Top 5 Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed

Top 5 Ways to Get Your Resume Noticed The topic of getting your resume reviewed by hiring managers/recruiters is a popular one. With so many people looking for work in today’s economy, the ability to get the edge over other candidates has never been higher. Depending on the position, a recruiter/hiring manager can receive hundreds of resumes to review. That is just for one position. Any recruiter worth their salt is not actively working on just one opening. There is unfortunately not enough hours in the day to give each individual resume the time they deserve to be reviewed. As a candidate you need to do your part to make sure you are getting your resume to the front of the line. Here are 5 ways to help in that process: 1) Use specific keywords from job postings: Studies have shown  that recruiters take on average 6 seconds to view resumes. I personally do not time myself, but I would have to agree with this. Depending on the recruiters workload and amount of resumes they have received, they do not have much time to go through every resume with a fine-tooth comb. We are looking for the keywords that stand out as it pertains to our job description. As a result you should make sure those keywords are made perfectly clear on your resume. If you’re applying for a job that requires Java, Python and C++, these skills should not be nestled somewhere deep in your resume. Under your “technical skills” section they should be one of the first few bullet points. Read the job description thoroughly; recruiters and hiring managers will tell you which skills are necessary to be qualified for their openings. Make sure your resume reflects that. 2. Direct recruiter/hiring manager submittals: Applying through career websites and portals are nice. However, if you really want to get your resume noticed you need to get it in the hand of the hiring manager or recruiter hiring for that position. For smaller companies this is much easier, for larger companies it can be difficult. One easy way is to go onto Data.com. This is a site that users are able to share contact information from specific companies. Even if you can’t find the person you are looking for, you can still find the email set up for a company. For example if you can’t find your specific targets email but you see other people in the company have emails set up as “FirstName.LastName@company.com” you can assume that your targets email is the same. For larger companies this may be a little more difficult. A quick call into the company saying “Hi do you have this persons email address? They asked that I send them some information however I misplaced it” will do the trick. Most receptionists don’t think twice about giving out emails because it isn’t as intrusive. Direct contact with the hiring manager or recruiter will get your resume a closer look than applying with the masses. 3.  Cover letter done correctly: Personally I do not believe in cover letters. I find them to be more of ramblings over anything productive. The only time I would recommend a cover letter is if you have to explain something noticeable on your resume. Maybe you are relocating to a specific area already and just need a job. This will help the company understand you are not looking for relocation assistance, just looking for a position local to where you are moving. But using a cover letter just to use one has never been something I support.  However if you feel you must use one please tailor it to the position and the company. Do your research on the company and explain how your skills integrate with the work they do. The reason I am so anti-cover letter is because I find candidates are sending the same letter to every position they apply to. Sure it will give me a little more info to your background, but my position and my competitor’s position are different. Copying and pasting the same cover letter just becomes white noise eventually. So take the time and make sure the letter fully explains how your background benefits this specific position. 4. Avoid cliché words: This subject can be a difficult one because everyone you speak to who is hiring will have a different opinion about this. A quick Google search of “words to avoid on resume”  brings up over 54 million results. So to say the least this a widely debated topic. However there is an overwhelming notion that cliché words on resumes are becoming overdone. Phrases like “Highly qualified, results focused, effectual leader” etc. are becoming more fluff than anything else. There is a lot of truth to that. Remember the 6 seconds recruiters are giving resumes? You need to get to the point immediately. If you are results focused, give live examples to drive that point home. Highly qualified? Tell me why. As a recruiter I want to see tangible results or evidence not just fluff phrases. 5. Brag, brag, brag: Your resume is not a time to be humble. You are trying to make a quick impression on someone you have never met before. Humility will not work in your favor. You need to let that person know they are getting an A+ candidate and they need to hire you. Won awards, finishing tops in your class, big promotions; whatever it may be now is your time to let this person know. For me when I was interviewing, outside of my career accomplishments, I added that I was an active recruitment blogger. I wanted my future employer to know I am not just in recruiting for the 9-5, that I am passionate about the industry and that passion results in a stronger work ethic. You have to look at your resume as the time to show the person who is viewing it how awesome you really are. Good luck in your career search. If you are struggling to find that next job, all of these tips will help you get to that next step in your career. But ultimately, what it really comes down to is your persistence. Keep plugging away every day, build your network and connect with those who are hiring in your market. The more well connected you are and the harder you work, the better your chances are at landing that next position. Image: Shutterstock

How Important is Your Background in Classical Music?

How Important is Your Background in Classical Music?Writing a resume is not an easy task. There are many ways you can go wrong when it comes to writing a resume and one of them is having no knowledge of how to write a resume at all. If you have no knowledge of how to write a resume, do not worry as this is a common mistake that people make when they try to get a job with the wrong resume. Of course, there are many other common mistakes that people make when writing resumes.There are a lot of people out there who don't realize how important it is to have some experience in classical music. People who know how to write a resume should always include this information in their resume. The fact is that if you know how to play classical music, then you have a head start when it comes to getting a job.Another reason why people fail to include this information in their resumes is because they are afraid of how people will react to the material in their resumes. When they mention a specific b ackground or experience that makes them qualified for the job, it becomes even more important to add it to their resumes. For instance, if you were raised by a horse, you know how to play classical music, so it is important to include this information when you go to apply for a job with an orchestra.The fact is that you would never be hired if you have no experience or if you were raised by a horse. Therefore, if you are applying for a job with a classical music ensemble, you would be having a much easier time of getting hired if you have some experience with classical music. If you don't have any classical music experience, you may want to consider adding it to your resume.You have to realize that not everyone has experience with classical music. In fact, there are many people out there who have little to no experience with this particular type of music. It is important to think about how many times you have heard classical music. This is going to help you decide whether or not you should include this in your resume.There are a lot of different types of music that you can play. Do you know of any? Of course, you know of music from all over the world. The thing is that not everyone has the opportunity to take part in different types of classical music.A career that involves taking part in different types of classical music is called a career in classical music playing violin. It takes practice and skill, but it is something that anyone can do. For this reason, it is extremely important that you include this information in your resume.There are different types of music out there that you can play. If you are interested in one of these careers, then make sure that you include this information on your resume.

Unvarnished Changes Personal Brand Reputation Management Forever - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Unvarnished Changes Personal Brand Reputation Management Forever - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The web, in general, has always been a positive place for personal branding. No one is going to write someone else a negative LinkedIn recommendation, and even if they did, it doesnt have to be accepted and published. Most people arent going to speak poorly of another individual in a public saying because it makes them look bad as well. They are easily identifiable based on their name, picture and language, and their negative comments are search-able. But, you will always have critics, trolls, and other types of people who seek to do you harm online, but those opinions are typically washed away by the power of community. On November 23rd, 2009, I wrote a post called The Personal Brand Marketplace of the Future. I knew that the future would be different for our brands because the world isnt full of care bears, rainbows, and peace. There are wars, robbery, rape, violence, etc. The online world is a complete representation of the offline world. There are also a lot of people who want to see you fail, who talk behind your back, and who will sabotage you, whether they are your competitors or not. That is how life is, and now the web is starting to move to complete transparency and truth, so Im not surprised that a new site called Unvarnished is about to launch. People trust recommendations It wont surprise you that people trust other people, especially if they are your friends or family. You would trust your mother over some random person from Alaska, but you might still trust that person if they are an expert or used a product or a service that youre interested in. The following research proves just how important recommendations are, especially online where people are searching for reviews before they make a purchase. You will always trust a third party over a company just like how youll trust PR over advertising. You know the company is trying to make a sale, but if someone else recommends that product, it carries more weight. 90% of consumers online trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust opinions of unknown users. (Econsultancy, July 2009). 85% of people tell their friends when they have a problem with a brand (eMarketer, March 2010) 83% of online shoppers said they are interested in sharing information about their purchases with people they know, while 74% are influenced by the opinions of others in their decision to buy the product in the first place. (Manage Smarter, September 2009) 67% of shoppers spend more online after recommendations from online community of friends. (Internet Retailer, September 2009) 42% trust word-of-mouth recommendations (eMarketer, May 2009) Unvarnished: An online resource for building, managing, and researching professional reputation. Online reviews and your personal brand The more money a product costs, the more time people will spend actively researching it. If a product has received one hundred negative reviews, the consumer is going to be suspicious and might seek a similar product elsewhere. This typically occurs for products of all kinds, regardless of brand, and brand names do have an advantage because consumers already trust them. Online reviews have taken many forms, from consumer reviewing products on a flip camera and then uploading them to YouTube, to a simple 140-character tweet review. Websites that offer product / service reviews Glassdoor.com You can review your experiences working at a company anonymously. CEOs are also given ratings in the same fashion. They usually receive a lot of negative reviews from people who have gotten fired or laid off too. Yelp You can review restaurants, bars, schools, hotels, stores, and a variety of other places. Users arent anonymous on Yelp, and they are rated on how helpful they are. Amazon You can review books, kindle editions of books, DVDs, CDs, toys, electronics, clothing and more. You dont have to actually own the product to review it, as long as youve made at least one Amazon purchase. Rotten Tomatoes You can rate movies and establish your own online profiles. NEW Unvarnished You can rate people anonymously. When you rate a product or a service, that might hurt a company, but few individuals take it to heart. When you rate the average person, thats when feelings get hurt. Calling someone ugly, fat, annoying, or making fun of them in some other way, can have a devastating effect on them. Unvarnished is about to turn the recruiting, career, and reputation game on its head and theres no going back! Unvarnished reviews personal brands When Unvarnished launches, everyone in the world will be held accountable for their brands on it, and it will force everyone to search their name online much more often. You will also have to claim your profile page before someone else does for you. As you can see from this screen shot, taken from TechCrunch.com, people get reviewed based on skill, productivity, relationships and integrity. If you have a bad rating, the system allows youto invite your friends to post positive ratings and comments. Just like Amazon.com, and the Google search results for your name, you cant remove negative comments from your profile. This makes them more legitimate, yet poses a threat to people who either should get bad reviews, or has people who disagree with them. The workplace is an environment, where many interactions and experiences occur. If you have a bad manager, you could give him a negative review, which will hurt his brand forever (or as long as this site exists). They may know its you if its the first published review and youre the only person they manage. Would you hire a person who received a poor review on this site? You probably wont unless you already know, like, and trust them. The key here is that people will judge you based on whats observable online and more and more people do research before they go on dates, or do business deals, so you better make sure you have your head around this site. Your turn What are your feelings about Unvarnished? Do you fear it?

A Good Work Ethic is Needed Now - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A Good Work Ethic is Needed Now - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Everything I write in any of my books or blogs is for naught if you don’t get the job that you are paid to do successfully completedâ€"and more. It doesn’t impress bosses at all if you just do what is required. Stellar work is your personal wealth: your worldly goods, trust fund, gold stash, life preserver, money in your pocket, and 401(k). It is the investment in yourself that no one can take away and no depressed economy or down market can diminish. “In the football world, it’s called making plays. Everyone in the game is fast, big, and strong, but only a certain percentage can make the big plays week in and week out,” says Steven Israel, retired NFL player for the Carolina Panthers and now the CEO of EndZone Coverage. So what does “stellar work” mean to the CEOs I asked? You: Make your numbers and deliver results on time, within budget. Know the most important areas to focus on, and you make them better. Find a need and fill it as well as you can. Make your boss’s life more comfortable and easier. Make your boss look good. You never surprise her, and you always keep her in the loop. Are willing and flexible to take on more when asked, and better yet, you discover openings before being asked. Have your work complement others’ work. You do what you can to help groups outside of your immediate job area. Do damn fine work, and you are a damn fine person. Do things that seem impossible to do. Deliver faster, cheaper, with higher quality. Are the fulcrum mover. Extract the most from an opportunity. Act as eyes and ears so as to improve the company’s achievements outside of your immediate job area. Utilize a broad and diverse set of skillsâ€"that is, you are multi-disciplined. Can track your successful history of making good decisions with value-added contributions. Deal with complex tasks without needing your hand held. Make it fun with the right amount of friskiness and playfulness in getting along and making things happen. Always look at how other people are doing the same type of work you’re doing. You always try to find people who are better at it and studying what they are doing. Figure out how to fix what is thrown at you. Think like an owner. You promote the organization’s mission, not just your own. The advice those CEOs gave me is likely the exact thing that got them to the CEO role. If it worked for them it will work for you. Read more in my new book from McGraw-Hill, The Leadership Mind Switch, which is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Creating a Creative Writing Resume

Creating a Creative Writing ResumeWriting creative writing resume is easier today than ever before. You can download a resume writing service online that will take your resume and edit it for you. There are even some freelance resume writers that can create a resume in a matter of hours. This makes it much easier for busy people who have many responsibilities to get their resume out there for consideration for jobs in the field they have chosen.The most important thing that should be on your resume is the creative writing. The resume must stand out as having your creativity and ability to use words to make a great story. As long as the creative writing is done well, it will help the employer see that you will be an asset in the future. It will also add to your personality and even give you something to talk about with your co-workers.Make sure that you include any awards you have received such as a great job done by someone else, or even a creative writing award from a prestigious sc hool. This will show that you are not just another writer who has been doing this job for years. Plus, if you have a published book, article, short story, or poem, this will help other employers to see that you are willing to write on a daily basis. All in all, the more you prove your ability to write, the more interesting you will become to potential employers.Think about a few stories you have written that relate to creative writing. You should write a few samples of these stories on a separate sheet of paper and then put them in chronological order. They will make your resume look professional and you will show that you have expertise in writing.Other than your resume, you may want to include an updated list of your skills and experience. For example, you may have a degree in illustration, but this does not necessarily mean that you are good at drawing or sketching. You may also have experience in different types of sports. With each of these items, you should list the type of wo rk and profession that you had. This is very important, because you want to make sure that you do not leave anything out.List your experience in speaking, film, television, or even in a music group. This will help show employers that you are interested in communication and that you enjoy the business of life. Some companies may be looking for someone who can write speeches or short speeches, while others are looking for someone who can speak to large groups. This is why you may want to add the extra things on your resume so that you know what areas you need to improve on.The next step is to consider how you can apply the skills that you have shown that you have. For example, if you are someone who likes to paint, you can express this through words on your creative writing resume. When you are interviewing for a job, do not talk about your job titles but instead talk about what you would like to do with the job. If you are willing to learn new skills and if you have a passion for art , you will show the employer that you can bring their ideas to life.Creating a creative writing resume is easy when you use an online service. There are many of these services that can help you fill out your resume as quickly as possible and you will be on your way to being called for an interview. Just make sure that you use the services of someone that is experienced in creating these resumes and that has a professional editing service to help you with grammar and spelling mistakes.

4 Management Tips for Aspiring Content Marketing Leaders CareerMetis.com

4 Management Tips for Aspiring Content Marketing Leadersâ€" CareerMetis.com Source â€" Flickr.comContent marketing is still one of the fastest growing fields in the world. We hear over and over that content is king, and it is extremely important. As long as Google looks at content to determine authority and expertise and continues to look at backlinks to your content, it will be.However, the key is to understand that content is designed for web users and customers, and being a leader in content marketing means a lot more than just being able to write.To be a content marketing leader in today’s world, you need to have a strong understanding of SEO, blogging, analytics, outreach and PPC campaigns and how to run them. How do you break into this lucrative field? Here are some tips and tricks.1) Check Your SkillsevalevalWe already mentioned some of the hard skills you need to have to make it in the digital marketing industry today. Your knowledge of those topics is vital, so let’s take a little closer look at each.SEO:Search engine optimization, or SEO, is th e use of on-page technical data such as title tags, meta descriptions, and keywords to help a post rank in search engines for a specific user search. This means industry knowledge and research skills are needed as well.Blogging: One of the essential parts of content marketing is content creation, and that means a specific kind of writing skill: blogging. This means knowing how to use headings, proper anchor text, and write at length on a deadline. If you need to learn more, there are many blogging classes available online, some programs that even offer certificates.Analytics:How do you tell if content marketing is working? There are metrics like organic traffic, bounce rates, referral traffic, and keyword rankings in search engines. You must know how to look at these things and determine what they mean so you can adjust content strategies accordingly.Outreach: This is a part of link building, a huge component of content marketing. Effectively outreaching to website owners for link p lacements is a key skill.PPC Campaigns:Often to drive traffic to your site, your landing pages, and your content, you will need to run PPC campaigns with Google and other search engines. You need to know how to run and manage these, something about A/B testing, and have a knowledge of PPC budgets and how they work.These are not the only skills you need though. As important as these hard skills are, you will also need soft skills that many employers look for in content marketing leaders. Besides flexibility and problem-solving skills, you will also need to be able to collaborate with others, as content marketing is largely a team effort.evalFortunately, besides just blogging classes, there are also overall content marketing certificate programsthat can not only help you get the skills you need but help you prove you have them. Even if you have a degree, these courses often help you stand out from other applicants.2) Understand the IndustryThe content marketing industry is different t han many others even in the marketing field. There are many factors that go into good content marketing leadership, and one of these is an understanding of the industry itself. This includes knowledge of Google and even legal issues that sometimes arise with content.There are three issues that often are involved with content creation and content marketing. They can be broken into a few categories:Copyright Infringement: This can be everything from using photos without permission or attribution to the copying of diagrams and other illustrations without permission. To know if a photo is royalty free and how it can be used, use a special Google search for photos labeled for reuseor subscribe to a photo service like Flickr. If you have any doubts, contact the copyright holder for permission or use a different photo.Plagiarism:evalWhen you copy someone’s work word for word or even idea for idea, it is plagiarism. Tools like Grammarly offer online plagiarism checkers, and you should use them just in case.Liability:Google expects content to be written by experts, especially in certain fields like health and finance. If you are writing in these areas, be sure to back up your content with sources, and provide a disclaimer letting readers know to consult experts on sensitive matters. If your company writes in these areas, you may need liability insurance and other protections.As a content marketing leader, you also need to understand your role in the larger industry picture. There are several parts to content teams including content management, maintenance, and marketing. Knowing where you fit and what your responsibilities will be from the start will make you a better leader.3) Build Your CVWhen you enter the content marketing leadership realm, you may be fascinated to find a variety of people you interact with. Some have marketing degrees, some business degrees, and some have neither. What they all have is some sort of related experience from the management side to marketing, blogging, and writing.When you want to join their ranks, you need a CV that is rich with proof that you can do the job you want to be hired for. This might include things like a list of publishing credits, management experience with remote and onsite teams, certifications like those mentioned above, and other vital content marketing experience. How do you get that experience?Work at an SEO company for a whileDo freelance workParticipate in internships and apprenticeshipsBlog for yourself and build your own siteWork on link building for your own brandYou can list publishing credits on LinkedIn along with other experience, along with adding them to your current resume and CV. There are also online content curation sites like Contently where you can show off your work.The main thing to remember is to have something to show a prospective employer that demonstrates the skills you claim to have.4) Get RecommendedFinally, get recommendations. You can ask for them from your Linke dIn connections, former employers, professors and teachers of classes you have attended, and more. A solid recommendation shows not only that others have faith in you, but you have confidence in yourself and are willing to ask for them.In the content marketing world, you will need this confidence in yourself, your abilities, and those of the team that surrounds you.evalWant to be a leader in the content marketing world? You’ll need the right skills, a solid understanding of the industry, a solid CV, and recommendations from others who have the same confidence in you that you have in yourself. With those things, your content marketing career will be off to a great start.

Guest Post Career Advice on the Growing Field of Environmental Careers

Guest Post Career Advice on the Growing Field of Environmental Careers My client Julie, Principal at Ecology and Environment, Inc. is a prime example of a person making a great living while making a difference. Read below for more on a day in the life with Julie and what career opportunities are available in the growing field of environmental careersMaggie thanks so much for inviting me to write on your blog. Working with you definitely helped me think through how to match my career with my personal priorities. I do feel fortunate with the work that I do.No day is ever quite the same as the next in my job, though there are consistent themes. We are an environmental consulting firm so we deal mainly with issues that affect human health and the environment.Specifically our mission is to find workable, sustainable solutions to any environmental and human health problem that could pose a concern to human settlements and natural eco-systems. What this means is that I could be working on a contingency plan for water resources one day and be reviewing a clima te action plan for a University the next. The topics are wide ranging but the purpose is singular. We try to make our communities better places to live.As a Principal with the firm, I am responsible for directing client relationships and engagements, business development and mentoring junior staff. One of my primary goals for any client engagement is to make sure our clients and staff receive the recognition they deserve for their efforts. This year one of my clients is presenting our work at the 2009 American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. We are very excited for them.There are so many different types of jobs related to the environment. I have friends who are investors in start-up enviro-tech companies, others who are Corporate Sustainability public relations specialists and still others who focus on specific aspects such as energy conservation. The field is quite broad and growing. What I am really pleased about is that environmental work is no longer ju st seen as tree hugging. There are real operational and economic reasons to incorporate environmental concerns into businesses and our communities. Energy efficiency, scarce resources, mitigating natural disasters are just a few.I encourage anyone who is interested in helping to shape our future pursue a career related to the environment. I have found it most rewarding.Thank you Julie. Are you looking to change careers into the growing environmental field? Is it your dream job to make a living and make a difference? Perhaps now is the perfect time for a career change.

My Best Advice on Making Your Dreams Actionable - When I Grow Up

My Best Advice on Making Your Dreams Actionable - When I Grow Up In my 37 years, I remember so many times I put my dreams into action. I remember putting up a show I wrote for my elementary school. I remember getting chorus solos and leads in musicals. I remember getting into NYUs musical theater program at their Tisch School of the Arts, early admission. I remember being told they accepted 1 in 60 applicants. I remember countless auditions, and callbacks, and jobs accepted and declined. I remember, eventually, honoring my shifting dreams and letting my acting career go. I remember choosing the difficult road in becoming a certified life coach and, eventually, the career coach I needed at the time one that worked with creative types. I remember all the people who asked, But how will you make any money if you only work with starving artists? I remember going into my Executive Assistant job which I did for almost 3 years to pay the bills while I got my certification and built my business and giving my notice. I had never spoken about my business to my manager, but she asked me right away: Are you leaving to do your coaching? When I answered positively, she said, Im glad. Im sure youre great at that. I remember getting my first client. Signing a book deal. Being listed on the Forbes Top 100 Websites for your Career List. Teaching a class for 10,000 people online. Being mentioned in extra large print in New York Magazine. My life has always been a dream in action, and the biggest thing Ive learned is this: There is always a how. Ive yet to work with a client who has found the WHAT of her dream career and then couldnt figure out HOW to make it work in the semblance of her grown-up life. Ive been doing this work for 7 years, and have personally coached hundreds of clients. Its never happened. Not once. If you keep your focus on what you want and need now  and in the near-ish future and stop worrying about the you thats 5, 10, or 20 years away and instead start thinking that you can  make your dream a reality its just a matter of how  it works for you then youll find the grey area where your action and answer! lives, and the reality that comes thereafter.