2 Resume pet peeves job seekers should know about
Everyone is so focused on what resume format to use or what keywords to include, that 2 important resume rules are being over-looked. In fact, these 2 resume mistakes seem to be a huge pet peeve to hiring managers and recruiters.
1. Grammar Mistakes: All jobs require some sort of communication, whether it’s with customers, clients, or just within your office environment. Communication includes both written and verbal communication. A resume with poor grammar, run on sentences, and noun/pronoun disagreements can leave a bad impression and cost you a job opportunity.
2. Spelling Errors/Typos: All it takes is one spelling error or typo and the resume gets tossed aside. Sometimes I wonder if people use the spell check before saving their resume and even spell check doesn’t catch all of the errors. If your resume has spelling errors, what message are you giving about how you would do your job?
Proof read your resume after you do the spell/grammar check. Then have someone else look at it before you make it your final copy. Resumes are a marketing tool and represent who you are. Making grammar and spelling errors reflects on you and could come across to a hiring manager or recruiter as you being careless and lacking attention to detail.
A resume filled with errors doesn’t make for an effective marketing tool.
For more info: JobSearchingStrategies.com, Pittsburgh’s Ultimate Career Connection, Free Strategies Newsletter
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You can find this free report on JobSearchingStrategies.com or the Milken Institute website.
Do I practice what I preach?
Doesn’t it always seem easier to help someone else and offer guidance, than it is to help you? So a few months ago, I found myself as a job seeker. I was the person I’m always offering guidance to. I should probably practice what I preach if I really believe it works, I mean I am suggesting it to others.
July, 2009, after 4 years of pretty much steady work, I found myself unemployed for 2 months. At first I was like wow, this really stinks! (I may have used a different word) So the panic set in after 4 weeks, I was actually okay with having a few weeks to focus on some writing and make some updates to the site (www.1on1careerhelp.com). But after 4 weeks, c’mon, I wasn’t comfortable with that! Oh and I know, people end up being laid off for very long periods of time, I help those people.
The day that I found out my project was ending; I contacted some recruiting managers within the company I work. Letting them know I will be available. Then I emailed some contacts outside of the company letting them know my status. I used LinkedIn and my personal email to make those first contacts. After a few days, I updated my resume and posted it on Monster.com, updated my profile on LinkedIn, and status on facebook. I am in several LinkedIn groups that are local to Pittsburgh, so I also sent a message with my skills and availability to the discussion boards. I updated my resume on my website and services that I offer. I made some great contacts and I was able to get some straight commission recruiting projects. I worked on a few and no nothing has come of them, but I was keeping up with my skills so to me it was worth it. I seriously enjoy what I do. I know it’s weird.
When I’m training and mentoring job seekers, I do teach a lot about LinkedIn and networking groups such as Meetup.com. Networking works. I did a lot of networking with people I know, people I have worked with at previous positions, that know my work, and they’re great contacts to pass along my name. Your personal network should be the first to contact, they already know you and you will be surprised how many people you already know, that can be great networks.
With my resume, I made sure I put in certain keywords that I know would be searched for someone with my skills. Again, I search for people online as my job! Now I need to be searched for. Some of the keywords I used were recruiter, sourcing, recruiting, virtual, career coach, and resume writing. So something else I practice and preach is making sure my resume has the words that are mostly likely to be searched for.
Honestly, I was glad to know I practice what I preach, because how messed up would it be if I was guiding others on things even I wouldn’t do! It could be pretty funny too I guess. No, just kidding.
For more strategies on job searching, visit JobSearchingStrategies.com
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LinkedIn Groups – recruiting strategies a job seeker should know
If you have had a chance to read some of my past articles, you may notice that I talk about LinkedIn often. I use LinkedIn in a lot for recruiting and professional networking. I figured why not share the strategies I use. You might be someone I will be looking for someday; I might as well tell you how I can find you.
This recruiting strategy is specifically about LinkedIn groups and how it could benefit you to be in the same groups’ recruiters and managers are joining. We are joining to find people like you.
The groups are a big benefit for me because when I’m in a group, I can send members of the group a message, directly to them. If I come across someone through a search on LinkedIn and they aren’t in a group I am in, I’m unable to send them a message directly; I would have to request a connection. The only way I could send a direct message outside of groups, would be to upgrade to a paid subscription in order to send direct mail (inmail). The groups are a work around for me so I’m able to contact as many people as I can that might know someone who knows someone that’s perfect for the job opening I have.
When I search for groups on LinkedIn, the first search I do is a location search. For example, if the location is Pittsburgh, I would type in Pittsburgh and choose networking in the drop down menu, then search. You can also search company groups, alumni groups, and professional groups within your location. When I did this search, a group called Linkin Greater Pittsburgh was listed #3 and shows it has 2,000+ members. The profile says it’s a “networking group for professionals in the greater Pittsburgh area.” This is a great group for a recruiter to join. It has a lot of members, most which are probably from Pittsburgh or wanting to be back in Pittsburgh, and it’s a group for those looking for professional networks. A recruiter helping someone to make that next step in their career is also looking for professional networks.
After joining 2 or 3 groups focusing on the location, I then search for industry experience groups. In the drop down menu I choose all categories. When I was recruiting for Grainger, I worked on a lot of supply chain and logistic positions. I joined groups such as Procurement Professionals, Supply Chain Today: Continuous Improvement, and The Logistics and Supply Chain Networking Groups. You can also search groups for skill set such as doing a search for Java. Again searching all categories, some of the results are groups such as Java Developers, Java EE Professionals, and J Architect.
The strategy for job seekers is to join the groups’ recruiters and managers would most likely join, to find someone like you. I target geographic, industry, and skill LinkedIn groups. All three types help me to connect with others when sourcing for one of my clients.
So start joining some groups and do a few searches yourself. Remember, you can contact members directly. Search for Managers, Team Leads, and Project Managers and make contact. Mention that Xyz Company is one of the companies you are targeting for potential employment. Don’t ask for a job, ask for a connection, a 10 minute conversation to discuss the company culture and why you feel you would fit in. So now you are your own recruiter, making the contact, the impression, and the connection with someone who could help you get your next job.
Free downloadable facebook guide
Facebook is starting to become just as popular as LinkedIn when it comes to job searching. Many professionals, business owners, and recruiters use facebook for both personal and professional networking. Facebook also is used often during the hiring process to research potential candidates that have been interviewed.
Jump Start Social Media, a service offered by Digital Brand Expression, is offering a free downloadable guide for setting up and using facebook to support your career. The offering is only until December 31, 2009, so be sure to grab your free copy.
I downloaded my copy of the free facebook guide and it’ a great step by step guide to using facebook. Not only does it walk you through how to set up your account and profile, but it recommends do’s and don’ts when it comes to the type of information your profile should include. The step by step guide also helps you with navigating through facebook and the various account settings that can be used.
Social media is definitely a hot topic when it comes to job searching. Facebook is a social media tool worth learning for networking, job searching, and creating a personal brand.
5 Strategies to Help Stay Motivated During Your Job Search
Being unemployed is not easy to deal with. Fear starts to set in and we start wondering about how will we pay our bills and what if we don’t find something before our unemployment runs out. If the economy and job market were in a better place, we would have more hope of finding another job quickly, but that’s not today’s reality. Job loss can lead into depression and cause job seekers to become paralyzed in their job search.
I recently experienced that fear mentioned above. At the end of July my recruiting project was downsized and I was unemployed for 2 months. I had to make sure I stayed on track with my job search and keep myself motivated everyday.
Today I’m sharing 5 strategies to help you stay motivated during your job search:
- Set daily goals: There are so many steps in a job search and it can become overwhelming trying to do everything at once or to figure out what to do first. Setting daily goals can help keep you on track and you will stay focused to accomplish what you need to. For example, on day one, you can set your goal to getting your resume updated and researching effective resume formats and the best ways to ensure your resume will stand out against others. On day two your goal can be to make a set number of contacts to people you know, announcing your job search.
- Stay organized: With all of the contacts you are making, interviews being scheduled, and career events you might attending, there’s a lot to keep track of. Keep a calendar of interviews and events, get a notebook with dividers to keep track of contacts and connections. When you start your day off knowing what you need to accomplish, being organized can help you achieve those goals and keep you focused.
- Connect with other job seekers: I have seen so many local support groups for job seekers formed over the past year. Connecting with other job seekers helps to share frustrations and experiences with those who are in the same situation as you are. Everyone likes to talk to someone who can relate to what they are experiencing. Support groups for job seekers are a great way to stay motivated and learn about job searching strategies that you may not have thought about. Some groups even offer job listings and resume services. Talk with other job seekers, you aren’t alone in the job seeking world.
- Attend career and networking events: Job searching should not be limited to an online job search. Getting yourself out there and meeting others face to face is a huge part of job searching. Attending career fairs and networking events helps to make connections with employers and recruiters, allows you to use that elevator pitch you have been practicing, and can help you land your next job. Research local networking groups and start attending their events.
- Take breaks: This last strategy is probably the most important one to staying motivated. Job searching is hard work and is a full time job. Take a break in the middle of the day and take a walk, read the newspaper, attend to the housework that needs done. Taking a break will revitalize you and some of the best strategies may pop into your head while you are taking a break.
Job searching is not easy and I know from experience it’s difficult to stay motivated. Make the choice to stay positive and utilize the 5 strategies above to keep moving forward in your job search. You will find another job, but the key is, you have to take the steps to get there, it will not just happen by itself.
Resume resource – resumebucket.com
I was recently contacted by Josh Stomel, the Founder of resumebucket.com, asking me to take a look at his site and inform job seekers about it.
Resumebucket.com offers resume editing, sharing, and accessing your resume from anywhere. You upload your resume and resumebucket converts it into a web page and given it’s own unique URL so it can be viewed online. You can store more than one resume and create a new resume using a resumebuilder that’s included in the website. Resumebucket will also submit keywords from your resume to search engines such as Google and Yahoo, giving your resume online exposure. If you want to keep track of how often your resume is being viewed, you can utilze the resume metrics which tracks how often your resume is being viewed daily, weekly, and monthly.
Additional perks the site offers is a blog that gives you tips on how to promote your resume URL to LinkedIn and Twitter, how to promote your resume using your resumebucket badge, and other job searching topics.
Resumebucketcom is a great additional resource helping you with your job search and it’s a free resource!
Why haven’t I had any recruiters respond back to me on LinkedIn?
I was having an email discussion with a job seeker and he mentioned that he just started using LinkedIn for job searching and that he contacted several recruiters but haven’t received any responses.
As a recruiter myself, I know that I have people contacting me on LinkedIn letting me know they are looking for a job. As common courtesy, I respond back to everyone who contacts me, it may not be right away, but I make sure to respond. Other recruiters on the other hand, may not respond especially if they don’t have any jobs to present to you.
When using LinkedIn, I do think that making connections with recruiter is important because many recruiters are using their connection list to search for candidates when they get job openings, recruiters post jobs on their status updates, and recruiters connect with a lot of hiring managers who could be potential connections for you.
I wouldn’t suggest ONLY connecting with recruiters when using linkedIn to search for a job. Research some companies you want to work for and then search for people at those companies and connect with them. Contact hiring managers for mentoring and job searching advice, it could lead to a job opportunity or them referring you to someone they know who is hiring.
Many LinkedIn users think that the best contacts to get when job searching are recruiters and HR people, and the truth is, that’s not true! Connect with the decision, makers, connect with others who can introduce you to decision makers, research companies and get connected to those who work there. LinkedIn is a powerful tool so don’t limit yourself when using it.
What are some of the ways you have used LinkedIn as a job seeker and how has it helped you with your job search?
Have a question? Ask the Recruiter
7 Strategies to get your resume noticed online
Sourcing is a term used for recruiters to find and uncover candidates and recruiters are getting more and more creative with their sourcing techniques. One creative sourcing technique being used today is going to Google or other search engines and putting in search strings filled with keywords and terms to generate resumes from all over the internet.
Since recruiters are getting creative with their sourcing techniques, job seekers should start getting creative with online exposure techniques.
7 strategies to get your resume noticed online:
- Create a career blog: Start a blog that focuses on your career industry and include tips, articles, news, and industry related topics. You don’t have to be a writer to create a blog. You can link to other articles and news about that industry topic and add comments showing your industry knowledge. Also, set up a page on the blog for your resume, where you are highlighting your industry knowledge, experience, and expertise. You can easily set up a blog for free using programs such as blogger.com or wordpress.com
- Use free document sharing websites: There are a number of free file sharing websites that can help you gain more resume exposure online. Save your document in different forms such as DOC and PDF so your resume shows up under those search terms. Yes, recruiters will search for resumes using words such as pdf, rtf, doc, and cv. You can even save your resume as a powerpoint presentation! Here are few free sites to check out: keepandshare.com, slideshare.net, Google docs
- Set up a resume web page: A one page website for your resume is great exposure and a great way to link others to your resume. You can add your website url to your resume, to other online profiles, and at the end of your signature in emails and posts. You can find free resume website builders such as: Emurse.com and VisualCV.com.
- Social and professional networking websites: It’s no secret that social and professional networking websites are becoming hubs for job seekers and recruiters. I use LinkedIn all the time when I’m recruiting and I’m searching keywords to pull up profiles of potential candidates. If you aren’t on these networking websites, you are missing out on a ton of exposure. You can utilize these websites by putting in your professional profile or resume and links to your resume websites or blog posts. There are so many of these sites out there, but the majority of recruiters utilize LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace.
- Use keywords: Recruiters are searching for resumes by using keywords and a lot of company resume databases are searching through resumes using keyword searches. If your resume doesn’t have the keywords that are being searched, it won’t be included in the results. I wouldn’t go crazy with keywords, but making sure you have certain technology and terminology that’s common in your industry listed on your resume is highly recommended. For more information on using keywords, check out my article Resume + Keywords = job opportunities.
- Online groups: There are a ton of online groups that can help get you exposure online and recruiters are going into online groups to source for candidates. You can join industry specific groups, association groups, and groups based on location. I highly recommend joining LinkedIn Groups, I am always using the LinkedIn groups to source and contact candidates. Other groups you can look into are Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, and Meetup.com groups.
- Job Boards: I wouldn’t rule out getting your resume posted on the job boards. There are many recruiters who still use the job boards as their primary sourcing tool and even though I utilize more creative sourcing techniques, I still do some sourcing from job boards as well. So make sure you get your resume posted to popular job boards such as monster , Executive Openings! ,Job.com, careerbuilder
Don’t miss out on being found online! Use as many resources as you can to make sure that your resume is getting noticed online.
Free Online Resume Builder
Recruiters are doing a lot more than searching websites such as Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com to search for resumes. They are using search engines such as Google and MSN to find resumes online and they are using creative techniques which include keyword searches to find resumes.
Job seekers should have their resume online and not just posted to the job boards. A one page resume website can increase your chances of being found online, especially by recruiters who search the net for qualified candidates.
Getting a website can be expensive, but Emurse.com is a free tool that allows you to create and host your resume online. Emurse.com is a great tool that offers more than just getting your resume online. It keeps track of resume distribution, allows you to keep notes, and set reminders. Emurse will also analyze your resume and deliver relevant job opportunities. Other features include resume templates, resume distribution, and a personal web address (http://yourname.emurse.com).
Emurse.com will help you to be found on search engines and employers will be able to download your resume easily in all formats (DOC, PDF, RTF). You can see how Emurse.com has been rated by reading these articles:
Whether you are an active job seeker or not, your resume/professional profile should be accessible online to Recruiters and Hiring Managers. Don’t be left behind, go to Emurse.com and get your resume website up today.
For more info: JobSearchingStrategies.com
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