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Digg it UP - Is Your Resume Working? 10 Steps to a Resume That Gets Results
Business writing today is much less formal than it was twenty years ago, mainly due to the influence of email. Most people use email as an alternative to face-to-face conversation where informality is key.Since we frequently use contractions when speaking, it's certainly acceptable to use contractions in most of our daily business writing. However, confusion over the correct form can complicate the issue.When we contract words, we make one word out of two. To show that letters are missing, we use an apostrophe in place of the missing letters. The apostrophe must go where the letters are missing! Do not becomes don't; I am becomes I’m; cannot becomes can't. (Note that cannot is actually already one word--an exception to the two-word rule. It is incorrect to write “I can not attend the meeting.” It should be written, “I cannot attend the meeting” or “I
Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” Outsourced Chiropractic Billing Service Performance Index - August 2006
August Billing Performance Index (BPI) underperformed July value by 8.7%, replacing six participants in the list of top ten performers and dropping the index from 15 down to 16.3. This article reports a third iteration of a prototype for a rule-based chiropractic billing index, including its coverage definition, update cycle, volume weighting, and provided information.BPI = 16.3 means that the average of ten top performing payers working with BillingPrecision.com clients have 16.3% of Accounts Receivable beyond 120 days. BPI is a key billing performance characteristic, as it is a proxy of the claims that are never paid. Obviously, the lower is the index the better is billing performance. The table below also lists the top ten performing payers and their relative index as recorded in Billing Precision's system. Billing Precision Index 16.3 Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas
An overwhelming majority of job seekers make basic mistakes with their resumes – mistakes that ensure that they will not get the interviews they deserve. If you feel as though you’re sending your resume into a black hole, try this ‘10 Step Program’ to diagnose problems and get your resume working for you.
1. Is your r?sum? the right length?
You may have heard that your resume should fit on one page. This is nonsense. Recruiter or hiring managers don’t care if your resume is one or two pages long. But they do care whether it is easy to read and gives key information upfront. Your resume can be one, two, or (occasionally) even three pages. The only rule is that the length should be appropriate for you. If in doubt follow the (very general) rule of thumb that less than 5 years experience probably only requires one page and more than that may need two.
2. Does your resume clearly position you as someone who can meet the needs of the employer?
Think of a resume as an advertisement for a product, only this time the product is you. Just like any other advertisement, positioning is everything. The person who receives your resume will scan it quickly – perhaps for no more than 20 seconds – to determine whether you can help her company. Your job is to say quickly, clearly and loudly that you can!
Don’t just launch into a chronology of your career history. Instead, determine your own positioning by spelling out your message at the start of the resume and giving the reader your version of events upfront. For this reason, you should use the first 1/3 of your resume to create a compelling personal profile which highlights your key strengths in an attractive, easy-to-read format.
3. Does your r?sum? begin with an objective?
Don’t start with an objective. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like them because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:
“Seeking a software engineer position with a progressive employer where I can contribute to the development of new technologies and work with bright, committed people.”
This may be very honest but it is irrelevant to the reader, who does not care what you want and only cares what you have to offer. Instead of an objective, try using a positioning statement that clearly and concisely explains what you have to offer.
“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”
Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” Preparing and Obtaining Your Job References for Your New Job and Career
You should know that an important final step in completing your job search and resume preparation steps is to identify real and potential job references.A job reference is someone who can and will vouch for your capabilities, skills, capabilities and most importantly personal integrity.Job references are typically people who have been your instructors and coaches at school, your supervisors and co-workers and of course previous employers. Do not forget as well the supervisors or co- workers you worked along with in volunteer as well as paid work.Several factors come in play hereFirst of all always ask a person a person personally if you can use them as a reference.This cannot be overstated in importance.Nothing is worse for your job prospects than a potential employer phoning a reference on your list to have the reference stammer and wing it on the fly.As well you can qualify th
1. Is your r?sum? the right length?
You may have heard that your resume should fit on one page. This is nonsense. Recruiter or hiring managers don’t care if your resume is one or two pages long. But they do care whether it is easy to read and gives key information upfront. Your resume can be one, two, or (occasionally) even three pages. The only rule is that the length should be appropriate for you. If in doubt follow the (very general) rule of thumb that less than 5 years experience probably only requires one page and more than that may need two.
2. Does your resume clearly position you as someone who can meet the needs of the employer?
Think of a resume as an advertisement for a product, only this time the product is you. Just like any other advertisement, positioning is everything. The person who receives your resume will scan it quickly – perhaps for no more than 20 seconds – to determine whether you can help her company. Your job is to say quickly, clearly and loudly that you can!
Don’t just launch into a chronology of your career history. Instead, determine your own positioning by spelling out your message at the start of the resume and giving the reader your version of events upfront. For this reason, you should use the first 1/3 of your resume to create a compelling personal profile which highlights your key strengths in an attractive, easy-to-read format.
3. Does your r?sum? begin with an objective?
Don’t start with an objective. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like them because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:
“Seeking a software engineer position with a progressive employer where I can contribute to the development of new technologies and work with bright, committed people.”
This may be very honest but it is irrelevant to the reader, who does not care what you want and only cares what you have to offer. Instead of an objective, try using a positioning statement that clearly and concisely explains what you have to offer.
“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”
Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” Email Fundraising Campaigns Must Inspire Donors to Go Online
Sending an email with no links to follow is like mailing a direct mail appeal without enclosing a reply device or return envelope. Costly.Email fundraising only works when you inspire donors to go online. Online is where you get their donation. Online is where you secure their advocacy. Online is where you encourage their involvement. That’s why your email appeals, alerts and newsletters must give donors something to do, and must give them somewhere to go to do it. That place is your website. Websites alone might raise some funds but they won’t build relationships. And email letters might inform donors but they won’t advance your cause unless you drive those donors to your website to act.The easiest way to show you what I mean is to show you how Mothers Against Drunk Driving does it. Their email newsletters are filled with links.Down the riy this time the product is you. Just like any other advertisement, positioning is everything. The person who receives your resume will scan it quickly – perhaps for no more than 20 seconds – to determine whether you can help her company. Your job is to say quickly, clearly and loudly that you can!Don’t just launch into a chronology of your career history. Instead, determine your own positioning by spelling out your message at the start of the resume and giving the reader your version of events upfront. For this reason, you should use the first 1/3 of your resume to create a compelling personal profile which highlights your key strengths in an attractive, easy-to-read format.
3. Does your r?sum? begin with an objective?
Don’t start with an objective. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like them because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:
“Seeking a software engineer position with a progressive employer where I can contribute to the development of new technologies and work with bright, committed people.”This may be very honest but it is irrelevant to the reader, who does not care what you want and only cares what you have to offer. Instead of an objective, try using a positioning statement that clearly and concisely explains what you have to offer.
“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” Marketing for a Professional Practice or Small Company
Marketing for a professional practice or small business is not easy, so let me ask you a few questions about your business and let us see what you have been up to and review the results of your marketing to see if it is in fact working for you.First do you believe you are spending too much on marketing for the results you are getting? Do you consider yourself successful in your business? (no one is going to look at your answers). Is your marketing yielding the results you wish it could? Are you satisfied with the type of clientele that you have?Would you like to spend less and get more for your advertising and marketing dollar? Do you feel your marketing is currently efficient in attracting your most desirable clientele and attracting the crème of the crop of your target market?You see, Marketing for a Professional Practice or any Small Company is not easy, it takes the right mindset, a simple message an objective. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like them because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:“Seeking a software engineer position with a progressive employer where I can contribute to the development of new technologies and work with bright, committed people.”This may be very honest but it is irrelevant to the reader, who does not care what you want and only cares what you have to offer. Instead of an objective, try using a positioning statement that clearly and concisely explains what you have to offer.
“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” Job Interviews: Effective Question And Answer Strategies
Figuring out job interview question and answer strategies can be a nerve wrecking experience particularly for first timers or those that are in desperate need of a job. They would prepare endlessly for days, study self help books about ‘How to face an interview’, memorize answers to ‘expected’ questions etc. This article looks at the psychology of interviewers, job interview question and answer strategies, and what most people do wrong while faced with an interview.Most people think that attending interviews means answering tough questions. Hence they try to prepare answers to as many questions as possible by reading books related to facing interviews. But it would be humanly impossible to remember all the answers and recall them at the right time. It should be borne in mind that by inviting you to an interview, the employer has already short listed you based on your resume that you are suitable for the job. Otherwise you>Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.)
4. Does your resume contain specifics?
You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics. For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did:
“Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.”See how being specific makes a difference? This level of detail shows the reader the contributions you have made in the past (and therefore the contributions you can be expected to make in the future.)
5. Have you outlined achievements as well as responsibilities?
Don’t provide a laundry list of responsibilities without showing what results you achieved. Most employers already know what the main responsibilities of your job were. They want to know what makes you different from all the other applicants. An effective resume summarizes job responsibilities in a few sentences and then provides details of quantifiable achievements.
Focus most of your resume on the results you accomplished, not the regular duties of your job.
6. Are there any typos?
Your resume has to be perfect. Proofread it over and over again. When you are sure it’s perfect, have other people proof it! If even one word is misspelled the reader will assume that you didn’t know how to spell the word (this is bad) or that you didn’t care (this is even worse!) Nothing puts the reader off more quickly than misspellings or typos.
7. Is the resume easy to read?
At least 50% of the impact of your resume derives from design. A strong resume design will pull the eye through the document, making it easy to keep reading and will highlight your key strengths clearly. But if your resume is badly laid out, disorganized or hard to read, it will be discarded before the reader knows how qualified you are.
To see examples of how to lay out your resume, go to the library or bookstore and look in the career section. You will find collections of sample resumes. Take time to understand how the page has been laid out and then apply what you’ve learned to your resume.
8. Have you listed irrelevant information?
Don’t list your hobbies unless they directly support your qualifications for the position. Don’t detail your marital status or the number of children you have. Don’t mention non-professional affiliations such as political or religious volunteer work unless it directly relates to the position you are applying for. Any personal information runs the risk of turning the reader off. However proud you are of personal achievements, you should not run the risk of alienating someone before you even have your foot in the door.
9. Are you too modest?
Don’t be uncomfortable about blowing your own trumpet. Too many people play down their achievements. While you should never exaggerate on a resume, you should definitely take credit for the things you’ve accomplished. Some people feel uncomfortable boasting on paper preferring to explain in an interview. But if your resume doesn’t spark interest, you may never get that opportunity, so don’t be modest!
10. Have you created an internet-ready version of resume?
If you have to post your resume online, or apply to a job via an online system, you will need to convert your resume to a text-only format. If you don’
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