Executive Resume Too Short Here Are Some Ways to Lengthen It

Executive Resume Too Short Here Are Some Ways to Lengthen ItThere are many challenges to being an executive job landseeker. Its likely that one of the biggest is that you have been employed for so long that you dont remember how to search for work anymora. Not to mention that the job-seeking world may have changed significantly since your last job search experience. Plus, your resume writing skills might be a little bit rustyand since its been awhile since youve had to write a resume, your resume is likely out-of-date.Another challenge some executives struggle with could be unique to others the too-short, one-page resume. You might be a senior executive, but if you are a candidate who has experience with only one or two companies, your resume might not be that long. You may feel uncomfortable submitting a resume that looks like it could belong to an entry-level professionaland doing so could be hurting your job search and preventing you from landing the interview you want.Its true th at executive resumes are typically a bit lengthy due to the excess of qualifications acquired over the years. So if youre working with a one-page resume, here are some ideas for writing an executive resume to help stretch it out and make it more accurately reflect your years of experience and more appropriate for your actual skill platzdeckchen and the executive-level positions you are seeking.Spread Out Your Work HistoryIf you are working with a job history that includes only one or two employers, its possible that your entire executive resume may stretch out to only one or one-and-a-half pages. In order to give your resume some length (and depth), and showcase your expertise, its good to dig into your history to find ways to spread it out someideally to a full two-page resume.For instance, rather than listing only your C-level executive positions in the resume, provide an overview of your rise to the position by listing your other roles within the companies you worked for. Focus e specially on those that helped spur your promotions, or that include key accomplishments particularly relevant to the executive positions you are now hoping to get. If youre not using action verbs within these descriptions, departure using them. Not only will they add length to your C-level resume, they will make it a more effective resume overall.When writing your resume, list each position, the title, and years workedthen note any top-notch accomplishments that helped you to get promoted. Be sure to briefly explain what accomplishments, skills, etc., helped bump you up to the next level. Include relevant experience for the job you have your eye on. This will not only stretch out your resume but also give prospective employers and executive recruiters greater insight into why your career has been so successfuland why they should want to bring you and your leadership skills into their company.Add Professional Affiliations, Certifications, Volunteer WorkIf you belong to professional organizations, include those. Add a section entitled Professional Affiliations, or perhaps even Additional Credentials if you have items such as relevant volunteer work, professional certifications, impressive professional development events that youve done, etc. Have you taken part in speaking engagements, sharing your skills with other professionals? Dont discount these kinds of experiencesthey may help set you apart from other candidates.All of these things help demonstrate your expansive skill set, as well as your overall dedication to your industry and willingness to improve yourself, which in turn helps your employer as you become a more skilled professional. Its all part of your personal branding. If your resume is missing such a section, think outside the box a bit about what you do in both your personal and professional life that may bring added value to an employer and could help increase your resume length.Increase Your Resume Length by Adjusting Your Resume FormatChoose (Slightly) Larger Font SizesIf you are utilizing two or three different font sizes throughout your resume, consider upping the size of each onelittle by littleto see how much length you get. Start with just a one-half font-size increase (i.e., 11 to 11.5) to see how much that increases your resume length. Then step it up another half-point to see the difference that makes.Of course, you dont want to make the resume fonts too large because then the hiring decision-makers are likely to noticeso be careful not to increase the sizes too much. Human resources professionals know every trick in the book, but as long as you are subtle about it, a slight increase in font size is still better than having a one-page resume as an executive.Increase Line SpacingAnother way to give your resume more length is to increase the line spacing. Whether youre jumping from single spacing to 1.5, or only adjusting the spacing between paragraphs, these subtle changes can make a difference in the length of y our resume, and can even create more white spacewhich is a good thing. White space helps create a resume layout that is easier to read.But like font sizes, avoid increasing the spacing too much. Its much better to add more content to your resume, describing your expertise and more of your achievements and skills, than to rely on formatting tricks to have a two-page resume.Unfortunately, the job-seeking world is one that judges books by their covers more often than not. So while your history at the executive level might be very impressive, the appearance that you have no history at all could stop your search in its tracks. Hiring managers or recruiters who are looking at your resume are more likely to pay close attention to it if their first impression of it is that it is the resume of someone with a lengthy career history and a wealth of professional experience. You may have both, but if your executive resume doesnt immediately show that work experience to a hiring manager through i ts length, you may not get very far. A two-page resume is expected for someone applying to an executive position. Remember, you are marketing yourself with your resume, and appearances matter in marketing.Its important to remember to brand your resume before applying to each new position. Remember, you always want your resume to impress your target audience. That target audience will be different for every position. For more information on branding, check out my recent article 5 Key Areas to Target When Branding Your Resume.You can also get additional executive resume tips, as well as job search and career advice by checking out our blog or following us on social mediayou can find us on Twitter GreatResume.To look over resume examples for wording and formatting ideas, head to the Great Resumes Fast resume sample page. Here, youll find executive resume samples from various industries.If you think its time to work with a professional resume writing service to get your executive resume where it needs to be, contact Great Resumes Fast today. Our team of professional resume writers takes the time to understand your career goals and your career history, and then work with you to craft career documents that help you achieve your goals. If youre ready to speak to a resume writer about how they can help you, you can reach the Great Resumes Fast team here.Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never break through the kontrolle process. It shouldnt be that way. Thats why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE PDF so you can start seeing better resume response rates

An Applicant Tracking System Uncovered iCIMS - Jobscan Blog

An Applicant Tracking ordnungsprinzip Uncovered iCIMS - Jobscan BlogPosted on November 18, 2015May 24, 2019 by Jobscan Savvy job binnenbinnenseekers dont just rely on the information readily available to them when looking for a new position. They hund down information that will make them a competitive candidate. When applying to any large corporation, especially a Fortune 500 or otherwise desirable company, getting an edge on the competition can be the difference between getting a call back and indefinite silence from the employer. Job seekers who understand the exact applicant tracking ordnungsprinzip(ATS) that they want to beat are better able to fine-tune their resume and ensure the highest chance of success.Read more What is an applicant tracking system?Withinsights about a particular ATS, you can tailor your resume above and beyond just optimizing your resume keywords.Todays post examines iCIMS, a top applicant tracking system used by more than 2,700 companies in the United Stat es and internationallyincluding major companies such as FedEx, Sony, and Amazon. Understanding how iCIMS operates, and being able to identify whether the company youre applying to uses it, will allow you to improve your chances of scoring an vorstellungsgesprch before you even apply.ParsingiCIMS parses resumes by scanning your uploaded document and trying to identify the skills and qualifications thatyoupossess. In other words, it tries to recognize your skill set and associate it with your profile. If done perfectly, this enables recruiters and hiring managers to match you with positions that fit your exact skill set and qualifications. However, parsing is leid an exact science, and iCIMS often incorrectly captures the contents of a candidates resume.In one example, a fine arts graduate who listed silk screening as a skill was mislabeled as a silk performer by iCIMS. This is problematic because the candidates profile will not be associated with their actual skill.Because of the ina ccuracy of parsing tools, its critical to present your skills so they precisely match the way they are written in the job description.Without optimizing your resume for the keywords that the ATS is fruchtwein likely to recognize, your skill set might be completely misinterpreted by iCIMS and prevent you from being considered for a role. Consider Ruby on Rails if the job description mentions Ruby on Rails, and your resume only includes Rails, your resume might not be seen as a match if a recruiter searches the full term Ruby on Rails. FilteringDuring the application process, many companies will ask a few questions relating to work experience, qualifications, or skills. Some might even just ask for basic numerical data such as the number of years youve worked in the industry. While you might not give much thought to these questions as a candidate, they are actually a powerful filtering tool for employers.Recruiters can use any combination of keyword searches and filtering by question to identify ideal candidates. iCIMS has a customizable feature that allows companies to ask you yes or no questions, ask you to select an answer from a drop-down menu, or ask you to manually fill an answer into a text field. Additionally, iCIMS supplies some stock questionsyou may see them frequently on applications, because many employers use them. Employers can also add other questions.As a candidate its important to answer questions honestly, but also to decide if your answers will make you a strong candidate. Employers may use a knockout question that automatically disqualifies candidates if they dont meet a requirement, such as education level or years of experience. If your answers will likely eliminate you from the running or make you an otherwise low-priority candidate, you might be better off searching for a connection on LinkedIn and getting a referral so that your resume lands directly in the hands of a company recruiter. You might get an automatic rejection email if you dont pass the knockout question filtereven if you have a perfectly keyword-optimized and visually-pleasant resume. iCIMS also allows companies to send out an automatic rejection email a specified number of days after the application was submitted, even if the system rejected it immediately upon submission. TransparencyAnother feature that candidates need to be aware of is iCIMS transparency about which jobs youve applied for and your application status. If you apply for more than one job using iCIMS, your recruiter is likely privy to that information. They can go into the system and look at details such as how far you made it in the einstellungsgesprch process, notes from the interviewers, whether you were rejected after an interview, received an offer, etc.Theres no reason to fret about recruiters having access to your application history, even if you didnt land interviews or offers for other positions. However, be wary of applying to dozens of positions within the same company. Re cruiters can review back as far as 200 days within their system and see all the positions at their company that you submitted your resume for. Shotgunning your application to dozens of positions that dont match your skill set might hinder your chances of landing an interview for a position that would actually be a great fit. Honesty is also the best policy if a hiring manager or recruiter asks whether youre interview at other companies, outside of theirs. You can be honest without divulging details, such as company names, unless you feel comfortable doing that. Its perfectly acceptable to say youre entertaining an opportunity elsewhere but youre really interested in their company, or youve interviewed elsewhere but youre still seeking out the best fit. Recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate that youre forthcomingespecially considering they generally already have the information most candidates try to hide. If anything, companies will generally view you as a more competitive candidate if youre also being considered for other positions. And, expressing a clear interest in their company over others is generally viewed as a good sign and can even earn you points.IdentifyingIts hard to know which ATS youre working with if youve never knowingly dealt with one before. Many people apply to jobs without any awareness of ATS or the role they play in job hunting. Luckily, ATS technology is structured in a way that makes it fairly easy to see what ATS your resume will be submitted toas long as the company hasnt intentionally taken steps to hide it.You may recall from applying to jobs online that when you hit the apply for this position button, most companies will redirect you to a different page. More often than not, the URL of the new webpage youre on will tell you which ATS youre working with. Heres an exampleDomain while looking at a job description on Amazon.comDomain after you hit apply for that position on Amazon By looking at the URL of the new page that Am azon directs you to for this position, you can see that they are using iCIMS. This neat trick can help you identify which ATS youre dealing with most of the time. Its not a foolproof method, and some companies are beginning to integrate their ATS in a way that disguises which system theyre using. But until all companies make their ATS invisible to candidates, be sure to check the URLs of any company that youre submitting a resume to and see what you can learn from Jobscan about the ATS they use.If you want to learn more about how iCIMS keyword searches, formatting, and social media integration work, sign up with Jobscan today. All users gain access to the ATS Tip tool (see video above), andpremium account members are given access to our iCIMS Applicant Tracking System Uncovered e-book. The e-book goes more in-depthincluding moreiCIMS screenshotsthan what weve shared here, and covers additional topics that can help you tailoryour resume and land your next interviewMore about iCIMSiCI MS founder tells Jobscan about how they try to make things better for applicantsFacebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important

24-hour party people

24-hour party people 24-Hour Party People How To Become An Events ManagerPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie ChunIf you love people, have energy to spare and have superb organisational skills, being an darbietungs manager could be your dream job. After all, who doesnt love a great vorstellung and helping otherbeis to have a good time?With the rise of social media, the boundaries between the social and the professional are becoming increasingly blurred, and businesses in both the public and private sectors are turning to events as a way of increasing their reach, marketing their products and services, and creating a sense of community and fun which in turn help to build business.These events dont organise themselves but require planners and coordinators of the highest order people who can manage staff, pull together teams from different industries, manage budgets, keep a tight rein on schedules and attend to the tiniest of details. Its bedrngnis a career for shrinking violets, but if youve got energy and initiative, it can be an ideal career choice.Working in eventsEvents management involves more, of course, than just throwing parties and being a party animal is notlage a sufficient core competency. A successful event needs to be planned and coordinated with military precision, and event planners need to be methodical and practical, as well as dynamic and creative. You must be able to juggle many tasks at once and be an expert networker and project manager. You must also possess the ability to understand and deliver exactly what clients want, providing dynamic events that follow their objectives and business culture, as well as their budget. For any one event, you may need to coordinate things like venue choice, professional speakers, catering, themes and decor, technology, staging and lighting, audiovisual equipment, photography, media exposure, safety and security, graphics and multimedia materials, traffic and parking, entertainers and equipment hire al l within budget constraints The challenges are many, but so are the rewards. Events management can be a financially rewarding career, and you can find yourself working in a wide range of industries. Strong jobs growth has been predicted in the hotel and resorts industry, as well as not-for-profit organisations.Events management skill requirements and coursesThe key skills required to be a successful events manager are organisational skills, creativity, flexibility, a love of people, time management skills and a willingness to work hard. Some of unterstellung qualities are innate, but most can be learned. You just need to find the right course to receive the right training. The Certificate III in Events and Diploma of Venues and Events offered by Martin College are unique distance education courses that allow you to study events management from the convenience of your own home, according to your own schedule. You can qualify to become an events coordinator in a shorter amount of t ime than through other courses (30 weeks of study for the Certificate III and 80 weeks of study for the Diploma), with 10 start dates throughout the year to give you maximum accessibility. Whats even better, the Diploma of Venues and Events is a VET FEE-HELP course, which means that Australian citizens can receive an interest-free loan to study this course. In other words, you can study now and pay later, once youre earning a certain level of income and you dont need to have completed the Certificate III in Events as a prerequisite. The road to becoming an events manager could not be easier These event management courses will teach you everything you need to know about staging a successful event, covering the fundamentals of event and venue management, budgeting, communications and marketing, as well as industry-standard event management software. You will be well supported with personal tutors and teachers who are events experts with substantial industry experience. In addit ion, Martin College provides students with invaluable work experience as part of the curriculum and its thatreal-worldd experience that will distinguish you from other students and get you noticed by employers. The Martin College Starter Program is an exclusive jobs portal with access to over 250 employers looking to hire graduates and students of Martin College, for everything from balls to conferences, wedding expos and music festivals and its available to every student to help them get started in their career after graduation. According to Karen Sharp, Graduate sitzordnung Coordinator at Martin College, Internships and volunteer roles are designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. They give you experience of working in an events office and being a part of the process from planning through to delivery. Meeting people and creating a network is integral to your career in the events industry, and by volunteering and co mpleting internships, you will be fast-tracking your career development and facilitating your transition from study into the paid workforce. Tracy Holmstrand studied the Diploma of Venues and Events at Martin College and for Tracy, the course was life-changing. Tracy was able to gain work experience at the Cancer Council of Australia through the Martin College Starter Program, working her internship around her schedule. She now works at the Cancer Council as a full-time events coordinator. The experience I gained at the Cancer Council has put me a step above most people at my level. I believe that employers are more willing to hire people who have worked as volunteers and interns, because it shows that youve put in the time, hard work and effort to gain experience. I think this makes you more employable because it means you can contribute more to the business, says Tracy. Ive gained insight into the industry that has prepared me for what to expect in the real world. Its not all glitz and glamour, but I have certainly had my passion ignited to begin a successful career in this industry. If you would like to ignite your passion for a successful career in events management, check out our range of event management courses.Communications ResourcesGovernment communications officer sample resumeGovernment communications officer sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Public Relations OfficerSocial Media ManagerJournalistCommunications OfficerCommunity LiaisonPopular Career Searchesevents management short courseshow to become a journalist in australiajournalism tafediploma of communication and media onlinemedia buying and planning course onlineCommunications CoursesBachelor of Communication (Journalism)Enquire verbunden Enquire OnlineBachelor of Communication (Digital Media)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of CommunicationEnquire Onl ine Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreThe unsung heroes of new years eveTheres more to NYE than champagne and fireworks. As the clock strikes midnight, tomorrow night, spare a thought for the thousands of people working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring you one of the most spectacular events of the year.Charles Sturt University (CSU)CommunicationsHow to Make Your Mark in the CommunicationsThe communication industry is all about telling stories. Learn strategies to build your career as a professional in communications and ensure your stories get seen, heard or read.Communications5 Hottest Media And Communications CareersIf youre an ideas person with a flair for writing, you cant go past a career in communications for diversity and creative stimulation.

How About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile Picture

How About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile PictureHow About Some Cheese with That LinkedIn Profile PictureIts the burning topic on everybodys lips these days. No, its not about politics, or fashion, or what some superstar is naming their twins. As a senior customer success manager at LinkedIn, the question that I get asked again and again (and again) is should I smile or not in my LinkedIn profile picture?I understand that some people may feel like smiling for the camera makes them appear too laid back- maybe they think it looks unprofessional- and I acknowledge that there are differentshall we say degreesof smiles.Some examples of LinkedIn profile picture smilesTheres the classic Mona Lisa- the wry, I have a secret, and Im not telling you, whisper of a smirk.Theres the closed-lips, I dont really want to smile, but I will grimace.Theres the wonky, I welchesnt ready yet grin (not to be confused with the I had a few too many martinis snicker).And then theres the natural, pleasant -faced smile.Ive seen every type of smile used on job candidates LinkedIn profiles. And Ive also heard every reason in the book that people use to justify not smiling in their profile.But heres what I would say to those straight-faced peopleJust. Smile.Heres why you should just smile in your LinkedIn profile picture Whatever your excuse or explanation for not smiling- and Im sure you could come up with a hundred reasons- I would still tell you, with all due respect, you should absolutely, 100 percent, no doubt about it, smileHeres the reason why back in the olden days, like in the 90s, it used to be that the first visual impression that you made on new acquaintances (including hiring managers) was when you met in person. And when you are face-to-face with an arm extended for a handshake, its human instinct to lock eyes and smile.Now, you could get into some National Geographic anthropological analysis and suggest that showing your teeth and engaging in eye contact are primal threats to assert dominance (think of lions and wolves and gorillas- oh my), but most humans have evolved pretty far from chest-beating and growling, so a smile and a firm handshake are perfectly acceptable human behavior these days.But heres the kicker today, in our gammeln era of the interwebs and social media, oftentimes, the first visual impression youre making on a recruiter or hiring manager is notin person rather, its via your LinkedIn profile or your other social media profiles, which is why you should be cautious about what you share zugnglich. But just because the first impression has gone from in-person to online doesnt mean the social norms completely change. This is the reason you should smile in that profile picture. Its the modern-day equivalent to that first handshake.So, my advice? Go ahead and show off those pearly whites and the orthodontia your parents paid for. Its the best way to make a good first impression online. Just like it says in the song made famous by Louis A rmstrong, When youre smiling, the whole world smiles with you. And its trueRebecca Vertucci is a proven expert on recruiting, hiring, and all things LinkedIn. Shes vetted and placed hundreds of candidates while working for corporate HR departments and recruiting agencies before joining LinkedIn where shes a senior customer success manager. Now, as a cofounder ofVertucci Career Academy, Rebecca shares her extensive knowledge and unique perspective with job seekers and those in career transitions through her online course offerings, as well as one-on-one and group coaching programs. For more information on working with Rebecca, please email her at RebeccaVertucciCareerAcademy.com. She offers free career consultations for all members looking to work with a career coach.

Helping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle Sam

Helping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamHelping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamHelping Veterans Ride the Wave of Hiring by Uncle SamThe July jobs report from the Department of Labor was a little bit of a letdown after strong jobs growth in June. More encouraging to exiting military in particular is a wave of hiring of vets by the feds. However, the federal application process itself remains daunting and off-putting. A certification in federal jobs coaching is available that teaches ways to explain the application process so it is leid so overwhelming. A three-time attendee shares some secrets behind her 70-80% success rate with vets she coaches who are leaving the Coast Guard, as well as tips for other federal jobseekers. The tepid July jobs report released achter monat des jahres 1st was somewhat disappointing compared to a robust June. According to the Department of Labor, just 209,000 jobs were added in July, down from 298,000 in June. Even so, the econo my remains in recovery, and the report noted that Junes 6.1% unemployment was unchanged in July. Meanwhile our nations second largest employer the federal government exhibited steady numbers in July. Uncle Sam continues to employ 2% of American workers. A factor in the shadows of the employment landscape is a boost in hiring of vets by the feds. President Obama has made this a priority. For instance, of the 162,839 new hires the Executive Branch of Government brought in during FY 2013, 50,502 were veterans 31%. In general, unemployment of veterans dropped .9% from 06/2013 to 06/2014 to 5.4%.While vets are being hired by the feds, the application process itself remains confusing, daunting and off-putting. Recognizing this, Kathryn Troutman, a leading federal jobs expert, saw the need back in 2002 to establish a train the trainer program for those who coach people seeking federal jobs. Her Ten Steps to a Federal Job Certification program is one of a kind, and it covers her proven s tep-by-step application process, how to write federal resumes that clearly showcase applicants qualifications, and the ins and outs of the various government hiring programs. To date, it has trained over one thousand job counselors including university counselors of students and graduates, state employment center job advisors, coaches of disabled applicants such as Wounded Warriors, and transition specialists for separating military and their spouses around the world.People are having trouble figuring out the federal application process for themselves, says Troutman. Federal jobs are so desirable, and applying is so complicated, that professionals really do need to get specialized training if theyre going to give advice on getting federal jobs.CJ Johnson, a civilian federal employee, has worked as an Exit Strategist and TAP (Transition Assistance Program) specialist for the US Coast Guard in Alameda, CA since 1996. She has taken Troutmans certification training three times and co-t aught it once. Her reasoning for returning? Laws and federal job applications processes change, and Ive wanted to make sure that Im up-to-date, Johnson explains. And her outstanding success rate shows shes a woman who thoroughly understands what she teaches. Its an amazing 70-80%.Whats her secret? Hard work, long hours and a lot of coffee, she responds, only partly in jest. Beyond that, she attributes the framework of Troutmans step-by-step process and the book Ten Steps to a Federal Job. She also emphasizes her own unique performance-based training, where separating Coast Guard work through assignments for each of the Ten Steps in class on computers. For instance, when Johnson walks them through how she set up an account in the federal jobs site, USAJobs.com, her students set up their own. Her three-day class takes students through modules that cover the entire federal application process.Here are tips for vets and other fed jobseekers from Johnsons approachTip 1 Highlight everyth ing youve done on the job announcement and the USAJobs questionnaire.If the highlighting of both is 80% or more, then youre the perfect candidate, Johnson advises. Her students delete anything not highlighted, and the leftover wording is used as a basis for a resume that proves they can do the job.Tip 2 Attach your resume, rather than using the resume builder in USAJobs.The process of entering your resume into the builder can get very convoluted, Johnson notes. I recommend attaching it unless the job announcement requires use of the builder.Tip 3 In your resume, be sure to include the results and impact of the work you did.Look for numbers, dollars, percentages of increase/decrease, results, and the impact that the result caused.Tip 4 Dont be afraid to blend your personality into your resume.In her classes, Johnson gives each student a personality assessment. The result gives them a stronger sense of their strengths, adds color to resumes, and provides a framework for answering i nterview questions.Tip 5 Prepare 10 good stories to tell during the interview.They should relate to the duties of the targeted job. Stories may come to you as youre writing the resume and adding results and impact. Basically, youre preparing to give the interviewer what they need.Tip 6 Know your worth and learn how to negotiate.In the classes, Johnson spends a lot of time looking at the money angle and the best ways to negotiate salary. It comes down to seeing and showing that your knowledge, skills and abilities match the salary youre asking for. Know what you bring to the table, she urges.Johnson shares that students tell her she makes the process fun. This goes well with Troutmans goal for the Certification program. Applying for a federal job is very, very complicated, says Troutman. We teach how to coach someone on the federal application process so that its not so intimidating.The Certification training is provided through three-day in-person workshops or seven 90-minute webin ars. It is in-demand training that has been given to every military base in the Navy, Army and Coast Guard worldwide. For more information, go to the Federal Career Training Institute.Kathryn Troutman is known as the Federal Resume Guru and is the developer of the Ten Steps to a Federal Job. She teaches hundreds of career counselors each year about her highly acclaimed methods of federal job search and has published dozens of titles, including the recent award-winning Students Federal Career Guide 3rd Edition.

Packaging Yourself for a Smaller Role

Packaging Yourself for a Smaller RolePackaging Yourself for a Smaller RoleWhat steps do you need to take to convince employers youre ready to think smaller?Convincing an employer youll savor a new role with a lower profile isnt just a matter of matching qualifications it also requires some serious self-branding as a competitive asset.Randy Hain, managing partner at Bell Oaks Executive Search in Atlanta, suggests several ways to find happiness in a reduced role1. Be a mentor. Market yourself as someone who can help mentor the next generation of leaders from inside the company. Ive seen a lot of companies almost freaking out that they dont have any mentors left in their companies, Hain said. This kind of come in, develop the next generation of leader and then bow out (approach) is actually something that works. 2. Be a maven. Hain said that packaging yourself as a thought leader in a particular area of expertise is also a good way to find your way into work, using social-networking ser vices like LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge. If I can get a candidate to utilize LinkedIn, or even Facebook, and start to talk a lot about their background, and position themselves as a knowledge leader in a certain area, they make themselves more attractive. Its critical, though, to project enthusiasm - and not your age. A lot of candidates in that age bracket - their resumes and LinkedIn profiles are rather stodgy. I coach people on how to build a compelling LinkedIn profile and resume.3. Be a contractor. Another gambit is to approach companies as a consultant. I always tell folks in this age bracket to consider going in and pitching themselves in consulting or maybe contract roles Hey look, Im going to come in and take care of this project for you, for six months, nine months, a year, then lets evaluate how Ive done. For a lot of people, thats actually very attractive. Theyre not necessarily looking for the grind of being part of the team they want to come in, fix a proj ect and move on.What do you want? What do you need? In preparing for the search, Hain said, you should do an honest self-inventory. Id evaluate what I really want out of the next five to 10 years of my career. Is it ego gratification, or do I want to make enough money to get to retirement? Thats a tough evaluation for people whove been flying high. Then you need to evaluate what you have to offer. Do I have a Rolodex (of professional contacts)? Do I have a good reputation? Do I have a strong track record?The contact list - the Rolodex - is critical for re-careering. Who can I call whos going to take my call, make introductions for me, or hire me? You need to really understand that. And once you know all of that, then Id gravitate toward identifying specific companies to approach.Finally, the key to success is flexibility, Hain said. Be flexible early on in the job search, and get into the proper psychology. If (candidates) will open themselves up to contributing, getting a fair in come, and really being convincing to the employer that theyre genuinely interested in anything thats going to allow them to support their family and make a contribution, it goes a long way toward success.That may seem like a no-brainer - but I think that people in this age bracket really struggle with the psychology of it.

Tuning Up a Career in Music Making

Tuning Up a Career in Music MakingTuning Up a Career in Music MakingAfter a reorganization that eliminated his job, Chris Anderson wondered if he could turn his hobby of guitar playing into his work.A lifelong musician, Chris Anderson had always kept his personal interests and his professional life separate, until a layoff gave 49-year-old Anderson the opportunity to combine his passion for music and the guitar with his extensive management skills.In October 2008, Anderson was the national director of shopper absatzwirtschaft for Pepsi Co. and based in Danbury, Conn. In a reorganization, Andersons job was eliminated and he found himself without work just a few short weeks before the hectic holiday season.A sour noteMyself, my boss and my colleagues were all let go effective November 1, Anderson said. With the holidays approaching and many organizations reluctant to hire, he felt he should take time to reconnect with family friends and hobbies, including his guitar playing.I did updat e my resume and submit it to various online job-aggregation sites, but it was rough, Anderson said, I took a lot of time over Thanksgiving and Christmas to get my thoughts together and decide how I was going to attack the job market after the new year.Andersons decided to resist the urge to jump at the first fleck he could find instead, he said, he thought long and hard about the type of work he wanted to do and how he could integrate aspects of his interests with that work.Striking a chordThe first thing I did was assess my skill set and not look to find the same kind of job I had before, he said. My thought process was, What can I take from my life experiences and my previous jobs? How can I apply those skills and interests to other industries? His second step was to reach out to his community. Anderson and others whod recently become unemployed formed a social network of people that would meet each week.Quite a few people in my area were affected, and wed have informal meetings t o provide not just networking and swap leads and connections, but to support each other, Anderson said. The job search was infinitely more difficult than any project Anderson had ever tackled at work, he said, and he quickly amassed a variety of different resumes and deckblatt letters for a wide variety of marketing and management jobs.He also continued reaching out to recruiters and networking within his personal circles, as well as joining MktgLadder. Anderson used Ladders resume-critique service and found that the advice he read on the site was applicable to other online job sites he frequented. He said he was able to extrapolate many of the lessons learned from Ladders and use them to differentiate himself from other job candidates both on his resume, cover letter and during interviews.You know that so many other people are affected by job losses, and theyre also out searching, Anderson said. Its going to be really difficult for your name to pop unless you can elevate yourself a bove the rest of the pack.A smash hitAndersons diligence paid off when he landed his dream job, global product manager for Gibson Guitars, based in Nashville, Tenn. Anderson said it was a position well worth waiting for and that it will allow him to incorporate his management and marketing skills with his passion for music and his lifelong hobby.This is an opportunity to get paid for something I love, and Im so glad I had the patience to really think my priorities through before I got into the search, he said. I had the patience to wait and make sure I was getting the right job for me, not just taking the first thing that comes along.Though Gibson Guitars went through a downsizing of its own in late 2008, Anderson said he feels the companys long-term prospects are still good. From his perspective, with more guitarists and hobbyists spending time at home, demand will remain steady. Anderson also said that Gibson is finding new business opportunities in emerging markets like China.In April 2009, Gibson introduced its Raw Power series, which offers stripped-down versions of the companys most popular guitar models. The series comes at a great time for the company and is aimed at boosting sales in a slumping economy.Anderson will relocate to Nashville to begin his new position in April.I know I can work hard, make a good impression and work my way up, he said. I am thrilled but also aware that in this economy, I am one of the lucky ones.