Tech Jobsites » Resume Writing

Looking for Jobs…In the New Environment

Ingrid Baker — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:54:34 +0000

The Wall Street Journal (Marketwatch, January 1, 2012) suggests that job seekers need to be creative and flexible to land and keep a job. There are a number of reasons given for this statement, and I thought they were worth reviewing.

Employers are staying lean, and staff levels aren’t expected to increase much in the next months. That means that the existing staff will have to respond to a wide variety of demands. As workers shift around some of these positions may be available, but they may have changed significantly in breadth and skill requirements. Employers also want workers who are able to adapt quickly to new responsibilities as companies try to stay competitive in a changing economy.

Opportunities may be there in industries that the job seeker isn’t familiar with. Economists do project growth in the health care market, professional services such as accounting and legal, retail sales and management and certain manufacturing jobs. For each of these industries there are some special skill requirements or education. Manufacturing may require some occupational training, but that can be accessed thru many community college programs. The retail industry, sales in particular, requires interpersonal skills.

So, what is a job seeker to do? Ideas presented in the article include highlighting the applicant’s creative skills to show their ability to adapt to new duties. Technical literacy is really a basic must in most companies, including health care, where much of the business end of the industry is going automated. If you are well versed in electronic data handling – they will want you!

Project management and communications skills are abilities that are valued across many industries, and finding workers able to communicate clearly is getting harder to find among today’s applicants. Job seekers need to work hard at honing their verbal and writing skills to differentiate themselves.
Then, use marketing skills to get the point across. Use social media (with taste and skill please) to reach prospective employers. Understand in advance what the company values. For example, a law practice will want to add skilled members that can bring in more business. That asset is also valuable in other industries, so use your contact list appropriately. Package your skills to show how you will add value to the organization – and be able to back it up with examples. No “puffing”!
As always, good luck.

Check Your Resume Against These Suggestions

Ingrid Baker — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:46:10 +0000

It is really difficult to write a good resume because you want to tell folks all the good things about you – but they just want to know if you can do the job! I’ve discussed resumes from the employer angle a number of times, and they are searching for truthfulness and a fit. They are also trying to get some sense of the person and their work style. Because they may receive PILES of resumes for a position, the more clearly and concisely you present your skills, the more likely your submittal will get noticed.
There is an art to focusing in on the skills a prospective employer will want while still presenting the breadth of talent that you offer. A number of websites offer general tips for presenting your best side.
One service, #1 Resume Writing Services, provides a simple list of 10 tips online. The list is as follows (for further discussion see the Resume site):
- Use titles or headings that match the job you want (assuming they are accurate!)
- Use design that grabs attention, so they’ll notice your resume in the pile
- Create content that sells – the art of descriptive phrases that attract attention
- Quantify, and use power words – numbers are powerful in themselves when describing achievements
- Analyze ads and job descriptions to identify key words – clues as to what the employer is asking for
- Identify and solve employer’s hidden needs – things like “plays well with others”
- Sell the benefit to employers of the skills you have – don’t just list the skills
- Create an image that matches the salary you want – such as the number of years of experience
- Prioritize the content in the resume – make sure the important stuff is at the top
- Most important – tweak and target your resume and cover letter for the job you seek. Highlight the skills you have relevant to the position.

After you have done the work and have targets in mind, have someone familiar with the industry review your resume. They can help you with target words and presentation. Also our High Tech Job Forum will do a once-over for you free of charge. We work with a number of high tech employers to help them recruit and would be happy to give you a sense of whether you are on target.
Good luck!

The Age Factor for Job Seekers

Ingrid Baker — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:44:32 +0000

As my generation (baby boomers) age, changing jobs is more difficult for more than one reason. It is painful at any age to go job hunting. The fact that business technologies change so rapidly and we’re scrambling too keep up doesn’t help. The way we apply for jobs has gone techie as well, and social networking for jobs is on the rise. So – add the fact that some of us are now more mature and there are a number of people job hunting in this economy and you could get very discouraged. Don’t! According to an article in "Marketwatch" by Andrea Coombes, we should be touting our maturity and experience. The idea is to confront age biases head-on by addressing them. Here, in brief, are a few tips. 1. Get someone to recommend you. This is always a good idea, as some companies get inundated with resumes, sometimes hundreds for a single position. 2. Create a profile online detailing industry skills and experience. Include that link in your resume. 3. Address the stereotypes. Talk about your flexibility and willingness to take on new experiences. Show the company that you’d be cheaper to train because of past experience and let them know you’ll be around for quite awhile if that is the case (many aging workers are perceived as headed for retirement). 4. Create a skill-based resume, focusing on the knowledge needed for the job you are seeking. Highlight the last 10 years or so- not your entire career. 5. Attend conferences and workshops relevant to your field to be up on the latest in that industry. 6. Your cover letter should make you stand out as a candidate. Include references to what’s happening in your industry or in the company you’re applying to. Good luck and good hunting.