Posts tagged with “resume”

Resume Help

Resume Killers That Spell Check Won't Catch

by Rigel Celeste on Jul 23rd 2010 6:34AM

Spell Check Proofreading Errors on Resume

When it comes to getting a job your resume is your first (and usually only) chance to make a good first impression, plus many employers have so many qualified applicants they're ready to take any excuse to whittle the list. Make sure your resume isn't secretly making you look bad by proofreading it for these common spell check misses.

They're vs Their vs There
They're = A contraction between "they" and "are" "They're going out."
Their = Indicates possession (plural) "Their shoes are wet."
There = Refers to distance "Go over there."

It's vs Its
It's = A contraction between "it" and "is" "It's hot outside."
Its = Indicates possession "Floating across its surface."

Than vs Then
Than = Refers to a comparison "I'm taller than you."
Then = Used to indicate a subsequent event "I went then you went."

You're vs Your
You're = A contraction between "You" and "are" "You're forgetting something."
Your = Indicates possession "Your memory is poor."

Affect vs Effect
Affect = A verb "It affected everyone."
Effect = A noun "It had a serious effect."

Even if you already know what all these words mean and how they're different you could still easily use the wrong one in a sentence if you're distracted or trying to multitask (and when is that not the case?). It's more than worth your time to give your resume a second, third, or even a fourth read-through just to be sure.

1 Comment Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help

3 Things You Don't Need on Your Resume

by Rigel Celeste on Apr 30th 2010 10:07AM

No two employees are the same, but a growing number of resumes are. That's because everybody is trying to send the same message: I'd be perfect for this job. While it's important to communicate your winning personality, knowledge base, and skill set, you should do so without drowning the reader in unnecessary and redundant details. Here are a few examples of things you don't need to say and should remove from your resume asap.

Continue reading 3 Things You Don't Need on Your Resume

18 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Job Hunting Tips

How to Cold-Contact a Recruiter

by Jason Alba on Apr 9th 2010 6:29AM

A few weeks ago I wrote a post titled WRONG QUESTION: "Do you know a recruiter who specializes in..." I have heard this question since I started my company, almost four years ago, and it really bugs me. It *might* be a good question to ask IF you know what to do when you make contact with the recruiter, but from what I've seen, most people don't know what to do when they make contact!

In that post I told you to "NETWORK" with the recruiter. In this post I'll take it to the next level and give you some ideas on how to network with them.

Continue reading How to Cold-Contact a Recruiter

7 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help Job Hunting Tips Career Advice

What Will Your Career Legacy Be?

by Barbara Safani on Jan 11th 2010 2:41PM

In 2009, we witnessed the passing of many great icons in entertainment, art, sports, journalism, and politics. And with their passing comes an opportunity to reflect on their unique career brand and the legacy they left. Walter Cronkite, Michael Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett...all had strong brands that conjured up certain images in our minds. But strong career brands are not just for the rich and famous.

Continue reading What Will Your Career Legacy Be?

3 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help Career Advice

What's Holding You Back From Writing a Better Resume? (Part One)

by Barbara Safani on Jan 4th 2010 2:00PM

I have met thousands of people who perform miracles at work every day. They pour their heart and soul into their work and offer their employers their knowledge and skills to help make those companies a success. But you would never know it if you looked at the resumes most people write for themselves. People can usually articulate what they do, but they generally don't convey why what they do is important or who derives value from their actions. They neglect to tie their job tasks to impact. They fail to create a compelling argument for why a hiring manager should give them a chance. The reasons for this vary from person to person but here are the most common excuses I hear from job seekers. Do any of these sound like you?

Continue reading What's Holding You Back From Writing a Better Resume? (Part One)

2 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Emurse Tips & Tricks

How to Drive More Traffic to Your Emurse Resume

by Alex Rudloff on Aug 17th 2009 11:49AM

You've created a great resume on Emurse -- now what?

While we take many steps to help get your resume listed on the major search engines, there are a few things you can do to help increase the traction your resume finds online. Over the years we've heard a lot of great testimonials and have seen a lot of creative uses for Emurse resume links.

We've put together a list of the best ways to utilize your new Emurse resume and get the most out of the site!

Six Easy Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Resume

#1 Take Advantage of Your E-mail Signature
Perhaps the most effective way to spread the word about your resume is to include your resume URL in the signature area of your e-mails. Not only will this tell your personal and professional network where to find your latest resume, you'll be able to see instantly who views it ;) Many of our users have been including their resume in their signatures with absolutely fantastic results.

You'll be building your professional network with each and every e-mail!

Continue reading How to Drive More Traffic to Your Emurse Resume

0 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help

An Essential Guide to Resume Feedback

by Stephen Lytle on Aug 12th 2009 10:35AM

I have gone over ways to format your resume, interview effectively, and send a thank you letter, but what if you never hear back when you send your resume? Then what? Most people typically move on and send their resumes to more companies and positions and hope that the old adage of quantity or quality pays off. However, if you are smart about your job search and interested in improving yourself then it would be to your advantage to get feedback from initially submitting your resume.

"Stephen," you ask, "how would I do that? I don't even know who the manager is!" Well here I am to offer you some help!

Continue reading An Essential Guide to Resume Feedback

1 Comment Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help

Resume Rescue: Headline vs Objective

by Rigel Celeste on Jul 27th 2009 7:30AM

In a job market that's growing more competitive every day, having an effective, impressive resume that stands out from the crowd is key. Looking to fine tune yours but not sure where to start? No worries, our Resume Rescue series is here to help!

Headline or Objective?

Is it better to start your resume with an objective that states what you're looking for or a headline that says what you have to offer? Some experts argue that an objective is redundant because by submitting a resume it's obvious that both you want a job and that you want a job at whatever company you've sent it to. So wouldn't it be more effective to catch the reader's eye with a headline about what you bring to the table that other applicants might not? On the other hand, an objective gives a potential employer a better idea of what you want, which is just as important in determining a good fit as what you can do.

What do you think? Would love to hear arguments for both sides (objective vs headline) in the comments!

5 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Job Hunting Tips Career Advice

Overqualified: The Dilemma of the Perfect Candidate

by Stephen Lytle on Jul 21st 2009 12:05PM

The economy has tanked and is starting to get better, but unemployment continues to grow as companies restrict their budgets and look for more ways to save during this time of need. As such, the fewer companies who are hiring are inundated with resumes from applicants with a broad range of skills and experience. Recently, I placed an advertisement on the job boards for a Business Analyst and had a variety of candidates apply, from landscapers to 20+ year Project Managers.

More and more employers are receiving resumes from candidates who would typically be overqualified for their positions. Often times these candidates will receive an interview request, later to be informed that they are overqualified for the position. In my opinion, there are few things more frustrating than being told you are too good for a position. I am sure others agree, but being that I am in a position to understand the hiring managers' point of view, I will share it with you.

Continue reading Overqualified: The Dilemma of the Perfect Candidate

4 Comments Tweet! Email Share

Resume Help

Resume Rescue: Overused Phrases to Avoid

by Rigel Celeste on Jul 20th 2009 10:30AM

In a job market that's growing more competitive every day, having an effective, impressive resume that stands out from the crowd is key. Looking to fine tune yours but not sure where to start? No worries, our Resume Rescue series is here to help!

If you want your resume to stand out you can't use the same stale and overused phrases that have been used by applicants for years and are all but beaten to death. Some common phrases, like "team player," have become so automatic that they not only mean nothing but can actually harm you by portraying you as boring, run-of-the-mill, and totally uncreative. Instead try describing yourself in a more conversational way, using language you would use if you were just talking to somebody.

Here are some common resume phrases to avoid: