10 Things You Should Never Have On Your Resume

I just read a great article on Salary.com on 10 things you should never have on your resume and it is worth reading if you are sending out resumes because so many of my clients have had these items on their resumes prior to us reformatting it.  http://www.salary.com/10-things-to-never-put-on-your-resume/

Most important at the top!!!

Do not forget to write your most important credentials at the top of your resume. Many people write job descriptions in their resume and end up putting the most important in the lower sections of their job descriptions. Prioritize them by importance, impressiveness and relevance to the job you want. Remember, you do not have to list everything you do, only what it important for the job you are applying to.

Great Job Search Engine for Real Estate Professionals

I found a really great job search engine (new to me) but I love it so far for anyone out there in REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY. Although it is geared more to Commericial Real Estate professionals/executives you might find other tips on there to help you in your search. It is : http://www.selectleaders.com/ If you have used it, please let me know what you think! I would love some feedback and I wanted to pass on the information! Jody

March Madness!

I wanted to reassure job seekers that in March of 2012, my clients have had the fastest results in finding jobs than any other month in the past 3 years. It is probably a combination of having the right tools (cover letter, resume and the knowledge how to accurately apply for a position) and that the job market is improving! I am so happy to see so many client's having success. Last week a client found a job within 1 week which is the fastest turnaround yet! So congrats Sally for using all the tools we worked on and I couldn't be happier for you!

Get Hired!

I just read in a recent study by “Startwire” that 50% of company hires were applicants who applied within the first week of the posting and approximately 75% of all hired candidates applied within three weeks of the job posting. What does this mean...the first quarter is typically one of the busiest quarters for hiring so you want to move fast on those jobs you see online!

The Word Resume..In Your Resume !!!

One simple tip for your resume is to actually put the word "RESUME" in your resume because if a hiring manager or a resume applicant scanner was to pull or google a certain type of resume often they put in something like " Controller's Resume". I read recently, it just gives you that one more simple way of getting noticed. I usually put it on top of page 2 when I create a resume and it reads : RESUME (Page 2). I put it directly under the name!

Understanding Your Target Audience In Writing A Resume

When writing a resume, it is critical to understand your target audience. By pinpointing at least 3 key things that your target audience would need to know about your ability and how it relates to what they are seeking in the position, you are creating a more strategic resume. I always recommend to put this on the very top of your resume. Not in a objective statement but in a career profile summary. Keep it short and concise. If you would like a free review of your resume to ensure it is strategic, please email me at jodyhughes4@gmail.com

Resume Discount and Monthly Promotion Give Aways!

*Special promotion*

Once we hit 225 Fans on our company FaceBook Fan Page, I will be giving away a free service that could lead you to your new career! Send this out to all your friends, family and associates, graduating students. Anyone that needs help with their career search such as resume writing, interview coaching, cover letters & more. Become a fan and you could be the next winner. Watch us daily! I will be running this promotion monthly with values ranging from $40.00-$225.00! I will be announcing it on FaceBook, so please stop by and become a fan as well as more tips and information on resume writing services! Thank you, Jody

If you have problems with the link, just go to FaceBook and Search for : HResumes - Resume Writing and Human Resources by Jody Hughes
As always wishing you the very best!

Take Time To Study The Organizations Website

When creating a resume or cover letter, make sure you STUDY THE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITE! It will give you insight tips on what they value, their mission statement, their goals essentially what they are looking for in a employee. Some websites even have valuable videos that you can study. By learning what the company is focused on and their BUZZ words, it will equip you to market yourself more strategically on your resume. Anytime a client asks me to write a resume, I always ask them to please suggest one organization that they would like to submit a resume to. That way I can create a strategic resume for them, giving them the cutting advantage and it also is created to allow them to make changes to it as they apply to each position.

NBC news just released an article that stated for 2011 "the smartest job seekers create essentially a new resume for each job opening, going so far as to take keywords out of actual job descriptions and working them into their resume", stated NBC news. Are you doing that for your search? It really makes sense if you stop to think about it. Not only do many organizations have applicant tracking systems where they pull resumes from key wording but once it gets into the hiring manager hands, they want to see a resume that point out to accomplishments that are specific to the job opening and to you as a professional! If you need help with your resume so that it is structured with key wording, please contact me ASAP!!

Get Your Email Right! Be Professional

I know this sounds very basic but I have seen so many resumes of individuals that put CRAZY, UNPROFESSIONAL emails on their resumes that they are sending to potential employers! As a former recruiter the first thing I see at the top of the resume is how to contact them and if it was a weird email, I would always hesitate. Please, be professional with this. You will not be taken seriously if you do not have a email, voicemail or answering machine and please make that professional ( don't have kids singing in the voicemail or something corny like that)! It is always a good idea to ditch the "cute or funny" email address and make it professional with something like just your name, you can go to GMail or Hotmail to create a free account for your resumes.

Do I Need A Electronic Resume?

Have you ever tried to cut/paste your resume into the body of an email or paste it on a online application, only to find it looks unorganized and nothing like your resume?

With recent technological advances it is important to be sure you have a "Electronic Resume" on hand if an organization should request that type of resume. The reason they do this is because this format allows the organization to search, store and select from a large database of resumes by entering key words, experience and education they are seeking. Also, you will see many job search engines that allow you to paste your resume rather than allowing you to upload your document.

** I want to point out- if any organization or job search engine allows you to upload with a PDF - DO IT!! It allows the resume to be viewed exactly how you created it!

To make a electronic resume, you can create it in a plain text ( the file etension .txt) or rich text format (.rtf) . That way the document formatting can not be stripped out by e-mail readers and without formatting errors.

Words That Are In Your Resume Are Critical !

Make sure that you always have actions words in your resume such as: Spearheaded, Collaborated, Championed, Awarded, Facilitated..... rather than just writing words that are most common such as Participates, Handled, Provided.

This is a great site that shows thousands of Action Words that you can apply to your resume.

Avoid long sentences, shorten them with bullets.

Do not list references on a resume - most employers know that they are going to ask for these and that you will supply them once they get to that point in the hiring process.

Always have a title under your name header that uses the words that are described in the job description and PLEASE ensure that it matches your experience. An example would be to center the words: "Sales & Executive Business Operations Professional" or "IT Sales Management". This will ensure immediately, the first thing they see is what you can do!

Never put hobbies on your resume or personal information! Also, unless you are directly out of school without alot of experience, it is not necessary to include your GPA or sororities...etc....

PAY ATTENTION TO KEY WORDS

Whether you are writing your first resume or updating an older one, remember to stop and think about which key words to add to your resume. You could get lost in the sea of applications if you do not make your qualifications and key words pop out to the hiring managers.

To do this, focus on the open job announcement's "QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS and REQUIREMENTS". This may take some time because it is important to have the resume geared exactly for the open position!

Your resume needs to pass that initial scan test from hiring managers and recruiters. From my human resources and recruiting experience, the first thing that is looked at when scanning the resume is "the qualifications". Showing that you are qualified will help you make it to the next step in reviewing your resume - you do this with key words! You want to ensure the critical information jumps out off the page!

If you would like a free review of your resume, I would be happy to look at and give you feedback.

Thank You Follow Up Letter- Is It Necessary?

Now that you have succeeded with a phone interview/email interview/ or face to face are you wondering if you should send a thank you letter? YES...YES..YES....

The number one reason that you should send one immediately within 48 hours of the interview is because it BRINGS YOUR NAME and qualifications back in the frontline of the hiring manager!
Writing a thank you follow up letter also gives you an opportunity to clarify anything that you discussed and highlight any useful detals that you may have forgotten to mention.
It shows that YOU WANT THE JOB and it also puts you one step ahead of anyone who does not send one.

Sending a thank you letters shows initiative, follow through and professionalism- everything a hiring manager and organization want to see!

If you need additional assistance with this, please do not hestitate to contact me!

Resume Tip For Font Size

I can't tell you how many resumes I have seen and currently see when the font size is too small, thus making it challenging to read a resume. As a previous hiring manager in Human Resources, I typically only took about 5 seconds to first glance over the resume- sometimes 10 seconds MAX before I decided if it the candidate was going to go any further in the process. One of the largest mistakes people make is making their font size smaller to fit everything on the first page. As a rule of thumb font should never be smaller than 11. Ideal would be font size 12 as it is easy to read. Always keep your type of font the same such as all Arial or Times New Roman. I would recommend also making your name at the top stand out in 16 font size because it grabs the hiring manager's attention verses trying to make it jazzy or funky to stand out. Last but not least - do not use a lot of italics and underlining!

Submitting Resumes via Email

If you are seeking a new career and you do not see a position advertised online or in the paper, it is time to take the next step and proactively market your resume. I have a quick tip that will help you get started with this process if you are new to marketing your resume.

Always research online or call the company to get the name of the hiring manager for the department in which you would like to work with. Company websites usually have the "About Us" page with links to different departments and names of contacts. Once you have a name, type the name into a Google.com search. Most likely, you will find some contact information through one of the search results.

If you cannot get their email but you have their name, try to call the front desk and ask for their email. I also always recommend when you send your online application or resume electronically and if you feel "unsure" if the hiring manager received it, send it both via fax and regular mail!

Top Interview Tip

I want to encourage everyone who gets an interview to make sure you dress your absolute BEST! I always recommend wearing a pant suit (black, tan or navy) or if you can not, try invest in a plain pair of black wide leg dress pants for females and dressy black pants for men ( You can always wear them at other important functions in your life). Even if the work environment is not a "suit" type of place, you want to impress. I remember at an HR training course, they said when someone comes to an interview, that will most likely be the very best you will see them! If you think about it, that probably is true. Five years ago, maybe even 3 years ago it was always recommended to dress according to "the organizations dress code" for the interview. However, the economy has changed everything about the interview process. So once you get that interview...make sure you look nice, clean and dressed professionally. Another quick tip...always wear closed toe shoes and keep cologne to a minimum. As you meet the interviewer greet them with a warm smile, initiate a firm hand shake and look directly in their eyes! First impression is everything!

Chronological or Functional Resume?

Another tip I would like to offer everyone is the explanation of the different resume formats. There are three different resume formats. Chronological, Functional and a combination of both.

• A Chronological Resume will describe who you are but the main section of the resume will show your work history with the most recent position listed first. Most employers, recruiters and hiring managers prefer this type of resume because it is easy to read and clearly defines the type of positions you have held with dates.
  
• A Functional Resume will focus more on your accomplishments, experiences and skill set rather than the traditional format of listing job positions first. This type of format is excellent when you are changing careers or entering a new field.
  
• A Combination Resume will combine both formats above. This a excellent type of format but please be advised, if this is not done by a professional resume writer it can look messy and confusing so my recommendation when using this format would be to research samples and seek advice. It can make a very bold and creative statement, thus selling you and getting the interview, however it can be tricky.

I like to use all three depending on the clients situation. No matter which format you may choose, as I talked about below you do not just want to ever write your work history...always be creative and write all your accomplishments rather than your responsibilities!

I wanted to share with you an example of a quick success story in carefully writing a resume. My mom who is just re-entering the job market after essentially taking off 15 years to raise all her children asked me to write her resume for her last week. Of course the pressure was on...this was my MOM and I wanted it absolutely perfect!! All my heart and soul went into this. We really targeted all her past working accomplishments she had when working with GE and I also focused on the accomplishments and difference she has made in all her charity organizations she stayed active in. I felt we made a resume that sold who she really was and it was strategic. In her case it was a Chronological Resume. Her resume was finished last week and I am happy to report she had her first interview today with a bank in the finance department working on spreadsheets and administration! Keep your fingers crossed she gets the job!! I feel this goes to show, even in this market, whatever your experiences may be ..you can get a interview with the right resume!

WHAT A RESUME IS NOT!

From my experiences working as a recruiter and a human resources manager, I feel the biggest mistake individuals make when writing a resume is that they think of their resume as a "history of their past or as a personal statement. Yes, most of the content of may resume should be focused on your job history however; the intention of a resume is to create interest, to sell yourself to persuade the employer to call you! Currently, in 2009, research is showing that typically only one interview is granted for every 200 resumes received by the average employer. Leaving them approximately ten to 20 seconds reviewing the resume! My point is....it is time to get creative and build a resume specific for the job!