For most of us, resume is where the process of change and transition begins. You write it summarizing your experience, contributions, skills and education. It is used as the first point of contact and reference by your prospective employers. While each of our experiences and careers vary each of the resumes could benefit from some fundamental guidelines. Format: keep it …
Job interviews 101: Be honest and tell the truth
Job interviews pro tip: always tell the truth! It’s that simple. When you are telling the truth you don’t have to make anything up or recollect what you said during your phone interview or wrote on your application. The truth is always the same and it doesn’t change. Honesty would provide for an open communication and will facilitate finding the …
How to improve job interview skills?
I love how creative my friends are, but using real job interviews as mock interviews? Now, I’ve heard it all. Allow me to explain. A friend of mine has been on a career advancement search in recent months and as one of his references I was privileged to the positions he has applied for. While all of them were within …
Professional references
Resume and the cover letter are done, now onto references. When deciding who to ask to be your reference consider folks who are your professional level or even higher. Focus on people you have worked with and who can honestly give a knowledgeable and obviously favorable review of your performance, achievements and character. Additionally, make sure to ask people you …
In-person interview tips
You have made it to an in-person interview. Congratulations! This means that your resume and cover letter (even references if they were called already) have all done their job to present you as a potential candidate for the position you have applied for. All good thus far, but that was paper and not “real” you; real you will take center …
Cover letters
Cover letters are of great importance as they complete your initial application packet along with your resume. They must be custom tailored for each particular position and organization, never a copy or a duplicate which you have used previously. Here are some important things to consider as you write that great cover letter which will serve as an invitation to …
Resume tips
Here’s a general overview of important things to consider when writing your resume. Overall, be consistent in design and content, truthful and relevant. Design Keep it simple and consistent Keywords Reference the job description throughout your resume; find words that matter to the employer and use them to your advantage. In large companies with hundreds, even thousands of applicants, resumes …
Based on your resume, would you hire yourself?
Keeping one’s resume up to date is generally not at the top of “to do” lists since most of us don’t change our jobs frequently and as such our resumes quickly become outdated, inaccurate and forgotten. However, considering that we got our current jobs in part due to that old, outdated paper representation of ourselves we should definitely keep them …
The importance of a cover letter
Writing an effective, job specific, custom tailored cover letter is extremely important when applying for a job. Well written cover letter makes a difference and can help you get that interview and ultimately the job you are after. Please take them seriously and don’t overlook what they say about YOU.