Get Your Children Off the Couch – Radio Interview with Ed Tyll

  What an honor it was to be invited on the Ed Tyll show on Starcom Radio! The topic was How to Get Your Children off the Couch and Into the Workplace.  I am pleased to share the audio (please click here) as well as the entire transcript. Ed was a gracious host with thoughtful and insightful questions and it…

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Six Tips for Proofreading Your Resume

Your resume is still a vital component to getting you the interview to the job of your dreams. It’s one of the first impressions that a hiring manager will have when you apply to a new job or position, and one of the biggest determinants about whether or not you will get called for an interview. While you can upgrade…

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10 Great Cover Letter Tips to Give Your Application an Edge

Writing a resume is rather straight forward. What you should do with a cover letter is less obvious. However, if you stick to certain principals, you should be able to draft a great cover letter to supplement your resume. Below are 10 great cover letter tips that should help. 1. Start with a Good Opening Like any piece of good…

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5 Ways to Close Questionable Employment Gaps in Your Resume

You’ve got the skills, years of experience, and carefully selected references. You are ready to send that resume. Except, well, there’s the small matter of a gap in your employment history. Recruiters and companies are known to question employment gaps in an applicant’s resume. It’s important your gaps don’t paint you as incompetent, unfit for work, unstable, or unemployable. A…

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Why I don’t do “Objective Statements”

I got this interesting question about resumes last week: “I always thought a resume should have an objective statement. Is that true?” Well, Kristen, career experts are still divided on that matter. Ten years ago, the career objective, aka objective statement, was a standard part of any resume. This statement mostly explained the job applicant’s wishes or target in his…

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How to Write a Resume that Works in Every Part of the World

Business Harvard Review writer Tom O’Neil admits that although all markets have certain nuances, the central purpose of your resume should remain the same, regardless of your audience. See what points are most important to focus on in his article, “Write a Resume that Travels Across Countries and Cultures.”

How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 7 – Don’t Waste My Time!

One of the biggest mistakes a person can make on their resume is wasting the reader’s time. When a recruiter or hiring manager has a stack 2 feet high of potential applicants, they do not want their time wasted.  If your resume is not easy to navigate and does not get to the point quickly, it will end up in…

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 6 – Lack of Experience?

Parents of recent college graduates may ask why some students are successful procuring a position after college and others are not. Often, students are lacking needed skills and experience and this makes the difference. Classroom education is only one component of post-college preparation. If your student has buried his/her head in the books for 4 years, or spent summers having…

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 5 – Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute!

Don’t let great job opportunities “pass you over;” hop to it! The last thing you want is to have a chance meeting with someone or get introduced to someone who asks for your resume and you are unprepared! Or, they say they will look you up on LinkedIn, and they can’t find you! Job searching today is a proactive activity….

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip # 4 – Hobbies & Interests Section?

At one time, this was a standard feature. With the exception of the entry-level graduate (and then only if it is relevant to the job search), this section is not recommended. What does the potential employer think if you have listed your high golf-score or all of the volunteer work that you do at the school? Do they think you…

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land At the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #3 – Professionalism

Competition is fierce and professionalism is crucial for job-seekers! So how can we make sure that the resume reflects a professional image? Contact information needs to be clear and accurate. One designated phone number is best, and that number must have a professional voicemail (in your own voice), stating your name and asking for the person to leave a message. …

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #2 – Less is Not Always More

Length of the Resume Who told you that resumes must be 1 page?  I rarely create a 1-page resume, and when I do, it is generally a recent graduate who has had little experience.  If you have been in the workforce for  more than a few years, then your resume will most likely be 2 pages. A solid resume is…

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How Do I Get My Resume to Land on the Top of the Pile? (and to stay out of the trashcan) Tip #1 – Cut and Paste?

The Profile: Can someone else cut and paste what you wrote and put it on their resume? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to re-write your resume. A resume is a marketing tool. The #1 goal of a resume is to get an employer to call you and schedule an interview. Employers are looking at hundreds of resumes…

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