A functional resume is pretty different from a chronological resume. Although they both start off the same way — with your contact information, title, summary, and areas of expertise — they diverge right afterward. Whereas a chronological resume jumps next into either education or professional experience, a functional resume moves into either education or skills and accomplishments. And this is where most job seekers get tripped up.

In your skills and accomplishments section, you should choose 2–4 broad categories in which you have talents AND the employer will want to see. For instance, in sales, you might choose sales management, customer service, and team leadership. Then, within each of those categories, you’re going to briefly sum up your approach, experience, and philosophy as they relate to that heading. Next, you’ll add accomplishments that tie to each skill area as well as to your past experiences.

The biggest issue for most people in creating a functional resume is that it’s not linear — and that’s how most of us think. We’ve been so trained to view our experiences from the present to the past that it’s a big challenge to look at them any other way. A well-written functional resume needs to put everything together in a way that linear hiring managers can trace all of the connections. But this format allows job seekers to tell a story that better markets them when they have a non-traditional background.

Curious if you need a chronological or functional resume? Email your current document to info@grammardocs.com for a complimentary review.

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If you were lucky, you had some education in high school or college about how to build a resume, but what we’re teaching our young people is often 10+ years old and not appropriate for this marketplace. I can’t tell you how many resumes I review that have an old-school objective on them! Starting your document with, “To obtain a position in which I can …” serves no one! Also, many older style resumes are loaded with bullets and focused on tasks rather than accomplishments. These young people need our help!

Although it may seem daunting to write your first resume (or one for your child), the same rules apply here as they do for an experienced executive.

Start with a Title

Objectives are passe. In actuality, they’re more about you than they are about the employer. Instead of an objective, start with a succinct, clear title. If you’re not exactly sure what you want to do, put something that’s a little more generic for cold applications (such as a resume for a job fair), and then change the title for each position for which you apply.

Summarize Yourself

Too often, I see new grads (and others!) missing the vital marketing component of their resumes: the summary. A summary truly answers the question, “Why should I hire you?” Without this, I have no idea why you’re the best candidate for my position. Remember to include this brief section right after the title so you set the tone for what the reader should expect. Also, add in a keywords section so the resume registers on applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Remember Accomplishments

A resume’s strengths lie in its accomplishments. Once you’ve set the tone of the document with a title and solid summary, keep the momentum with accomplishments. On your first resume, you may be at a bit of a loss as to what your accomplishments are, but I’m pretty sure you’ll still have them. You may need to get out of the traditional chronological format to really think about those ways you’ve added value in the past, and don’t get stuck on just paid positions; volunteering and school clubs are great places to accrue accomplishments.

Writing a first resume can feel like a big task, but getting started on the right foot will set you up for future successes. If you’re curious if your resume stacks up, send it to info@grammardocs.com for a complimentary review.

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One of the first things you need in your job search is a resume, but that’s not the golden goose that will make a job magically show up. In addition to having a piece of paper that showcases all of your talents and accomplishments, you need connections, a great 30-second presentation, and a strategy.

When you’re looking at your resume, be sure that it fits YOU, not EVERYONE. Too many times, I receive resumes from people who have a chronological format but really need something more nontraditional, like an altered chronological or a functional format. Those are actually the resumes I love to write because they offer more of a challenge and really bring the job seeker to life on paper. You want the reader of your resume to see how you are better than anyone else who applies, and that might not be best shared with a traditional layout.

If you’re currently unemployed, you have time to build a strategy to get this job. Have your great resume. Build a quick 30-second answer to “What do you do?” and figure out how you’re going to tackle this goal. Incorporate some online networking (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), in-person networking, and actually applying for jobs. Look for local job fairs and check out the hidden jobs on LinkedIn or through your network. You’d be surprised what people know and will offer, but you have to ask first.

Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a new job for the new year. This is the time! Your 2013 is going to be amazing!

The post New Year, New Job appeared first on The Resume Doctors.

If you’re interested in seasonal employment, it’s a no-brainer that this is THE time to look for a position. A stroll through any mall in the US will reveal a multitude of “now hiring” signs, as retailers are right in the middle of their busiest time of the year. Even if you’re gainfully employed, you may choose to begin some holiday job searching just to create a little more cushion in your bank account for your own seasonal expenses.

But if retail sales isn’t for you—or you’re looking for something a bit more long term—December can still be the perfect time to start or continue your job search. Since many job seekers are focused on the holidays, that means applications are down—while those positions keep getting posted. Just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean that business comes to a stop; many companies continue to hire through the end of the year, some in an attempt to prep for 2013.

So continue that holiday job searching with the same energy you had before December. You may find that your efforts will pay off because you’re one of the few in the game.

The post Holiday Job Searching: It May Be the Best Time appeared first on The Resume Doctors.

In a large city, there are bound to be a number of in-person gatherings where job seekers can mingle with potential employers. Generally speaking, there will be a lot of other wanna-be employees vying for their attention, so you need to stand out quickly. Naturally, one way to do that is with an excellent resume, but sometimes that feels like too much. And since etiquette says we don’t staple the two pages together, and you don’t want to submit a folder, a one-page info sheet is an excellent way to differentiate yourself right out of the gate.

So what should you include?

Obviously, first and foremost will be your name and contact information. Put them front and center. Then share your value proposition. On a resume, the next order of business would be a title — and that’s great if you know what you want and that it fits what the employer needs — but that might not be the case at a career fair, so your value proposition will serve to sell you and state how you can solve the employer’s problems. Make it no more than one to two sentences, a summary of your talents as they relate to your targeted companies or positions.

Then highlight some of your best accomplishments. For a one-page info sheet, three or four would probably be enough. Make them strong; this is not the time to be modest!

Finish up with a list of employers (or just those that are relevant) and your education. You may even want to add a sentence at the end like: “Like what you see? To learn more, let’s schedule an interview.”

Your one-page info sheet is portable and can be impactful if you hit it hard. With this, a great outfit, and a winning smile, how can you lose?

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Employment Tip #1: Have a great resume
There are a lot of components that go into creating a great resume, and you need yours to resonate with human eyes as well as applicant tracking systems, or ATSs. This tip could be a 1,000-word article all on its own, but at the very minimum, make sure you have a clear job title, strong summary, keywords appropriate to your industry, and clearly identifiable, results-oriented accomplishments. If you’re not getting calls, it’s likely your resume.

Employment Tip #2: Be ready for the interview
I run across so many people who aren’t sure how to sell themselves in an interview — even if they’re in sales and marketing. The trick is to think of yourself as a widget to be marketed and sold. You should be ready for those “Tell me about a time when…” questions as well as the all-important “Why should I hire you?” zinger. If you’re getting calls and no job offers, it’s likely your interviewing skills.

Employment Tip #3: Leverage your connections
Even though I’m in the business of writing resumes, I tell people all the time that your connections should be your biggest factor in finding a new job. Statistically, most people have 200 people in their database. Reach out to them! And don’t undersell the effect of social media in applying this tip. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter can help you get in touch with the right people faster.

Employment Tip #4: Keep track and follow up
Be sure to track your approaches and results. Follow up with people you meet, whether through an interview, networking, or social media. Say thank you to people for helping. Know what you have done and are doing so you can make adjustments and land that job.

If you are unsure how to create a winning job-search campaign, we can help. Contact us to schedule a free mini-consultation.

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If you’re over the age of 35, you might think this is an issue for the teens and 20-somethings. You’d be wrong. In fact, I recently called a client who is in her late 40s, and she had a ringback tone on her phone. I almost hung up—and she’s planning to give me money. What if I were looking at a pile of resumes and one of the people I called had a ringback tone? Yep, I’d probably hang up and go to the next one.

When you’re on the job search, be sure that your phone reflects your professionalism. Get rid of the ringback tone. Change your voicemail message to something simple and direct (“Thanks for calling; I’m not available right now, but please leave your name and number, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”). And of course, call people back promptly.

You may not have even thought about the phone—especially if you’re more of an email person—but you’ll come across those who will pick up the phone to call you, and you need to maintain the same professional tone across your job-search campaign.

The post Ring, Ring! Be Sure Your Phone Supports Your Job Search appeared first on The Resume Doctors.

When you go to networking events, you may be prepared to take résumés with you, but the truth is that most people don’t want to receive an 8.5 x 11″ document when they’re meeting dozens of people. But what everyone DOES expect to receive at a mixer is a business card. As a job seeker, you can maximize the information you share on this tiny billboard—and create a pocket résumé.

A business card is a minimal investment; on VistaPrint.com, you can even find a free option. The trick is to include just enough but not too much to grab someone’s attention. Obviously, you will want to include your name, email address, and phone number. A LinkedIn URL is also helpful. In addition, both sides can be used to showcase talent areas. This is not where you want to put specifics such as companies worked and colleges attended; you want to get to the point quickly! I typically encourage clients to add in a title and some targeted keywords, one or two great accomplishments, or a strong branding statement.

Once you have a great card, remember that you don’t want to be shoving it in everyone’s hands at the event. Instead, wait until you’re asked for your card. And don’t run after everyone you see; target a handful of people and create some meaningful conversations. While most people do want to help others, they’re more likely to do so after getting to know you a bit.

Whether you carry your pocket résumé on a business card, a phone app, or even verbally with a great 30-second commercial, be ready to share your value quickly. You’ll find that you’ll make a great first impression, and it can turn into your next job!

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50 versions?! Seriously? What I always tell people is that you really only need one résumé: your master résumé. If you’re looking within a set industry, why would you need multiple versions? What you did at past positions won’t change. And if you’re like most people, you’ll have a hard enough time coming up with ANY accomplishments, much less a variety for different positions. So that means that from the professional experience to the end of the document will probably never change.

While you don’t need to change the whole document, you definitely should be looking at the top third of your résumé before you send it out to a new opening. That section includes your headline/title, summary, and areas of expertise/keywords.

Headline/Title
Although you may have set yourself a title to pursue, each company will likely call it something different, so be sure your résumé reflects their language.

Summary
Who you are at the core won’t change, but how you sell yourself to each position probably will. Reread this paragraph with the job description in front of you. What are they looking for you to do? What problems do they want you to solve? These are imperative to include here because this is the section that’s most likely to be read.

Areas of Expertise/Keywords
While your core competency areas are static, the ones you’ll showcase—and how you’ll sell them—may change. Look at the job description for the “must have” section. Many companies are reviewing résumés via a scanning system first, so if you don’t have the right keywords, you may never show up.

Save each document with your name and title: “Joe_Smith_Customer_Service_Manager.” That way, you’ll know to where you sent it when you’re looking back.

The post How Many Resumes Do You Need? appeared first on The Resume Doctors.

Lying on your résumé is never a good choice, but the truth is that most candidates actually ARE working in some capacity. Many talented job candidates are busy doling out advice and support as a consultant, even if they haven’t hung up a shingle to advertise that effort. On your résumé, though, it’s a good idea to fill in that gap with what you really have been doing for the time you haven’t been working in Corporate America.

What you may not know is that you don’t need an LLC or business license to say that you have a company. Call it Smith Consulting and put it on your résumé. Share what you have been doing as your own entity. Perhaps you’ve helped a significant other, friend, or relative with business-related issues. The catch is that you can’t put a “pretend” position on your résumé if you can’t back it up. Like any other position, you’ll still need to have an overall job scope and, more importantly, accomplishments. Be sure that a prospective employer can follow up with your clients (whether they paid or not, if you helped them, they’re clients).

If you cannot say that you have been consulting, try volunteering to fill the gap. Some job seekers are helping out at career networking groups or even in their own industry. That is pertinent information to share—and it might help you to look more relevant in the job search.

Have questions about how your résumé stacks up? Email it to us for a complimentary review.

For further reading, see:

• Only the Employed Need Apply
• Job Listing: Unemployed Need Not Apply
• Should Employers Be Able to Hire Only the Currently Employed?

The post If You Don’t Have a Job, You Might Not Be Able to Get One appeared first on The Resume Doctors.