Resume Accomplishments
posted by CareerStrides at
10:41 AM
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Friday, May 16, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Recession Proof Jobs
According to Yahoo! the following jobs are recession proof.
Education. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has historically shown teaching to be relatively recession-proof. But demographics are important: High-growth areas like the Sun Belt offer much better prospects than the Rust Belt.
* Energy. "This is a major issue for the global economy, and jobs related to oil and gas, alternative energy and even nuclear are likely to see strong growth," Challenger said.
* Health care. Almost half the 30 fastest growing occupations are concentrated in health services -- including medical assistants, physical therapists, physician assistants, home health aides, and medical records and health information technicians -- according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
* International business. "If you have a strong knowledge of other cultures, and an ability to work in another country, you'll find plenty of opportunities," according to John Challenger. "If you're first generation Chinese, with business skills and Chinese language skills, you're in good shape.
* Environmental sector. There is a huge and growing industry geared to combat global warming. "Not only will professionals with skills in sustainability issues be in demand through the end of the decade, we are likely to shortages of professionals with 'green' skills," said Rona Fried, president of sustainablebusiness.com, a networking service for sustainable businesses.
* Security. "Crime doesn't stop during a recession, and police officers, port security specialists and international security experts will continue to be in demand," Challenger emphasized.
Education. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has historically shown teaching to be relatively recession-proof. But demographics are important: High-growth areas like the Sun Belt offer much better prospects than the Rust Belt.
* Energy. "This is a major issue for the global economy, and jobs related to oil and gas, alternative energy and even nuclear are likely to see strong growth," Challenger said.
* Health care. Almost half the 30 fastest growing occupations are concentrated in health services -- including medical assistants, physical therapists, physician assistants, home health aides, and medical records and health information technicians -- according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
* International business. "If you have a strong knowledge of other cultures, and an ability to work in another country, you'll find plenty of opportunities," according to John Challenger. "If you're first generation Chinese, with business skills and Chinese language skills, you're in good shape.
* Environmental sector. There is a huge and growing industry geared to combat global warming. "Not only will professionals with skills in sustainability issues be in demand through the end of the decade, we are likely to shortages of professionals with 'green' skills," said Rona Fried, president of sustainablebusiness.com, a networking service for sustainable businesses.
* Security. "Crime doesn't stop during a recession, and police officers, port security specialists and international security experts will continue to be in demand," Challenger emphasized.
posted by CareerStrides at
1:39 PM
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Recession Proof Your Job Search
www.careerstrides.com
Buy How to Say It Job Interviews
by Linda Matias
When the job market is tight, it may be tempting to cut corners on your job search, but for the sake of landing a position, please don’t. When it’s a buyer’s market, you owe it to yourself and your family to put your best foot forward. To stand out, there are three key factors you need to concentrate on—your resume, interview skills, and a follow-up strategy.
Resume
While a homespun resume would have garnered interviews in the past, in a tight market you have to step up your game. This isn’t a time to rely on a friend’s goodwill and use her as your “resume writer.”
Search for a professional—a Nationally Certified Resume Writer or someone who works at a One-Stop Center. A professionally written resume can make the difference between getting called in for an interview and getting overlooked.
To ensure the best possible service, ask to look at the writer’s resume samples. Don’t get caught up in all of the hype regarding certifications and publications. This advice may sound strange coming from a Nationally Certified Resume Writer and published author, but I’ve been in the career-services industry long enough to know that quality work trumps credentials.
That said, you can and should add weight to the extras, but the bottom line is that you have to be comfortable with the quality of work you will receive.
Interview Skills
Admit it. How many interviews have you gone on without preparing? In a job-seeker-friendly market when companies are clamoring for great employees, the “wing it” method works just fine. But to compete in today’s market, you have to invest time getting acquainted with common interview questions and sample responses.
To get you started, here are a few.
Many candidates have submitted their resume for consideration. Why should I hire you over other qualified candidates?
Keep in mind that the interviewer is interested in your candidacy. That is the reason you are interviewing for the position. When answering this question, mention the three main reasons you stand out from others. Depending on your position, reasons can include your proficiency in account management, customer service, and/or strategic planning.
What do you know about our company?
There is a difference between wanting a job and taking a sincere interest in working for the hiring organization. There are no shortcuts to answering this question successfully; you have to conduct research.
What areas of your abilities would you like to improve upon?
This is a tricky way of asking, “What is your greatest weakness?”. Choose an ability that needs improvement but isn’t an integral part of your job.
Follow-Up Strategies
The interview isn’t over when you walk out of the interviewer’s office. Chances are, many candidates interviewed for the position before you did and many more will interview for the position after you. To remain competitive, it is essential that you write a follow-up letter.
This is advice most job seekers tend to ignore. And it’s a shame because the follow-up letter can seal a job offer. This is because only a small percentage of job seekers write a follow-up letter, so those who do take the time to write one stand out.
In Closing
Following the advice above will make you more confident. Confidence leads to more interviews. More interviews leads to job offers. Job offers leads to career satisfaction.
So what are you waiting for?
Buy How to Say It Job Interviews
by Linda Matias
When the job market is tight, it may be tempting to cut corners on your job search, but for the sake of landing a position, please don’t. When it’s a buyer’s market, you owe it to yourself and your family to put your best foot forward. To stand out, there are three key factors you need to concentrate on—your resume, interview skills, and a follow-up strategy.
Resume
While a homespun resume would have garnered interviews in the past, in a tight market you have to step up your game. This isn’t a time to rely on a friend’s goodwill and use her as your “resume writer.”
Search for a professional—a Nationally Certified Resume Writer or someone who works at a One-Stop Center. A professionally written resume can make the difference between getting called in for an interview and getting overlooked.
To ensure the best possible service, ask to look at the writer’s resume samples. Don’t get caught up in all of the hype regarding certifications and publications. This advice may sound strange coming from a Nationally Certified Resume Writer and published author, but I’ve been in the career-services industry long enough to know that quality work trumps credentials.
That said, you can and should add weight to the extras, but the bottom line is that you have to be comfortable with the quality of work you will receive.
Interview Skills
Admit it. How many interviews have you gone on without preparing? In a job-seeker-friendly market when companies are clamoring for great employees, the “wing it” method works just fine. But to compete in today’s market, you have to invest time getting acquainted with common interview questions and sample responses.
To get you started, here are a few.
Many candidates have submitted their resume for consideration. Why should I hire you over other qualified candidates?
Keep in mind that the interviewer is interested in your candidacy. That is the reason you are interviewing for the position. When answering this question, mention the three main reasons you stand out from others. Depending on your position, reasons can include your proficiency in account management, customer service, and/or strategic planning.
What do you know about our company?
There is a difference between wanting a job and taking a sincere interest in working for the hiring organization. There are no shortcuts to answering this question successfully; you have to conduct research.
What areas of your abilities would you like to improve upon?
This is a tricky way of asking, “What is your greatest weakness?”. Choose an ability that needs improvement but isn’t an integral part of your job.
Follow-Up Strategies
The interview isn’t over when you walk out of the interviewer’s office. Chances are, many candidates interviewed for the position before you did and many more will interview for the position after you. To remain competitive, it is essential that you write a follow-up letter.
This is advice most job seekers tend to ignore. And it’s a shame because the follow-up letter can seal a job offer. This is because only a small percentage of job seekers write a follow-up letter, so those who do take the time to write one stand out.
In Closing
Following the advice above will make you more confident. Confidence leads to more interviews. More interviews leads to job offers. Job offers leads to career satisfaction.
So what are you waiting for?
posted by CareerStrides at
10:35 AM
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0 comments
Monday, May 12, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Subscribe to the CareerStrides Podcast on iTunes
Career advice delivered to your mp3 player. Including audio, video, and pdf files. Sign up for the CareerStrides Podcast on iTunes and listen to career advice anywhere you are. Want quick interview tips on your way to an interview? No problem. With the CareerStrides Podcast, you can listen to advice right before the interview.
posted by CareerStrides at
8:35 AM
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0 comments
Thursday, May 08, 2008
The Cover Letter Template…Not Such a Bad Idea After All
Buy a copy of How to Say It Job Interviews on Amazon.com.
by Linda Matias
www.careerstrides.com
You’ve probably read countless times that each cover letter you write must be personalized or else it won’t be effective. The reality is, however, that if you are using the Internet to post your cover letter and resume, you will need a generic cover letter in order to post it online.
Generic doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take great care in formulating your cover letter by only including information with zero substance. A generic cover letter should include relevant information regarding your job history and it should also provide highlights in your career.
Sample Generic Cover Letter
Please accept my resume in consideration for the open position with your organization. With extensive management experience and consistent success in the achievement of objectives, I am confident I will contribute the same level of performance as a member of your team.
My experience in management extends over 20 years as I have progressed from smaller-scale companies to my current role as Director of Financial Services for an $80 million commercial printing firm. Although my achievements span this entire period, I would like to mention a few representative contributions with my current employer to illustrate the skills and abilities I offer:
· TECHNOLOGY/DATA SOLUTIONS – Continually seeking techniques and strategies for improvement, I have created spreadsheets and databases to strengthen analysis and processing tasks; in turn, our company has realized dramatic reductions in turnaround times for work completion.
· TEAM MANAGEMENT – I have trained, mentored, and evaluated teams across multiple departments and functions, including my current responsibility for 17 personnel with diverse backgrounds.
· BOTTOM-LINE ORIENTATION – Profit building and sustained growth have been the basis and result from our business decisions; we have achieved over $300,000 in savings from our partnership arrangements and secured cost reductions in other areas that have added to bottom-line success.
These achievements span various functions; thus, I have demonstrated the ability to meet and exceed expectations in a variety of environments. And I am certain that I will contribute the same level of performance with your organization.
To provide you with details concerning my qualifications and accomplishments, my resume is enclosed. I would welcome a meeting to discuss our mutual interests and the results you can expect from me.
Why this Cover Letter Template Works
Notice that the cover letter is still strong despite the fact that it doesn’t mention specific information about the hiring organization. Instead, the letter uses generic phrases such as, “…accept my resume in consideration for the open position with your organization” and “I am confident I will contribute the same level of performance as a member of your team.” These generic statements don’t take away from the focus of the cover letter – the applicant’s achievements and qualifications.
Recycling the Cover Letter Template
In closing, a solid generic cover letter can be recycled for a job-specific letter. You can personalize it by making statements about the hiring organization. For example, “I recently read an article in Forbes magazine regarding your expansion into the international market” or “Brentwood Union School District was chosen as High School of the Year and I am confident that my years of teaching experience will be a welcome addition to your district” are both statements that will work well in a cover letter.
posted by CareerStrides at
10:22 AM
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0 comments
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Interview Question: Are You Managable?
written by Linda Matias
www.careerstrides.com
Q. Give me a recent example of when you needed the assistance of your manager.
The interviewer wants to know if you handle issues that arise on your own and whether you exhaust every alternative before informing your manager of a potential problem. Most managers look for employees who manage problems on their own or at the very least, brainstorm possible solutions before bringing the problem to the manager’s attention. To prepare for this type of question, take note of your problem-solving skills and mention the steps you take when resolving issues.
Sample Response: “Since I have comprehensive experience in this industry, it is rare that I approach my supervisor to solve a problem for me. I usually draw upon past experiences to determine the best course of action. This method works 99% of the time. If I’m presented with a scenario I’ve never encountered, I come up with several options and present each to my manager. Together, we discuss the pros and cons of all the possible scenarios and come up with a workable solution.”
www.careerstrides.com
Q. Give me a recent example of when you needed the assistance of your manager.
The interviewer wants to know if you handle issues that arise on your own and whether you exhaust every alternative before informing your manager of a potential problem. Most managers look for employees who manage problems on their own or at the very least, brainstorm possible solutions before bringing the problem to the manager’s attention. To prepare for this type of question, take note of your problem-solving skills and mention the steps you take when resolving issues.
Sample Response: “Since I have comprehensive experience in this industry, it is rare that I approach my supervisor to solve a problem for me. I usually draw upon past experiences to determine the best course of action. This method works 99% of the time. If I’m presented with a scenario I’ve never encountered, I come up with several options and present each to my manager. Together, we discuss the pros and cons of all the possible scenarios and come up with a workable solution.”
posted by CareerStrides at
11:17 AM
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