Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
SOAK UP THE SUN
As I was loudly singing in my car to the Sheryl Crow song, "Soak up the Sun"-- much to the dismay of my 5 1/2 year old who was rolling his eyes in the back seat (what is THAT all about??), I was thinking what a beautiful, sunny day it was here today in Michigan. Everyone seemed happier, nicer. I've read that there is a direct link between lack of sun and depression. A disorder that affects more than 35 million Americans is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This can affect moods, eating and sleeping patterns, and no doubt, job search enthusiasm.
I know that I am much more productive on sunny days. And on the days when the clouds cover up the sun, I blast on every light I can find in my office to keep myself productive. Otherwise, I tend to feel... sleepy.
If you are feeling the effects of too little sun and too much winter, you might want to turn on a few more lights in your house or office, and listen to Sheryl Crow. I guarantee you will feel more productive and will get the zip back in your job search.
What do you do when suffering from too little sun? Talk to me...
I know that I am much more productive on sunny days. And on the days when the clouds cover up the sun, I blast on every light I can find in my office to keep myself productive. Otherwise, I tend to feel... sleepy.
If you are feeling the effects of too little sun and too much winter, you might want to turn on a few more lights in your house or office, and listen to Sheryl Crow. I guarantee you will feel more productive and will get the zip back in your job search.
What do you do when suffering from too little sun? Talk to me...
Friday, February 06, 2009
RESUME WRITING SERVICE
If you live in
It's understandable to be cautious about hiring a resume writer, especially online where you can't visually shake a hand or see an office full of certificates, awards, books, or anything else that might prove credibility. Here are a few reasons you SHOULD hire a professional resume writer:
1- PROFESSIONALISM - A professional resume writer knows what he/she is doing. I've had clients tell me over and over that having it professionally written got them the job. They had sent in the old one previously, and at my urging, resent the new one and got the job!
Make sure whomever you hire is CERTIFIED. If you are unsure whether or not your writer is certified, go to www.parw.com and type in their name. If they are certified, it will come up as such. A certified writer has gone through extensive training and was tested on it, ensuring their work meets the standards of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. If you are going to spend the money, you want the best.
2- BRANDING/PR - A professional resume writer acts as your personal cheerleader, your brander, your public relations firm. You want someone who knows how to present your qualifications in your best light. They will gather the relevant information (career goals, experience, training, etc.) to create a professional image for you. Something you will be proud to hand out to a hiring manager.
3-GHOSTWRITERS- A professional resume writer knows how to craft content that gets people interested. They create a resume that sounds and feels like YOU. A professional resume writer constantly updates their skills and abilities by keeping up with the latest in career news, and attending webinars, teleseminars and conferences.
4- FORMAT - How bored are you when you see a resume that is bullet after bullet of a position description? Would you call that person back? Neither will the hiring person. Professional resume writers are TRAINED in creating unique documents with appealing fonts, borders and styling that is all YOU.
5-
Reasons NOT TO HIRE a professional resume writer:
1- They offer you a resume package for $19.95. Most likely this company is a printing or secretarial service that will rewrite everything you gave them, or dump your info into a pre-written template.
2- They tell you they are certified, but you check on the PARW site and they are not. WRONG. Turn around and go back. They are misrepresenting the truth and God knows what they will do with your money.
3- They offer a 30-day guarantee if you don't get an interview. I know this is a touchy one, because many of my colleagues do it, but here is my beef with that: with each client, I put my heart and soul into the resume. I am already writing a resume that I think will knock the socks off any reader. So how can I possibly offer a rewrite on that? I already wrote a killer resume and I stand behind it. I would rather sit down with the client and go over job search because I guarantee that is where the problems lie.
So, to sum it up, it's important to find a solid and reputable resume service. Check for memberships to professional career organizations with writers that are certified.
A professionally written resume is a good investment and is worth it's weight in gold, not to mention it will get you noticed immediately.
Have you hired a resume writing service? What was your experience? I'm interested to know what you thought. Talk to me...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
MY 10 YEAR Rez-I-Versary!
I woke up this morning and thought, hmmm, what's different? Then out of nowhere came a flash of memory-- 10 years ago this month (Jan. 12 to be exact, but forgot about it on the date), I started at the Career Center and everything in my career life changed.
Up until then, I had been in college and worked as a manicurist at a salon (and at home). It was great money and put me through school... well that, and many, many, thousands in student loans. Not saying college wasn't worth the money, because it was. That is where I discovered my interest in careers, job search, and resumes. It's just a lot of money, as many of you know. But I digress.
So, January of 1999 is when I started writing resumes. I admit, when I first started I was not great at it. It was a good thing that I was working for a non-profit center and no one had to pay for my services. I helped people, or "walk-ins", who had just been laid off from their jobs and had to come in and put their resume on the "talent bank" in order to get compensation from the State. Most didn't have resumes, so we started from scratch. I was great at putting everything in order chronologically, but not great at career summaries--still in the mindset of "objectives". Ewww. I would then go very heavy on bullet points. Bullet after bullet of whatever they did, not just accomplishments. Not great, but learning. This process grabbed my interest, so I started rifling through our many resume books we had at the Center. I was "wow'ed" by so many of the resumes that I saw that I just devoured the books, joined the PARW/CC (Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches) and was off and running, honing my skills and practicing like crazy.
One day a fellow came in and showed me his resume. He said, "I just paid $250.00 for this and the one YOU did for my friend for FREE was so much better!". Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I could GET PAID FOR THIS? OHMYGOSHHHHH! Those weren't my exact words, but you get the drift. I set up a website (in 2001), quit my job at the career center, put out my shingle, and here I am today. I've earned my certifications, gotten my work published in best-selling career books, been nominated for several awards, and have written thousands of resumes since then.
So, that's my story. Happy Rez-I-Versary to me! Hmmm. How shall I celebrate? Maybe I'll start by finishing up this CV for a Professor that I have been working on, and then get started on the VP of Business Development resume that is next on my list... and so on.
Still learning, still loving my job, and still helping job seekers land the jobs that they want.
I've always felt like I sort of "fell into" writing resumes. Many of us fall into our jobs, or they fall into us. Do you have any upcoming Job-I-Versary stories you'd like to share? Did you fall into your job? I'd love to know. Talk to me...
Up until then, I had been in college and worked as a manicurist at a salon (and at home). It was great money and put me through school... well that, and many, many, thousands in student loans. Not saying college wasn't worth the money, because it was. That is where I discovered my interest in careers, job search, and resumes. It's just a lot of money, as many of you know. But I digress.
So, January of 1999 is when I started writing resumes. I admit, when I first started I was not great at it. It was a good thing that I was working for a non-profit center and no one had to pay for my services. I helped people, or "walk-ins", who had just been laid off from their jobs and had to come in and put their resume on the "talent bank" in order to get compensation from the State. Most didn't have resumes, so we started from scratch. I was great at putting everything in order chronologically, but not great at career summaries--still in the mindset of "objectives". Ewww. I would then go very heavy on bullet points. Bullet after bullet of whatever they did, not just accomplishments. Not great, but learning. This process grabbed my interest, so I started rifling through our many resume books we had at the Center. I was "wow'ed" by so many of the resumes that I saw that I just devoured the books, joined the PARW/CC (Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches) and was off and running, honing my skills and practicing like crazy.
One day a fellow came in and showed me his resume. He said, "I just paid $250.00 for this and the one YOU did for my friend for FREE was so much better!". Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I could GET PAID FOR THIS? OHMYGOSHHHHH! Those weren't my exact words, but you get the drift. I set up a website (in 2001), quit my job at the career center, put out my shingle, and here I am today. I've earned my certifications, gotten my work published in best-selling career books, been nominated for several awards, and have written thousands of resumes since then.
So, that's my story. Happy Rez-I-Versary to me! Hmmm. How shall I celebrate? Maybe I'll start by finishing up this CV for a Professor that I have been working on, and then get started on the VP of Business Development resume that is next on my list... and so on.
Still learning, still loving my job, and still helping job seekers land the jobs that they want.
I've always felt like I sort of "fell into" writing resumes. Many of us fall into our jobs, or they fall into us. Do you have any upcoming Job-I-Versary stories you'd like to share? Did you fall into your job? I'd love to know. Talk to me...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
THE LADDERS...
Lately, I have become more and more disillusioned with "The Ladders", the source for $100,000+ jobs and $100,000+ candidates.
It all started with the critiques. I had been getting clients that were coming to me saying they had gone to The Ladders who had written a scathing review of their current resumes, but would happily remedy that for a mere $1,000 (some were more, some were less). So, for the cost of an average mortgage payment they would turn it around AND THEN find you a job for $100,000 and up. The thing was, I was having clients say, " I don't like this resume at all--can you fix it?". I had one fellow who paid upwards of $900.00 for his resume that looked like something my 5-year old would write.
But, it didn't start out that way. Back when it first came onto the internet scene, The Ladders really was busting out some nice resumes. They had qualified, certified resume writers. People were happy and everyone was talking about it. I was one of the first to jump on The Ladders bandwagon, telling my clients what a great site it was. Then we see commercials about it. Wow. It's big time, now.
Then, things started to change. It was first pointed out to me through my professional association (PARW/CC) about the negative critiquing and not-so-good resumes coming out of that place. I was very optimistic though... not me, I still love it. Still believing in the dream. After all, the majority of my clients are senior-level execs, so I was thrilled to be able to have something promising to tell them. "Just go to The Ladders... they have $100,000+ jobs there".
Soon I started hearing about false advertising, jobs that were way under $100K, barely starting at $30,000, sometimes The Ladders did not even know the pay range of the jobs they offer.
I don't mean to bash another company in the careers industry, but I am leary about The Ladders now-- and am hoping the founder, Mark Cenedella, will dump some of the writers he scrounged up, get some honest-to-goodness $100,000 jobs back in there, and restore it to it's former glory.
What have your experiences with The Ladders been? Talk to me...
Lately, I have become more and more disillusioned with "The Ladders", the source for $100,000+ jobs and $100,000+ candidates.
It all started with the critiques. I had been getting clients that were coming to me saying they had gone to The Ladders who had written a scathing review of their current resumes, but would happily remedy that for a mere $1,000 (some were more, some were less). So, for the cost of an average mortgage payment they would turn it around AND THEN find you a job for $100,000 and up. The thing was, I was having clients say, " I don't like this resume at all--can you fix it?". I had one fellow who paid upwards of $900.00 for his resume that looked like something my 5-year old would write.
But, it didn't start out that way. Back when it first came onto the internet scene, The Ladders really was busting out some nice resumes. They had qualified, certified resume writers. People were happy and everyone was talking about it. I was one of the first to jump on The Ladders bandwagon, telling my clients what a great site it was. Then we see commercials about it. Wow. It's big time, now.
Then, things started to change. It was first pointed out to me through my professional association (PARW/CC) about the negative critiquing and not-so-good resumes coming out of that place. I was very optimistic though... not me, I still love it. Still believing in the dream. After all, the majority of my clients are senior-level execs, so I was thrilled to be able to have something promising to tell them. "Just go to The Ladders... they have $100,000+ jobs there".
Soon I started hearing about false advertising, jobs that were way under $100K, barely starting at $30,000, sometimes The Ladders did not even know the pay range of the jobs they offer.
I don't mean to bash another company in the careers industry, but I am leary about The Ladders now-- and am hoping the founder, Mark Cenedella, will dump some of the writers he scrounged up, get some honest-to-goodness $100,000 jobs back in there, and restore it to it's former glory.
What have your experiences with The Ladders been? Talk to me...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
CHANGE
Today the United States of America made history. We elected the first black President.
In the 1860's, President Lincoln said it would take 100 years to undo the crimes of slavery and he was right. In the 1960's Martin Luther King took our country down a new path, a path of change-- promoting, no, demanding equal rights for all races. And now, today, 40+ years later, here we are. Our great country proved we could change and we could savor the taste of hope again. Despite our splits, despite our different views, today we made history. I am so very proud to say I live in the U.S. Especially now. Change is a good thing. Sometimes it is painful or uncomfortable, but it also helps us to grow.
What changes have you made in your life lately? Have you left your comfort zone, even a little? For me, it is this blog. It is painful to me to be anything but immensely private about my life, but I have realized that it is in sharing that you build relationships. I have always been very, very private, so believe me when I say that even blogging about this is pretty uncomfortable. This is one of my "Small Attainable Goals" for 2009-- to get out of my comfort zone and open up a bit. I know I can grow from it. I know it will create deeper relationships with friends and clients.
Another thing I did, which is equally as big of a deal to me, is I cut my hair. OK, guys you may be groaning here, but for women, IT'S A BIG DEAL. I cut 8 inches off my hair. I've always had long hair, but this year felt different. Something was in the air and I kept hearing, "A New Year, A New YOU" in my head. So I did it. It was pretty scary, seeing 38 years of my life floating down, gently drifting toward the floor, but it was also a feeling of, "Ahhhh!". Now, here is the new me... sassy and stylish. The best part is, I feel really good about it. I walk past a mirror, expecting to see my staticky hair down past the middle of my back, but WHOA! who is that fun-looking person? Oh yea, that's me!
Think about something you would like to change. It could be as big as quitting smoking or as small as taking a new route to work. Change is good. It helps you grow and learn new things about yourself, "Hey, who knew I would get up my nerve to stand up in front of 22 students and teach a night course in Economics?" Great things can happen when you change. You will meet new people, experience new things, and take a different path perhaps leading you to something new and exciting.
What change would you like to make? I would love to know-- and to know how you feel now that you DID IT (or at least made up your mind to do it). Talk to me...
In the 1860's, President Lincoln said it would take 100 years to undo the crimes of slavery and he was right. In the 1960's Martin Luther King took our country down a new path, a path of change-- promoting, no, demanding equal rights for all races. And now, today, 40+ years later, here we are. Our great country proved we could change and we could savor the taste of hope again. Despite our splits, despite our different views, today we made history. I am so very proud to say I live in the U.S. Especially now. Change is a good thing. Sometimes it is painful or uncomfortable, but it also helps us to grow.
What changes have you made in your life lately? Have you left your comfort zone, even a little? For me, it is this blog. It is painful to me to be anything but immensely private about my life, but I have realized that it is in sharing that you build relationships. I have always been very, very private, so believe me when I say that even blogging about this is pretty uncomfortable. This is one of my "Small Attainable Goals" for 2009-- to get out of my comfort zone and open up a bit. I know I can grow from it. I know it will create deeper relationships with friends and clients.
Another thing I did, which is equally as big of a deal to me, is I cut my hair. OK, guys you may be groaning here, but for women, IT'S A BIG DEAL. I cut 8 inches off my hair. I've always had long hair, but this year felt different. Something was in the air and I kept hearing, "A New Year, A New YOU" in my head. So I did it. It was pretty scary, seeing 38 years of my life floating down, gently drifting toward the floor, but it was also a feeling of, "Ahhhh!". Now, here is the new me... sassy and stylish. The best part is, I feel really good about it. I walk past a mirror, expecting to see my staticky hair down past the middle of my back, but WHOA! who is that fun-looking person? Oh yea, that's me!
Think about something you would like to change. It could be as big as quitting smoking or as small as taking a new route to work. Change is good. It helps you grow and learn new things about yourself, "Hey, who knew I would get up my nerve to stand up in front of 22 students and teach a night course in Economics?" Great things can happen when you change. You will meet new people, experience new things, and take a different path perhaps leading you to something new and exciting.
What change would you like to make? I would love to know-- and to know how you feel now that you DID IT (or at least made up your mind to do it). Talk to me...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
"Cover Letters for Dummies" is here
The 3rd edition of this recognized brand, "Cover Letters for Dummies" is finally here. 10 years after the 2nd edition!
I just got my copy of it in the mail from the publishers and yours truly is on page, um... let's see, OK, here we go... Page 194!
It is a wonderful compilation of cover letters for every scenario including: job ad reply letters, networking letters, broadcasting & prospecting letters, resume letters, and thank you and follow up letters.
Grab a copy of yours at any bookstore today. Very valuable to have on hand, ready for any situation you are applying for.
The 3rd edition of this recognized brand, "Cover Letters for Dummies" is finally here. 10 years after the 2nd edition!
I just got my copy of it in the mail from the publishers and yours truly is on page, um... let's see, OK, here we go... Page 194!
It is a wonderful compilation of cover letters for every scenario including: job ad reply letters, networking letters, broadcasting & prospecting letters, resume letters, and thank you and follow up letters.
Grab a copy of yours at any bookstore today. Very valuable to have on hand, ready for any situation you are applying for.
Friday, January 16, 2009
NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER B.S.
Alright. I'm just going to admit it and put it out there. I hate New Years Resolutions. Just those 3 words make me feel like a failure... I know that I'm going to say I will do something and then after 2 days of effort, quit doing it and be mad at myself. Like dieting, or blogging, or not swearing (my vice). I just know I am going to fail.
This year, I've decided to try a different tactic. This year I will set up some SMALL ATTAINABLE GOALS. Now, those are 3 little words I can deal with. Small attainable goals implies that I can really do it. I can meet small goals. Little groupings of goals. Like, instead of "I want to lose 20 pounds by January 31", I will say, "I will lose a pound or two a week until I like how my jeans are fitting". Doesn't that feel better? I like it. I can handle a pound or two a week. I can blog a couple of times a week, versus my "resolution" of every day. That is too much and frankly, feels unattainable deep down. So, I know this now and will take a different route.
People put way too much pressure on themselves this time of year. "I will job search every day and find the perfect job by Jan. 15". That is a lot of pressure especially if already in a job, and really don't have the time to search that much. Maybe you could say, "I will do my best to put the word out every few days that I am looking for a new job. I will remember to tell my barber, the people at the coffee shop, the guy in the elevator, and will update my LinkedIn profile and make a huge effort on that site" etc. Don't you feel better already? In my experience, small attainable goals are the ones I really have achieved. So, sit down and make a "SMALL ATTAINABLE GOALS" list and be happy with yourself.
This year, I've decided to try a different tactic. This year I will set up some SMALL ATTAINABLE GOALS. Now, those are 3 little words I can deal with. Small attainable goals implies that I can really do it. I can meet small goals. Little groupings of goals. Like, instead of "I want to lose 20 pounds by January 31", I will say, "I will lose a pound or two a week until I like how my jeans are fitting". Doesn't that feel better? I like it. I can handle a pound or two a week. I can blog a couple of times a week, versus my "resolution" of every day. That is too much and frankly, feels unattainable deep down. So, I know this now and will take a different route.
People put way too much pressure on themselves this time of year. "I will job search every day and find the perfect job by Jan. 15". That is a lot of pressure especially if already in a job, and really don't have the time to search that much. Maybe you could say, "I will do my best to put the word out every few days that I am looking for a new job. I will remember to tell my barber, the people at the coffee shop, the guy in the elevator, and will update my LinkedIn profile and make a huge effort on that site" etc. Don't you feel better already? In my experience, small attainable goals are the ones I really have achieved. So, sit down and make a "SMALL ATTAINABLE GOALS" list and be happy with yourself.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Job Fair News for 2009!
Get ready to get hired because National Career Fairs and Monster.com have joined forces to put together over 350 job fairs in 77 cities. Now is the time to dust off your nicest outfit and update your resume. Head on over to the nearest job fair and talk with an employer who is looking for YOU! Don’t let another job pass you by. Click here, or copy and paste the link into your browser:
http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/
Monday, December 01, 2008
Job Searching in a Recession
The first thing I am going to tell you is this: DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE. COMPANIES ARE STILL HIRING EVERYDAY!
That said, dust off your portfolio and get out your resume and cover letter. When was the last time it was updated? Is all information current? Do you have a .txt version or ASCII version of your resume? You will need that version for your online job posting. Read over your cover letter, does it still say everything you want it to say? Does it reiterate your strong points and showcase some of your accomplishments? If not, you will need to add those things. If you are unsure, send me an email and I can look it over.
Your job search must be your full time job. Get up every morning, TURN OFF the news, and start returning emails. Set up a LinkedIn account and connect with old colleagues and friends. Let everyone know you are job searching. The number one way to get a job is through networking!
Keep looking locally even if everyone around you tells you no one is hiring (there is always SOME PLACE interesting that is hiring). Go to local business mixers and get to know folks in your area.
Stay positive and hopeful. Work on your job search every day. I guarantee you will find a job you love.
Until next time...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Road Warriors get a Break!
Good News for Job-Related Travel!
According to www.compensation.BLR.com, "The Internal Revenue Service has raised the standard-mileage-reimbursement rate for the final six months of 2008, citing recent increases in gasoline prices.
The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
The rate will increase to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from
To read the full story, go to: http://compensation.blr.com
Thursday, October 30, 2008
BLOOPERS: What NOT TO DO when writing a Resume or Cover Letter...
I recently stumbled across a blog called, "Dumb stuff I read on resumes" started by a recruiter. He is a bit mean-spirited at times, but when reading some snippets of resumes/cover letters he's posted, it does lead one to say to themselves, "What were they thinking?"Here are a few examples of WHAT NOT TO DO OR WRITE ON YOUR RESUME:
"My hobbies include regular attendance at my local gym and swimming poo" (OK. ick.)
"I have developed a healthy work-life balance" (this from a fellow who had ONE part time job...)
"6/2007 - Present - Supermarket Sales Assistanti as a online shopper .our dept,its called grossory online.i m a shopper,n do all the work in absence of supervisour n manager.managing the dept well.i.e doing paper work,making sure tht we have enough shoppers n drivers 2 make sure the deliverys is on time,allocating vans to drivers n work to shoppers accordingly." (this is not a text message... need I say more?)
"Successfully handled money. Received money from customers.And successfully issued the correct amount of change back to the customers" (we get it. a bit redundant...)
--You may wonder why I request you to this at our behest and this is due an inner feeling in me which tells that you a woman who believes in human bondage, not to re-mention compassion and kindness. I am often told by others in the manifold spheres of my activities that there is a mystic in what I do." (ummm- ahem... errr... ok...a little too much info here.)
"For the past 3 months I have also been living at home with my brother as my parents have gone on holiday for 3 months as a retirement presents. I believe this experience has matured me as a person, as I have had to look after the house, shop and generally do a lot more tasks for myself. This has given me a new outlook on life and what I want to do with my life in the future." (Good boy... and this has to do what with the clerical position you are applying for??)
"wonder, I have no money, but again, although being "loaded" is commonly used as a measure of being successful, this does not apply to my view and it is not a true measure of "success". Personally I'd rather be a poor free man, rather that rich slave. Strangely it may seem, but I've noticed that what I am doing today, others do couple years after.Instead of being a follower I prefer to be a leader. I never fail to do what I believe is right and I don’t care what other people think about me. also easily bored so I prefer chaotic environment, no wonder admin is not quite my cup of tea.I guess I prefer to work with people that can inspire me, both creatively and spiritually (although I am not a religious person). (your cover letter is not a blog... it is meant to help you get a job...)
"interests and hobbies none at present" (huh? no interests or hobbies??)
"I have a wide variety of skills and experience, some of which I have taken for granted and cannot readily recall". (huh?? just put the pen down and walk away)
Well, I can go on and on here, but I think you get the drift. If you think you are adding too much personal information, then you probably are. Keep both the rez and cover letter about the job and you should do just fine.
Until next time.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
FACEBOOK & NETWORKING SITES
I admit, at first I thought the idea of Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and other networking sites were, well, silly. It seemed juvenile and strange... not to mention an invasion of privacy. Why would anyone put pictures of family members on a site where virtually EVERYONE could look at them? I didn't get it and poo-poo'ed the idea.
Clients begun sending me "invites" to "connect" on their different sites and boy, are there a lot of them.. Plaxo, LinkedIn, Fast Pitch, Tagged, and Twitter, just to name a few. Not wanting to seem rude to my clients, I finally broke down and started an account with LinkedIn. I found it to be very professional and a great way to have an online bio that perspective clients and colleagues can read to have a better idea of what it is I do.
Finally, after hearing my nieces and nephews talk about Facebook all summer long, I decided to cave and start an account. I did one for business and one for personal. Once I got the hang of it, it was like a giant light went on and suddenly, without warning, I was hooked. The first two weeks I was like a fiend, "connecting" with old friends and family in my personal account--catching up on what everyone had been doing, who was having children, where were they working, who had moved, married, etc. I had to keep checking. It was like a drug. Who was doing and posting what? After about a week and a half, the dazzling draw of it started to wear off. Thank goodness.
I realized a few things in my networking journey so far:
1) You can control your privacy settings, so only your "friends" can see what you posted... not the whole world.
2) With my business account, it is a fantastic way to see what my colleagues are doing, what articles they find useful, clients or projects they are working on, etc.
3) You don't have to invite EVERYONE in your address book (my first mistake when joining-- I invited everyone to join me). Invite who want to hear about.
4) Use these sites sparingly at work--remember, many companies ban the use of these at work due to loss of productivity and the system resource drain. Your job could be in jeopardy if use them without permission (although, c'mon who ever really asks their bosses if they can Facebook while at work?). Save your networking for home.
5) Pick and choose your networking forums. You don't need to join every one. It gets to be too time consuming trying to keep up with more than one or two.
I still check my Facebook everyday. Although maybe just one account or the other, and only about twice a day. Who has the time? I am still catching up from the work I missed while on my Facebook high.
If you are contemplating joining one of these sites, read my 5 tips first and be ready to enjoy yourself. As a former skeptic, it's easy to get hooked.
Until next time...
Erin Kennedy
Clients begun sending me "invites" to "connect" on their different sites and boy, are there a lot of them.. Plaxo, LinkedIn, Fast Pitch, Tagged, and Twitter, just to name a few. Not wanting to seem rude to my clients, I finally broke down and started an account with LinkedIn. I found it to be very professional and a great way to have an online bio that perspective clients and colleagues can read to have a better idea of what it is I do.
Finally, after hearing my nieces and nephews talk about Facebook all summer long, I decided to cave and start an account. I did one for business and one for personal. Once I got the hang of it, it was like a giant light went on and suddenly, without warning, I was hooked. The first two weeks I was like a fiend, "connecting" with old friends and family in my personal account--catching up on what everyone had been doing, who was having children, where were they working, who had moved, married, etc. I had to keep checking. It was like a drug. Who was doing and posting what? After about a week and a half, the dazzling draw of it started to wear off. Thank goodness.
I realized a few things in my networking journey so far:
1) You can control your privacy settings, so only your "friends" can see what you posted... not the whole world.
2) With my business account, it is a fantastic way to see what my colleagues are doing, what articles they find useful, clients or projects they are working on, etc.
3) You don't have to invite EVERYONE in your address book (my first mistake when joining-- I invited everyone to join me). Invite who want to hear about.
4) Use these sites sparingly at work--remember, many companies ban the use of these at work due to loss of productivity and the system resource drain. Your job could be in jeopardy if use them without permission (although, c'mon who ever really asks their bosses if they can Facebook while at work?). Save your networking for home.
5) Pick and choose your networking forums. You don't need to join every one. It gets to be too time consuming trying to keep up with more than one or two.
I still check my Facebook everyday. Although maybe just one account or the other, and only about twice a day. Who has the time? I am still catching up from the work I missed while on my Facebook high.
If you are contemplating joining one of these sites, read my 5 tips first and be ready to enjoy yourself. As a former skeptic, it's easy to get hooked.
Until next time...
Erin Kennedy
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
UNUSUAL JOBS
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A special thanks to Laura DiCarlo of Career Directors International (CDI) for sending this over to me. Thought I'd share it with you!
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CareerBuilder.com released a new survey on Unusual (and Fun) Jobs A to Z. They asked 8,700 works and the following are the top entrants, A to Z:
A - Autopsy assistant
B - Bartender at the Liberace mansion
C - Cat nanny
D - Donkey trainer
E - Elf at Santa's workshop
F - FBI fingerprint examiner
G - Grave digger
H - Hurricane hunter
I - Ice sculpture carver
J - Junk mail machine operator
K- Kitty litter box decorator
L - Laser tag referee
M - Magician's assistant
N - Nuclear electrician on a submarine
O - Opera singer
P - Parachute tester
Q - Quality control/taster for chocolate factory
R - Romance specialist
S - Scratcher (scratched backs for patients)
T - Turkey wrangler
U - Undercover vice decoy
V - Video game tester
W - Wallpaper peeler
X - X-ray technician for zoo animals
Y - Yawn counter at a sleep clinic
Z - Zamboni driver
EXECUTIVE MBAs
Considering advancing your education even further? Executive MBA programs are known for turning managers into full-fledged executive and c-level leaders, showing you how to think strategically, motivate staff, and expand business.
In an article in the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal, these are the top 5:
1. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
2. University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School
3. The Thunderbird School of Global Management
4. University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business
5. University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School
To read the full article, go to:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122244975223379303.html
Resumes versus CV's-- What's the difference?
I get asked often by clients if they need a CV. Then the next question inevitably is, "What IS a CV?"
A CV is a Curriculum Vitae. It is generally used by college professors, physicians, researchers, lawyers and any profession where lists of information are required. Examples include publications, presentations, conferences, residencies, education, etc. They can even be over 20 pages long in some cases.
Internationally, in some areas of the world resumes are called CVs, but they really are resumes. Other countries require a CV type of a format (lists) from candidates. Those are usually the countries where pictures on resumes are required as well.
If you are planning on staying in the United States and do not plan on going into medicine, law or academia, chances are you will only need a resume.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
SEPTEMBER IS INTERNATIONAL "UPDATE YOUR RESUME" MONTH
IF NOT, YOU NEED TO UPDATE IT!
What would you do if you were told about a fantastic opportunity that seemed tailor-made for you, but you only had a day to submit your resume to the person? Are you ready? Worse, what if you look at it and realize, it doesn't need to just be updated, it needs to be REWRITTEN! I don't know about other resume writers, but I am booked up for at least a week in advance.
What have you accomplished since your resume was written? Certifications? Training? Career advancement? Continued education? A job move? 2? 3? Yikes! What are you waiting for?
Be prepared for the golden opportunity-- update your resume today and spare yourself the pain of missing out it tomorrow.
--Erin Kennedy
www.proreswriters.com
Thursday, September 11, 2008
CAREER SUMMARY
Take a look at your resume. What does it say at the top? Does it accurately describe your strengths and skills? Does it grab you? If you were the hiring person, would you read it and say, "Wow! Who is this person?", or would you put the resume in the circular file?
The top half of your resume needs to be fantastic in order to catch the attention of a hiring manager. If they have 200 resumes to look at a week, they will put aside the dull and uninformative ones to get to the more eye-appealing and exciting ones.
If you are still using an objective, say for example: "To obtain a position where I can use my education and experience to achieve a high-paying position with room for advancement"... BEEP! Wrong answer. If your resume says that, crumple it up and throw it out. It's not doing you any good, in fact it is hindering you from landing a great position.
Your career summary needs to have action words and action phrases, along with a keyword summary of some sort, to stand out and put yourself above the competition. It needs to have tangible statements of what you've done and what you can do for the company.
The quickest way to land an interview is having an effective resume, if you haven't been getting calls, you should consider having it rewritten... and watch the calls come in!
------------
Erin Kennedy
Friday, September 05, 2008
PERSONALITY/BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS-- THE NEW HIRING TOOL?
These days, just because you have your Masters or Bachelors degree from the right school with the right major, doesn't necessarily make you the right candidate for the job. More and more companies are requiring potential employees take a personality or behavioral assessment to help identify a candidate's work style and behavior.
According to an article in the CareerJournal, more than 80% of midsize and large companies use personality and ability assessments for entry and mid-level positions as part of a pre-employment or new employee orientation tool, says Scott Erker a senior VP at Development Dimensions International, a global human resources consultancy. Where they were used mostly in retail positions, they have now spread to other industries including finance, technology, health care and operations.
The main goal of these assessments is to help a company hire a specific type of person for a job that may require particular traits, or rule out traits that are most likely to lead to job failure. Further, some companies are using them to screen candidates as they apply; candidates won't even get an interview unless they reach a certain score or result.
There are a few things you can do to be prepared for a personality assessment, namely understanding the organization and why they use that particular assessment. Do your research to give you more insight into the company's rationale behind their assessment choices.
Another idea is: TAKE YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT WITH YOU. Go straight to the interview armed with your own behavioral assessment. For example, our company offers a variety of Behavioral Assessments that help you expand upon your work habits, interview preparation, communication style, management style, customer service, sales skills and more. We've had clients potential employers ASK for our numbers in order to be able to give these assessments to their own employees! For a minimal cost, you can have a complete portfolio of assessments at your disposal to impress a hiring manager and get a leg up on the competition.
Companies see the assessment as opportunities for individuals to better understand themselves and their value to the company.
For more information on the behavioral assessments we offer, call 1-866-793-9224 or email me at: ekennedy@proreswriters.com
Until next time,
Erin Kennedy
These days, just because you have your Masters or Bachelors degree from the right school with the right major, doesn't necessarily make you the right candidate for the job. More and more companies are requiring potential employees take a personality or behavioral assessment to help identify a candidate's work style and behavior.
According to an article in the CareerJournal, more than 80% of midsize and large companies use personality and ability assessments for entry and mid-level positions as part of a pre-employment or new employee orientation tool, says Scott Erker a senior VP at Development Dimensions International, a global human resources consultancy. Where they were used mostly in retail positions, they have now spread to other industries including finance, technology, health care and operations.
The main goal of these assessments is to help a company hire a specific type of person for a job that may require particular traits, or rule out traits that are most likely to lead to job failure. Further, some companies are using them to screen candidates as they apply; candidates won't even get an interview unless they reach a certain score or result.
There are a few things you can do to be prepared for a personality assessment, namely understanding the organization and why they use that particular assessment. Do your research to give you more insight into the company's rationale behind their assessment choices.
Another idea is: TAKE YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT WITH YOU. Go straight to the interview armed with your own behavioral assessment. For example, our company offers a variety of Behavioral Assessments that help you expand upon your work habits, interview preparation, communication style, management style, customer service, sales skills and more. We've had clients potential employers ASK for our numbers in order to be able to give these assessments to their own employees! For a minimal cost, you can have a complete portfolio of assessments at your disposal to impress a hiring manager and get a leg up on the competition.
Companies see the assessment as opportunities for individuals to better understand themselves and their value to the company.
For more information on the behavioral assessments we offer, call 1-866-793-9224 or email me at: ekennedy@proreswriters.com
Until next time,
Erin Kennedy
Friday, August 22, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW
Professional Resume Services
(866) 793-9224
ekennedy@proreswriters.com
Http://www.proreswriters.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AWARDED INTERNATIONAL WRITING CERTIFICATION
Erin Kennedy, President of Professional Résumé Services, has been awarded international certification as a Certified Expert Resume Writer (CERW) by Career Directors International (CDI). She has demonstrated her superior knowledge and experience in resume writing and career development through an intensive examination, professional writing and professional development process to assess and demonstrate her industry knowledge and resume writing skill. Recognition as a CERW sets Ms. Kennedy apart from the competition and distinguishes the high caliber of her credentials in assisting clientele with professional resume and career coaching services.
Professional Resume Services offers expert resume writing and career coaching services to entry-level through executive clientele in the global marketplace. Their expertise is in empowering clients who wish to transition either within their existing career fields or to another industry. Ms. Kennedy is a recognized national expert, author and multiple T.O.R.I. award (Toast of the Résumé Industry) nominee with over 9 years of assisting clients to meet their career goals. Samples of her work have been published in eight resume writing and cover letter compilation books. To learn more about Professional Resume Services, visit her website at www.proreswriters.com.
CDI is an international association that provides proactive resources and assistance to empower its members in the undertaking and application of career development, resume writing and employment practices.
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