Rock Your Résumé in Any Situation

Rock Your Résumé in Any Situation by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer<br /><br />Whether you're currently employed, facing a layoff or looking for a job, keeping your résumé up-to-date is always important. In today's economy, however, it's even more vital to have a current copy of your résumé on hand. After all, you never know when an amazing job opportunity -- or pink slip -- might fall into your hands.<br /><br />"You have to be ready to submit your résumé on short notice," says Dustin DeVries, senior director of LEAD DAWG, a job search consulting firm. "Candidates who have taken time to update their résumé may be passed over for another candidate of similar caliber that is ready to go now. You just never know when that opportunity may land in your lap and you have to be ready to act."<br /><br />Updating one's résumé today, however, may not be as easy as it once was. As job losses and layoffs continue to swell, people have to do more with less to enhance their résumés. Job seekers are unsure how to deal with lack of employment, gaps between work, title demotions, less duties and shortened job spans when updating their résumés.<br /><br />Here are some ways to beef up your résumé if it is lacking in any of the following areas:<br /><br />You have a gap between jobs:<br />Depending on the length of the gap, Miriam Salpeter of Keppie Careers, says you should fill in the gap with something you've been doing in your time off. This will show employers you've taken initiative during this period rather than waiting for something to fall into your lap.<br /><br />"Consider getting actively involved in volunteer projects and/or consulting opportunities, even if you do the work for free," Salpeter says. "This will allow you to use your skills in a way that is worth describing on your résumé."<br /><br />You've been laid off:<br />No employer will be surprised see an applicant who's been laid off. Be honest about your departure, DeVries says. "In this economy, it's going to happen. Don't misrepresent that you're still employed by dating your last position as 'to present' if you're not currently with that company. [It's a] red flag if a recruiter sees [you] as currently employed when in fact you've been laid off."<br /><br />You were hired recently but laid off right away due to the economy:<br />Don't leave any employment off your résumé, no matter how short a period you may have worked there. Just don't explain the details on your résumé.<br /><br />"In today's economy, most people will give you the benefit of the doubt that your departure was not a result of your performance," Salpeter says. "Be prepared to discuss it if it comes up in a conversation or interview."<br /><br />You were demoted or had a title change:<br />Titles are just that -- a title. It says nothing about your specific accomplishments and your track record of meeting or exceeding metrics for your organization, DeVries says.<br /><br />"State your title, but focus [on] your achievements for the organization. Any good recruiter or potential employer is going to be most interested in your track record of meeting objectives no matter what your role," DeVries says. "A 'director' of marketing for one company may require something completely different from a 'director' role at another company. Focus on your measurable accomplishments."<br /><br />You went from a senior-level position to a "filler" position at lower level:<br />In this situation, it's critical to include an objective that outlines what type of position you're looking for at the company where you're applying, DeVries says.<br /><br />"If you have to take a 'filler' position between professional positions, you need to include the role but place your focus on the activities you have maintained during that time to remain current in your professional field," he says. Volunteering, professional networking and taking classes are all things that will help keep you current.<br /><br />You're a recent college graduate with little experience:<br />Most people have skills that they don't realize are important résumé builders, Salpeter says. DeVries agrees, saying that experience occurs any time you're gaining insight and perspective in your chosen field. Classes, volunteer experience, internships, leadership activities and professional networking groups are all examples of experience you can incorporate in your résumé.<br /><br />Now that you know how to correct any potentially sketchy parts of your résumé, here are five tips for keeping it up-to-date.<br /><br />1. Keep up with trends<br />"Keep up-to-date with current trends for résumés and online profiles. Be sure that you are highlighting how you stand out and emphasizing what makes you special," Salpeter says.<br /><br />2. Keep a brag book<br />DeVries suggests keeping a log of your performance reviews, coaching reports from managers, sales reports, goal assessments and the like to use as content for your résumé.<br /><br />"You're going to be measured against someone else in most any position you may hold," he says. "Update this list each time you receive an e-mail from your manager or a report from your company. Include achievements applicable to the position to which you're submitting your résumé."<br /><br />Additionally, Salpeter suggests keeping a file of any nice things that supervisors, clients and colleagues say about you, and asking for recommendations on social networking sites like LinkedIn.<br /><br />3. List more than job duties<br />"Listing job duties on your résumé is OK, but include the metrics you were held accountable for and your performance to those goals," DeVries says. "Many people just list the duty but don't include the scale of their accountability and how they performed."<br /><br />4. Always ask for feedback<br />Never stop asking for feedback or critique from colleagues, friends and experts. "You never know what someone may see in your résumé that needs further enhancement or may just need to be eliminated," DeVries says.<br /><br />5. Keep lists<br />In order to keep your résumé up-to-date, you need to keep a running list of your accomplishments and things you've done in the workplace, and add to it regularly, Salpeter says. Keep track of your digital profile, too, and recognize that your digital footprint is an important part of your professional presentation and job search.<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br />It doesn't hurt to look! <a href="http://www.mygvbiz.com/getrich">www.mygvbiz.com/getrich</a> Become an Independent Distributor Today!You can learn more by calling: 712-432-0211 Enter Pin 429281# Hear a recorded message or...Call in to a LIVE CONFERENCE CALL: 212-796-1700 Enter Pin 2120# (11AM or 3PM or 9:30PM Central Time 7 DAYS A WEEK!)

Rock Your Résumé in Any Situation

Rock Your Résumé in Any Situation by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer Whether you're currently employed, facing a layoff or lookin...

Read more »

I'm lovin' me some Tulsa

Life is really what you make it. When I was here for work eight years ago I hated Tulsa. I said I never wanted to come back to this little piece of hell.<br /><br />Things have changed. Actually, what's really changed is me. When I was here in 2001 I was over 100 pounds overweight. The heat made me miserable. Worse than the heat was that I hated being in a lab all day with young, really smart guys. They made me feel old and ugly and stupid. Every night I'd go back to my hotel room and dread the next day. I'd drive to fast food places and buying two or three hamburgers and then drive to a grocery store and stock up on cookies and candy.<br /><br />This visit couldn't be more different than my 2001 visit. I'm actually having fun. I'm enjoying working with the young guys, talking to them and getting to know them as we work towards getting our software certified.<br /><br />I'm much more outgoing this time. Last time I didn't even try to talk to any of them. I just wanted to crawl in a hole and be invisible. I was ashamed of how I looked, I thought they probably thought I was fat, stupid and lazy. Whether they did or didn't it doesn't really matter. It was what I thought of myself.<br /><br />Last time the coworker that I came here with didn't do a thing with me. I was certain he had a fat phobia, didn't want to be seen with a fat girl, someone might mistake me for his wife. Heaven forbid that would happen. Ironic twist on that is that his wife has gained over 80 pounds and he recently confided in me on how he could help her lose the weight.<br /><br />This time I'm seeing the sights every night, hitting the gym every morning (LOVE the gym that's just down the road - beautiful!). I'm also going out to lunch and dinner with my coworker (he's also a good friend), and someitmes with the vendor. We're having a great time. Yup, loving Tulsa this time.<br /><br />Note: I have lots of pictures from my Fairbanks trip and already a bunch from Tulsa, but my work laptop won't take a Sony Memory Stick and I forgot the cord to connecto the camera to the laptop. Sorry, pictures when I get back home.

I'm lovin' me some Tulsa

Life is really what you make it. When I was here for work eight years ago I hated Tulsa. I said I never wanted to come back to this little p...

Read more »

Atelier "Sit'Utilises tu trouves"

<BR><br />L'atelier <strong>Sit'Utilises tu trouves</strong> mis en place par la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'orléans débutera en août 2009.<br /><br />Cet atelier gratuit propose aux usagers de <strong>prendre connaissance des sites utiles à la recherche d'emploi ou de formations</strong>.<br />Par ailleurs, il permet de maximiser les chances de trouver un emploi par le biais d'Internet grâce à la réalisation de profil sur divers sites, et le dépôt de candidature en ligne.<br />Cet atelier réalisé en petit groupe permet un réel accompagnement dans la démarche de recherche par Internet (groupe de 2 à 3 personnes).<br /><br /><strong>Public concerné</strong> : Public connaissant les bases de l'informatique et d'Internet et souhaitant optimiser leur technique de recherche en ligne.<br /><br /><strong>Animation</strong> : Maison de l'Emploi<br /><br /><strong>Date</strong> : Toutes les semaines, le vendredi après-midi de 13h30 à 16h30<br /><br /><strong>Lieu</strong> : Maison de l’Emploi du bassin d’Orléans<br /><br />Pour en savoir plus et pour s'inscrire, prendre contact avec la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'Orléans : 02 38 24 18 03 ou <a href="mailto:accueil@news-these-days.fr">accueil@news-these-days.fr</a><br /><BR>

Atelier "Sit'Utilises tu trouves"

L'atelier Sit'Utilises tu trouves mis en place par la Maison de l'Emploi du bassin d'orléans débutera en août 2009. Cet ate...

Read more »