career changes or personal experiences. If these need to be addressed, put it in your cover letter.
The opposite of a summary statement is a resume objective. A resume objective only shows your own interests as a job seeker. This can potentially result in you being turned down before the interview even happens. Your own interests may not be what the employer is looking for and in some cases, your interests and the employers interests may conflict with each other.
The reason why a summary statement is better than a resume objective is that the statement shows what you can do for the company. It shows you are willing to help the company flourish with your skills and experiences instead of looking out for yourself. Your resume will get more attention from employers if it shows that you are interested in the employers’ interests.
Another way to keep an employer’s attention on your resume is to brand yourself. Branding is like giving your professional experience its own personality. A few examples are being a team player, having excellent communication skills both written and orally, or even being a fast and willing learner. Branding yourself makes you stand out from the other resumes. Branding yourself also shows the employer what you are bringing just by being hired, if you impress them enough.
My brand is being The Jack of All Trades. I want to have a good amount of skills in a variety of positions. This shows my employers that I can work from any position that they give me and that I can work with more than just a few positions at the same time. I also believe that this brand will keep me in a job longer. Should a company decide to get rid of one position entirely, I can simply transfer to a different position in that company. This brand benefits both the employer and me.

Life After Your Internship

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:24:59 +0000

A lot of interns feel they don’t know what to do once their internship is over. There are many options that one can take. The first action is to have an updated resume that includes the skills you’ve acquired during your internship. You can get an updated resume usually through the help of your supervisor at your internship. In addition, get a cover letter. The cover letter gets overlooked a lot when people apply for jobs but it is very important to have. You should also ask for a recommendation letter from your internship. The recommendation letter looks good for a job seeker because it gives you more credibility. It shows the interviewer that a past employer/supervisor thought highly of you as an intern. This gives you an advantage over other job seekers who don’t have a recommendation letter. To add, get references from your internship. Some hiring managers ask for references during the hiring process so you will at least have references from your internship.

Another option one can take is networking. Try to stay in touch with your supervisor at your former internship. Your past supervisor may have connections to other hiring managers that could benefit one’s job search. In addition to a former supervisor one can go to job networking social websites and network with other people. Make as many connections as possible because the more you have the more your chances of finding someone who can help you land a job increases. If a job seeker is a churchgoer then asking members of their church of any job openings they know of can be helpful. A job seeker can even ask their neighbors for assistance.

I can relate to interns who are looking for a job after their internship ends because I am also an intern looking for a job. With my updated resume and references, I plan on staying in touch with the supervisor of my internship. I have a profile on the job networking website LinkedIn and I am connected to other people on there. Hopefully, all of these steps I’ve taken will land me a job in the near future.

Seasonal jobs, is it worth the challenge?

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:10:18 +0000

Job hunting is difficult in this job market and at some point, we all take what we can get. If a permanent job can’t be found, you can do nothing about it. So maybe pick up a seasonal job? Everyone has had a seasonal job at one point, whether it be a summer job or an after school job. However, not everyone is in school. Some of us need a job that has a full schedule but that doesn’t mean that seasonal jobs should be excluded.
There are some good reasons to pick up a seasonal job, such as making money. It may be seasonal, but it pays. You may not like the amount you’re being paid but its still money. Right now minimum wage sounds better than nothing. Another reason to get seasonal employment is that you’re trying to keep busy. You can put this down on your resume to show that you have been doing something. One thing employers like to scrutinize is large time gaps between jobs on your resume. You can use your seasonal jobs to fill in the gaps. A seasonal job can also provide a new set of skills and experience. You’re more likely to gain a transferable skill in a seasonal job than doing nothing. Even if it’s a type of job that you have done before, it’s still keeping your skills sharp if you don’t feel there is anything to gain.
When there’s a pro, there’s a con. Seasonal jobs will take away from your job hunting, and in turn, it will take away possible interviews for jobs. You also won’t have as much time to work on your resume or submit it to employers. Seasonal jobs rarely last, unless you impress the employer enough for them to keep you. You’re also more expendable in a seasonal job. Keep in mind that you may have replaced someone before you and you yourself can be replaced just as easily.
I’ve held seasonal jobs before and I know what it feels like to be replaced. I worked as a tutor during the spring. The summer was around to corner with teens looking for a summer job. The teens were being paid minimum wage by a government funded third party. I was given the option to be part of the third party if I wanted to keep my job through the summer. I was being paid 9.50 an hour and I wasn’t looking to change to minimum wage at the time. I felt it wasn’t worth it, so I was let go only to be replaced by minimum wage labor. I didn’t make much from this seasonal job, but money is money and I didn’t complain.
Seasonal jobs are not for everyone and some people are not for seasonal jobs. It’s really up to you as a job hunter to weigh the pros and cons of a seasonal job. Is a seasonal job worth it to you? It ultimately comes down to a judgment call as to whether to take a seasonal job or not.

Being a Manager is a Balancing Act

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:51:21 +0000

So you want to be a Manager? Being a manager is part handling clients, part managing staff and part satisfying the company needs. Quite a balancing act! To be an effective manager, you need to have organization. The efficiency of the staff that a manager supervises will often reflect on the managers skills. Managers will also have to juggle with the stresses that come with the position. Problems and complaints will come up often and the manager will have to handle and resolve these in the most effective way.
Managers will also have to be personable. The manager must have good relations with both the customers and the staff they supervise. If there is any kind of tension between the staff and manager, productivity will be hindered. The manger him/herself will have their own manger to answer to and if the higher manager is displeased, this will cause a domino effect down the chain of command. The manager will become stricter. This brings back the balancing act. Managers should be strict but also fair. If there is no fairness, then there is no balance.
Managers have a big responsibility. Whatever the staff does, the manager will be held responsible. Depending on what the problem may be, the manager will have to staff deal with it or if the situation get out of hand, the manager will have to step in. Having to handle a work problem is never a good thing regardless of whether or not you are a manager or staff member.
How do I know? I speak from experience, and I’ve been in that position before. I was a tutor for over a dozen students from grades 1-5. In a way, I was a manger of these students. One day my manager came to me and told me that she had received some phone calls about some of my students not doing their homework. I didn’t want to look bad or lose my job. I found out later that some of the students had been lying to me about their homework being completed. In response to that, I had to be stricter towards them. Instead of just asking if they had homework, I had the students take out their notebook and I would check if they had any homework listed. I would do this for the rest of my time there and my manager didn’t get calls again!

How To Calculate Your Job Search ROI…

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:01:50 +0000

A Return On Investment (ROI) is a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. A ROI is viewed as a profitability ratio. However, a Return On Investment is not always based on money, it can be based on time. A ROI can also be applied to your job search. Are you using your job search time wisely? For example, if you are sending out your resume to numerous job agencies and are not getting any calls for an interview, one should review their resume. There can be various errors on your resume you weren’t previously aware of. It’s a good idea to have someone else to review your resume. Investing in a resume specialist can be useful for job seekers. A resume specialist can format your resume to make show all your best qualifications and skills. As a result of getting your resume done by a professional, this may lead to companies calling for interviews and possible job offers.

Another option a job seeker who has trouble getting interviews can do is investing their time going back to school. If one’s job search keeps leading to a dead end, going back to school to learn a different career can be beneficial. The career a person is studying in college can be a career where the job market is big for those who graduate. Another benefit of going back to school is it gives a job seeker an advantage over other job searchers in the job market. With a college degree a job seeker’s potential starting salary can be higher.

The time it takes for a job seeker’s ROI to payoff varies. For some the time is short while others take a little longer. In addition, one needs to understand that the key is to be persistent and determined. Job seekers should look at the long-term benefits in order to get a better understanding of what their current investment can lead to.

Being Constructive With Criticism

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:54:10 +0000

Constructive criticism in the workplace happens all the time. Constructive criticism, although a form of criticism, is not meant to be negative. However, there are many times when a manager approaches an employee the wrong way about something they feel the employee did not do right or can improve on. As a result, the employee may feel hurt and the employee’s morale will be shaken. Then there are times the employee might turn hostile towards their boss leading to an unstable working environment.

There are steps a manager can take to give constructive criticism without coming off negative. The first step a manager should take when giving constructive criticism is to say something positive first about the employee. The compliment can be about anything. After saying something positive, the employer should say in a nice way what the employee should improve on or do in the future. This can help an employee grow and become an even more effective worker.

Employees can also give constructive criticism to their managers. If an employee feels that their manager or boss said something to them they didn’t like, the employee should not speak with the boss in front of everybody. The best course of action is to ask to speak to the manager or boss privately. Once in private, the employee should never say things like “you did this wrong” or “this is a complaint about”. The employee should instead phrase it in a polite way and talk about if their performance is to the manager’s satisfaction.

Constructive criticism can lead to a positive working environment. To conclude, as an employee or manager grows from taking constructive criticism, this can lead to the company growing as a result.

Don’t Fall In The Gap

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:16:47 +0000

In this economy, many people have been out of work for quite awhile. They are faced with the dilemma of how to handle that gap on their resume. The first step is to create a functional resume. This is better than creating a chronological resume. A chronological resume shows your work history staring with the most recent. Instead, a functional resume is better for people who are out of work long-term because it focuses more on the skills identifiable with the job they are applying for and less on the employment history gaps. In addition to a functional resume, one should create a cover letter that targets that specific job and explains their gaps. An effective cover letter can give increase a person’s chances of getting employment.

Another option for people who are out of work for an extended period is temporary work. Doing temporary work will help strengthen one’s resume and keep skills fresh when applying for a job. It helps narrow the work history gaps people have. In addition, the long-term unemployed should connect with their contacts for help in finding employment. But when applying for temporary work one should make sure that their job is relevant to what they are looking for. Also, people should be cautious of using social media for personal reasons, as a possible employer could make their decision on whether or not to hire you based on what they find about you on the internet.

Last but not least, a job seminar is a good choice for the long-term unemployed. A job seminar gives you tips on writing a resume that can impress an employer. In addition, a job seminar will prepare people for the type of questions an interviewer may ask.

People out of work for a long time should not be pessimistic, but instead persistent and optimistic. Take what you can find short-term if it’s reasonable, and work your way up so you can be where you envision yourself in the long-term.

Make your volunteer work work for you!

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:02:37 +0000

Do you have a sociable personality and are not afraid to strike up a conversation with strangers. Have you tried social networking sites to try and find a job with no luck at all. Volunteering may open the doors you need to find a good job and get you the connections that could help you find employment. Not only can you meet the right people, but you will also be gaining valuable experience that if unemployed for a long period of time can prevent a questionable gap to keep on growing on your resume. Keep in mind that when you volunteer your time to any cause, you want to show the people around you that you are committed to giving it your all and will treat your volunteer time as your true job. This is a chance to show potential employers that when you make a commitment, no matter how small it might be, that you will see it through using your full potential.

An employer might see your volunteer experience as you being a self-motivated individual, passionate and a go-getter. Remember that volunteering is not a short cut to finding a job, it is an opportunity to acquire new skills or improve on existing ones. You might want to volunteer in more than one place depending on how much free time you have, this will better the chance of meeting people with similar job interest. Meeting potential employers is also a huge plus when volunteering you time, and the wealth of information that you could gather will benefit you in many ways.

Prepare yourself for these opportunities by practicing a 30 second commercial about yourself. Your commercial should come out with confidence and should give people an idea of what you are looking for and the strong points you have to offer their business. Make sure to look professional and ask for contact information in case you need more information and the person is willing to talk to you. So start looking for these opportunities and get back on track, you might even be helping out your community while you are at it.

Calling All Wannabe Entrepreneurs!

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:54:23 +0000

Have you ever thought that you had what it takes to start your own business? Many have succeeded in becoming their own boss and are managing their new business with success. However, many others have found that starting their own business is not as easy as they had thought and have ultimately failed in their attempt. Here are some key traits that you must possess if you wish to continue with your ultimate dream of becoming a successful business owner.

Confidence is a huge asset when it comes to starting your new business. You must be very sure about every decision you make as well as any refinements you must make to your business plans. Having the confidence to take risks and analyze the possible results ahead of times will help you be prepared for a number of different outcomes. These will also give you the necessary experience to overcome similar obstacles in the future. Taking risks is an inevitable part of this journey; quitting your secure job and deciding that starting a new business is the right path for you will be your first risky endeavor. There will be many situations where you will have to make risky decisions and your confidence will undoubtedly help you through them.

If you were one of those students in college who re-read papers over and over again before handing them to your professor, then you already have a great tool for starting a business. Paying close attention to detail is an essential tool a new entrepreneur is going to need when starting their own business. When managing your own business, your close attention to detail will help you pinpoint specific problems or screw ups that would have ultimately made you lose money. Realizing that something has to be done again in its earliest stages of development will save you time and resources. If you lack attention to detail, small infractions and mistakes will mount up and will surely put you out of business.

Being flexible and keeping an open mind to new ideas that may boost production and efficiency with your business will help with your productivity. Adapting to changing economic times and consumer preferences will also help you keep a strong hold on the clientele that you have procured for years to come. Remember that tough decisions will be made by you and you alone. Don’t lose confidence in yourself and believe that you will ultimately reach your goal.

Common Resume Mistakes…Part Two

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:46:04 +0000

When an employer takes a look at your resume, they’re not just looking at your qualifications or work background, they’re taking the format of the document into consideration as well. A resume with an impressive work history means nothing if the document looks disorganized. Additionally, including inaccurate or embellished information could lead to negative consequences when faced with a job interview. When writing your resume, treat it as the most important document you will ever produce. Since employers generally treat resumes a serious assessment of your qualifications, so should you. Here are five common resume mistakes that you should be aware of.

1. Using the word “I” anywhere in the resume. Resume should always be
written in the third person.

2. Using elaborate or non-standard fonts: You want your resume to
stick out among others, but doing so by typing in a flashy font isn’t
how you should go about catching the employer’s eye. Not only does it
come off as unprofessional, but some fonts (while pretty) can be
difficult to read. So keep it simple and stick to Times New Roman or
Courier fonts.

3. Including multiple phone numbers: It can be confusing to the
employer if they wish to call you in for an interview if they have to
choose between 3 different numbers. List only your primary phone
number and make sure that it connects to a voice mail service or
answering machine.

4. Lying about or embellishing any of your qualifications. Your resume
should represent who you really are. Don’t act out of desperation and
add false information to make you look like a better candidate for the
job. The truth will eventually come out and bite you.

5. Not using bullets. Having your resume formatted in a bullet style
makes it more reader-friendly and organized.