Posted By Amanda Collins on July 17, 2010

Imagine that a custodian position was open and the ad required each candidate to submit a résumé. One candidate’s résumé says things like: “Responsible for maintaining 30-office building with crew of five.” The other talks not only about what he did, but he also says, “Saved company $13,000 annually by suggesting transitioning to low-water-use commodes.” Which applicant do you think would get the interview?

Companies want to know a bit about what you did, but—more importantly—they want to know what you can do for them. Accomplishments are a great way to showcase those areas in which you have added value in the past. Make sure you have both a result (numbers are best) and an action. That way, the employer will say, “Wow, she added 25% in revenues with this training program we’ve been considering implementing. I need to talk to her!”

The way I incorporate both tasks and accomplishments is to lead with what you did in the position, in a paragraph style. Maybe three to five sentences about how many people you oversaw, your budget, and what a typical day was like. Then, in bullets, have your accomplishments. I front load them so the result is first, mostly because most people don’t read résumés (they scan them). That’s an easy way to share your value—and make it pop!

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Tags: accomplishments on resume, Resumes

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 30, 2010

Back when I started writing résumés in 1996, they all started with an objective. But, if you look back at objectives, they’re often all about you, when we all know that a résumé’s true job is to share the value you’ll provide an employer.

Although the function of an objective remains the same, its name has changed. Now, we call it either a headline or a title, remaining in line with the marketing function of résumés. The goal of a title is to set the tone for the rest of the document and let the reader know who you are for him. Something simple and clear, such as the job title, is the way to go.

Objective: To obtain a full-time position in which I can apply my acquired skills in health care to better benefit the organization and myself.

Title: Staff Nurse

One of the above is clear and succinct, while the other talks around the issue without saying much. To continue with this example, it will be much easier to stay on target with the content of the résumé using this title. The objective here could mean the person is a healthcare administrator, CNA, or any other manner of positions.

So stick with a short title or headline. Elaborate in a branding statement and add more about your value in your summary.

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Tags: resume, resume objective

Posted By Amanda Collins on June 18, 2010

When I meet with clients, they tend to think their résumés should reflect THEM, when the truth is that the document should really be showcasing the value you provide an employer. Each time I review a résumé, I’m asking myself, “Will a potential employer care about this? Will s/he be compelled to call you for an interview after reading this?” If the answer is no, you may be on the wrong track.

Write your résumé for the employer. Share how you can help to increase profits, decrease costs, add or improve processes, and enhance relations. Don’t go on and on about all the things you’ve done in the past—unless they relate to the position at hand.

Even though your name is at the top, that’s irrelevant during the initial résumé-screening process. Your résumé is not all about you.

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Tags: Resumes

Posted By Amanda Collins on March 15, 2010

Taken from a recent e-mail from Mike O’Brien at Climber.com.

Did you know 75% résumés are overlooked? If you are like most people, you have applied to and uploaded résumés for dozens of jobs and heard nothing back. This is generally referred to as the “résumé black hole.”

If you do not know how to beat the résumé black hole, chances are your résumé will be overlooked. The root of the  problem is a piece of technology called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). The ATS was designed to streamline the flow of applicants for companies. This is accomplished by having a central place where all applications and résumés are warehoused.

To further compound the issue, ATSs are only 65% to 80% accurate in reading the information in your résumé. This means that one-fifth to one-third of the time the ATS is just plain wrong in importing data wholly and properly into the ATS. If your résumé makes this cut, the ATS then screens and ranks your résumé against open positions.

Next, résumés that pass the ATS screen are generally sent to a gatekeeper who spends about 30 seconds reading the résumé before deciding to move it along to the recruiter or hiring manager or pass it along to the trash can. About 1 in 10 résumés are passed along to the decision maker who decides if you will be interviewed.

Combat the résumé black hole by:
Loading up on keywords: ATSs rank on keyword density. Keywords should match closely to the required skills that appear in the job posting. The better you score against a jobs skill requirements the higher your résumé will rank.

Bypassing the ATS: Leverage your connections in person and the social media spectrum. Attend networking events and be sure you have a complete profile on LinkedIn. Also, connect with a recruiter (or two!) who specializes in your industry.

Making sure the job fits. Especially in today’s tough job environment, it is even more important to make sure that you have the skills and background required for the job.

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Tags: Job Search, key components in resumes, linkedin, resume, resume keywords

Posted By Amanda Collins on February 28, 2010

There is a lot of power in a résumé – well, at least there is potential. So many times, I review résumés that lack a focus and strategy. Essentially, they are a brain dump of everything the person has done across his or her career. Typically, there are many areas for potential improvement, but it all starts with the top. Whether you call it an objective, title, or headline, how you present yourself starts with your first words.

When I first started writing résumés (in 1996), an objective was something like:
To obtain a position in which I can apply my experiences in child development and education.

Now, however, titles / headlines have replaced that long, not very to-the-point statement:
Preschool Teacher

Just like a newspaper headline draws readers to learn more, a résumé headline should do the same. To expand on the newspaper similarities, in journalism “above the fold” is where all writers want to be – because it’s the first part readers see when the paper is delivered. On your résumé, your “above the fold” section is the first third of your document, where you will have your contact information, headline, summary, and keywords. Employers have a lot of choices in résumés these days, so attract their attention immediately!

Even if you include a headline, it can be poorly written. At an event I attended yesterday, a hiring manager said he’d received a résumé that said “Banking Executive.” His first response? “Huh?” That basically meant nothing to him, so he didn’t bother to read further. His suggestion? Your headline should match the position for which you’re applying.

So be specific, succinct, and definitely include a headline on your résumé so employers are sure who you are for them. Questions on a résumé are never good.

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Tags: Job Search, resume, resume headline, resume objective

Posted By Amanda Collins on February 4, 2010

Excerpted from a recent e-mail from Mike O’Brien at Climber.com

Over the last few months I have gotten this question a few times, so I thought it would be a good time to address it. The good news is in most cases yes, so keep all your receipts!

According to H&R Block, your job search expenses are deductible if :

• You look for a job in the same field.
• You are looking for a job at a similar level to your most recent job.
• The total of all of your miscellaneous itemized deductions is more than 2% of your over Adjusted Gross Income.

I asked Aaron Garabedian from The Garabedian Group, an accounting and consulting firm in Fresno, CA, to explain this in plain English, “For instance, if have been out of work for six months and your total adjusted gross income for the year is $25,000, you would need your total miscellaneous itemized deductions to be more than $500.  This is the total of all miscellaneous deductions not just job-search related; some other miscellaneous, itemized deductions are professional or union dues, work tools, protective work clothing, and tax preparation fees.”

Here are the items that you can generally deduct:

• Employment agency fees (like Climber.com http://www.climber.com/url/t/x0ZGE63789654): If your fees are repaid by an employer in a later tax year, you will have to declare the reimbursement as income.
• Résumé Preparation / Marketing: Printing, postage, advertising, and other fees associated with creation and distribution of your résumé.
• Travel: Unreimbursed airfare, automobile mileage, meals, and lodging are all covered.

Tax Tools and Services:

• H&R Block – Helpful online tax preparation: http://www.climber.com/url/JgrjA63316619
• TurboTax Online –  The faster way to file online: http://www.climber.com/url/9hla263316997
• No-Cost Taxes Online – No-cost and low-cost tax filing: http://www.climber.com/url/xaJxi63317156
• Income Tax Calculator – Calculate your income tax online: http://www.climber.com/url/WLw4z63317250

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Posted By Amanda Collins on September 10, 2009

I’ve been writing résumés since 1996, and at that point they were little more than prettified job applications with little or no focus on differentiating the client. They were a series of lists saying what you did at each job. And they all started with objectives. In essence, they were about applicants.

Today, résumés are no longer past-oriented; they are very much targeted to the reader and future-oriented. Far from the days of lists, the best résumés today highlight your value proposition and accomplishments you’ve had across your career to paint a picture to the reader and let them know how you can make their business better. The driving factor behind résumés is WIIFM: what’s in it for me? – meaning what’s in it for the employer.

If your résumé starts with an objective, doesn’t have a summary / profile, and you’re not sure what accomplishments really are, you’re likely not hitting the right note with HR managers and recruiters. Remember that you need to market yourself as the expert, the one candidate they cannot afford to pass up. If you do that, you’ll likely see a turnaround in your responses to your job-search efforts.

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Tags: accomplishments, Job Search, resume

Posted By Amanda Collins on September 9, 2009

As much as I would love to believe that a well-written résumé is all you need to secure your dream job, I know that it takes a strategic marketing effort to get your name out there and create that next opportunity. When you’re looking for a job, that effort becomes your small business that you are running – but it doesn’t have to be as a sole entrepreneur!

There are many online resources for ramping up a great job search: LinkedIn, TheLadders.com, HireFlyer, and many others. When you find a position or company that’s of interest to you, put out feelers on LinkedIn and ask your friends. It’s amazing how many people we all know – and we forget that one of our connections may know just the right person to help open a door.

Also, if you are in a larger city, there are likely networking events and in-person resources for job seekers. Check with your local library, chambers of commerce, and community colleges to see if they host mixers that get together job seekers and employers. They may also have classes and seminars on how to interview, network, and share your story.

Of course, a résumé is integral to a successful job search, but it’s not the end-all, be-all. As part of my service to clients, I encourage you to connect to me on LinkedIn and Facebook to create your future – and find a great job!

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Posted By Amanda Collins on September 8, 2009

It may come as a surprise to you that many of my clients are marketing professionals, whose job it is to package and sell products. Through a résumé, you are packaging and marketing yourself, but even successful professionals may find it challenging to know what to include and omit while drawing attention to the vital skills and accomplishments that relate to the position at hand. In fact, my own résumé is missing many of the vital components I insist are included in those I write for clients!

When someone else looks at your résumé, what picture is it painting? Does it put you in a “suit” or “jogging pants”? Too often, I review résumés of executive-level candidates that make them come across as entry-level with no ability to lead or make a difference.

Take a look at your career-marketing documents again. Are they just okay, or are they positioning you to be in the “yes” pile of this very competitive landscape?

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Posted By Amanda Collins on August 4, 2009

On the majority of résumés I see, people are missing a key component – the summary. As a marketing document, your résumé needs to sell you in a matter of seconds, and your summary will speak volumes about you. So make sure you grab readers’ attention immediately with an amazing summary that really showcases the value you offer and makes employers want to pick up the phone.

Although it is the first part of the résumé the reader sees, I write the summary last. I like to get a full sense of accomplishments and themes before I head up to write the summary. It’s kind of like trying to write the back cover of a book before the book itself is complete. I look at themes to get keywords out of experiences and accomplishments. Things like Product Management, Cost Controls, Operational Streamlining, and Systems Architecture are areas that may stand out when I reread the rest of the résumé. Someone told me today he heard of a colleague saying he optimizes your résumé as the SEO Résumé Writer. Well, all good writers should be doing that, so don’t be fooled. You do it too by adding those keywords.

Then, as I’m looking at accomplishments and the keywords I’ve culled, I start to see the picture of the individual. It also helps to have clients answer the question, “Why should an employer hire you?” That’s the crux of the summary, really. If you can’t share that in 30 seconds or less, you’re headed to the “no” pile. So think about it. What do you bring? Why are you the best candidate?

Too many clients will tell me they’re nice people or reliable, the soft skills you might have said in an interview 10 years ago. While it’s great to be the person in the office everyone likes, it’s more substantial to share some back-able, quantifiable results you can bring. Think about what you do. Are you the best marketing person, who has successfully expanded brand recognition through your initiatives? Do you create solutions for clients following development of a relationship?

Another trick is to look at the job description. They give you the answers right there, so use them! If the job write-up says they want someone with a demonstrated track record in supply chain management and channel development, make sure you write a sentence about that in your summary and add those words into your keywords section. No need to reinvent the wheel. Most companies are sifting through résumés with a scanning system, so the more words you use in your résumé from the ad, the better your chances of being found.

While there is an art to creating an eye-catching summary, these hints should get you started on the right track. Try to stay objective about yourself and look at your accomplishments from a new viewpoint so you can brag a little!

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Tags: accomplishments on resume, resume, resume summary, seo resume