Ninety-five percent of resumes are bad, as stated by HR specialists. But that doesn't mean that 95% of candidates are bad professionals anyway, it only means that their resumes are poorly written. Read the most common errors that are made in resumes over and over again and find out how to translate your qualifications and experience into an excellent resume.

Mistake #1. Duties instead of accomplishments.

While writing about your work experience don't use job-description language, i.e. don't list responsibilities and duties of a certain position as it shows that you can only perform basic job functions.

Solution:
Include high-impact accomplishments that will show what you did to overcome problems, what the results of your efforts were, how you helped your employer to make money, save time and make work easier.

Quantify whenever possible (10% growth in overall sales, acquired 15 new clients in existing territory, supervised staff of 30, served a customer base of 100).

Use action verbs: coordinated, achieved, managed, implemented.

Mistake #2. Generic and unfocused resume.

Employers scan resumes for 2.5 - 20 seconds and during this time they should clearly understand that you are a good fit for the position.

Solution:
Sharpen your focus by writing an resume objectives statement, summary qualifications or profile that would be powerful and concise and demonstrate your value as a candidate. According to Career Masters Institute your resume should be a clear match between you and a particular job's requirements. Though your experience doesn't change your resume should be changed and targeted at a certain vacancy.

Mistake #3. Lack of keywords.

Solution:
Nowadays lots of recruiter companies use electronic management system, i.e. they search resume databases for specific key-words that relate to job vacancies. Be sure your resume won't be skipped and include keywords that an employer may be looking for in your resume.

Mistake #4. Important skills at the bottom.

Don't list information on your resume in a chaotic way as it's difficult for a hiring manager to follow and see the point.

Solution:
Present information in order of importance to the reader. If you have 10+ years of work experience put your experience first and after that point out your education. While writing about your skills, be wise and don't put "Computer Skills" section at the end of your resume if you work in a technology field and computer skills are relevant to your skills. So list them in your Summary/Profile section instead or make "Technical experience and proficiency" a separate section.

Mistake #5. No extras.

Solution:
To show that you are a well-rounded employee mention extra education, training, professionally relevant courses, special projects, recognitions in your particular job area or industry.

Mistake #6. Use of superlatives.

Solution:
Superlatives like 'Best marketing executive' sound boastful so say 'promoted as a Relationship Manager within 3 months' instead.

Mistake #7. Repetition.

Solution:
Variety is crucial for your resume. Don't pick a couple of words and stick them through entire document.

Mistake #8. Lying.

Solution:
It's OK when an applicant wants to show his or her experience in the most attractive light. But be wise and don't go too far in inflating your past accomplishments. Remember that lying is always a bad idea and that you have a chance to lose all credibility.

Mistake #9. Too much industry slang.

Solution:
Your skills, knowledge and abilities should be presented in short and easy-to-read statements, don't go verbose and long-winded.

Mistake #10. Cluttered information.

Solution:
Leave off the personal information, i.e. age, gender, race, church affiliation or knitting skills as there can be easily found a reason to disqualify you.

Mistake #11. Unprofessional e-mail address.

Solution:
Be sure that your resume address doesn't look like any of these: alliecat@, bacardigirl@, bighotdaddy@, drunkensquirl@, foxylady@, gigglez217@

Mistake #12. Misdirected.

Solution:
Resume which is sent 'to whom it may concern' or an abstract hiring manager is usually skipped. That's why do yourself a favor and find a real person at the company who is responsible for hiring in the department you are targeting.

Mistake #13. Unique and creative lay-out

Solution:
Remember that employer is looking for content not fancy or eye-catching design. Besides, it makes your resume difficult to read. However, well prepared resume templates will always help.

Mistake #14. Too small fonts.

Solution:
Don't go smaller than 10 points, try not to use comic or fancy fonts - it doesn't look professional, don't mix font types and leave white space to allow eyes to rest.

Mistake #15. Resume format.

Solution:
Be sure that your resume is easily opened and formatted in a proper way. There are 4 most popular resume formats:

1) resume created in Microsoft Word (attractive visual presentation but its formatting may appear inconsistently from computer to computer when sent as an email attachment)

2) text resume (carries .txt file extension, is not visually appealing but can be pasted into the body of your email message)

3) resume created in PDF (appears consistently from computer to computer, completely invulnerable to viruses, free download software)

4) web-based resume (is accessible 24/7, enables passive job-seeking as employers can find your resume on the Web using various search mechanisms but you need to have a place and means to publish it)15 most common mistakes to avoid in your resume.

To sum it up, resume writing is a very serious and important part in your job hunting, because very often it is the first impression you make on your prospective employer. By following the tips listed above, you increase the chances of making the impression you hope for and thus getting the interview for your dream job.

This article is provided by ResumeBuilderTemplate - a free resume builder service which not only allows you to create a professional resume in minutes, but to host it online and distribute to potential employers.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 28, 2009 at 1:27 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Following is a guest post from Adrienne Carlson who writes for ExecutiveMBAPrograms.org If you want to read the post on that site click here.

Unlike Facebook and the like, LinkedIn is strictly a social network for professionals with over 48 million members in over 200 countries. Working like a sophisticated online business card, members from those new to the workforce all they way to CEO's of Fortune 500 companies utilize the free service. However, there is a right and wrong way to do it, and below are the top ten rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Business professionals.

1. Bad Profile Picture
2. Professionals who choose to post a picture of themselves on LinkedIn should keep the same frame of mind. Although everyone loves to see pictures of children, it can send the wrong image when looking for a professional online. Other mistakes, such as bad lighting, posing, misleading shots, and others can be fairly obvious, but still manage to happen. It may even be worth hiring a professional photographer to make sure it is done right.
3. Honesty
4. It may be tempting to embellish that resume or bio on LinkedIn, but it is important to remember that anyone can see it. This includes both current and former colleagues and bosses, who can shine a light on any inconsistencies. It is much easier to erase a little white lie before you post, rather than after it has been exposed.
5. Catch Them With a Headline
6. Ever passed on an article because the headline didn't grab you? The same rules apply to LinkedIn etiquette. Taking the time to craft a catchy and memorable summary can make all the difference. This site can help with headline guides, formulas, and more.
7. Status Updates
8. Walking a fine line between too many and too few status updates on any social networking sites can be difficult, and LinkedIn is no different. A good rule to have in mind is to keep updates professional. Whether discussing a project, event, etc. these can actually be helpful and show your network that you are engaged. However, updating several times a day can be annoying and have connections dropping you in no time. If confused, try looking at a profile you like and emulating how many times they update their status.
9. Utilize Links
10. Although LinkedIn allows you to post a link to up to three websites, many users simply title them My Company or My Blog. Because neither is tantalizing, get creative when naming the sites you link back to and entice the viewer to click on them. There are also widgets such as The Profile Widget or Company Insider to help even more.
11. Get Recommendations
12. Whether from a supervisor, colleague, subordinate, or even client, positive recommendations can make a big difference. As with most things, having too much can turn off possible connections and make you seem too needy. When asking for them, be sure to include a personal note as to why and what you would like to avoid the standard, boring recommendations.
13. Introductions Are In Order
14. As a LinkedIn member, you may receive or send requests for introductions to other members. When receiving them, be sure you trust whoever is sending them or ask a follow up question before accepting to avoid spam and scams. If sending a request for an introduction, be sure you ask your connection prior so that they know why and be more inclined to accept your request.
15. App It Up
16. LinkedIn has added nine different applications, similar to those on other social networking sites, to help your profile stand out some more. When used correctly and in the right doses, they can help you with travel, blogging, workspaces, and more. There is even a Google and SlideShare presentation app to help you share your work straight from your profile.
17. SEO
18. SEO, or search engine optimization, can help others find a profile such as "sales" or "real estate." By repeating these words, you can increase the chances that a search engine such as Google will retrieve your profile. However, using the same words over and over can be confusing once you do get the traffic you desire. Try and keep a balance when utilizing SEO.
19. URL
20. This is a little harder if your name is John Smith, but those with unique and unusual names can grab an easy and memorable URL on LinkedIn. It is very useful if the contact you are speaking with doesn't have anything to write with or if someone wants to see your LinkedIn profile without having to paste in a long link. If your name is John Smith, try a URL such as JohnAtBlankCompany.

Useful for both a job search or building a network with a broad reach, LinkedIn can be a massively useful tool when used correctly and utilizing these top ten rules of LinkedIn etiquette for business professionals.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 28, 2009 at 10:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Okay, so by default, I weave guidance into my in-depth resume writing processes that smacks of coaching. Recently, Recruiting Animal (@Animal) took note of this in his blog post: "The Resume Writer."

However, today, I beg to differentiate myself: I am a word wrangler, message clarifier and career story teller (i.e., resume writer) - not a career coach. At the end of the day, my clients hire me for the influential 'words' that erupt from the virtual and literal pages that we create, for the words that spring from their lips during job interviews, networking conversations or when caught unaware in casual conversation.

As well, my job as a career writer is to push, prod, ask the reporter's 'who, what, where, when and why' questions, drive for deeper understanding of where the job seeker has been and even more importantly, provide them the spade to unearth their unique value drivers that help define where they want to go!

As a good career reporter, I do my research. This involves a barrage of questions, the answers of which often lie dormant in the job hunter's head and involve intellectually rigorous recovery and regurgitation (My clients work hard! Likewise, I lift intellectual weights on their behalf!). Moreover, the job seekers I write for find themselves performing research to illustrate their go-forward goals.

Serious about my writing trade, I maintain ongoing niche-specific credentials (including Master Resume Writer) qualifying me to build the engine for a job seeker's career vehicle, tapping the job seeker's truth and powering it up with word fuel that drives the message home to the target reader. It's all about the audience reading the story, after all!

It's been bugging me for awhile, this tendency to lump resume writers and coaches into one entity, almost as if to say, that without adding 'coaching' to our label, then we're 'just' resume writers with perceived lower value.

I applaud my resume writing colleagues who equally market their career coaching and resume writing talents, for many are passionate about blending the two professions. However, that's not me. My overriding value proposition is my career reporting skills: abilities in in-depth research, asking the driving questions, unearthing career gold nuggets, whittling 25 pages of career brain dump down to 2-3 crisp, compelling and focused pages, and marketing the job seeker's value to the right reader, influencing them to call.

Article by Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, one of only 26 Master Resume Writers (MRW) in the world, who has a B.A. in Writing and is owner of Career Trend, a career strategy and writing firm serving a global market. Jacqui composes career positioning documents that land interviews for forward-thinking executives and professionals, unearthing and translating their 'value into words.' Connect with her on LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquibarrett. Follow her on Twitter - @ValueIntoWords

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 22, 2009 at 2:46 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As co-coordinator with my colleague, Miriam Salpeter, I am proud to help launch a new community of expert career advisors and resume writing professionals called the Career Collective. Today's post is one of many responses to the question, "Are you a cookie cutter job seeker?" I encourage you to visit other members' responses, which will be linked at the end of my reply later this afternoon! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective.

So, you are the guy with the master's degree in the same thing your job competitors have a master's degree in. At your last position you were personally responsible for _______________. Fill in the blank with one of the following answers, A. Increasing Sales, B. Increasing Productivity or C. Team Building.

Guess what? So did 99% of the other applicants.

You are just like every other cookie on the sheet. Same size, cooked for the same amount of time, same golden brown color, same texture.

What real difference does it make to one eating the cookies as to which row on the sheet the cookie came from, they are all exactly alike. Just pick one, eat it and move on.

The same holds true in the world of look alike resumes. Same old blah, blah, blah. For the most part hiring managers could take them, fling them in the air, grab one from the pile as they float to the floor, and make his or her decision based on that highly technical and thorough, technique.

You must stand out from the crowd. Especially in today's highly competitive job market.

One of the best ways to stand out of course is to work with a professional who will ferret out those things that you either don't think are important or you may have forgotten about.

How many times have you sat down to write your own resume, or a letter to your mother, or a note to your spouse for that matter, and after sending it to the recipient thought to yourself, "Oh, I forgot to mention this , or that?"

Had you consulted with someone first, the odds of leaving anything out would have been greatly diminished. That is the beauty of having your resume professionally written. Once the worksheet is done, you have had the opportunity to spend time thoroughly going over your career up to this point. All the while your resume writer asks probing questions that allow them to get down to the nuts and bolts of who you are and how you were able to accomplish those successes.

Almost every Saturday night during sailing season a group of us sit around and tell stories about recent sailing adventures. We laugh at each other, compliment each other and offer ideas on how to do it better. But the most fun part is when someone else tells a story about what I did or didn't do. Now , I could tell the same story about myself, and all the facts would remain. But listening to someone else tell the same story from their unique perspective is always a hundred times more entertaining, not just to me, but to the rest of the crew as well.

The same holds true with allowing an expert "story teller" tell your story.

You are what you are and most people are not professional writers. Professional writers, or at least successful professional writers, spend much of their time researching the English language and constantly are on the lookout for better ways to express thoughts and ideas.

You've worked too long and too hard at becoming a success to wind up just another cookie on the tray. So why not make sure the one in charge of cookie selection is aware that you have a lot more chips then the other guys.

Article by Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, one of only 26 Master Resume Writers (MRW) in the world, who has a B.A. in Writing and is owner of Career Trend, a career strategy and writing firm serving a global market. Jacqui composes career positioning documents that land interviews for forward-thinking executives and professionals, unearthing and translating their 'value into words.' Connect with her on LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquibarrett. Follow her on Twitter - @ValueIntoWords

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Job Interview "Secret"

You've just finished the interview you hoped to get and it went pretty well as far as you can tell. Now you must play the 'waiting game,' as the hiring manager makes his or her decision about offering you the job. However, you can be active even as you wait. Here's a secret most people don't know about--so keep it to yourself, okay?

A Gift That Continues to Give

Give the interviewer a 'gift.' No! Not a Starbucks card or a movie pass. In fact, if you're not careful such a gift might be considered a bribe, so of course you want to avoid that. However, you can give something of value that will be seen as a kind gesture from a person who has taken note of the employer's interests and hobbies.

You can pass on a 'gift of information'--an article from a magazine or newspaper, a reference to a certain web site, or a brochure or pamphlet--that focuses on something the hiring manager would welcome, use, and enjoy.

Thank You PLUS

For example, suppose you and the interviewer talked about your mutual interest in golf or dog training or skiing or chess. How nice it would be to include some printed information on one of these topics that reminds the hiring manager of your conversation and your thoughtfulness. This gift along with a short but friendly note of thanks for the interview would surely put your name and face in a prominent place in the interviewer's mind.

Employer Benefits

Even if you don't get the job, you've taken a good and kind step toward another person. That will pay off in one way or the other.

1. It shows enthusiasm for the open position.
2. It displays your diligence and commitment.
3. It demonstrates that you paid attention to the interviewer and his or her interests.
4. It illustrates that you are a thoughtful and generous person with your time and energy.

And finally, such gifts sent periodically, help you keep in touch with your interviewer until the job is filled.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney's breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair... DURING your next job interview.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 5, 2009 at 6:24 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
Author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator

A solid cover letter has many good characteristics, including being clear, focused, informative, and friendly. But all of these traits fade from the hiring manager's mind if the letter does not motivate him or her to schedule you for an interview. Therefore, keep that essential point front and center as you create your winning cover letter. Remember, hundreds of other job hunters are seeking the same position you are so it's important that you stand out from the crowd. Here's how:

• State your objective in bold lettering above your greeting:

Example: Trained and Experienced Accountant Ready For Immediate Hire

• Get right to the point. Show the employer that you are familiar with the position he or she wants to fill and are fully qualified for the work it requires.

Example: I welcome the opportunity to demonstrate, as Manager of the Accounting Department, what I can do to increase efficiency, introduce more productive ways of doing business, and improve the company's bottom line.

• Mention your experience. I worked for Sloan and Sons for five years as the Assistant Manager of the accounting department and received three 'outstanding company service' awards during my tenure there.

• Acknowledge the hiring manager for his or her time.

Example: Thank you for taking time to review my cover letter and resume. I appreciate this opportunity.

• Ask for an in-person interview.

Example: May I meet with you in person? I'll be happy to come to your office or get together off-site, as you prefer, at any time that is convenient for you. Feel free to call my home or office: 888-888-8888.

There you have it--a list of ingredients that will catch the eye of a hiring manager who is serious about interviewing qualified people for a job he or she is eager to fill. YOU can be that person by writing a cover letter that wins the job interview--and a job offer.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3 1/2 minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 5, 2009 at 6:14 AM | Leave a Comment (0)