Sample Resumes and Examples

While re-writing my own resume sometime back, I had to figure how to show my consulting work along with my day job.  Both are marketing-related and I really wanted a format that showed what I do, but was easy on the eyes.  I have even helped re-write resumes for professions I do not know about such as Healthcare and even Attorneys, but had great results.  Therefore, I would like to share my findings with my fellow Americans and help fight unemployment one resume at a time.  Use this resource wisely – http://www.bestsampleresume.com/.

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Tips to Address Employment Gaps in a Resume

Tips to Address Employment Gaps in a Resume

Source: http://www.ayushveda.com/tipson/tips-to-address-employment-gaps-in-a-resume/

Resume is a paper that represents the individual for the job. It is through the resume a future employer sees you. If you have a missing year in your career history then the employer will take it as a negative mark and it may adversely affect your chance of getting a job.

There are many reasons for missing years in your resume. It can be due to pregnancy, for raising your baby, an accident, higher education, to look after your elderly parents etc and what ever the reasons you have to address it tactfully. This will help you to avoid the bad impression.

1. While writing your resume use a skill based format rather than using a chronological format. Make a heading and group relevant skills under the heading. With this you can highlight your achievements and skills instead of the highlighting the time you did it. This will help you to hide the gaps.

2. Instead of listing dates on your resume like Feb, 2005 to May 2008 you can write 2005 to 2008. This will help you to cover the gaps of months in your resume.

3. If you are a person who is working for years then you can set your experience as fifteen years in technical job and ten years in managerial job etc.

4. Make a list of the things that you did in the year when you were not employed and categorize them. This will help you to find things that can be included in your resume. You might have volunteered events, might have worked as a consultant or freelance writer, sometimes you might have taken classes for kids etc. Then you can list such things in your resume as you did with other jobs.

5. If you are not able to cover the gaps then you can keep a covering letter along with your resume which explains the reason for the gap. You can explain that you were raising twins, were writing a novel, were caring your aged parents etc. If you had a serious accident and you were in trauma then you can offer medical certificate also.

6. If you can tell the truths then it will the best. This is because the employer may cross check your information on the resume and if they find anything incorrect they may expel you from the job.

INTERVIEW WEEK: How To Nail The HR Interview by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/yb9dy67

During your interview process, the odds are you will spend a decent amount of time talking with people in HR.  For most jobs, you will at least have a screening or phone interview with someone in HR prior to being invited for an in-person interview.

Once on-site there is also a really good chance that you will interview with an HR manager or director during your interview day.  Depends on the level of your interview.

But why worry so much about the HR interview? 

Well, if you are thinking that the HR interview is the least important of all. Or if you think that it will be simply a time to fill out the basic application and review benefits.  I got news for you.

The HR interview is not a walk-off and is not the time in the day where you relax or coast.  In my experience, it is a key time when you need to be on top of your game.

Do not underestimate the value of your on-site HR interview.  And do not assume it is yet another screening interview.  Or do so at your own peril.

If the HR interview is first up on the list and you are expecting an easy start, you may be jolted out of your chair and end up on the defensive for the rest of the day.  How does that sound?

So, here are my 5 tips for nailing the HR interview (and they may not be what you were expecting to hear):

1.  Prepare the same way for the HR interview as you do for any other interview. 

Use the same vigor and same attention to detail. This shows respect and consideration of their role within the company.  Vet them and get to know their background.  Can you add some unique prep just for HR related issues?  Of course.  But if that is all you ask of the HR group, you are missing out on a significant learning opportunity.

2.  Ask HR the same questions you ask those in sales, marketing, finance and purchasing. 

Ask a smart HR person about plans for the next company picnic and you may see the eyes roll back.  Not that building and managing a positive culture isn’t part of the HR role, but it is not the way to the HR heart.  Many HR staffers are keenly aware of the company’s compensation programs which are often tied to company performance and stock price.  So as long as you are not asking the “look how smart I am” question, assume HR is in the loop on company strategy.  And by asking each question to every person on your dance card, you get a better research result.  A better N or sample size.

3.  Assume HR is a key influencer in the decision process. 

At the very least, the HR person will be a part of the end of day round-up where your next steps get decided.  More likely, HR will be the one compiling the larger group’s comments for the hiring manager.  And if they don’t get all the comments they need, they may fill in a few extra of their own to fill the gap.  And you get to influence those comments by being a strong interview.  Finally, many hiring managers use the HR team as a deciding opinion.  After all, they do a lot of interviewing and can compare you with a lot of others.

4. Kick off your day with a big burst of energy.

Since HR interviews are often first, it is the pace setter for your day.  Stumble early and you may have trouble catching up by lunch time. If you nail this interview, you not only have created early momentum.  You have created an informal sponsor of your candidacy.  Someone who can help you quietly work your way to the top of the list.  Your positive energy combined with a strong skill set and experience match reconfirms the decision to invite you for an interview in the first place.  You move on to round 2 and HR looks good for finding you.

5. Clearly highlight or reinforce your qualifying and memorable accomplishments.

Remember, of all the people you meet during the interview day, the HR team is going to be most schooled on what the hiring manager is targeting.  Often, they are also the most knowledgeable of the company’s desired personality or work-style fit.  So be clear on who you are, what you’ve done and how it will benefit the company.  And how you can drive or support its future growth.

So, be aware of the possibilities when interviewing.  It is possible that the HR interview will include filling out the application and the sharing  of company information.

It is also possible that during your HR interview you will earn every ounce of the complementary bottled water you got on your way in the door.

And wouldn’t you rather be prepared for the latter?  I thought so.

Know Your References Well. It Isn’t What They Say, It’s How They Say It.

Article Source: http://tinyurl.com/yeqachg

We often do one-on-one job search coaching with candidates. This is a three month program where we cover all aspects of a person’s search, and work weekly to ensure that everything is being done to expedite their search. We cover issues that might arise before they arise, discuss areas of conflict, develop a marketing plan, perform interviews, review resumes and tough interview questions, compensation negotiations and check references. It is very comprehensive, and often hidden issues that would keep the candidate from getting an interview or job are discovered and addressed before they become an issue. Too often the candidate never finds out why they didn’t get an interview or offer, when a little up front work would have solved the problem before it became a problem.

As part of this coaching, the candidate develops a complete set of references. The candidate always assures us that the reference has told them “They would give me a good reference.” A CEO I was working with had a board member as one of their references. I called to talk with this reference and make sure that all was well. It didn’t take long to realize that the reference, although not bad, was only average to barely passing. This is not something the candidate would want a company to hear. We went back to candidate and asked to talk to the other board members (at least two). They both had great things to say, and in fact, one was going to recommend the candidate for another position. It turned out the first person had a grudge to bear against the CEO. These two board members then became the references. Had we not done this, the candidate would have never found out why he didn’t get a particular position.

I don’t believe we were deceiving the company in any way. They asked for one board member and instead we offered two. We did not prep the references in any way. All we did was try and get the real picture of the CEO’s abilities without bias or from a person with a grudge.

This is just one of many very easy things to deal with before they become a problem. Do you pre-qualify your references before you give them out? You should.

When talking to a reference it isn’t always what they say, but how they say it that counts.

You can learn a lot more about references and the complete job search process in our job search workbook, “This is NOT The Position I Accepted.” We will send you the book to review for only the $5 cost of shipping. It will reduce the time you spend in search. CLICK HERE to review the books contents.

Join our Linkedin Job Search Networking group. The news articles, connections, networking, and discussions are a great resource for anyone looking for a position. CLICK HERE to join.

Get your Linkedin Profile Self-Assessment for Free on our Web site and make sure your profile is the best it can be. Go to http://www.impacthiringsolutions.com and scroll down to the WHAT’S NEW section and click the link.

Obsess Much? How Staying Busy Keeps You Sane During Job Search by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/y8otcj3

I write a lot about the psychology of job search.  For me it is one of the top keys to finding a job in this or any market.  If you have your head on straight, you come across differently than those who don’t.  Your mannerisms deliver you in a confident way.  You avoid the smell of desperation.

It allows you to focus less on over-pursuing job leads and more on pursuing with confidence the next wave of opportunities. 

But even the most confident of us obsess a bit in job search.  Why?  Because “how is it possible that a smart person like me (with my background) isn’t being called for interviews”?  Once the job search moves into months not weeks, you start to wonder.  And wondering becomes worry. Especially if you begin spending your savings to fund your search.

So always having two or three warm leads is important.  That way what happens with one is less important.  As a result you are less often checking e-mail and more often busy doing something more valuable.  Author and blogger Tim Ferriss says to check e-mail twice a day.  At Noon and at 4:00 PM.  Give it a try.

How do you know if you are obsessing?

1. You are consistently going “off plan” to check in with a recruiter (for the fourth time that week).
2. You are continually e-mailing the HR team to see if they got your resume via Monster.
3. You have Outlook set-up to check for new messages every 5 minutes and to make a noise when they come in.
4. Your Blackberry is set-up to “blink red” when a new message comes in.
5. You berate the HR team for not seeing the value you offer to their organization

Of course this is all wasted time and, importantly, wasted energy.

If you are one of those folks checking e-mail every ten minutes, I have some thoughts for you.

1. Build a communication plan.  Decide who is in your job search network and then build an objective plan to confidently reach out on a periodic basis.  For the most part, try to avoid impulsive actions.
2. Change Outlook and Blackberry settings so that you are not “prompted” to check e-mail throughout the day.  No blinking lights and no “you’ve got mail” during job search (also a Ferriss point).
3. If you think you should call and follow-up with a recruiter, HR person or hiring manager.  Check your communication log if you have one.  More than once a week is too much.  If they want you, they will call.
4. On those days and weeks when you know your expectations will be high.  After a submission, after an interview, after a recruiter meeting.  Plan events, meetings and special projects around the house that will keep you busy.  Away from the e-mail.  Ideally when the call finally comes you will be relaxed with your head in the right place to accept whatever news comes your way.
5. In terms of your mindset, remember that your life is not on the line here.  While finding your next role is a big priority, your ability to balance this effort with other important things in life is also key.  Your role as a parent, spouse, uncle or friend.  Those roles can provide a great and highly rewarding distraction.  Just when you need it.

For other ways to stay busy during job search, check out this post:

101 (Other) Things You Can Do While Looking For A Job

Your resume is a selling pitch, not a biography.

Are you writing your resume as if it was your biography? If your resume is crammed with all your work experience and history, you’re writing a boring novel. 

Write your resume as if it was the best sales pitch you’ve ever written.  It is like those annoying commercials that grab your attention and you remember them for weeks. So how can you make your resume capture the same message as a commercial?

Your goal is to grab the attention of the hiring manager like they are a potential consumer.   You are selling your professional experience, knowledge, and showing why you are better than the competition. You do this by highlighting your best selling points and benefits, and getting the hiring managers to feel at ease enough to make the purchase, which is hiring you.

Think of those enticing ads where you want more, that’s their strategy. Your strategy is to entice hiring managers so they want to find out more about you. Don’t tell them everything, only the most important pieces of information to grab their attention during the scanning process.

How To Dress For a Job Interview

Walking into a job interview wearing the wrong attire is like showing up at a black-tie event dressed for a costume party. A bad move you’ll instantly regret.

You Will Need

• Tidy, neatly styled hair
• A clean face, hands, and fingernails
• A clean, professional outfit
• A briefcase or portfolio
• And a pair of comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Small, tasteful jewelry
• A light and subtle perfume or aftershave
• A manicure
• Natural-looking makeup
• And a new haircut

Step 1: Find out dress code

Before the big event, find out how the employees dress where you’ll be interviewing. Ask whoever’s arranging the interview for you what the dress code is, and if they have any pointers on what to wear.

Step 2: Choose clothes

Find something in your wardrobe that’s in line with what other employees wear, but kick it up a notch—a sharp tie, a colorful scarf or pocket square. Something to separate you from the pack.

Step 3: Don’t go overboard

But don’t go overboard. You want to make a good impression, not a fashion statement.

Step 4: Keep it tasteful

Go easy on the aftershave or perfume too, or the makeup and jewelry—keep things tasteful.

Step 5: Be neat

Be neat. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, your nails are trimmed, and your hair and teeth are brushed.

Step 6: Dress comfortably

Make sure you’ll be comfortable sitting, standing, and walking. Now is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes.

Step 7: Give yourself time

Get prepared early, show up on time and, most importantly, make sure you end up in the right place.

Source: http://www.howcast.com/videos/929-How-To-Dress-For-a-Job-Interview

How To Build Out Your Network During Job Search. Introducing PlateWorks™

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/yac4w9s

Today’s post has a few objectives.  First, I’d like to re-introduce a core tool.  One that you may have seen on the website (under tools).  If you live in Southern California, you may also have heard me describe its value in a local presentation.  I have really enjoyed the opportunity to get out and speak.  Very cool.

The second thing I’d like to do today is announce a new free e-workbook.  It will be launching in October.  Again, no sign-ups required and no strings attached.  If you haven’t already read the current e-book, you should download that now. 

30 Ideas.  The Ideas of Successful Job Search

The new e-workbook organizes and presents the free downloads available on the website.  As of this morning, there are currently 8 of them available.  The new one today makes 9 and I’ve got one more in the hopper.  That makes 10.  So that allows me to create this:

 

 

So as you might have figured out, these are 10 tools to help you succeed in job search.  I’ll be writing more about this in the coming weeks, but wanted you to see where I was heading!

Now, back to PlateWorks™.  Using a plate identification tool to define the networks you want to to tap. This tool is currently available in its old form on the “tools” page of the website.  But I wanted to re-introduce it because I still meet so many people who are networking the old fashioned way:  using too small of a network and using it inefficiently.  And not using social media tools like Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook.

So this tool asks one simple thing of you.  Identify all of the people in your world who can help you find a job.  It includes a short list of all the possible people you might interact with in life and provides a place for you to build out your own network.  You will likely identify others, of course.

The basis for this tool goes all the way back to the beginning for Spin Strategy.  It is based on the analogy of plate spinning.  Decide what plates you want to spin (there are a ton to choose from) and how often.  This includes some work on your part to figure out the capacity of your “plates” to help you and their willingness to do so.  To spin a plate means to utilize it.  To engage it.  I.E. call them, ask for a meeting, ask for a referral.

So if you know someone who is missing breadth in their job search strategy.  Or if you know someone who is not fully utilizing their potential network, perhaps PlateWorks™ can help.  Simple, I’ll admit.  But what makes up the foundation of an effective effort often is just that simple.

So here is the PlateWorks™ download.  Please share your feedback as always.  I read it all . . .

Download PlateWorks

I Sent My Resume with a Typo! Should I Send a New One?

By: Brianna Raymond, CPRW

The short answer is: maybe.

Ask all your favorite career experts that question and some would tell you to send a new resume, while others would tell you not to worry about it. What it really boils down to is whether the hiring manager is likely to notice the typo, and whether they’ll care if they do. And that largely depends on how good your resume is overall, along with the kind of job you’re seeking.

Most career advisers (us included) will tell you that one of the fastest ways for your resume to end up in the “no” pile is to send it with a typo. But we’re human and we make mistakes. There are just as many typo-ridden resumes out there as there are error-free. So if you send your seemingly perfect resume to an employer, only to notice a typo or two later, don’t stress. An informal poll of fellow bloggers shows that 2 out of 3 of us have actually been hired for jobs despite typos in our resumes—and we’re writers!

Here are some tips to help you decide which action is right for you.

The “Yes” Side

If your targeted job depends on perfect grammar and spelling (think proofreaders, writers, marketing professionals, administrative assistants, etc.) then you definitely need to follow up with an updated resume. But you’ll want to approach the issue carefully. You know what and where the typo is, but the employer may not if you catch it soon enough.

Here’s an idea of how to send a new resume without calling attention to the error:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]:

Here is an updated copy of the resume I sent you last [day of week], expressing my interest in [job title]. Please refer to this version when you review my qualifications for the job.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

The “No” Side

Here are some thoughts on why not sending an updated resume might be the right choice:

1. The hiring manager might not notice the typo in the first place.
2. If they do notice it, they still might call you in for an interview (if perfect spelling is not a requirement for the job).
3. If they notice the error and toss you in the “no” pile, sending a new resume won’t help you any. (The pessimist’s perspective.)

All in all, use your best judgment. A little typo should never overshadow a candidate’s experience and qualifications to do the job (unless you fit one of the communications professions listed above). If you’re on the fence, there’s no harm in sending an updated, error-free resume as long as you don’t call attention to what has changed between versions.

But the best thing you can do for yourself is proofread, proofread, and proofread some more before you submit your resume so you can avoid this dilemma!

Have you ever sent a resume with a typo, only to realize it when it was too late? What happened?

Networking In A New City Far, Far Away by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2009/08/networking-in-a-city-far-far-away.html

So I got re-connected with a new friend.  A follower of this blog and someone who is doing all the right things and not finding the right result in his local job search.  A scenario that fits a number of you, I’m sure.

He e-mailed a few weeks ago with a follow-up question from our last phone call.

After scouring the Denver market for the right job in the right industry, he has now started on another  path.  Toward a job outside his current city.  Not his first choice, but one that commonly comes up after a few months on the job hunt.

Now I’ll tell you he has one leg up.  And that is that he grew up and went to college in his target state.  The great state of Texas.

You may also be thinking about a similar path. 

“Do I need to start looking for a job outside my city?  Outside my state?”

“If so, how do I do that?”

So here’s what I told him.  And if you have any additional ideas for how to network in a new city far, far away, will you comment below?  I’m sure he’d love some additional ideas!

1.  Contact The Local College Career Centers.  He graduated from Texas A&M which has a great career center.  But I’ll bet if he were to call the career center at UT or Tech that someone there might make a few free resources available.

2.  Scour Your Contacts On LinkedIn.  How many of them live in or have lived in your target state?  How many of them work for companies that have their HQ or regional offices in that state?  This is one of the most powerful benefits of building strategic contacts on LinkedIn – the chance to contact them and ask for help.  And it’s not just your contacts, of course.  It is the entire network that you are connected to as a result.  

3.  Join LinkedIn Groups In That State Or Region.  The networking groups are there for just this purpose.  And even if you don’t live there now, e-mail the group owner after making your request and let them know what you are trying to do.  Who knows?  They may be able to help directly!  Oh, and please don’t just join.  Get in there and actively network.  Offer ideas.  And ask for help.

Top Regional Job Search Groups on Linkedin

Linkedin Job Search Groups.  After You Join . . .

 

4.  Join Industry Associations And Ask About Groups In That Region.   American Marketing Association (AMA), Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA) are a few examples.  What groups are active in your industry or function?  And, which of them offer career services and local networking  support?  And, if you join, become an active member.  These should be key long-term ways for you to get involved and maintain an active network.

5.  Take A “Fam” (Familiarization) Trip To Your Target City.  You’ll have to do this at some point anyway.  But before you go, become familiar with the schedule of a number of local networking groups.  That way you can join in for some local and in-person networking with real people in your target city or state.  And when you stand up for your elevator pitch, do you think people will remember you?  The person that drove 400 miles to be there?  I would.  To find networking events and calendars in a new city, go to Meetup.  

6.  Reach Out To Friends And Family.  Everyone has a cousin somewhere in the U.S., right?  You’ve heard me say it is crucial to make sure your network knows your job search objectives.  Well, if you update or expand your objectives, your family and friends need to know that too.  And then you need to ask for their help.  Sounds simple but few people do it.

7.  Use Twitter To Find Active Networkers or Recruiters.  Did you know you can search for people or keywords on Twitter?  Even if your follower base is small, you can still reach out to people.  So in the case of my friend looking to network in Texas, I suggested he search for people located in Texas, tweeting “Texas”, “Dallas”, “A&M”, etc.  Once you find them and follow each other, you can try a direct message.  But that is now full of so much spam that it may not get through.  Best is to either send them an “@ message” or get their attention by being a helpful “re-tweeter”.

Twitter For Job Search. OK, But What Do I Say?

Twitter.  Like A Walk In The Park.

8.  Contact The Local Chamber of Commerce Or A Local Realtor.   The local chamber will be full of local business owners.  The realtor will know a lot of people and may just be motivated by the fact that you will likely become a client if you can find a job in the new city.

9.  Look For Fan Pages On Facebook.  Maybe there is a fan page out there for the City of Houston.  Become a fan and interact on the group’s wall.  Again, ask for a little help.  If you do it respectfully and nicely, someone will respond to help!

10. Call Your Local Gym Or Church.  Maybe they have contacts in the new city that could help!  Personal trainers meet a lot of people, right?  Maybe an affiliated Church in the new city has a career ministry.  One that helps and supports job seekers.

So that’s my list . . .

If you are considering moving to a new city or have done it successfully through networking, please leave a comment a below.  I’d love to brainstorm some more ideas with you or hear yours!