Zolio Articles

Resume Tips for IT Workers

2009-07-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you're searching for a job in the IT industry, there are several things you can do to help yourself get ahead of the game, including implementing some resume tips.

The current number of applicants for most IT jobs has more than doubled, meaning that candidates have to work harder to get noticed. A well-focused, well-written resume is one thing that can help you do just that.

According to an article by Datamation, your resume should focus on the results you've seen from past jobs, instead of simply putting together a list of skills you have acquired.

"(Applicants) tend to have all the technical lingo and that they’ve been exposed to this and that, but they don’t talk about their experiences,’’ Frank Cullen, president of The Cullen Group, said in the article. “They talk about programs they’ve worked with rather than the real value they will bring to the company.”

IT job seekers also should make sure their resume is not too short. While the typical rule is often to make your resume fit on one page, that often doesn't work for those in the IT industry.

Another mistake is having a resume that is too brief. Making your resume fit into one page doesn’t work in the IT industry, maintains Kingsley Tagbo, an IT career coach with IT Career Boot Camp by Exacticity Inc.

“You have to get into detail about your technical skills, since people are looking for skill sets and will compare your resume to someone else’s," Kingsley Tagbo, an IT career coach with Exacticity Inc.'s IT Career Boot Camp, said in the article. “(It's a) skills-crazy industry and the person who details every skill for a software developer’s position will get more notice because of the relevant detail being provided.”

But that also means your resume shouldn't be too cluttered. It should be organized and still maintain some white space so it's easier to read. In addition, your resume should focus on jobs that were more important, regardless of how long ago they were.

Resume Tips for the Self-Employed

2009-07-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

You probably know that keeping an up-to-date resume is one of the most important things you can do while employed or while thinking about looking for another job. This might not always occur to people who are self-employed, but it's just as important, and there are some resume tips to consider.

You never know when you're going to need a good, up-to-date resume, especially during this economy. Resumes can be handy for just about any worker, and that includes the self-employed, according to an article by Examiner.

For instance, a client might request a resume before they will hire you, an organization might request a resume before it will allow you to speak or you might need a resume to re-enter the traditional workforce.

Here are some tips for the self-employed worker looking to write a resume:

Focus on your accomplishments instead of your tasks. For instance, if you write reports, you shouldn't only say you write reports. Instead, describe what those reports have accomplished and how they've brought in revenue or benefited your business in some other way.
If you're looking for a salaried position, it's sometimes better to downplay the fact that you're self-employed. You can avert this by calling yourself an organizational consultant instead of the owner of the firm. This also could help any misconception that the self-employed don't like to take orders from others.
Instead of writing an objective section on your resume, write a profile about yourself, which should include what skills you have and why you would be an asset to the company.
In the end, remember that the resume of a self-employed worker is really no different than that of any other worker.

Resume Tips and More for Moms Returning to Work

2009-07-08T11:12:00.001-07:00

We all know that finding work right now is hard. It takes more than just a good resume (click here) to get an employer's attention. But because the recession has many people scrapping for money, several people that normally wouldn't be searching for a job, such as mothers, are.

In June, the nation saw its unemployment rate increase to 9.5 percent, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. The country lost a total of 467,000 jobs during the same month. Since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed people has increased by 7.2 million. Those numbers show that it has been anything but easy to get a job.

It's hard enough trying to convince someone to hire you. It's even harder when you've spent the last few years taking care of children. That's why Act Three, a new start-up company, is trying to help women move from motherhood to employment.

The president of the company is a mother of four. Act Three offers personal coaching, group workshops and affordable networking sessions. The company also has a "Back to Work Readiness Test" and can help mothers identify their passion and talentsin order to choose the right career path.

Act Three also helps mothers refresh their skills by offering one-on-one training in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You also can get help creating an online present and setting up a professional network and professional e-mail account.

Overall, the site helps you identify your passions and talents, determine what kind of work fits you, build a resume that addresses years off and gets you interviews, write an elevator speech that leaves a lasting impression, learn how to network effectively, practice interviewing skills and dress for the job you want.

Resume Tips for the Employed

2009-07-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

Often times we forget that the unemployed aren't the only ones looking for a job. There are many people who are currently employed, yet still looking for a job. Whether it's because they're unhappy at their current job or because they just want a better opportunity, there are some things, including resume tips, those people should keep in mind.

Many of those who do have jobs are thankful to be employed amidst an economic recession. However, that shouldn't stop you from searching out other options. In the same breath, it's often a good idea to keep your intentions to yourself so as to not put yourself in an awkward or bad position.

There are some simple tips to follow in the way of job searching etiquette, according to an article by Examiner. These things should help you keep your current job while still allowing you to search for a new one.

First, make sure to keep your job search hush-hush. For instance, when it comes to networking, consider using the Web or sites like Twitter and Facebook instead of discussing your options with coworkers. Not only does the Web allow you to remain more anonymous, but it also decreases the possibility your boss will discover that you want to leave.

Second, be careful of where you post your resume. While posting to bigger sites like Monster can provide some opportunities, creating a more targeted approach can be more efficient. You can apply or submit your resume to specific positions that interest you instead of putting your resume out there for the world to see and waiting for someone to contact you. Even though this method takes more time, it allows you to be more selective and secretive.

Finally, make sure you search for a new job on your own time. You should let hiring managers know up front that you have a job and don't want to jeopardize that opportunity by communicating about other potential positions. You can list the hours you can be reached on your cover letter or resume.

Resume Templates for the Entry Level Worker

2009-06-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that you need a resume in order to apply for a job. In most cases, typical resumes serve as a place to showcase your work experience. But what if you're an entry-level worker who doesn't have a lot - or any - job experience?

In this case, you should use an entry-level resume template. Even if you haven't actually held a real job yet, you can still make your resume stand out by focusing on things like schoolwork, relevant classes and internships.

There are several things that should always be included, even in the most basic resume. The first section should include information on how a potential employer can contact you, including your first and last name, address, landline or cell phone number and e-mail address.

The next section of your resume should focus on any education you've had. This is a good place to list the colleges you attended, degrees you earned and any special awards or honors you received.

The final section of your resume should focus on any experience you have. This is the place to list any companies you've worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a list of your responsibilities and achievements. This also is the place to list any internships or summer jobs you've had.

Here is a sample entry-level resume template. The person lists their contact information, education and relevant courses, professional experience, additional experience and examples of leadership.

How to Write a Resume for the Cyber World

2009-06-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

If you think you know how to write a resume, think again.

The typical way of writing resumes is in the past. In today's world, job seekers have to focus on writing a resume that caters to the cyber world that most employers depend on. According to an article by The Seattle Times, the algorithm for resumes has changed significantly.

Before the beginning of the economic recession, it was common for job seekers to write resumes for actual people, when in fact, humans don't usually read resumes anymore. Instead, resumes are handled by online software systems programmed to look for specific keywords.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing resumes:
Don't focus on length - It used to be that resumes should be short, about one page, maybe two. However, software often processes how many pages are in your resume and associated fewer pages with less experience.

Don't focus on a career objective - In the past, it was common form to start your resume with a statement about what the applicant wants in a career and a list of past experience and job skills. Today, resumes should list technical skills first, because that's what software will look for.

Get certification whenever possible - While having a college degree is still essential, it most likely won't make your resume stand out. However, job training or certification in certain skills that are applicable to your career might be picked up on by certain software.

Present a professional online profile - Your resume should include links to online sources where employers can find out more information about you. Most software automatically looks up your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles.

"After LinkedIn, the next place the resume software will look will be Zillow to look up your address find out the value of your home," the article notes. "There's a lot that can be learned from this. Are you carrying a very high mortgage? Will you want to relocate to their office in Boston if you just bought a new house? Do they want to hire someone from Marysville if the candidate has to commute to Redmond every day? They'll use a lot of this information to second-guess your application."

Resume Tips for Freelancers

2009-06-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for freelance and temporary work, it's important to remember that your resume should look different than that of a typical job seeker.

While most HR departments or job placement agencies are looking for a specific type of resume, they don't always know what to do with resumes from freelancers. These workers often have lots of employment experiences that don't fit on a standard resume.

Following are some resume tips from Examiner that you can follow to make the process easier on yourself and on potential employers.

First, don't focus on standard job listing requirements. These are often too vague or too limited can require you to constantly rewrite your resume. You should instead focus on how to communicate your qualifications for a project, company initiative or request for expertise.

Second, make sure the design of your resume is simple and articulate. Your resume should focus on skills, project work and successes and list contracts, assignments and projects. You also should include any education you have.

Your resume should have a small section dedicated to skill keywords. These can be specific skills you have and use regularly, such as advanced software use or project management with the specific number of people involved. You should list a total of six to 10 key projects you have worked on.

Finally, put most of your focus into an accompanying cover letter. This is the place to convey that you understand the assignment, contract or project you are pitching. You should clarify why you are the candidate to handle the client's needs. You can list similar successes and verbalize why the opportunity appeals to you.

Resume Tips: What You Shouldn't Include

2009-06-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's easy to find information about what you should put on your resume, but what information should you leave out? There are a few simple resume tips you can follow to make sure your potential employer doesn't find out too much - or too little - about you.

First, you should make sure your resume is free from results-focused information. According to an article by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, if your resume looks like anyone else's resume, then you won't stand apart from competitors. You can differentiate yourself by talking about different projects you've worked on and how they "saved the day."

Second, you should make sure your resume doesn't include useless information and that it's not more than two pages long. Your resume should only talk about things that are important to the particular job that you're applying for.

Third, don't use resume styles that don't fit the position you're applying for. Your resume should reflect what the company says it wants for the particular position in the job posting. That means you should only include information that's pertinent to that specific job.

Fourth, don't make your resume too hard to look at. You can make your resume easily readable by eliminating small margins, small font and long paragraphs. Use bullet points and other characters to divide information.

Finally, leave personal information off your resume and only include information about your career history. While there are some exceptions, most resumes look more professional if they're void of personal information.

Resume Templates: Chronological vs. Functional

2009-05-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

If you're applying for a job, you should know that your resume can often be the most important piece of the puzzle. Your resume often decides whether or not you're called in for an interview and from there whether or not you're offered a job.

If you're having trouble writing your resume, there are a few resume templates you can use. According to an article by JobStar, the most common forms of resumes are chronological resumes and functional resumes.

A chronological resume is the most effective for job seekers who have lots of experience and a logical job history. People who are changing careers or who lack formal on-the-job experience, such as new graduates, often find this type of resume the most difficult to write.

Here is an example of a chronological resume:

Usually those who have less experience opt for a functional resume, which can be thought of as a sort of problem solving format. This type of resume gives you room to make sense of the work history you have and match skills and accomplishments that might not be obvious to a potential employer in another format.

Here is an example of a functional resume:

How to Write a Resume, Technically

2009-05-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering how to write a resume, you should focus on the technical aspects of the document.

While many people try to make their resume into a type of narrative or creative document, employers will make hiring decisions based on the facts of your career more than the stories. According to an article by Examiner, the most effective and powerful resumes provide analytical and precise details about your background and achievements.

Most employers will assume that what you show on your resume correlates to what you can do for them. That means if your resume lacks key metrics and quantifiable information, it will fail to demonstrate proof of your performance to a potential employer.

There are three steps you can follow to make sure your resume has enough detail:

List all the major tasks and projects you have been involved with at work. These can be formal initiatives that required an entire project team or subtle assignments that you decided to complete yourself.
List the results each project or effort had on the company or your department. You should think in terms of money saved, the number of people affected or the amount of business generated. This can include efficiencies gained during a business process improvement effort, costs cut while implementing a new system, or new business gained by creating customer relationships.
Show precision by putting percentages, dollar values or other metrics with results. The more analytical your resume is, the better.

Following these steps will allow you to show what you can do for a potential employer.

Resume Writing Important for College Grads

2009-05-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you're a recent college graduate, you should know by now that the job market is tough. However, there are some steps you can take to make the job search process a little easier on yourself. Perhaps the most important step of all is knowing how to write a resume.

While there are fewer companies hiring new workers, there are more people searching for jobs. This means employers will receive hundreds of resumes for open positions, all the more reason to make your resume stand out.

Your resume should include the basic information - your name and address, the college you graduated from, the degree you obtained, what you're looking for and what kind of experience you have, whether it's internships, full-time jobs or classwork.

When putting your resume together, you should make it visually stunning. It should look clean and easy to read, but it also should stand out. You can do this by using a different font, using unique symbols to separate different sections of your resume, or aligning the font in an unusual but neat way.

When writing your resume, keep in mind that you should: list technical skills first, customize your qualifications, quantify your past results, use action words, give yourself credit, be short and concise while being clear, don't give more information than the reader needs and make sure there aren't any mistakes.

Once you have a resume you're satisfied with, there are other steps you can take to make your job search more successful. You can expand your network, use your college career services center, create an inexpensive business card, join a professional association, prepare for interviews, think about all the opportunities outside your comfort zone you could apply for and, most importantly, don't give up.

Resume Tips on New Radio Show

2009-05-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Resume Bay, a career consultant company and group of professional resume writers, has launched an Internet radio show to offer resume tips and career advice to the millions of college graduates and unemployed workers throughout the country.

The show, called "Resume Bay Radio," will focus on providing career insight to candidates searching for a job, including interviewing tips, salary negotiation, creative ways to network, why networking is important, the importance of a customized resume, proper follow-up after an interview, how to convert a phone interview to a face-to-face interview and how to leverage Web 2.0 during the job search.

During the past month, the show has aired a strong series of interviews, including one with David Horne, author of Career Secret Sauce. Horne detailed the specific challenges facing recent college graduates.

The show also interviewed Dr. Debra Condren, author of Ambition is Not a Dirty Word. In the interview, Condren explained how freelancing opportunities are a good way to come out of unemployment.

"By acting like a professional, rather than someone who is willing to give his or her services away by low-balling prices, you can work with companies to receive up to half of your fees upfront," Condren said. "Even in this market, people want to make sure that they are hiring the very best talent - the very best experts and freelancers."

Other people interviewed on the show have included Frances Coles Jones, author of How to Wow; Jill Spiegel, featured guest on the Oprah Show and the Today Show; Linda C. Thompson, author of I Am My Own Dragon; Dr. Nancy and Randall Bell.

Resume Bay Radio already has several interviews scheduled for May, including interviews with featured career authors Michael Port, Jay Conrad Levinson and Monroe Mann. Once recorded, all interviews are available at the Resume Bay for download.

The Resume Bay also is working on a Webinar, entitled the "Career Empowerment Series." The Webinar, to be presented in four parts, will include: Sharpening Your Axe - Preparing for your job search; Catching the Big Fish - Strategies for getting noticed in a crowded job market; Selling Yourself Without Selling Out - Proven interview methods you can use immediately and Too Cool for School - Negotiating a great job package and how to handle your first 30 days.

Resume Help from Big Companies

2009-05-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

Because the job market is so tough right now - for job seekers, employers and corporations - some companies are going above and beyond by offering free resumes and resume help.

Once you've created your perfect resume, both Staples and Office Depot will allow you to copy that resume for free.

Staples, based in Framingham, Mass., is offering 20 free single-sided resume copies and 40 free instant business cards. The program, dubbed the "Staples Career Stimulus," will last through June 13.

The company also has launched a new Web site as part of the program, which features best practices and career stimulus tips from CareerBuilder, Women for Hire and Southworth Paper.

Office Depot, based in Boca Raton, Fla., is offering 25 free single-sided resume copies and free faxing to five domestic numbers through May 30. Customers also can upgrade their resume paper selection to color or premium paper for a fee. To get the free copies, job seekers should go to one the store's Design, Print & Ship Depot centers.

Both stores are following the lead of FedEx Office, which offered job seekers 25 free copies of their resume on high quality paper on March 10. There are 1,600 FedEx Office locations throughout the country.

"We understand that the economy has affected many people in a very profound way, and we want to help," Brian Philips, president and CEO of FedEx Kinko's, said in a statement. "Printing resumes is one small way we can use our resources to help those who need it."

Other local companies are getting in on the act of helping out job seekers in need. For instance, Office Nomads in Seattle is offering free daily drop in service for one month, which allows people access to a desk and high-speed Internet. People in Spring Hill, Tenn., can get help preparing resumes today through May 16 at Spring Hill Public Library.

These are just a few examples of the help being offered throughout the country. Check out local news sources or local companies to see if any deals are being offered near you.

10 Resume Tips

2009-05-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

In a time when many people are searching for jobs, it's more important than ever to make yourself stand out. One way to do this is by creating a top-notch resume that will get noticed by employers.

Those who are job searching may already know how important your resume is, as it can often make or break an employer's first impression of you. A resume shouldn't only be a documentation of your credential and experience, but should be a living document that represents who you are and why someone should hire you.

Here are 10 resume tips you should keep in mind, according to an article by Free-Resume-Tips.com:

Use titles or headings that match the jobs you want. Because most employers receive hundreds of resumes, it's important to make sure your resume can grab someone's attention within five seconds. You can do this by using job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the jobs you're applying to.
Use design that grabs attention. You should make a professional, clean looking resume that highlights the most important information about your work experience, skills and education.
Create content that sells. The content of your resume is what ultimately results in interviews and higher salaries, so you should include strong descriptions of your skills and abilities.
Quantify and use power words. Using numbers and quantifying positions as well as using words or verbs that match the level of position you want can help employers match you with your ideal position.
Analyze ads and job descriptions to identify keywords. This is important because many companies use applicant tracking systems that match candidates' resumes to keywords in job ads.
Identify and solve employer's hidden needs. You can gain an edge on the competition if you're able to identify and demonstrate other needs your potential employer may have that aren't in the job description.
Sell the benefits of your skills. Instead of only listing what you're capable of doing, explain how what you can do is capable of helping the company.
Create an image that matches the salary you want. Make sure your resume highlights the skills and abilities that match the jobs you want.
Prioritize the content of your resume. You should prioritize the contents of your resume, listing the most important and beneficial items first.
Tweak and target your resumes and cover letters. If you target your resume and cover letter to each specific position you apply for, you will be more likely to get an interview.