Resume Tips
Interviewing Tips! Post Your Resume onto Job Boards. With job boards, companies have specifically listed their open positions and often accept job applications directly on the job board.When job searching, it's important to use both job boards and job search engines, and a variety of sites, because no single site searches all job boards or employer sites.
Create Job Alerts!
What is Job Alert? Job Alert is a very simple email job notification system. When You create a profile you get emailed links to jobs that match your profile. Save yourself time by using Job Alert to feed you relevant jobs automatically. Never miss that great job because you didn’t search when it was posted!
Updating My Resume. How often should I update my resume submissions to the boards? The way the system works dictates frequent updates. Recruiters are trained to search only for candidates who had posted in the past 24 hours first (and they always find several) then work their way back to a week." Some experts suggest as often as daily or even, refreshing your resume weekly "will pop you to the top of the list of 'fresh' resumes."
More Tips!
If your resume is scanned electronically by a potential employer, the computer scanner will pick up on these keywords.Electronic resume scanners are programmed to look for key terms in your resume.Without them,your resume could be discarded.More and more companies are relying on technology to weed out job applicants at the initial stage of the hiring process – using software that scans and screens resumes in what has become a Multi-Billion dollar industry.
Applicant tracking systems are a boon for overloaded human resource departments at large companies, but can be a hazard for job hunters who don’t know how to tailor their resumes to ensure they aren’t tossed out of the applicant pool.
In general, the software will scan information and download it into a database. It looks through for certain keywords or phrases set by the employer—things like years of experience in a field or particular skills. Then, it grades, ranks or screens the resumes, so recruiters only spend time on the best fits. The more advanced the tracking system, the better it can parse what you’ve written.But, if your resume has the wrong format or lacks the specific keywords an employer has entered, your application might never make it to a real person. Stay in touch with your classmates, professionals, and other people you've met in college, they can be excellent resources for you down the road.
Attend local organizations' chapter meetings as a guest, see if it's of value for you and if it is, join! The cover letter is a great place to explain employment gaps. If you were laid off, say so. A lot of candidates have gaps in their employment, especially with the recent Great Recession. While this is very common, you should fill the gap if possible. Did you volunteer or go back to school? Were you a stay at home mom/dad? Did you care for an ill family member? It is better to list these things on your resume than have a 1 year+ gap. Though a good resume may not always get you a job, a bad one will certainly keep you out of the race. Since your resume usually represents the first contact you will have with potential employers, it must be well thought out and carefully prepared. The main function of a resume is to get you an interview. Any good resume should summarize what you have already achieved through education and/or work experience and what you can contribute to your prospective employer. Never assume that the people reading your resume know anything about you; it's up to you to tell them what you have to offer.
Close the deal
RESUME TIPS FOR EX-OFFENDERS
An ex-offender may need special assistance with resume details and relaunching a career after a prison stay. Getting a job as an ex-offender may prove to be a challenge, but there are several ways that you can find help.
Avoid the chronological format: The reverse chronological resume format is not your friend. This format, with its ordering of employers and dates, tends to point up the two major weaknesses of ex-offenders — limited work experience and major employment time gaps. Instead, choose a functional resume format or hybrid resume (combination) format that emphasizes your qualifications as they relate to the job you seek — skills, competencies. and personal qualities.
Present your prison experience in non prison terms: If you acquired education, training, and work experience in prison, be careful how you list that experience on your resume. Instead of saying that you worked at “Kentucky State Prison,” say you worked for the “State of Kentucky.” Both statements are truthful, but the first statement immediately raises a red flag that can prematurely screen you out before you get an interview.