In Part 1, I spoke about establishing “…a credible, online presence as a viable job candidate” using the top 3 social media sites LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. In this blog we’ll continue with how and why you should utilize the Internet to manage your career.

HOW:

Your online content is used to create the reader’s first impression of you. Begin by including a business-appropriate picture in the profile you create for each site.

Adjust your privacy settings so only preapproved connections can view your personal postings (or rants!). Keep your public postings of a postive and professional nature.

Provide information for all the profile sections. Don’t skip some positions thereby showing career gaps in your employment history.

Regularly post comments, start discussions and answer questions. Not only does this activity help to validate your credentials and expertise, but it heightens your overall google ranking increasing the opportunity for others (ie. recruiters/employers) to find you quickly and easily.

“Google” yourself to uncover any long-forgotten or unknown “digital dirt” that might be available for public viewing. Remove if possible or replace with lots of relevant, business postings to force the negative further down in a google search. Worst case, be prepared to address the “digital dirt” in an interview.

While this might seem overwhelming, it’s really not. Each site helps guide you through building a profile to completion. LinkedIn, for example, helps you build your profile to “100% complete” status in easy steps: 1) include a profile picture, 2) detail your career and educational achievements and 3) obtain professional testimonials.

WHY:

The majority of jobs are found in the “hidden” job market and that’s where networking can help you take the steps to uncover those opportunities. Use social media to build a network of connections. Connect with people in the industry you’re targeting, with people who hold the position you seek, with ex-employees of the company you’re targeting…and the list of possiblities goes on.

While you’re trying to find a job, you also need to be found by the HR professionals and recruiters who peruse the Internet for viable candidates. As stated in Part 1, 80%+ of recruiters and HR professionals now use the Internet to locate and screen candidates.

Increasingly, companies are now using social media sites to post job openings. You can find jobs on 3 sites mentioned above. Still not a believer? While writing this post I went to tweetmyjobs.com and current employers posting jobs include: Sony, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Sears and many, many more.

Why is it worth investing the time to complete all the onscreen information? Consider this tip from LinkedIn: “Members with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive career opportunities.”

Gone are the days when applying for a job consisted of a person replying to an advertised position by submitting a hard copy resume via snail mail or in-person to the employer. The advent of the Internet and social media have made the process of applying for a job and possessing a credible reputation far more complex.

While multiple computer copies of a resume are now the norm, Word format for email and .txt or ASCII for some job boards, it is now essential for any serious job candidate to also establish an online presence. With 80%+ of recruiters and HR professionals now using the Internet to search for and pre-screen candidates, you can no longer hide in obscurity and allow your competition to secure the desired position.

While this list is by no means complete, the top 3 social media sites currently being used to locate and pre-screen candidates are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. All of these sites also post job openings allowing you to search additional online avenues in additional to popular job boards such as Monster and Workopolis.

 Begin today to establish a credible, online presence as a viable job candidate. Complete an online profile on each site and watch this blog for Part 2 with more information on using social media and the Internet effectively, while job hunting and in managing your career.

Job search isn’t easy for anyone, from new graduate to senior level executive, however the process can be made easier by being prepared and remaining current. At a minimum, here are 5 “must have” components of an effective job search.

#1 A Current Resume
Compile and constantly update an accomplishment-based resume no longer than 3 pages (preferably 2) written in reverse chronological order ensuring no career gaps. Employ action verbs and key words to entice the reader and comply with companies now employing scanning technology to manage resumes.

#2 A Compelling Cover Letter
Avoid a “one size does it all” approach to cover letter writing. Customize each letter to the position and company. Understand and utilize the different types of cover letters (ie. advertisement, networking, direct mail/cold call, recruiter). Fill the page!

#3 A Thank You Letter
Expressing gratitude, either via snail mail or email, to the Interviewer provides another opportunity to summarize your qualifications and reiterate your interest to the future employer. This letter can be a persuasive tool in the hands of the right decision-maker.

#4 A Separate Reference Page
Use the same style/font/borders/margins as contained in your resume, cover and thank you letters. Google and verify the credibility of your references prior to incorporating them into your job search plans. Verify contact details including phone number and email. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a great job simply because your reference information was outdated/inaccurate.

#5 Credible Online Presence
Google yourself. While you may be in control of your own online postings, you may be unaware what others have posted or connected you to. Join LinkedIn, a highly credible, business professional site now used by the majority of HR decision makers to search for and pre-screen job candidates. A word of caution though, monitor your privacy settings. Only post professional updates for any public settings you may have on social media sites including Facebook. If you want to rant, adjust your privacy settings.

For additional advice from a Certified Resume Professional, please visit the tips and blog postings on www.robustresumesandresources.com or email your questions to brenda@robustresumesandresources.com

(picture courtesy of “adminsecret.monster.com”)

All too often, a resume ends up in the Recycle Bin despite how highly qualified you are for the position. So, how did this happen?

There are multiple potential reasons your resume was eliminated by either an HR professional or a computer program. Here’s a list of common elimination factors:

• Improper spelling, grammar and type-o’s.
• No contact information (including a current phone #).
• Too long (over 3 pages).
• Employment gaps; dates missing.
• Too short; excessive use of white space.
• Lack of detailed career accomplishments.
• Lack of key words and key phrases.
• Created using a word processing template.
• Excessive use of unfamiliar acronyms and industry jargon.
• Inconsistent in format; uses multiple fonts.
• Lacks readability.
• No clear target.
• Appears sloppy and disorganized.
• Includes graphics and shading which can impact content interpretation by optical scanning technology.

Wow, that’s quite a list! I could keep adding to the list, however my goal is for you to take this information and review your resume against these elimination factors before deploying your resume for job search purposes. After all, isn’t the goal to have your resume land in the Inbox and not the Recycle Bin?

Uncertain if your resume is hindering your job search? Seek the advice of Professional Resume Writer, Brenda Collard-Mills. Email your resume or questions to brenda@robustresumesandresources.com.

Many years ago, myself included, job search involved a hard copy resume, snail mail, the telephone and knocking on doors. Today, technology plays a vast role in job search, job application and candidate assessment.

The online availability of resume templates may seem quite enticing as a means to quickly create a visually appealing resume, however using a template will simply result in your resume submission looking like the majority of other candidate submissions. Instead, create a unique, personalized and accomplishment based document to stand out from the competition.

Everyone, well except my husband, has an email address. While it may be fun to have a personalized address such as sweetsuzie@myisp.com, a committed and professional job search must employ a professional email address such as suziesmith@gmail.com. If you wish to include your credentials, an email address such as SuzieSmithBSc@gmail.com would be acceptable.

Increasingly, HR professionals and recruiters are using LinkedIn to search for and prescreen potential job candidates. LinkedIn can be described as “Facebook for business”. It is free, quick to sign up and establish a profile and elevates your overall online presence. Use LinkedIn to build an online network, job search, research companies, connect with current/former employees of a targeted company, answer questions to reveal your business expertise….the list of possibilities within this free social media site is endless. 

Speaking of online profiles, google yourself and your references. Chances are a potential employer will google those names to learn a bit about you and your trusted references, so be proactive and do your own google search. This allows you to promptly address any potential negative information associated with your name or that of a reference. Perhaps you might even choose to replace a reference, pending the information found during your search.

Google is another great tool to perform online research of the companies and sectors you are targeting. Definitely do a thorough search for an advertised position to which you are applying. Incorporate some of your research, such as key words, culture, vision/values, into your resume and cover letter.

So the next time you’re searching for a job, use technology to maximize your job search, minimize your time in career transition and constantly maintain and update your online presence as part of your ongoing career management strategy.

Want to learn more? Start by requesting a free resume &/or LinkedIn profile critique. Send your request to:

 brenda@robustresumesandresources.com

Late last year I was speaking about resumes at our local Youth Centre to a small group of high school students.  The basic lessons I shared with the students apply to everyone when creating or updating a resume.

Never use a resume “template”. Think of a resume as a marketing tool; your personal billboard. It needs to attract the reader’s attention. Using a template only ensures your document looks like everyone else’s and can be the reason you were eliminated from consideration.

Set your word processing spell check to the country in which you reside or are applying to. It occurred to me it might not only be this group of high school students who are unaware of the subtle differences between “Canadian English” and “American English”. For example, the Canadian spelling of the word centre changes slightly to center for American spelling. Create all your resume documents – resume, cover letter, thank you letter and reference page – using spelling appropriate for the country in which the position resides.

Become best friends with a thesaurus. I tried to initiate some personal branding with these students, asking them how they would describe themselves. After much silence, one brave student answered “nice”. Since this is a bit of a weak word, I suggested we use a thesaurus to find a better word. It seems this was the first time the students had ever heard of a thesaurus even though they all use word processing software. Looking up the word “nice” in a thesaurus we found other, stronger words including: congenial, personable, affable, charming and engaging. A thesaurus is another great resource when writing your accomplishment statements. Start each statement with an action verb (for example: designed, supervised, achieved) but never begin future accomplishment statements using the same action verb.

Prudently manage your online presence. While all of these students use Facebook, none of them could tell me how they set up their privacy settings. I recommend being selective not only in what you post but who you share your information with. An increasing trend is for future employers to “google” candidates. I even heard of a university student who lost out on scholarship money because of what the university found when they “googled” that person.

To conclude, whether you are writing your first resume or are updating your resume to reflect a 20 year career history: create a unique to you document, write in the correct version of English, utilize a thesaurus during your creative writing process and effectively manage your online presence.

Need resume advice? Interested in a free resume critique by a Certified Resume Professional? Contact Brenda Collard-Mills of Robust Resumes and Resources (www.robustresumesandresources.com).

(picture courtesy of www.knol.google.com)

Job search is about making a strong first impression, supported by clear and unwavering messaging, and impacts not only your resume. Oral, written and non-verbal communication messages must be consistent to validate the initial impression portrayed along with your value to an employer. 

Does your resume truly match your personality? When networking or attending an interview, does your personal attire support the level of professionalism displayed in your resume? Does your body language confirm or confuse your audience?

Non-verbal communication can emit a very strong message, often done quite unconsciously. Have you ever paid attention to, or requested feedback on, your body language? You could be confusing your audience if your resume states you are an: “…energetic and vivacious team player with strong communication skills…” yet in-person you seem scared and lethargic, looking down at the floor, unable to speak in a concise and confident manner.

The key to a successful job search is always transmitting a consistent and positive message to your audience. Does your resume match your networking speech? Does your body language match your resume and the content of your networking speech? Do you project confidence, look people in the eye and offer a firm hand shake?

What about your attire? If you’re a serious job hunter, you’ll dress to impress. This doesn’t require a substantial financial outlay but does require cleanliness, perhaps a little ironing and attire to match the position or corporate culture of your target company. In my case, I need to focus on eliminating pet hair…a daily occurrence owning 3 furry friends. I wouldn’t want to cause harm to a client or networking connection who might have a severe pet allergy…not the right way to establish a positive first impression!

While we naturally think there are 2 primary forms of communication, verbal and written, non-verbal communication is a key component in relaying a positive message during job search, interview and career advancement. Not sure what message your body language communicates? Start today by either making a video of yourself or asking a friend or family member to observe and provide feedback while you practice your networking speech. Just like resume writing, it’s always good to review and revise your body language to project consistency in all forms of communication.

Let professional resume writer, Brenda Collard-Mills of Robust Resumes and Resources start your communication path with a customized and powerful resume portfolio. Launch the process by emailing your resume for a free critique to brenda@robustresumesandresources.com.

When interviewing clients in preparation to create their resume, I always ask the question “Tell me your 30 second infomercial” which is usually followed by 30 seconds of silence. Rarely can a job seeking, career escalating client articulate a clear response, yet having a prepared and confident infomercial is another highly valuable job search tool. Not sure why you would create one, how to create one or where to start? Let me try and help.

While there are many other names such as Elevator Speech, Networking Speech, Elevator Pitch, to name a few, the basic premise is the same. Similar to the Slap Chop commerical informing us on the benefits of the speedy little chopping machine in an attempt to seduce us into making a purchase, an infomerical for a job search candidate will articulate what your background is, what position/industry you are seeking, your expertise and value to a future employer. Yes, you’re selling yourself in this speech!

You might have a couple of speeches prepared: one to use when networking which clearly states how others can help you achieve your career goal and a second version targeted specifically for a job posting in preparation for an interview.

I Googled the phrase “Elevator Speech” and was met with 328,000 responses with many valuable resources to help you in building a cleary defined 30 to 60 second presentation. Start by thinking of yourself as the “product” being sold. What benefits do you bring to an employer? What do you excel at? What are you renowned for? Have you won awards? What makes you unique versus other candidates vying for the same position? The end result is to capture the attention of your audience by selectively choosing the best words, ultimately saying a lot in very few words, leaving your audience wanting to know more, to help you, to hire you. The more senior your position, the more acceptable it is to have a longer infomercial. Some senior level networking events allow several minutes for each candidate. Target your speech to your specific audience: say enough to entice but not too much to lose their attention.

Don’t expect to have the speech completed in one take! A good speech requires plenty of review and revision until you’re confident with the final product. Then, when the speech is written, start to practice and memorize it in front of a mirror, friends and family to further build confidence. Have them check your body language: is it exuding the same confident message or are you unconsciously fidgeting while enunciating your infomercial? Employment professionals can be persuaded by a candidate with a confident demeanour. Preparation and practice are the building blocks to gaining self-confidence, ensuring you present a natural, warm and enthusiastic image.

So, the next time you’re asked to describe what you do or why you should be hired, stand or sit up straight, smile and confidently respond with your “30 second infomercial”.

Need help building confidence and writing an infomercial? Why not start with a free resume critique. Email your resume for a no obligation informative assessment to brenda@robustresumesandresources.com.

For many people, a business card is something they expect their employer to provide with the name of the company, their title and contact information as part of representing their employer in a professional manner. We also expect to receive them when doing business with merchants and service providers, such as myself, your local handyman or financial advisor. However, if you’re in job search mode, have you thought about making your own business card to market yourself?

Whether you call it a business card, calling card, networking card or some other term, with a very small investment you can create a valuable job search tool.

At a minimum, include your contact information: name, phone number(s), email address and LinkedIn profile if available. Expand it to include the position you are seeking (ie. Territory Manager) or promote your expertise (ie. Account Management Specialist). All of this can be placed on a single sided business card, however, if you want to attract further attention (and pending your budget), go further and print a 2-sided or multi-folded card. Add a tag line, list your soft and hard skills, incorporate concise bulleted accomplishments, list your certifications, awards or publications…any information to briefly highlight your value to an organization or guide an individual in helping you on your job search quest.

Carrying around your resume is inconvenient, awkward and unnecessary. A business card is compact and very portable.  Make the card simple to read and pass onto others. Use a standard business card size (not a postcard size) making it quick and easy for the recipient to review and retain. Keep the card clean and crisp, avoid handing out a bent or dirty card (remember, first impressions count!) Always carry the cards with you so you are ready to seize any unexpected opportunity, introducing yourself in a professional manner and allowing you to share with others your qualifications and target career/industry.

Speaking of first impressions, what better way to outperform the competition than to have a professional looking business card at the ready! I’ve seen career professionals challenge each other at a networking meeting for who had the best “networking card”. These people understood the value of a tailored business card in igniting interest, providing a competitive advantage in a tight job hiring market.  

The time you remain in job search mode can be lengthy and frustrating. For a small investment in your future, a standout business card can give you a head start on the majority of the competition to help decrease the career transition time frame.

For more advice on creating a networking card or other job search documentation, contact Brenda Collard-Mills, Certified Resume Strategist (email: brenda@robustresumesandresources.com).

When interacting with a client during a free resume critique, there are basic areas I review and will share with you in this blog.

Contact information:Is the information current? Is there a phone number? (Yes, I have seen resumes with no phone number.) What type of email address is listed? A hotmail address is the least preferred during a job search. Instead, use a gmail address or one from your service provider. Hotmail addresses can be frowned upon by some HR professionals and recruiters.

Objective statement: Starting your resume with an “Objective” dates a resume. The new approach is to incorporate some personal branding into your resume. Start with a title such as “Administrative Specialist”, then write a descriptive paragraph of your hard and soft skills. (More information about this in previous blogs).

Professional Experience: Has the resume been written in the preferred reverse-chronological order? Do I notice any career gaps between employment dates? Gaps can immediately eliminate your candidacy. Instead, be honest and address the gap. Took time off to raise a family? Say so, be creative such as “Personal Sabbatical” and list the years.

Education/Professional Development: Please exclude your elementary (yes, I’ve seen that listed) and high school education. Have you included the year of graduation for all post-secondary achievements? While you may think leaving the dates off your university graduation means the employer can’t tell how old you are, it also means they can make an inaccurate assumption of your age. Again, be open and honest by including graduation dates (year only, month not required).

Personal Interests:Unless your personal pursuits and community involvement directly relate to the position &/or corporate culture of the company you are applying to, this area of the resume is not required.

Now that I’ve shared some basic do’s and don’ts, why not pull out your existing resume and spend a few minutes reviewing it and determining if it’s current or needs a little updating. Remember, your resume is an important marketing tool in your job search and is the only tool used by an employer to form their initial impression of you as a potential new employee.

Robust Resumes and Resources offers free resume critiques customized to each individual. All it takes to begin the process is to send your resume to brenda@robustresumesandresources.com.