TOP TEN RESUME MISTAKES TO AVOID

While our government continues deficit spending at unprecedented
levels sooner or later the dreaded (TAX) word is silently gaining
more momentum in Congress as one way to begin reducing our national
debt.

Nonetheless, most US business owners vigoriously oppose any
kind of tax hike-many of them say any tax increase by Congress
will result in a huge loss of jobs nationwide.

For many of us any loss of a weekly paycheck would be devastating.
But it would certainly make good common sense to prepare for
a job loss by brushing up our resumes just in case.

So you have been fired. Do you desire another career choice?
Or are you a newly minted college grad just starting out?


Your resume speaks volumes about you.If your resume misses the
first cut,your finished,no matter how qualified you may be.
In this post I've included top 10 mistakes to avoid when
putting your resume together:


1)Multiple pages – You need to be concise. Keep it to one page and one page only. If you can’t highlight your talents on one page, you’re giving the message that you are unorganized and tend to go on and on.


2) Fancy paper – If your skills don’t speak for themselves, then your fancy paper isn’t going to make a bit of difference.


3)Fancy font – Same as above. Don’t try to set yourself apart with a different font on your resume. Set yourself apart by being uniquely qualified.


4) Irrelevant info – No one really cares that you were a singing waiter if you’re applying for an accountant job.


5) Outdated information – Does it matter than you had a newspaper route and were on the high school cheerleading squad 24 years ago? No, not in the least. Leave it off.


6) Typos and misspellings – You would think this is an obvious one, but you’d be amazed at the number of resumes received with huge blaring mistakes.


7)Falsified information –Greatly elaborated credentials are the same as lies. Do not list diplomas, certifications, affiliations or awards that you did not earn. Just don’t do it. It’ll come back to bite you in the rear end.


8) Attachments – At the resume stage do not send any attachments, whatsoever. If you are granted an interview, at that time you could bring in whatever it is you’re so hot to get into the selecting official’s hands. The person accepting the resumes will likely just throw it in the trash can.


9) Elaborating too much – Place of employment, job title and brief, very brief description of job responsibilities are all you need. Don’t complete a whole paragraph for each job you’ve held.


10) No cover letter – Writing a good cover letter is a bit of an art. However, any cover letter is better than none. Just keep the same principles in mind with your letter: Brevity, relevant and free from typos.


If you can avoid these simple top ten resume mistakes, you’re more than half way there to getting an interview

5 Keys To Finding A Job

With outsourcing, downsizing and plant shutdowns increasing, more and more people are finding themselves competing with young college graduates as well as their friends for the ever-shrinking supply of desirable jobs.

Then who do you think gets the best job? It is not always the most qualified. How many times have you heard, "I'm sorry, you're over-qualified for this position"? An employment consultant replys, "The job often goes to the most effective job seeker." Here are 5 keys to finding a job that just might give you the edge you need:

Be Organized

It is very important that you establish your personal 'workday' schedule so that you start your day knowing what you need to do that day in your job search. Set daily goals and record what you have done. It is amazing how satisfying it is to be able to check things off your list each day. In addition, each day must start with your getting dressed for work. Why would you need to do that? If you are dressed properly for business, it will give you added confidence, especially if you are talking on the phone with prospective employers. This is your "job" now, finding your next employer.

You can get addresses and phone numbers of prospective employers from the employment office. Respond to newspaper ads. Use the yellow pages of your phone book and make lists of companies that might have jobs that are often not advertised, and then contact them. Send a professionally prepared resume to these companies. After such systematic searching, you will be more successful at reaching your goal of finding a job.

How to find the Hidden Jobs

Your opportunities for finding a suitable job will be limited if you are looking for work only by responding to newspaper or Internet advertisements. The best jobs are often never advertised. How can you gain access to this hidden job market? Start by setting aside time each week to personally call on businesses that you think may have jobs in your area of interest or experience. They may tell you that they do not have anything now, but to check back in two or three months. Put them in your "tickler list" to follow up with in two or three months. If they say they are not hiring, ask if they know where else you might look and specifically to whom you should speak. If they suggest a company and contact, try to make an appointment with that company right away. When you call for the appointment, be sure to tell them who recommended them to you.

Ask your friends, family, and other associates to help you access the hidden job market. Let them know what your skills are and what you are looking for. Network with everyone. You never know who might know someone that knows someone that has an opening that requires just the type of skills you have. You might want to have some business cards made up with your contact information and maybe a short list of pertinent skills to leave with everyone you ask to help you in your search.

You Need an Effective Resume

If you are applying for an executive position, having a professional resume to give to your potential employers is a must. But no matter what job you are seeking, a well-prepared resume can be a great asset. A resume tells potential employers not only who you are but also what you have accomplished and why they need you.

What to include in your resume:

1. Provide your full name, address, phone numbers, and e-mail address.
2. State your work objective.
3. List the education you have received, highlighting any training and skills that relate to the job you are seeking. You may have to adapt your list of skills to the particular position you are applying for.
4. Provide details of previous work experience. Include not only what you did but also examples of the goals you reached and the benefits you brought to your previous employers.
5. Highlight aspects of your previous employment that qualifies you for the job you are currently seeking.
6. Include personal information that describes your qualities, interests, and hobbies.

How to Nail the Interview

1. Research the company. With some background knowledge, you can converse intelligently with the interviewer about how the company and your skills match.
2. Dress appropriately for the type of work you are applying for. Always be neat, clean and well groomed.
3. Arrive about 15 minutes early. This will give you a little time to relax. NEVER BE LATE.
4. Smile and give the interviewer a firm handshake if that is appropriate.
5. Avoid being negative about your former employers and work mates.
6. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer and speak clearly and confidently about yourself.
7. Don't forget to ASK FOR THE JOB if you still want it at the end of the interview.

Be Adaptable

To increase your chances of finding work, you must be adaptable. It is unlikely that you will find a job that has everything you are looking for. You need to learn to be content with employment that is less than ideal. Being adaptable may mean overcoming prejudice against certain types or work. Be willing to accept any suitable work that does not compromise your values.

By using these 5 keys to finding a job, you will have an advantage over the majority of others who are competing with you in the job market.

7 Things Every Job Hunter Should Do

Americans are in the most difficult job environment most of us have seen in our working lives. Every day you hear of another major company planning to fire more workers. It's not a sunny picture, but if you are one of those people who have been effected by this difficult economy, you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and make finding your next job your number #1 priority. You have to take charge of the situation and not sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Here are 7 things every
job hunter should do that can help focus your efforts to help achieve the goal of find that next position:

1. Finding your next job is a full-time job.Do'nt get distracted because you are
at home..

2. Update your resume. Even if you are well known in your industry, you need to have an up-to-date resume available that you can e-mail or send when you need to. Put your e-mail address on the resume, your cell phone number, and make sure all your dates are correct.

3. Have a cheerful outlook. Do not be embarrassed about being out of work, especially in this environment. You need to hold your head high and be confident in yourself and your abilities.

4. Be organized. As you follow up with leads, and network with people you know in the industry, you have to find a way to keep track of this information. Also, by making daily to-do lists, you can keep track of what you are accomplishing and where you are spending or wasting your time.

5. Keep yourself presentable. Make sure you get that hair cut, when you need it, and have the best outfit ready for interviews. Looking your best will help make the right impression, when that important interview comes along.

6. Know what you want to do and where you are willing to do it. Job seekers need to be able to articulate what they are looking for, the flexibility they have in considering other industries, and if they are willing to move for the right opportunity.

7. Get an accurate understanding of your finances. You need to know how much you have in your bank account, and how much you can access through credit lines. You need to determine what expenses have to be paid, and what expenses can be delayed or renegotiated without harming your credit. The rule used to be that you should have at least six months of expenses in a savings or money market account for emergencies, but most people do not have that discipline.

Most of us have no way of knowing how long this troubled economy will last before we turn the tides and see a resurgence in the business environment. What we do know from history is that down cycles last for six months to a year or so, and then things start turning around, sometimes very quickly. Even in down cycles, there are always industries that are hiring.

In fact, when one opportunity ends, another that could be even better may be the one you find.So keep in mind these 7 things every job hunter should do to secure your next job.