How to Write a Razor-Edge Resume

Posted by: admin  /  Category: Employment Tips, Resume Writing and Tips

How to Write a Razor-Edge Resume

Job seekers should pay attention on making a resume that stands out over the others because it is your ticket to landing to a job.

Neoli Marcos

Hmmm.. Razor-edge and résumé in the same sentence. Sounds promising eh?

But really, not too many people who apply for a job write résumés that really has the edge over the others. A résumé, after all, is your marketing device for yourself. It is your billboard in the busy highway of the online job market, lost in a flurry of many other rival-billboards hoping to catch the attention of hiring managers gone discriminating and choosy.

So it makes sense if your job résumé really hits them in the eye, makes them stop in their tracks, and forces them to declare to themselves, hmmm, this person is worth the try. Edgy is good, it stands out from the rest, and goes a stride closer to that golden job opportunity. Blunt and dull, well, they’re bad. You do the math.

Ockham’s Razor. No, we’re not going to ask you to decorate your résumé with glitters or attach a musical greeting card in the interest of being edgy. We’re talking Ockham’s Razor-edgy here.

In science and philosophy, Ockham’s Razor is a rule that can be summed up as “no multiplicity if not necessary.” This means that when there are two competing theories to a phenomenon, we should choose the simplest of the two, since the simplest solution is often the best one. No multiplicity if not necessary.

Okay, okay, before you cry bloody razor and yell what in edge’s name has this got to do with a job résumé and job application, we are getting there. In writing that résumé, nothing beats simple. Short and simple is edgy. Razor-sharp, if you will. After all, if you’re a hiring manager who has to sift through dozens and dozens of babbling job résumés declaring this and that skills and achievements, you will want something refreshing for a change. You want edgy.

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?

Use standard fonts. Like Arial, Times New Roman. No fancy fonts please. Don’t worry about looking like everybody else’s résumé. You can express your creativity through some other venue. Like your answers during the job interview. But that’s for later.

Use keywords. Such as technologies you are fluent in like C++, Correl, Java, XML, Adobe, Flash, DreamWeaver. Hiring managers are on the lookout for keywords, so highlight and capitalise if you must–whatever makes your résumé easier to read in a glimpse.

List jobs in reverse chronological order. Starting from the most recent.

Use a formal-sounding email address. Preferably with your name in it. It’s not reassuring for hiring managers to receive online job applications from emails like icybabylicious@yahoo.com, or imsuchahottie@gmail.com.

Try sending out your résumé to yourself first. Of course, you’ll need another email address for this. Go send that job application to yourself. This is so that you’ll have an idea of how your résumé will arrive at the hiring manager’s inbox. This way, you can edit it again.

Don’t send your résumé as an attachment. Instead, paste it on the email’s body. You want the hiring manager to immediately see your résumé and give you that job opportunity. Spare them the trouble of downloading attachments.

Name-drop References. Of course, choose relevant people, like past co-employees or former bosses, who can vouch for you and your work attitudes. Sadly, this rules out people like neighbors, bowling buddies, cousins, your kid’s friend’s parent, etc, even if you’re very good friends with them.

Lastly, whatever you do, don’t send a résumé that you’ve created from one of those just-fill-in-the-blanks résumé template. Not only is it cheesy, but it sends a message to the company that you just don’t care or have the time at all.

Of course, let’s not get carried away with just the résumé. So what if you’ve got a razor-edge online job résumé. Sure, it’s the first step, but certainly not the last in securing that online job opportunity. Your résumé is your ticket, so use it well later in the interview.

Don’t just get a job in Australia; get a career opportunity! OzFreeOnline is your user-friendly free job classifieds where it’s absolutely free to sign-up and post your resume. Browse all the great job opportunities in Australia and jumpstart your career! At http://jobs.OzFreeOnline.com , you’re in demand!

Neoli Marcos is an article contributor for http://jobs.ozfreeonline.com

Advice From a Recruiter

Posted by: admin  /  Category: Career Fair Events, Employment Tips, Interview Tips, Resume Writing and Tips, Work Life

Recently I worked the registration desk at HireLive’s Orange County sales, retail and management career fair. I was passed resume after resume as each candidate came through and while walking around the career fair I got to watch the candidates, some nervously, sit down and interview with the awesome companies we had attending. I knew that some of the thoughts running through these job seekers heads had to be…does my resume look okay? Am I saying all the right things in the time I have during the interview? So I decided to sit down with one of HireLive’s very experienced recruiters and ask her some simple questions that most job seekers are dying to know. Here are the questions I asked her pertaining to resumes and interviews.

1. What keywords do you look for in a resume?

-This changes for each job I am searching for, but if it pertains to sales I look for achievements.  Things like sales rankings, percentage of sales quotas, president’s club, and any other awards and achievements.

2.   What characteristics do you look for in a candidate during an interview?

-Personality is huge.  Are they easy to talk to?  Are they able to build rapport?  I look for energy and enthusiasm.

3.   What are a few things that would make you skip over a certain candidates resume?

-Lack of stability or big gaps in their resume. It is good if they explain these on the resume.

4.   What are a few common mistakes candidates make in an interview?

-Candidates get nervous and talk too much.  It is also very important to give specific answers to the questions asked.  One huge mistake I have  seen over many years of recruiting that candidates don’t do is aggressively close an interview, especially in sales.  They must ask for the job or ask to schedule another interview.

5.   If you had to give one piece of advice pertaining to resumes and interviews for job seekers what would it be?

-Resumes – highlight your accomplishments.  Do not make your resume too wordy.  Remember that the average company only looks at your resume for less than a minute when deciding to call you.

-Interviews -Be prepared.  Have a plan.  Research the company, dress professionally, take resumes and any documentation you have about your successes.  NEVER BE LATE!!!  Show some personality.  These are all things that you can control.

Hopefully these couple of questions can help you out next time your rewriting your resume or preparing for an interview, they are simple enough to remember, and can really make you stand out above the rest!

Fortune 500 Companies looking for Job Seekers at So. California Career Fairs

Posted by: admin  /  Category: Career Fair Events, Employment Tips, Interview Tips

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA –  June 20, 2011 – With end of another school year, thousands of new college graduates now face the task of starting their job search and landing a job. To help kick start the interview process HireLive is coming back to the Southern California area to help job seekers in need of landing their next career.

HireLive is a Southern California based sales, retail and management recruitment firm that is focused on bringing candidates and companies together. On June 28th, 29th and 30th HireLive will be in Orange County, the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire helping job seekers find their next opportunity with industry leading employers in each market.

HireLive focuses on helping those who are looking for a job in sales, retail or upper management. Companies attending are looking for professional entry level to senior level job seekers who are serious about taking their career to the next level. In May 2011 over 1,000 job seekers attended the Southern California HireLive Career Fairs to meet and interview with over 60 industry leading companies who were hiring. These companies included: Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Hershey’s, Verizon Wireless, Starbucks, LTC Financial, AAA, Enterprise Rent A Car, Hostess Brands and many more.

HireLive prides itself on the unique experience they offer job seekers. Attending a HireLive Career Fair is a far different experience than most associate with a “job fair”. These Career Fairs are primarily held at Embassy Suites Hotels where each company gets their own suite to conduct sit down interviews. This allows candidates personal time with the hiring managers in a comfortable and non-distracting environment.  All of the attending companies are actively hiring for sales, retail and management openings they are trying to fill. “It’s great to see people who are serious about getting their next job take advantage of the opportunity to meet with hiring managers, and not just sit at home and wait for a company to call them” Stephanie Ross, Marketing Coordinator at HireLive. Candidates not only get to meet the companies they are interested in, but interview with hiring managers on the spot. Job seekers often leave with second interviews already scheduled and on some occasions even a job offer.

HireLive’s Career Fairs are free for all job seekers to attend and the events take place from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. HireLive is expecting 100 companies to participate between these 5 events and should have over  1,000 candidates attending. Professional dress and multiple resumes are required to attend.

Orange County – Tuesday, June 28th 2011
Embassy Suites Hotel – 1325 East Dyer Road, Santa Ana, CA. 92705

San Fernando Valley – Tuesday, June 28th 2011
Marriott Hotel – 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills,CA. 91367

Los Angeles – Wednesday, June 29th 2011
Embassy Suites Hotel – 1440 East Imperial Avenue, El Segundo, CA. 90245

San Diego – Wednesday, June 29th 2011
Embassy Suites Hotel – 4550 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA. 92122

Inland Empire – Thursday, June 30th 2011
Doubletree Hotel – 222 North Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA. 91764

With over 20 years of experience in connecting job seekers with potential employers, HireLive’s objective is to provide the highest quality recruiting events and job openings for the top sales, retail and management candidates across the country. For more information Visit www.HireLive.com or call HireLive at 949-599-1870.

Contact:
Christine Lombard, Director, Marketing and Event Operations
HireLive
clombard@hirelive.com
949-599-1869
www.HireLive.com

###

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes