Ask the Recruiter
We all have career goals, big or small. Here are some questions I have recieved over the last month from those actively seeking new employment. How many versions of resumes should I have - and why? - Ideally, you should personalize your resume each time you apply for a job. List only your experience relevant to the job you are applying for. The number one issues with the resumes I recieve every day is that they have irrelevant information which makes the resume too long, and too difficult to read. Today's employers want to quick glance your resume in 30 seconds or less to decide if they want to read further. Irrelevant information makes it difficult to focus on relevant points, and employers are much more likely to pass over your resume. If you don't have the time to write out 100 or more individual resumes, write general resumes for each type of position you will be applying for. For example, if you have payroll, accounting, and administrative experience, write a resume for administrative officers/assistants, accountants/bookkeepers, and payroll officers/administrators. That way, no matter what type of position you are applying for, the relevant information will only be a click away. Do I really need to write thank-you letters to employers? - If you want to stand out in the crowd of thousands of applications employer's can recieve, then yes. A thank you letter serves many functions. First, less than 10% of all job seekers bother to send thank you letters. That means, if you do, you will stand out of the crowd. Second, it keeps your name in front of the employer. Most employers have hundreds of things to do each day, and even more papers to sort through when the time comes to hire. If your resume is at the bottom of the pile, a thank you letter with a summary of your qualifications can send them looking - for you. Third, it can add to your resume or cover letter. If you forgot to mention something, or have come across more relevant information, this can be added to a thank you letter. The bottom line is, a thank you note will make sure that YOUR name is remembered when the time comes to hire. How do I go about looking for a new job after being fired/terminated/downsized? - Bottom line, be honest. If you were downsized, say that. Unless you have 30 years of work experience and every job you've had you have been layed off from, honesty is the best route. If an employer asks you why you do not work at your previous job anymore, tell them the truth. More candidates are eliminated for fraudulent claims than for being laid off previously. If you're not sure where to even look for a new job, try this. Sit down and think of everything you had to do at your previous job. Administration, sales, marketing, manufacturing, technical skills - everything. All of those individual skills could be a new career. Write each of these down, and then prioritize. Number each skill based on how much you enjoyed doing them. When it comes time to search, apply for positions using the highest ranked skills. This will ensure you can do the job, and enjoy it, too! Cherilyn Lester is a professional recruiter based out of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She can be reached at cherilyn@surejobscanada.com.
Related News
Health Care Marketing Industry Day to offer employment opportunities - Hattiesburg American
New committee working on five-year plan to improve job prospects - Kawartha Media Group
The Grades recruitment event: White men in braces need not apply... - Independent
Shifting Careers In Hard Times, Lawyers Advise Cautious Steps - New York Times
City Expands Job Training For Public Housing Residents - NY1
Bye-bye to career employment for Baby Boomer men - Examiner.com
Apprentices start building a career - Bradford Telegraph Argus
Apprentices start building a careerBradford Telegraph Argus, UK -10 hours agoMohammed, 18, and Shaun, 19, were both recruited by Lovell from Accent Community Partnerships, which delivers construction-based training and employment... |
Arbitrability of USERRA Claims: Battle on the Home Front - Law.com (subscription)
Springboards for life in careers elsewhere - Financial Times
Springboards for life in careers elsewhereFinancial Times, UK -4 hours agoAlthough the small state offers only restricted employment choices for graduates the average expected wage in the oil-rich country is the second highest in ... |
Green Jobs Transition Must Accelerate - Policy Innovations
Green Jobs Transition Must AcceleratePolicy Innovations, NY -7 hours agoThe report forecasts that millions of cleaner careers could be generated by 2030, with as many as 20 million new jobs in the energy alternatives sector ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Make a Good Living Doing What You Love
Don't let anyone talk you into going to college when all you really want to do is be a chef or tear apart a car engine.
How to Turn Career Mistakes into Career Wins
I recently talked with a client who was paralyzed at the thought of making another
"mistake" in her career.
Looking for a Qualified Medical Billing Specialist
Families, mothers, employers, and medical practices all interact in one way or another with a medical billing specialist. When medical billing is required, a qualified medical billing specialist can help you process your claim quickly and thoroughly. Medical billing specialists work in many different areas. A variety of tasks require a medical billing specialist to be familiar with medical transcription, medical codes, and electronic medical records (EMR).
Do Dream Jobs Really Exist?
More than four out of ten thirtysomething professionals want to change careers, but feel trapped and don't believe that they will, a new study shows.
Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur
When a client asks me if I think he or she is a good candidate for starting a new business, I ask several questions (see our free assessment, "Are You an Entrepreneur?"). But the truth of the matter is that these questions are similar to ones that I'd ask someone who wants to move up in an organization or find a new position elsewhere. When people call an executive coach after deciding to make a change or being laid off, those who have treated their career like their own business will have a much easier time.
Recruiting Excellent Job Candidates
An independent recruiter, recruiting agency or executive search firm is charged with tracking down excellent potential candidates for available job positions. Despite the fact that there are innumerable people seeking positions of employment in the 21st century, it often seems to a typical recruiting agency that qualified men and women are few and far between.
Interview Preparation
The dreaded job interview is the Number 1 source of email enquiries to Confidence Club. The following email is typical:
Job Trap; Relationships with Co-workers
Most of us interact with our co-workers on a daily basis, its what helps us get through the day. Most employers go to great lengths to promote the "team", some thousands of dollars on retreats and seminars and the like. Basically, to them a group of cooperative, resourceful employees all working together is as valued as good advertising. And no wonder, without it their business would fare well. Picture a workplace populated only by the characters of the show "Family Guy". How succsessful do you think this business would be?
Job Interview Preparation - What Employers Are Looking For
When an employer decides to conduct an interview with you, there are certain things that they are looking for from you. Naturally, you are likely to focus on these things during an interview, but you should remember all of the tips in this manual because following those tips is what is going to make the employers see all of those things in you.
A Career With The FBI
Do you have what it takes to become an FBI special agent? Do you have a sincere desire to enforce federal laws and investigate crimes?
From The WorkWise Collection: Ten Ways to Win the Job Search Mind Game
Are you one of the thousands of job seekers who question their sanity, marketability, and capacity to make smart decisions-just because you've lost your job? Are you wondering how to overcome these psychological challenges, rebuild your self-confidence, increase your marketability, and regain your sense of sanity?
How to Pick the Best Career For You , Part 2: From Exposure-to-Opportunity
Gain an audience by recognizing opportunity
There's a sexier method to salsa into a great career with less tripping and more flair. Look for problems to solve and create a personalized solution. Find those challenges by spotting company movement of any kind, whether the change is good, bad or ugly. If you do this, you'll capitalize on an opportunity to be heard and get that coveted invitation to dance in the king's court.
Dissatisfied With Your Job? Stop Putting Your Attention on What You Dont Want!
If I were to ask you the percentage of time you spend thinking about what you don't want, what would it be? And the percentage of time thinking about what you do want?
Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover
Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others. None of us are truly independent or able to make it in life alone. All of us depend on family. Friends. Our church family. Schoolmates. Business associates. And others.
Free Resume Template: What Makes a Good One?
You can drown in the "free resume examples," "free resume templates," and "free resume samples" on the web.
Getting Your Online Health Care Administration Degree
Are you thinking about getting your online health care degree but don't know where to start? Afraid of choosing the wrong college or school? Here's a simple guide to help you get started building the career that you've always wanted.
How To Get A Job Writing Speeches
Jobs in speech writing are amongst the most difficult to find, but are much sought after. In many cases, the subjects that will deliver them will want to find expert advice on what to say, how to say it, and how to make themselves look good through it. You will not start out with a job in speech writing for the President, though. You will start at a much lower level and work your way up. While many people do not like to give speeches, even fewer people like to write their own. That means that there are some great opportunities out there for those looking. But, where do you look and how do you find them? What qualifications are needed anyway?
Your Self-Image in the Workplace
When communication breaks down in your office or factory and workers lack motivation, what are the roots of the problem?
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Catering Business
There is little doubt that Americans still have a deep abiding love for all things eatable. Despite the health craze that has forced Ronald McDonald to sport a jogging suit, Whoppers, Big Mac's, and French Fries is truly why we have fat thighs. So what's the answer? We need great home-grown cooks who are not into the fast food obsession. Do you love to cook and suffer from severe withdrawal when denied the opportunity to prepare your famous spinach stuffed chicken breast served with broccoli and roasted garlic? Do you want to profit from the food you prepare in your kitchen?
The Hidden Job Market: Real or Imagined?
The hidden job market has been touted as the place to go if you want to find the best jobs. It's been said that this sector of the job market accounts for seventy-five percent of all the job openings out there. If that is true, then what we see in the classifieds and on the Internet job sites account for only twenty-five percent of all job openings. So the question becomes, is the hidden job market a myth or does it truly exist?
|
