Recruiting Tips
6 Tricks for a Recession-Proof Résumé
It's no secret that today's job market is extremely challenging. With more and more job candidates applying to fewer and fewer open positions, it may seem nearly impossible for you to get a potential employer's attention. Consider the following suggestions for writing a recession-proof résumé:
1. Don't just update your old résumé
If you haven't been on the job hunt for many years, it can be tempting to simply pull out the last résumé you used, add your most recent accomplishments and send it out. But the document could be many years old, which means the content is likely outdated.
At the very least, give your résumé a thorough review and weed out any information that is not applicable to your current career goals. You may, for example, remove positions you held in college or delete the mention of an old computer application. You might even find the best course of action is to prepare your résumé from scratch.
2. Consider your form
A chronological résumé, in which you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, has long been the standard format that job seekers use. But in a downturn it may not be the best style for showcasing your skills and experience.
If you have frequent or large gaps in your employment history, you may want to use a combination résumé instead. A combination résumé places the most emphasis on your skills and accomplishments, downplaying your previous positions and dates of employment. Rather than having a section called "Work Experience" serve as the bulk of your résumé, for instance, you might have sections titled "Administrative Experience," or "Computer Skills" . A combination résumé still details your work history, but this information is abbreviated and placed near the end of the document. A combination résumé also could be a good choice if you are hoping to switch careers. If you don't have experience that relates directly to your new path, this format allows you to highlight transferable skills that are applicable to the position you seek.
3. Focus on the bottom line
Companies today are looking for ways to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies. When detailing the positions you've held in the past, be sure to mention how you've helped boost a former employer's bottom line. If you worked as an administrative assistant, rather than saying "filed documents" or "answered phones," try something like this: "Identified new office-supplies vendor, resulting in cost savings of 25 percent." Be as specific as possible when describing your achievements, and don't be afraid to brag a little.
4. Customize your content
One of the most important steps when crafting your résumé is to target your content to each company and position. Rather than creating a standard document for use with every opportunity, customize your résumé so it speaks directly to a potential employer's unique needs.
This may mean highlighting different accomplishments or going into greater detail about certain contributions, for instance. Doing so might take a little extra time and effort, but submitting a targeted résumé demonstrates your knowledge of and interest in each position and will help you stand apart from other job candidates.
5. Use your cover letter
Like many job seekers today, you may have extended gaps in your work history due to current economic conditions. The cover letter allows you to address any concerns an employer may have about these gaps. In it, explain how you've kept your skills up-to-date since your last full-time position, whether through temporary assignments, volunteer work or professional development courses.
6. Check for mistakes
In a recent survey, 84 percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors on a résumé to remove a candidate from contention for an open position. Employers see typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes as a sign you lack professionalism and attention to detail. And in today's environment, hiring managers are less willing to take a chance on applicants who seem unqualified. Use the spell-check function and ask friends and family to proofread your résumé before you send it out.
One last piece of advice: Use your network to your advantage. Even if your résumé is solid, having a professional contact who can refer you for an open position or personally hand your document to a hiring manager could be key to landing the role you seek.
6 Ways to Build a Glowing Reference List
In today's competitive job market, those seeking employment need to do everything they can to distinguish themselves from the competition. A less-than-glowing reference can set you apart in the wrong way
1. Don't ambush your connections
Make sure the people you name as references are aware of this and are comfortable speaking on your behalf. For example, one respondent in the survey talked to a reference who starting laughing because he couldn't believe he was listed as a referral. Another reference had never heard of the job candidate he was asked to comment on. You don't want hiring managers to be greeted with these types of responses.
Before you submit a reference list to a prospective employer, provide each contact with an updated copy of your résumé and describe the company and position you've applied for, as well as the name of the person who will likely be calling. Contacting references beforehand will also allow you to make sure each individual is enthusiastic about your request; those who quickly return phone calls and are excited to speak about your capabilities make the best impressions on hiring managers.
2. Choose wisely
Just as you would adjust your cover letter and résumé for each position for which you apply, it's also a good idea to customize your list of contacts. Consider which of your references can best discuss the traits and qualities you possess that directly relate to the job. Such individuals won't necessarily possess the most impressive job titles. If you're applying for a management position, for example, it's helpful to provide contact information for a previous supervisor and someone you managed.
3. Remember, it's a small world
Some employers may go the extra mile to learn more about you, and social media sites can make such detective work easier than in the past. You should not only avoid burning bridges with former colleagues but also be selective about who's in your online network since a hiring manager could contact these individuals. Because of this reason, you may consider relying on different services for your personal and professional networks. For instance, you might use LinkedIn for business purposes and Facebook for personal ones.
4. Go the extra mile
Make it easy for an employer to speak to your references by providing clear contact information for each individual, including the person's name, phone number and e-mail address. You might even note the best time of day to reach him or her.
5. Tell the truth
One of the executives surveyed by our company spoke to a reference who said the job candidate didn't do the work he claimed to do during the interview. Another reference told an executive that the applicant didn't work for a firm she listed in her employment history. Hiring managers are bound to find out if you stretched the truth during the hiring process, so resist any temptation to be less than honest about your experience -- and make sure your references are forthright, too.
6. Say thanks
Even if a reference doesn't end up speaking to a hiring manager on your behalf, thank that person and keep him or her updated on the status of your search. If you are hired, be sure to send a thank-you note or even a small gift to your references. Also remember to not let the relationships go dormant until you're on the job hunt again. Keeping in touch with your references, even after you've settled into a new job, can help you maintain a solid network of professionals who can assist you in various ways throughout your career.
It's no secret that today's job market is extremely challenging. With more and more job candidates applying to fewer and fewer open positions, it may seem nearly impossible for you to get a potential employer's attention. Consider the following suggestions for writing a recession-proof résumé:
1. Don't just update your old résumé
If you haven't been on the job hunt for many years, it can be tempting to simply pull out the last résumé you used, add your most recent accomplishments and send it out. But the document could be many years old, which means the content is likely outdated.
At the very least, give your résumé a thorough review and weed out any information that is not applicable to your current career goals. You may, for example, remove positions you held in college or delete the mention of an old computer application. You might even find the best course of action is to prepare your résumé from scratch.
2. Consider your form
A chronological résumé, in which you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, has long been the standard format that job seekers use. But in a downturn it may not be the best style for showcasing your skills and experience.
If you have frequent or large gaps in your employment history, you may want to use a combination résumé instead. A combination résumé places the most emphasis on your skills and accomplishments, downplaying your previous positions and dates of employment. Rather than having a section called "Work Experience" serve as the bulk of your résumé, for instance, you might have sections titled "Administrative Experience," or "Computer Skills" . A combination résumé still details your work history, but this information is abbreviated and placed near the end of the document. A combination résumé also could be a good choice if you are hoping to switch careers. If you don't have experience that relates directly to your new path, this format allows you to highlight transferable skills that are applicable to the position you seek.
3. Focus on the bottom line
Companies today are looking for ways to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies. When detailing the positions you've held in the past, be sure to mention how you've helped boost a former employer's bottom line. If you worked as an administrative assistant, rather than saying "filed documents" or "answered phones," try something like this: "Identified new office-supplies vendor, resulting in cost savings of 25 percent." Be as specific as possible when describing your achievements, and don't be afraid to brag a little.
4. Customize your content
One of the most important steps when crafting your résumé is to target your content to each company and position. Rather than creating a standard document for use with every opportunity, customize your résumé so it speaks directly to a potential employer's unique needs.
This may mean highlighting different accomplishments or going into greater detail about certain contributions, for instance. Doing so might take a little extra time and effort, but submitting a targeted résumé demonstrates your knowledge of and interest in each position and will help you stand apart from other job candidates.
5. Use your cover letter
Like many job seekers today, you may have extended gaps in your work history due to current economic conditions. The cover letter allows you to address any concerns an employer may have about these gaps. In it, explain how you've kept your skills up-to-date since your last full-time position, whether through temporary assignments, volunteer work or professional development courses.
6. Check for mistakes
In a recent survey, 84 percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors on a résumé to remove a candidate from contention for an open position. Employers see typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes as a sign you lack professionalism and attention to detail. And in today's environment, hiring managers are less willing to take a chance on applicants who seem unqualified. Use the spell-check function and ask friends and family to proofread your résumé before you send it out.
One last piece of advice: Use your network to your advantage. Even if your résumé is solid, having a professional contact who can refer you for an open position or personally hand your document to a hiring manager could be key to landing the role you seek.
6 Ways to Build a Glowing Reference List
In today's competitive job market, those seeking employment need to do everything they can to distinguish themselves from the competition. A less-than-glowing reference can set you apart in the wrong way
Following are some suggestions for assembling a reference list that works for you, not against you:
1. Don't ambush your connections
Make sure the people you name as references are aware of this and are comfortable speaking on your behalf. For example, one respondent in the survey talked to a reference who starting laughing because he couldn't believe he was listed as a referral. Another reference had never heard of the job candidate he was asked to comment on. You don't want hiring managers to be greeted with these types of responses.
Before you submit a reference list to a prospective employer, provide each contact with an updated copy of your résumé and describe the company and position you've applied for, as well as the name of the person who will likely be calling. Contacting references beforehand will also allow you to make sure each individual is enthusiastic about your request; those who quickly return phone calls and are excited to speak about your capabilities make the best impressions on hiring managers.
2. Choose wisely
Just as you would adjust your cover letter and résumé for each position for which you apply, it's also a good idea to customize your list of contacts. Consider which of your references can best discuss the traits and qualities you possess that directly relate to the job. Such individuals won't necessarily possess the most impressive job titles. If you're applying for a management position, for example, it's helpful to provide contact information for a previous supervisor and someone you managed.
3. Remember, it's a small world
Some employers may go the extra mile to learn more about you, and social media sites can make such detective work easier than in the past. You should not only avoid burning bridges with former colleagues but also be selective about who's in your online network since a hiring manager could contact these individuals. Because of this reason, you may consider relying on different services for your personal and professional networks. For instance, you might use LinkedIn for business purposes and Facebook for personal ones.
4. Go the extra mile
Make it easy for an employer to speak to your references by providing clear contact information for each individual, including the person's name, phone number and e-mail address. You might even note the best time of day to reach him or her.
5. Tell the truth
One of the executives surveyed by our company spoke to a reference who said the job candidate didn't do the work he claimed to do during the interview. Another reference told an executive that the applicant didn't work for a firm she listed in her employment history. Hiring managers are bound to find out if you stretched the truth during the hiring process, so resist any temptation to be less than honest about your experience -- and make sure your references are forthright, too.
6. Say thanks
Even if a reference doesn't end up speaking to a hiring manager on your behalf, thank that person and keep him or her updated on the status of your search. If you are hired, be sure to send a thank-you note or even a small gift to your references. Also remember to not let the relationships go dormant until you're on the job hunt again. Keeping in touch with your references, even after you've settled into a new job, can help you maintain a solid network of professionals who can assist you in various ways throughout your career.
