One of the first rule of thumb when writing a resume is to keep it as simple and precise as possible. Many believe that a resume should not be longer than a single page but that is often debatable. In the case of a software engineer, it might not be possible to maintain a single page resume going by their varied skills, experience and qualifications. However it's an individual's choice. An ideal resume of a software engineer must begin with a summary, giving very brief information about you as a person, along with your skills and a brief information on the domain you have been working in. Continue reading ...

Article by, Arthur Donald and courtesy of Associated Content, Inc.

• Lack of experience: I don't mean your lack of experience in writing a resume, but your lack of anything substantial to put down in the space marked for experience. Employers are not too keen on taking on greenhorns who have to be trained for the job - this costs them time and money. So experience matters. So what do you do if you're a college graduate who's on the lookout for a job? You're going to claim that it's practically impossible for you to have gained any experience. Au contraire, if you know what you want to do with your life early on in college, you could gain experience through internships and volunteer programs in the industry of your choice. You may not get paid, but at least you gain in experience and enhance your prospects of landing a good job.

I took my daughter to the mall this weekend to buy her a new pair of shoes (hang in here with me for a few minutes and you'll see where I'm going.) Unfortunately for my daughter, she has a wide foot. Which means only select stores carry her size shoe and it only comes in select styles. She's still in children's sized shoes so this even further complicates the issue. We normally go to this same store to buy her shoes every time she needs a pair and it's the only one in my area that carries wide shoes for children. When I went to the store they were out of her size in every single style (over 30) except one. The clerk made the comment 'we don't get much stock here anymore, we're always running out.'

I think we all picture that guy with a pocketful of business cards who is bound and determined no one will leave the room withou t one. We don't want to be him. Clearly. But believe it or not, there is some middle ground between him and the guy hugging the corner, staring at his shoes. That's where you want to be- in your own comfortable spot in that middle ground. Yep, you have to get out there and talk to people. Shy? An introvert? If so, you have an advantage. THE primary skill to being a good networker is to be a good listener. If you believe the golden rule of networking, "give first, take second", how can you know what your networking partner needs, i.e., what to give- if you aren't listening?

We get so overwrought with the idea that we have to have exactly the right thing to say to everyone we meet. Try these quickie tips the next time you are planning to attend an event where you will have the opportunity to network. (yes, it IS an opportunity- not a death march)

Look for potential "victims" (just kidding) of your networking charms

If you have an opportunity to see a roster of the other attendees, do a little research on who will be there. LinkedIn is great for that. That will help you know who to seek out, who you might have something in common with, who might have info you are seeking, even fellow college alums. This does not qualify as stalking. Trust me. Or survey the room and find someone who also appears to not know anyone or has just arrived.

Pack a few good questions and listen generously to the answers

Be ready to ask a good, open ended question. "Have you been to many of these events? Have you ever heard the speaker? What kinds of exciting things are going on at your company? What's keeping you busy these days?" are a few examples. If your conversation partner mentions that he is new to the area, ask about where he came from and what he misses most, then see if you can offer information on your town that might help him adjust. If she mentions that she is spending her summer taking her oldest on college visits, and you've been through that process before, I bet you can offer at least a tidbit of helpful advice. This is the kind of stuff relationships can sprout from.

Exchange business cards with purpose (and not the purpose of getting rid of all of your biz cards!)

Only offer your card or ask for someone else's when you have a found a mutually beneficial reason to stay in touch. Possible reasons- to continue a conversation you were having, to further explore a mutual interest, because you committed to getting some info to him, etc. Or my favorite, you just found someone that you clicked with and would like to get to know them and hear more about their business. It's not weird- it's flattering. Unless of course, your interest is more than professional.

(Stalker comment above may apply in this case).

Follow Up, for heaven's sake!

Don't spend time networking, then let the ball drop. As you meet people that you would like to develop a business relationship with, and they seem mutually interested in another contact, don't put their business card in the pocket of your wool jacket then forget about it till next year's first snowfall. Follow up within 48 hours, remind them what you spoke about and suggest coffee, lunch, whatever is appropriate.

Really, it doesn't have to be scary. But if none of the above makes you any more comfortable, remember, the guy hugging the corner staring at his shoes needs someone talk to, too.

Guest posting today is Julie Bauke, author of 'Stop Peeing on your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes That Screw Up Your Job Search.' You can follow Julie at www.twitter.com/juliebauke.

Article courtesy of Louise Fletcher and CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Not only was the home of high quality, positioned in an established neighborhood with a track record of success (e.g., the neighborhood quiet, the homeowners' association upkeep consistent, the reputation for the city's upscale attitude broad-ranging, the schools high-caliber - the list goes on), but it also was uniquely located off of a key corridor in the community - easy to get everywhere else from here. Its value speaks for itself!

So ... why the continual stream of visitors but no offers?

Searching for a job? Moving in a new direction? Changing professions? Take this step to win that interview for your dream job. Spend more time and energy writing cover letters that are job-specific.

Go the Extra Mile

Having a degree or work experience in business administration or accounting or nursing is not enough. You must show the hiring manager your specific job-related abilities, leadership strengths, and communication skills across the board. Being able to work with a variety of people, respond to crises, and meet unexpected challenges are now more important than ever. Because if you can't, someone else will. In today's tight job market, hiring managers have the advantage. So you must show them why they need you!

You received the call. You've been invited to show up for a job interview--the one you hoped you'd get. So now what?

More Than a Smile and a Warm Handshake

Like most experiences in life, interviewing for a job--especially for one you really want--is a skill. The more you think about it, prepare for it, and actually do it, the more accomplished you'll become. The tendency is to focus on yourself--your voice, your outfit, your resume, your experience. However, it's not really about you. It's really about your potential employer and how you can fit the position he or she wants to fill.

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.

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.

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!

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'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.

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:

It is the same with job search, sometimes you just need to "go for it". But you can't go for it if no one is going for you. So what to do? You need to get your name and resume out there and one of the best resources is recruiters. But not just any recruiter (and certainly not every recruiter), the recruiters that will work best for you. Match your experience with your recruiters' strengths. Today's post is about picking the best recruiter and providing a few recruiter resources.

• I'm a people person (or, I'm really good with people; or, I like people).
• I'm very strategic.
• I'm attentive to detail.
• I'm very organized.
• I'm results oriented.
• I'm innovative.
• I think outside the box.
• I'm a change leader.
• I'm a team leader.
• I bring people together.

I discourage this approach in favor of a more specific, focused method.

To engage in a job-search-related conversation with such bland language is counterproductive and akin to omitting the baking powder from a chocolate cake. The conversation falls flat. That glazed-eyes look you evoke in your listener (e.g., hiring manager, recruiter, HR manager, networking contact, etc.) results.