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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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 Motivate Yourself – Self Motivation

By: Pick The Brain

Staying motivated is a struggle — our drive is constantly assaulted by negative thoughts and anxiety about the future. Everyone faces doubt and depression. What separates the highly successful is the ability to keep moving forward.

There is no simple solution for a lack of motivation. Even after beating it, the problem reappears at the first sign of failure. The key is understanding your thoughts and how they drive your emotions. By learning how to nurture motivating thoughts, neutralize negative ones, and focus on the task at hand, you can pull yourself out of a slump before it gains momentum.

Reasons We Lose Motivation

There are 3 primary reasons we lose motivation.

1. Lack of confidence – If you don’t believe you can succeed, what’s the point in trying?
2. Lack of focus – If you don’t know what you want, do you really want anything?
3. Lack of direction – If you don’t know what to do, how can you be motivated to do it?

How to Boost Confidence

The first motivation killer is a lack of confidence. When this happens to me, it’s usually because I’m focusing entirely on what I want and neglecting what I already have. When you only think about what you want, your mind creates explanations for why you aren’t getting it. This creates negative thoughts. Past failures, bad breaks, and personal weaknesses dominate your mind. You become jealous of your competitors and start making excuses for why you can’t succeed. In this state, you tend to make a bad impression, assume the worst about others, and lose self confidence.

The way to get out of this thought pattern is to focus on gratitude. Set aside time to focus on everything positive in your life. Make a mental list of your strengths, past successes, and current advantages. We tend to take our strengths for granted and dwell on our failures. By making an effort to feel grateful, you’ll realize how competent and successful you already are. This will rejuvenate your confidence and get you motivated to build on your current success.

It might sound strange that repeating things you already know can improve your mindset, but it’s amazingly effective. The mind distorts reality to confirm what it wants to believe. The more negatively you think, the more examples your mind will discover to confirm that belief. When you truly believe that you deserve success, your mind will generate ways to achieve it. The best way to bring success to yourself is to genuinely desire to create value for the rest of the world.

Developing Tangible Focus

The second motivation killer is a lack of focus. How often do you focus on what you don’t want, rather than on a concrete goal? We normally think in terms of fear. I’m afraid of being poor. I’m afraid no one will respect me. I’m afraid of being alone. The problem with this type of thinking is that fear alone isn’t actionable. Instead of doing something about our fear, it feeds on itself and drains our motivation.

If you’re caught up in fear based thinking, the first step is focusing that energy on a well defined goal. By defining a goal, you automatically define a set of actions. If you have a fear of poverty, create a plan to increase your income. It could be going back to school, obtaining a higher paying job, or developing a profitable website. The key is moving from an intangible desire to concrete, measurable steps.

By focusing your mind on a positive goal instead of an ambiguous fear, you put your brain to work. It instantly begins devising a plan for success. Instead of worrying about the future you start to do something about it. This is the first step in motivating yourself to take action. When know what you want, you become motivated to take action.

Developing Direction

The final piece in the motivational puzzle is direction. If focus means having an ultimate goal, direction is having a day-to-day strategy to achieve it. A lack of direction kills motivation because without an obvious next action we succumb to procrastination. An example of this is a person who wants to have a popular blog, but who spends more time reading posts about blogging than actually writing articles.

The key to finding direction is identifying the activities that lead to success. For every goal, there are activities that pay off and those that don’t. Make a list of all your activities and arrange them based on results. Then make a make an action plan that focuses on the activities that lead to big returns. To continue the example from above, a blogger’s list would look something like this:

1. Write content
2. Research relevant topics
3. Network with other bloggers
4. Optimize design and ad placements
5. Answer comments and email
6. Read other blogs

Keeping track of your most important tasks will direct your energy towards success. Without a constant reminder, it’s easy to waste entire days on filler activities like reading RSS feeds, email, and random web surfing.

When my motivation starts to wane, I regain direction by creating a plan that contains two positive actions. The first one should be a small task you’ve been meaning to do, while the second should be a long-term goal. I immediately do the smaller task. This creates positive momentum. After that I take the first step towards achieving the long-term goal. Doing this periodically is great for getting out of a slump, creating positive reinforcement, and getting long-term plans moving.

It’s inevitable that you’ll encounter periods of low energy, bad luck, and even the occasional failure. If you don’t discipline your mind, these minor speed bumps can turn into mental monsters. By being on guard against the top 3 motivation killers you can preserve your motivation and propel yourself to success.

10 Dumb Things To Avoid In A Job Interview by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2008/11/10-dumb-things-to-avoid-in-an-interview.html

I can’t say I’ve seen it all, but in 15 years as a hiring manager, I’ve seen my share.  It really is amazing what some people will say and do in an interview.  I’m not trying to be callous, but if you read this post and avoid these missteps, you will surely live to interview another day.

1.  Three nuns walk into a bar . . .

Please don’t tell jokes.  Please don’t consider it a fun opening line or ice breaker.  The odds of you offending someone (or even worse telling a bad joke) are too high.  Don’t do it.  If humor is an important part of who you are, find a way to share an interesting anecdote about a work related event.  Perhaps an example where you or others learned an important lesson.  Just don’t hit them with a joke.

 

2.  All kinds of #$%#@?

No matter who you are interviewing with and no matter what you know about them, don’t swear.  Not even the minor ones.  Besides the obvious risk of offending your interviewer, you can also look smug and too comfortable.  Even some folks who swear up and down the hallway each day may not like your doing so in an interview.  If you need to show your ability to adapt to the culture there are other ways to do it.

 

3.  The big yarn yawn

Whether as a response to a question, because you are incredibly nervous or due to an excitement to share, do not get caught in the long story trap.  Long stories are boring, obviously off topic and slow the interview down to a terrible crawl.  Especially if you only have 30 minutes with a interviewer, keep your answers short, direct and full of relevant examples.

 

4.  The emperor’s old clothes

Old twisted ties, blouses that are falling apart at the sleeve, shirts that don’t fit well.  Either way, it sends the wrong message.  Either you are not aware that your clothes would be turned away at Goodwill or have not noticed their downward turn.  Regardless.  The effect on the hiring manager is the same.  It all gets noticed.

5.  That’s kind of personal, isn’t it?

We all have tough things happening in life.  Tough times are very personal and should stay that way.  Whether in answering a question about a gap in your resume or explaining why your last boss didn’t like you, do everything you can to keep in objective.  No emotion and no personal stories.  A death in the family is painful and sounds like the reasonable thing to share.  Unfortunately, sharing personal information, whether painful or hilarious, should be avoided.   

 

6.  That creepy mirror image thing

Maybe this is just me, but the interview preparation expert who suggested many years ago to match the body language of your interviewer was wrong.  If you have ever interviewed someone who sat up when you did, leaned back with you and crossed his or her legs in concert, it is a bit creepy.  While there is a way to generally match the overall tone of the interview (serious vs. casual), first don’t do it literally.  Second, make sure to be yourself.  If the authentic you is personable and business casual, don’t go out of your way to match a highly stiff interviewer’s style.  After all, part of vetting the company is to pick up on these cues, not match them. 

7.  Chatty Kathy (or Kevin) and then some

Some people just love to talk.  Are they trying to fill up time to avoid more questions?  Are they just social people?  Honestly, I think it varies.  The point here is that some interviewers don’t know how to stop you.  So you have to stop yourself.  There are also interviewers who will (on purpose) not ask you a following question, allow a pause, and let you keep on going.  So, don’t feel a need to fill the void with a more detailed answer.  If the interviewer appears to be lacking their next question, be ready to ask them one. 

8.  Political debate topic avoidance

Sometimes I will ask a question three or four times.  I do this because job candidates don’t answer them.  Whether on purpose or not, it is frustrating for the interviewer.  Often I keep asking because I believe the person has the answer I want and they just need some help.  Sometimes I worry that I am not being clear.  Other times I just do not want the candidate to blatantly avoid the question.  So, as a job candidate, (1) be a good listener (2) answer the specific question with good, relevant examples and (3) ask for clarification if your first answer doesn’t seem to deliver.  

9.  New or unpleasant facial hair (men)

Hollywood actors like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp are famous for wearing a thin mustache or goatee.  They get away with it because they are famous people preparing for an important part in a new movie.  You are not Brad Pitt, you are not preparing for a movie role, and the facial hair probably doesn’t look good on you.  But, you say, this mustache is part of who I am!  OK, if it looks good (thick and full without too much gray), no problem.  If it is something you’ve grown over the past 3-4 weeks waiting for interviews, do us all a favor and save it for later.

10.  Fallacy of self torture

If offered a drink of water, take it.  If offered a chance to use the rest room, take it.  These are legitimate offers, not cruel tricks to see if you’ll bite.  It does not make you look weak to accept a glass of water.  I say this because I have offered water to many interview candidates who, twenty minutes into the interview, clearly need a drink of water.  Dry mouth changes the sound of your voice and, I think, affects the confidence.  You are now thinking about your thirst instead of the current question.

Honorable mention . . . excessive name dropping

 

If this has been you in the past or if this is you today, please stop.  Hiring managers genuinely want to like you.  Your resume, cover letter and/or phone interview suggested good things to come.  There is so much in an interview that can be and must be controlled BY YOU.

And the spirit of our new President-elect, Barack Obama . . .

Yes, you can: 

a.  be pleasant

b.  answer questions intelligently, directly and with clear examples of your past successes

c.  be interesting, fun and charming without being out of line or presumptuous

d.  be polite and considerate

e.  ask questions that challenge the interviewer and give you key data to form your own opinion

f.  be polite and well-manicured

g.  be yourself and still be someone that the company wants to hire

Yes, you can.

The #1 Enemy Of A Successful Job Search? by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://blog.spinstrategy.com/2009/09/the-1-enemy-of-a-successful-job-search.html

Of course there are many things that can disable your job search.  Some are in your control and some are not . . .

Some are debilitating and some simply frustrating.

The enemy on my mind this morning, however, is a sneaky one.  Hard to control.  And sometimes hard to see.  It works quietly in the background like a computer virus.  Chewing up memory and productivity.

Even the word sounds dastardly. 

In fact, the word is so full of consonants that it sounds like the gnashing of teeth.

“Procrastination”

Is this a problem for you?  Are you sure? 

It has been an issue for me in the past (you can read my other blog to learn how I let 20 years go by before acting on my ideas).  So when I saw an article on the topic in Scientific American Mind, I knew I had to tell you about it. 

The great article was written by Trisha Gura called “I’ll Do It Tomorrow” where she suggests that “procrastination is damaging the careers, health and savings accounts of millions of Americans”.

I referred to this idea generally a few months back when I suggested you need to be careful of optimism.  That too much optimism might prevent a healthy dose of productive fear from driving you to take action.  

But procrastination is less about optimism and more about simply avoiding doing the things you know you need to do.  Sometimes to your significant peril – as the article suggests.

And you also may say “Isn’t the risk just the opposite?  That we will act too often, over-communicate and be perceived as desperate?”

Yes.  And I know what you are thinking.  There are too many things to think about and balance during job search.  And you are right. 

So first some examples of where and when procrastination can cripple you in job search – if you do not act:

1. Creating a top notch resume and online brand (Linkedin, Twitter, Blogging) 
2. Building a detailed budget for expenses during your transition
3. Drafting and implementing a solid job search strategy
4. Calling and following up with influential networking contacts
5. Getting to important networking events
   

Now there are many reasons people don’t do these things.  Sometimes there is a lack of knowledge.  Pride can get in the way.  And sometimes you forget that this job search market is completely different.  That the old ways of job search won’t work.

Some of these things are hard.  They require skills that you may not have.  And you hesitate.  Then hesitation turns to put off and then put off becomes forgotten.

But sometimes you simply put off doing important things.  And you know you shouldn’t.

In the article, Trisha provides some great tips on how to recognize when you are procrastinating.  These steps, which characterize the process of procrastination, were provided by William Knaus – a clinical psychologist in Massachusetts:

• You have an activity with a deadline that comes with a reward if done well or a punishment if not done correctly.
• You view the activity negatively, as boring, unpleasant, threatening or confusing.
• You magnify the onerousness of the task while discounting the incentives for acting now.
• To avoid or relieve  the discomfort, you substitute another activity such as daydreaming, “organizing” or just about anything involving a computer.
• You tell yourself that you will get to the task, perhaps tomorrow.  Then, when tomorrow comes, you make up another excuse.

Boy these sound familiar.  Do you think surfing the job search engines for hours a day is a symptom of a procrastination problem.  I think so, yes.  Seemingly productive yet highly inefficient.  And an incredibly passive activity.  A classic time waster if used beyond its value.

So, how do you battle this beast before it quietly takes your legs out from under you?

Well, as suggested here before (and supported in the article) . . .

Take action.  Build a specific plan.  And surround yourself with really smart people who can help you through the aspects of job search that you find more daunting.

With a plan you have confidence that you are executing a well-thought out and objective strategy.  And you can slice this plan into easier tactical bites.  Easier to execute = more likely to complete.

If you read this blog on a regular basis (get the RSS feed, e-mail list, bookmark), I promise to prod you. 

To provide you with practical advice two or three times a week.  Advice that you can act on that day to drive efficiency into your effort.

Looking for more ideas?  Download the free e-book (no strings attached and no sign-up required)!  Here’s the link:

New E-Book Now Available!  “30 Ideas. The Ideas of Successful Job Search.” 

But do me a favor.  Don’t read this blog every day.  You might be procrastinating.  And I’d rather hear that you chose instead to get out to a cool networking event. 

Where you are likely to find your next job floating around the room.

Federal Resume Tips : An Introduction

Federal Resume Services

How Government Resumes Differ from Private-Sector Resumes

Federal resumes are similar to private-sector resumes. However, there are some important differences.

Data unique to the federal resume:

• Social Security number
• GS numbers and grades for current or past federal jobs
• Hours worked weekly at each job
• Annual salary at each job
• Supervisor’s name, phone number, and permission (or refusal of permission) to contact
• Employer’s physical address
• Veteran’s preference
• Name of high school attended and whether a diploma was received

Data Organization

On a federal resume, work history is provided in reverse-chronological order. Academic data should be presented with the highest level of education placed first, followed by previous schooling, including high school. If you have completed college coursework, but have not attained a degree, provide the number of course hours that have been completed (e.g., “Business Administration, 35 course hours”).

Federal Resume Writing: Length

Electronic federal resumes are generally longer than private-sector resumes, which rarely exceed two pages. However, electronic federal resumes often do have some length restrictions. For example, resumes submitted to OSD, Defense Agencies, and DoD Field Activities can be no more than three pages, plus a separate page for supplemental information. It’s always wise to check agency sites for length restrictions before you start writing your federal resume.

Formatted federal resumes are generally longer than private-sector resumes as well. For senior positions, a formatted federal resume may exceed six pages. Again, before you begin your federal resume writing, check specific agency guidelines about length.

Scannable Federal Resumes

Scannable resumes used for the Resumix scanning system should follow these guidelines. Remember, though, that specific agencies may have their own requirements, which must be carefully followed.

• Use in 11-12 point type (generally Times New Roman or Courier).
• No bolding, italics, tabs, bullets are used.
• The entire resume is flush left.
• Margins are one inch.
• The current job title begins the resume and is followed by all previous titles that relate to the current job search (i.e. if the client is a paralegal, but once worked at Baskin Robbins as an ice cream server, the server position would not be included).

Electronic or Printed Federal Resume Services

Formatted federal resumes can be sent as attachments or by regular mail. These are the closest to what you might submit when applying for a job in the private sector. They differ only in the following areas:

• Data is more comprehensive and personal (e.g., Social Security Numbers, hours worked per week, annual salary, company/agency physical location, veteran status, etc.).
• High school data is included within the Education section.
• The resume will often exceed two pages. Remember that agency requirements must be followed

Read More

• Part 2: Self-Nomination
• Part 3: Supplemental Information
• Part 4: Do’s and Don’ts

Part One: An IntroductionBy: ResumeEdge.com

Crafting a federal resume is your first step in the application process. Federal resumes are used:

• To seek promotions within the same government agency (e.g., CIA Advisor to CIA Senior Advisor).
• To make lateral moves across government agencies (e.g., Systems Director of the United States Post Office to Systems Director of the Food and Drug Administration).
• To seek government employment for the first time, whether previous employment was in the military or in the private sector.

Keep in mind that for certain federal positions, you must use the government Resume Builder, located on the agency’s website. Check the requirements of your job announcement to see if you are required to use it.