Minnesota Headhunter

3 Ways To Avoid A Resume Template And Make Your Resume Unique

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Have you ever been guilty of copying a resume template to make writing and submission flow a bit more smoothly?  Don't feel bad if you have.  But do keep in mind that by taking this route you run the risk of appearing inauthentic to hiring managers who are looking for unique candidates.  It's easier than you think to write your own resume, so let's try to step away from the template and instead create an original one using the following tips:

Think About What's Important in Your Resume

The people who take time to create templates are doing the public a service by guiding them through the often tedious process of writing a resume.  This is undoubtedly a kind and selfless thing to do.  But the problem with using templates is that not only do many of the same people use one template, but the information in templates is usually deemed important to the writer and may not be relevant to your career.

Paul DeBettignies On TV Talking About Salary Increases, Klout And Vacations

A couple of times in the past month (and once in August) I have made a local TV appearance and while I was posting links on twitter and Facebook I just realized did not post them here…
 

--> Last week (Jan 25, ‘12) I was on FOX 9 News with Recruiter: Research to Negotiate Salary talking about how company executives are more willing to give salary increases this year:

 

Recruiter: Research to Negotiate Salary: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

Job Search Advice: The Hitchhikers Guide to Job Search

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.” - Peter F. Drucker

Books, movies, TV shows and a computer game, the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" has many forms.

Not to disappoint, but my guide is not so bold or interesting. Unless, of course, you are looking for a job and don't have a clue (meant in only the nicest way).

Even for those who have looked for jobs in the recent past, job search can seem daunting at best and lifestyle threatening at worst. Overwhelming as it may seem, your approach will be most influenced by the driver (do you have a job and are looking to make a change or are you already unemployed).

Using Marketing Skills To Create An Amazing Six-Figure Resume

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

At the six-figure level, you’ve probably used some level of marketing to sell aspects of your business to clients—or even sell a prospective employee on why they should join a company.  But have you thought about using these same marketing techniques to sell yourself as an executive candidate?  If you haven’t, now’s the time to consider some tips on ways to get this done.

Create an Amazing Who-What-Why Job Target

As you likely know, the first piece of information that any hiring manager will see when reading your resume is the headline/job target.  This is your chance to create an amazing one-sentence summary that will entice the reader to learn more about you.

Your target should not only address who you are (e.g., top accounting executive), but also what makes you highly qualified (e.g., you’ve won awards, have 20 years of experience, etc.).  Finally, this target should address why the manager should hire you for the job (e.g., you are targeting an accounting executive position).

Why A LinkedIn Profile Is Crucial For C-Level Executives

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

LinkedIn has become the go-to site for individuals who want to display all aspects of their professional life in one place.  By setting up a profile you can showcase your resume, display your professional websites and blogs, garner recommendations, catch up with former associates, and acquire new networking contacts.

There’s currently no better online “catch all” for professionals hoping to gain exposure with recruiters and hiring managers.  This is why, as a C-level executive, it’s a good idea that you jump on the bandwagon with everyone else.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site, connecting millions of individuals throughout the professional world.  Founded in 2002 and officially launched in May 2003, the site reports having more than 135 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories as of September 2011.

Three Common Deadly Mistakes Made In Job Interviews

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

No two interviews are alike so it is difficult to be prepared for the unexpected. You can however focus on your presentation skills that can be more important than what you say.

1. Poor non-verbal communication image

•    Stand straight, and make good eye contact.
•    Connect with a good, firm, enthusiastic handshake.
•    Sit erect, learning forward to appear interested and attentive.

2. Poor verbal communication skills

•    Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what they said.
•    Observe your interviewer’s style and pace, and then match that style.
•    Use appropriate language. Beware of using slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics, or sexual preferences.

I Can't Get No Job Satisfaction

"It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity." - Frederick Phillips

Not feeling appreciated at work?

Feeling underpaid or under valued?

Why spend time focused on getting a new job before you've spend time improving the job you've got? The vast majority of us have had the "I wish I could quit my job right now" feeling. And, many of us get so frustrated (for a variety of reasons) that we start our job hunt with a single purpose in mind - "get me out of here".

But what about all of the positive things about your job and company?

Giving Notice OR Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

“It’s not you, it’s me”

I have had a lot of friends change jobs the past months and fortunately for them it was by choice and not because of a layoff.

While all of them were excited about their new opportunities almost all of them were emotionally upset over the act of giving their notice:

Most of them liked their jobs.

Most of them liked their teams.

Most of them liked their managers.

Most of them like their companies.

But sometimes it is best to move on. Sometimes the best path is to start a new one. Sometimes change is needed.

All of them have for years heard me talk about how the job search is a lot like dating.

The Grass Is Always Browner On This Side Of The Road - Is It Time To Find A New Job?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

"The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you still have to mow it." – Unknown Source

When I was 9 or 10 years old, I was riding in the car with my father (a rather modest car to say the least). I remember looking out the window and seeing an amazing sports car and saying "I wish I was that man with his fancy car" and my father said "If you want to be that man, you would have to take all of that man's problems as well as his fancy car".

How often do we think that the grass is greener on the other side of the street, that someone else's job is better than ours? Too often I would say. And, like my little story, we often do this without knowing all of the facts (like maybe the grass is greener because its AstroTurf).

Buzzwords That Should Not Be On LinkedIn Profiles Should Not Be In Job Descriptions

Today’s “link of the day” in the Recruiter and HR world (and on some major web sites) is this one from LinkedIn, Buzzwords 2011: Who’s been ‘creative’ and ‘effective’ this year?

The list is the “Top 10 overused buzzwords in LinkedIn Profiles in the United States”:

• Creative

• Organizational

• Effective

• Extensive Experience

• Track Record

Scarred for Life - 5 Ways to Ruin Your Job Search

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

"When you’re up to your armpits in alligators, it’s hard to remember to drain the swamp." - Ronald Reagan

There is nothing more uncomfortable than having an interview implode (whatever side of the table you are on).

Most of these experiences for me have been as the interviewer, but I would be lying if I said I never had a rough interview on the interviewee side of the table.

Sometimes it is a personality thing (and it's better to find out during the interview). Sometimes you didn't do your homework on the company or the job (basically, your fault).

But there are many other ways you can ruin your job search.

Selling Yourself Short - 5 Ways to Promote Your Job Search

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

"We must become the change we want to see." - Mahatma Gandhi

Team leader or "individual contributor"? Manager or supporter?

Successful organizations are filled with all personality types. The best leaders in the world would be very unsuccessful if they had no followers.

When you are looking for a job, it is no time to be modest. You need to be your biggest cheerleader and sell yourself to whomever will listen. And, while you need to take credit for all of your achievements, you also need to be careful not to exaggerate your achievements to the "unbelievable" level.

Being a great leader is no better than being a great supporter. This is all well and good, but it is a delicate balance. The selling process starts with getting your name "out there", it is supported by your cover letter followed by your resume and finally the interview process as the "clincher".

Job Search Advice: 5 Major Social Networking Job Search Mistakes To Avoid In 2012

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

If you’re engaged in a job search right now, take some time during the holiday season to revamp your job search strategy and make sure you aren’t committing any of these job search stalling mistakes.

SOCIAL NETWORKING MISTAKES

LinkedIn Mistake #1: Never request to be endorsed by someone you have never professionally or personally worked with, for, or with whom you have conducted business.  It is incredibly unprofessional.  How can someone recommend you and the work you’ve done if they’ve never actually worked with you in some way, shape, or form?

LinkedIn Mistake #2: Posting an unprofessional photo of yourself.  LinkedIn is a professional networking site, so it should be kept professional.  Post a headshot of yourself in a business or business casual outfit.  Don’t upload an image of yourself partying, drinking, or with other people.  Employers will look you up—and you do not want to do anything to eliminate yourself from a potential opportunity.

Job Search Means Always Saying Thank You - 5 Tips for Thank You Letters

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

After sorting through countless resumes and interviewing candidates, it sometimes comes down to the Thank You letter as the deciding factor for some hiring managers.

Now you may be thinking why should I send a Thank You letter and how can this possibly decide the outcome of who gets the job, but Thank You letters really have little to do saying thank you (confused yet?).

Does Your LinkedIn Profile Serve As A Good Resume Supplement?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

 
A job search can easily move at a fast pace; so fast, in fact, that we don’t consider the importance of the steps we take in the process.  This can be true of searching for jobs, writing resumes and cover letters, and even choosing the companies to which we submit.

LinkedIn has quickly become an amazing tool, aiding job seekers in finding employment thanks to its networking facilities.  But it can serve as a great way to supplement your resume.  Do you use your profile to meet this goal?

Expand on Your Qualifications

Your resume provides a snapshot of your qualifications.  It offers a bit of insight into who you are as a candidate, what skills you’ve acquired from or provided to other companies in the past, and how likely you are to succeed in the role you want.  Typically, your cover letter and interview provide additional insight into these qualifications, but your LinkedIn profile can also be used to fill in the gaps.

Resume Advice: Both Soft And Hard Skills Are Important In IT Resumes

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

As an information technology (IT) professional, you are probably accustomed to speaking, thinking, and breathing technology.  So now that it’s time for you to apply for new positions, you are likely ready to utilize all of those great technical terms that make your industry flow so smoothly.

But as a candidate writing resumes for individuals who may not exactly be entrenched in your world, you may have to make a few tweaks to have your resume read and understood by others.  Additionally, it’s important to soften your resume a bit to show employers you come equipped with both hard and soft skills and are well rounded.

What are Soft and Hard Skills?

When applying for jobs, it’s good to know the distinction between soft and hard skills, especially as you begin to list experience in your resume.  Even for the most technical positions, employers want to know that candidates come with both soft and hard skills.  So what are they exactly?

Job Search Advice: How Twitter Hashtags Can Help You Find a Position

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

Everyone probably remembers the first time they heard about Twitter and about how young people were throwing around their one-liners about sitting on the porch, walking to the mailbox, walking back to the porch, sitting down …well, you get the picture.  But since that time, Twitter has evolved into an amazing resource for companies seeking customers—and even job seekers looking for work.

One reason that seekers have had success landing jobs through Twitter is because of the use of hashtags, which function as mini search tools.  They help others find you and your comments based on your use of the number sign (#) followed by specific words (e.g., #lookingforwork).  Let’s take a closer look at how they could help you find a position.

Hashtags Help You to Network Successfully

Hashtags have worked wonders for job seekers attempting to reach out to networks of people in hopes of acquiring help in finding work.  This is because networking has become its own beast on Twitter, and hashtags have functioned as its catalyst.

Blogging Does Not Make You An Expert

Lately I find that I disagree with more of what I read from the job search, career, HR and recruiting community than I agree with.

Maybe it’s because being on the other side of 40 I am starting to embrace the life of a curmudgeon. I hope that’s not the case. Hopefully it’s because I have been around long enough to have a finely tuned BS meter.

And so it happens again today that I read something and my BS meter breaks. Not just goes off but breaks...

On Twitter I saw a link to The Secret to a Successful Career Transition: Blogging, clicked and was taken to Brazen Careerist.

Third paragraph in I read:

Looking back more than eight years later, I wish someone would have told me that I didn’t need to wait for a job or title or promotion to become an expert.

WHAT?!?!?!?!

They didn’t tell you because it is not true!!!

I agree with the ideas in the article that writing a blog can help with recognition.

Executive Job Search Not Panning Out? Consider 3 Tips To Smooth Out The Process

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:

Conducting an executive job search is challenging work.  There are often so many documents to submit, so many interviews to take part in, and so many associates to keep track of for networking purposes that getting the job done can be more than a notion.

If you have been looking for work but realize that it’s just not getting you the callbacks you desire, it may be time to consider a few tips that might help you conduct a successful search:

Consider Applying for More Jobs

There’s no doubt that an executive job search requires that you dedicate a significant amount of time to looking through postings, checking for recommendations from your networking circle, and initiating contact with recruiters.  With all of the searching, you don’t want to forget that it’s more important to submit applications in order to move the process along.  Don’t fret; there will still be time to keep on searching after you’ve submitted a handful.

Does Your Resume Make Promises You Can’t Deliver?

The following post is courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap:
 

When you’re in high hopes of finding employment, it can be a bit tempting to make promises in your resume that you hope you won’t have to prove you can deliver.  While it’s important that you look impressive on your resume, you certainly don’t want to get into the habit of telling white lies to get employed.

Doing this could truly backfire if you are actually hired for a position, especially once it’s revealed that you can’t deliver the results you’ve promised.  So if you want to impress without exaggerating the truth in your resume, here are some options to consider:

Make Promises You Can Keep Right Now

A great way to avoid making a promise you won’t be able to keep if hired is to simply tell the truth about your capabilities in the present.  For instance, if you have opened Microsoft Publisher only five times, then you don’t want to present yourself as a skilled user.