Career Planning: The Importance of Keeping Your Resume Current!

Career planning is important in keeping your career moving forward and measuring your progress against your overall plan. One of the most valuable steps in your career plan is to keep your resume current.

If you are planning a midlife career change, having a well written resume that carefully lists your current accomplishments will allow you to quickly respond to possible new career opportunities. So now is the time to update your resume and put in place a process to periodically keep your resume current.

If you examine a copy of your old resume and compare it with the latest in writing resumes you'll see that there have been a number of significant changes over the past ten years or so.

Currently marital status, hobbies (unless absolutely relevant to the position applied for), other personal information and references are not included. Also, listing a job objective is not longer standard but has been replaced by a skills or qualifications summary.

To often a resume writer falls in love with all the bells and whistles in their word processing program. Resist this temptation; you want the layout of your resume to be clean, easy to read and professional. No colors, pictures or multiple fonts.

Career Planning: The Importance of Keeping Your Resume Current!

Many employers now electronically scan resumes searching for keywords related to the specific job. Keywords are found by pulling nouns from the job announcement. Make sure the keywords appear naturally in your resume. Resumes that make the "cut," are then reviewed by the recruiter for specific skills and qualifications.

If you haven't kept an up-to-date atta-boy (girl) file with your career plan now is the time to reconstruct one. List all of you achievements, copies of your performance reviews, laudatory letters and emails and anything else which demonstrates your accomplishments.

Now quantify each accomplishment. Money saved, costs reduced, sales increased, projects completed on time under budget should be your starting point. When finished you should have more than three accomplishments for each position. List the top three or four on your resume for each job held in the last 10-15 years.

Take the balance of the accomplishments, put them aside and save to possibly use when you refocus your resume. Today in writing resumes you want to list accomplishments based on the needs of the employer, and if applying for a specific job opportunity you will want to tailor your resume to match as closely as possible to the needs of the job

If you have a friend who recently went through a successful job hunt you might want them to review your completed resume. Ask for feedback and then make appropriate changes.

Print out a number of copies of your finished resume on quality paper. You'll now have a copy ready for the unexpected job opportunity. Moreover, you'll have the basic outline with supporting information to tailor the document, if required, to meet the needs of a prospective employer.

If you keep your atta-boy (girl) file current updating your resume should be a relatively easy exercise. Of course you should update it whenever, you get a new job or position. If you move you should correct the contact information. Keep your resume and the supporting information current and you'll be prepared for any possible career opportunity.

Resume Writing - 7 Effective Ways to Kill Your Resume

A well written resume is the first step in a successful job search. But most applicants confuse the primary aim of the resume, which is not to get you the job, but to get you the interview call. As such, a lot of resumes end up as long winded documents, containing a lot of text, but quite difficult to read and understand.

Here are a few common but important mistakes that you should avoid while writing your resume-

•     No Objective

The objective of the resume tells the employer how you will add value to his or her organization. It tells what you can do for him or her. Don't leave it to the employer to read the whole resume and then reach his or her own conclusions. The employer does not have the time to do this.

•     Focus on Responsibilities Instead of Achievements

The employer is more interested in what you can do today, and this is best reflected by your achievements in the previous positions. The employer is certainly not interested in what fancy designation you held, or what your responsibilities were. The results that you achieved in that position or while bearing that responsibility are more important.

•     Sending a Stale Resume

Keep updating your resume frequently. You should always enter your latest job details, major achievements and any additional qualifications that you have earned along the way. Do not send a stale resume.

•     Exaggerating or Lying about Achievements

Do not get creative while listing your achievements and results. Your resume should contain the truth, and nothing but the whole truth. The employers can, and usually do run a background check with your previous employers or references. Even if you get away with it, you will always live in fear of being discovered.

•     Use of Templates

You should be extremely careful in using a template to write your resume. While it will certainly make your task easier, but then your resume will look like everyone else's. Just think, will it stand out among possibly hundreds of other resumes? Dare to be different.

 Resume Writing - 7 Effective Ways to Kill Your Resume

•     Including Non-Essential Information

Your resume should have a professional and neat look. Don't clutter it by including unnecessary information. Don't include details about your family, marital status or age. Don't include details of the summer job that you took while you were in high school.

•     Use of Pictures and Fancy Designs

Do not attach your photograph to the resume unless you are applying for a modeling assignment. Avoid details like colored background, borders and designer fonts. Keep it simple. Use an e-mail friendly format like Arial or Times New Roman, 10 or 11 points.

Your resume gets only a few seconds to make an impression in the mind of the employer. Avoid these mistakes, and your resume will definitely arouse the interest of the employer, and land you that all important call for the interview. Wish you all the best.

How Should You Present Your Job Experience in Your Resume?

The art of writing a proper Resume also involves some utilizing some strategies so that you come across in the best of lights. Most of us had multiple jobs in various positions and importance.

So in the Resume be sure to mention only the Job experiences that are relevant to the post you are applying for. It is essential that you should fix an approach while arranging the experiences. You may opt for a conventional chronological order while mentioning the details.

So essentially your latest job would be mentioned at the first and your first job would be mentioned last. Another way of doing this is using the Functional approach. Here you may mention the jobs in order based on its profile. So essentially the order in such an approach should be based on the degree of importance of your previous positions.

This means that your stint as a project leader for a company should have precedence over any part time gigs.This type of approach should be recommended to anyone with a stand out profile and experience.

 How Should You Present Your Job Experience in Your Resume?

But the most utility is derived from combining the approaches smartly in order to avail the benefits from both the school of thoughts. It is imperative that you do not come across as a quintessential job hopper. This is the easiest way to earn your employer's trust.

The approach of writing the Resume may be found in many website on the Internet. Additionally Resume Samples would be essential in chalking out the approach to follow. Personally I would prefer the functional approach just because of the present job market scenario.

Even as recession is slowly moving away it is true that due to the blood-bath that ensued many people who received the pink slip were forced to take up jobs with lower profile and pay. In this situation I am not sure if the chronological pattern of mentioning your job experience would be of any substantial result.

How to Create Resume for Freshers

As soon as you complete your education, you start looking for a job. For this, you need a resume. Being a fresher, you hardly have any idea of writing a resume, and you thus look for help for the same. A fresher's resume is even more difficult to draft, because you do not have anything in terms of job experience to mention in your resume. You thus have to make the prospective employer believe that the qualities and skills you possess will actually be helpful in the job, and moreover you will have to make him/her believe that you possess those particular skills and qualities. Read the instructions given below that will help you write your resume.

•     Using the Microsoft Word application, draft your resume. Set the margins to 'one inch' using the 'Page Set-up' options. Use only 'Times New Roman' or 'Arial' font, and the font size should be 12.

•     The resume heading should include your name. Never write 'resume' or 'curriculum vitae (CV)' as the resume heading. It is visible that it is your resume. You can write your name at the center position, followed by your contact information. Provide you email address, phone number and postal mailing address as well. Keep this at the center, or towards the top left of the page.

•     Since you do not have any work experience, you can use the 'Chronological resume' style. In this style, you mention your qualification and internship details in a chronological order, beginning with the latest.

•     After jotting down the qualification and certifications, stress on your skills and personality traits. Keep a section in your resume titled 'key skills', and under this, mention your skills and abilities in your field. The other section will be 'strengths and weaknesses', which will help you portray your personality traits. While mentioning weaknesses, mention it in a way that it shows how you have been trying to overcome your weaknesses, and present it as an underlying strength. For example, not meeting deadlines can be smartly presented as 'Some times difficult to meet deadlines because I seek perfection in everything'.

How to Create Resume for Freshers

•     Even at the academic level, you can show your achievements. If you have been good at academics, extra curricular, taken some initiatives while at school or college, etc. you need to highlight these points. The reader will analyze these and try to determine your skills and abilities.

•     Keep a list of references (maximum 2 - academic and corporate reference, if any), and at the end of your resume, mention that the reference will be made available on request.

Using these instructions, write your resume. While sending a hard copy of your resume, always get it printed on good quality plain white paper. Do not use any fancy borders, or colorful paper background. A resume has to be very formal, so never use fancy borders or fonts in your resume. Go ahead and write a resume that will help you get the interview call you were waiting for.

Basic Resume Writing Formats

Resume writing is a skill. A well written resume helps the candidate stand stronger than other applicants. You have to follow basic resume writing formats to design the resume depending upon various factors. The factors are:

• Experience

• Expertise/Skill Set

• Education

• Are you looking for an opportunity in different field

The resume writing tips focus on how to write an effective and attention seeking resume. Considering the various factors listed above the resume formats are categorized as:

• Chronological Resume:It is one of the most popularly used resume format. Widely speaking the sections of the resume are objective, skill set, summary, achievements, educational qualification, experience. The plus point of this resume is the educational details are put up in detail from the topmost degree to the initial one. The experience is also written from latest to old and the tasks executed are also explained in brief. If you have taken breaks in career or frequently have changed the jobs that too gets reflected in it. You should be in a position to provide explanation for the same. This resume format is applicable for fresher as well as an experienced person

Basic Resume Writing Formats

• Functional Resume:It is suited for professionals who are multi skilled and are experienced in various fields. If such candidates desire to pursue career in specific field, functional resume is best suited format for them. In this format, it is not required to mention the entire work history. One can highlight the domain specific experience, skill set and education.

• Combination Resume: It is the blending of functional and chronological format. This resume format can draw the attention of the employer. You can write details regarding education and experience in a way such that if you feel something should not be put up in a resume, you can avoid writing it. The candidate can stress on his/her specializations, educational details, skills and experience.

You can find sample resumes for various professionals, where you will come to know how the resumes are expressive and precise. You will come to know that selecting a proper resume format is important to write an appealing resume.

Easy Steps on How to Make a Resume

Every task can only be successfully accomplished with the help of the right process. If a person who does the activity fails to perform one of the steps in the entire process, then, he would come up with something different compare to the desired output. In writing a resume, there are also steps to follow in order to have a well-crafted pre-employment document. It is something that should be learned by job hopefuls.

Here are some easy steps on how to make a resume-a successful one that can capture the attention of hiring managers:

1. Prepare your stuffs

A job applicant should gather all the needed materials especially those important documents. These files or documents may include:

•     Previous resume
•     Certificates
•     Diplomas
•     Letters
•     Details pertaining to the desired company

2. Do a research

Through Internet, a job applicant can have a lot of ideas about the current trend in creating a resume. Looking for sample resumes, as well as for examples of cover letters and other related documents can be of help. There are so many things that can be gotten out of utilizing the World Wide Web. In online resume writing tips, a job seeker can:

 Easy Steps on How to Make a Resume

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•     Obtain latest trends on resume's layout or format
•     Get effective way of having the resume's content for a specific job
•     Browse for more job vacancies or opportunities

3. Drafting the resume

After gathering all the needed materials, researches and any other tips, a job aspirant can now proceed to the writing of his own resume. Considering significant information from the Internet will surely help. In drafting the resume, two important factors must always be given attention for they bring impact on the application: the structure/layout and the content.

Structure/Layout

The physical appearance of the pre-employment document can somewhat determine the chances of getting the chance of a job interview. With this, high consideration must be given to the document's:

•     Margins
•     Borders
•     Line spacing
•     Font style and size
•     Design
•     Indentions and alignments
•     Balance and uniformity

Content

From header down to the last section of the resume, an applicant should always bear in mind that the document must:

•     Contain factual information
•     Be consistent
•     Present required and essential data to better establish qualifications
•     Possess relevant words in the field of what the job seeker is applying for
•     Highlight qualifications, skills, and other sections that bring high impact on the application
•     Contain latest sections that are socially acceptable nowadays.

10 Resume Tips for Professionals in the Construction Industry

Preparing a resume that is organized, succinct, and eye-catching is one of the best ways for construction professionals to launch a fruitful job search. Eye-catching resumes typically feature highly desired skill sets, relevant certifications, and impressive projects that were completed ahead of schedule and within budget. Below are ten simple resume writing tips that everyone in the construction industry should follow.

1) Tailor your resume to the type of position you are seeking. Employers are often searching for candidates with a specific set of skills. Review commonly required skills for the type of position that you are seeking and be sure to include references to your skills in those areas. Examples of specific skills that are frequently sought in the construction industry include:

•     Expertise in construction law
•     Incorporation of sustainable design strategies
•     Equal Employment Opportunity Employment expertise

2) Include the number of people you managed. It is particularly important to mention work experience that involved supervision of multiple teams of people or a large number of workers. Hiring managers recognize that there is usually a big difference between a candidate who has managed a team of 15 laborers and a candidate who has overseen 150 laborers.

3) Highlight relevant certifications. Industry certifications set professionally trained candidates apart from the pack and often instill confidence in recruiters and hiring managers. Examples of key certifications to consider including are as follows:

•     Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
•     Construction Safety Certification
•     OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
•     Any CPR or First Aid related certifications

4) Highlight three or four of your most notable projects. Be sure to reference the budgets associated with each project to provide hiring executives with an idea of the magnitude of the ventures that you have overseen. You can also showcase your flexibility and breadth of experience by including a diverse collection of projects within the public, commercial, and residential construction arenas.

5) Showcase successful projects that were completed ahead of time or under budget. Continued construction labor shortages are leading to an increase in project delays and overspending. Completing projects ahead of time or under budget is more impressive now than ever, so construction professionals should not be shy about highlighting their ability to exceed client expectations.

6) Reference familiarity with special tools or software. Remaining competitive in the construction industry requires a commitment to learning the latest cutting-edge

•     Building Information Modeling (BIM) software
•     Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software
•     Familiarity with 3D visualization and architectural animation

7) Prepare an impressive portfolio of references. Include people who can provide feedback regarding your skills and aptitudes. Additionally, if a specific skill is required for a position you are actively pursuing, be sure to include references who can discuss your achievements in that area. For instance, if a position requires a candidate with a history of supervising 100+ workers, make sure that the references you include can speak about your ability to oversee multiple teams of workers.

10 Resume Tips for Professionals in the Construction Industry

8) Include your LinkedIn URL. A growing number of hiring managers and recruiters are looking at LinkedIn profiles to confirm candidates' legitimacy and industry connections. Make sure that your profile is up to date and that there are not any consistencies between information on your LinkedIn profile and your resume.

9) Reference any awards or special recognition you have received. Awards that are relevant to the company or position for which you are applying are especially helpful. Examples of relevant awards include the following:

•     Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc (ABC) awards for excellence in construction
•     Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CISE) awards for safety improvements
•     Any local or state awards received for outstanding achievements in the construction industry

10) Seek the input of an expert staffing professional. Enlisting the assistance of a staffing agency is one of the best ways to ensure that your resume is professional and complete. A dedicated agency representative can also provide assistance with career coaching and other job-related activities. Ideally, the agency you choose should have decades of experience providing guidance to professionals within the construction industry.

The role of a well-organized resume should not be understated. By following the tips above, construction professionals can enhance their chances of grabbing the attention of hiring managers.