How Your Résumé Can Make You More Money

A great résumé can be a powerful thing – so powerful that it can increase your income.

Before telling you about an interesting strategy for using your résumé as an instrument to get you more money, it’s vital to understand what makes a GREAT résumé. You can find out the guidelines for writing a great résumé by reading my last blog post entitled “Does Your Resume Sell You?”

In a nutshell, your résumé should convey your qualifications, accomplishments and experience as they relate to the job position you’re targeting:

Unfortunately, most people write their résumé as a job description where they make note of what their responsibilities were at every job they ever had. This will not “sell” you to prospective employers.

The following strategy works best for those who are currently employed and not necessarily looking for a new job: –

First, put together a WOW résumé that “sells” you to prospective employers and post it to major job boards such as CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed, Dice, YahooJobs, etc. – to find specific job boards for your particular job position, search by the job position title and the words “job boards.” Also, you can post your résumé anonymously using each job board’s privacy options if you are concerned about your current employer finding your résumé online.

Now, just sit back and wait to see what type of response you get. There are always recruiters out there scanning job boards for great applicants; that’s their job after all!

Don’t stop there - Be sure to update your résumé on a quarterly basis by adding any additional experience you’ve obtained such as a new job function, new system or technology you’ve learned and become an expert in using. Make updating your résumé a regular practice by scheduling it on your calendar so you don’t forget. (Google Calendars is a free app you can use for this purpose.) Then repost it to those same job boards.

In general, recruiters search for résumés that have been recently uploaded, for example, within the last 30 days, so reposting your résumé will give your résumé a better chance of being found. By having an up-to-date résumé you will always be ready if you suddenly need to find a job. An easy way to keep track of your accomplishments is to write them down as they occur and then to file them in a folder. You can then look through your “accomplishment folder” when arranging for your résumé update.

Key point: The fastest way to make more money is to get a new job that pays more than you’re currently getting. Even if you don’t want to leave your current job, you can use that new offer as leverage to get a raise at your current job.

Here are some other benefits of keeping your résumé up-to-date and going through this process:

1)     It will keep you focused on creating accomplishments.

2)     It will increase your confidence by helping you to realize the value you bring to an organization.

3)     It will help you to convey your value during your performance reviews and job interviews.

So, be sure to dust off your current résumé, have it professionally written and updated, and start posting to job boards!

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Would you like to make more money?

If you are looking for professional help with proven strategies for advancing your career –

or if you need a GREAT resume that opens the doors to interviews -

Call (201) 236-1158 or email Donna@CACoaching.com.

Does Your Resume "Sell" You?

I recently received a flyer in the mail from a window cleaning service which caught my eye because my windows desperately need some overdue cleaning! The flyer included a company web address, so I decided to look them over to decide whether or not to call them for an estimate for the work.

I was pleasantly surprised by the information they provided; they had pictures of their work, beautiful homes and impressive office buildings, a website that was easy to navigate and well-organized, client testimonials that addressed the concerns they had taken care of, and seals of approval from rating agencies that verified their work. 

They had me sold!

If you want to capture a prospective employer's attention with your résumé, you have to do the same thing. Think about it. Employers need to hire candidates that will do a great job for them, but they have no idea as to whether or not you can meet their expectations. The best way to convince them is to showcase your work experience and set out your past accomplishments so they can envision how you will do the same for them.

Here are 7 ways to market yourself as a great candidate that companies would LOVE to hire:

1)     Write your résumé focused on a specific job target

The number one mistake people make when preparing a résumé is writing a generalized, generic résumé that they think can be used for a number of job positions. They believe they are qualified to do a number of jobs so they make sure they include all of their competencies, skills and background relating to many jobs. It is much more effective to decide first on the job position you want to target and then write the résumé highlighting your experience as it pertains to that job position. If you want to target more than one job then prepare more than one résumé.

2)     Convey your brand

Your brand should tell the prospective employer what uniquely sets you apart from other candidates vying for the same position. One way to do this is to imagine yourself sitting in the reception area next to someone who has a similar background, experience, education, and qualifications as you do. Why should the prospective employer hire you instead of him or her?

3)     Grab their attention with an outstanding summary statement

This is the most important part of the résumé and determines whether or not the hiring manager will keep reading.  This is your opportunity to shine and sell yourself.  If possible, summarize your career by setting out 3 or 4 of your most important qualifications and accomplishments.

4)     Write about your accomplishments

Another BIG mistake that I see on "homemade" résumés is to set out a laundry list of responsibilities. It is much more impressive and will REALLY get the hiring manager's attention if you write about your accomplishments instead. Be sure to quantify those accomplishments whenever possible.

5)     Make it clear, concise, and compelling

It is EXTREMELY tempting to make sure you cover every single important fact about your career history but surprisingly, not the most effective. It is not uncommon for people to write reams of wordy paragraphs and to make their résumé too long. A better strategy is to tell just enough to peak their interest. It should be readily apparent what you have done, easy to understand, and to the point.

6)     Format your résumé for easy readability

If you're like me (and most people) you are not a fan of reading long, detailed instruction manuals - and yet that's the way many people write their résumés; tons of info, not a lot of white space on the page, small fonts to squeeze in all of that info... Now just imagine having to read those documents all day long! If you make your résumé easy to read, you will increase your chances of having your résumé read in the first place.

7)     Use significant key words

Your résumé will very likely be scanned by 3 different audiences: computer databases, administrative personnel, and the actual hiring manager. In all three cases (especially the first two) it is important to include significant keywords that demonstrate that you possess the qualifications necessary to do the job. You wouldn't want your résumé to get lost among hundreds of others just because it wasn't immediately apparent that you had the background, skills, and competencies they were looking for!

If you follow the above guidelines for writing a GREAT résumé, you, too will have them sold!

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Want to have a professionally written résumé that “sells” you to prospective employers?

Contact Donna@CACoaching.com for a free evaluation of your current résumé.

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The Truth About Getting a Job Today

When it was time to begin looking for a college for my son to attend, I found a really great book which gave an insider’s scoop on how to get into a top-tier college - including Ivy League colleges. (If you’re interested, the name of the book is, “The Truth About Getting In,” by Katherine Cohen, Ph.D.) The book provides a lot of insight and information about what it really takes to get into the college of your dreams.

The idea of getting into a top-tier college can be likened to trying to get a job today – I’m sorry to say, it seems to be just as hard! Unfortunately, I keep coming across job seekers who just don’t have a clue as to what it takes to get a job in this difficult job market. While it may be very hard to get a good job today, it is certainly possible – if you do the right things to get in.

Here is a list of the essential things you need to do to get in and get a great job today (I’m not talking Starbucks!):

1)     Prepare marketing materials that “sell” you. Be sure to hire a trained, certified, expert resume writer – don’t try to do the job yourself and don’t think the $99 - $199 resume writer you can get on Craigslist will do the trick. Would you go to a physician’s assistant to treat a brain tumor?

2)     Identify your accomplishments; if you don’t have enough, get some. Volunteer to do pro bono work and get endorsements that attest to your work product.

3)     Convey your uniqueness. What sets you apart from the 300 other candidates vying for the same job?

4)     Separate yourself from the pack in your industry. It may require getting a higher degree or certification to develop expertise in a highly sought after niche area of your industry.

5)     Position yourself in the top 10% in your industry. Remember how everyone was so impressed by the kids who graduated at the top of their class? There is no arguing with excellence.

6)     Establish meaningful networks. Join trade associations and actively get involved and get to know the members. You never know, the next person you set up a Starbucks coffee date with may put you in touch with a company that has the perfect job opening for you.

7)     Don’t look for a job ONLY using traditional methods. I want to scream every time a job seeker tells me they’ve spent the majority of their time submitting their resume to job postings on job boards. It’s like the disillusioned, bad singers you see on American Idol; I’m always shocked at how they really think they have good singing voices!

Finally, please keep in mind…

Even if you work extremely hard at setting yourself up for success, it’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight.

Finding a job can be compared to starting up a new business; there are a lot of things you have to get in place and set in motion before the business begins to thrive. For example, it takes time to write up a business and marketing plan, identify and get in touch with your ideal customers, set up systems, get financing, serve your customer, create good will – you get the idea – it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that takes time, but once everything is set in place the business will eventually be self-sustainable.

Here’s the really good news.

Once you establish yourself as a sought-after worker and have a valuable network in place, you will never, EVER have to look for a job again; the jobs will come to you.

Divorced and out of work...now what?

It's hard enough to cope with the life changing event of going through a divorce, but even more disconcerting when you have to find a job after having been away from the workplace for an extended period of time. It can be scary to suddenly have to support yourself financially - although the positive side of this challenge is that it is an opportunity for growth and empowering to know that you can triumph in a difficult situation and have full control of your life.

A few common issues faced by divorced men and women who are re-entering the job market are:

·         Lack of career direction

·         Gaps in employment

·         Skills that may need to be updated

Here are seven strategies for overcoming these problems:

1)     Adopt a Positive Mindset

As with any difficult challenge in life, the #1 ingredient that guarantees success is to possess the right mindset that will work for you rather than against you. When faced with seemingly daunting tasks to undertake, the initial reaction may be to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed.  It's vital to believe in yourself and your ability to handle any situation that life throws your way.  

2)     Get Focused and Decide What Position(s) to Target

If you have no idea what type of work you want to do or qualify for, it may be tempting to go on job boards, look over advertised openings and apply to anything and everything that you think might be a job you can get. This strategy rarely works. Instead, ask yourself this question: "What job positions do I qualify for based on my education, experience, and background?" Then focus on one or two positions you're interested in and appear to be a good fit for you.

3)     Deal with Employment Gaps on your Resume

As part of your toolkit for the job hunt, it is imperative to have a well-written, impactful resume that will get a prospective employer's attention to call you in for an interview. If you've been away from the workplace for years, employers will assume that your skills are not up-to-date. The best strategy to adopt is to either create a resume with a functional format (one that relies on categorical, skills-based sections to demonstrate your qualifications for a particular job) or include any recent volunteer experience relevant to the job position you're targeting.

4)     Update your Skills

It is important to scour job openings and descriptions to find out exactly what qualifications employers are looking for within a particular job position. If you don't have those skills, it may take you out of the running for that job position, so it would be in your best interest to acquire that knowledge. If you need to update your computer software skills for example, you can take classes, hijack the nearest kid for help or take a book out of the library and practice until you've mastered your topic.

5)     Get a temporary job

Sign up with a few temp agencies in your area. The benefits are numerous; you'll be able to update your skills, build your experience, make connections and enhance your resume. It will also allow you to decide if that job position is one you would like to have on a permanent basis.  You never know, it may also lead to an offer for permanent employment.

 

6)     Network to Find a Job

The advantage many people have from being away from the workforce for an extended period of time is having formed a lot of social connections; especially, through volunteer work. Let your connections know that you are looking to re-enter the workplace. Tell them specifically what you're looking for and qualified to do then ask them for advice as opposed to asking if they know of job openings. Do your homework and be prepared to let them know what you're specifically looking for them to help you with. Some possibilities may be to ask them to be a reference, provide insider information on a particular company or industry, or to provide an introduction to someone in your field.

7)     Get Support

Getting support is imperative and can be the difference between failing and succeeding in the job search. Join a job search support group, hire a Career Coach or at the very least enlist the help of a buddy to keep tabs on your progress. Searching for a job today can be quite challenging. You will need a support system to motivate you, keep you accountable for all of the actions you will need to take, and to give you ideas when your job search doesn't always go according to plan.

Small Biz Success Story – Grass Roots Flooring, an Online Business

My goal in interviewing small business owners is to provide my listeners with ideas and possibilities for owning and operating their own business. Jen Ortega of Grass Roots Flooring did not disappoint! She provided prospective small business owners with some great ideas for starting up and marketing an online business. During the interview, she explained why she and her partner chose an online retail business.

Here were some of their reasons:

·         They wanted to be able to drop ship their products so they wouldn’t have to bother with packaging and mailing a product

·         Low start-up costs

·         Low overhead

·         The ability to provide quality at affordable prices

·         Less stress

I would add that another benefit to having your own online store is that people can buy your products at any time of the day so you’re not bound by time constraints in selling your products.

She also related how they decided on the product they chose to sell (hint: it had to do with their love of watching HGTV!) and the essential steps they needed to take in order to become educated in selling their product. I think one of the best points that Jen made was that you don’t have to know everything about your business in order to start up your business – the knowledge will come as you move forward.

This point struck a chord with me as I see so many of people who never reach out and grab a hold of their dreams because they get stuck in analysis paralysis!

Jen and her partner are a shining example of believing in yourself and just going for your dreams – that begins with having the confidence that you will meet every challenge as it arises (she related some of these challenges in the interview as well).

After all, isn’t that what a life worth living is all about anyway?

It’s the ability to meet every challenge that comes your way with the confidence that you can handle it!

What would you do to make your dream a reality?

On May 3^rd I had the pleasure of interviewing Leah Wietholter who has a successful forensic accounting business. She has been in business for a little more than a year and already has had to hire people to help her handle all of the work that she has; a problem every small business owner would love to have.

When she decided to make the commitment to start her company she had 2 major challenges to contend with. She had to:

1)     Support herself while she ramped up her business, and

2)     Find customers as soon as possible

She immediately started contacting lawyers in her district to ask to meet with them to find out more about their practices with the intention of explaining how she could service them. Her strategy paid off as she received a major contract from one of her first meetings with a local attorney.

The most amazing aspect of her story was the sacrifices she consciously made in order to get her business up and running. To begin with, she made up her mind to live simply to keep her expenses down. In order to support herself while working to grow and develop her new business, she worked at odd part time jobs to raise enough money to live.  For example, she worked for a furniture refinishing company and made take home dinners for her friends – talk about resourceful!

Her sacrifice and hard work certainly paid off.

During the interview, Leah shared the great marketing ideas she implemented for getting her business started and her unique method for approaching prospective clients.

You can find out what they were by playing back my interview with Leah by going to: www.blogtalkradio.com/yourcareermakeover

Interview with E.G. Sebastian - #1 Reason Why Small Business Entrepreneurs Fail

To listen to the interview playback, go to: www.blogtalkradio.com/YourCareerMakeover

Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss?

Would you like to have unlimited income potential?

How would your life change if you did?

I recently interviewed E.G. Sebastian, a successful entrepreneur and sales and marketing expert on my live talk radio show, Your Career Makeover.  

E.G. shared his story of how he was able to go from making $100 per month as a surgical assistant to owning and operating his own import/export business and becoming a millionaire in his native country of Hungary.

While he has experienced both highs and lows as an entrepreneur, E.G. explained what some of the pitfalls were on the road to success and provided insight into what makes a successful business owner.

If you've ever considered owning and running your own business this show is for you!

Here are some key excerpts from our interview:

DB: Could you give our audience a brief overview of your career, how you got started as an entrepreneur and the level of success you’ve had?

EGS: I grew up in Budapest, Hungary. My first job was as a surgical assistant making $100 per month. While I liked my job, I was dissatisfied because I felt I wasn’t making a good enough income. In 1991, I decided that I was going to make a big career change - I would become a millionaire or street bum! I quit my job and joined a sales firm. I had a great deal of enthusiasm and drive, and while that first job did not work out the way that I had hoped, I was recognized by another business owner for my eagerness to succeed and my ability to speak multiple languages and given another opportunity in sales. I started from nothing and within a short period of time made $1K per week.  My customers were very wealthy individuals and I felt that if others succeeded I could as well. This thinking led to my partnering with a Chinese investor where I eventually became general manager of his business and 49% owner. Unfortunately, due to various business mistakes, I also ended up $300,000 in debt. After much hard work and learning from my mistakes, I earned my first million dollars at the age of 27. Only 5% of people in Hungary made that much money at that time. Once I made my first million it was easy to make more.

It was at that time that I decided to go to the U.S. to become an even bigger success. Again, due to poor judgment on my part, I lost almost all of my money. I didn’t do enough market research and had to compete with big businesses such as Walmart and Costco with my import/export business. At that time I decided to go back to school and get my college degree, eventually got a job as a project manager and while I had a good deal of success at that job, I realized that I missed being an entrepreneur.

DB: In your opinion, what characteristics should the ideal business owner have?

EGS: The desire to just jump in and do it – anybody can do it, but you must not be lazy.

I believe these character strengths are necessary to be a successful entrepreneur: a burning desire to succeed and the constant drive to accomplish what you set out to do. You also must set goals and mini goals to work on each day so that you are focused on accomplishing your goals.

Also, other characteristics that are helpful are being creative so that you can attract clients, good problem solving skills that can easily be learned and finally, risk tolerance.

DB: I’m sure you’ve heard that according to statistics, 50% of all businesses fail within the first 5 years, what are some of the mistakes they make?

EGS: Lack of marketing knowledge is what drives businesses under and not doing any marketing research before getting started with your business. Also, you must be sure to set your prices right and hoose the right location for your operation.

DB: What do you think is the #1 reason why small business entrepreneurs fail?

EGS: People do not know how to market their services effectively. You have to have a clear process in place to continuously market and grow your business.