The Great Debate: What Type of Resume Works Best?
The two main types of resumes are functional and chronological. A functional resume concentrates on your accomplishments and experience, with only the briefest reference to your job history. A...
View ArticleAdvice from Your Next Boss
What do companies look for when they read a resume? Recently I asked that question on an online business site. Replies came from 18 hiring and department managers working in colleges, electronics...
View ArticleWhat Employers Want–and Do Not Want–in Your Resume
You are struggling to understand what employers want in a resume: What will make them stand up and take notice? In many ways, what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in. Employers and...
View ArticleKeyword Lists: What Are They and Do I Need One on My Resume?
Keywords are the precise words that hiring managers look for on a resume as a quick check on your skills and background. For example, their ad for a sales person might include the words “sales team,”...
View ArticleHow Much Information Do Employers Need?
Your resume is all about your skills and achievements. But it is not your life story. While writing your resume, you should always think about your future employer. What is that employer looking for?...
View ArticleHow Do You Target a Resume?
I’ve written previously about the need to target a resume for the job you want. But how do you do that? First, you have to read the advertisement or posting for the job. Read it thoroughly. You want to...
View ArticleWhat Belongs in a Cover Letter or Email?
A cover letter or email is an essential part of a resume. The cover letter echoes some of the most important achievements from your resume, chosen to highlight your fit for the particular job you are...
View ArticleDescribing Accomplishments: Why Is It So Hard?
In past blog posts, I have emphasized the need to describe, not job duties (which anyone in your position could perform), not merely skills (which anyone can acquire), but accomplishments. Hiring...
View ArticleWhat Not to Do: Countdown of Four Things to Avoid on Your Resume
Number four in our countdown of things not to do on your resume is keyword spam. Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—the software that “reads” resumes to save humans work—are aware of context. If...
View ArticleWhy Are You Writing Your Resume?
Do you know why you are writing a resume? If you answer, “to tell a company about me,” you are missing the most important point of a resume. When writing their own resume, many people become so wrapped...
View ArticleAre You Self-Selecting Yourself Out of a Job?
The laborious process of finding a new job can make a person confused or uncertain about their skills and accomplishments. You may decide against applying for an advertised job even though you meet...
View ArticleThe Hidden Messages in Your Resume
Over and over, you have heard the same advice about writing your resume. But the reasoning behind that advice might not be as clear. For example, you are told to proofread your resume carefully to...
View ArticleMake Sure Your Skills Get Noticed
I am always concerned when a potential client comes to me with an old resume, and I cannot figure out from the resume what job the client is interested in. What I cannot do, an employer definitely will...
View ArticleResumes for Career Changers
When you are ready to change careers, to a new field, a new position in your existing field, or a new industry, make sure your resume is ready for the change. By thinking ahead, you will be prepared to...
View ArticleYour Resume Goals in College
Soon many of you will be starting or returning to college. Your first priority is to concentrate on your studies, but one of your other priorities should be looking ahead to when you join the...
View ArticleApply for Jobs That Match Your Skills
I recommend that you apply only for jobs where you meet all the job requirements and required skills. If a job is for a company that contracts with the federal government, then by law all hired...
View ArticleIs Everything on Your Resume Worth Mentioning?
Job seekers often worry that they are including information on their resume that is not worth mentioning. For example: Everyone in Beth’s retail store gets to be “Employee of the Month” at some...
View ArticleWhat Not to Include in Your Resume
Your high school education, unless you are applying for your first job after high school. Generally, employers only look at—and care about—your post-secondary education. Badly outdated skills. No...
View ArticleNew Emphasis on Skills by Hiring Managers
A recent article in BusinessNH Magazine discussed how colleges are rethinking degree programs to provide credentials in the specific skill sets that companies and hiring managers want most. The article...
View ArticleResumes for Business Development Professionals
Business development professionals help their companies to forge relationships—with customers, other organizations, and markets—that lead to growth. They need the following skills and talents:...
View ArticleThe Importance of Collaboration on Your Resume
Collaboration is an important skill and attitude across every function and area of a company. In a Robert Half, 80% of CFOs stated that they are collaborating more now than ever before, especially with...
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