A few years ago, up until around the last part of 2007, we were in a market in which a standard format resume could get you an interview and probably a job offer. That was when there were more good jobs available than good candidates to fill them.
Things have changed,obviously. What worked then does not work anymore. It's a completely different market today in which there are a lot more good candidates searching for great jobs than the number of great jobs available. Part of the problem is that many of the workers who have suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves unemployed do not have the necessary skills or experience for the jobs that define our economy today. For those candidates, some retraining may be required if they want to be considered for the type jobs that employers want to fill.
For many others however, the problem is that they are part of a large number of people seeking a small number of jobs, and that is because employers have the luxury of being very picky about who they hire today. There was an article in USA Today on 10/11/2010 that addressed this state of affairs. Copy and past this link into your browser to read the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/employment/2010-10-11-jobrate11_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip&POE=click-refer
The main point of the article is that employers are being picky, and culture fit is critically important. It's not enough anymore to be good at what you do, to have a degree, and to have some experience. Employers want to know about YOU, the individual, what kind of person you are and whether you will "fit in" with the people and the culture already in place in the organization.
If you are using the old resume format that does not address what employers want to see today, you are at a decided disadvantage. You are blending into the crowd rather than separating yourself from it, and that is not the way to get noticed.
I specialize in creating resumes that will get candidates noticed by employers. Time after time I get feedback from candidates who have used the resumes I created for them, and they tell me that their resume got them the interview that led them to the job they wanted. You have surely heard the definition of foolishness, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. If that describes your experience with your current resume, where you send it out and get no replies, consider trying a new tactic: a resume that actually works.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Separate Yourself fromt the Crowd
“I always wanted to be somebody. Perhaps I should have been more specific.”
- Lily Tomlin
The line of thinking in the expression quoted above is one that certainly applies to resumes today. If your resume does not set you apart from the crowd in today's market you will be viewed as just another name and candidate in pile of those who want the job. Specifically defining yourself and the benefits that you can bring to the organization are more critical today than they ever were when the demand for good candidates exceeded the supply.
The old "formula" for writing a resume, which simply asked for contact information, job history, and training/education information is no longer good enough. Think of the reasons that you buy the brands you buy today for your personal use. You perceive that in some way, you will be better off by using the brand you choose rather than competing brands...and to persuade you to switch requires a message that somehow gets you to notice and perceive new and better benefits from a competing product. Otherwise you keep doing (and buying)_what you have done in the past.
The same logic applies in the hiring arena. You have to present yourself as a new, fresh alternative to what is already out there if you want to be noticed. Otherwise, you are perceived as just another candidate like all the others, and your chances of being picked from that set is very low.
You have specific, identifiable strengths and assets that would be valuable to the right employer. Take the time and make the effort to identify them so that you can present them to the organizations you want to join. The tools we use help you to uncover those hidden gems that employers want.
- Lily Tomlin
The line of thinking in the expression quoted above is one that certainly applies to resumes today. If your resume does not set you apart from the crowd in today's market you will be viewed as just another name and candidate in pile of those who want the job. Specifically defining yourself and the benefits that you can bring to the organization are more critical today than they ever were when the demand for good candidates exceeded the supply.
The old "formula" for writing a resume, which simply asked for contact information, job history, and training/education information is no longer good enough. Think of the reasons that you buy the brands you buy today for your personal use. You perceive that in some way, you will be better off by using the brand you choose rather than competing brands...and to persuade you to switch requires a message that somehow gets you to notice and perceive new and better benefits from a competing product. Otherwise you keep doing (and buying)_what you have done in the past.
The same logic applies in the hiring arena. You have to present yourself as a new, fresh alternative to what is already out there if you want to be noticed. Otherwise, you are perceived as just another candidate like all the others, and your chances of being picked from that set is very low.
You have specific, identifiable strengths and assets that would be valuable to the right employer. Take the time and make the effort to identify them so that you can present them to the organizations you want to join. The tools we use help you to uncover those hidden gems that employers want.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
One Resume Isn't Enough
One of the most common mistakes I see candidates make in this very competitive buyer's job market is using a "one size fits all" resume in their job search. Certainly you should have a good resume, but if you are going to pursue ten job leads, you should have a resume/cover letter specifically for each job.
That does not mean that you have to completely re-write the resume for each opportunity, but it does mean that what you send to each potential employer should be designed to appeal to that particular employer and should fit the particular job that you are seeking. One of the quickest ways to get yourself eliminated from consideration in today's market is to use a resume that is so vague that it does not specifically promote you for the particular position you pursue.
If you pay someone else to build your resume for you, the fee you pay should include at least one or two revisions that you can use for other opportunities as you discover them, and subsequent revisions should be available at a reasonable cost. Usually, after you see how it is done, you can do the revisions yourself and not have to spend the time or money waiting on someone else to deliver the newly-revised document to you.
Our resume service includes two revisions after the the original document is delivered and approved. Don't put yourself at a disadvantage by trying to make one document fit every opportunity. Customize for each opportunity, and you will increase your chances of getting that interview.
That does not mean that you have to completely re-write the resume for each opportunity, but it does mean that what you send to each potential employer should be designed to appeal to that particular employer and should fit the particular job that you are seeking. One of the quickest ways to get yourself eliminated from consideration in today's market is to use a resume that is so vague that it does not specifically promote you for the particular position you pursue.
If you pay someone else to build your resume for you, the fee you pay should include at least one or two revisions that you can use for other opportunities as you discover them, and subsequent revisions should be available at a reasonable cost. Usually, after you see how it is done, you can do the revisions yourself and not have to spend the time or money waiting on someone else to deliver the newly-revised document to you.
Our resume service includes two revisions after the the original document is delivered and approved. Don't put yourself at a disadvantage by trying to make one document fit every opportunity. Customize for each opportunity, and you will increase your chances of getting that interview.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
In recessions of the past we have seen layoffs and downsizing as companies scale back their expenses to deal with declines in revenue. We have also seen in each recession that some companies, mostly those that were not well capitalized, do not survive the downturns.
In earlier recessions however, as the economy improved we saw companies start to hire again, and we saw new companies come into existence to replace many of those that did not survive the downturn. It was almost as if things went bad, then they got better and went back to how things were before the recession occured.
That scenario does not seem to be playing out in this "recovery". One of the reasons is that due to vast improvements in technology, communications, and transportation, many jobs that used to be here in the United States can now be done in many other places around the world where the wage rate is much less than in the U.S. What that means, simply, is that a lot of the jobs that disappeared leading up to and during the recession are not coming back...ever.
What does that mean for job seekers? It means that it is more important than ever to be able to show an employer how you can add value to their organization if you want to be considered for a position there. It may mean that you need to acquire new skills, broaden your prospective target companies and industries, and market yourself more effectively than you have in the past.
It is critical for job seekers today to realize that we are in a strong buyer's market, meaning that there are more job seekers than jobs available, and the employers can afford to be very exacting in how they choose candidates to interview and hire. Right now there are about six and a half job seekers for each job that is created. If you cannot set yourself apart from the crowd, you will face a very difficult time in finding a position that will offer you challenge, growth, and the compensation you want and need.
Will it get better and will the supply and demand ever get more balanced? Sure, but not tomorrow, not next month, and probably not within the next year or two.
You will find yourself at a distinct disadvantage if you do not prepare for the scenario described above. Be proactive...get your resume in good shape so that it shows the value you can bring to an organization...learn how to present yourself effectively to prospective employers. They will hire the one who has done these things. Those who have not adapted to the new environment will be looking for quite a while, and what they find will likely not be their ideal match.
In earlier recessions however, as the economy improved we saw companies start to hire again, and we saw new companies come into existence to replace many of those that did not survive the downturn. It was almost as if things went bad, then they got better and went back to how things were before the recession occured.
That scenario does not seem to be playing out in this "recovery". One of the reasons is that due to vast improvements in technology, communications, and transportation, many jobs that used to be here in the United States can now be done in many other places around the world where the wage rate is much less than in the U.S. What that means, simply, is that a lot of the jobs that disappeared leading up to and during the recession are not coming back...ever.
What does that mean for job seekers? It means that it is more important than ever to be able to show an employer how you can add value to their organization if you want to be considered for a position there. It may mean that you need to acquire new skills, broaden your prospective target companies and industries, and market yourself more effectively than you have in the past.
It is critical for job seekers today to realize that we are in a strong buyer's market, meaning that there are more job seekers than jobs available, and the employers can afford to be very exacting in how they choose candidates to interview and hire. Right now there are about six and a half job seekers for each job that is created. If you cannot set yourself apart from the crowd, you will face a very difficult time in finding a position that will offer you challenge, growth, and the compensation you want and need.
Will it get better and will the supply and demand ever get more balanced? Sure, but not tomorrow, not next month, and probably not within the next year or two.
You will find yourself at a distinct disadvantage if you do not prepare for the scenario described above. Be proactive...get your resume in good shape so that it shows the value you can bring to an organization...learn how to present yourself effectively to prospective employers. They will hire the one who has done these things. Those who have not adapted to the new environment will be looking for quite a while, and what they find will likely not be their ideal match.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
An Effective Resume
As a result of the downturn in the economy, there are a lot of people today who find themselves either out of a job or quite nervous about keeping the job they have. We've heard about how the economy is improving, but so far that improvement has not filtered down to the employment figures.
Understandably, the current state of affairs has motivated many to start thinking about putting their resumes in shape, either to help them get a job now if they need one or to be prepared "just in case something happens."
Most of the resumes I see in my recruiting business and in my consulting with candidates who need help marketing themselves are not written or formatted in such a way that they will get the attention of a hiring manager. The main reason is that these resumes are mostly focused on features about the candidate rather than the benefits that will accrue to the company or individual who hires them. People don't buy (or hire) based on facts about you. They hire based on benefits that will come to them as a result of hiring you.
It used to be that a skill set alone could get you a good job back when we were in a seller's market. However, we've been in a buyer's market for a couple of years now, and the rules are completely different. There are a lot of people who have the necessary skill sets for every job, so companies can afford to be very picky about who they interview and hire. That's why your resume has to focus on the benefits to them rather than features about you.
Another common problem that I see with resumes is misspelled words. You get a little "poetic license" to write incomplete sentences and sentence fragments for abbreviation purposes in a resume, but there is no allowance given for a misspelled word. That's a resume killer, and it's so unnecessary because of the tools available today to check your spelling before you send the resume to someone.
In my consulting practice with job seekers, I hear one refrain over and over that so many people think is a "rule" for resumes; that is, that a resume has to be just one page. I don't know who came up with that silly "rule", but it's completley off base. In all the years I've been sending resumes to my corporate clients, I've never heard one of them say that they didn't like a resume because it was more than one page. A resume should be as long as it needs to be...no more, no less. If you make the first page good enough, the reader will want to look at the next page as well. In fact, if you have been in your career for a while and have some "skins on the wall", it's doubtful that you can produce a one-page document that gives a good represenation of you to a hiring manager.
If you are concerned or confused about your resume, send it to us for a free evaluation. We will send you a detailed e-mail...no phone calls...with a thorough analysis of your resume. We'll tell you if it's a good one, and if we can make it better, we'll tell you specifically what it needs and how we can help you with it. You can either make the changes yourself or we can do it for you.
Send your resume as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word or PDF format to ken@austincareerservices.com. Within a few days you will get an e-mail back from us with our analysis.
Understandably, the current state of affairs has motivated many to start thinking about putting their resumes in shape, either to help them get a job now if they need one or to be prepared "just in case something happens."
Most of the resumes I see in my recruiting business and in my consulting with candidates who need help marketing themselves are not written or formatted in such a way that they will get the attention of a hiring manager. The main reason is that these resumes are mostly focused on features about the candidate rather than the benefits that will accrue to the company or individual who hires them. People don't buy (or hire) based on facts about you. They hire based on benefits that will come to them as a result of hiring you.
It used to be that a skill set alone could get you a good job back when we were in a seller's market. However, we've been in a buyer's market for a couple of years now, and the rules are completely different. There are a lot of people who have the necessary skill sets for every job, so companies can afford to be very picky about who they interview and hire. That's why your resume has to focus on the benefits to them rather than features about you.
Another common problem that I see with resumes is misspelled words. You get a little "poetic license" to write incomplete sentences and sentence fragments for abbreviation purposes in a resume, but there is no allowance given for a misspelled word. That's a resume killer, and it's so unnecessary because of the tools available today to check your spelling before you send the resume to someone.
In my consulting practice with job seekers, I hear one refrain over and over that so many people think is a "rule" for resumes; that is, that a resume has to be just one page. I don't know who came up with that silly "rule", but it's completley off base. In all the years I've been sending resumes to my corporate clients, I've never heard one of them say that they didn't like a resume because it was more than one page. A resume should be as long as it needs to be...no more, no less. If you make the first page good enough, the reader will want to look at the next page as well. In fact, if you have been in your career for a while and have some "skins on the wall", it's doubtful that you can produce a one-page document that gives a good represenation of you to a hiring manager.
If you are concerned or confused about your resume, send it to us for a free evaluation. We will send you a detailed e-mail...no phone calls...with a thorough analysis of your resume. We'll tell you if it's a good one, and if we can make it better, we'll tell you specifically what it needs and how we can help you with it. You can either make the changes yourself or we can do it for you.
Send your resume as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word or PDF format to ken@austincareerservices.com. Within a few days you will get an e-mail back from us with our analysis.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Be Prepared for the Opportunity
I saw a story on the news last week that exemplifies just how much different the job market is today compared to when the recession started in December of 2007. The scene was a ski resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The manager of the resort said that in prior seasons he had to advertise in foreign countries to get enough people to fill all the positions needed to run the resort during the ski season. This season, however, is much different. "We're 100% domestic this year", he said. He also said that the quality of the workers has improved several fold, adding that most of the workers are highly educated and have significant experience in other fields that prepared them very well to work with the public at the resort.
A story like that really brings it home about just how seriously this recession has impacted the job market. And it's not just the recession that's had an impact. The downturn in the economy only exacerbated the already steady flow of jobs that had been traditionally "American" jobs to other countries where the wage rate is significantly lower than in the United States. Some of those jobs are never coming back. Many companies that have downsized are merging with others and eliminating duplicate positions.
What does this mean if you're in a job hunt? One thing that it certainly means is that preparing yourself to enter other professions, or at least new environments in your current profession is not just a wise idea...it's essential in today's economic climate.
Most people have good, transferable skills that would be valuable to another employer, but they struggle to put themselves down on paper effectively. Multiple studies have shown that professionally written resumes get more interviews, and if it reduces your search by a month, a week, or even a day, it pays for itself. But getting the interview is only half the battle. Studies today tell us that there are six to seven people vying for every job opening today. During the boom times, it was more like 1.5 people competing for each position. A little time spent in preparing for the interview can make all the difference between success and failure in the job hunt.
Do you know how to negotiate effectively for your compensation package, or do you plan to just accept whatever an employer offers? Where you start in compensation can affect you for the rest of your career.
Your resume, the interview, and the compensation negotiation are all critical in making your job hunt a successful and long term, rewarding effort. Don't put yourself in the position of looking back and saying, "I wish I had been better prepared to take advantage of this opportunity."
A story like that really brings it home about just how seriously this recession has impacted the job market. And it's not just the recession that's had an impact. The downturn in the economy only exacerbated the already steady flow of jobs that had been traditionally "American" jobs to other countries where the wage rate is significantly lower than in the United States. Some of those jobs are never coming back. Many companies that have downsized are merging with others and eliminating duplicate positions.
What does this mean if you're in a job hunt? One thing that it certainly means is that preparing yourself to enter other professions, or at least new environments in your current profession is not just a wise idea...it's essential in today's economic climate.
Most people have good, transferable skills that would be valuable to another employer, but they struggle to put themselves down on paper effectively. Multiple studies have shown that professionally written resumes get more interviews, and if it reduces your search by a month, a week, or even a day, it pays for itself. But getting the interview is only half the battle. Studies today tell us that there are six to seven people vying for every job opening today. During the boom times, it was more like 1.5 people competing for each position. A little time spent in preparing for the interview can make all the difference between success and failure in the job hunt.
Do you know how to negotiate effectively for your compensation package, or do you plan to just accept whatever an employer offers? Where you start in compensation can affect you for the rest of your career.
Your resume, the interview, and the compensation negotiation are all critical in making your job hunt a successful and long term, rewarding effort. Don't put yourself in the position of looking back and saying, "I wish I had been better prepared to take advantage of this opportunity."
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