The Undercover Recruiter

7 Ways To Improve Your Resume While Employed

improve your resume whilst you're in a good job

It’s a competitive job market out there. When you apply for a job, no matter how qualified you are for the new position, it’s absolutely imperative that your resume stands out from the crowd. After all, it’s your resume that will get you noticed out of a stack of resumes on a future employer’s desk. But it’s not just what’s currently on your resume that counts. You want to make sure you are continually making your resume better by taking some steps to improve skills and your knowledge base. These things will take some time, but they will all be beneficial in the long run.

If you are looking for a job, even if you are still employed, there are some simple steps you can take to improve your resume – and improve your chances of landing that new job.

Add skills. If you are employed, you have a specific skill set that you can bring to a new job. But what if the job you want requires a different set of skills? Now is the perfect time to take some night classes, or earn some certifications, to help you gain new knowledge and skills. Head to the local community college and take a few classes that will help you get the kind of job you really want.
Volunteer. Get involved in your community and volunteer for a cause you believe in. When you volunteer, not only are you helping the community where you live, but you are also adding more job experience to your resume. You could volunteer for a literacy program at the library, work with your city council to beautify the downtown area, or even adopt a highway. There are many opportunities available where you can make a difference.
Go back to school. More education never hurts, especially when you are looking for a job. Go back to school and earn a bachelors or a masters degree that will help you in your career. Many employers will even help pay for tuition or give you a flexible schedule to go to classes. There are many night school programs available for business people looking to better their careers.
Network. One of the best things you can do to get noticed in a job search is to network. Get to know other people in your job field who could help you land the job of your dreams. You can join networking groups that meet on a weekly or a monthly basis or you could even join networking groups online. Website such as LinkedIn are dedicated to helping working professionals make connections.
Ask for projects at work. You might have enough on your plate already at the office, but try to find opportunities in other departments where you can make a contribution. You’ll feel good about pitching in with another area’s project, but you’ll also be widening your skill set by learning about another area of the company. And you never know, you may actually like the work that is done in another department.
Line up solid references. While it is standard protocol to omit references from resumes nowadays, you want to be ready if a potential employer asks for references at an interview. Well before you start sending out resumes, ask three or four people if they will be a reference for you. At least two of the references should be professional (previous supervisors), and one or two can be academic or character references (former teachers or colleagues). Never ask close friends or family members to serve as references. Make sure that you prep your references beforehand by giving them a copy of your resume and briefing them on your most important accomplishments so they know what to say when a potential employer calls them.
Hire a resume writer. Hiring a resume writer may seem like an unnecessary step—since it is not actually improving your experience or skill set—but it is an excellent way to set your resume apart from the competition. A resume writer is skilled at formatting and will make your resume readable, scannable, and appealing to the eye. A good writer also knows the language and terminology to use to make your experience sound as professional and impressive as possible. It may cost you a hundreds dollars or so to have your resume completely revamped by a professional, but the cost will be well worth it when those interviews start coming your way.

Look for simple ways to improve your skill set and knowledge base to help your resume grow. It won’t be long until you are on your way to a new and better job (or maybe even a promotion at your current place of employment).

Allen Smith is an avid networker, marketer and basketball fan. He writes for Your Local Security, a trusted retailer for ADT Home Security.

photo by: colinlogan

Filed Under: Resume Tagged With: Resume

How To Rewrite Your Military Resume for Civilian Jobs [Examples]

Making the transition from the military to civilian career track can be incredibly difficult. Whether you’ve left voluntarily or have been dismissed it’s time to earn a living the civilian way. Although the prospect may be daunting, they’re two entirely different worlds. There are however, many transferable skills you can use from your military career and apply them to your new civilian endeavour.

If you’re new to the resume writing world and need a little guidance for constructing an effective CV tailored to a civilian career path then here are a few tips to build your confidence and get you started.

Know Your Ultimate Career Goal

Before you begin writing a resume you need to have a good idea of which industry or career path you’d like to enter. Writing a general CV can severely hinder your chances of getting a job in your preferred career track. Employers look for passion – what sets you apart as the ideal candidate for the role? Even if you don’t have the ideal qualification and experience within the field of the job you’ve applied for, your passion and dedication can really cause you to shine.

If you have two different ideal career paths then it may be best to create two separate CVs targeting those industries. This gives you a better chance of impressing your employers and showing dedication without excluding either industry – just make sure you send the correct resume to the intended employer! To make it easier for editing purposes you could just change the first paragraph

Career Goal Example

First resume: My ultimate career goal would be to work as a carer for the elderly. I feel I’d be an excellent, sensitive carer due to my previous military experience, in which I had to deal with vulnerable civilians from some of the most deprived countries in the world. This has taught me to help people from all different backgrounds, be sensitive towards others and put their health and safety first.

Second resume: In ten years’ time I can see myself being a retail manager. I believe I can strike the perfect balance between leading a team and being a team player myself. During my previous career in the military I had to head-up a team of soldiers; commanding respect, showing authority but also working with the team to achieve the desired results.

Use Your Military Experience to Impress

You can apply the skills you’ve acquired during your military career to demonstrate employable qualities. Military positions often involve many personal qualities, some of which aren’t all that different to skills asked for certain in civilian roles.

The ability to lead is a particularly sought after skill for managerial and supervisor roles; if you’ve ever had to head up a team then include details of this. Similarly, being a team player is another personal quality which is often acquired in the military and well received by employers too. Most importantly, know what skills and qualifications are considered a basic requirement for your chosen industry and transfer those from your military career to your new CV.

Experience Example

During my career doing military nursing I had to provide the correct treatment accurately and effectively. I think this would be an excellent transferable skill to take to a nursing career with me, particularly in intensive care or high dependency units.

Explain your Experience and Qualifications in Civilian Terms

Every industry has its own jargon, and military positions are no exception. But showering your CV with niche terms can be really off-putting to readers who may not understand their meaning. Seeing as the intended audience of your CV are potential employers and recruiters the last thing you want to do is bore them by overloading them with overly complicated information.

If you must use a niche term then fully explain what it means; if it helps imagine you’re explaining it to a child (without being patronising). Make sure you fully outline the duties of your previous role within the military as your job title alone won’t give employers a clear idea of exactly what you’ve been up to. Even slightly outlining the concept of your role rather than just listing your job title can help an employer understand your military career background.

Explanation Example

During my time in the military I worked within Field 25 Signals which is basically a division of the US army responsible for communications and data management between all the different divisions of the US army.

Stephanie Staszko writes for military solicitors and legal specialists Gray and Co Solicitors.

photo by: The U.S. Army

Filed Under: Job Search, Resume, Veteran Tagged With: Resume

5 Reasons Why All Job Seekers Need to Have a Work Portfolio

Let’s face it: the old way of job searching is a thing of the past. Answering a job ad won’t get us a solid career anymore. We must go to networking events, shape our professional brand, and prove that we’re the sort of candidate to watch.

In addition to all of these tactics though, all job seekers should have an updated work portfolio in their arsenal. Work portfolios tell the story of you, including where you came from and what you want to achieve. However, apart from the obvious benefits, work portfolios are starting to become the norm and it’s advisable for every job seeker to build one in order to paint the whole picture. Here’s why:

1. Standard resumes and cover letters don’t cut it

Resumes (as well as cover letters) won’t get someone the job on their own. Of course, job seekers need them, but the bullet points and the few paragraphs can’t tell your entire work story. On the other hand, work portfolios allow job seekers to add more to their case, such as previous career wins, specials skills and how they were used, endorsements, etc. Resumes and cover letters can only do so much, so think of work portfolios as picking up where they leave off.

2. The HR department has limited time

If you weren’t aware already, human resource representatives may receive between 200 to 300 resumes per job. Who has time to go through hundreds of lines, dated objective statements, and cover letters that may or may not tell the right story? Not many.

Instead, a work portfolio not only sets job seekers apart from the competition, it does a better job of relaying why you may be right for the job by providing solid evidence as to opposed to beating around the bush about it. After all, you can say you accomplished something, but if you can show it, you’ll be in a better position to land the job.

3. Visuals catch the eye

We live in a world where images, videos, and graphics relay information better than script. Plus, with stacks of resumes on their desks, HR reps and recruiters would probably appreciate something that stands out from the norm.

For instance, if you were part of a successful advertising campaign, showing the copy, images, numbers, reports, etc., would do a better job at presenting your accomplishments than just saying you part of something that worked out in your favor.

4. Sharing current goals and progress is important

Sometimes, it’s all about what you’re working on now. Work portfolios have the ability to share current goals, as well as the progress you’ve made. This sort of real-time sharing also clues your audience in on your current projects, opens up the door for conversation, and shows how you perform on a day-to-day basis, which can tell the HR rep or recruiter a lot about what kind of candidate you are.

5. A work story means something

Your personal work story means something. It shapes who you are as a candidate and shouldn’t be an overlooked factor when applying for a job. Think of it this way: how much of “you” comes off when you send a cover letter or resume? Does it say how you work with others? Can it show what your specialities are to the T? Does it relay if you’ll fit in with the current company culture? Probably not.

A work portfolio can do all of those things since it enhances who you are as a candidate by providing the backstory your audience needs, which not only sets you apart, but also puts you at the head of the line when it comes to getting the job.

What do you think? What are some other reasons job seekers should have a work portfolio?

Morgan Norman is the Founder and CEO of WorkSimple — the Social Performance platform that works the way you do. Designed for individuals, teams, and large organizations, WorkSimple is a better way to share goals, collaborate, get feedback, and get your work endorsed. Connect with him and WorkSimple on Twitter.

Image credit kennymatic

Filed Under: Job Search, Resume Tagged With: Job Hunting, Resume

How To Write Career Documents To Influence Your Reader

We use writing skills to engage, inspire or persuade people in our personal and work lives. In a career transition or active job search, writing skills are under sharp scrutiny. Each transition task, whether it is completing self-assessment exercises, creating a resume, crafting a cover letter or preparing additional marketing tools requires focused writing – one that is targeted, has meaning for your reader and clearly outlines your value to the potential opportunity.

STRATEGY – Focus & Purpose

Why are you writing?

The purpose of your writing must be clear. Is it request for a networking conversation? Is it to apply for an open position? Is it to share research information with a decision-maker in your target company? Give the reader a reason to read your letter!

What do you want the outcome to be?

The clearer the intended outcome, the more effective the writing. A reader typically asks, “Why am I getting this letter and what do you want me to do with it?” Invite the reader’s curiosity with compelling reasons.

Who is your audience?

Different readers make different meaning from the same piece of writing. Is it someone from within your field of expertise? Or is it someone who will not understand the terminology used from your field? Or will your writing reach people beyond your intended audience? Understand your audience and tailor your writing in content, tone and language to meet the needs of your audience.

STYLE – Organization & Design

Decide on the content.

Research the opportunity first. Second, identify and prioritize information according to importance and value to reader. Is your paragraph organized around one main idea? What kind of supporting statements can elaborate or explain your main idea? Are you using active verbs to engage the reader?

Match the style to the document.

Understand industry writing standards for your document. Each document, for example resume, cover letters, memos or addendums have unique writing attributes. Can a reader find information easily where s/he expects to find it on the document? Are profile statements or headings clearly identified? Have you emphasized your main ideas using italics, boldface or underlining as appropriate?

Organize the information.

Each document is typically divided into separate sections. Select information carefully for each section so that your writing flows quickly and easily. Use examples, charts, numbers or tables as appropriate to inform and persuade your reader.

IMPACT – Return on Investment Factor

Value Offered.

The employer has a current and potential need. Can you solve business problems now and in the future? Use information and language that is future focused and clearly links your skills to the deliverables in the opportunity. Make a business case for hiring – What will you bring immediately? Why are you the right fit? How will you be productive and engaged in the employer’s culture?

Create a Picture.

Use succinct examples to create a visual image of your success stories in the reader’s mind. Pay attention to the tone of your letter. Is it personal, courteous and positive? Does it clearly communicate benefits to the reader?

Follow-up Plan.

Close strongly. Revisit your purpose and share a proactive follow-up plan with the reader. When will you call to schedule a time to talk? What else can you do to invite curiosity? Ask for the sale!

Keep the communication simple, specific, conversational and inviting. Above all, keep it error-free.

Sunitha Narayanan is a certified career coach with a passion for connecting people and their talents to life and work opportunities. She is a co-active coach, empowering her clients to believe in their dreams, set actionable goals and actively create joy in their work lives. She is with OI Partners Promark Company, a firm that offers executive coaching, leadership development and outplacement services. Follow Sunitha on Twitter @sunithanarayana.
Image credit JohnONolan

Filed Under: Career Management, Job Search, Resume, Writing Tagged With: Career Advice, Job Hunting, Writing

Creative Resumes – How Much Is Too Much?

Those of us who make our living in the field of recruiting have seen our share of resumes. During my tenure as a Sourcer, I would venture to say I viewed over a thousand resumes a month. Nearly all of these were standard print resumes posted on internet job boards and career sites.

Recently, I saw an article entitled 13 Insanely Cool Resumes That Landed Interviews at Google and Other Top Jobs. These included incredible works of innovation and graphic design, some of which were worthy of wall space in the Guggenheim. Resumes resembling movie posters, subway maps and Facebook pages, resumes that included tables of contents, info graphics and videos, even a resume embroidered on a piece of fabric were all featured in the article.

However, despite the originality and artistic splendor that these resumes displayed, another descriptor came to mind…overkill. I couldn’t help but wonder how these types of resumes were viewed by employers – as a display of true creative genius, or as a cry for attention from unemployed candidates with too much time on their hands.

There Are Always Exceptions

The fact that a candidate was able to secure an interview at Google with an over-the-top resume does not surprise me. Google is known for being unique in every respect, and it works for them. Any company whose employees descend slides and fire poles in the office instead of staircases has got to appreciate the outside-the-box thinking that such a resume demonstrates. But what about the rest of the world’s employers that don’t hold board meetings on beanbag chairs?

Here’s a creative resume example (you decide whether it’s too much or not!): How To Make a ‘Creative’ Resume on Prezi.

Sometimes Less Is More

An article printed in Brigham Young University’s school magazine tells of an MBA student who sent his resume to Johnson & Johnson, only to have it returned with the instructions that it “needed to be printed on white paper, mailed unstapled in an 8 ½ x 11 envelope, and could not have fancy printing or graphics, bold, underlines, italics, or small print.” This particularly concerned three BYU professors of Management Communication whose teachings included embellishing resumes with these items.

The professors decided to conduct a study of the prevalence among Fortune 500 companies of electronic resume management (ERM) systems – systems that manage resume data in a database that allows the data to be searchable. The issue at hand was whether these companies who received large volumes of resumes utilized scanners to input resumes into the ERMs, and if so, would their scanners be able to accurately read text from embellished resumes.

The results showed that 60 percent of the companies surveyed did not scan their resumes, instead choosing to input the data manually. Of the companies that did scan the resumes they received, 77 percent said their scanners would generally accept embellished typography. In the end, the three professors felt they could safely continue to counsel students to embellish their resumes.

Know Your Audience

Despite a company’s ability to input a resume’s contents into their database, the question remains whether or not employers look favorably upon lengthy, flashy or overly-creative resumes. In some industries such as graphic design or advertising, the resume may act as a living, breathing example of the candidate’s ability to do the type of work that the job entails.

What better way to prove you’re worthy of a job than with a resume that demonstrates your skill to the hiring manager before they even read a word? But for jobs that do not directly involve the skills used to create the resume, many employers will view the candidate as someone with misplaced priorities – someone who spends too much time amusing himself with creating a document instead of focusing on putting that document to work in order to achieve its intended result.

Always Have a Back-up Plan

The fact is that every job is different, as is every employer. If a candidate has the skill and originality to create a resume that will set him or her apart from the competition, and the creation of such a document is what the candidate truly enjoys doing, then why not put the skill to use in order to obtain employment? But the candidate should always remember to keep a plain, unembellished copy of his or her resume on hand as well for those employers who want nothing to do with creative, artistic resumes.

In the end, the eye-catching flash and flare on a candidate’s resume that gets him or her the job at one company is the exact same distraction that will route the resume straight into the hiring manager’s trash can at another company.

John Feldmann has more than 5 years of copywriting and editing experience in the advertising industry, and 5 years of recruiting and sourcing experience in such industries as real estate, construction, engineering, accounting and healthcare. He currently lives in Houston, TX and specializes in recruitment ad development. Follow John on Twitter @John_Feldmann.

Image credit Buy Alex

Filed Under: Job Search, Resume Tagged With: Resume, Resumes

How To Design an ‘Alternative’ CV on Prezi [Interesting Example]

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein

I have always thought about doing something different, but that meant that I had to leave my comfort zone and that’s not always easy.

So I decided to leave my comfort zone and move to another country, learn a new language and experience a different culture. I soon realized that I would need a new approach for standing out in the crowd. And that became my goal to achieve.

I consider myself an out-of-the-box thinker, even though I spent a lot of time tailoring a standard CV, I felt that it was so impersonal, dull and simply not engaging. With the technological evolution of the Internet and the failing economy, I needed something more visual that would keep the employers reading and wanting to know more.

The CV is the best personal marketing tool, my goal was clear: make an `alternative´ CV, one that captures the reader’s attention and curiosity, then tell my story, who I am and where I come from.

Why did I choose Prezi?

It turned out that one of my friends who is in the presentation used the programme and told me about it. I manage quite well with PowerPoint but it does not convey exactly what I wanted, I was looking for originality, movement and innovation.

Prezi is super intuitive, and you don´t need to be an IT expert to figure out how you should use it. It has a friendly use. Also it has an excellent community support and forums where people share their tricks for using it effectively.

‘Creative’ CV for a non-creatives?

I have seen some “creative” CVs before, but it’s always by graphic designers. What about people looking for jobs outside that field? I’m a marketer and I believe this tool could be useful for me as well.

I’ve managed to create my CV as I used to do with a proper product or service. I made up my own marketing plan, answering questions such as; who I am, what I do, who is my target, and how do I plan to get their attention. It’s a combination of a good planning and execution. Let me add, selling oneself is not easy at all.

I relied on the questions of a typical job interview but adding more value. I didn’t desire to speak in the first person about how awesome I am, so I realized that maybe the best option was that anyone who knows me well, friends and former coworkers do that for me. They had to explain my selling points. I sent them an email telling what my idea was and added some questions, which they had to answer freely. I was very surprised with the comments even though some of them thought it was a little bit risky and crazy.

Will a Prezi CV help me stand out?

I’m not sure if this will work but, I am happy because I’m doing my best to get my dream job. I would be more disappointed if I didn’t.

Let me finish with a different quote: “A crazy idea doesn’t seem quite so crazy once it works!” -Disney Pixar

So, let’s see how this works!

About the author: María Ortiz Sánchez is an enthusiastic marketing professional looking for new challenges. Follow her on Twitter @mortizs.

Related reading: Why Your CV is Boring and Ineffective.

Filed Under: Job Search, Resume Tagged With: CV, Resume, Resumes

5 Old-School Sections You Ought to Remove from Your Resume

There are many career networking opportunities available for job seekers. Networking opportunities prove useful however, at some point; you are going to be required to submit one of two documents. The documents required will be a resume or Curriculum Vitae (A typed summary of your professional and educational background). Resumes and Curriculum Vitaes are documents that should never be considered finished. These two things should be continuously updated in order to properly display pertinent information about your professional and academic careers. It is highly recommended that resumes contain no more than one page for sometimes, less is more and resume writing proves no exception. There are certain things that you should leave off your resume because they will look amateurish.

The following are five suggestions for worthwhile exclusions:

1. Leave photos off your resume

Discrimination suits prove rampant in the field of Human Resources and employment services. If someone presents a resume with a picture and that person is not hired, it leaves room to file a discrimination law suit claiming the person was not hired because their picture was not appealing. Most company Human Resource departments will just throw resumes with pictures away or save them to avoid the discrimination issue altogether.

2. References Available on Request

This statement should NEVER appear on your resume. Hiring mangers know that you need reliable references during your job search. Ensure that you have your “reference” list prepared upon request. You want the list to be updated with the correct contact and professional information. Do not forget to update your reference sheet before job hunting. It could prove embarrassing if one of your professional references is contacted and they no longer work at the same company. This can put uncertainty into the minds of hiring managers and could cause you to not get the job.

3. Unprofessional email address

Unprofessional email addresses should not be placed on resumes. Email address such as notsodumbperson (at) gmail.com or likestoparT (at) yahoo.com will not impress a potential employer. It is highly recommended before you start job searches that you create another email address. The address should include a basic first name [dot] last name. Yahoo and Gmail are popular email servers that offer free email accounts. These accounts allow for creating professional email addresses to use for job searches.

See more at How To Create a Professional Email Signature for Your Job Search.

4. Posting every job you had since high school

All of us remember working at the local theatre or pizza shop during high school. You should leave this point out of your resume. It proves necessary to keep your job history accounted for, but you do not have to list every job you have held dating back to your high school years. It is essential to determine what jobs in the past proves relevant to the job(s) you are applying for. Re-read your resume and you should determine if the jobs listed fall into these two categories: Recent and relevant. If a past-job does not qualify for these categories, leave it out.

5. Avoid boring and inadequate language

Phrases such as “detail-oriented” and “team player” are no longer phrases that can effectively promote you. Instead, use terms that describe what makes you a team performer or how you pay attention to detail in making projects and company missions successful. Keep in mind that the “verbiage” you place on your resume is what catches the attention of hiring managers. Words do prove effective and can make the difference in obtaining an interview or a letter in the mail stating you are not qualified for the job.

Further reading at 4 Vital Resume Tips from the Career Pros.

Wilson Campbell is an HR expert, who specializes in team building and team building activities. Also he is expert in troubleshooting the concerns and considerations of employees.
Image credit Maura McDonnell

Filed Under: Resume Tagged With: CV, Resume, Resumes

How To Convert Your LinkedIn Profile into a Fine Looking Resume

One of LinkedIn’s true hidden gems is the free resume building service launched last year, which I have just been testing out. At first I thought it would be very basic and not all that useful. I was wrong.

The resume builder was developed by LinkedIn labs, meaning it’s an experimental tool but still developed in-house by the LinkedIn team. We can safely say that there is a need for a resume builder function on LinkedIn and I assume this is the Beta testing of it before they integrate it fully on LinkedIn proper.

How does the resume creator work?

Very simple. First off make sure you are logged in to LinkedIn. Then click on to the LinkedIn resume tool and sign in with your LinkedIn passport. The next thing you know you’ll have an auto-generated CV which mirrors all the information on your LinkedIn profile. This obviously means that the better that’s been filled in, the better the CV.

How do you edit your resume?

There are eleven different templates that you can play around with to suit your industry, seniority and purpose of the resume. Just like with your LinkedIn profile, you can shuffle the sections of your resume around and even hide the ones you think are irrelevant to your new resume.

The one thing you cannot do in the resume builder tool is to change specific details like job titles, dates and so on – this is done on your regular LinkedIn profile and updated automagically to your resume or CV.

Benefits of using the resume builder

As we all know it’s a bit tricky to keep your LinkedIn profile and resume completely synched. On top of that, it’s a slog to have to update stuff in two places. You can easily change the template, style and decide exactly what goes up on the resume as opposed to the LinkedIn profile.

You can choose to share the resume straight from the application or you can set it to private. Finally, you can download your new CV as a PDF and email or print.

Is this the kiss of death for resume writers?

I don’t think so, whilst the LinkedIn resume creator does churn out pretty good looking resumes it doesn’t customize them at all. A resume writer’s main role in my opinion is to write excellent copy and lay things out in a compelling fashion for your target audience. LinkedIn’s new tool does provide the average job seeker with a nice template resume but this has never been the be all and end all when there is any competition for a particular vacancy.

Final thought

LinkedIn know that their platform is the place to be for all things career and professional networking. By giving the world this free resume and CV feature, they ensure that everyone that uses the resume builder will keep their LinkedIn profile up-to-date and perfectly crafted for success.

Have you tried the tool yet? Please let me know your feedback!

Further reading about LinkedIn at 10 LinkedIn Tips To Get You the Job.

Filed Under: LinkedIn, Resume Tagged With: LinkedIn, Resume

INFOGRAPHIC: What Happens to Your Resume When You Apply to Jobs Online?

Do you know what happens with your resume when you apply for jobs online? Employers receive a steady stream of applications from job seekers for each open position through their applicant tracking systems (ATS). This automates the flow of applications and does some of the screening before a human even takes a look at your resume.

The steps that your resume goes through are:

1. HR receives your resume along with hundreds of others
2. Your resume is run through a parser (software that breaks down formatting)
3. The parser assigns meaning to resume content
4. The employer then uses keywords to search candidates
5. Your resume gets scored based on relevancy

Hopefully your resume will come up at the top of the search and scoring results. If not, you’ll languish at the bottom of short lists and won’t get interview requests.

More on resumes at Top 10 Features You Must Include in Your Resume.

Source: Resunate

Filed Under: Infographic, Resume Tagged With: Infographic, Resume

How To Make LinkedIn and Your Resume Work Together

It is a known fact that when it comes to employment, being hired is not always dependent on what you know but often times it’s who you know that can be your biggest asset. That’s why you always hear people talking about the importance of networking. LinkedIn is an excellent website created specifically for professional networking but some users just aren’t using it to its fullest potential.

In comparing your LinkedIn page to a sandwich your resume would be the bread and your profile page would be the meat. The bread might come first, but the meat is the star of the show. Try adding your LinkedIn profile link to the bottom of your resume and encourage potential employers to check it out when you submit a cover letter or get interviewed.

Your profile not only illustrates your experience but it also shows people you may have in common, provides a complete work history, links out to other things you’ve done, lists recommendations from former colleagues, and much more. Your LinkedIn page is your opportunity to expand your resume and get all of your great accomplishments that may not fit onto the resume.

Here are some tips to help beef up your LinkedIn profile and impress your future employer.

Take time to set up your LinkedIn profile page:

The biggest mistake (I should say one of the biggest as others come to mind) you can make on LinkedIn is to fill only the required information and upload your resume then leave it alone. Even if your resume was more robust than most of the others you would run the risk of never giving it a chance to be seen. Companies search for different skills they are looking for in prospective employees.

You have the opportunity to add keywords and skills onto your profile. Doing so will increase your chances of being seen by employers and give you a shot at being hired. You never know what may stick out. Something like being alumni from the same school as the person in charge of hiring can give you an edge over the competition. Maybe you and the person in charge of hiring both graduated with an online degree and share the bond of online learning - you never know.
Here are 10 Tips To Spruce Up Your LinkedIn Profile.

Network on the site:

LinkedIn is a site created to promote and facilitate professional networking online, but some of the people who have profiles only created it to post a resume. That is defeating the entire purpose. Add contacts that you have worked with in the past, people you know well and would do business with in the future. Again, they may be searching for a job just like you but they may also know someone of influence in the field you are looking to enter.

They can pass your name on, if your profile is completely filled out with relevant information, you just may get considered. Give yourself every opportunity to be seen.
Check out the 21 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn.

Beef up your page:

Make use of the recommendation section on your profile page. Reach out to current and former professors, managers and co-workers who can put in a good word for you. Telling people about yourself is good, but when they are able to see great things written about you from others it is even better. Getting a recommendation from a person with an excellent reputation is always a positive thing and can only help you.

Be sure to have your resume current with your most recent work experience and skills you have acquired. Your resume and your profile page should tell your story and sell you before you have the opportunity to do so in an interview. Make sure both are presentable and professional looking so you don’t sell yourself short.

Jesse Langley lives near Chicago. He divides his time among work, writing and family life. He writes on behalf of www.professionalintern.com.

Filed Under: LinkedIn, Resume Tagged With: LinkedIn, Resume, Resumes