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January 29, 2006
Resume Writing Course
If you would like a copy of the resume writing course as a PDF booklet, just download it here:
Good luck!
Posted by Louise at 12:08 PM | Permalink
January 28, 2006
Well-meant, but Ill-advised
Today I received an email that truly surprised me. A potential client, almost ready to sign up for a new resume, had one question: At 55, was he too old for an executive position within a corporation?
He said he had been advised that no one would hire him for a senior role because of his age, and he should look to make a career change.
Huh?
Now I do not dispute that age discrimination exists. There are certainly people out there who will not consider this gentleman on the basis of his age. But he has an excellent background and a track record of real accomplishment. There are many companies looking for mature leadership and many people stay energetic and fit into their 60s. Why on earth would someone advise him to throw away all his knowledge and experience before he has even tested the waters?
Probably for the same reason some people insist that you must have a one-page resume, or advise you always to wear a suit to interviews even when you know the company culture is very casual. The people giving this advice are well-meaning, but they are projecting their beliefs and prejudices onto the world in general.
I wrote back and told my potential client that I thought the advice he had received was nonsense. If he really wants to make a career change, he should. But only if that's what he really wants to do. Not because some well-meaning person gave him terrible advice.
Posted by Louise at 02:20 PM | Permalink
January 27, 2006
Don't Take Reference Letters
Before I started my business, I worked as an HR executive and I interviewed hundreds, maybe thousands, of people. Like anyone who does a lot of interviewing, I came to spot certain warning signs about a candidate. One of them was this: people who come to interviews armed with a stack of reference letters are often trying to hide something. Many of these candidates think that if they can overwhelm you with lots of letters saying they are wonderful, you won't bother to call their last boss and find out the truth.
This came to mind because a resume client asked if he should take reference letters with him to interviews. This client has nothing to hide. He's just inexperienced at job search and keen to make a great impression. But if he hands experienced recruiters a sheaf of glowing letters, I have to believe that at least some of them will have the same reaction as me.
So don't supply references until you're asked for them, and then provide names, emails and phone numbers so that the recruiter can do his or her own research. If you believe that one of your employers will give you a bad review, avoid giving that name as a reference. If you can't avoid it, be upfront about the situation and make sure your other references are people who will say glowing things about you.
Going into an interview armed with reference letters is a little like talking about marriage on a first date. It makes you look way too keen and it sets off alarm bells.
Posted by Louise at 01:11 PM | Permalink
January 23, 2006
Blogging to Success
Just received this email from Lorne Groe of Confessions of a Corporate Dealmaker.
I recently tried a new tactic in my job search which I thought your readers might like to hear about - I created my own blog. Since I'm a senior executive with a lot of experience in a specific area, I have plenty of good content (read: learn from my mistakes) to share. Now when I apply for a job, I attach my resume, cover letter and I say please see my blog. Since using my blog, I've had a 100% call-back rate vs. about 10% pre-blog. It really makes me stand out from the pack and gives potential employers a good sampling of my expertise, as well as some of the softer aspects of my life that I wouldn't put in a resume.Excellent, excellent idea! We create web portfolios for executive level job seekers, but I actually think blogs are even more effective for the right candidate. The criteria for success, in my opinion, are (a) you have to be a decent writer (b) you have to have something to say in your area of expertise and (c) you have to be willing and able to update regularly. But if you can do all this, as Lorne has, then a blog is a fabulous way to distinguish yourself from everyone else.
Posted by Louise at 03:26 PM | Permalink
January 18, 2006
Resume Stigma?
I just finished a resume for a client who had a question I hadn't heard before. He wrote:
I love the resume you created, but it almost looks too good. Is there a stigma associated with having your resume professionally written?
Good question. And - as with most things in life - there's no definitive answer. There are probably HR professionals and recruiters who don't like the idea of professional resumes, perhaps feeling that your resume should reflect who you really are without any polishing up. But on balance, I'm guessing that there are many, many more recruiters who don't like bad resumes. And folks, most resumes are bad. They really are! I rarely see a resume that captures the essence of the person who created it, or that clearly communicates potential value-added.
Unless you can create a resume that makes a compelling case for an interview, you really shouldn't worry about whether a professionally written resume will look too good. After all, wouldn't that be a nice problem to have?
Posted by Louise at 01:32 PM | Permalink
January 07, 2006
The Fake Resume
This might be one of the dumbest (and most damaging) things I've seen in the world of resume writing. Recruiter Illuminati dug up the fake resume guide.
Hopefully most job seekers will be smart enough not to take resume advice from a guy who thinks 'fool proof' is spelled 'full proof.'
Posted by Louise at 10:43 AM | Permalink
January 02, 2006
The January Rush
January is always a busy time for professional resume writers. As people return to work after the holiday and prepare to start a brand new year, many decide that now is the time to make a change.
If you're in this situation, I congratulate you on making the decision to change your situation - no one should stay in a job that makes them unhappy - but I ask you to do more than simply look for another job. Because if you don't take the time to plan and prepare for your job search, you could move to another company only to find yourself in the same situation next January.
So, if you're unhappy at work, ask yourself why. Is it the work? Is it your boss? Is it the company? Is it the industry? And when you have identified the cause(s) of your unhappiness, dig deeper. What is it about the company's management that is driving you crazy? And how can you assess potential employers in light of this knowledge?
One recent client was leaving her job as an executive assistant because she was tired of trying to work around problems caused by outdated computers and software. Management would not pay for replacements and her workday was increasingly filled with tech-related problems. Therefore, as she interviewed with other organizations, she made a point of looking at the computers and asking questions about the software they used.
Making the commitment to escape a job that makes you unhappy is a great first step. But take the time to be sure that you're running towards something that will make you happy rather than away from something you don't like.
Posted by Louise at 09:09 AM | Permalink