Category Archives: Resumes

What can get you a job, that you learn from spammers?

Posted on March 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

For your job search you have to learn a very important lesson from spammers.

How do they get people to pay attention?

Here is how they get ME to pay attention.  Learn from my weakness.

I never get less than 60 spam emails in a day.  Over a weekend it is always several hundred.  Every once in a while I see a word and phrase in the subject line that I have to investigate.  As a recruiter, one irresistible word is “resume”.  Others are CPA, VB.Net, Senior, relocating, or proven.

Think about people you send your resume to.

Every time a job ad is placed online, someone gets spammed.  They may get 50 to 1000 emails from people wanting a job.  At least half will be totally unqualified.  So the hirer or their receptionist has to skim through them and delete all but the top 10 or 20. While doing it they will delete the resumes of highly qualified people who weren’t careful.

A little carefulness will at least get your resume glanced at.

Take the job ad you are replying to. What are they key words for the ad?  Are there one or two things that appear to be the biggest and most important skills?  You need to figure out the keywords that will force them to open your resume and read it.

Let’s go one step further.  Make sure your resume fits the job ad.  Put those keywords in bold typeface in your resume.  Have 3 or 4 different resumes available to send for slightly different jobs.

Spammers are experts of single words and simple phrases.  They suck their target into their ad.  They know who they want to impress and what they want their victim to do.

Be careful. Figure out who you want to impress.  What keywords can you highlight that will make your ad, your resume, irresistible?

Something to do today

Today take every job ad that interests you and WRITE DOWN the keywords in the ad before you send your resume.  Then highlight the keywords in your resume and in your cover letter.

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Later: The rubber band solution for nervousness

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Make an incredible standout resume adding a new reference format

Posted on February 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

We got a resume that was 30 pages long.  It included a CD with all the documents and even more information.  Karen and I laughed about the ego of the guy who did it.  We looked through it to see why he thought he needed so much information.  We called and talked to him and told him it was too much. In short, it was the perfect resume.

The perfect resume gets read, discussed, carefully checked and finally gets a call to the person who sent it.  It wasn’t until a year later that I realized just how effective that huge resume had been. I had called and discussed a lot of details with the owner. Perfect.

Enterprising job searchers have come up with a lot of ways to set their resumes apart.  Different kinds of paper, a CD, a business card sized CD, audio, video, youtube, a 5 word cover letter, photos, a sculpture included in a box, candy, and a singing delivery person have all been used. The idea is to do something that sets you apart in a positive manner.  It also has to be something that does not diminish your printed out email resume.

Adding audio or video is relatively simple.  My next two letters will detail different ways to add references you can see or hear.  One is using a telephone.  It is extremely easy.  The other requires a recorder, software and a website.  If you want to make a real audio or video production, it is the way to go.

Is audio for you?  Do you want your references to be instantly available to anyone who gets your resume.  Will your own voice get you calls for interviews?  You’ll have to decide.  I’ll show you how to do it.

Something to do today

Are your references willing to be recorded?  Find out.

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Later:             The easy way to add audio to your resume

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Show you are the “big bear” on your resume

Posted on February 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

I have been around a lot of big bears in Pennsylvania. It is exciting.  Still, I have only seen one bear in Pennsylvania.  Bears leave behind footprints, scratched trees and scat (the polite way of referring to bear excrement).  As a matter of fact, some bears try to impress other bears by showing how high on a tree they can scratch the bark away.  They may never see each other, but bears know who is the “big bear”.

In  job hunting you need to let people know you are the “big bear”.  Don’t tell them everything you did at your last job..  Show them signs of your size and impact.  In your resume do not give every detail of your jobs.  Show the things that prove you are the “big bear” now.

Are you a Controller or CFO?  How much money did you save your company?  How much new revenue did you personally drive to the bottom line?

If your title is manager, assume that people know you hire, make budgets, and write reports.  Increased revenue, how much money you saved, and faster execution are things that show how high you reached.

As a programmer you need to have a list of languages you know somewhere on the resume.  That’s necessary but it doesn’t make you stand out.  The fact that your last five projects came in on time and under budget will show you are a big bear.

Don’t hide what you accomplished in a forest of petty details.  Make the things that prove you are a big bear unmissable.  If you have ten bullet points about one job, get rid of half of them.  A five line paragraph will hide a lot of accomplishments.  Make three short bullets instead or put a couple of keywords in bold font.

Show you are the big bear.   Stretch up high and scratch that tree where the other bears can’t miss it.

Something to do today

Hand you resume to some friends.  Give them 45 seconds to read it, then ask them what your biggest accomplishments are.  45 seconds is a very thorough read for resumes, most only get 10 seconds.  If you can’t get your point across in 45 seconds, getting hired will be pure luck.

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Later:             Get references on the company

Get references on yourself

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Posted in Accomplishments, Finding jobs, Resumes

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The most avoidable killer email mistake

Posted on February 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

As the Steelers were marching on their way to the Super Bowl a few years ago, I had a candidate from Pittsburgh with the email address of “steelman”. The manager in charge chuckled after the final interview and asked me, “Did you see his email address. I’m pretty sure who he wants to win the game.” That email address made the candidate memorable in a good way.

If your email address is anything but your name, make sure it is memorable in a good way. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. The success of the person you hire will be directly linked to you and your career as a manager. There are three strong candidates and you can’t decide which one to hire. Your eyes stray to the email addresses. One is “ironwillsmith”, next is “bryandilts” and the third is “womanhaterjones”. I guarantee “womanhaterjones” will be eliminated. The other two will have a positive or neutral effect.

Be careful how your email address looks. It is hard to believe, but people actually try to find a job with obscene and hateful email addresses. If you have any doubt about the appropriateness of your address, sign up at gmail or yahoo for an address to use only for the job search.

Vanilla is fine. Positively memorable is fine. Offensive may keep you from getting hired.

Something to do today

It is probably not your problem, just check your email address anyway.

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Later: Killer Email again

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Posted in Finding jobs, Resumes

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A dozen ways to stand out, be remembered, and be hired

Posted on February 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

A moth trap can teach you how to stand out, be remembered, and be hired. The principles can be used in interviews, resumes, and networking.

The moth trap in our pantry is supposed to be much better than the average one.  It has the same sticky glue and pheromones, but instead of just a white sheet of cardboard, it has black stripes on it.  I don’t know if it really is better, but I paid a few dollars extra for it.  If it is better, great.  I made a great decision.  If it is only as good as the cheaper trap, I still made a good decision.  Either way the trap will catch the bugs before they lay eggs in our flour, cornmeal and popcorn.  I get protection either way, and maybe I get a little better protection with the more expensive traps.

Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.  (Mark Twain)

In every interview you have to have something that sets you apart. It is nice if it is a huge difference, but that is not absolutely necessary. One of the reasons a college degree or certification in your field is valuable is because it sets you apart.  People can remember how you are different and hopefully better.  Other things that can set you apart are:

  • Putting yourself through college
  • Courses you have taken
  • Projects you have lead
  • Having lots of kids…. or having no kids
  • Your volunteer work
  • Your passions and hobbies
  • Dressing sharper than is required
  • Shoes that shine like the sun…. or suede tennis shoes
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Someone you know who already works there
  • Long hair…. or a marine haircut
  • Something amazing and relevant you did in high school

Remember why I bought the expensive moth trap…. it MIGHT be better. Anything you can do to show you just might be better than Mr. Bland will help.

For the moth traps, it was just a black stripe on cardboard.  What is it that you can do, say, be, or show that makes you worth a few extra dollars?

Something to do today

Every time someone is hired at your current job, go find out what was different about that person.  When you are told, “They were more qualified,” ask, “Were there any small details that seemed to confirm that they were better?”  You may be surprised what little details separate first place from no place at all.

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Posted in Interviews, Resumes

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The 2 biggest internet job site scams

Posted on January 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

A banking jobs website salesman called my partner one day.  They have the best, the greatest, the most useful banking jobs website ever.  They want us to have all of our candidates put their resumes up on their website.  Then any employer can pay a fee, find the resumes, and hire the candidates.  There are a whopping 175 resumes in the database. It is useless for anyone to go there.  Don’t waste your time putting your resume on that website.

1.

Wasting your time online is the biggest internet job site scam. Many sites sell hope, and not results, ever.

Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams.  (Mary Ellen Kelly)

You need to talk to people.  Your resume only has one job, to get you an interview.  If you can call up a company and talk to a real person who might tell you to come in for an interview, that’s the best use of your time.

2.

One other job site scam is the high fee “We’ll help you find a job” website.  I have nothing against legitimate resume preparation companies.  Someone who helps you prepare for interviews for a fee is fine.  Resume rabbit will post your resume on 75 websites for a small fee.  Companies that send your resume to 10,000 companies do a service, even if it is mostly useless.  The problem is with companies that will charge you $5,000 or $20,000 for those services.  Sorry, that’s where I draw the line.  So, let me give you some guidelines on top fees you should pay.  Paying a fraction of these fees for great service is common. This is the MOST you should pay, ever.

  • Resume preparation:   $800
  • Resume posting to jobsites $150
  • Interview coaching: $150 per hour
  • Mass resume blasts to employers: a few hundred dollars

Consider the internet a helper in your job search.  Your goal is to talk to people who can hire you.  You can’t do that on the internet yet.

Something to do today

Call a potential employer or recruiter today.  Talk to someone.

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Later:               Should relocation be an option?

What a spouse is good for

Job hunting on the job

Salt in the wound

Eagles don’t flock?

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Posted in Finding jobs, Focus, Resumes, Training

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That famous resume test – plus another one

Posted on December 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Since your resume may be first reviewed in 5.7 seconds and thrown away or kept, you have to make sure it can be read blindfolded.

No.  Don’t use Braille.  Instead use bullets, placement of key words, white space and numbers (which also attract the eye) to make reviewers quickly see you meet the basic requirements.

Test one – the famous test:

Give your resume to a friend.  Take it back after 12 seconds.  Ask him what your resume says you are qualified to do.  If he can’t tell you, it fails.

Test two — the plus:

Get some resumes from friends or coworkers.  Tell them you need them for this test.  Or go to www.agicc.com/resumeideas.htm and download the resumes linked there.  Put your resume somewhere besides first in the pile.  Now, give the job description for the job you are applying for to a friend. Have him read it carefully.  Give him the stack of resumes.  Tell him he has 10 seconds per resume to decide if it fits the job.  As he goes through the stack, time him on each resume.  If he goes past 10 seconds, take the resume away and ask if it passes or fails.  Does your resume pass or fail?

If your resume passes both tests, you have got a fighting chance.

 

Something to do today

Test your resume.

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Later:               The stripper in court

When your brain stops

It’s the manager

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How to make your resume last more than 5.7 seconds

Posted on December 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

I heard the Wall Street Journal did a study and found that the average resume is reviewed in 5.7 seconds.   Years ago it was 10 to 12 seconds.  People must be reading faster.

The reason for the increase in speed is probably that so many unqualified people send in resumes these days.  At one point at AGI we stopped all advertising and stopped putting our jobs out on the major internet job boards because of the unqualified responses.  It took too long to slog through them.

That glut of useless resumes makes it is easy for your resume to stand out. Here’s how you make it happen.

Take the job lead you are submitting your resume for.  Make sure that anyone glancing at your resume can see that you have the major skills.  For programmers that means putting the languages and skills you used where they can’t be missed in 5.7 seconds.  For accountants, your expertise that applies to this particular job must jump out.  Salespeople need to show how good they are at a glance.  Whatever makes you the best bet for the job you are applying for must stand out.

This means you may need 2 or 30 slightly different resumes.  Maybe you just need to rearrange the bullet points.  Try bolding the words that describe skills asked for in the ad.  Put white space around the critical skill sets.  Do something to get your resume past that initial 5.7 to 15 second review.

In a sea of useless resumes, you can make yours stand out and get read if you are willing to put in the effort.

Something to do today

For the next 5 times you send off your resume, give it an examination first.  Take the job order and see if YOU can find the most important skills and qualifications on your resume in 5.7 seconds.  If you can’t, no one can.

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Later:              That famous resume test — plus

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Are you a 5 pound call girl?

Posted on December 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sir Winston Churchill was at a high class social gathering.  One elegantly dressed woman was getting on his nerves.  He finally asked her, “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?”

She laughed and gave him a sly grin.  “I would sleep with even you, for five million pounds.”

Churchill opened his wallet and asked, “Would you sleep with me for 5 pounds?”

“Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?” she huffed.

Churchill removed the cigar from his mouth and fixed her with a gimlet eye, “Madam, we have already established what kind of woman you are, now we are haggling about the price.”

 

Is there a lie on your resume?  Did you move a date?  Did you fudge a salary or hourly rate of pay?  Have you claimed an accomplishment you didn’t help with?

Establish what kind of person you are: honest.  Don’t haggle over price.

The best measure of a man’s honesty isn’t his income tax return.  It’s the zero adjust on his bathroom scale.  (Arthur C. Clarke)

Something to do today

Have you established a price or a character? If you lied, clean it up.  Start your new character today.  Everyone makes mistakes.  The good people change for the better.

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Later:              Where to fish

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Internet resume filters, why? And how to get past them

Posted on November 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

You must change how you apply for jobs on the internet. Federal contracting jobs are already out of your reach unless you are a perfect fit.  Half the jobs available on the internet are no longer available to you.  And that is a conservative estimate.

A regulation is in effect.  It says that companies have to keep track of the minority status of all internet job applicants.  Last year it was for Federal contractors.  Now it is for all companies over 50 employees and their recruiters.

It is hard to keep track of race without being accused of violating the Equal Employment laws.  In the old days you could look through the resumes that came in and choose people who were close to your requirements to interview.  Then you could start tracking race.

Unintended consequences

The new regulation says you have to start tracking race immediately, but you only have to do it for applicants that are completely qualified for the position.  That means that the applicant filters that big companies use are becoming essential for all companies.  They are not going to track anyone they don’t have to.  They don’t want to phone screen anyone unless they already perfectly meet the requirements.

That means many jobs you were close enough to get a phone screen for a few years ago, will be absolutely unavailable for you this year. You will have to get through the computer filter to even be considered for a job.  And the filters will be tighter than ever.

From here on out you need to make sure that your resume has every qualifying skill asked for on a job ad.  Consider putting every acronym in the job ad at the bottom of your resume in a skills section.  I might even cut and paste the skills section of the job ad to the bottom of my resume in a “Job Applied For” section.

The results of the regulations are ominous.  Companies are swinging wildly from filters that are impossibly tight, to no filters at all.  We are in a period of amazing resume filtering swings.

Be prepared.

Something to do today

Start today.  Make sure your resume has every job skill asked for in every job you apply for online.

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Later:              Clogging things up

Row away

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Posted in Job Boards, Resumes

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