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.
 Google News Updated : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:44:32 GMT Paramount to release fewer films, cut 25 DreamWorks employees - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - By Claudia Eller, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Looking to cut overhead and operating expenses after the recent departure of DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg, Paramount Pictures plans to release fewer films, consolidate operations and slash 25 ... Spielberg back in fold Paramount cuts films, jobs Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:58:16 GMT FCC report: White space devices work as "proof of concept" - Ars Technica
Ars Technica - By Nate Anderson | Published: October 15, 2008 - 06:08PM CT The FCC's Office of Engineering Technology has released its long-awaited technical report (PDF) on "white space" prototype devices, and the conclusion comes right up front: "At this juncture, ... FCC Chairman backs use of "white space" spectrum FCC Gives Whites Spaces a Boost Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:12:55 GMT Maddon Sticks to ‘Plan,’ Giving Ball to Kazmir - New York Times
New York Times - By JOSHUA ROBINSON BOSTON - Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon has always disliked last-minute adjustments. So when he threw the Boston Red Sox a curveball on Wednesday by announcing that he was changing his Game 5 starter, Maddon said it was always ... Rays will go with Scott Kazmir in Game 5 Rays continue Cinderella story Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:11:08 GMT Feds investigate failure of Washington Mutual - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP SEATTLE: Federal authorities said Wednesday they have opened an investigation into the failure of Washington Mutual Inc., the largest bank failure in US history. Federal Investigators to Examine Washington Mutual Washington Mutual's Failure Under US Investigation (Update2) Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:10:47 GMT McCain, Obama get personal in final debate - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - HEMPSTEAD, NY (AP) - John McCain told Barack Obama to his face Thursday night, "You didn't tell the American people the truth" about a key campaign pledge as the two presidential rivals slung accusations at close quarters in the final debate of their ... McCain, Obama tussle over backing Bush’s policies Obama Widens Lead as Americans See `Serious' Crisis (Update2) Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:02:37 GMT As Rays Come of Age, Torre Likes Their Look - New York Times
New York Times - By TYLER KEPNER LOS ANGELES - For the first 10 years of their existence, when they never won more than 70 games in a season, the Tampa Bay Rays faced Joe Torre more than any other manager. Rollins leads off Game 5 with homer Rollins, Phillies lead Dodgers in Game 5 of NLCS Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:11:08 GMT Omar grows into Category 2 hurricane in Caribbean - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - CHRISTIANSTED, US Virgin Islands (AP) - Heavy rains and winds pummeled St. Croix on Wednesday as the outer edge of powerful Hurricane Omar drenched the island, stranding motorists on flooded roads and forcing workers to shut down a giant oil refinery. Video: Hurricane Omar Nears Caribbean Islands Omar Strengthens in Caribbean, Aims at Virgin Islands (Update4) Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:42:51 GMT Website Traffic Promotion |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More Why do you work?Stop and think about it. Other than... Read More Over 70% of single employees will become romantically involved with... Read More Getting a job is not just about your performance in... Read More Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happenBen... Read More Despite constant calls by politicians and policy makers to reign... Read More You can drown in the "free resume examples," "free resume... Read More We often use the phrase, "Get Your Feet Wet" when... Read More Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can... Read More There is more attitude around than the 'traditional 'positive /... Read More Author and management guru, Peter Drucker says, "People adjust to... Read More Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why... Read More What is a Career Portfolio?The original portfolio used by artists... Read More So you noticed the new job board posting on your... Read More The phrase "reinventing yourself" seems to be popping up all... Read More FIRST STEP -- Set short-term, incremental goals.... Read More As children we often used to read stories where magical... Read More During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you... Read More Do you know that a hiring manager just spends 10... Read More To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge... Read More Several times a year, I hear someone complain about the... Read More By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your... Read More You are about to compete for the best people again.... Read More A winning CV has 2 objectives: To illustrate... Read More I recently went to a retirement party with my husband... Read More
Adsense
websites
Layoff Survival Guide - Do You Have The Career Management Horsepower It Will Take To Survive?
Does Retirement Fit Into Your Busy Schedule?
A Workplace Romance Can Be Detrimental to Your Career
Job Interviews -- How to Follow Up Effectively
Writing Resumes That Attract Your Perfect Job
Federal Job Search Strategies: 7 Tips to Help You Succeed
Free Resume Template: What Makes a Good One?
Risk-taking - Get Your Feet Wet!
10 Steps to Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs
Your Attitude Is Screaming
Waiting for Lightening to Strike
Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
Why Well Produced Career Portfolios Are Replacing CVs
Nine Ways to Tell Youre Ready for a Promotion
Reinvent Your Career In Five Simple Steps
Your Goals Must Be Within Your Reach
Write Resume Keywords That Gets Your Application Read
Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews
The 10 Second Window of Opportunity, Resume Hour Glass
Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing - Part One
Where Did All The Farmers Go?
Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid
Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs
CV Writing ? How to Write a CV
Job Interviews: Ill File a Grievance!
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Get Dressed and Get Hired
Tying a tie properly may tie you to your next... Read More
Writing A Resume That Gets You Noticed
As the old saying goes, "you never get a second... Read More
Taking Charge During An Interview!
Perhaps you've found yourself in the position of seeking a... Read More
10 Things to Do to Get the Job
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know
Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming... Read More
Ten Things To Do When You Really, Really Hate Your Job
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how... Read More
Dont Be Defeated - Be Empowered
Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never... Read More
Are You Eking Out a Living, and Cant Get What You Want from a Job?
Many people are working at jobs they don't want and... Read More
How To Write A Résumé
Figure out what you want to do.You can't write an... Read More
Benefits of Maintaining a Career Portfolio
Have you ever tried to contact a past employer only... Read More
Your Job Search Is A Marketing Campaign (Part 2)
Here's a continuation of my article from a few months... Read More
Interview Tips, How to Get the Job You Want
Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the... Read More
Why Do You Want This Job?
Why Do You Want This Job? Is it because any... Read More
Ideal Job and Handling Criticism
How many times have you been asked, "What is your... Read More
Self Describing Skills - Key Strengths
You need to be the best you can at describing... Read More
The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers, Part Two
The values landscape of our nation is changing, and with... Read More
Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major
There was a time when accounting was the boring college... Read More
How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More
Leaders Meet Challenge Heads-UP With Confidence --
Maybe "buck" is better referred to as the Boss' Challenge.... Read More
What To Do When Your Boss Is a Butthead
I've never worked for a boss I didn't like or... Read More
How to Overcome a Bad First Impression
Have any of these situations happened to you? Forgetting your... Read More
A Career With The FBI
Do you have what it takes to become an FBI... Read More
Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing - Part One
To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge... Read More
How To Become a Mortgage Broker
The mortgage industry accounted for $1,815,949,279,000 in loan transactions in... Read More
10 Steps to Escape the Job World and Create the Life You Really Want
1. GET THE POINT ? OF LIFE, THAT IS.... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |