Certified Resume Writers Blog

Work In Progress!

2008-02-22T16:08:00.006-05:00

Very soon we'll have content to offer we continue to develop our blog. Stay tuned!

~ Maria
www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com

Getting The Most Out of a Job Fair

2008-01-28T12:19:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Patricia Duckers

You spend days preparing for that big career fair, where you'll meet your dream employer who will throw lots of money your way because YOU are the one they've been waiting for. However, the reality is that many people who attend job fairs are left disappointed, frustrated and jobless.

Here are some pointers to help you get the most out of your job fair experience.

Don't expect to get a job at a job fair. The description "job fair" is a misnomer. Typically, a recruiter at a job fair will glance over your resume, spend about five or ten minutes talking to you, and then move on.

The job fair is like a dance -- it's an opportunity to scout what's out there and pursue what's interesting. It is not a place for the candidate or the recruiter to fall in love with each other upon first sight.

1. Don't be afraid to leave your resume at every table. The human resources representatives present at job fairs typically do all the recruiting for their respective organizations. If the company isn't offering anything in your desired field, it doesn't hurt to leave a copy of your resume in case something opens later. Think of it as performing a mass broadcast delivery of your resume in person.

2. Bring along a cover letter. Remember, at most job fairs, recruiters see dozens, if not hundreds of candidates. A cover letter keeps your name fresh in their minds, and helps the recruiter better place you within their company, especially later on if they want to share notes with managers within their companies. [Continue reading...]

Padding Resumes with Erroneous Information Can Result in Disaster

2008-01-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

Featured Article and Resume Writer: Kathy Sweeney, NCRW, CPRW

Jobseeker dishonesty could have serious repercussions, including termination. With the hurricane disaster in New Orleans, there were many people who came under scrutiny. One such person was Michael Brown, the head of FEMA. People questioned his credentials and the media began to dig deep into his background. In a recent Time Magazine article, here were some of the details that investigative journalists uncovered:

He claimed to be on the Board of Directors of a Nursing Home. When contacted by the media, the personnel at the nursing home had never heard of Brown.
He claimed to have been an Assistant City Manager of Edmond, Oklahoma. Brown never held this position. He did do an internship while attending college for this town.
He stated that he had received an "Outstanding Professor" award from a college where he never taught. He was an adjunct professor for a college, but the college never had such an award and he certainly did not receive one.

A survey I recently read showed that about 53% of people "pad" their resume with credentials and position responsibilities they have never held. Many individuals stated that they enhanced their qualifications to be competitive. [read more...]

Visit CertifiedResumeWriters.com to gain immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles, profile and highlights of certified resume writers, and listings of resume writing services.

Objectives in a Resume: Yes or No?

2008-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Georgia Adamson, CPRW

Arguments abound, even among career professionals, about whether or not you should put an objective on your resume. Here are some pros and cons to consider about objectives:

1. You need to know where you want the resume to take you, and you need to make sure it's crystal-clear to the prospective employer. I can't emphasize this enough: Employers will not play a guessing-game to figure out what kind of work you want to do!

2. If you're a management-level person, I recommend using a profile section, which has a heading such as "SALES EXECUTIVE," followed by a concise summary of your strongest, most relevant points-generally, not more than five or six lines.

3. Using the cover letter to communicate your desired position instead of making it easily visible in the resume could be a mistake. Your cover letter may not always stay with the resume it gets separated somehow, the person reading the resume won't see it and will have no clue what position you're aiming for. [read more...]

CertifiedResumeWriters.com serves to educate, inform, and help serious job seekers take that next step forward to a new and exciting career position. Visit us today!

5 Sure-Fire Steps to a New Job

2008-01-08T06:49:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Don Goodman, CPRW

The new year is here - budgets are fresh, positions are open and every statistic points to aggressive hiring. Here are 5 sure-fire steps that will get you a competitive edge and land you that job.

1) Get a professional resume done.
Don't even think about doing it yourself as the state of the art of resume writing has changed rather dramatically, and what used to work does not get noticed in today's market. Gain the competitive advantage right up front by spending the few hundred dollars on the most important career document you need in your search. But be careful, as anyone can claim to be a resume writer and there are a lot of mediocre services out there. (Readers can request my free guide, 10 Things to look for in a Resume Service, by emailing me at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com).

2) Put yourself on the job boards.
Not that they are not the most effective way to find a job, but get it out of your system and post your resume. There are over 4,000 job boards in the U.S. and the bigger ones are some of the least effective. So make sure you put yourself on the niche job boards specific to your industry.

Setup search agents that send you an email whenever a new position is posted that meets your criteria. That way you'll be one of the first to respond. There are some good posting tools to get on the job boards. [read more...]

Sending potential employers a cookie cutter resume doesn't present a professional image or make a good first impression. See how partnering with a certified resume writer can help you make a great first impression while positioning you as a highly qualified interview candidate. Stand out from the crowd!

Executive Recruiters Network to Reach Candidates with International Experience

2007-12-17T19:38:00.000-05:00

Featured Article by ExecuNet senior contributing editor Joe McCool's analysis of search firm activities revealed that recruiters are connecting with globally experienced leaders through networking.

To meet the business challenges posed by globalization, foreign competition and international security issues, organizations are reaching out to leaders who have navigated the sometimes-complex social and cultural challenges of a foreign assignment, especially as more Western companies take their goods and services to new markets in the Far East.

"Savvy recruiters are leveraging professional networks and the referrals they generate to uncover talented executives whose international experience is especially coveted in today's market for executive talent," says McCool. Finding experienced candidates through online research closely follows networking.

How Executive Recruiters Find Candidates With International Experience

* Networking (including personal referrals) 29.28%
* Online Research 27.63%
* Association / membership resources 17.76%
* Foreign partnerships / affiliations 12.50%
* Other 3.62%
* Chamber of Commerce resources 1.97%
* Not applicable 7.94%

Resource: ExecuNet

Conducting The Job Search Campaign

2007-12-11T06:32:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Diane Burns

Everywhere you look there are posters that read: "Now Hiring" or "Immediate Employment Opportunities." The major Internet career web sites boast thousands of open positions (monster.com, 310,000, updated daily; careermosiac.com, 135,000 listings, updated daily). Sunday classifieds are full, and job unemployment is a record low. The average American accepts a new job about every 3.6 years; those in dot.coms change jobs about once a year. AT&T receives an average of 3,000 resumes daily, and Microsoft received 1.5 million resumes in 1999. The incredible increase in companies receiving so many resumes is due to the advent of career job boards. When candidates input their resumes to an Internet job board, they are sending them to potentially hundreds of recruiters or companies, depending on matching keywords.

Monster.com conducted a survey of 54,000 people in spring 2000 and 13% reported receiving their last job from the Internet. This number is high, considering most jobs (80-95%) are still obtained through networking. Due to the high number of resumes being received, creating an almost overwhelming task for recruiters and hiring managers who review resumes, job seekers still need to network their way into the Human Resources department of the company they wish to work for. [Continue reading...]

Do you have a winning resume that will get noticed? Learn how teaming with a certified resume writer can help make you stand out from the crowd! Our database of resume writers and resume writing services contains business profiles, professional highlights, contact information, and website links. Get all of the information you need all in one place! Find your writer today!

Building the Executive Resume

2007-12-03T07:22:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Abby Locke

No-one can deny the importance of a resume in a job search. Despite the invention of web portfolios, online applications, and leadership profiles, you will find that a well-written resume is still a highly effective tool for interviewing, networking, and relationship building purposes.

For executive jobseekers, the job search arena is a whole different playing field. The compensation is higher, but the competition for C-level positions is fiercer than that of the average jobseeker. As senior-level executive positions shrink, a powerful executive resume /portfolio can give you an edge over your peers.

When taking a close look at resume s on the whole, there are distinctive features that are unique to the executive resume. While information like job responsibilities, areas of expertise, accomplishments, and technical skills will always apply to any jobseeker, the executive must also demonstrate leadership capabilities, industry insights, revenue-enhancing performance, and staff management in his or her resume. In addition, the executive resume should be targeted, highly-customized, and clearly describe the executive's personal attributes.

Sounds like a tall order, right? So how exactly do you begin to put the pieces together? [Find out!]

Did you know that CertifiedResumeWriters.com provides you with immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles along with sample resumes written by credentialed resume writers and listings of resume writing services? We have it for you all in one place! We can even help you connect with professional associations to help build your professional network and can provide current job fair information. Visit us today!

15 Items for Your Resume To Do List

2007-11-26T11:26:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Barbara Safani

Do you want to create a more "user friendly" resume to submit to recruiters and hiring authorities? Here are 15 suggestions for composing more compelling and targeted resumes.

1. Create a resume headline. Headlines sell newspapers. They can also sell job search candidates. Hiring managers don't really read resumes, but rather scan them to determine the candidate's fit for the job. Help make that fit more obvious by creating a resume headline that tells the reader your strengths such as Award Winning Television Executive Producer, Entry Level Public Relations Assistant, or Information Technology Product Developer.

2. Create a profile section. Hiring managers tend to focus on the top third of the first page of the resume. They may only read on if your profile grasps their attention quickly. Communicate your value-add in the profile section. List powerful and consistent examples of how you help the companies you support make money, save money, save time, grow the business, and maintain the business.

3. List core competencies. One of the first things hiring managers will be looking for is a sense if you have the skill set necessary to do the job. Your areas of expertise should be displayed prominently early on in the resume. Try to use the keywords, or phrases that are important to your job function and industry. If you are not sure what the appropriate keywords are, look for consistent wording and phrases on job postings for positions in your field to better align your qualifications with potential job specifications. [Read more!]

Visit CertifiedResumeWriters.com to read more resume articles written by resume experts!

Your Resume Will Be Discarded

2007-11-19T15:48:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Karen Bartell

Unless you know these insider tips, that is! If you have been sending out your resume en masse and ending up with a massive headache instead - getting nowhere - you had better read on... Your career just might depend on it.

It's a sad fact, but true. In today's competitive marketplace, a job candidate has exactly 10-15 seconds to make an impression. Most employers/recruiters are very busy people, reviewing literally hundreds to thousands of resumes (don't forget cover letters!) per day. Unless your resume is well-targeted, expertly and flawlessly written and composed, and demonstrates within the first few seconds of review you have what the employer needs, it will most likely be indexed in the circular file.

A Sophisticated Marketing Tool
Another sad but true fact is that most people don't have a clue what an employer wants to see in a resume, even when they think they do. Many people equate a resume with a simple job application. An employer wants to know what you did while on the job, right?

Wrong! Well, partially. Most employers already know what you did on the job; after all, they are looking to hire you for that job, aren't they?

What an employer really wants to know is [continue reading...]

Image is everything right from the start and your resume plays a critical role in your job search. Cookie cutter resumes don't present a professional image or make a good first impression. Team up 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!

Why You Need a Personal Brand

2007-11-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Jean Cummings

What do the most successful people over 50 have in common?
They know and express who they are. They have honed and communicated their professional identity and made others aware of their personal attributes - their expertise, talents, and deepest commitments. In other words, these people have developed a personal brand - or a "Brand You," the term coined by Tom Peters.

Mention their names, and you instantly think of a set of personal attributes, in much the same way we might associate attributes such as "reliable, fuel-efficient, and low-maintenance" with a certain brand of car. However, a personal brand is not a superficial marketing ploy. It is as different from a product brand as a dynamic, complex person is from an inanimate object. "Brand You" emerges from a person's deepest commitments, interests, and unique "genius." What are some famous personal brands?

Bill Gates:
Technology genius: Harvard dropout who founded Microsoft to become the world's richest man.
Philanthropist: Puts his wealth to work in huge global projects for the public good. [read more...]

It's bad enough today’s job market is tight so why take any chances putting your resume out there just for it to be tossed because it presents no real value to the person reviewing it? Use the resume writing services available to help you make the most of your resume. You’ll quickly find out well-written resumes provide more than a laundry list of duties and responsibilities.

Tips for The Military Tranisitioner

2007-10-29T06:30:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Michael Levy

The Military Transitioner

Congratulations Soldier! You've survived some of the toughest battles - but you're not through yet! You still have one final challenge ahead, the "Civilian Battlefield."

It won't be easy, but if you listen carefully and pay close attention to my direction, we'll make it through this together. Are you ready? I said, ARE YOU READY?? Okay, let's move out!

Remember, these enemies are ruthless and they'll try anything to trip you up, so always be on guard. Below are five steps that will prepare you for when you enter this combat zone.

1. Buy yourself a new suit that fits well. This goes for both males and females. Select corporate colors, Black, Gray or Dark Blue. Do not, I repeat, Do not wear your corfams or compass wristwatch. These enemies are tough and will calculate your every move, both verbal and non-verbal.

2. Don't overuse Sir and Maam. These are acceptable standards in the military, but can appear to be too subordinate and militant in this arena. Refer to the hiring manager as either Mr. or Ms., unless directed to address them otherwise. [Read more...]

CertifiedResumeWriters.com provides job seekers with a database of resume writing services and is strategically designed to search by resume writing specialty, service location, and/or consultation preference. Our search results will provide you with the names of certified writers, profiles and highlights, business contact info, and website links. You can email your questions to writers directly, read their articles, and view sample resumes and cover letters.

Does Your Resume Format Really Matter?

2007-10-22T13:18:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Laura Smith-Proulx

Most people realize by now that a resume is a marketing document that can, if written with an effective strategy, compel an employer to contact you. But did you know that a resume must stand out for its style as well as the content?

Most of the resumes I receive for review use the standard Microsoft Word document template. Yes, it is a clean design. However, do you really want to force your unique, compelling value proposition and shining achievements into the same tired document used by nearly everyone? I thought not.

Give some thought to the zing behind your message when catching an employer's eye, showcasing your career history with these tips:

Remember the one-third rule.
Where does the eye wander when quickly scanning a document? The top one-third of the first page. not that drawn-out paragraph that you used to contain all the "important" information about your job duties. [Read more...]

Did you know? CertifiedResumeWriters.com can give you immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles, profile and highlights of certified resume writers, listing of resume writing services as well as access to sample resume and cover letters, and specialized recruiting and job search firms at no cost? It's all in one place.

We can also help you connect with industry specific professional associations to help build your professional network and can provide current job fair information. Visit us today!

Ten Quick Resume Fixes in Less Than Ten Minutes

2007-10-16T05:49:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Barbara Safani

The cornerstone of a quality resume is having a targeted, consistent message that conveys your ability to use your skills and leverage your accomplishments to add value to an organization. But in addition to that, there are a number of subtleties that can impact how you resume is viewed by your audience. You can significantly improve the quality of your document and your interview response rate by reviewing these simple resume strategies.

Evaluate Your Email Address
It is critical that your email address be both professional and easy to type. Addresses like "partygirl7" or "masterhacker9" may allow some employers to question your credibility or commitment to your search. Exceptionally long addresses or those that use a long series of numbers invite an employer to question your sense of judgment, since it's very easy to miss key such addresses when responding. It's best to stick with your name or some variation on it, i.e. marysmith, msmith, mgsmith10, etc. Another option is to establish a domain name. By doing this, a prospective employer will always be able to find you in the future, even if you chose to switch internet service providers.

List Phone Number with Professional Greeting
You may think that your three year old's rendition of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is an adorable greeting for your answering machine, but a prospective employer might not agree. Record a professional greeting requesting the caller's name, phone number, and reason for calling. Speak clearly and slowly and minimize background noise while recording your message. [Read more...]

It's bad enough today’s job market is tight so why take any chances putting your resume out there just for it to be tossed because it presents no real value to the person reviewing it? Use the resume writing services available to help you make the most of your resume. You’ll quickly find out well-written resumes provide more than a laundry list of duties and responsibilities.

Set S.M.A.R.T. Resume Goals & Get Your Dream Job

2007-10-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Steve Miller

Locating and securing a job is a job in itself. In fact, many people dread the employment search process because it is often very tedious, grueling, time-consuming and unrewarding. We are frequently mistreated, misunderstood and misrepresented. The up side to this dilemma is we can eliminate most of the confusion and despair that accompanies beating the streets for that ideal career position by implementing a simple, yet very successful, plan of action. Which starts with a good resume.

S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risky, Time-table. This goal setting program can be applied to your resume creation and self-marketing campaign. Therefore, it helps tremendously to ensure your overall success. [Read more...]

Visit www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com to access more resume and cover letter articles written by the resume experts. Stop spending countless hours searching the web for credentialed resume writers and key resources to help make your job search successful. At no cost, we can give you immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles, profile and highlights of certified resume writers, business information, sample resume and cover letters, and specialized job search networks all in one place!

Personal Branding for Job Search Candidates

2007-09-21T14:47:00.000-04:00

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!]

Are you looking for help to create a winning resume that will get noticed? Learn how teaming with a credentialed resume writer can help make you stand out from the crowd! Search our database of resume writing services and gain free access to business profiles, professional highlights of certified writers along with contact information and website links.

Accessing the Hidden Job Market

2007-09-14T06:22:00.000-04:00

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

Visit www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com to access more resume and cover letter articles written by the resume experts. Also, search our database for profile and highlights of credentialed resume writers along with contact information and business profiles of resume writing serices.

How to Get a Resume that Gets an Interview

2007-09-07T07:06:00.000-04:00

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!

Accessing the Hidden Job Market

2007-02-16T09:25:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Barbara Safani, CPRW, NCRW, CERW
Barbara's Article: Accessing the Hidden Job Market

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!]

Food for Thought: I have learned that to get a job done and have fun in it is about all you can get out of life. —Jessie Tarbox Beals

Visit www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com to access more resume and cover letter articles written by the resume experts. Stop spending countless hours searching the web for credentialed resume writers and key resources to help make your job search successful. At NO cost, we give you immediate access to valuable resume and cover letter articles, profile and highlights of certified resume writers, business information, sample resume and cover letters, and specialized recruiting and job search firms all in one place!

Marketing Yourself for Management

2007-01-24T17:43:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Laura Smith-Proulx, CPRW
Laura's Article: Marketing Yourself for Management

If you aspire to a management position, thinking "I already fill in for the boss," it may seem that all you have to do is apply to a higher-level position. To be sure, your resume states that management is your objective. Yet, you find yourself either taking on a lateral career move or wondering why interviews continue to elude you. What gives?

Consider that your resume must clearly market you as management material. Many job seekers believe stating their goals at the start of the document does just that. However, remember that managers need to demonstrate bottom-line contributions to the company, rather than just the team. [read more]

Food for Thought: One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning. —James Russell Lowell

Visit www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com to access more resume and cover letter articles written by the resume experts. Also, search our database for profile and highlights of credentialed resume writers along with contact information and business profiles of resume writing serices.

Five Reasons to Send Thank You Letters

2007-01-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Barbara Safani, CPRW, NCRW, CERW
Barbara's Article: "Five Reasons to Send Thank You Letters"

Thank you letters are an excellent self-marketing tool and a critical component of your job search strategy. The time spent crafting a targeted thank you letter after an interview will be well spent and can contribute to a more credible and efficient search. Below are five reasons to incorporate thank you letters into your search strategy.

A thank you letter creates an opportunity to reconnect with employers.
Chances are you are one of many candidates being interviewed for an open position. Writing a follow up letter allows you to build a relationship with the interviewer and develop rapport. By expressing your gratitude for the interview and recapping the highlights of the meeting, you revisit the reasons you believe there is an appropriate fit between you and the organization.

Following up keeps your candidacy top of mind?
Often candidates make the mistake of putting too much control in the interviewer's hands. They believe that if they are the best candidate, the interviewer will remember them and keep them in the loop regarding the selection process. But this is often not the case. It's critical that candidates remind prospective employers of their interest in a position and the thank you letter is the perfect vehicle for communicating this. [read more]

Food for Thought: Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny. —Kin Hubbard

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!

CertifiedResumeWriters.com serves to educate, inform, and help serious job seekers take that next step forward to a new and exciting career position. Whether you’re applying for a first-time “real” job as a college grad, returning to work after being off for awhile, applying for a civilian position after being in the military or vise versa, or just want to pursue a new industry all together, we want to help you get started.

Online Job Search Safety

2006-11-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Patricia Duckers, CPRW, CERW, CFRW
Patricia's Article: "Online Job Search Safety"

Would you buy a new car sight unseen? Probably not given the type of investment you'd be making. So why take a similar risk with your career by posting your resume on a job web posting board where anyone with an account – legitimate business or scammer – can access YOUR personal information?

Job boards serve as a good starting resource for people in the market for a new career direction, but they shouldn't be your only source. Here are some safety tips:

1. Bookmark job sites listed in ads and verify that they are legitimate links to the companies. Many of the Fortune 500 organizations have their own employment databases and some even allow you to upload your resume to their database.

2. Check for a telephone number. There's no harm in calling for more information – and making sure the company is legitimate – in order to make an informed decision about whether to pursue employment with the lead. [read more]

Food for Thought: One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning. —James Russell Lowell

It's bad enough today’s job market is tight so why take any chances putting your resume out there just for it to be tossed because it presents no real value to the person reviewing it? Use the resume writing services available to help you make the most of your resume. You’ll quickly find out well-written resumes provide more than a laundry list of duties and responsibilities.

Objectives in a Resume: Yes or No?

2006-10-19T11:27:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Georgia Adamson, CPRW
Georgia's Article: "Objectives in a Resume: Yes or No?"

Arguments abound, even among career professionals, about whether or not you should put an objective on your resume. Here are some pros and cons to consider about objectives:

1. You need to know where you want the resume to take you, and you need to make sure it's crystal-clear to the prospective employer. I can't emphasize this enough: Employers will not play a guessing-game to figure out what kind of work you want to do!

2. If you're a management-level person, I recommend using a profile section, which has a heading such as "SALES EXECUTIVE," followed by a concise summary of your strongest, most relevant points-generally, not more than five or six lines.

3. Using the cover letter to communicate your desired position instead of making it easily visible in the resume could be a mistake. Your cover letter may not always stay with the resume it gets separated somehow, the person reading the resume won't see it and will have no clue what position you're aiming for. [read more]

Food for Thought: Be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. —Muriel Spark

New-Hire Compensation Jumps, Employers Report Plans for Increased Hiring in October Compensation for newly hired employees may be on the increase, according to the October report of the Leading Indicator of National Employment (LINE), which reveals new-hire compensation jumped in September. In addition, over half of manufacturers and service-sector employers plan to expand hiring in October, indicating that the job market continues to remain strong. LINE is a collaborative effort between the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations.

Manufacturing
HR professionals indicate that the pool of skilled employees is extremely tight, even more so than a year ago. The need to fill current vacancies continues to be a challenge; in addition, 57 percent of HR professionals say they have plans to hire for new positions in October. These ongoing challenges appear to be contributing to employers' needs to increase new-hire compensation. The index rose to 13.9 percent, which is currently at its highest level since February 2004.

Service Fifty-one percent of service-sector employers reported plans to increase hiring in October. In addition, while HR professionals are expressing difficulty recruiting qualified candidates, they are at the same time finding themselves with a growing number of vacant positions they are actively trying to fill. In September, this combination resulted in a five percent jump in the number of employers reporting increases to new-hire compensation.

LINE is an economic indicator that identifies early economic trends and changes in the national job market by surveying human resource (HR) executives at manufacturing and service-sector firms. The indicator reports on four employment measures: job expectations, job vacancies, new-hire compensation and recruitment difficulty. To view the full report, visit www.shrm.org/LINE.

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Not Getting Interviews? Maybe Your Resume Is Outdated!

2006-09-22T12:24:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: JoAnn Nix, CPRW
JoAnn's Article: "Not Getting Interviews? Maybe Your Resume Is Outdated!"

If you are struggling to get interviews, your resume could be outdated and not be in tune with today's standards. A resume that is focused on responsibilities, fails to highlight accomplishments, or is too long or short are factors that may keep hiring managers from reading your resume.

In the competitive job market, your resume must clearly illustrate your value, personal brand, and differentiating factors. Stating responsibilities will not impress hiring decision makers as they know the responsibilities of the position available. [read more]

Food for Thought: Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work. —Betty Davis

Visit www.CertifiedResumeWriters.com to access more resume and cover letter articles written by the resume experts. It's bad enough today’s job market is tight so why take any chances putting your resume out there just for it to be tossed because it presents no real value to the person reviewing it? Use the resume writing services available to help you make the most of your resume. You’ll quickly find out well-written resumes provide more than a laundry list of duties and responsibilities.

No Second First Impression

2006-09-06T16:31:00.000-04:00

Featured Article & Resume Writer: Georgia Adamson, CPRW
Georgia's Article: "No Second First Impression"

As the saying goes, "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression." People tend to form judgments based on what they see and hear during the first few seconds. Extended contact may modify their initial judgment but probably won't change it significantly.

In terms of job or career changes, this means you need to consider carefully how you present yourself. Clients typically think of this in relation to interviews, which is certainly important, but waiting until then to focus on it would be a big mistake.

Why? Because in many cases your first impression occurs before you see the employer--through your resume and cover letter. If you don't bother to make sure your documents represent you well, you may never have to worry about the impression you'll make in the interview!

Here are 7 tips to ensure that your first impression is... [read more]

Food for Thought: To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it. —Mother Teresa

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