Many job seekers focus solely on the “how” of contacting potential employers, but the “when” can be crucial to getting noticed as well. Contacting them when they are more likely to be alert and responsive (and not tired, hungry, or stressed) is all about timing. That includes planning the optimal time and day to contact HR (to either initiate contact, follow up after sending a resume, or follow up post-interview). According...

Some experts say more than 90% of communication is non-verbal, and in this ultra competitive job market you must pay attention to every silent detail in order to make an impression. Why? Because there are many other candidates out there who are equally qualified and dedicated, and who know how to make a great first impression. But there are lots of ways to get the edge utilizing your professional appearance, communication,...

More than ever before, professionals are taking creative, and even risky, chances with their resumes in order to get noticed. While these risks can be a great way to catch a hire manager’s eye in a crowded job market, they can also turn those same managers away. Here are some resume writing rules that should not be broken: 1. Explain your responsibilities. So much advice is given nowadays to provide measurable, high-impact...

Ask any person who has been out of work for more than a few months and they will all agree that remaining positive is quite possibly the toughest part of unemployment – especially when they’ve been diligently searching for work. Even the most optimistic people need a boost sometimes and everyone can benefit from people who have been in their shoes. So, I’ve reached out to a few of those professionals who know a thing or two...

I was listening to a popular morning talk show on the radio the other day and something someone said struck me (and is still staying with me a week later). When the host asked a caller what he had planned for the day, the caller answered begrudgingly, “Man, they’ve got me drivin’ these trucks.” His answer was dripping with self-pity and resentment of his plight. Immediately and without hesitation, the host chimed in, “Nobod...

Whether you’ve gone back to school for your Master’s degree or you’re finishing up your undergrad, now is THE time to get your resume ready to start networking and marketing with potential employers. Don't assume that by listing your degree and school, you are finished - far from it! You are selling yourself and your education short by not utilizing essential job skills you earned during your time in school.Besides, prepari...

I rarely go a week without hearing from a client who is changing industries, fields, or general direction. The biggest problem that they’re running into is what they perceive to be a lack of transferrable skills. They are under the impression that there is a huge barrier that keeps field experts in and everyone else out, but there are several universal skills that - in well written resumes - successfully portray the candida...

While it is ideal to effortlessly craft a masterpiece resume that's irresistible to any employer, the reality is most people hate writing their resume and the result can often be obvious in the finished product. Poorly presented resumes communicate a lot more than what is written on the page. They tell employers that the candidate may lack attention to detail, follow-through, and quality.The simple solution is to have a pro...

One of today's major buzzwords is "keywords" and even though the English language contains thousands of usable keywords, many are getting used way more than they should in resumes. The secret to keywords is to be as specific as possible, using words that set you apart from the competition rather than put you in a class with them. Here are some of those keywords I would classify as good, bad, and overused.Good: These keyword...

For most professionals, your job history (commonly listed as Professional or Work Experience) is where hiring managers find a lot of your value. This is where you detail in a reverse-chronological order what you did, for whom, where, and for how long. Though there are many ways to write a job history, there are some tried and true methods for making it clear, concise, and interesting - essentials for getting noticed by a hi...