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Posts Tagged ‘resumes’

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 , , , , ,

Write A Number Of Cover Letters Samples

August 1st, 2009
by Cynthia Penfold

You might think you only need one sample cover letter but it is actually worthwhile to consider writing a few different cover letters samples. Having a few different types of samples will help you to apply for jobs quickly. Samples can be created to represent a few different scenarios.

When writing your cover letters samples be sure to write one for a position on par with your current job as well as one for a position which would be an upward move for you. Although you may think it is not something you want to consider, you should also create a sample for jobs below your current position. With all of these samples at your disposal you can apply for different types of positions with ease.

Take the time to put together cover letters samples for lateral moves as well as for moves that will help you land higher level jobs. It is also worth your time to prepare a sample cover letter for positions which are below your current status. Doing this will help to ensure you are prepared for any job opening you find. A cover letter sample for a position similar to the one you currently have should stress your current job duties. Take some time to ensure this sample adequately describes the type of work you do. This is not the time to include descriptions of duties you perform which should be done by someone in a lower position.

When writing cover letters samples for positions above your current rank be sure to include job responsibilities which are outside of your regular scope of work. Including this information should help to make it clear you are ready to take on more responsibility.

You should also not neglect to have a sample of a cover letter for a lesser position available. Right now you may think you would never apply for such a position but you cannot know what the future holds. In some cases larger employers actually pay these lower level employees more than your current employer may be paying you or you may find yourself in a layoff situation.

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Cynthia Penfold Career , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This Is What Your Resume Outline Should Look Like

July 24th, 2009
by Ferdinand Emy

Do you require to write a resume so as to get a novel job but you just aren’t sure how you should pen the resume? Not sure where the info should be placed? If that is the case you certainlyshould not feel alone. Numerous people today are unsure when it comes to penning a resume. There are sufficient aggregates of aid that you may get which will assist you to pen an ideal resume; all the same. A resume outline is just the sort of help that may assist you in receiving your resume off the ground.

The first thing that you will notice on the resume outline is the resume heading. The resume heading on the resume outline is where you will place all of your contact info. This includes your name, address, telephone number and email address if you have one.

The next section on the resume outline is the job objective. This is the section where you let the prospective employer know what type of position that you are searching for and how you can contribute to the growth of the company.

The largest portion of the resume outline is the body of the resume. The body of the resume outline is where you’ll list details about your work experience, education and skills. In most cases, you will list this info with your work experience first. In the event that you are using a resume outline based on a functional resume then this will not be the case. Instead, you would categorize your experience in terms of skills categories. Education is commonly listed toward the end of the body of the resume outline.

You may similarly wish to utilize an accomplishment section in the resume outline. The accomplishment section can contain a variety of distinct sorts of data. Yet another area of the resume outline that you can make utilise of is the special skills section. If you possess peculiar skills that would be of utilize to the employer then you should use this section.

The final section of the resume could be the references section. References aren’t necessarily needed and you may need to wait up until the employer demands for this info before you actually endow it. Whatever you do, don’t list the clich statement ‘references accessible upon request.’ The employer will assume that anyway, so there is no require to take up valuable space with this statement.

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Ferdinand Emy Finance , , , , , , , , , ,

Best Ways Of Writing A Resume

July 22nd, 2009
by Ferdinand Emy

Not sure how to write a resume? You are surely not alone in this regard. There are many people today who are searching for jobs and who are not sure how to pen a resume. Whether youre new to the idea of job searching or you have been in the workplace for awhile then you may still need aid in guiding you how to pen a resume.

The first thing that you need to know as regards how to write a resume is that your resume should never be too lengthy. This is a common fault that numerous persons make when writing a resume. Your resume should never be longer than 2 pages and should actually only take up two pages if you have extensive work history and experience. The best length for a resume is one page.

Another required element that you should keep in mind about how to write a resume is that the resume is meant to showcase all of your work history and skills, but you have a choice in how you wish to present that info. There are distinct resume formats that can be utilised in learning how to pen a resume that will let you to extremelight and showcase your skills and experience in the optimal manner feasible. For example, if you have gaps in your work history then a functional resume format will normally be the optimal resume format for you to employ. On the other hand, if you have a strong work history then a chronological resume format would be the good preference.

When learning how to pen a resume you also need to think of whether you’ll be presenting it online. If so, then you’ll need to make sure that you make ample employ of keywords to be sure that your resume can be straightforwardly found by employers who are looking to hire individuals with your experience and skills.

Plus, you require to make good employ of action words and verbs in your resume. You should never utilize a passive voice in your resume penning. Instead you must insure that you employ an active voice. This grants you with a far stronger position and will give you the optimal chance of being hired for the job.

The final obligation that you need to know with reference to how to write a resume is the importance of Always checking over your resume for slip-ups and typos. If you do not feel confident doing this yourself, then ask someone you trust to do it for you.

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Ferdinand Emy Career , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Find A Free Resume Form

July 22nd, 2009
by Ferdinand Emy

There are numerous diverse ways that you can pen a resume. One way would be to sit down and merely try to pen a resume on your own. It should not be a surprise that this would be hard for many individuals. Another choice for writing a resume would be to hire an expert resume writer to help you with the process. The trouble with this technique is that it may be rather overpriced not to mention time consuming. When you require to write a resume fast, do not wish to expend a lot of money on it and need some assist along the way then a free resume form can offer you with the correct solution.

In most cases a free resume form can be found online. There’re numerous diverse free resume form types that you can find online, including resume templates and resume builders. In most cases, a free resume form will grant you with the capability to simple fill in your own information and then print the resume. This is by far the speediest way to create a resume.

When you plan to utilize a free resume form you should insure that you have all of your relevant employment history handy. This will help you to save a great deal of time because you may just simply enter the info and then not have to worry with reference to stopping to look up the information as you go. Do insure; notwithstanding, that all of the information that you enter in the free resume form is accurate. You don’t wish to find yourself in the position of having to defend inaccurate information later in an interview.

Employing a free resume form may assist you to categorize and with no trouble organize all of your employment data into a resume that makes sense. This may be more important than you know.

Many employers today report receiving resumes that are so unorganized that they end up tossing them to the side because they feel that anyone who would submit such a disorganized resume wouldn’t be the proper person for the job. As you can see, its quite necessary to ensure that you write the very best resume possible. Utilizing a free resume form can help you to organize your thoughts and your data in order to create a resume that will give you a competitive edge over others who may be applying for the same job.

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Ferdinand Emy Finance , , , , , , , ,

How to Break Into Investment Banking

July 11th, 2009
by Riyan Richter

You need to follow 3 simple steps to get into investment: get access to recruiters, get their attention with a solid resume, and then succeed in your interviews. Getting any one of these wrong will mean failure.

Let’s address “access” first. You need to begin a dialog with banks by going to business school or college campus presentations, speaking with headhunters, or going through school alumni or others you know professionally.

This is super-important and many people never realize how recruiting really works: banks target a VERY limited set of institutions – around 10 to 20 so-called “target schools” – and focus their recruiting efforts there, nearly ignoring everything else.

So you’ll have to rely on networking via referrals, informational interviews, and cold-calling, if you’re not at one of these elite institutions – making it significantly harder to break in.

Start by getting referrals from friends, setting up informational interviews with alumni, and searching on social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook. You can also start cold-calling local firms in your region.

With access granted, you’ll need a great resume in order to stand out from everyone else and to start getting interviews rather than rejections.

Keep your resume short and to the point – 1 page or less is appropriate in 90% of cases. Focus on the 2 or 3 experiences that “sell” you best, whether those are internships, leadership activities, or your most recent jobs for more experienced candidates.

Focus as much as possible on results and specificity, using numbers wherever it’s possible to do so – and try to structure your experience in terms of specific transactions, clients, or projects rather than just having generic summary sentences.

Once you’ve got the resume down, move on to your interview skills. The absolute most important part of interviews is getting your “story” right – why you want to be an investment banker, and why now.

Make sure you tell your story in chronological order, and explain how each experience made you more and more interested in investment banking. 90% of the interview comes down to your story.

A good grasp of technical questions on finance and accounting is also necessary, but those can be learned from reading books or interview guides – your story should get the bulk of your attention.

That’s all you need to know to begin breaking into investment banking – good luck!

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Riyan Richter Finance , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

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

Future Consultants: Read These Books Now

June 29th, 2009
by Kevin Gao

Books and magazines can be very helpful in learning the ropes of your consulting career. Here are some of the best ones.

Being well-read is a real bonus when you apply for a consulting job. Here are a few reasons why:

1. As you go through the recruiting and interviewing process, your business literacy will be tested within the process and in an informal way in conversation.

2. When you are exposed to the various problems, solutions and situations that arise in business, it is a litmus test for the depth of your interest in a career in consulting. For example, if you are not interested in reading about how the US auto industry got into the mess it is now in, and all the different things they need to improve in order to save themselves, then you are not going to like consulting.

3. If you already know the ropes, you will be able to hit the ground running when you are hired.

Click here for the recommended reading for consultants.

Here is a list of some of the best books and magazines:

Authoritative Books:

Ethan Rasiel, a former McKinsey consultant wrote The McKinsey Mind and The McKinsey Way. These two books give a great deal of in-depth information regarding firm culture and practices. You will learn a lot about things like 80/20 thinking, hypothesis driven problem solving and subjects of that nature. I will cover these items here, but there is already good information to be had in these books.

Look for anything written by Jim Collins. Some of my own favorites are Good to Great and also, Built to Last. You will get a real feel for the zeitgeist of thinking in business today. You will hear a lot of consulting team members discussing his ideas. These books influence the way in which consultants know their clients and corporations review and critique themselves.

Top Picks in Magazines and Periodicals:

Although, I have never read the Harvard Business Review cover-to-cover, I definitely recommend it. There is always something of timely interest to be found. Whether it’s setting up organizational systems with an eye to talented employee retention or how to encourage bottoms-up innovation, there is always something interesting and timely in every issue.

You will want to have a look at The Economist. Because of my experience with McKinsey, I have been very surprised to find out how many people read The Economist on a regular basis. This is one magazine that I always subscribe to. It is very helpful in understanding the key issues in the global economy today. Areas of particular interest are business, economics and finance.

Fortune Magazine always has in-depth, high-quality articles on the leading thinkers in the business world. It also has good information about the top companies. Fortune is well-written and makes good reading.

Click here to learn how to network at information sessions!

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Kevin Gao Education , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Better Optimize Your Resume

June 25th, 2009
by Ferd Brinsky Ferdinand Dubem Ferd Riol

Given the fact that there are so many different types of resumes that you can choose from it is not stunning that many people need help in writing resumes. A vital aspect of the process of writing resume is learning how to to select the right formats for resumes.

There is the need to give some thought to your work history. Consider whether you have a work history that is long and established or whether your work history contains gaps. If your work history is long and you have worked throughout most of your working life then a chronological resume is usually going to be the best pick. Such resume work well to spotlight your most crucial strengths, which include your work experience.

If your work history is somewhat short and you have some gaps in your work history then a operational resume format would often be the better pick. Functional resumes give you the opportunity to focus on your skills rather than your experience.

You might think of penning down every job that you have held previously say five to ten years back. You need to analyse the dates and find out whether you see gaps in them or they flow together well. Giving you a good idea of which resume formats will work best, this can also assist you in structuring your resume accordingly.

Once you have taken the decision of which format will work optimal for your position, it is then important to focus on some key elements that are crucial in writing resumes. First, you need to insure that you maintain complete honesty in all resumes that you write. Whereas it can be pretty tempting to ornament your resume, your awareness must be drawn to the fact that numerous employers check up on the presented information in a resume and will toss aside resumes that are apparently untruthful. Showing dishonesty on a resume will unquestionably do you no good. You should be aware that in any case that the employer should find out afterwards that you were dishonest with your resume, there is the possibility that you will lose your job and that is certainly something you do not want to happen you.

About the Author:

Ferdinand Emy Career , , , , , , , ,

How Business Consultants Screen CVs and Resumes

June 14th, 2009
by Kevin Gao

Applicants always know what to expect from the resume screening process – a “Yes or No” answer. You will either be hired or not. Once in a while, you may get some feedback as to why you weren’t selected for a position, but it is usually pretty nonspecific like, “Lack of work experience”.

Here we will present some valuable information regarding the review process used by consultants to sort through resumes. Additionally, we will provide some insight into the difference between a finance review and a consulting review.

You may wonder who is the head of the process.

A team usually reviews resumes. This team is generally made up of managers, associates, and analysts. Here are a few parts of the process that are quite consistent:

First of all, the team will be made up of three to five people. Each one will have a look at your resume individually and then they will review it as a group.

Secondly, your team will be made up of MBAs, graduates, and undergraduates from your school.

Third, the final decision will be made by the committee.

Initially, senior members of the group will not be involved. Nor will finance. They will come into the process for interviewing and to make offers. While it may seem that this indicates these folks trust the junior team members, it is more likely that this situation is just a matter of budgeting both money and time.

Click here for more on differences between consulting and investment banking.

The most respected input regarding your resume will come from someone who has a background similar to yours. If you are an undergrad in engineering from Columbia, then a fellow engineering undergrad from Columbia who happens to be a member of the review team will answer questions about your student group involvement, GPA, and other matters of interest.

What are the steps that make up the process?

Each team member will receive a packet that could contain as few as fifty or as many as three hundred resumes each. The consulting letters will probably have been removed, so applicants who have taken care to present the best resume possible will have that much more edge.

Resumes will be reviewed for no more than thirty seconds each by finance and about a minute each by the consultants.

Following individual review, the consultants will get together as a group to look the resumes over. Then they will discuss the resumes, compare notes, and make decisions.

They will be looking for the following:

As mentioned in the article on consulting resume tips, it may be a matter of qualities such as leadership, academic success or work experience.

Click here for more on how to create a management consulting resume.

About the Author:

Kevin Gao Business , , , , , , , , , , , ,