Blogging4Jobs

Last week I presented to a group of Restaurant Human Resources Professionals as part of the People Report Summer Camp Symposium in Dallas, Texas.  The event was hands down the best conference I have ever presented at or attended.  I led a session titled,  ”Blogging for Dummies.”

Blogging is an interesting topic for Human Resources and Corporate Recruiting Teams.  An amazing corporate blog can help effectively communicate change to your current employee base while also providing potential candidates a look inside your company and corporate culture.  Recruitment and HR blogs should be managed by their respective departments and not marketing.  Marketing should work hand in hand with their talent team and serve as a consultant or advisor.

For the individual, blogging in my opinion is an absolute must to help define and control your personal brand.  Blogs are a great way for companies and clients to learn more about you outside of your professional resume or social profiles like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  Blogs can be the difference maker for job seekers and are the Resume 2.0.

My talk’s foundation started with what I call the 5 P’s of Blogging.  Although similar, the 5 P’s of Blogging are different from the 5 P’s of Marketing you might remember from your undergrad marketing class.

• Purpose. Your blog as a corporation, collaboration, or person must have a purpose.  Similar to a corporate mission statement, your blog’s goal must be defined and like any marketing or branding tool must be developed to attract and inform a particular segment of your audience or market that you have defined.  Too often, we start a blog without the proper research or understanding of what we want to write about or who we want to engage.  Developing and defining your purpose is by far the most important step.

• Platform. The decision to create a blog starts with the decision to use a blogging platform or service.  I encourage you to play with some of the platforms before you make this decision.  I say this from my own experience.  My first blog, BloggingforJobs was on a free platform called Blogger before I moved it to its own domain and transferred my blog to another platform called WordPress.  A third and very common blog platform is TypePad which my good friend Kay Stout uses.

• Planning. Hands down your first 10 blog posts are the hardest so it is important for you to plan, research, and prepare for these first few articles.  This is an important part of defining your blog’s writing style, your own style, and setting up the structure surrounding how often, who, and when your blog will release its posts.  If you have a collaborative, corporate blog, I encourage you to work with at least 4 bloggers who will commit to writing at least one blog post every two weeks.  Personally, I commit to no less than 8 blog posts a month myself for Blogging4Jobs and have for the past four years.

• People. Second to Purpose, this is the most important step.  People are the social aspect of blogging.  Ask your entire company to help you promote leveraging their own networks.  Setting up a simple RSS feed or newletter can help leverage your contacts both inside and outside the company as well.  Both these tools allow persons to subscribe to your blog updates while keeping your brand and company at the top of their mind.  Blogging should be a two way conversation and I encourage you to keep the comments open both good and bad.  Candidates realize that companies aren’t perfect and its the conversation and culture that sets companies apart.

• Promotion. Promoting my blog on social networks is a huge part of my blog’s success.  I recommend using social bookmarketing sites to promote your blog like Digg, Stumbleupon, Technorati, and LinkedIn Groups in addition to popular social platforms like Twitter and Facebook.  Your marketing department is key in helping your blog gain momentum and popularity as they are experienced in online press releases with services like Pitch Engine.

Want to bring an corporate, personal, or professional blog to myself and the reader’s attention?  Leave a comment below and recognize them for a job well done.

Photo Credit Farm3.

Just this last weekend I visited my hometown of Google, Kansas (AKA, Topeka).  I caught up with family and friends while squeezing some time in for a little business.  Throughout our whirlwind weekend, we drove from place to place, and I made sure to check into Four Square and Gowalla every chance I could. Why? Because just like any social networking site, it’s about sharing and being present where-ever and whenever you are.

The term geolocation refers to an application that allows the user to broadcast their location using the internet.  These apps are available on mobile devices like your blackberry, android, iphone, and even the world wide web.  Registered users log into an application like Four Square and check into their  physical location, event, or venue while broadcasting their check-in to their friends, social media networks, and those on the internet.

Another feature similar to geolocation now available on the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter is called geotagging.  Geotagging allows Twitter users the option to share their location to their followers, search engines, and other third party tools that work alongside Twitter.  As social media and sites like Twitter and FaceBook have served as conduits to link users with one another across the global, geo brings the focus back to your local and present community.  Users of all three of these tools have access to local and real time trends, information, and people whether you are a long time resident or just passing through.

But why personal branding?

Geo tools present an new and exciting way for users to network, develop relationships, engage a customer base, and build a brand within a niche community or ecosystem.  Building a brand reputation, recognition, or relationship takes time and touches.  Customers want to do business with a brand who is recognizable and has a solid reputation built on recommendations from trusted sources like friends and family.  And with your personal brand, geolocation and tagging tools are another new facet of the marketing and branding package that sets you apart from the rest.

Blogging, Twitter, and FaceBook–Everybody’s doing it.

Imagine that you frequent a number of local businesses near your home or work and you happen to be the mayor of two nearby coffee shops, PT’s Coffee (locally owned) and Starbucks (global chain).   As mayor of both these locations, your profile picture and name are viewable to everyone who checks into the location as well as your network.  Tools like these increase your exposure and number of touches among potential companies, clients, employers, or even website visitors.  As you check in, you are sending a subtle but targeted reminder of your name or brand.  And because customers of coffee shops like Starbucks’s average household income is in excess of $80,00 and are 42 years old, it is safe to assume that many target customers work in high level and decision maker type positions or are influential and connected within the community.  Surely the kind of people you are interested in being connected with and getting top know, right?

As geolocation tools like Four Square become more mainstream with more than 500k registered users in March 2010, it’s a safe bet that a geo presence will only benefit your personal brand by increasing your brand recognition, strengthen relationships and quite possibly drive traffic to your website and your other social profiles.

Photo Credit Same Forzley.

As someone who has worked as a Recruiter I understand how important social media is in finding quality job search candidates. I’ve used tools like chat rooms, online communities, blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, and even internet dating sites to source and place candidates.  As a blogger, I have used Blogging4Jobs, my blog to develop an online personal and business brand that has provided me with a solid reputation in my industry as well as landing a handful of clients who found me and reached out after reading my posts and content. The Human Resource industry has been slow to adapt and understand the new media world. Since not all HR professionals are Recruiters and vice-versa, job seekers are at an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time.

Think of recruiters are salespeople who are in the business of finding people for companies they either work for as employees or as third party agencies who search and find candidates most often on behalf of companies they represent. Human Resource professionals are more analytical personalities who are focused on policy, procedure, technologies like payroll and application systems, as well as legal concerns with protecting the company in mind. Most HR professionals do not like recruiting, work in recruiting or if they do, are not passionate about the process. To them it’s a means to an end. I like to think that I am the exception to the rule and have worked in and understand both.

The good news is that according to EMarketer, the tides when it comes to HR and social media are changing. A recent survey regarding HR Executives found that HR Professionals spend an average of 3.77 hours per week for work purposes. About one half of respondents reported that a social media helped their brand and made them more valuable as a job candidate.

This change in thought from HR Executives and business leaders makes personal branding even more important than it ever was before. As you continue to grow and build relationships and your personal brand, companies are becoming more aware of its value and seeking out influencers and thought leaders either internally within their own organizations or externally and often using social media networks and communities. This also makes managing your online and personal brands strategically and targeting your audience, content, and touches more critical in your future job and career success.

Photo Credit Looking Glass & EMarketer.

This YouTube video by my friend, @animal about how to get popular on Twitter has some very good points, but the best point of all is painfully obvious.  You have to original in order to stand out.  Recruiting Animal is well-known in the recruiting industry because of his brash sense of humor.  He is quick to provide extremely honest feedback even if it hurts. People in the industry have come to expect and respect  the Recruiting Animal.

The video begs the question–what’ s your online differentiation strategy?  Is it working?

Photo Credit Kamran Web.

Using wardrobe & image to get the job in a hyper-visual, hyper-competitive world.

How’s your job search going? You’ve networked. You’ve updated your LinkedIn profile and used social networks to learn about leads. You’ve revamped your resume to tailor your background and experiences to each job posting. And then finally, an opportunity presents itself. You’ve got an interview lined up for next Friday at 1:00pm. Have you thought about what you’re going to wear? Fashion isn’t frivolous. Thinking about image and wardrobe are more important than ever. The Department of Labor reported that in January 2010 there were 14.8 million unemployed Americans. Hiring managers are inundated with applications. How are you differentiating yourself from the pack?

Personal image, according to Robin Fisher, President of Polished, a full-service personal styling and image- consulting agency, is “what you visually and non-verbally communicate to the public through personal appearance and social etiquette. 55-70% of your first impression is determined by your clothes, grooming and posture.” If you are exclusively invested in your content and you ignore the power of your image, you are missing a critical element of your overall effectiveness. Are you allowing a professional image to support you?

Jacqueline M. Peros, of JMP Image & Style, suggests that an “applicant do research on the standard or accepted attire for not only that particular industry but also the corporate culture of where he/she will be interviewing. You wouldn’t want to show up in a creative/artistic ensemble in a financial corporation. It’s imperative to communicate that you fit in and appropriately represent your industry/company.”  So stand out, to not be screened out. Think critically about what’s appropriate, professional and comfortable to ensure a positive return on your image.

According to Lisa McLatchie, the stylist behind Practical Fashionista, don’t forget a business formal look, “is more conservative and refined.  For men and women, that means a classic, tailored suit in neutral or dark colors. Wearing big patterns and anything too bright, trendy and sexy is distracting for the interviewer.” Use color and accessories to incorporate personal style with conservative suiting.

Kimberly Gomez, Image Consultant & Fashion Stylist, Impeccable Image LLC and I offer these interview wardrobe and grooming basics for women and men.

• Wear a suit – either pants or [women] a knee-length [or just above] skirt; colors: navy blue, gray/charcoal or black; no brown: brown is a subordinate color.
• Wear a light colored, no see through blouse/shirt; colors: white, ivory, blue, light green [no bright or loud colors].
• Women: wear necessary underpinnings i.e., shell, blouse or camisole. Avoid revealing the 6 B’s: breasts, butts, backs, bellies, bras and briefs.
• Invest in a properly fitting bra and seamless underwear. Wear a shaper, if necessary.
• Women: Wear flesh-colored hosiery with a skirt.
• Make sure shoes are in good repair and polished: women 1-3 inch heels okay but no stilettos; men: black and brown shoes okay.
• Invest in a quality, black or dark brown brief case.
• Cover all tattoos and do not wear any body piercings.
• Wear minimal, conservative jewelry such as pearl earrings, watch.
• Don’t overpower with cologne or perfume.
• Women: Wear neutral makeup. Men: Don’t wear any makeup! [Just wanted to see if you were paying attention!]
• Be well groomed [face, teeth, hair, nails].

Need more help. Check out Melissa McGraw and Jennifer Gregory’s terrific site, WorkChic to get outfit suggestions for the perfect suit for your next interview. The duo puts together looks that blend professional silhouettes with trendier pieces.  Be sure to follow them on Twitter as well @workchic.

Judith Rasband, owner of The Conselle Institute of Image Management, says, “Creating an authentic, appropriate, attractive image will allow you to feel more confident, more capable, more productive and appear more credible.”

Everyday is an opportunity. If you are dressed for it, I see a job in your future.

Photo Credit Work Chic.

Dena A. Lorenzi is a guest blogger for Blogging4Jobs. She’s an independent marketing professional and fashion enthusiast who blogs as @FaithInFashion on Twitter and presents her You : The Brand seminar to college seniors and corporations.

Part of my own strategy to build my brand, gain business, and establish myself as an expert in my field is by using my blog to write and interview other experts and companies promoting them while continuing to build and strengthen my own relationships. Last Friday was no exception. Through a simple LinkedIn invitation to connect message, (Yes, LinkedIn) I was able to secure an interview with best selling author, Jeffrey Gitomer. Jeffrey Gitomer is one of my favorite authors and speakers. While his followers and fans are generally sales professionals, I am a firm believer that each and every person works in sales in some form either as a job seeker selling yourself to a company, when dating or meeting your prospective mate (the ultimate sales job), and when making a major life purchase like a car or house. Solid sales, negotiation, networking, and presentation skills are all very important in all three of these scenarios.

Jeffrey’s three hour seminar touched a great deal on how a solid sales marketing and branding plan can impact your success. The bottom line is that people buy from people and those that are ordinary end up in second place. Sitting among the more than 300 in attendance, I was surprised to learn that less than 10% utilized social media tools as part of their sales, branding, and lead generation strategy. While Jeffrey discussed the power of social media and how it can help you engage decision makers as well as hiring managers.

He says, “The challenge is for you to understand is that we are the bailout. The challenge is not just about sales tips and ideas but what you do that’s pretty ordinary.”

Jeffrey encourages everyone to take control of their bailout and suggested that we can accomplish this in the following ways:

• Get a creative voice mail. Be different from everyone else. Humor is an excellent tool to define who you are and differentiate yourself from the rest.

• Schedule a three way lunch. If someone you want to meet is giving you the run-around, invite someone you know that they need to know with you to lunch. Call your contact & invite them again. You will build instant rapport and credibility with both parties.

• Be the Best. Don’t settle for ordinary. When you are the best at what you do, everything else shows up.

• Business cards matter. Find creative ways to keep people talking. Your business card is a representation of yourself. How do you want people to remember you?

• Get a flip. Video testimonial and video references are extremely powerful on your blog or website lending you instant credibility. Use a flip to interview experts and promote them on your blog or website building solid rapport and relationships not only with the interviewee but also your blog audience.

Check out my video interview with Jeffrey Gitomer below and don’t forget to visit his website at JeffreyGitomer.com. A special thanks to the Journal Record.

Photo Credit Gitomer.com & Active Rain.

Your personal brand is an important part of your job search.  Reputations can make or break an opportunity for a new position or a new client or contract for your company or business.   Some small things to consider when managing your online brand:

• Set up a Google Alert. These can be set up easily on Google and will alert you to any websites that list the keywords that you determine.  Consider settting up Google alerts for misspellings of your name, your company’s or your competition.
• Secure your brand. Open up accounts on social media platforms you are not currently a member of even if you do not intend to use them.  This allows you to control your name, your brand, and keep those from cybersquatting.  This also includes setting up a gmail account to secure your name.
• Be bold. Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy, within reason of course.  People remember those that take what I call “calculated risks.”  These are risks that are thought out but do present the opportunity for failure.  People remember people that take chances.
• Be passionate. Love and live what you do and let your online brand show for it.  I promote this website and my brand, Blogging4Jobs and Xceptional HR wherever I go.  Do the same for your name, your brand, and you.

Below is a presentation called, “Brand You” that I gave at a job search class at a local educational institution.  By doing these types of seminars and presentations, I am developing and furthering my own brand.  Be creative and consider doing the same in a way that is right for you.

Photo Credit Think Big Revolution.

Finito. Done. Over. Caput.  Resumes are so 2009.

It’s Friday night.  With the baby in bed early, Greg and I watched Angels & Demons on Pay per View while I added blog tags to old posts from 2007 & 2008 working to update and perfect my blog and website.  I’m the master of the multi-task.

And while I spent almost two hours of my life movie watching, tagging and saving, I was reminded again about the power personal branding using blogs as a resume alternative, I mean replacement.  In the next 12-18 months, resumes will no longer be an acceptable type of professional representation or profile.

Your Resume is Dead.

Blogs and professional websites are a great representation of a person’s interests both professional and personal, and in my opinion are a form of a more organic and fluid resume.  One can view my first ever blog post in September 2007 while also watching my professional progression as I made my way to entrepreneur.  You can see who my influences are by reading my posts or by visiting my blog roll.  Your blog is the way for employers, clients, and other professionals to learn more about you, your beliefs, and what is important to you.

Obviously someone who reads this blog post realizes how important it is for me to have my blog be professional, organized, and polished while on display to the world.  Especially since I spent my Friday night at home in front of the laptop crafting and updating my brand.  One might assume that I might also be the same in person as a professional who values things like work ethic, my personal and professional brand, and technology, gadgets, and information.  Depending on the position or contract, these type of things are important to a potential employer or client.

I recommend most all clients, businesses, and candidates develop some sort of organic online profile or resume to present to employers in addition to your resume and LinkedIn profile.  While hiring manager’s only spend 15 seconds viewing your resume to determine whether or not you receive an interview, employers will spend a substantial amount of time checking references, verifying employment, and viewing your online profiles to determine how you stack up to your competition.  This is certainly the case when the hiring decision comes down between you and another candidate.  Having a blog or other online profile, depending on your position and industry, is the future of how to stand out and differentiate yourself from the competition.

And for now, I still recommend maintaining a professionally crafted resume to use along with a blog and professional website as a way to expand on your skills, qualifications, interests, and experience.  I do, however, strongly encourage you to start crafting and developing your professional blog to find your angle, voice, and niche.

In the next next year to 18 months, blogs and other online profiles will become more important and will replace a traditional resumes.  I’ve already started to see this shift.  Your social influence both online and offline which includes your blog will become more powerful and representative that any piece of traditional personal or professional marketing we use today in the job search.

So RIP resume.  You will not be missed.

Photo Credit WaterMan99

As job seekers enter into the job search, research and preparation are the two most important and also overlooked parts of the job search.  Eager candidates often dive into the super competitive world of resumes and personal branding without developing a proper self-marketing strategy.  Just like any project, it’s important to understand your product’s (you) features and benefits, your target market, as well as your current competition while having a clear plan and strategy to ensure success.  Whether you are currently waist deep in the job search or preparing to enter the race, here are some books to consider when developing your personal marketing strategy.

• Internet Your Way to the Job Search:  How to Really Find a Job Online. by Alison Doyle.  Alison is one of the leading job search experts on the internet and is a featured contributor on About.com.  Her book in its second addition includes expert advice and opinions from recruiters and career coaches to help you navigate the world wide web as a job seeker.  She discusses the importance of social media strategies, personal branding, and how to use technology effectively in the job search.  Her book is a must read for the serious job seeker.

• Crucial Conversations.  Tools for talking when stakes are high. by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, & Al Switzler. I am currently half way through this book but am loving every minute of it.  I have already begun using and taking steps to have those difficult yet crucial conversations not only in my professional life but also my personal. life  I recommend this book for employees who are considering taking the plunge into the job search but are reluctant.  This book can help you work with difficult bosses and destructive co-workers.  Vital Smarts, the company behind Crucial Conversations offers real world case studies, webinars, and other resources.

• Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Red Book of Selling. by Jeffrey Gitomer.  I had the pleasure to listen to Jeffrey speak several years ago.  He is no-nonsense, engaging, and motivating sort of way.  I left his seminar pumped up and ready to take the tips and tools he provided me out into the real world.  Sales is so much a part of the job search.  It is most important to understand how to sell yourself and this book does that.  One of my favorite Jeffrey Gitomer quotes, “In sales, it’s not who you know.  In sales, it’s who knows you.”  This is equally true for job seekers in the job search.

• Hire With Your Head. by Lou Alder.  Lou’s company, The Adler Group as well as his book discusses the concept of Performance Based Hiring.  His book discusses how companies should use a combination of techniques to ensure that they are hiring quality candidates who will meet and exceed performance expectations.  One bad placement or hiring decision can cost a company thousands and thousands of dollars.  This book discusses techniques on how businesses can go beyond going with their gut when making a job offer.  As a candidate it is important for you to understand the methods, strategies, and decisions businesses make when making a candidate job offer.

• Me 2.0. by Dan Schawbel. Dan is the leader in personal branding.  At age 24, he wrote, Me 2.0. Although Me 2.o is geared to young professionals, it provides insight to professionals of all ages whether you are in the job market or as a professional interested in development and personal marketing.   Dan’s book is easy to read and offers a real-world 4 step strategy for discovering, creating, communicating, and maintaining your personal brand.  Additionally, Dan offers insight to how businesses can grow and develop their own personal brand to promote their products, service, or attract qualified candidates.  For more information surrounding personal branding, visit his Personal Branding Blog.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2008 is increasing my networking circle both online and in person. It’s obvious if you’ve spent any amount of time online that social networking online is increasingly becoming more and more important. I already mentioned how hiring manager’s are viewing candidate’s myspace pages as part of the background check process. Keeping in touch with your networking connections using online services like linkedin, myspace, and facebook are more important than ever.

I encourage everyone to part take in online social networking and to use it as a supplement to face to face networking. This week alone, I attended 4 different networking events, met a handful of individuals of interest, contacted them either via email or a handwritten note, and have invited them to be a part of my linked in network. The fact is the best jobs are not advertised using typical media methods like newspaper, job boards, or with staffing agencies. Most jobs are not advertised at all which is where social networking comes into play. With the click of a mouse or tap of a keyboard, I can send out an email to my online social network and make them aware of a key position I am looking to fill.

Some suggestions to enhance your online social networking:

1. Create a blog.
2. Develop a networking newsletter.
3. Use linked in or other similar site.
4. Participate in industry networking sites. (For example, I am a member of erenetwork.com, a free site for recruiters.)
5. Blog on a professional site or create your own.
6. Focus on one or two networking sites. Don’t overdo it.

Holiday Tip: Send a Holiday E-card to your network.

Next time. . . The COLD hard facts-What companies want

I gave a lot of thought about my chosen topic this week. There are a lot of opinions and ideas out there. It is my hope that you have created your Marketing Plan and are utilizing it. When you’re in the job hunt waiting for that phone to ring, no idea really seems too crazy or out there depending on your mood. I’ve kept this in mind as I discuss three ways to job hunt on the edge.

• Marketing Portfolio. Create a Marketing Portfolio with examples of your works, business card, and some personal touches that are truly you and mail it to the hiring manager. Include a letter that asks for the interview and a time when you will follow up with them. I suggest that you either research the business section of your local newspaper or send this portfolio to your newly found network. An example of a Marketing Portfolio for a Public Relations Assistant could include an invitation he created for a local fundraiser gala, several press releases that include the AP style, a brochure that he created, a copy of his business card, and a personal letter that outlines his experience, asking for the job, and when he will be contacting the hiring manager to follow up. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but this Portfolio makes a huge impression. I would be impressed, and even if this candidate was not hired, I would be more likely to refer him to a networking contact. A friend of mine is a radio DJ. He was interested in working for a particular radio station and sent his Marketing Portfolio in a shoe. He made an impression and was offered the job.

• Cocktail Networking Party. Get some friends and networking contacts together and invite them to a Networking Cocktail Party. Host it at your home and choose a theme like the roaring 20′s. Shamelessly plug that you are in the job market and watch the doors open. Ask each of your invitees to bring a friend or contact to help you in the job hunt. Be budget conscious and ask close friends to each bring a finger food dish and drink of choice. Make your own invitations and send via email. A cute and memorable guest gift could be a wine glass with your business card attached reminding your friend or peer why they are really here.

• Place a Billboard Ad. A billboard is a great way to get noticed and grab the attention of a hiring manager when they least expect it. You have their undivided attention for 15 seconds on their daily commute. I’m not talking about breaking the bank and running an ad with a several large high tech television billboards. Those can easily run $10K a mo. I have several billboards right now that are very budget friendly running at $350/mo. each. This doesn’t include the production cost of the banner that covers the billboard, but depending on your negotiating skills, you could work out a deal with the billboard company.

I’ve chosen 3 very distinct ways to give you an edge in the job hunt. Not all ideas will work for you. Use your creativity. Maybe it means stepping up your networking or volunteering at an agency for the holidays.

Next time. . . The Marketing Plan Revisited

Intigued? Well, yes. The 5 P’s are basic Marketing 101. Flashback to Business College and Marketing class with that smelly professor who wore birks and tyedye.

The 5 “P’s” of marketing include:
Product – The products or services offered to your customers/clients.
Price – The strategies you use with regard to pricing your products or services with the goal of making a desired profit margin.
Place (Distribution) – How you get your products or services to your target market.
Promotion – How you communicate the features and benefits and endorse your products or services to your customers or clients.
People – The value your people bring to your business by providing service to your customers and clients.

So you’re asking yourself what does any of this have to do with finding a job? Well, everything.

Product-Refers to you, your qualifications and skills that you have to offer an employer. What skills and qualifications do you have and what are your strengths and opportunities? Focus on the opportunities and how you can make these better. Maybe it means taking a Crystal Reports class at the local vo-tech.
Price-What salary range are you willing to accept? Research the local job market, the unemployment rate, the industry, and top companies you are interested in working for.
Place-Consider the methods to deliver your resume either by informational interview with your top companies, using your network, job boards, or job fairs.
Promotion-Tools used to promote yourself-resumes, coverletters, myspace pages, and business cards. Get these and make them look professional. Realize that these can hurt you too. A racy myspace or friendster page can be viewed by just about anybody. Companies often google candidates. Consider this.
People-What value has your skill brought to previous companies? For example, as a Sales and Marketing Director you saved the company $300,000 in expenses in the first two quarters of 2005 streamlining the sales and marketing strategy for your fitness center. Shout this accomplishment from the rooftops and list it as a bulleted point on your resume. I do this very same thing in my resume and companies have often contacted me because of one bullet point that peaked their interest.
Use buzzwords on your resume. This helps several different ways-1. It gets the recruiters attention. 2. Your resume is flagged as a possible candidate from what I call their buzzword software. The buzzword software then passes your resume on to the recruiter. Very high tech, huh?

You are your biggest asset. Develop a marketing strategy to market yourself.

Next week. . . The Coverletter

Most people who are in the job hunt are shocked to learn that most recruiters spend roughly 5 seconds viewing your resume. One must understand that one monster or careerbuilder posting alone can yield hundreds of resumes depending on the position posted. A recruiter will have anywhere between 10-50 different positions they are recruiting for. When I’m viewing your resume, I skim looking for what I can buzz words for the industry or position. If I am looking for an Accounting Supervisor I might look for words like Accounts Payable, General Ledger, and AS400. Do your research and make sure to include your skills and qualifications.

There are many different styles and formats you can use for a resume and lots and lots of opinions. I suggest doing some research because your resume should reflect the position you are applying for the industry for which it is in. I am a fan of a resume that lists skills and qualifications first. Forget the objective. It’s a waste of time and valuable marketing space. The Skills and Qualifications section is what I consider a candidate’s billboard and gives the recruiter a quick picture to intrigue their interest. Use buzz words here to get the recruiter’s attention and what sets you apart from the rest. What comes next depends on your experience level. A newly graduated professional should place their education next especially if they have little experience in the field they are looking to work in. If you are a seasoned veteran, list your work experience before your education. Does one need to include their references? Depends on what the job posting requests. Generally, I don’t unless absolutely necessary.

One of my biggest resume pet peeves is pasting and copying the crappy generic resume from monster or careerbuilder. It does nothing for you so don’t do it!! Treat your job search like a marketing campaign. Your career and job is an investment you wouldn’t buy a house without researching the interest rate or touring the house. Come up with a plan. Searching for your career takes a lot of effort and time. Gear up and get ready.

Next week . . . The 5 P’s