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Posts Tagged ‘resume writing’

Military to Civilian Transition Tips

September 24th, 2009
by Eric Civi

When it comes to transitioning from the military to civilian life, there are obstacles to deal with and the adjustment that veterans must make is important. Possibly the most difficult part of the transition is the job search, but there are ways to make make it as smooth as possible.

For starters, you need to be certain that you are aware of what skills you have obtained in the military, as well as how to use them to your advantage in your military to civilian conversion. You should figure out what civilian career best meets your abilities that were acquired in the military, and then look for a career in that field.

If you have multiple options, you should focus on the one that fits you best first. For example, if you have accounting and engineering experience, you need to decide which one you are more qualified at, and then find a job for that specialty. However, if you have other skills that can be applied to the same field, you should use this to your advantage when searching for jobs.

Once you have decided what field you like and what skills and experience you can use for that position, you should start look for jobs and prepare your military transition resume. There are many resources that can help you with this; from Federal assistance to private trainings, there is no shortage of help!

To prepare a good resume there are 3 elements to take into consideration. First, be sure to provide all of your education, experience and successes as they relate to the job. Secondly, be certain to use detailed statements to explain everything. To end with, stay away from the military jargon and learn how to put your resume into civilian terms that are universally understood.

This is arguably the toughest part of resume preparation. After being in service for a few years, it is hard to make the transition back to civilian language, most particularly when referring to your military experience.

However, if you list complicated military terms and rankings on your resume, no civilian employer will understand what you are capable of. Therefore, you need to make sure that you can translate your rankings and accomplishments into normal language, so that the recruiter can understand clearly what you have done, as well as what you are capable of. If you are having a hard time, there are classes and assistance available to help you with your conversion.

Whether you tackle resume writing alone or seek help, you should keep these points in mind. Having a resume that stands out from the crowd is going to be your best asset, so do not neglect it.

About the Author:

Eric Civi Career , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Writing a Resume For The Complete Newb

September 1st, 2009

So you are interested in learning how to write a resume. Maybe you are a recent graduate and are just beginning your job search with diploma in hand. Perhaps you already have a job and think you may want to switch careers or companies some time down the road.

Even if you already have a job, it is always a good suggestion to have a current resume in case you decide you want to change jobs or find yourself downsized. But learning how to write a resume can be one of the most important skills you can acquire in the business world.

Start by gathering together all the information you will need to build the resume. This is the first step in knowing how to write a resume. When you have all of the information close at hand, the writing process will be much easier.

You will have to have the information of the last three places that you were employed, or the ones that reflect the skills you will need for the job you are applying for. You will need their name, address and telephone number. You will also have to know what time period you worked there, along with your job duties and job title.

You will also need to have your education information. It depends on where you are in life as to what you include here. Most people just include high school and any college. Youll need the dates and any diplomas received as well as areas of study and any awards received like honors. Include the name of the school as well as the address.

The sections of your resume should include job experience, educational experience, skills, awards and achievements, and references. You can choose to include other sections when learning how to write a resume, but these are the basic ones that most people use.

The last section on most styles of resumes is the reference section. I my opinion this can never hurt you to put down some reliable references. Some people though choose to simply put down references are available upon request, the choice is up to you but I do not see how it can hurt you by putting some down.

When you are starting to write a resume, it is important that you be very professional and use positive words. Your resume is what a prospective employer will see first, so you want to make a good first impression! Look online for web sites that teach you how to write a resume too. Then put together a resume you can be proud of and go out there and get that job!

Are you seeking more details about how to write a professiaboutal resume? Most of us are, you can find a great resource that will show you at the authors site. how to write a resume

Danny Morris Writing , , , , ,

Resume Writers: What to Look for in a Resume Writing Service

August 12th, 2009
by Eric Civi

You are ready for a career move; you’ve found a bunch of job listings that you would be great for and want to apply for as many as you can right away. The first step to success will be having an effective resume that will show that you are the best person for the job you seek.

Even though you can write a resume on your own, it is often beneficial to get resume writers from professional resume services to do it for you. These resume writers will have valuable experience and know-how in the field of resume writing that will give you better odds of getting your dream job. Here are some key points to consider when hiring professional writers:

* Certification: There are two different types of certification for resume writers: NCRW (Nationally Certified Resume Writer) and CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer). One isn’t better than the other, but to make sure you get the best resume writers, it is imperative to ensure that they have one of the two.

2. Experience: While you might save money by hiring someone who is new to the field of resume writers, the quality of their writing may not be that great. If you find resume writers independently, you can gauge this for yourself; however, hiring from a resume service may not offer you the option to choose between an experienced writer and a newbie. Fortunately, resume writers can’t get hired unless they have basic skills for successful resume writing, so working through a professional agency shouldn’t be an issue.

3. Guarantees: All resume writers should guarantee your happiness with the outcome of the final product and offer free editing if you are not happy. After all, why would you trust someone who doesn’t believe in his/her own skills? You wouldn’t buy a $1,200 computer from a store that tells you that it cannot be exchanged if it doesn’t work, so why pay for a resume service that won’t cover their work?

4. Accountability: All resume companies should be willing to be accountable for the delivery of your finished resume. That is, if they tell you you’ll have it in 5 days you should have it within that time, without excuses. If you are jerked around by resume writers, you might want to ask for a refund and find a more reputable service.

This can be verified simply by checking the resume writers’ websites. Most offer testimonials where you can read customers’ comments on the writers you’re considering.

Having your resume professionally written by certified resume writers will only help you get a new job. However, make sure to keep these factors in mind when looking for resume writers, so that you don’t get fooled. You could end up paying for services that you don’t get or that don’t meet your needs, if you don’t take do your homework about these resume writers.

About the Author:

Eric Civi Career , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Resume Writers: What to Look for

August 9th, 2009
by Eric Civi

It’s time for a career change; you have found a bunch of job ads that you’re great for and want to apply for as many as possible immediately. The first step to success will be having an functional resume that proves that you are the best person for the job you seek.

Even though you can write a resume on your own, it is often beneficial to get resume writers from professional resume services to do it for you. These resume writers will have valuable experience and know-how in the field of resume writing that will give you better odds of getting your dream job. Here are some key points to consider when hiring professional writers:

Certification: There are two types of certification for resume writers: NCRW (Nationally Certified Resume Writer) and CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer). The first one is not better than the other, but to make sure you get the best resume writers, it is essential that they have at least one of the two.

* Experience: While you might save money by hiring beginner resume writers, the quality of their writing might not be that great. If you find resume writers independently, check it for yourself; however, using a resume service may not offer you the option of an experienced resume writer versus a fresh hire. Fortunately, resume writers can’t get hired unless they have basic skills for successful resume writing, so working through a professional service shouldn’t be an issue.

* Guarantees: All resume writers should guarantee results and offer free revisions if you are not happy. After all, why would you trust a writer who does not believe in his/her own skills? You wouldn’t buy a $1,000 TV from a store that tells you that it’s not able to be exchanged if it doesn’t work, so why pay for a resume service that won’t cover their work?

4. Accountability: All resume companies should be willing to be accountable for the delivery of your finished resume. That is, if they tell you you’ll have it in 5 days you should have it within that time, without excuses. If you are jerked around by resume writers, you might want to ask for a refund and find a more reputable service.

This can be verified simply by checking the resume writers’ websites. Most offer testimonials where you can read customers’ comments on the writers you’re considering.

Having your resume professionally written by certified resume writers will only help you get a new job. However, make sure to keep these factors in mind when looking for resume writers, so that you don’t get fooled. You could end up paying for services that you don’t get or that don’t meet your needs, if you don’t take do your homework about these resume writers.

About the Author:

Eric Civi Career , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Most Valuable Resume Trick

July 5th, 2009
by Jim Serapis

It is critical to always remember one important factor about resume writing. This issue is so absolutely important that all other resume criteria fail into insignificance beside it. If you leave this out, you will regret the oversight and wonder why your resumes are not getting any responses.

When trying to write their own resumes, many people assume the employer will mainly be interested in hearing a list of their different duties. However, that is not at all what the typical employer wants to know about your background. Most employers are very busy, and your resume should be written in a way that it does not lose their attention. Picture yourself as a busy personnel director, and honestly ask yourself how much empty fluff you can stomach reading in the resumes I come across your desk in a single day.

Throughout the 19 years I have been writing resumes for a myriad of customers in every conceivable profession, I have also enjoyed access to many personnel directors and hiring managers, those folks on the receiving end of a veritable deluge of resumes every day. You might be interested to learn what they are really interested in reading in your resume, particularly in the context of today’s highly competitive job market.

The essential thing to tell the employer about your past work history, is specific achievements, not your duties. For example, instead of saying “I went to meetings and filled-out reports,” you will get a lot more interview requests if you write: “I achieved 3% sales growth by implementing an aggressive direct marketing campaign.”

Alternately, you could state: “achieved $1 million annual sales (2009).” Note how short the sentence is.. Yet, it is a punchy, bottom-line type of resume statement that is exactly the kind of attention-getting item we want throughout your whole resume. It focuses on results, ignores duties for the most part, and demands attention. Just like any good advertisement headline, it is rarely very long. Short advertisement headlines which produce an emotional response in the reader always work best.

Do you know what bottom-line” orientation means? In the context of resume writing and the hiring process, it refers to the focus of the employer’s attention as he reads your resume and tries to discern if hiring you would be a good business decision. As an employer, he typically is concerned with the bottom line or financial viability of his company as a whole. While you are looking at your little segment of responsibility, he is looking at the big picture. Therefore he wants to see on your resume how you can improve his profitability in one way or another.

The point I wish to make here, is that when writing a resume it is critical to always emphasize measurable specific accomplishments rather than duties. There will be sufficient time for the employer to expand upon your duties later in the interview process. However, we want to avoid cluttering your resume with an endless list of the duties at this point, at the risk of losing the interviewers interest.

The lesson, therefore, is when writing your resume to perpetually emphasize results, achievements, and measurements of performance, instead of mundane tasks and administrative duties. This does not mean you do not include any responsibilities, but merely that you emphasize accomplishments over those. To the extent that you emphasize accomplishments and achievements, you will reap the benefits of a much higher interview is one. And the more interviews you succeed in obtaining, the greater the chances you will land your dream job.

About the Author:

Jim Serapis Career , , , , , , , , ,

Effective Resume Writing 101

June 27th, 2009
by Eric Civi

When it comes to resume writing, you need to be specific to be effective. There are several ways to write a resume that can get you the position you want.

Research:. Be familiar with the industry you are getting into and what are their requirements. If you’ve worked in that particular industry for quite some time, then you already know the rules. However, if you’re new to the industry, it will be worth the the time to research what you’re getting into before you apply.

Format:. There are three main types of resume formats and which you choose will depend greatly on your work history as well as on the job that you are applying for. You need to make sure that the resume format you select will fit your skills and abilities, and make you stand out.

The chronological format is based on a timeline. If you’re just out of school or if your experience is best listed on a timeline, then this is the format you should use. In chronological resume writing, you start with the most recent experience, and then go back. Usually, experience and education are presented in distinct paragraphs.

Functional resumes are much more focused on your abilities, rather than the timeline of your life. When preparing a resume, using a functional format is a good choice if you have abilities that supersede a timeline or if your accomplishments weren’t achieved on a chronological scale. For example, if you had two different relevant jobs that you want to list first but they were ten years apart and separated by other less important positions, you should use a functional format.

The combination format is more complex as since its a mixture of functional and chronological styles it might be confusing to the reader. The combination resume is a good way to emphasize your talents and achievements, while still listing your experience, which might not always appear on functional resumes.

Being focused is another important element. When you are preparing your resume, in order to be effective, your focus should be on the employer, rather than on yourself. Think of your resume as a sales pitch of your abilities, and how they match the position you seek. Don’t just write “I was responsible for…”. Instead, say “Achieved award for top sales in the region two years in a row.” This shows that you have something to offer the company and that your achievements make you qualified for the job you want.

As long as you do your research and take your time in writing resumes, you shouldn’t have a difficult time coming up with a great and unique resume. There is one last tip that you should keep in mind: Do not use resume templates or generic resumes when applying. If your resume looks simple, the employer will think the same of you and hire someone who took the time to make a resume that matches the position. Keep these things in mind and writing resumes should be pretty easy.

About the Author:

Eric Civi Career , , , , , , ,

Three Essential Elements of Resume Writing

June 12th, 2009
by Eric Civi

Even though many job seekers believe that writing resumes is simple, there are a lot of elements to consider before you can generate a good resume. The type of job you are applying to will for the most part define what type of resume you need to prepare.

For example, most entry-level jobs require simple resumes, while mid-level positions need much more professional, executive-style resumes. Whatever type of job you are applying to, there are three basic principles of resume writing that you need to keep in mind: Clarity, Coherence and Confidence.

Clarity: When you’re getting into resume writing, you need to be very clear. You need a firm and very obvious objective. Additionally, you need to make sure that you have the right information regarding your education and experience as required, so that the employer doesn’t have to decipher your resume and make guesses. The easier your resume is to read and follow, the more likely you are to be considered for the job.

Coherence: Coherence is another essential factor of resume writing. When you are applying for a job opening, your resume should be relevant and totally consistent. For example, when you’re applying for that big career executive position, they don’t care if you worked at Burger King when you were 21, or if you were in drama club in high school.

Most employers don’t even want or need job history that is not relevant. If you’re looking for a professional career, your resume should reflect it. Be sure that your objective and education match the position you’re applying to, while being well presented.

Confidence: One final factor of resume writing to consider is confidence. Employers want people who are confident in their abilities, so it is imperative to use phrases and words that demonstrate your confidence. However, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, so don’t be too foregoing in the explanation of your abilities and expertise. For example, say I am confident in my capability to work for your company because of my extensive experience , etc. instead of saying something like ‘m the best, and if you don’t hire me, it will be your loss. Although this is an exaggerated example, if you appear too prideful or arrogant, you may very well be giving this impression in your resume and cover letter.

In summary, be clear, confident, and coherent. Try to avoid sounding too desperate; instead make them think they need you. But be very careful in doing so, because the line between confidence and superiority is very thin, and no employer wants to hire arrogant persons, no matter how qualified they are. When it comes to resume writing, it is often better to hire professional writers, but if you attempt to prepare it alone, these tips should be helpful.

Finally, if your resume writing doesn’t seem to be getting interviews for the jobs you want, look into getting professional resume writing help. They are highly qualified and trained in the art of resume writing, their resumes usually getting better results. Although it might be a little costly, getting professional resume writing will definitely be worth the price.

About the Author:

Eric Civi Career , , , , , , , ,

Beginners Guide To Writing a Resume

April 26th, 2009
by Scott Thompson

So you are interested in learning how to write a resume. Maybe you are a recent graduate and are just beginning your job search with diploma in hand. Perhaps you already have a job and think you may want to switch careers or companies some time down the road.

Even if you already have a job, it is always a good suggestion to have a current resume in case you decide you want to change jobs or find yourself downsized. But learning how to write a resume can be one of the most important skills you can acquire in the business world.

The first step that you will need to do when you are writing a resume is to gather all of the information that you will need to complete the resume. This makes the actual writing process a lot easier and more time efficient.

You will need to know the names of the last three places you have worked at along with their address and telephone numbers. Take a moment and write down the dates you worked there, your job title, and your job duties.

The next information you will need to have is the history of your education. This includes any kind of school you attended, as for instance high school diploma, any college or college diplomas you have acquired. Also the names and addresses of the schools that you attended. What you majored in and any rewards that you may have received are also a good idea to include in the education section.

These are the sections that every resume should have, you should have education experience, skills, achievements, and job experience. Of course there are also optional sections that you can add depending on what type of job it is you are applying for.

There is also a section at the bottom that is called references. You can either put here references are available upon request, or you can fill in some good references from friends or past employers. Make sure that you look over the job ad carefully as some businesses will require you to have a certain number of references.

A lot of mistakes people make is writing a long resume, keep it about 1 page no longer than that. When an employer is going over a resume, they are scanning at it for about 30 seconds then they move on to the next one. So make sure you are writing words that will grab their attention, and you should be able to get your foot in the door.

About the Author:

Scott Thompson Writing , , , , ,