Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year; and for those in need I'm offering a 15% discount on my services up to January 7th.

One thing I notice is that person to person communication has started to become a lost art. So here are some Back To Basics suggestions to help your job search and career

1: When you are networking with people, especially those people you do not know very well and those you have never met and who don’t know your from Adam, try picking up the phone to reach out to them rather than email, text, IM’, Linked-In in-mail or other form of non verbal communication.

2: When you do establish a new contact follow up with this person that same week, and again do it using verbal rather than non-verbal communication.

3: Try something unique. Send people a paper copy of your resume and cover letter along with the electronic submission.

4: Send out hand written thank you notes and follow up cards.

5: When you reach out to people ask them how they are doing and what you can do to help them before you even begin to ask what they can do for you.

6: Start an ‘important date’ calendar this year. Mark down peoples birthday (and their kids), anniversary, the day they got a new job or were promoted, and other special dates. Then a week before the date arrives make sure to call them and/or send them a greeting card.

Author

Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

Use Common Sense In Your Job Search

Who is the MVP (most valuable person) in a successful business? In my opinion it is the VP of Common Sense.

Decision makers, especially in failing companies, have a multitude of advisors with their own agenda advising them.

They are also deluged with a dearth of conflicting information to further confuse their thought process and many allow their egos and emotions to sway their better judgement.

Come to think of it, this scenario sounds very similar how most job seekers I know conduct a job search.What these executives and job seekers need is to have a VP of Common Sense to help them achieve success.

So here are a few common sense tips I hope can help end your job search and get you back to work.

1: Spend more time on establishing a network of people you need to know than people you already know.

Networking is the most important part of any job search, and for many the most difficult. There is an emotional comfort zone networking with family, friends and present and former vendors, colleagues and coworkers. Now don’t get me wrong they are crucial, especially as advocates. But the key to your success is developing new contacts and getting introductions and establishing relations with well connected people you don’t know in your field. As always Linked-In is the perfect tool to use.

2: Determine what the odds are for your finding a job through a job board and that is the maximum amount of time and effort you should expend on this job search modality. In most cases this is 20% or less.

3: Your resume should be focused on who you want to be more than who you were. To do this you need to know your audience, build a profile of the candidate they want to hire, and leave out useless information no matter how much it may make you look good. This information is more likely to make you overqualified or a bad fit for the job than a leading candidate.

4: Make your resume a marketing document and not a keyword dictionary. Again, key words are important but the story you tell is more important. Focus on the quality of the content not the buzz words because most of your competitors do what you do, so you need to let people know why they should interview you and not someone else.

5: Don’t burn bridges behind you. Last week, I overheard a conversation between two men at a networking event where one asked the other why he did not recommend an unemployed former co-worker for a job at his new company that the former colleague was a perfect fit for. His answer was plain and simple. “ He gave me the cold shoulder when I was looking for a job and then bad mouthed me to a few people I know as being just an “OK” boss. Remember the old saying “lose lips sink ships.

I hope these common sense tips help.

Author:

Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career coach, AIPC certified recruiter and SMMU certified social media strategist known for his ability to help his clients get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for FREE resume critique.

CAREER PLANNING FOR 2012

As we approach the end of 2011 its time to reflect on the year that’s ending and plan for the upcoming year. So here are some tips on how to make 2012 a better year.

1: This is the time of year that everyone – whether you are happily employed, looking for a new job, unemployed or even if you recently began a new job – should update your resume. 

You should review 2011 month by month to see what you have accomplished over the past year, what new skills you have developed, what new technologies you have learned or become more proficient at and, most important you should qualify and quantify your accomplishments and achievements in 2011. Then determine if you need to add this information to your existing resume, or more likely use it to create a new, more dynamic resume for 2012.

2: Check to see whether you are likely to reach the point of diminishing returns in your career in the coming year if you maintain the status quo, or if you’ll remain safe for one more year. You will need to determine by yourself or with some personal or professional help if you will still be viable to move ahead internally or outside your company a year from now if nothing changes. Look at your current value to your company, the people ahead of you and at your level who want to move up to determine if you can remain static for another year and maintain career security.

3: Set a goal for where you see yourself at this time in 2012 and identify the additions you will need to reach this goal. If you are not sure, look at some job posting for this position and use my coding system.

Additions may include new formal education or certifications, technology or business skills, hands-on experience or a stronger level of expertise in a specific area, and additional contacts and advocates to help move your career in the right direction.

Education can be obtained by making a financial investment and contacts can be made through networking and relationship management. Experience on the other hand is something that you either need to work on internally or by finding a new job.

4: Update your social media profile and set a goal to become more social media savvy in 2012.

5: Look at the Linked-In groups you are a member of and leave the ones that you find worthless and join new ones that may be more valuable in terms of content, contacts, and brand recognition.

6: Increase your brand exposure. Set a goal to start or contribute to at least 3 Linked-In discussions a week and comment on each discussion more than once.

7: Increase your network, Set a goal to add at least 3 new contacts a week to your Linked-In or personal network and set a goal of attending 1 or more networking type events every month. This is good advice for each of you whether you are employed and looking for a new job.

8: Get recommended. Set a goal to add a minimum of 2 recommendations every month to your Linked-In page.

Author

Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

Why December Is The Best Time To Network

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve there is a tradition in America, started in 1929 by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians during their New Year’s Eve broadcasts from the Waldorf Astoria, to sing this Scottish poem/folk song as we countdown the old year and bring in the new. The song begins by posing a rhetorical question, is it right that old times be forgotten, and is intended for us to remember friendships that have gone by the wayside over time.

The sentiment of the poem is prescient and especially for job seekers at this time of year. Sometimes “when you’re down and out and felling small” (thank you Simon & Garfunkel) as the holiday season gets into full swing you need to look back at your glory days to remind yourself how successful you were in the past, and how sooner or later you will return to where you rightfully belong. Hopefully this will help you refocus on the task at hand and what you need to do to get back on top.

Moreover I suggest that starting today you heed the poem’s clarion call and start to remember past relationships; the long-standing and the newer ones as well.

This is the time of year when it is common to reestablish lost relationships and reacquaint yourself with people from your past; and one of these people just might be the person who will furnish you with the lead or introduction you’re eagerly waiting.

So here are some suggestions;

1: If you’re not already on Linked-In, sign up today! Next make sure your profile is fully completed and you upload a picture (headshot preferred) that conveys the proper professional image you want to make.

2: Then spend 2-3 hours a day (or more) on Linked-In for the next 3 weeks looking for people, companies and jobs. Set a goal to find 10 people a day you knew but lost contact with and send them a personalized invite to Link-Up. It can not be generic, and should also include a request on how you can help them.

3: At the same time find at least 2 people every day on Linked-In who know you well enough to recommend you. You can start with the people you are connected to and then find new people. Set a goal of 20 recommendations between today and January 1, 2012.

4: Look up companies on Linked-In and see who works or worked there and connect with them as well.

5: This year start a Hallmark or a free online card account and send everyone you have an email address for a personalized Seasons Greeting card by December 15th at the latest. Then follow up with them if they don’t contact you first.

6: Now here is an idea, and I can not take credit for it, that is really neat. A few months ago I was invited to join a Facebook group begun by one of my fellow HS classmates for members of our graduating class. I barley remember Steven but I do keep in touch with Diane who sent me the link to join. He limited membership to only students in our graduating class since we had over 1,200 students in our senior class.

You may want to start such a group for you HS and college graduation class, and if you went to a smaller school expand it to include students from the year before and after you graduated; these are usually people who you knew quite well. Use Facebook, Linked-In and your online school alumni directory to find people to join. Send out invites and ask people you invite to reach out to fellow classmates they are still in touch with, or those they knew fairly well back in the day.

Once the group is going start networking. Ask people to discuss what they have done since graduation, what they do for a living now and how the group can help them if they are looking for a job. The rest will evolve naturally, and in our group we have at least 25 new postings every day, and a lot of friendships have been revived.

Author:

Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

The Great Resume Debate is Really a No Brainer…

 As you know, I’m an executive resume writer, career coach and blogger and I am not shy about sharing my views on the purpose of a resume, what to include and exclude in it, and especially how important visual appeal is to generating the impact and mass appeal needed to generate job interviews.

To this end, I’ve shared my thoughts on an individual basis with countless readers of this blog who emailed me their resume for a free resume review, and I look forward to exchanging views with many more of you in the weeks and months ahead.

Now about the great debate; recently a discussion on a Linked-In group debated whether it was worth the time and effort to create a visually appealing resume, or if a simple plain text resume would suffice. The initiator of the post was of the opinion that since both versions present the exact same information, there is no benefit to going through the time, effort and expense to enhance a resume’s visual appeal.

Taken at face value this is a valid point, and many who commented agreed. I vociferously disagree and said so in writing. However some responders said I only feel this way because I get paid to write resumes, so naturally my opinion is skewered.

So let me publicly state my case and you can judge for yourself if it is valid or prejudicial.

Last month I happened upon an acquaintance who is a marriage counselor. We got to talking and he said he had a story that would interest me.

Recently a woman came to him who was concerned about her marriage. He told me she works long hours at her job and takes care of a new baby and two other young children when at home. But she makes sure to have a home cooked meal for her husband at least three work nights a week. Most times she cooks his meals ahead of time and either freezes them or puts them in the fridge overnight and reheats it before dinner time. The problem she said is “my husband comes home from work and just picks at the meals and then leaves the table.” So my friend asked her “maybe he has a stomach problem or some ailment that prevents him from eating.” She replied, “No, there is no such problem. As a matter of fact he loves to eat. You should see him at weddings or when we attend frequent fund raising dinners. He sits down and savors those meals. Plus he insists we go out alone to a restaurant at least four times a month and there he finishes every last morsel on his plate.” The counselor was at a loss and did not know how to respond.

A few days later he arranged to casually run into the husband and engaged him in conversation. After the small talk he told the husband about his wife’s concern and asked “is your wife a bad cook, is that why you only nibble at the food she cooks at home?” The husband grinned and said “no, actually my wife is a great cook and most times her food tastes a lot better than the meals I get when we eat out.” Somewhat perplexed the counselor asked, “So why do you enjoy the meals so much when you go out to eat and just nibble at the food at home?”

The husband looked at him and said one word; “Presentation.” Asked to elaborate he said, “My wife means well. But she is so busy with work and the kids that when it comes time for my dinner the table is full of dirty dishes and stains on the tablecloth from the baby and the kids. And although she’s a magnificent cook she just sets out a pile of paper plates and disposable plastic cutlery and plastic cups on the table for me. On top of that the food is left on the table in Ziploc containers for me to serve myself.” “I know it’s wrong, but for some reason, as good as the food is at home it is not appealing, so I just nibble a bit. Now in a catering hall and the restaurants we go to without the kids the food may not be as tasty, but the presentation is elegant and the ambiance makes the dining experience 100% better than the food is.”

Now this might sound strange to you but it is not uncommon. As a matter of fact if you happen to watch Iron Chef, a show I love, you will notice that 1/3 of the score is based on taste, 1/3 on presentation and 1/3 on creativity. Do you know why? Because all the competing chefs are equally qualified, and the dishes they prepare are all delicious. But what differentiates them that night in the minds of the judges is their creativity in using the same ingredients along with the intangible appeal generated by the plating style. I am of the opinion that decision makers will judge one candidate’s resume against another’s in the same manner. The richer the presentation, the better the chance is of being called for an interview.

Now if that analogy does not work for you try this one.

You never saw Avatar in the movies so you rent it from Redbox. How do you think it would be most enjoyable to watch: on a vintage 50” Zenith B&W television with hi-fi sound, on a 9” Coby kitchen model color TV, or on a 42” Samsung 3-D HDTV with a Bose surround system. If you are like me the answer is, hands down, the later. Why? Because the Samsung 3-D HDTV offers the viewer the best presentation of the movie, therefore it is the preferred choice. Again, quality presentation trumps the competition.

If I have yet to convince you on the importance of presentation in a resume here is one final analogy I am certain most of you can relate to.

You have a brainstorm at work that you think will get you noticed and maybe even promoted. So naturally you want to champion it. You spend countless hours trying to pull it together. You create a foolproof strategic plan, research all the facts and figures, and look for any loopholes. The only problem is you never learned how to use PowerPoint or another presentation tool. However you’re too scared someone will steal your thunder so you refuse to ask for help because you are convinced the idea is so good it will sell itself.

Comes the big day and your boss brings the rest of her team along to participate in your presentation. A half-hour later you finish and ask if anyone has any questions and everyone is silent. A few days pass and you have yet to receive feedback. So when you see your boss in the cafeteria you ask her if it is Ok for you to sit down, and when you’re seated you ask her what she thought about your idea and presentation. She replies, “The idea is brilliant. However we thought your presentation skills are very weak and we asked Harry (your biggest rival in the company) to run with the idea because he can get stakeholder buy-in. We’re sure you’ll understand its best for the company.” You take a deep breath and say “But it is my idea, I should be leading the project.” To this she replies “You’re right it was a fantastic idea and we loved it. But based on your presentation we all felt you are not the right person for the job!” End of story; Harry goes on and leads the project, it succeeds, and he earns a promotion and is now your boss.

This is how it goes in the real world and how decision makers and hiring authorities think and how they will judge your resume against your competition. Now as a Brooklyn boy through and through, if you still don’t believe me that people value presentation above all else, “I have a bridge I’d like to sell ya.”

Author

Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

TIS THE TIME OF THE SEASON

The holiday season is almost ready to begin; a time of great joy for many but not for all.

I don’t know about you, but on the resume writing, military and business/industry Linked-In groups I follow the tone of some discussions is showing signs of despondency over the past few weeks.

I understand that many of those commenting online at this time of the year are simply frustrated about spinning their wheels and getting nowhere fast in their job search. Worse yet, many sound ready to give up looking for a new job completely thinking it’s a hopeless situation, and many of their peer responders are fortifying this opinion.

We all agree that times are tough. But job hunters need to keep the faith and work a lot smarter today then ever before, and some need to also work a little bit harder to achieve their goal.

So if you know a job hunter in a negative frame of mind, give them an early holiday present by tweeting this post and emailing to them as well..

Dr. Glenn Cunningham (1909-1988) was a world-record-holder in the mile race and an unlikely member of the 1932 and 1936 U.S. Olympic teams.

Cunningham was born in rural Kansas in 1909. As a very young boy his mother brought him up to believe in the American Dream and that he could accomplish whatever he wanted to in life as long as he never gave up trying.

Tragically, in 1916, Glen and his older brother Floyd were involved in an accidental fire in their schoolhouse. Glen’s older bother Floyd died in the fire while Glen was rescued, in excruciating pain, suffering from 3rd degree burns over his entire lower body and legs. Medicine being what it was in those days doctors told his mother he would likely not survive. They then told her if there was any chance for him to survive, since his legs were so badly burned they would need to amputate both legs. Mrs. Cunningham would not listen. She refused to accept their diagnosis or allow the amputation to happen.

Glen did survive this ordeal and when he returned home his mother massaged his legs day after day, putting on ointments to soothe the burns, and telling little Glen not to give up. She told him ‘no matter what the doctors, the neighbors or anyone says eventually you will not only walk again but you will run like all the other boys.’

Amazingly sensation began to return to his legs. One morning while sitting outside in his wheelchair during the summer of 1918, Mrs. Cunningham told Glen how proud she’d be if he would just walk to the fence 5 feet away. Glen smiled and said nothing. Then one morning she came out and saw Glen was holding on to the fence crying. In shock she asked him what happened. He said he wanted to make her so proud of him but he failed; he did not walk to the fence, he only took one step, fell, and then crawled on the ground the rest of the way. She broke down crying and told him how proud she was that he tried and succeeded. “You did not fail. This is just the first of many small steps you will take in life to reach your goals.”

That summer Glenn never gave up and soon he started to take one more step, and then another and soon he could walk to the fence on his own. Eventually Glen regained full strength in his legs by running. By the time he was 12, he had beaten all the local high school runners. His legs remained deeply scarred, however. Throughout his life, he would have to massage them and spend time doing long warm-up exercises in order to maintain circulation. In addition, his injuries meant that he could never run smoothly or efficiently; he compensated with endurance and strength.

Dr. Glen Cunningham attended the University of Kansas where he ran for the track team and in the 1932 Olympics, held in Los Angeles, he came in fourth in the 1500 meter race. In 1936 he again represented the USA, this time in the Berlin Olympics, as a teammate of another great world class athlete and role model, the great Jesse Owens. Glen later earned a master's degree from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in Phys Ed from NYU.

Dr. Glen Cunningham is just one example of how you can beat any odds as long as you don’t stop trying. With a positive and realistic outlook, the help of one’s family and friends, and lots of perseverance and perspiration no goal is out of reach, no matter how hard it may seem today.

This story has been an inspiration to me and I hope it is for you as well.

Let’s not kid ourselves; job hunting is a hard task in this economy but in the end we will all succeed if we just do the right things and keep on trying with a positive frame of mind.

PS: Join me this Wednesday November 16 at 9 pm Eastern time on http://www.internetvoicesradio.com for an internet radio show with Tome Dezell in which we will discuss networking at this time of year. If you can't listen live, the show is available for download after live airing as well.


Author
Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

Open Your Eyes to the Job Search Reality

A most difficult and frustrating aspect of being a career coach and resume writer is telling people what they need to know, as opposed to telling them what they want to hear.

Especially when you need to tell them what they already recognize, or at the very least surmise to be the truth yet struggle to acknowledge and accept, or flat out refuse to admit.

Over the past year I’ve been in contact with countless people from coast to coast at all levels and in all professions. What I found is more individuals than I expected are totally unaware of, or still not accepting the new realties of the job market in the second decade of the new millennium. Plus many older people are still stuck in the so called glory days of the 20th century and await their return. Sadly they have a long wait as illustrated by Can you still move up in America? the cover story in Time Magazine [11/14/11] written by Rana Foroohar.

So when people in the know offer you the following advice; heed it rather than fight it.

1: If at this time you do not have the requisite skills and experience to get the job you are focusing on rethink what you are doing and why, and try finding a more realistic goal.

2: If your resume is outdated or lacks the proper focus don’t look to justify it just listen and ask how you can fix it.

3: If you no longer want a job in which you have the most recent and relevant experience and instead want to focus on jobs that require skills and experience you last used 5-20 years ago realize that this job search will take a lot longer than you might expect. Also job boards will offer you negligible results, and your resume may need to be unconventional in order to take the focus off how long it’s been since you last held and qualified for this position.

4. If you are expending the bulk of your job search efforts on resume posting, resume blasting and scouring jobs boards and applying for jobs online, stop. This is not the optimal use of your money, time and effort.

5: If you expect people in your network to advocate for you and pass your resume along to people in their company and people they know make sure it is eye-catching, properly worded and has relevance and the right focus.

6: If you do not understand how Social Media works have someone teach it to you.

7: Don’t dwell on why you can’t find a job, why people won’t interview you, why they won’t take your phone call, or on anything that is negative. Keep positive and look for answers on how you can make things happen in the future and don’t dwell on past failures.

8: Don’t justify being frugal because you don’t have a job. If you need additional education, certification or to gain valuable experience as an unpaid volunteer don’t procrastinate, do it. If you need a new interview outfit or a costly visit to the hair salon, need a professional resume and coaching, or need to join an organizations or attend valuable networking event, and then if you need to follow this up by taking someone who can help you out to lunch or dinner don’t think twice about it. Just do it.

Author
Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

Client's Level or Desired Level...Getting It Right!

The following discussion was started last week by a veteran resume writer with MRW, ACRW, CPRW, CJSS, CCM, CEIP, JCTC credentials in a Linked-In group I am a member of. I think there is much for six figure executives, and those wanting to reach this level to ponder when choosing an Executive Resume Writer; and in determining if you’re truly qualified to write your own resume, if this is the option you are seriously contemplating in your job search at this time.

MRW, ACRW, CPRW, CJSS, CCM, CEIP, JCTC’s Discussion:

I have a client who is a Senior Director in a large corporation but wants to move up to an even more senior level somewhere. At this point, the resume I've drafted for him has, according to his former boss, raised him from appearing to be a lower level manager (his initial resume) "to director level in my mind, but not to a high level senior supply chain executive.

The ex-boss said it was "too specific in terms of numbers: ex. number of people managed, $$$ this and that...all mid-level stuff. Senior execs are all about defining and implementing strategies, building and leading teams to success, customer and supplier relationships, interaction with corp. execs...."

To a certain extent, I agreed and am making a few minor adjustments; however, I disagreed with his emphasis on doing what sounds to me like generalizing the areas that should be covered--if we don't give quantifiable, measurable or otherwise clearly valuable aspects to those areas, how does our client really send a stand-out message? After all, anyone can claim to do a good job in those areas, but not everyone really does them or does them well.

My Response:

Without seeing the document I think the ex-boss is telling you that your focus is off base.

A director level resume is not all about #’s and $’s and %’s. Rather this ex-boss hit it on the head, it is more about implementing strategies, building and leading teams to success, customer and supplier relationships, interaction with corp. execs etc.

I think you have a valid point wanting to give quantifiable, measurable or otherwise clearly valuable aspects of a client’s past to send a stand-out message. But this can be accomplished in many ways, not only with facts and figures.

Without seeing the work, I imagine the message your client, and you by extension are being given is not to make the main focus on the value your client brings to the table, but to focus on what the new employer is most interested in. In other words the desired level, not your client’s level, especially since facts and figures can often be misleading

A decision maker in the know, your client's ex-boss feels he and his peers are more interested in seeing what will make your client successful in the more senior role that they will hire him for as opposed to what made him a success in his previous role.

In my senior executive resumes I tend to agree with the ex-boss and concentrate less on the C-A-R points (challenge-action-results) and more on delineating the subtle points that are paramount for a senior executive and use several unique styles to do so.

MRW, ACRW, CPRW, CJSS, CCM, CEIP, JCTC’s GA’s Reply:

“Thanks for the excellent feedback. I’ll definitely give it serious thought. I think my biggest challenge is still how to make the kinds of points the former boss is recommending without having them sound like generic statements that could be made by a host of executives, so I’ll have to work on that.”

Job seekers, especially those who are unemployed, you know as well as I do that in this economy and marketplace there are a limited number of positions available that offer opportunities for upward growth, let alone an opportunity to secure a position at the same level you’re at or just left. Making matters more onerous, today’s candidate pool is oversaturated with qualified competitors. Therefore you need every advantage possible to get yourself noticed and generate interviews.

An executive resume is a much needed tool. However not all resume writers are equal; and most are not up to the task of crafting a marketing document that will resonate with a discerning audiences at this rarified level, no matter how many letters follow our name.

Most resume writers are excellent writing for recent graduates and low to mid-level personnel. Some specialize in certain technical industries such as IT or engineering and some are qualified to write resumes for a management and professional level clientele.

Still, there is a special talent and experience needed to craft an Executive Resume that only a select few resume writers possess. So if you go this route you need to due your due diligence in order to choose wisely.

Also, with this information in mind, if the vast majority of experienced, professional resume writers find it difficult to determine what exactly goes into an Executive Resume and how to pull it all together in terms of content, format, style and visual appeal, what are the odds that you are up to the task of writing your own Executive Resume?

Author

Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

Job Seekers, R-U Lost in the Shuffle?

“My concern was always for the nobody, the man who is lost in the shuffle, the man who is so common, so ordinary, that his presence is not even noticed.” Henry Miller Sexus, 1949  This week I came across this quote from the iconic, 20th century avant-garde author in ‘Literary Brooklyn’, a book about famous authors who lived in my hometown. What I found especially interesting is one of the few real-world jobs Henry Miller held during his life was in the human resources department of Western Union as a high volume recruiter / hiring manager in the 1920’s.


Upon reading this quote it struck me, like a bolt of lightening, how much it parallels my first impression about job seekers throughout my professional career after viewing their resumes for the first time. Whether emailed for a free resume critique or for me to edit or write; sent to me when as a recruiter with the intention of impressing me with how viable a candidate they were for positions with my clients; or submitted to me when I was in corporate HR or a business owner and ultimate decision maker.


I can state with absolute certainty that at least 75% of the thousands of resumes I’ve read went unnoticed. I am also convinced that others who review and write resumes for a living will concur that this figure holds true for them as well.


I readily admit that most of the job seekers whose resumes I read can not be classified as being a ‘nobody’. In truth many, if not the majority have something to offer; and in many cases they might bring great value to a job. However for a plethora of reasons their resumes inevitably get lost in the ultracompetitive shuffle because, as Henry Miller so eloquently put it, “they were so common, so ordinary, that [their] presence is hardly noticed.


Whether it’s a computer or human eye judging your resume it must make an immediate and indelible impression on the reader to get you into the pool of candidates called in for a face-to-face interview.


Resume writing today is akin to marketing a luxury product. You need to get a perspective buyer’s attention from the get-go and intrigue them to find out more. You must identify the needs and benefits they seek and how you offer a solution. You need to be brief, but not too brief, and eye catching in getting your message across. Finally, you must come to the realization, like anyone in marketing will tell you, that the same product is not marketed the same way to all audiences. You need to treat perspective employers as being unique with special needs if you expect them to reciprocate and consider you as an individual with something special to offer.


My first and strongest suggestions to you are to avoid using common, overused resume templates or trying to imitate someone else’s resume in your field.


Next, avoid appearing ordinary at all costs (editorially or financially) and dare to be bold and defy convention if you want your presence to be noticed. This is not easy to do but it is essential to your success.


Remember, your primary goal is to get noticed and get people to view you not so much for what you have been in the past, but for the valuable employee you will become for them in the future.


What was true in Henry Miller’s astute perception of people in his day holds true in our times as well. It’s always in your hands whether decision makers rate you as a significant nobody, invisible in a crowd, or if they recognize you as a top-flight candidate whose resume stands out based on its and your merits.


Author
Perry Newman, CPC/CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, certified social media strategist, as well as a AIPC certified recruiter and former executive search firm owner known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and request a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

RESUME WRITING \ EASY OR EFFORTLESS?



 Many tasks and projects are relatively easy to perform and complete with the ultimate result being perfection if you have the proper training and experience. On the flip side the exact same tasks and projects are likely to encounter costly errors, and the final result is prone to be flawed if you do not posses the requisite knowledge and skills. How many of you have tried to clear a critical virus from your computer on your own... need I say more?
One example of something that can be easy is resume writing. For me, and equally skilled peers, crafting a resume that enhances our client’s job search is relatively easy regardless of the client’s occupation, profession or level. In other words writing a resume for a marketing assistant, programmer, nurse or nutritionist is just as easy for us as writing a resume for a Director of Finance, VP Marketing or CTO.

Nonetheless when I say “writing a resume is easy for someone who knows what they are doing,” I do not want you to confuse the terms ‘easy’ and ‘effortless’ because they are not one and the same. Most things that are easy for a skilled professional are far from effortless.

Writing a resume is easy if you know what the finished product will look like before you begin; if you are cognizant of the various steps and nuances involved in the process at every juncture; you know how to anticipate and solve problems and false perceptions as they occur; and you have a review system in place to ensure the best possible results.
 To make this point clearer here are 2 analogies you may relate to.
 For a highly skilled CPA filing a complex individual tax return may be easy. Still it requires an inordinate amount of effort to keep up with the changes in the tax laws, in compiling the proper data, determining which supporting forms the client is required to file, and not withstanding the inordinate number of people-hours that go into meeting with a client, answering their questions, and the time spent actually preparing and reviewing the tax return.

Having done it many times before, being familiar with similar cases and knowing what must be done makes the CPA’s job easy. However the complexity of the project and the need for perfection requires a tremendous amount of effort on behalf of the preparer to make certain the finished return comes out perfect in every way. This is why most people who have a lot to lose or gain when filing a tax return don’t risk preparing it themselves. Instead they entrust the task to an accounting professional with a proven track record.
Next let’s look at an auto mechanic. How many of you feel comfortable changing your car’s oil? How many of you are equally comfortable doing a brake job or tuning up your car? Now how many of you amateur mechanics would feel qualified to rebuild your motor or transmission if that is what is needed to get your car back on the road?

To a truly skilled mechanic all these are easy. However the more complex ones require a concerted effort to get it done right. Dare say maybe 40% of us would change our oil and less than 20% would attempt a brake job or tune up on our cars; and I think very few of us would even consider working on the engine or transmission. Universally, I find when it comes to automobiles people leave the work to a professional because they have the know-how to do the job right and we don’t.
 Now I’m not brazen enough to say a resume is the most important component in a successful job search, but it is a necessary document in a job hunter’s arsenal. The more professional the resume looks and reads the better your chance is of getting the job you want and speeding up the time to find it.
 So if you’re trying to decide if you need a professional résumé or whether you can write it yourself consider these three things:

1: Is there a lot at stake if you submit a mediocre or sub-par resume?

2: Can a professional resume writer do a substantially better job than you can?

3: Is making an investment to get your stalled career back on track as important or even more important to your future than making an investment to maintain or repair your car?

 If in your mind you think there is little to lose having an OK resume or you don’t care how long you remain jobless, and you feel confident you can write a passable resume I suggest you go for it.

For those of you who hire an accountant or auto mechanic because they offer better results than you would get as a do-it-yourself kind of guy or gal, I recommend using a professional resume writer as well.

Perry Newman, CPC CSMS is a nationally recognized resume writer, career transition coach, former AIPC certified recruiter and executive search firm owner, and a certified social media strategist known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes and numerous client endorsements at http://www.perrynewman/.com, and you can receive a free resume critique by emailing your resume with contact information to perry@perrynewman.com.

The 4C's of Resume Writing

In a discussion I am following on the Career Link Linked In group – “What are the 4 Cs of business communication?” – a respondent said she believes they are Concise, Correct, Clarity and Complete. You can also say these are four keys to writing a successful resume and conducting a successful job interview.

CONCISE:

Forget the debate about should a resume be 1 page, 2 pages, or can it be more. For each person the answer is dependant on what they bring to the table in terms of knowledge, experience, education, skills and achievements and how they choose to get this information across. For me a 1 page resume is optimum for those in the earlier stages of their career; 2 pages is best for job seekers with 10+ years experience who have a lot to offer, and some cases require going beyond 2 pages to get the full message across, and I have no problem with that.

No matter how many pages you have, the key to success is to be concise with your sentences words and avoid useless information. If in doubt consider whether the information is relevant to the job you’re applying for and see if you can include it on a social media page and direct people there instead of adding extra weight to the resume itself.

In an interview you need to make a conscious effort to be concise with your answers and avoid rambling on and on and going off topic.

CORRECT:

This is especially true in terms of listing verifiable information such as dates of employment, titles, responsibilities, education, GPA, and most important when detailing achievements i.e. if you were part of a team that accomplished something great do not overstate or understate your contribution to the project.

The same holds true in an interview, and I will take it one step further. When asked a specific question only give the correct answer. If you don’t know an answer say so and don’t try to bamboozle your way around the question.

CLARITY:

This to me is the real problem in most resumes I see. Somewhere in the document there is useful information I am looking for. The problem is without a knowledgeable resume wordsmith and someone who knows how to format a resume for optimum effect the information gets lost in the miasma, and the reader is left out in the cold and thought of as being merely mediocre, whether this is true or not.

In an interview clarity is essential. When asked a question you must be clear in your answer and your tone of voice.

Clarity is often a by-product of practice and helps exude confidence. It helps if you think ahead about the questions you are likely to be asked and practice your answer so that they are crystal clear.

COMPLETE:

My take on the final Big C is a resume takes a lot more effort than sitting down at the computer and updating what you wrote in the past. There are numerous steps involved including identifying a core audience, determining value, knowing exactly who you are and who is your main competition, identifying your accomplishments, verifying all your information, getting recommendations, creating a dual (employer/employee) profile and matching it point by point, proofreading and editing the document, and seeing what tweaks need to be made for a particular job. When you have done all of this you can say the work is complete.

In terms of an interview, when you speak to the interviewer you must speak in complete sentences and complete your thoughts. Don’t assume they know what you are talking about and leave important points unsaid.

The Oscars 2011 – Lessons From The Best

Last year I had fun using the Oscars as the jumping off point for this blog. So by popular demand here is the 2011 update.

TRUE GRIT
True Grit is exactly what it takes to find a job in today’s job market whether you are a six figure executive, a minimum wage worker, or you fall somewhere in between. The rules in résumé writing and job hunting have changed dramatically since the days of John Wayne, as they have in film making as well. Like the Coen brothers you need to understand what appeals to the audience in 2011 and how to package it so people will buy it. But just like this remake, the work ethic of our parents and grandparents which I have come to think of as a True Grit mentality always remains in vogue.

So here are 3 lessons from this then and now blockbuster. To write a successful résumé and conduct a winning job search requires self awareness and dedication to purpose just like Mattie Ross; confidence in yourself and your abilities like Texas Ranger LaBoeuf; and just the right dose of moxie, cockiness, and a larger than life presence like Sherriff Rooster” Cogburn. These 3 attributes will make you a winning ticket at the job search Box Office.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
I can stop writing right here because the name “The Social Network” says it all. But I would be remiss and misleading some of you if I stopped because as much as Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook changed the way people communicate all around the world, Facebook is lower down on my list of social networking platforms for job hunting. My suggestion is this, if you do use Facebook be extremely careful to keep it restricted to business content and not your social life. After all you don’t want a prospective employer to know that your Aunt Tilley’s pet cat had a litter of 14, or even better that your girlfriend is going out with your soon to be former best friend and the comment came R rated from someone you don’t even know. Both are true stories I read on people’s Facebook pages.

However as the title and movie imply social networking is the wave of the future. Plus as we see daily social networking is such a powerful tool it can topple governments in a matter of a few weeks, or get people killed for their efforts.

So if social networking is powerful enough to change the course of history, it is certainly powerful enough to help you find a new job or grow the business you are ready to launch instead of going back to work for someone else. Now a word of caution, if used unwisely social networking and social media can start a lot of fires and burn bridges behind you that may never be repaired.

So as with any new super power tool, learn how to use it properly or you’re liable to cause yourself some serious harm. What I suggest is you learn how to harness the awesome power of Linked-In, Ecademy, You Tube, Facebook and other Social Networks for your job search before rather than after you start using them. Networking has always existed in business but today it has become much more sophisticated and wide spread.

As I have always said in this blog I am a big fan of Linked-In. It is a relationship management tool and is in my mind the #1 business social networking site. I spend a lot of time coaching people on how to use it and it has paid off handsomely for them

127 HOURS
In my professional opinion this is the minimum number of hours a month you should devote to a job search when you are unemployed, and half that if you’re employed but serious about making a career move.

From a time management perspective you need to divide your time each week into researching companies, recruiters and people in your field to network with and spending quality time networking by talking to people and asking for endorsements.

You also need to spend time sending out strategic emails, searching for and applying for jobs on job boards and tweaking your resume and perfecting a cover letter for the jobs you’re apply to. In addition you need to allocate time to physically and mentally prepare for a job interview so you’re confident and at the top of your game when someone expresses an interest in meeting with you.

I have said this more than once and will say it over and over because it is that important. Being out of a job, even if you’re collecting unemployment, is not the same as being on vacation. You may think you are out of a job but your not. Your job is to get back to earning an income ASAP; and at the very least job hunting requires 127 a week each and every week until you land that new job.

THE KING'S SPEECH
This title is also self descriptive. Being able to communicate verbally is an immeasurable asset for every job seeker. I have seen verbal and non verbal communication change a hiring authorities mind on more than one occasion. The point of this movie and for job seekers is in knowing how important your image is to achieving your ultimate goal, being willing to admit that you need help, and not being afraid to try unorthodox methods to get what you want.

As far as verbal communication is concerned you need be prepared and confident enough to strike up a conversation with someone in line for instance at the supermarket or at the movie theater. You never know who can supply you with the lead that lands you your next job, and don’t laugh because I have found great candidates I’ve placed in high paying jobs during my career in both venues. I’ve also done well starting up a casual conversation with people on the subway, in Central Park, and while shopping at Brooks Brothers, Borders and at the gift shop at the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art).

The reasoning for this is common sense simple. Find places where people who can advance your career are likely to be. For instance here in New York as I am sure in many places around the country people in specific professions like banking, marketing and PR, education, healthcare etc. frequent certain places, events and establishments.

Being seen appropriately dressed and just happening to have a copy of your resume or a business card on you is the first step. Asking around and getting to know who the players are is the next step, and the final step is striking up a conversation with the right people and having them introduce you to their circle of friends. If you do this enough you immediately expand your network, you gain much needed confidence, and you will eventually hit pay dirt.

As I said, from personal experience I have found countless contacts this way. Equally important I kept up with, and in some instances ahead of breaking business news and trends and found out little know pieces of information that made me look like a SME and a person in the know who people want to stay in touch with. This was an important part of my success as a recruiter and business owner, and in my current practice as a résumé writer and coach. Being comfortable speaking with people, especially in public or in pressure filled situations is a skill every job seeker must perfect to the best of their ability.

Now that you have heard what I have to say leave a comment and vote for which piece of advice was most helpful for you


Author


Perry Newman, CPC CSMS, a nationally recognized executive resume writer, career transition coach, former AIPC certified recruiter and owner of Harrison Dane Associates, and an SMMU certified social media strategist, is known for his ability to get results. You can view his sample resumes at http://www.perrynewman.com/, and email him your resume at perry@perrynewman.com for a FREE resume critique.

It just dawned on me how many times a week I hear “that makes a lot of sense” and “I never thought about it like that” from people referred to me by satisfied customers and the countless professionals who take advantage of my offer for a free resume critique. I always spend the first 15-20 minutes on the phone getting to know them, reviewing the material they sent me, and going over the process of what I do and comparing it to what they have done or should be doing, and WHY; and inevitably these words are said to me several times during each new conversation.

 

By no means does this make me a genius. Rather, it indicates too many people in job search mode are grossly misinformed today or are engaging in the process without the requisite knowledge and life experience to write an effective resume and conduct a successful job search.

So here are some six of the many pieces of information I share with people every day that elicit these responses.

1: This is a no brainer. Your resume is a marketing document pure and simple. It is not an autobiography or a historical novel, and the focus in writing a resume should be with an eye towards the future rather than dwelling on the past. With this in mind I also caution you not to concern yourself about the controversy surrounding the proper length of a resume.

There is no universally accepted answer. For me the proper length of a resume is however long it takes to get all of the vital information that makes the case why someone should want to get to know you better down on paper. The actual length of the document depends on who you are, how extensive and complex your background is, and how much information you need to include that is relevant to the job you are applying for. A 1-2 page resume is optimal; however a more senior person or solid professional with a lot to offer can easily fill up 2 to 3 pages. If it runs over 3 pages put the information on a social media site like Linked-In and use a hyperlink to send people there.

2: You know all about who you are and the value you have to offer; but do you know what the companies you’re applying to look for in a new hire, and what they value most. Before you start to write go online and find 5 jobs that fit what you are looking for and see what it is that these employers want to know about. This is what your resume should focus on. And if your research shows different companies on this list are looking for somewhat different things, or some place a greater or lesser value on a tangible or intangible you have to offer, or you are looking at different jobs that require somewhat different skills sets and experience, this exercise will show you how to customize your resume for each one.

3: Don’t count on cover letters to make your case. Customize your resume. I will guarantee you that 99 our of 100 people who receive your resume with or without a cover letter will read or at least skim it; while my research tells me that at the most 60% of the people who will read your resume will also read the cover letter and only half of this 60% will forward it up line along with the resume to the next level of decision makers.

4: When you write a resume your goal is not to produce a dry and boring technical manual that is chock full of facts that are intended to educate the reader. A resume should be written with the mindset of a top selling author. It should capture the reader’s imagination by painting pictures with words of a hero leading man or lady who is going to burst onto the scene out of nowhere and save the day, and it must tell its story in such a way that the reader feels compelled to actually read it rather than just skim through it to get raw data.

5: Taking the point #4 one step further, you need to remember that in every case your resume will be in a pile of 30-100 others so instant comparisons are inevitable, especially since most of the resumes in that pile will contain much of the same basic information. So what can you do? Let me share with you an analogy from someone I met recently who subscribes to a local newsletter I contribute to along with 10-15 other writers where each week we submit an article on the same topic. He said “Perry, I really enjoy this newsletter. Every week I skim through the articles and I learn something new. But I have to tell you that when it comes to your article I read every word rather than skim through it.” I am far from the brightest and most knowledge writer out of the group so naturally I asked him why. What he told me is the lesson you need to learn if you want to be a good resume write. He said “Perry the other writers offer great information and that is why I skim their articles. But I truly enjoy the way you write.” Remember it is not raw information that counts when writing a resume; or a cover, follow-up or thank you letter. What matters are how it resonates with the reader and makes them want to read rather than skim through it.

6: When you buy a product and you are not 100% sure how to put it together and how to get the best use out of it, how do you think you would feel if it came without an instruction manual and had no follow up customer support? This is what you get with a lot of resume services. If you are going to make the investment make sure that you get some coaching on how to use and customize your resume when the need arises (because it does on an ongoing basis) and try and work with a writer where the relationship begins rather than ends once the check has been cashed.