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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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips

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.

Labels: Resume tips