2 Things your resume shows people about who you are

You look good every day. Fresh, ironed and pressed slacks, nice subtle jewelry, and you display the look of an ideal professional who has what it takes to shine. Then you open your mouth! WHEEEEE ! You say such dumb things as, “I’m over qualified”, “I’m too young”, “I’ve been black balled”, or “It’s hard for me cause I don’t fit in”. And believe me, more than not, I can almost guarantee you that this is not the case. When you think such dumb things, it’s almost certain that you have not utilized your energy to understand how to navigate the job market with your career communications and networking power.

What do people really see when they see you on paper? What message does your career communications shout to colleagues, mentors, and hiring managers. Know!

We could look at your cover letter, bio, LinkedIn profile, professional associations and relevant industry service, but let’s take a second to start with your resume. Your resume speaks about who you are as a professional. It displays to people 3 Things:

Thing 1 – Your resume shows people how much you stay current with social media and career communication trends. When you know that you should have a different look for a printed resume, a scannable resume, an electronic resume and a web resume, then you are viewed as on top of your game to get noticed by key stakeholders! There are variations in typeset, font, enhancements, size, formats, preferred lengths, paper color and white space that each type of resume should consider to obtain maximum exposure.

Thing 2 – Your resume says, ” I KNOW THAT I AM SHOWING NOT TELLING“! Your resume is a marketing document. When prepared properly, the person who’s eyes your resume will not have one question except, “When can I talk, text, skype or meet this person to discuss how he or she can solve my pain!”.

As you prepare your resume, you will signify indisputably the professional area that you have passion for and desire to continue to help companies solve their issues as a subject matter expert. You have offered specific skilled information and have polished and perfected your content so much so that each sentence, phrase and section highlights your strengths, accomplishments, achievements and unique marketing value using $’s, #’s and %.

Many people have been saying to me via social media, that they are not getting the results that they seek. It’s because your resume is showing people that you are one thing and your personal perception of who are you is saying another. 

We hope that you find this article interesting and relevant to your professional development and job search. Let us know how your career communications show people who you are. Email us at letmewriteitforyou@gmail.com, connect with us on linkedin.com, or view our website.

How to Submit a Resume – Why Not Do It in Person?

I often re-iterate to the job-seeker, career changer, military professional seeking to enter the civilian world of work, student and recent graduate that it is their responsibility to understand the needs of the work force and not vice-versa. Having said that, it is necessary to learn how to take one’s resume and circulate it in all of the various ways that capture the attention of the hiring managers and decision makers. If you do not learn and proceed as the industry’s trends dictate, no one will ever see your resume. See article @ http://EzineArticles.com/7444844

Getting Your First Career Job, What Works, What Does Not!

Recent Grad: Pass out networking business cards, make it easy for someone to contact you

Debra Ann Matthews shares how she landed her first professional job after graduating by going to networking events including:

#1 Internship in London, England, at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. While in London, I attended meetings with the European chapter of IABC – the International Association of Business Communicators. I met the editor of the BBC and met a lot of practitioners who worked in Spain, France, and Germany. They impressed upon me the importance of professional memberships.

#2 I attended the professional association meeting in my topic of interest. I met President Clinton’s personal assistant who implored me to value networking, sharing my professional goals and not being afraid to jump into work force with my energy and to share my enthusiasm.

#3 I felt at ease circulating my resume at our local professional monthly seminars in Tennessee. Many of the colleagues sent me job leads via email from their companies and their networks.See complete article @ http://anniejenningspr.com/jenningswire/career/round-up-getting-your-first-career-job-what-works-what-does-not

Beef Up Your Résumé: Volunteer

Debra Ann Matthews, a career retention specialist and professional résumé writer in Clarksville, Tenn., says it’s important to demonstrate how you made a difference. Portray the connections between the volunteer work and the open position.

For instance, Matthews says many students participate in required community service events as a part of their sorority and fraternity social goals, while others take church-based spring break trips to help serve communities after catastrophes. Whatever the volunteer activity, connect the dots for your potential employer.
“Companies are looking for people who have participated in activities that demonstrate their ability, based on past performance, to handle the job…they are pursuing,” Matthews adds.
Volunteering can help develop project management skills, sales skills, marketing experience, or the task of managing a team. A history of volunteering also suggests that you’re a team player, a quality many employers look for in potential hires.
Once you complete a task, describe your involvement based on the success of your participation.
Here’s an example of Matthews’ résumé demonstrating how to showcase volunteer experience. See article for more details. http://moneymix.cuna.org/29902/article.php?doc_id=4501

You hate your job and your resume reflects it. 2 Things to turn it around

You hate your job and your resume reflects it. 2 Things to turn it around.

Your Resume Can’t Get You An Interview if No One Can See It: 1 Way To Circulate Your Resume for Free

Each and every state in the United States of America hosts a job portal to help connect companies with motivated job seekers. Job seekers include those who are undereducated (6^th grade education or less) to those who possess a PhD.  The site include: Resumes Upload information, jobs from popular sites (indeed, CareerBuilder, Monster; state jobs; temp jobs and other training information. The simply way to connect to this free valuable site is to Google the name of the state.gov and seek the words employment. Here are a few leads for our southern states. Alabama – https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/ Mississippi – http://mississippi.us.jobs/  Tennessee – www.jobs4tn.gov Florida –   http://www.floridajobs.org/ South Carolina – http://www.dew.sc.gov/default.asp  North Carolina – http://www.nccommerce.com/workforce/job-seekers

Let Me Write It For You offers clients assistance in identifying the best ways to highlight their skills and proven attributes with their future job/career  aspirations with targeted résumés and other professional correspondence. All articles are available for re-publishing as long as credit is given to Debra Ann Matthews and Let Me Write It For YOU. Additional information can be obtained from http://jobwinningresumes.net or @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/letmewriteit4u or by calling 931-269-WR1T (9718). Copyright 2012 by Debra Ann Matthews.

And What Do You Do? Getting Ready 4 This Season of Networking

And What Do You Do? Getting Ready 4 This Season of Networking

How to STATE your value in this seasons’ company, community & social holiday events in 2012… by Debra Ann Matthews, Let Me Write It For You! Job-Winning Resumes November 24, 2012

This is generally the first of a few questions that we ask each other when we meet someone. With the upcoming mandatory work functions, community events, school socials and political gatherings, you are sure to hear the question, “And what do you do”? Most people do not understand that they are a professional of some sort. Well, in the new workforce – you know the one that is more tech savvy than your grandparents workforce days – it behooves you to understand your value in the job that you have,  to understand your value in your extracurricular activities as well to understand your value in being able to capture your future new endeavors. Understanding your value and being able to speak clearly about them is the first step to making good connections.  You will never know the seed that can be planted, as a result of the way in which you address this question to others. So let’s start to think about it now? Here are 6 ways to respond at various times of the season:

þ  Trick or Treat Events – State the name of the company where you work. It’s not a time for a lot of dialogue as everyone is busy helping the children enjoy their trunk or treat events and activities, keeping them safe as they bob for apples and play the inflatable games.  Your answer here will serve to inform others where you work for future reference.  For example, “I work for Jostens Class Ring Corporation. I work for Parks and Recreation for the County of Erin. I work on post for DynCorp.”  Now you are a potential point of contact, based on your company affiliation.  Someone may add you on their linked profile by company name. See www.linkedin.com  to get linkedin.

þ  Political Rallies –  State the problem that you help solve for your industry.  For example,” I assist TJMaxx with customer service complaints. I help explain Social Security Benefits to newly entered citizen recently married to our US soldiers. I help families secure the daily household challenges of their elder relatives. I help the general public with emergency medical questions on Fort Campbell Military Post.  You will be seen as a problem solver and this is handy as you are making a case for your political candidate on a national or local level.  See http://www.tennessee.gov for more information.

þ  Giving Thanks Gatherings- State your recent community service involvement. This makes for polite conversation and also serves to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded professional. For example, “Our local alumni chapter raised $2000 for college scholarships for Clarksville graduates. The military family groups walked in the Race for the Cure Campaign this year in honor of cancer survivors.” You will be seen as a caring, compassionate professional who is able to offer service. An excellent trait for a future business consultant or future member of a local board. See https://www.facebook.com/#!/clarksville.kindness for community service involvement.

þ  School Gatherings/Sports Holiday Banquets/Pre-School Nativity Scene Speeches – State the parts of your job that you like doing the BEST!  This way you keep a positive impression about your professional self. I love forwarding clients to jobs that match their skills. I assess mechanical problems in heavy duty trucks. I help preschoolers learn to write their names!

þ  Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Gatherings –  State times when you collaborated with your peers or other business persons to accomplish a shared goal. Our company collaborates with the United Way to help teen children of military families obtain part-time jobs. I contract with small businesses on major highway jobs. I deal with bankers who seek to join upper management, helping them to develop their Leadership Skills via Leadership Clarksville. This way you are bringing a cheery topic about yourself and your professional that colors the evening or event in a positive manner. After all, it’s the season to be merry !

þ  New Year Gatherings – State some of your day-to-day duties with the projection of the long term goals for yourself or your company.  I supply local contractors with needed wood for housing foundations with the hope of becoming an independent contractor supplying farms with needed barnyard equipment. I train as an apprenticed plumber with the hopes of starting a licensed plumber business after obtaining my apprenticeship. This way you are seen as a team player who has long term career goals.

Remember, every conversation is a potential opportunity to plant a seed for future networks. People will remember how you are able to make an impact in your community including your job, your civic duties and in your long term goals for your future. What better way to practice than to demonstrate your value at all of the holiday events. Enjoy !

Let Me Write It For You offers clients passionate, descriptive targeted résumés, helping them to be invited to interview in as little as 30 days. Article Copyright 2012 by Debra Ann Matthews. All articles are available for re-publishing as long as credit is given to Debra Ann Matthews and Let Me Write It For YOU. Additional information can be obtained from http://jobwinningresumes.net or @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/letmewriteit4u or by calling 931-269-WR1T (9718).