You have sent out hundreds and hundreds of resumes with barely a response. You reason that it’s the economy and some other factors that you are simply not aware of. How can this be? No response whatsoever? You have accomplished a lot; you were well liked in your last role and did a number of things for the company that even resulted in a promotion. So what’s going on? I will tell you. It has nothing to do with you. It’s your resume that sucks! What’s wrong with your resume? It may be these top five things:

1. Your Resume Is Not Results Oriented

For reasons completely unknown to me, people like to reference the things they are responsible for rather than the results they obtained! Again, this document is an important marketing and sales tool. The examples of what you have done with the corresponding outcome are paramount to ensure that your resume is considered! If you don’t reference how you drove productivity, revenue, profitability, or added value – some type of value, you will not be successful!

Make sure you provide the reader with the juicy details of how you added value for your employer. Here are a few examples to help you get started:
-    Drafted a full business plan, including the financial forecast to open a new profit center for the company, resulting in a 40% revenue increase in year one.
-    Conceptualized and implemented a team training concept, which reduced production downtime by 35% and increased employee productivity by 50%.

2. You Don’t Have Core Competencies Called Out

This is a quick snap-shot of what you are offering your next employer. This section is critical; it shows the reader at a quick glance what you bring to the table and what you have accomplished in the past. It will help the reader quickly understand the competencies you possess as they connect with the position for which you are applying.

It can be a bulleted list of key words that when scanned by a person or a system will be easily identified as your key attributes. Don’t be afraid to revise your existing, or add new competencies to meet the position description. I would not suggest adding them verbatim; get a little creative in how you write them.

3. You have Grammar And Spelling Mistakes

Grammar and spelling errors plague resumes! I once had a client who indicated that he put a plane in the ‘hanger’. Really, I thought – that had to be some closet! Spell check will not pick up things like this because hanger is a word, the wrong one, but a word nonetheless. Whatever the reason for the mistake - this is a costly error if detected by a hiring manager.

I would like to say that there is a catchall that will help you identify all errors related to grammar and spelling, but alas, I cannot. Of course use spell check. You should also read your resume backwards, yes, backwards to help you catch errors. I also recommend identifying a friend or family member that is rock solid with English grammar and spelling. Have that person review your resume to ensure that all errors are caught before you submit the resume. You should also consider getting The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, which will definitely put you on the straight and narrow with respect to proper word usage. You will still need to get help with the spelling area though.

4. Your Presentation is Awful

How your resume looks is also important! Do your dates line up? Do lines roll to a second or third page? Consistent and an aesthetically pleasing presentation will help your resume shine. This demonstrates attention to detail – an all-important characteristic. If your resume looks sloppy, what will the hiring manager think? Possibly that you are disorganized and lack focus to ensure the details are reviewed. First impressions are lasting ones, and you want your resume to clearly articulate that you are focused, capable, and able to contribute to positive and lasting change. Choose an updated font like Book Antiqua in 10pts, Cambria in 10pts, or Tahoma in 9.5pts. Times New Roman is an outdated font, so I would encourage you to use something more timely.

Either get your resume professionally done, which will ensure that you are positioned correctly, and all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed. Alternatively, there are many templates available online where you can populate your information into an existing format. This will help you stay on track and generate a document that is consistent and pleasing to look at.

5. You Still Have An Objective Statement

Aside from being complete outdated, objectives tell the reader what you want, not what you offer. A resume is a marketing and sales tool about YOU. You need to offer up information about what you bring to the company – not what you want them to do for you.

Instead, start your resume off with a compelling summary. This is 6-7 sentences about what you offer. Since you don’t have a lot of time to make an impact, reference things that are unique – things where you made a sustainable impact. You can even show metrics in your summary to quickly demonstrate the value that you offer. Your summary is your overview about your key attributes peppered with an example or two to make a swift impact.

There’s my top five for you with some actionable solutions to help you create a rockin’ results-oriented resume! http://resumesdonewrite.blogspot.com/

You’ve found it! Found it! The perfect job for you! It’s exactly the type of job you want, and you’re sure the work, people, and salary will be great, right? Maybe—but maybe not. This scenario is not uncommon to many of us. We have all gotten very hopeful at one point or another during our job search, and why shouldn’t we? There is nothing wrong with being hopeful; staying positive is a great attitude to have while looking for work. But the rules of finding a job can be a lot like the rules of dating—you don’t want to get too attached without getting to know each other first.

Things to Find Out Before the Interview

Job description. Job boards will usually have some kind of job description, but you may encounter jobs that don’t have a clear, written description at career fairs or other networking events. Ask yourself if you know the following:

•    Areas of responsibility and job functions
•    Required education, experience level, and technological experience
•    Location of the job
•    Time requirements (how many hours per week you are expected to work and the shift you are expected to work)

Based on this information, decide if this is the right job to apply to. If you cannot find this information in the job description, either try calling the HR rep to find this information out; or if this is not possible, apply to the job and find out this information during the interview.

The company’s products, services, and mission. Let’s say you’re a PR graduate who wants to work in meeting planning. You apply for a meeting planning position for PETA—but you own a crocodile skin purse and a fur coat. It doesn’t seem like your values align with the company’s mission, so this may not be the best fit for you. If you don’t find this information on the company’s About Us section on its Web site, you might be able to find out more on sites like www.zoominfo.com where you can get detailed information about companies and their industry leaders. You can use LinkedIn to find out more about the company by using the Search Companies option. You might also want to find out who will be interviewing you and search for that person through LinkedIn, using the Search People function.

Things to Find Out at the Interview

Company culture. The company wants to decide if you are the right fit for an organization, and conversely, you are deciding the same. Ask the interviewer about the company culture—the shared values and actions of the employees. This might be something difficult for an interviewer to define (and what the interviewer says may or may not actually be what the culture is), but pay attention to keywords like casual, friendly, busy, efficient, ethical, and so on. Take notice of the way the employees are dressed and how they interact with one another. Ask questions like, “Would I be expected to work more in teams or individually?” “What is the company’s growth plan?” “Why is this position open/what are the primary reasons for people leaving this company?”

Expectations for this position. Just because you’re interviewing for the same title you had at your last position, doesn’t mean the job expectations are the same! Find out the following:

•    What kind of traits does the ideal candidate have for this position?
•    What are some of the challenges in this position?
•    Do you see any significant changes in this position in the near future?

Things to Find Out After the Interview

With dating, there are certain things you may not want to ask your partner until you are “official.” The same is true with waiting to ask certain questions until you get the official job offer. After you have received a job offer, there is a litany of questions you may want to ask to find out if the job is the right fit for you:

•    What is the yearly/hourly salary?
•    How many paid vacation days do I have?
•    What is your benefit package?
•    Am I expected to work overtime? Do you pay for overtime?
•    When do you assess raises; what is the typical raise rate?
•    Do you give bonuses, and what is the typical bonus amount?

Just like finding the right partner may take a long time, so might finding the right job. Find out everything you need to know to create a successful partnership, and make sure you don’t settle!

How does one go about getting the name of someone in human resources or the name of a hiring manager? Job listings posted all over the place simply read: No phone calls and direct résumé to BD or some other letter combination at some post office box or no-reply email address. Getting a name is like pulling a needle from a haystack. A good read might be something from Sherlock Holmes or a day with reruns of Get Smart to help solve the dilemma.

I won’t lie; getting a name can be tough, very tough. It can be done though! It takes work and a bit of sleuthing. Anything that is worth something is worth working for - right? So, here are some ways to win the holiday turkey - THE NAME.

1. Try calling the receptionist at the company where you are applying. You can ask the receptionist for the name of a person in human resources. If you are nice and engage the person on the phone, you will likely come away with a name.
2. When calling a company, ask to be directed to the human resource department; you will likely get the voice mail of a person within the department. Even if he or she is not the right guy or gal, when your résumé shows up, he or she will pass it along to the appropriate counterpart in the department.

Looking for the name of a hiring manager? This takes more digging.

1. Use LinkedIn and Facebook to find people. If you are on LinkedIn you will need to do a lot of looking to identify people that are associated with the company you are targeting. Join affiliated groups so that you can write to those people directly without an introduction. Is that sneaky? No. LinkedIn is a tool like any other. You need to know how to use it. From there, you can introduce yourself to a person at your targeted company, network with them and obtain a name. Facebook takes a little more work, because you need to introduce yourself and be added as a friend.
2. Traditional research also works. When doing research on a company, oftentimes the company will have a listing of senior management. You can start there. Send a letter or email to one of those people. You never know, you might get a response asking you to send your résumé to them directly, or they might even give you the name of someone to reach out to within the company.
3. Network with everyone you know. The rule of six degrees of separation is what LinkedIn is all about. You can get names from friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and many, many others.

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Is your employer feeling the crunch of the current economic climate? So much so, that the dreaded ‘pay freeze’ has been put into effect? Do you feel that your efforts to go above and beyond have really done some good? You can still get the raise you desire. Here are some tips to help sway the scale in your favor:

Conduct Research: Before you saunter into the boss’ office and have ‘the discussion’ you need to be prepared with some relevant industry data. It would behoove you to have salary data regarding comparable positions so you can present your case from a position of power and intelligence. Knowing where you are in connection with the market will allow you to develop a productive and compelling argument when you sit down to the brass tacks discussion.

Demonstrate your value: Asking for a raise is not enough. You need to demonstrate that you are exceeding expectations. Come prepared (with examples) of projects you completed that generated revenue or saved the company money. You need to justify the raise. If you have assumed increased levels of responsibility, were promoted from a previous role, or created a new business strategy, come prepared to provide the details – down to the numbers of how you made a meaningful contribution.

Understand the company’s goals: Make sure you are doing things that are in alignment with what the company deems important. If a new program is underway, make sure you are applying your skills to meet that need. Pay attention to the initiatives that are important and apply yourself in those areas – within the context of your role; but don’t forget to be creative. Go above and beyond to show true value.

Negotiate on your own behalf: When you make an appointment to meet with the boss to review the increase, you must be prepared to offer other options. For example, if you want a $5,000 increase, you might be offered $2,500. Are there other things (non-monetary) you can request to bridge the gap? You might suggest an extra week of vacation or something else that translates to cash. Similarly, you might be told that nothing can be done at this time, at which point you might want to negotiate a six-month review for a raise upon meeting certain agreed-upon goals.

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People often think that December is the wrong time to find work, because “who leaves a job at the holidays” or because “bonuses are pending” but that’s definitely not the truth. Far too often, people decide to put their job hunt on hold between Thanksgiving and New Year's, but that's a huge mistake. Although new budgets often take effect in January, HR teams receive job requisitions for budgeted new spots much earlier than that, and it’s quite likely that waiting until January might mean that someone else got the job of your dreams.

It’s also very likely that you might be one of the few qualified applicants for a great job when you’re interviewing in December, simply because other candidates think it's a bad time to hunt. After all, positions become open for a variety of reasons: people find better opportunities or they move or even get promoted. With the economy starting to recover, more work equals new jobs, but this is definitely a case of being in the right spot at the right time.
There are also many personal benefits to continuing a job search at this time of year, such as avoiding holiday depression simply by being dressed each day and feeling a sense of worth. Let’s also remember that being active is powerful – and being home depressed, simply waiting for the calendar to change to January can feel really powerless. There are also many hidden opportunities to being out there job hunting. Even if you’re not chosen, for instance, you might be offered temp work or freelance assignments, which can lead to networking opportunities and of course INCOME. And we know that someone who is already employed, even in a temporary capacity, is a far more attractive hire than someone who isn’t.

There are also some very unique opportunities in December -- holiday parties, for instance, are a great time for networking. You never know who will be there or what opportunities they might have opening up at their company – so be sure to remain professional and poised at all times – this isn’t the time to take risks or be the life of the party! And definitely have business cards with your contact info in your pocket.

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What are some of the things you are doing to stand out from the crowd? We all know that as technology continues to evolve and there are more and improved ways to communicate, getting your résumé noticed by hiring managers, recruiters and members of the HR community can be difficult. There are human capital management systems like Taleo that abstract the players names and contact info and anonymous job postings that are, well, anonymous; and it can be next to impossible to get the name of someone. I say next to impossible because nothing is impossible! It just depends on how much time and effort you want to expend. Regardless, in the world of career search, you want to stick out like a sore thumb – but only in the most professional and positive way, of course. This brings me to my point, finally. What are some things you can do to make sure you grab the reader’s attention aside from the obvious results dominated statements?

Your résumé through rose colored glasses: Depending on the industry you are working in and the position you hold, adding some color in a tasteful way can make your résumé shine. If you work in marketing, PR, or another related or similar field, adding this dash of flair can illustrate a bit of creativity on your part and will allow you to stand out from the other candidates in the pile. You might consider changing the color of the major headings to a deep maroon or something dark grey. Don’t go too crazy; you simply want to spice up the résumé a bit while keeping a professional and tactful appeal. More

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Although there’s no way to be 100% prepared for a job interview, a candidate can always feel confident and knowledgeable. Quite honestly, that comes from only one thing: preparation. The BEST form of preparation is to spend the time to learn about the company in question and to mock interview using as many common questions as possible. Investing in a career coach to go through this process is something EVERY candidate should do the day that they find out they’ve lost their job. This will keep them on track, teach them vital interview skills, and quite possibly get them a job MUCH faster than someone who doesn’t have all of these tools properly in place. Having answers prepared for the common interview questions is vital to a serious candidate.

#1. What are you looking for? Don’t miss the opportunity in this question! Be ready to talk about the job that would be appropriate for you and how your skills would translate to the new employer. Be careful NOT to talk about opportunities for advancement – you could talk yourself right out of the job you are interviewing for. Companies want to know that you have many assets and skills and an enthusiastic attitude about your job, but they don’t want to hear that the position at hand is a “stepping stone” to something greater. It’s far too easy to unintentionally imply that their company is also a stepping stone – or a quick stop while you find the “right” job.

#2. Aren’t you overqualified for this position? This is a tough one. Definitely be enthusiastic about the job and proud of your expertise; don’t downplay your accomplishments. Instead, share what makes you interested in the job at hand at this point in your career. For instance, elaborate about applying your expertise to a new industry or talk about the upside of working in a smaller company – or a larger one. Be VERY careful to leave out any tone of desperation!

#3. What’s your biggest weakness? Definitely do not answer this with a self-deprecatory statement about yourself. This is not the place to be humble. Keep your answer brief and be sure to put feature your “weakness” in a good light. For example, “I’m very much a perfectionist, but I use that to always make sure my team’s needs are fulfilled quickly and completely.”

#4. What are your salary requirements? Be prepared! This question should NOT leave you caught off guard. Always try to postpone answering this question until a job offer is made. If you used a staffing agent, let them handle this for you. But do be prepared and know what the salaries are in your industry (you can find this out at SimplyHired.com and Salary.com). If you don’t know the budget that the company has available, and the interviewer persists, you can simply ask, “What salary range are you working with at this time?” If you’re seriously being considered for the job, it’s quite likely that they will tell you what their constraints are.

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Let’s face it, if you’re out of work, the hundreds of hours spent reading job postings, working on and sending out resumes, pounding pavement, going to networking events, etc., etc., ALL of that effort is really about ONE thing: the interview.

The interview (either live or by phone) is where you need to bring your best stuff – and to be quite honest, there’s no second chance to get it right. So let’s jump in and cover the top three questions everyone needs to be ready for.

#1. Tell me about yourself. This is usually the FIRST question that comes up and the FASTEST way to end an interview. First of all, be sure to make your answer short and sweet and try to focus on experiences and goals that relate to your prior work experiences. We don’t need to know that you like to canoe or bake. If you can, make the effort try to tailor your answer to the specific job you’re applying for. If you’ve been in the workforce for a long time, resist the desire to stress that fact. It’s much more important to focus on your skills, achievements and how you add value. Be sure to emphasize your personal attributes as well, but only if the interviewer seems open to hear more – stress great assets, like flexibility and a positive attitude.

#2. Why are you looking for a job? Be sure to keep this answer brief and straightforward. For example, “My company was forced to downsize.” Avoid negative statements about yourself, your work, the company you left, or your ability to get along with your team. I share this quite often, but never criticize former employers or coworkers. What do you say if you really hated where you worked? You can say that you simply did not find the opportunities that you were looking for. It’s also important to have a few goals at your fingertips, in case the interviewer asks you to expand on that thought.

#3. Why have you been out of work for so long? This question can come in a variety of ways, but responding to gaps in your employment history is definitely a tricky one, especially with the economy being so tough. People end up out of work for a variety of reasons, but they’re not ALL downsizing. So first of all, be sure to be honest. Next, make every effort to speak confidently about your experiences during gaps in your employment. Some of those efforts can surely transfer to on-the-job skills. For instance, if you were a caregiver, you may have managed complex financial issues. If you volunteered while looking for work, you might have worked with diverse groups of people and on flexible schedules – and definitely talk about your achievements. If you managed a huge annual fundraiser for a local charity while you were out of work, that speaks VOLUMES about your organizational skills, your work ethic and your integrity.

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What is your greatest weakness?

Asking this question is like begging for a cliché. What does the interviewer think he is going to hear? “Oh, well, let me tell you. I am perpetually late; I simply cannot get anywhere on time – not even to the office.” Right-on! No person at an interview is going to give that type of answer. Instead you would come up with something equally lame like the following: “Well, I am a consummate perfectionist; I must make sure that everything is perfect 100% of the time; so I expend extra energy to ensure things are done the right way.” Hmmm. That sounds like an answer you would give simply because you don’t know what else to say and you certainly aren’t going to provide a REAL weakness. You might be left at the starting line if you did that. Superficial answers will not work, though.

Consider this when answering the greatest weakness question. It might be ok to tell the hiring manager something that is not your strong suit. You should also follow it up with something you have done to improve. You are then not just telling someone what you are not good at, but you are also sharing information about the steps you have taken to change the situation. How you have addressed the problem or improved your confidence will serve as the basis for your answer.

Preparing to answer this question before the interview will help you. If you give the standard ‘perfectionist’ answer, you will seem disingenuous. You can even tell a story about a situation. That will uncover the weakness but also allow you to follow up with how you corrected the problem.

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