#resume feedback

[worksmartz]

resume evaluation, resume feedback

[smashingresumes]

What's Wrong With 89% of You?

You need a job for whatever reason. You either don’t have one, you’re stuck in the position you have now, it’s not a good fit for your family, it doesn’t pay enough, etc. etc.

Did you know 68% of candidates tell their network they’re looking for a job just once a month and 89% feel embarrassed to indicate they’re looking for a new position?

Are those numbers hitting home?

You have Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, email, Reddit, text messaging and more. The world is connected more now than it was ever before in the history of the human race.

Harness those connections and the ability to communicate in the blink of an eye. Let people know that you’re looking for a job by posting weekly. Create a list of those with jobs in your industry, and contact them once a week to check-in and see if any new positions have opened up.

Make sure your entire network knows that if a related position opens, that you want to be kept in the loop, and if they meet someone in the industry you’re looking to be employed in, that they inquire about job openings.

More than anything, what helps the most in a job search, is good old fashioned kindness. When was the last time you had a friend who was absolutely amazing and was in need? Didn’t you try to do something for them, even if it was just a prayer or a kind thought? Being kind to others, even before you have to search for a job, will keep you front and center in other people’s minds.

If you’re always kind to others, chances are, they’ll always be kind to you.

Shameless plug: Get your friends to send in their resumes to us for a complimentary analysis. It’ll help them, and it’s seriously good karma.

Pass this link around please! :http://smashingresumes.com/complimentary-resume-analysis

[smashingresumes]

CAUTION: This read may bother you!

Let’s be real clear about something: you’re a product and you’re looking to be purchased. You’re the latest dishwasher, the best soccer ball, the fanciest computer, and the latest Apple gadget. Getting a job is the same thing as buying a product, except the purchaser is a hiring manager and they’re looking into you. You can either be the best product on the market, or you can be the mp3 player no one ever heard of. Your resume is your specification sheet, and your packaging is your professional appearance. Depending upon your specs, they’ll want a viewing, and depending on how you perform and your appearance, they’ll want to purchase you. Three things to keep in mind: 1) Control your reviews online If a hiring manager Google’s you, don’t let them find pictures of you at blow out parties or doing controversial or shady stuff. Keep all your personal details, videos, and pictures private. 2) Wipe the dust off When going into an interview, always look as sharp as possible, and treat each buyer as a new customer. You can’t sell yourself in the same way to one company as you do the next, so your pitch has to be altered to fit the company culture, position, and the personality of the hiring manager. 3) Be ready to perform Hiring managers may ask you any question in the book, and they want to make sure they hire the best candidate for the job. They’ll vet you with every question, and no question, not even your favorite movie is outside of understanding who you are as a person, what you can bring to the table and if you’ll fit in with the company culture. At the end of the day, you’re as awesome as you view yourself. You’re not a 1996 Tercel. You’re a freakin’ Ferrari.

[smashingresumes]

Mistakes You're Likely Making On LinkedIn

Did you know that 71% of hiring managers view a candidate’s background on LinkedIn before they actually decide to schedule an interview? Did you know it’s cheaper to find a candidate on LinkedIn rather than go through a job board such as Monster or CareerBuilder?

Either way, you have to be on LinkedIn. Consider it the Facebook for professionals looking to network. You add different friends, colleagues, family, and managers to reach out into their networks connecting yourself to tens of thousands of people with just a couple hundred connections.

Mistake #1: Copy and paste? Booooring

Hiring managers have likely already seen your resume, that’s why they’re on your profile. Give them something completely new and bold to look at. Provide them with a convincing reason to call you for the interview instead of the other candidate, and aim to impress with every section of your profile.

Because LinkedIn is a social service, it gives you the opportunity to add in information about your personality. Add in your hobbies, interests, and paint your summary with multiple colors, but never make the mistake of just copying and pasting your resume.

Mistake #2: Congratulations: You’re part of a clique on and offline

Try searching LinkedIn for any profession. You know what comes up first? People in your network, then people in the second circle, then people in your third circle, and people who are in the same groups as you.

That’s right. The closer you are to the person searching for someone just like you in terms of connections, the higher you’ll come on their results page. The larger your network, the larger your chance of being found.

Mistake #3: You’re not using it

It’s not enough to be on it, you have to use it as well. Endorse and recommend friends and colleagues, and even post updates in Groups. The best feature overall is InMail, LinkedIn’s messaging service. Consider it email with a read receipt feature. You purchase InMail credits, send a hiring manager a thoughtful appeal, and you get a little note the moment they open it. If they don’t open it in 7 days, you get a credit.

That’s right. Sending hiring managers messages with a guarantee that it’ll be read. Now think about the possibilities. ☺

If you’re not on LinkedIn, or you are and you’re not getting the results you need, consider grabbing our LinkedIn Makeover service.

After a phone consultation, our Social Media Strategists will tailor your profile every step of the way for specific keywords, a colorful summary, and work to position you so you have a profile that stands out with every search and with every view.

Not sure what to do with an amazing profile after we’re done with it? We’ll help you there too.

Get started for only $60 (normally $75)!

[smashingresumes]

5 Mistakes Students Make On Their Resume

1. Your resume reads like an essay and would even bore your TA Remember hiring managers don’t READ your resume; they skim it, and look for the highlights. Editing your resume in the proper format so keywords pop when it’s skimmed is essential to ensure your resume makes the cut.

2. You emphasized your responsibilities instead of your accomplishments No hiring manager cares about your previous position’s job description. They care about what you did, and how you can benefit them. For example, you weren’t responsible for excellent customer service. Instead, you assisted over 100 customers a day to review and find the product they need.

3. You wrote about Ping Pong or Call of Duty Companies care about what you can do for THEM, not what you do in your spare time. Leave that for the interview. Instead, spend that valuable resume real estate on more items you’ve accomplished.

4. You thought it was good enough Remember, a resume is a sales pitch, and it needs to be tested, ESPECIALLY a student resume. Get a total stranger to review it, and give you real feedback. Does it impress them? Does it tell them what you’re applying for? Do they have questions about you, and if so, what are they? If you can impress a stranger, you can impress a hiring manager.

5. You showed high school spirit Please don’t list your high school or any achievements from Theater class. No one cares. Have a proper email address, not [email protected]. Check your spelling and grammar, and then, have someone else review it. Stick to one font, and don’t use colors. Sure, it’s a student resume, but it doesn’t need to look like one.

About Smashing Resumes Smashing Resumes is a specialized resume writing and career services company offering resume editing and review, job search coaching, and social media services to candidates of all levels and professions looking to solidify their pitch, and land their dream job. To learn more, visit us at http://www.smashingresumes.com.