Archive for the ‘Resumes’ Category

Written by: Nell Taliercio

Your resume needs to outline your skills and experience, as most know. What some may not know is that employers want to know what you’ll bring to the table. They don’t want to know what your daily duties were. They want to know what you did for the companies you worked for that makes you extraordinary.

Did you save them money, did you make them money, how were you the best at what you did, etc. Yes, employers want to know what your experience is, so duties are good to add. Again, the name of the game is SELL YOURSELF! This does not lose its importance in a resume.

On your resume, point out the skills that will make you a good telecommuter. Can you work well with no supervision? Do you learn fast? Put that on your resume. If you were left to work with little to no supervision at your last job, let them know that. Also tell them how well you did. If you have telecommuting experience, put a big focus on that. Employers want to know that you can handle telecommuting. There’s always a risk involved with hiring someone to work from home, so an employer knowing you’ve worked at home before will be more at ease with you. They will see you as experienced with telecommuting.

MommysPlace has a Resume and Cover Letter center right here for your convenience, too! It outlines many different types of resumes and cover letter information, and it gives samples. Check it out at the Resume and Cover Letter Center.

Are you taking a second look at your resume now and thinking it could be better? Don’t get discouraged if you can’t afford to hire someone or buy a product that helps you. It’s very possible with a lot of hard work that you can improve your own resume. Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts of resumes. Read through these, and look at the resources below before you get started on your resume.

Do’s of Resume Writing (Tips for telecommuting resumes):

Write about your skills sets and experience. Know what type of job you’re looking for, and target your resume to that. If you’re seeking telecommuting careers, then focus your past skills and experience to telecommuting.

List your accomplishments! This is where you need to really shine. Don’t be afraid to show how great you are as an employee. They need to know why you’re the best for the job. Also, point out any special skills you may have that would put you above the rest of the applicants.

Convey how you can work independently. I know I’ve said this before but I wanted to point it out again because in the telecommuting world it’s the utmost importance!

Side Note—> Heather Eagar (professional resume writer) of Professional Approach says this of conveying how you’re independence is key when applying for a telecommuting position:

“Also, as is the case with teleworkers especially, you have to convey AUTONOMY. Since they will be off-site, the company has to feel comfortable that they are able to manage themselves.” Heather Eagar of Professional Approach

Dont’s of Resume Writing:

Don’t leave out your job objective!

Don’t list hobbies on a resume unless it can directly relate to your job objective.

Don’t have a run-on resume. The preferred length of your resume is no shorter than one page and no longer than two pages.

About The Author

Nell Taliercio is the owner and founder of http://www.telecommutingmoms.com – which is a leading resource website with work at home jobs and everything a telecommuting mom would need. Come visit us today!

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com/

By: Charissa Bear

CNN recently published results of research done at Salary.com. It stated that “The typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week, the company concluded, and works at least 10 jobs. In order of hours spent on them per week, these are: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. By figuring out the median salaries for each position, and calculating the average number of hours worked at each, the firm came up with $138,095 — three percent higher than last year’s results.”

That alone should make any stay at home mom feel valued. Unfortunately not all potential employers see it that way. Instead of seeing a fantastic candidate who is more than capable of multitasking, problem solving and having impeccable organization skills, they see a mom who hasn’t worked in years. The dilemma – how can SAHMs create a resume which offers the opportunity to receive an interview?

Concentrate on your skills. There is no hard rule that says a resume is merely job history. Rather use bullets which annotate results achieved. For example:

Instead of: Mom’s Taxi Driver
Try: Possess reliable transportation.

Instead of: Getting kids to and from school, practice and lessons
Try: 100% attendance. Over the past eight years I have not called in sick once nor been tardy to scheduled appointments.

Instead of: Laundry slave
Try: Able to multitask multiple projects at one time, resulting in a smoothly run operation.

Instead of: Sibling referee
Try: Calm under pressure.

You get the idea. The biggest challenge moms have getting back into the workforce is that lack confidence or sense of accomplishments. Staying home to manage the household and care for the family is one of the most difficult occupations around. If you don’t believe me – ask any stay at home mom. Most would agree that they had it much easier collecting a paycheck from someone else; however there is no comparison as to the rewards of working at home.

Have fun with your resume; don’t get stuck in the quagmire worrying about lack of job history. Concentrate on your transferable skills and you’ll be fine. If you’re still at a loss on how to best display your skills, considering hiring someone to help you put together a professional resume and cover letter. You have what it takes. Employers will be fortunate to have you on their team! You can do it!

Charissa Bear is the owner of www.momsinc.biz, a work at home mom site with telecommuting resources and home based business ideas.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com

By: Nell Taliercio

1. An attractive layout that is easy to read and follow.

Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people. They are often reading hundreds of résumés in a day so they don’t have time to clean up your résumés formatting.

If a hiring manager opens your e-mail attachment and the lines are out of alignment (usually from using the “tab” key) or if the font is too large/too small, they will likely hit delete and move on.

Instead of using the “tab” key and the underline function, try to use tables with borders and shading elements to design your résumé. When you e-mail it out, it will retain its original format.
“I would recommend that jobseekers educate themselves and become Microsoft Word experts. Knowing Microsoft Word inside and out will save a lot of time when it comes to the layout and design of a résumé.” Jennifer Anthony

2. A clearly defined goal.

It is imperative that a hiring manager know what position you are applying for and what you have to offer them. Don’t leave them guessing and don’t assume your cover letter will stay with your résumé. Make sure they can glance at it and within seconds know what you have to offer them. Here is an excerpt from a writer’s résumé:

EXPERIENCED WRITER

Accomplished writer with 15 years of experience developing excellent materials, including experience in magazine, newspaper, and corporate writing. Versatile and capable, consistently adhering to deadlines and keeping projects on target. Proven ability to use writing skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills to succeed in independent and team initiatives.

3. Skills Summary.

There are many types of skills you can list on your résumé. Focus on your job specific skills and your technology skills.

Here is an example for a legal transcriptionist:

§Type 80 WPM
§Legal Terminology Knowledge
§Microsoft Word
§Corel WordPerfect
§Express Scribe
§FTP Knowledge

4. Honesty.

There needs to be a trusting relationship formed in a telecommuting situation. How does the employer know that you won’t lie about how many hours you worked? How do they know you will not steal confidential information? There is no guarantee. However, I can guarantee the trusting relationship is gone as soon as you lie on your résumé and you will be disqualified from the position.

Consequently, it is not in your favor to extend your old employment dates or to inflate your job titles. Companies are hiring sophisticated research companies to investigate your background. Don’t think because your supervisors are all long gone, that your record is gone too. There is always a human resources department or a payroll company that processed your paychecks. And when all else fails, they will ask for pay stubs or old tax records for proof of what you wrote in your résumé. DON’T LIE.

5. Keywords/Buzzwords

Many companies are using an automated system that scans your résumé for the qualifications necessary for the specific job opening. If your keywords and industry buzzwords are missing, your résumé will not be selected as a match from the company database and a real person won’t even look at your résumé.

Take a few moments to read through the job description to pick out the keywords used. Look at trade publications and other vacancy announcements for the same type of job to find frequently used buzzwords in your career field. Make sure to incorporate these words into your résumé so yours won’t get lost in the database.

For more assistance on résumé writing in general, follow these helpful links!

http://www.telecommutingmoms.com
http://www.resumeasap.com
http://resume.monster.com

Article By:

Nell Taliercio is the owner and founder of www.telecommutingmoms.com– which is a leading resource website with work at home jobs and everything a telecommuting mom would need. Come visit us today!

By Ruth Anderson
VANTAGE POINT Coaching & Consulting

Your perspective on resumes – what they are and how they function – will doubtless influence how well you can write your own. To create an outstanding resume, begin by questioning and replacing some of the commonly held assumptions about resume writing.

ASSUMPTION: “A resume is a personal history, and prospective employers will read it primarily to learn about past jobs and accomplishments.”

Replace with: A resume is best thought of as a proposal, rather than a history.

Although a resume does primarily include information about your personal history, its chief aim should be to convey this information in a way that is highly relevant to the job in question. Thus, the key question to address is: How are you uniquely qualified to do well in the position for which you are applying? Writing to answer this question can turn a dry personal history into an attractive employment proposal.

ASSUMPTION: “My resume probably won’t be that important anyway – it’s connections and luck that will get me a job.”

Replace with: Revising and improving your resume can play a central role in landing your next job.

No reasonable person would deny that connections and luck help. Nevertheless, not everyone has or finds the right connections, and not everyone wants to wait on luck. Take the initiative, instead, to craft a strong job-search strategy, and include revising your resume as a central piece of this process.

Doing so, at a minimum, will accomplish three things:

1) you will gain clarity on your strengths and all that you have to offer in your next job

2) you will have an important vehicle for introducing yourself to potential employers

3) you will have a springboard for a strong interview

ASSUMPTION: “The previous version of my resume was good enough, and probably needs very little done to it.”

Replace with: Just about any resume, even one used with success before, can benefit from careful scrutiny and periodic revision.

Your resume should evolve as you do. In addition to acquiring new skills, experiences, and accomplishments, you may have shifted in your professional focus or interests. Perhaps you have gained insights into what employers are really looking for in your line of work.

Above all, your resume should be revised so that it is tailored to the employer who will receive it. Even if you have little to add in the way of content, you can always improve your resume by refocusing it on the specifics of the position you are seeking, and by strengthening its wording and overall appearance.
THE BOTTOM LINE (A Winning Perspective):

Take on the task of writing or revising your resume with the conviction that any resume can be made stronger, that you have an important employment proposal to bring to the eyes of potential employers, and that doing so can be the avenue for landing the job you want. It is with this perspective that you will produce a resume good enough to open doors!

About the Author

This article is excerpted from the eBook “WRITE RESUMES WITH CONFIDENCE: How to Create Outstanding Resumes and Have the Confidence to Use Them with Success.” Learn more about this book and about Ruth Anderson’s coaching and consulting services — including the INTRODUCTION TO COACHING and JOB SEARCH TUNE-UP programs at–http://www.vantagepointcoaching.com or write mailto:ruth@vantagepointcoaching.com
 
 

By Jennifer Anthony, Resume Expert

Jobseekers often ask me what the difference is between a standard resume and a telecommute resume. So I have compiled this short article to explain those differences.

1. Telecommute resumes have to stand out.

Recruiters and hiring mangers are flooded with resumes when they post a telecommute job. I spoke to a recruiter that stated he gets between 750 and 1,000 resumes, each day, every time he posts a project. It starts to taper off a little after the third day. So after just three days, he could easily have more than 2,000 resumes to sort through.

Because of this, you absolutely have to have a resume that stands apart from the crowd. I don’t mean that you should add all kinds of clipart and colorful graphics – so don’t go crazy. You should take time to make sure your information is presented in an easy to read and eye-pleasing format. You will need to emphasize your skills, particularly your ability to work independently, and your time management skills.

2. Telecommute resumes are highly scrutinized.

You are competing with people all over the country instead of just local applicants. The telecommuting employer has the “cream of the crop” to choose from. They are going to analyze and make judgments on what they find in your resume.

You have to pay extra attention to spelling and grammar errors. Make sure you aren’t using the word, “I” anywhere on your resume. Pay attention to where you place commas, and remember to end your sentences with a period.

Don’t rely on MS Word to teach you proper grammar, those little green lines look intimidating, but you can make them go away (see below). Instead, refer to a manual such as the Gregg Reference Manual or some online manual.

3. Telecommute resumes have to take the place of you.

The hiring manager is not going to be able to meet you. They may call you for a phone interview, but they will make most of their hiring decision based on your resume alone. You want to make sure to cover everything you think is applicable, and leave off information that isn’t. Read over your resume and think about what impression you will make.

In addition, if you have taken any online certification tests, (offered at Brainbench.com) be sure to add that information. If you belong to professional associations, (like the International Virtual Assistants Association) be sure to note that on your resume. Going the extra mile might make the difference between a regretful e-mail, and “you’re hired.”
———-

How to make those green squiggly lines go away:

In Word 2002, go to the “Tools” menu and scroll down to “Options.” When you click on “Options” a new window will open up that has several tabs to choose from. Select the “Spelling and Grammar.” Look for the check box that says, “hide grammatical errors in this document.” Check the box and hit the “OK” button. Voila! All of the little misleading lines have vanished.

Jennifer Anthony is the Director of ResumeASAP, offering professional and affordable resume writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional resume writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail.

Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com