The Resume Company

Cairns' opportunity to speak direct with Mining Companies

2011-10-26T10:26:00.002+10:00

If you're interested in getting a job in the mines, here is your opportunity to find out more:

Mining eEpo in Cairns on 2 November at the Convention Centre 10am to 4pm
http://www.opportunities.qld.gov.au/expo.aspx

Beware of Internet Sites Promising Jobs in the Mines/Oil Industry

2011-08-24T23:09:00.000+10:00

For those of you who are keen to get into mining or oil industry jobs, please be very wary of sites offering individualised information, specifically created for you, or assistance to get a job in the mines.

Most of these sites offer information you can reasonably find yourself on the internet, is not personalised to your specific requirements, and is provided by people who have little understanding or experience in recruitment or mining.

The main websites I have located charge over $200 a time to provide this service, and the information received is poor at best, probably out of date by the time you receive it, and is generic – for example if you are looking at getting a cleaning job in the mines, you will receive information that covers every type of job you could get in the mines, from haul truck operator, to diesel fitter to electrician, to administration assistant. So while you might get 50 pages of information, only about a two pages of it is helpful for you.

They offer some general information about what it’s like to work in the mines, and a bunch of websites and email addresses you can send your resume to. That’s it. They will tell you in their email they have worked for hours to produce a report specifically for you, and try to convince you they are assisting you, when they are not.

Please be very wary of these websites – most of them are a ripoff, and you will find as one is closed down, another one will open under another name.

To check out the credentials of these websites:

* Verify that they have a street address and not just a serviced office/post box address – do a Google search on the address. Often if you Google the address listed, you will find a number of websites with the same address and generic phone number (1800...), and they offer similar services for the same amount of money, from similar websites.

* Search for their ABN number or business name at www.asic.gov.au or www.abr.business.gov.au

* Check if they have a phone number you can contact them on.

* Search for information posted by disgruntled customers on “ripoff” websites such as www.ozripoff.com

Before parting with your hard earned money, do your research, make sure of what you will be getting for your money, and ask yourself if it was that easy, wouldn’t everyone you know that is looking for work in the mines, already have a job there?

Looking for a job in the mines?

2011-07-22T19:30:00.000+10:00

Many tradespeople as well as drivers, plant operators, and those without any relevant skills are seeking work in the mines. As a resume writer, a large proportion of my new clients are looking to refocus their resume in the hope of getting a "mine job". However, with hundreds of people applying for each position there is no guarantee that they will get a job, and a high percentage of these people are disappointed.

There are a number of factors for this: there has been a reluctance on the part of some mining companies/recruiters to FIFO from Cairns despite the fact that there is a willing and eager workforce just wanting an opportunity to move into/back into a mine job; often an insistence that the employee is already a resident of the nearby town to the mine, e.g. Mackay due to the reduced amount and high cost of accommodation available; the obligation of employees to complete certain training which they may not be able to afford; the onerous and lengthy application process – different for each mining company, recruiter; and the list goes on.

The fact is that when the numbers of people applying for positions are high, with applications being received from around the world, not just Cairns, the percentage of people who have the qualifications and experience the recruiters/mining companies are looking for, are correspondingly high. This means that they don’t have to “give someone a go” if they sound like they could quickly learn, or transfer their already considerable skills. Someone may have 20 years’ experience as a boilermaker, but if they don’t have mining experience, then they may not get a look-in.

Before you start applying for your mine job, research the positions you may be suitable for, get the required minimum qualifications for the work you are looking for, call on friends/acquaintances/family who are already working in a mine job to put you forward for a position. All these approaches can assist to increase your chances of success.\

What do I need to put in my resume?

2011-07-09T17:45:00.000+10:00

I hear this often, and really it's a bit like the old saying - how long is a piece of string?

Your resume has to be fit for purpose - what goes in it, how it will look, how long it is, what media you use - all these factors need to be addressed. It depends on a wide range of criteria including your job, your qualifications, your career level, your aspirations, your industry, who it's being sent to ... the list goes on.

For example, if you're applying for a mine job, you need a short, concise statement of details, qualifications, brief and relevant working history, scans of your qualifications/trade papers/tickets/licences - easy to read, well laid out, informative - just the way mine job/labour hire people want it. They get hundreds and hundreds of applications for each job, and they don't have time to muck around. You need to respect that, or your resume may be overlooked - no matter how qualified you are.

If for example, you're applying for a sales account manager role - it needs to be "out there", dynamic and pacy, it needs to reflect your outgoing nature, your flair to make things happen, your "runs on the board".

The point is, your resume needs to be targeted at the job, the level, the industry, the location, what you're trying to achieve (a new job, a step up, a change of career...) and be in a format the employer/recruiter wants to see.

There really is no "one size fits all" resume any more.

7 Year Itch

2011-05-06T19:54:00.000+10:00

After 7 fab years, The Resume Company makes its next move TO: Your Office Hub, Cnr Buchan & Comports Sts, Portsmith. Drop by and say Hi! 40355945

If you've reached the interview stage - DON'T WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY!

2011-05-04T19:42:00.000+10:00

In the current market of high unemployment, and high competition for jobs, having the best resume in the pack is not enough.

Your approach needs to cover all aspects of the recruitment process. Your resume has been upgraded, you've beaten the competition to the interview stage, and now you face the interview.

I cannot stress the importance of having interview skills training/mentoring enough.

Once you've reached the interview stage, it's important to understand that your resume may be the best of just 6-10 resumes out of 100, 150, 200 applications. You've whittled down the odds considerably - but don't fall at the final hurdle! Don't take your eye off the ball at the crucial moment! It's most important that you realise that you have an opportunity that has been hard won and is very important!

Having an interview coach to take you through that last, and most important step can be the final push to get you over the line to your dream job. Consider the investment in interview skills coaching worthwhile for your career, your self esteem and your personal growth.

Age may be all in the mind...

2011-05-03T17:29:00.000+10:00

At the moment competition for jobs is really tough, so for every position there are many, many applications. This means that for a recruiter, whittling down applications to a manageable shortlist can be quite arbitrary based on anything from not liking a particular font to the length of your resume.

When recruiters are faced with 100+ applications for every position, they have to be ruthless in culling down to the final shortlist. So don't jump to conclusions about why you're not getting into the starting blocks - for example many people complain that theire age is a problem when there is no way a recruiter can tell their age from their resume.

Stay ahead of the game by continually refining your resume, refocusing it for each position and ensuring the informatin is relevant and up to date. And remember, every "thanks but no thanks" is one step closer to "yes we want you!"

Aligning people with their career goals

2011-04-13T12:59:00.001+10:00

Competition for jobs is still tough in this challenging economic environment. I've been privileged this year to have created partnerships with people from a wide range of careers, from physiotherapists to crocodile wranglers; tradespeople to government officers; health staff to casino workers, assisting them to create resumes and applications which align them with achieving their career aspirations. Thank you for the opportunity!

Here are a selection of recent thanks you's I have received:

I've been told informally that my application was fantastic and is at number 1 in the selection list. My supervisor told me that she was glad I took all her recommendations and produced such an impressive application. Now i'm just waiting for the interview.
Chris, Thanks I did a bit of editing last night and sent it. Great job you make me sound impressive.
I’m happy with the application. I went okay in the interview but I was a little bit nervous. I haven’t heard anything yet but I was one of 3 they were interviewing out of 39 applications – so thank you for that.
Thank you so much Chris i'm so happy with it.
Chris,That looks absolutely fantastic.
Looks great thanks Chris. I will let you know the outcome and certainly recommend your services.
I got the job with XXXXXX as a Training Coordinator and they have already booked me in to do Cert 4. Just wanted to say a big THANKYOU for helping me with my resume and for putting up with me. Will recommend you forever!!!
Hi ya Chris, Just wanted you to know that I finally received information regarding the application I submitted at QLD Health. I received an e-mail yesterday advising that I had been unsuccessful. I didn't even make it to an interview. I was a little disappointed. I was provided with a number to call back for post selection feedback. I've just got off the phone and was advised that there were 132 applications received and they could only interview people with medical experience so I was unable to be interviewed. She told me that my resume was fantastic and my covering letter answered all points correctly and was extremely well written but I just didn't have the experience. So I just wanted to thankyou for your help.
Hi Chris, Looks really good. Thanks heaps Chris, you are a marvel.
Hey Chris, Ahh you are the best. Thanks so much for everything. Will let you know how i go. Hope the weather is nicer up there than here!
I very much appreciate your time and assistance and have recommended your services to a number of my friends and colleages.
Good Morning Chris, This is great, exactly what I was after. I will let you know how I go.
Just letting you know after all those wonderful resumes and letters you wrote for [my son] he has been successful in obtaining an apprenticeship as a boilermaker with XXXXXX Constructions. Many thanks for your help.

Makes my heart sing! Again, thank you for the opportunity!

Jason Fried: Why work doesn't happen at work

2011-03-26T17:52:00.000+10:00

Apply Online?

2010-10-22T18:49:00.002+10:00

“Simply Apply Online” makes applying for a job sound simple, doesn’t it?

“Apply Online” could mean – upload your resume with a one-button-click and you’re away. However this is not always the case.

As with any job application – you need to identify and assess what the potential employer requires in an application. “Apply Online” could very well mean just uploading a resume. But more often than not, it can mean completing an application form, uploading/inserting your resume, and addressing 6 selection criteria questions with a word limit of 500 words per criterion, as in the case of a Defence application.

Or it could mean answering pages of detailed questions relating to your skills, qualifications and experience, inserting the contents of your resume job by job into an online form, as well as uploading a letter and your resume - as required by many employment agencies and mining industry employers.

Don’t be seduced by the “Simply Apply Online” idea. Whether you apply online, or by email or post, employers need to get to know who you are, what your qualifications and skills are, and what benefit they will receive by employing you.

Apply Online really just means, “don’t post or email your application, but use our set forms to apply”. Always ensure you know exactly what an employer requires as an application so that you have the best chance of gaining an interview.

Looking in the same old places?

2010-10-15T09:35:00.000+10:00

Don’t limit yourself to looking for jobs with the same old titles. Job titles change from time to time as the tasks involved change. So for example, if you have good administration experience, rather than limiting yourself to “Administration Officer” you may need to look at “Project Coordinator”, “Business Support Officer”, “Event Coordinator” etc. Think outside the square about the skills and experience you have to find hidden gems, or even positions at a higher level.

Waiting for a phone call?

2010-10-12T21:30:00.002+10:00

After creating a killer resume, preparing your application letter/criteria and applying for the job by the due date – what next? Sit back and wait for the phone call?

The job market is tough, and the reality is you need to keep applying for positions regularly until you get work. Sending off one job application and waiting to see what happens can waste a lot of your valuable time. Do the best you can for each application, send it off, and move on to the next one.

That’s not to say that you need to use the “scatter gun” approach of applying for any old job just for the sake of it. Make sure the jobs you apply for relate to the skills and experience you have, and keep applying.

Cover Letter Writing Tips 5

2010-09-13T16:39:00.000+10:00

In your closing paragraph, be positive and professional. Thank the reader for the time they have taken to consider your application, and assume you will be speaking to them further at an interview. If your letter is addressed to a person, sign off with "Yours sincerely". If your letter is addressed only to "Sir/Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern", sign off with "Yours faithfully". Always sign off with your name, sign the letter only if you are printing and posting it – do not send your signature over the internet.

Cover Letter Writing Tips 4

2010-09-09T16:30:00.000+10:00

After describing your qualifications and previous relevant experience, introduce a short paragraph about your personal strengths. What will you bring to the position at a personal level? How do you get on with other people? What is your work ethic like? What makes you stand out from the others? Why should they choose you over the other 50 qualified candidates who have applied?

Cover Letter Writing Tips 3

2010-09-05T16:24:00.001+10:00

The first paragraph of your letter should identify the position you are applying for and refer to any attachments that are with the letter/email. In the second paragraph of your letter, draw attention to your qualifications, relevant positions you have previously held and outline your success in these roles. Put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter – what are they looking for exactly, and what experience do you have that matches what they are looking for?

Gratifying Successes

2010-08-30T16:50:00.000+10:00

In the last 4 weeks, many clients have rung to personally thank me for my assistance with their job applications and to tell me they have been offered the job they were applying for. In the tough economic climate Cairns currently finds itself in, it’s particularly gratifying to be able to assist clients to achieve their goals at a time when there is higher than usual competition for jobs. Putting your “best foot forward” with the best application you can put together, will position you ahead of the crowd.

Cover Letter Writing Tips 2

2010-08-29T08:42:00.001+10:00

When recruiters are assessing your application, they often have many others to consider at the same time. The first thing a recruiter is looking for is ANYTHING that will allow them to remove your application from the pile. Any spelling or grammatical errors are often the first thing that recruiters find to exclude you from consideration. Make sure your letter is proofread by yourself and someone else before it goes out.

Cover Letter Writing Tips 1

2010-08-26T15:58:00.001+10:00

In almost all cases, your resume should be accompanied by a cover letter/email. This ensures that your resume is directed to the right people, identifies what position you are applying for, and gives the recruiter an outline of who you are and your objectives.

"How should my resume be set out?"

2010-04-02T13:04:00.000+10:00

Every resume represents not only an individual person, but also their career history, qualifications and experience which relate to the position they are applying for.

Various industries require information relating specifically to that industry, set out in a particular way.

For example, mining companies/labour hire agencies require particular information about qualifications, licences/tickets including numbers, expiry and issue dates so that they can ensure your qualifications are valid and up to date. Depending on your occupation, they may also require information about the types of machinery you have worked on.

Resumes for school teachers may need to include their thoughts on pedagogy, adherence to a specific religion and extra-curricular activities such as curriculum development, or behaviour management.

Cabin Crew need their resume to reflect their high customer service standards, ability to manage people, commitment to safety - even their personal grooming standards.

Focusing your resume towards the particular industry you are targeting is crucial. It shows you know what you are talking about, your experience is relevant to the position and you are professional. Very important as after all, it has to represent you in your absence and get you in the door for an interview.

"How much does a resume cost?"

2010-03-26T13:03:00.002+10:00

Many people ring to ask the price of a resume, as their first consideration. More important is what you have now, and where you want to go. What do you want to achieve from your resume? Step up in career, change of company, change of career... these are far more important things to consider than the initial outlay.

No matter how much you pay, if it doesn't point you in the direction you want to go, maybe you've paid a far greater price than you think.

Keep it simple

2009-12-31T06:58:00.003+10:00

Attending the Centrelink Jobs Expo recently, it was interesting to see the effort put in by exhibitors, training organisations, employers and other organisations offering assistance. Many of the people looking were long term unemployed, however a large number of people were also those looking to transfer careers, look for new ideas or just see what was on offer. Probably the main benefit for everyone was the networking that went on - so many different services and organisations finding out what the others do, swapping cards and information. I'm looking forward to being able to refer many clients who are looking for services to some of these organisations to assist them in creating their careers.

A few people stopped and allowed me to review their resumes. The few I saw were very basic indeed and were not focused towards the positions they were looking for, which I was able to ascertain after a few quick questions. For people who already have barriers to employment, which could be disabiity, rehabilitation, lack of skills - falling at the first hurdle with a poorly focused resume can keep them in the cycle of being unsuccessful in finding work. Keep it simple, keep it focused.

The competition is getting tough...

2009-12-04T18:57:00.002+10:00

After a number of years of low unemployment rates, Cairns is now experiencing double figure unemployment rates, making the competition for jobs pretty tough.

Recently a client of mine advertised an admin position and received over 120 applications. The first thing an employer looks for in a resume is a reason to exclude it from the final number. How would your resume shape up?

These 120+ applications were reduced to 8 in the first instance and then after consideration and discussion were reduced to 4 to be interviewed. Does your resume effectively reflect what is needed for each application you present it for? Does it “sell” your skills and abilities well, or will it end up with the other 116 unsuccessful applications?

If a strong and focused resume can get you in the door for an interview for a job worth $40k, $50k, $100 or $200k… what is it worth to you to reduce the competition in the first instance?

Times are getting tough, time for the tough to get going to get where they need to be!

Agency v. Employer Resumes

2009-10-30T07:10:00.005+10:00

One of the main things to consider before you even begin to think about putting your resume together, is who is going to be reviewing it.

Where are you sending it to, and what are they looking for particularly? What are they going to be doing with that information? Are they feeding that information into a database so they can search for a particular skill at a later date (Agency) or is it a single-use document that will give you a foot in the door for a shot at a particular position (Employer)?

If you’re sending your resume directly to an employer, then the object is to sell, sell, sell yourself, taking into account what they are looking for. Use a more “marketing” type approach to highlight the skills and experience that the employer is looking for, using solid examples of your achievements.

However, if you’re approaching an agency, their needs can be somewhat different. What they want is a detailed list of what you have done, what your skills are, all the duties you performed in each job – right down to ordering stationery and cleaning up the garbage. This allows them to have a comprehensive knowledge of what you have done previously, which they can use to match you with positions they may have available.

Here is an actual list from a local employment agency, of what they want to find on a resume:

Personal Details:
* Name
* Date of Birth
* Marital Status
* Nationality
* Address
* Phone Details
* Email Address

Education:
* Name of High School and Qualifications gained, date
* Name of University and Qualifications gained, date
* Currently studying details (with anticipated completion date)
* Professional Qualifications: If relevant add these here
* Language skills
* Information Technology Skills
* Leisure interests (may strike a note of familiarity with the interviewer)

Career History (most recent position first):
* Date started to date finished
* Company name, Location
* Company Description: (Size of company, is it national/international, privately/publicly owned, what the company does)
* Your title, reporting to...

Responsibilities:
* List 6-10 of your main responsibilities

Achievements:
* List 2-3 of your main achievements for each role

Reason for Leaving:
* This helps to determine why you have changed roles

Here’s what I mean by selling yourself versus a list of what your duties/responsibilities were:

For an agency resume, outline your duties:

Principal's Secretary

* Provide administrative support for the Principal, Deputy Principal, Business Manager and Teachers, as well as coordinating all general School administration
* Front Office position in an extremely busy work environment
* Act as the School's first point of contact
* Managing parent and student enquiries, scheduling appointments
* Organising meetings - venue, catering, travel and accommodation
* Preparation of agendas, taking of minutes and distribution
* Updating of school databases with comprehensive student information
* Drafting of letters for the Principal's signature
* Collating statistical reports
* Preparation of School newsletter
* Coordinating School editorials and photos for local newspapers
* Supervision of one trainee, provision of IT assistance to staff and delivery of workshops on upgrades to computer systems

For a resume going directly to an employer, use action words to “sell” yourself, keep it concise and sell what you do, rather than list duties:

Principal's Secretary

* Multi-skilled administrative professional, delivering high level support for Senior Level Management, Business Development and other staff
* Detail-orientated approach to meeting all procedural and audit requirements of School administration
* Proficient time management, delivering high level customer service to a wide variety of students, parents, suppliers, government departments
* Comprehensive diary, travel, accommodation scheduling and management
* Efficient meeting organisation, managing costs and requirements - venue, catering, travel and accommodation
* Detail-oriented focus on preparation of agendas, minute taking, correspondence and reports
* Management of complex relational databases of detailed student information
* Marketing and promoting the School and its successes through newsletters, editorials and photos for local media outlets
* Mentoring and training of one trainee, flexible delivery of assistance with IT, and delivery of workshops on upgrades to computer systems
* Project managed the upgrading of a computer lab through effective collaboration and negotiation with Principal, teachers, contractors and IT specialists

My suggestion is to provide agencies with both versions of your resume: the specific list of duties, and achievements, along with a more “selling yourself” type resume, which they can use to sell you to their client. Why not give yourself the best chance possible?

How much is a resume worth?

2009-09-14T14:48:00.002+10:00

Over the past few years of very low unemployment rates, people haven’t worried too much about their resume. Suddenly it’s vitally important to ensure you have the best application for the job to put you ahead of the crowd.

Hiring a specialist resume writer to have your resume and job applications professionally written could be your smartest investment in the current job climate.

People come to me with a variety of complaints about their job search results, here are three of the most common:

Not getting to the interview stage.
Do well in the interview, but are marked down on their application.
When they ring for feedback they are told they don’t have the skills/qualifications necessary, when they actually do.

All of these problems are caused by having a poor resume and application. Some solutions to these complaints include:

If you’re not getting to the interview stage, and you have the skills and qualifications necessary to do the role, your resume isn’t getting that information across to the reader. Your resume needs to be reviewed and refocused for each position you apply for to make it a standout match to that particular job.
Positive feedback from an interview means the interviewer likes you, likes what you had to say, they feel reasonably confident that you can do the job. When they have shortlisted 3 or 4 people in a close contest, to make a final decision they may revisit your application to sort out who is the best candidate. Particularly if part of your role includes writing reports and correspondence. If your application is not clear and concise, is set out poorly, has grammatical/spelling errors, this could lose you vital points in that final mark up.
I see many resumes that do not indicate clearly what the person actually does, or what their qualifications are. Many resumes have their vital information buried beneath pages of waffle, or are not laid out simply enough that the reader can quickly decipher what it is they do/what qualifications they have. I’ve read through whole resumes that did not indicate what that person actually did – were they a boilermaker, fitter, mechanic, dump truck operator? I had to guess what they did. Remember that the first person reading your resume may very likely be someone in the human resources department, not the person on the ground who you will be working for. Your resume has to speak to everyone at every level.

When you compare the initial cost of having your resume prepared with a year’s salary for the job you are applying for, it’s a small price to pay for putting you ahead of the crowd.

Beware the resume franchise

2009-07-31T16:03:00.005+10:00

Over the past 10 years or so, some entrepreneurs have systematised their resume templates and wording patterns, introduced forms and processes, and sold the package as a “resume franchise”. Individuals/companies purchase the “resume franchise” and set up business on their own, with some help from the franchisee. The aim is to pump out as many resumes as they can in the shortest time possible, drawing on a database of pat phrases for different job types.

Often these individuals fail over time and the money spent on the franchise is lost. What they don’t realise is that even though you may have hundreds of templates, phrases, and other pieces of the jigsaw to draw upon, you still need to have interviewing and writing skills to effectively represent the client, as an individual, on paper. A “franchise resume” does not make you stand out from the crowd, it is just a repeat of the same phrases that resume readers see every day. It doesn’t make them stop to read the information, it just makes their eyes glaze over.

Having seen many of these resumes over the years, they are highly identifiable, using set templates that have poor formatting and are filled with “waffle” which may or may not be applicable to the person they are representing. A resume that is personalised to the owner stands out from the pack with information that is idiosyncratic to the individual.

Most importantly, the way “franchise resumes” are put together doesn’t change as resume norms change, week by week, month by month. For example, some still tout a full page of “Transferable skills” (now very out of date) which will be skimmed briefly by an employer looking for something meaty to find out about the person. Employers now want to see actual examples of achievements or a brief profile of what the person can offer. This will make them interested in reading more and they will keep the resume aside to review it in depth at the next stage.

Here is an actual example to demonstrate this (identifying names have been changed).

A “franchise resume” page of waffle:

Transferable Skills

My extensive experience in the delivery of services to remote Indigenous communities has been characterised by:

Training and Development

- Extensive experience in the development and resourcing of programs and activities to rural and remote communities
- Capacity to consult with Indigenous communities to identity effective programs
- Experience in the assessment and review of all training activities
- Ability to encourage and support participation in training activities

Primary Health Care

- Proven ability to develop and deliver primary health care programs that meet community and Indigenous people needs
- Experience in working with communities in providing a response to identified need
- Capacity to understand and articulate the needs of Indigenous people to achieve outcomes
- Identified strength and working knowledge in primary health care issues and practice

Personal Qualities

- Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills according to proven protocols
- Willingness to undertake training and development as required
- Capacity to build networks and partnerships that facilitate better outcomes
- Proven initiative and self motivation to achieve results

Changed to a brief profile outlining achievements:

Profile

• My career has been based in public service Indigenous-focused roles, acting as a Liaison Officer, providing advice to management, and assisting Indigenous individuals with a wide range of health and wellbeing issues.

• Roles have included Social Security, Child Safety, and other Aboriginal organisations in Darwin, served 6 years on the Board of an Aboriginal Medical Centre, the Tjapukai Health Service, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

• Established partnerships with State and Federal government, and other non-government stakeholders, meeting regularly with welfare staff who delivered services to Indigenous people to provide them with an understanding of how changes affect Indigenous people, and how they could more easily pass on this information to them, or refer them to other services.

• In my current role of Trainer/Assessor I deliver training in Certificates III and IV in Indigenous Primary Health Care to Indigenous Health Workers, directly affecting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

…You get the idea. It’s much more engaging to read, it states actual examples of achievements and encapsulates what the person has to offer the organisation. It makes the individual stand out from the resume, and employers sit up and take notice.

So, what will help you into your dream job? A sausage factory resume, or one individually tailored to you?

Opportunistic resume writers

2009-07-23T15:55:00.001+10:00

Your resume has to capture the reader’s attention, represent you in your absence, and demonstrate your skills which will match the position – all in the first 15 seconds. In short: it has to get you in the door for an interview. Resumes are dynamic and changing all the time and while your resume is making a comfy nest in your filing cabinet for a few years, resumes and job application requirements in the real world are changing month to month, week to week.

With the current financial downturn people are feeling the pinch, and there are those who are offering resume services as a sideline to make ends meet. On the face of it there is no reason to suggest that these people can’t write a good basic resume. However, having reviewed some of their work there is evidence to suggest that because this isn’t their full time profession they’re not up to date with current resume trends and lack the spelling/grammatical/formatting skills needed to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

One local would-be resume writer has been advertising “selection criterias written”, obviously unaware of the error in their advertisement. How could you rely on this person to create an error-free application? Another advised a client that she could, “write up a selection criteria this afternoon for you, no problems. Cost: $25.” Luckily the client understood what was needed for a successful selection criteria and sought our help instead, but who else has been caught out because they didn’t understand what was required?

When selecting a resume service to prepare your application, think about what experience is needed, ask around for word of mouth referrals, contact employment agencies and ask to be referred to a resume writer. A cheap and cheerful resume may be light on the hip pocket in the first instance, but think about how much more you could earn by investing in a resume that will help you move into a better paid position.

Create your future

2009-07-17T06:36:00.002+10:00

Investing in a professionally written resume and job application is the smart way to put yourself ahead of the crowd and make your dreams a reality. Cut through the competition and make yourself shine by having your resume and application prepared by an expert: this could be your first step to creating your future.

Recently I reviewed a number of applications received for an advertised position on behalf of a client. Out of twelve applications received, only four were correctly completed as per the advertisement. Eleven contained spelling errors, nine contained grammatical errors, and all twelve had formatting errors. Out of twelve applications, only three went on to interview stage.

How does your current resume rate? Will it get to the next stage or be discarded in the first instance for any of the errors above? If you can find a successful "word of mouth" resume writer, you're well on your way to making your dreams become a reality.

How Do You Write a Resume That's Going to Work?

2009-03-13T09:53:00.001+10:00

As a professional resume writer I'm often asked, "What's the best way to write a resume?"

We've all seen the books, the courses, the businesses around who specialise in writing resumes, but what is the essence of a resume which is going to work? A resume that's going to get you in for an interview to that dream job?

A resume has to be a "match" with you, and a "match" with the position. It's purpose is to do something very special: it has to make you stand out as an individual, it has to "sell" a very important product you! And all this has to be accomplished in your absence. Making your resume give the reader an impression of you as an individual person, while at the same time making it match the position being applied for, is the very essence of a good resume. Is this easily accomplished? It's a balancing act between gaining a reader's attention, presenting you as a person who can give the company what is needed, a person who has the attitude and accomplishments necessary to fulfil the requirements of the position.

A very delicate balancing act. How do you sell yourself without sounding overblown? How do you choose what to focus on about your accomplishments? How do you keep a reader interested, who has just flicked over the first page of your resume and is looking for any reason to discard it in the first 15 seconds? This very first scan of your resume is the crucial first step to getting an interview, to getting the job. It's importance cannot be underestimated.

In an age where we constantly have a barrage of information coming at us from all sources: TV, newspapers, blogs, emails, radio, our family, friends, partners; reading a hundred resumes for one position offered is just not feasible. A quick scan is all it will get in the first instance a lot of the time, and the outcome is either the "round file" or the "let's look at these further" pile.
Make no mistake, resume readers are exhausted! They are tired of seeing the same old templates, they are tired of trying to make sense out of documents that haven't been formatted properly and now resemble a dog's breakfast, they are tired of reading documents that make little or no sense, are unfocused, and really can this person spell at all?

If you pull your resume out of the file every few years and dust it off, change the address and referees, add a new job or tasks, then send it off for a new position do you really expect to make the grade? Resumes are dynamic and changing all the time. While your resume is making a comfy nest in your filing cabinet for a few years, resumes in the real world are changing all the time. They go through fads like everything else: short, long, extensive, graphics/no graphics, photos/no photos, video, PowerPoint, email-able, keywords, so on and so forth.

The truth is, there is no "one size fits all" approach to resume writing. Every person needing a resume is an individual, going for a particular job, in a specific industry, specific location, at a particular time in their career path, with varying degrees of a current resume, with short and long term needs, presenting to an agency/direct to employer... you get the picture. There are so many variables to weigh up in producing your resume that if like most people you reluctantly give your resume an airing every 5 years or so whether it needs it or not, the chances of you being aware of what's happening in the marketplace, your industry, technological changes, current resume norms etc. will at best be average.

Hiring a professional resume writer can be one of the smartest things you can do for your career, your self esteem, your self-development, even your sanity! We hire cleaners, car mechanics, dentists, doctors, optometrists, therapists, beauticians you name it, there is someone out there who can do anything you either can't do yourself, don't have the time, or the skills, or inclination to do yourself. Resumes and job applications are no different.

The best way to write a resume that's going to work, is to hire a specialist in resume writing, who has current, local, industry, career development knowledge and experience, and most importantly, has "runs on the board". If you can find a successful "word of mouth" resume writer, you're well on your way to making your dreams become a reality.

Financial downturn creates a nervous workforce

2009-03-08T08:46:00.001+10:00

Nervous Cairns Employees

Right now, employees are nervous. And they've every right to be - many large companies are jettisoning employees to try and cushion themselves from the financial meltdown 2009 will bring.

For many employees, redundancy will come as a shock and feelings of fear and uncertainty are prevalent, and are often followed by anger, depression, despondency and so on.

Things to remember during this time are that there are still skills shortages which means employers are still looking for people to fill skilled positions and also that there are training and funding opportunities around to fill these gaps.

It's important to get organised immediately, rather than sit around feeling sorry for yourself. The decisions we make about how we react to intense situations such as this can be the deciding factor in how successful we are. After all, do we really have time to waste sitting around thinking "why me". Will that help?

Use this time as an opportunity to think about where you career is, what you need to do to move forward, use any resources the company provides to help you get re-employed.

Often Outplacement Services will be offered as part of a redundancy package. Use these to your best advantage to get up to date information, reassess your career, your skills and your training needs, get your resume up to date and looking professional, get job applications and selection criteria professionally written. Most importantly, get out to any networking event you can find and tell people you are looking for work as most of the jobs available never reach the classified or internet ads.

If you keep positive, use all the resources available to you, resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself, and keep looking forward, this may turn out to be a very positive time in the long run.