Stand-Out Resumes

5 tips for resumes that really pop

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

Employers receive hundreds--and even thousands--of resumes for many job openings. After a while, they all start to blur together. Only a handful will stand out from the crowd and score interviews.

"Your resume is essentially a 15- to 20-second commercial about you," says Jonathan Mazzocchi, a manager at the staffing firm Winter, Wyman. Keep the screeners' interest, and they call you to talk. Lose it, and they switch to another channel.

How do you keep hiring managers riveted? Forget cookie-cutter resumes with generic objectives and long, boring lists of job duties. Instead, use these insider tips to craft a resume that will get noticed--and get potential employers interested in you.

Use testimonials
A well-placed testimonial can attract positive attention right away. Corporate sales trainer Andrea Sittig-Rolf suggests placing a quote from a previous employer at the very top of your resume, above your contact information, so it's the first thing someone sees when glancing at your resume. "Knowing that previous employers have good things to say about your work is a great hook that will help you stand out," she says.

Sum up your winning strengths
Instead of launching right into your experience, add a short summary section before your work history. In a few sentences, write about your experience, talents, and strengths as they relate to the job you're seeking, advises Robin Ryan, the author of "Winning Resumes." Career expert Caroline Ceniza-Levine concurs. "You need it right at the beginning because many won't read that third bullet on job number two," she says.

Show your numbers
Quantify your accomplishments wherever possible. "Use hard-core performance metrics, including percentages and revenue numbers," advises Susan Barens, of Career Dynamics. When you're selling yourself to a business, "Boosted consecutive annual sales 48%" is a lot more compelling than "Came up with new structure for sales team." Numbers can be included for all types of jobs, not just sales. For example, compare "Served food and drink to customers" with "Ensured customer satisfaction for 100+ customers a day in fine-dining restaurant."

Numbers serve another purpose, says Mazzocchi: "When hiring managers are scanning your resume, their eyes will be drawn to numbers, dollar signs, and percentage symbols," he says. Don't spell out numbers or the word "percent," he advises, or the effect won't be the same.

Don't be a bore
Make sure your job descriptions are interesting and achievement-oriented. "A boring resume will lead employers to assume it was written by someone who's bored by his job--probably not someone they want to hire," says Susan Ireland, the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume." Ban the words "responsible for" from your resume, and replace them with accomplishments. "When employers see a thread of success on your resume, they'll start picturing the success you'll bring to their organization," she says.

Follow instructions
It's simple advice, but it's astounding how many applicants don't do it, say hiring experts. If you fail to follow a job posting's directions, you may be screened out immediately, no matter how qualified you are. Norma Armon, creative director of advertising and communications agency International Contact, estimates that her firm immediately weeds out 60 percent of the resumes it receives because applicants don't follow instructions. Says Mazzocchi, "Most managers ... will try to find red flags to rule people out before they rule anyone in."

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Down with the Four-Year Degree!

by Gina Pogol, FindtheRightSchool.com

The four-year college experience may be fun and rewarding, but it's not the only path to a satisfying career. For people who want to cut to the chase or just avoid racking up four-plus years of college debt, some economists and other analysts say a two-year or certificate program can be a more cost-effective approach. Alternative career training--like technical school or two-year degrees--has been embraced in Europe for decades.

Charles Murray of the Cato Institute goes further. In his essay "Down with the Four-Year Degree!" he states, "Four years makes sense for students who are trying to get a liberal education and therefore need to take a few dozen courses in philosophy, religion, classical and modern literature, the fine arts, classical and modern history (including the history of science), plus acquire fluency in a foreign language and take basic survey courses in the social sciences.... For everyone else, four years is ridiculous."

An outrageous statement to be sure, but the reasoning behind this assertion is that once you take out the general education--those classes which do nothing specific to train you for your chosen career--you eliminate at least two years' worth of coursework. This makes a two-year degree a more cost-effective option for some people.

Fast-track your career training--which courses pay off?
Once you decide that you're interested in launching your career with a minimum of student-debt baggage, you need to find something that interests you and pays well. No this isn't one of those "play video games all day and earn six figures" articles, but there are good industries with low barriers to entry and solid prospects. Health care fields offer a variety of occupations that require less than four years of education and don't involve bed pans. For people who like to work hard and who have thick skins, sales opportunities are wide open--the more tricky and techie, the better the pay. And for people who want a job that's fun to talk about at cocktail parties, there are careers in funeral directing, air-traffic control, and casino gaming management.

Nuclear-medicine technologists
Nuclear-medicine technologists administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients and operate cameras that detect and map the radioactive drugs in a patient's body to create diagnostic images. Training ranges from one to four years and takes the form of certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree training in radiologic technology or a related field and can be earned online or on a campus. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the median annual salary for nuclear-medicine technologists was $66,660 in 2008.

Sales
Many sales representatives take courses in marketing, economics, communications, or even a foreign language to provide the extra edge needed to make sales. Others, like real estate agents, take courses to prepare for licensing exams. This can be done online or at a traditional institution. Certifications are available that provide formal recognition of the skills of sales representatives. Certification typically involves completing formal training and passing an examination. Sales earnings vary widely, from insurance to advertising to real estate to scientific. The median annual salary, with commissions, for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives was $70,200 in 2008

Casino gaming management
Gaming managers oversee the operations and personnel in casinos. They circulate among the tables and observe the operations to ensure that all of the stations and games are covered for each shift and that workers and gamblers adhere to the rules of the games. Many schools offer training or classes and certificates in gaming, as well as offering associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees in hospitality. Some offer training in games, repair-technician work, slot-department management, and casino surveillance and security. The median annual salary for gaming supervisors in 2008 was $45,500, and for managers it was $68,290.

Funeral director
Funeral directors, also called morticians or undertakers, arrange funerals in accordance with the wishes of the deceased and family. In addition to tact and compassion, you'll need two to four years of training approved by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. Most programs are two-year associate's degree programs. Mortuary-science programs include courses in anatomy, pathology, physiology, embalming techniques, restorative art, business management, and accounting. The median annual salary for funeral directors was $52,210 in 2008.

Air-traffic controller
Air-traffic controllers coordinate the movement of planes to keep them at safe distances (there's no such thing as a mid-air fender bender). They also direct planes to maximize airport efficiency and minimize delays. Training requirements include three years of progressively responsible full-time work experience, a full four years of college, or a combination of both. Alternatively, an applicant can complete an aviation-related program of study through the FAA's Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. There are two-year or four-year non-engineering degrees that teach aviation and air-traffic control. These folks make pretty big bucks--a median salary of $111,870 in 2008.

These are just a few of careers that allow you to get your education fast and hit the ground running. And you could be making a great living and on your way up the ladder while your four-year college buddies are still flipping burgers, taking 300-level exams, and wondering how they're going to manage their student loans when they graduate with that bachelor's degree in parapsychology.

Gina Pogol has a great freelance career as a writer. In addition to a decade in mortgage lending, she has worked as a business credit systems consultant for Experian and as an accountant for Deloitte. She graduated with high distinction from the University of Nevada with a BS in financial management.

Source: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Embarrassing Moments at Work: How to Recover

by Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Years later, I still remember that sinking feeling, just after I'd hit the Send button after writing an email complaining about an editor.

My worst virtual fear was quickly confirmed: Yes, I had sent my bit of snark to the editor instead of my friend--and no, the editor wasn't amused.

Although he initially refused to work with me again, he eventually accepted my apology, and we developed a strong working relationship.

Know when to apologize
Taking responsibility is the way to go when you've committed such a faux pas, according to Alexandra Levit, the author of "New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career."

"You must make it right by acknowledging the email," Levit says. "Apologize in person and say that you acted in anger. If it's part of an ongoing issue, ask what you can do to improve the relationship between the two of you."

But knowing when to respond to a workplace embarrassment--and when to move on--is key to handling these awkward moments.

Know when to ignore the incident
Whether the problem is a snarky email, a wardrobe malfunction, or an office romance gone wrong, some things really are better off left unsaid.

"If there's nothing you can do to make it better, by and large it's better to ignore it," says Barbara Pachter, a coauthor of "New Rules @ Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead." "When you bring it up, you're drawing attention to it."

When John, 45, then a junior employee at a publishing company in New York, accidentally hit "reply all," with his sarcastic comments about a director being a cheapskate, he first tried to recall it. That didn't work, so he (wisely) did nothing.

"I never did get called to the director's office, and I never did hear about the e-mail," he says. "I spent the next six months avoiding the guy, but I didn't get fired."

This do-nothing strategy holds true for situations triggered by social media, such as when an unflattering photo of you surfaces on another's feed.

"I wouldn't address these personal details unless directly asked by a colleague, and most people won't ask if it's a sensitive matter," Levit says.

What about office romance?
Discretion also works if you date a coworker, but sometimes it's impossible to keep such interactions private.

For example, Gigi's coworkers at a Seattle ad agency knew all about her relationship with a fellow employee because it was a very social office. After their breakup, they continued to hang out with the group.

"As long as you're not working for that person, and it's not interfering with work, it's nobody's business," Pachter says.

Prepare for wardrobe malfunctions
Perhaps nothing can be as mortifying as getting a stain on your shirt just before a big meeting, or realizing your zipper was down when you bumped into the big boss in the hallway.

Krystn, a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, still remembers the start of her first job for the wrong reason. The fabric on her "professional" blouse didn't breathe and she was nervous -- a bad combination when being introduced to colleagues.

"I had huge sweat stains, and was trying to shake people's hands without moving my arms--and they could see," she recalls.

To avoid these types of scenarios, keep a spare jacket, stain remover, and sewing kit on hand if you can.

Otherwise, you have the choice of acting like the problem's not there--or acknowledging the elephant on your shirt by making a joke.

"If you can have a good line, it will usually break the ice and then people can ignore it," Pachter says.

One the flip side, if you notice a colleague has one too many buttons undone or an unzipped fly, say something.

"You have to be upfront and discreetly say the fly is undone," Pachter says. "If you can save someone embarrassment, please do."

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Dijauhi Rekan-Rekan Kerja

Meskipun rasanya ingin meledak, namun alangkah bijaksananya bila Anda tidak

melakukan hal tersebut. Sebelum emosi lepas kendali, ingat bahwa hal tersebut akan

mempengaruhi citra Anda di mata rekan kerja. Jangan-jangan mereka berpendapat,

“Ah, Si A (Anda) sih orangnya gampang marah, dimintai tolong sedikit aja gak mau.”

Kenyataan membuktikan bahwa terkadang kita harus ”menuntun” seseorang

bagaimana supaya mereka memperlakukan kita seperti yang kita inginkan. Salah

satunya adalah dengan sesekali membiarkannya ’memanfaatkan’ Anda. Dengan

menyimak tips berikut, hindari bentrokan yang berbuntut persaingan tidak sehat

dengan rekan kerja Anda.

1. Jaga emosi

Daripada memberitahu seeseorang dengan kalimat “Saya kan tidak bisa melakukan

semuanya!” utarakan apa yang bisa Anda lakukan. Dengan begitu Anda bisa

memberikan pengertian pada rekan kerja, dan membuatnya paham akan kesulitan.

2. Gunakan kata “Saya’

Satu kata yang hampir pasti membuat seseorang menjadi defensif dan membela diri

dari tuduhan adalah”kamu”. Komunikasi dua pihak langsung berhenti karena lawan

bicara malah sibuk merencanakan strategi pembelaan diri dibandingkan mendengar

penjelasan. Jadi untuk menghindarinya, tidak ada salahnya mulai berkata, “Sebenarnya

saya ingin membantu, namun pekerjaan saya hari ini benar-benar sangat banyak.

Bagaimana kalau rekan lain saja, kebetulan si A sangat ahli mengerjakan pekerjaan

tersebut.”

3. Hindari sindiran dan sarkasme

Menyindir seseorang dengan komentar-komentar yang kasar atau bersifat sarkastik

cuma akan membuat kita merasa puas sesaat. Namun berikutnya, efek jangka panjang

yaitu membuat situasi menjadi tambah buruk harus Anda terima yang pasti akan

sangat menyusahkan. Sebisa mungkin hindari deh hal yang satu ini.

4. Jangan potong pembicaraan orang lain

Memotong pembicaraan orang lain bukan hanya merupakan kebiasaan yang tidak

sopan dan sangat mengganggu, namun hal tersebut juga bisa memberikan efek

berlawanan dari apa yang ingin kita dapatkan dari seseorang. Saat memotong

pembicaraan, kita mungkin berpikir untuk tujuan baik yaitu mempersingkat

pembicaraan sekaligus (mungkin) menjelaskan. Namun kenyataannya, malah bisa jadi

orang yang disela tersebut jadi sebal terhadap tingkah Anda.

5. Ajukan pertanyaan sebagai klarifikasi, bukan untuk menuduh

Jangan memulai pertanyaan dengan kata “Kenapa?” karena itu hanya akan membuat

seseorang merasa dihakimi dan kemudian mereka akan melakukan aksi defensif.

Gunakan kata seperti “Siapa,” “Apa,” “Kapan,” “Di mana” atau “Bagaimana” untuk

membuka kalimat pertanyaan yang ingin Anda ajukan.

Rasanya bila Anda mampu menampilkan sisi diri yang asertif, bicara berdasarkan fakta serta

sopan, rekan-rekan kerja akan hormat dan segan. Selain itu ada keuntungan ektra : kalau Anda

bisa diandalkan dan mempunyai hubungan baik dengan semua orang, siapa tahu ada

kesempatan peningkatan karir tanpa diduga-duga. Selamat berkarya!

hendra

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Three Tips for Becoming an Energizer

Some people become leaders no matter what their chosen path because their positive energy is so uplifting. Even in tough times, they always find a way. They seem to live life on their own terms even when having to comply with someone else's requirements. When they walk into a room, they make it come alive. When they send a message, it feels good to receive it. Their energy makes them magnets attracting other people.

Just plain energy is a neglected dimension of leadership. It is a form of power available to anyone in any circumstances. While inspiration is a long-term proposition, energy is necessary on a daily basis, just to keep going.

Three things characterize the people who are energizers.

1. A relentless focus on the bright side. Energizers find the positive and run with it. A state government official in a state that doesn't like government overcomes that handicap through her strong positive presence. She dispenses compliments along with support for the community served by her agency, making it seem that she works for them rather than for the government. She greets everyone with the joy generally reserved for a close relative returning from war. I can see skeptics' eyebrows starting to rise, but judging from her success, people love meeting with her or getting her exclamation-filled emails. She is invited to everything.

The payoffs from stressing the bright side can be considerable. In my new book, SuperCorp, I tell the story about how Maurice Levy, CEO of the global marketing company Publicis Groupe, tilted the balance in his company's favor when his firm was one of several suitors for Internet pioneer Digitas. At one point in a long courtship, Digitas hit problems, and the stock collapsed. One of Publicis's major competitors sent Digitas's head an email saying, "Now you are at a price which is affordable, so we should start speaking." Levy sent an email the same day saying, "It's so unfair that you are hurt this way because the parameters remain very good." Levy's positive energy won the prized acquisition.

2. Redefining negatives as positives. Energizers are can-do people. They do not like to stay in negative territory, even when there are things that are genuinely depressing. For example, it might seem a stretch for anyone to call unemployment as "a good time for reflection and redirection while between jobs," but some energizers genuinely stress the minor positive notes in a gloomy symphony. A marketing manager laid off by a company hit hard by the recession saw potential in people he met at a career counseling center and convinced them that they could start a service business together. He became the energizing force for shifting their definition of the situation from negative to an opportunity.

"Positive thinking" and "counting blessings" can sound like naïve cliches. But energizers are not fools. They can be shrewd analysts who know their flaws and listen carefully to critics so that they can keep improving. Studies show that optimists are more likely to listen to negative information than pessimists, because they think they can do something about it. To keep moving through storms, energizers cultivate thick skins that shed negativity like a waterproof raincoat sheds drops of water. They are sometimes discouraged, but never victims.

An entrepreneur who has built numerous businesses and incubated others had a strong personal mission to raise national standards in his industry. He began that quest by meeting individually with the heads of major industry organizations, all of whom told him that he would fail. He nodded politely, asked for a small commitment to one action anyway, just as a test, he said, and went on to the next meeting. Eight or nine meetings later, he was well along on a path everyone had tried to discourage him from taking.

3. Fast response time. Energizers don't dawdle. Energizers don't tell you all the reasons something can't be done. They just get to it. They might take time to deliberate, but they keep the action moving. They are very responsive to emails or phone calls, even if the fast response is that they can't respond yet. This helps them get more done. Because they are so responsive, others go to them for information or connections. In the process, energizers get more information and a bigger personal network, which are the assets necessary for success.

The nice thing about this form of energy is that it is potentially abundant, renewable, and free. The only requirements for energizers are that they stay active, positive, responsive, and on mission. Are you an energizer? Any tips you'd like to share?

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What Recruiters Really Know About You

by Mike O’Brien, Climber.com

In today's highly connected job market, it's not just what you know that matters--it's also what recruiters know about you. Here are some key concerns for recruiters, and what you can do about them:

1. How you're conducting your search
In many cases, the best candidate for a recruiter is a "passive" job seeker, one who doesn't need a new position right away and is usually still employed. But even if you're actively seeking a new position, it pays to be highly targeted. Some companies are even asking recruiters to forgo their recruiting fee if the company can find a proffered candidate independently by searching multiple Internet job boards--even if the company would never have heard of the candidate without the recruiter's recommendation! So while job boards can be an excellent resource for you if you manage your job search yourself, if you decide to work with a recruiter, be sure to ask how you should best present yourself online.

Next steps: Target, target, target. Choose your job-search tools carefully, and consider utilizing the services of career-management sites who present your job skills and interests within the context of your overall career portfolio, and therefore position you effectively for recruiters.

2. Your online profile
Without question, recruiters know the importance of reviewing a prospective candidate's Internet profile--whether by querying a search engine; checking out LinkedIn or Facebook accounts; or reading candidates' personal websites, Twitter accounts, or blogs. If you have any objectionable or inappropriate content available online, consider removing it immediately. It may still show up in searches as cached content; however, by showing that you've taken steps to reduce access to this content, you'll increase your chances of being seriously considered for a position.

Next steps: Make sure your online profile is as professional as you are. If there's content out there that you can control, manage it as if it were vital to your personal brand--which it is. If there's negative content that you can address professionally and courteously, in the forums where it is raised, do that as well.

3. Your searchability factor
As damaging as negative online content can be to your job search, the Internet works both ways. If there's nothing available online about you--no social networking sites, articles that mention you, papers in your name, or listings of your activities--that communicates a different message to employers: that you're not connected. This may or may not be a concern, but if your ideal position is in marketing, sales, or public relations--or in advanced technical or strategic work--it's good to findable online.

Next steps: Create your online presence--stat. A carefully established online brand can help create and reinforce your potential future employers' positive opinion of you.

Extra Tip: By taking the time to develop a professional, positive online profile at a respected career-management site, you demonstrate how much you value your professional image--and your long-term career aspirations.

Mike O'Brien is an innovative entrepreneur dedicated to helping others create breakthrough success, and is the founder and CEO of Climber.com, one of the nation's leading online career-management sites. For more information about how to find your perfect career, visit Climber.com, or connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

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Can't Get a Raise? Negotiate Your Benefits

There are many ways your employer can make your job more pleasant, even when money is tight.

by Bobbi Dempsey, Investopedia.com

If you didn't get a raise this year--and don't see a chance of getting one anytime soon--you are not alone. These days, you may consider yourself lucky to still have a job. But just because your boss can't boost your paycheck doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. For employees who can't get a raise in their salary, a "benefits raise"--getting the employer to increase/enhance current benefits or add new ones--may be the next best thing. Here are a few tips on persuading your employer to consider a benefits raise.

Come up with a win-win scenario
"The best approach would be a benefit/incentive program that is going to produce more benefits for the employer than it costs," says Robert F. Fallis of Fallis & Associates, an organizational psychological consulting firm in Seattle, Washington.
Fallis suggests something along the lines of the Scanlon plan, in which employees come up with creative solutions to improve the ratio of sales vs. labor costs. Employees then get a pre-negotiated percentage of the resulting savings--unlike a standard profit-sharing arrangement where much of the profits are often diverted to other things before the employees ever get their share.

Look for any upside
An example could include any potential tax savings for your company resulting from an increase in your benefits. (In the wake of the worst recession in a generation, many employee benefits have landed on cutting block)

"If you are requesting additional funds contributed by your employer into your Health Savings Account, that contribution is deductible for tax purposes, up to annual IRS limits," says Joel J. Ohman, a certified financial planner from Tampa, Fla. "Talking up potential tax savings is a great selling point for many increased employee benefits."

Realize some things are off-limits
To a certain extent, your employer's hands may be tied when it comes to some benefits.

"Companies with fully insured benefits plans don't have the luxury to offer you a 'better' health/dental/vision plan than what they offer everyone else, and employers must be careful about what 'extras' they offer so as not to be discriminatory in their benefits offerings," says Roxann Kerr Lindsey, vice president of CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services of Kansas City, Kan.

If you get the sense there's no wiggle room in this area, it's best not to waste your time, and instead focus on other areas.

Be creative
If you do run into a dead end with the obvious benefits, think of other strategies. For example: "if you are a new employee and there is a waiting period for health benefits, maybe the employer could pay the COBRA premiums for your old plan until the waiting period expires," Lindsey suggests.

Focus on work-life benefits
This is an area where employers are often willing to consider giving some extras. Flex time, for example, may be an option.

"Perhaps you could work one extra hour each day Monday through Thursday and leave at noon on Fridays during the summer," Lindsey suggests. As long as you still get your work done, this doesn't cost your employer anything extra. Along the same lines, Lindsey suggests requesting "a paid leave of absence or a mini sabbatical to work in some sort of public service or charitable endeavor."

Think small
If your employer resists any increase in major benefits, think of small things that could still make your life better. Some of Lindsey's suggestions: reimbursement for parking fees, ability to retain the frequent flier miles earned for company travel, or a health club membership. Another idea: see if your employer will cover the cost of an out-of-town seminar or continuing education program. Not only do you get a little getaway, but "this is deductible for the employer, plus they benefit from your increased knowledge."

The bottom line
Your salary may be in a holding pattern, but by using your imagination and your best negotiation skills, you may still be able to get a few extra perks that will help make your life a little easier.

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