Personal Branding for Job Search Candidates

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Kathy Sweeney

Job Seekers need to convey their "Unique Promise of Value" to potential employers in their quest for a new job.

Think about some of the top brands in the world: Coca-Cola, BMW, Volvo, and Starbucks. They use branding principles to establish or maintain a presence in the marketplace. Each promises something uniquely appealing to their particular customers. They have a target market and they know what is important to their audience.

The same marketing principles can be applied when searching for a job. More job seekers are beginning to understand the value of "personal branding" in their job seeking efforts. The only difference from corporate branding is the product; the product is the individual job seeker.

The first step in the personal branding process is to... [Read more!]

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Accessing the Hidden Job Market

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Barbara Safani

The Truth Behind the Open Job Market

Most job seekers relay on the open job market which includes job posting boards and help wanted advertisements in local newspapers to source job leads. While it appears on the surface that these search vehicles have an abundant number of job leads, the reality is that very few people secure their positions through these methods of search. Only about 5-10% of people in search find their jobs using these two methods combined.

One of the main reasons it is so difficult to land a job through a job board is that the job seeker is faced with insurmountable competition and limited means to differentiate their candidacy. It's not unusual for a hiring manager to receive over 500 resumes for one open position. With no personal relationship with the hiring authority, the job seeker is forced to rely on technology and hope that the resume they submitted for an online opportunity contains enough keywords and consistency with the job spec to garner an acknowledgement from the hiring manager.

The sad truth is that the number of companies that even acknowledge receipt of the resume is under 25% and the percentage of companies that offer candidates any additional information regarding their candidacy is in the single digits.

Read more...
How to Make Time Spent in the Open Job Market More Effective
Why There is More Opportunity in the Hidden Job Market
Finding Job Leads Through Cold Call Techniques
Networking Your Way to Your Next Job

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How to Get a Resume that Gets an Interview

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Tina Harlan

Sooner or later, most of us will look for a job; the majority of us will use a resume in our job search. But in all likelihood, a resume that worked in the past won't work at all today.

The rise of the Internet and online job postings, the often-glutted job market resulting from massive layoffs, and the overwhelming amount of information - from instant messages, e-mail, telephone calls, television, radio, blogs, and the Web - means that people have less time then ever to read and absorb information.

If you're a job seeker, it's especially critical to recognize this. Your resume must grab the reader's attention within the first 10 or 15 seconds or risk be tossed aside. The job search has become like a Hollywood casting call, where many, many applicants show up, but only a few get asked to interview.

Fortunately, there are techniques that can help your resume get noticed - and help you get that all-important interview.

What's Your Brand?
What's Your Value?
What Else to Include?

[Read more] and find out!

Image is everything right from the start and your resume plays a critical role in your job search. Using a “cookie cutter” resume doesn’t present a professional image or make a good first impression. Team with a certified resume writer to help you make a great first impression and position you as a highly qualified interview candidate–placing you well ahead of your competition!