You have sent out hundreds and hundreds of resumes with barely a response. You reason that it’s the economy and some other factors that you are simply not aware of. How can this be? No response whatsoever? You have accomplished a lot; you were well liked in your last role and did a number of things for the company that even resulted in a promotion. So what’s going on? I will tell you. It has nothing to do with you. It’s your resume that sucks! What’s wrong with your resume? It may be these top five things:

1. Your Resume Is Not Results Oriented

For reasons completely unknown to me, people like to reference the things they are responsible for rather than the results they obtained! Again, this document is an important marketing and sales tool. The examples of what you have done with the corresponding outcome are paramount to ensure that your resume is considered! If you don’t reference how you drove productivity, revenue, profitability, or added value – some type of value, you will not be successful!

Make sure you provide the reader with the juicy details of how you added value for your employer. Here are a few examples to help you get started:
-    Drafted a full business plan, including the financial forecast to open a new profit center for the company, resulting in a 40% revenue increase in year one.
-    Conceptualized and implemented a team training concept, which reduced production downtime by 35% and increased employee productivity by 50%.

2. You Don’t Have Core Competencies Called Out

This is a quick snap-shot of what you are offering your next employer. This section is critical; it shows the reader at a quick glance what you bring to the table and what you have accomplished in the past. It will help the reader quickly understand the competencies you possess as they connect with the position for which you are applying.

It can be a bulleted list of key words that when scanned by a person or a system will be easily identified as your key attributes. Don’t be afraid to revise your existing, or add new competencies to meet the position description. I would not suggest adding them verbatim; get a little creative in how you write them.

3. You have Grammar And Spelling Mistakes

Grammar and spelling errors plague resumes! I once had a client who indicated that he put a plane in the ‘hanger’. Really, I thought – that had to be some closet! Spell check will not pick up things like this because hanger is a word, the wrong one, but a word nonetheless. Whatever the reason for the mistake - this is a costly error if detected by a hiring manager.

I would like to say that there is a catchall that will help you identify all errors related to grammar and spelling, but alas, I cannot. Of course use spell check. You should also read your resume backwards, yes, backwards to help you catch errors. I also recommend identifying a friend or family member that is rock solid with English grammar and spelling. Have that person review your resume to ensure that all errors are caught before you submit the resume. You should also consider getting The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, which will definitely put you on the straight and narrow with respect to proper word usage. You will still need to get help with the spelling area though.

4. Your Presentation is Awful

How your resume looks is also important! Do your dates line up? Do lines roll to a second or third page? Consistent and an aesthetically pleasing presentation will help your resume shine. This demonstrates attention to detail – an all-important characteristic. If your resume looks sloppy, what will the hiring manager think? Possibly that you are disorganized and lack focus to ensure the details are reviewed. First impressions are lasting ones, and you want your resume to clearly articulate that you are focused, capable, and able to contribute to positive and lasting change. Choose an updated font like Book Antiqua in 10pts, Cambria in 10pts, or Tahoma in 9.5pts. Times New Roman is an outdated font, so I would encourage you to use something more timely.

Either get your resume professionally done, which will ensure that you are positioned correctly, and all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed. Alternatively, there are many templates available online where you can populate your information into an existing format. This will help you stay on track and generate a document that is consistent and pleasing to look at.

5. You Still Have An Objective Statement

Aside from being complete outdated, objectives tell the reader what you want, not what you offer. A resume is a marketing and sales tool about YOU. You need to offer up information about what you bring to the company – not what you want them to do for you.

Instead, start your resume off with a compelling summary. This is 6-7 sentences about what you offer. Since you don’t have a lot of time to make an impact, reference things that are unique – things where you made a sustainable impact. You can even show metrics in your summary to quickly demonstrate the value that you offer. Your summary is your overview about your key attributes peppered with an example or two to make a swift impact.

There’s my top five for you with some actionable solutions to help you create a rockin’ results-oriented resume! http://resumesdonewrite.blogspot.com/

When it comes to analyzing the job offer there are some key things that you should be reviewing to determine whether or not the position is right. Of course if you have made it this far, chances are you like the company and they like you. But how much do they really like you? Is it worthwhile to leave (if you are currently employed) or accept vs. continuing the search for something more suitable?
Since you are not going to accept the offer on the spot (it’s perfectly fine to take 3-4 days to mull it over), here are some things to consider before you take the plunge:

• Compensation: You should have done research already regarding the market and the pay scale for similar or the same position so you understand what other employers are paying for the role. Salary is the most critical part of the offer so it is in your best interest to know what the value of the position is before you accept. Make sure you also know the company’s review policy. Is there a formal review policy? When can you expect to receive a review? What are the parameters of the review? Is there a 360° review process? If so, how does it work? Does the company reward based on performance or are they going to 3% you to death once you get there? You want to make sure that if you ‘bring it’ that you will be compensated in alignment with your efforts and what you do for the new employer.
• Bonus: Does the company have a bonus program? You should find this out before accepting the offer. What is the qualification process?  When are bonuses paid? How are they calculated? This should be something that you discuss as part of the offer process. Oftentimes bonuses are contingent upon meeting certain performance criteria. Make sure you understand how bonuses are calculated. Any offer of employment you receive should provide you with the structure, including what you need to do to be considered for a bonus. If you are getting a sign-on bonus to join, find out when you can expect the payment once you have joined the company. Sometimes sign-on bonuses are paid within the first or second payroll period. In some instances you might have to wait 3-6 months for the bonus to be issued. What of you get a sign-on bonus and decide the job isn't right for you - do you need to pay it back? 
• Health Benefits: One of the things to consider before accepting any role is the type of benefits offered. While you might be getting an increase in salary, if you have to pay through the nose for the benefits, you could actually lose money by accepting a new offer. Make sure you know the types of coverage you can choose from. Oftentimes companies will have several plans. It is important that you review the medical and dental plans primarily to understand plan allowances, deductibles, and cost of participation. When do the benefits begin? Some employers have benefits that don’t begin until you have been there 30 days. If that were the case, you would need COBRA to continue your benefits until the new plan starts. COBRA can be very expensive, and you might want to negotiate to have your new potential employer pick up the tab for the month or period of time until the new plan takes effect.
• Other benefits may include short- and long-term disability, vision care, life insurance, access to a credit union, and a car allowance. Some companies offer stock options so be sure to find out if you qualify for them and how the program works. 401(k)s, pensions or IRAs are other benefits offered by many companies. Find out when you can start participating and if the company offers a matching program. Matching is the process by which a company will contribute money to the plan depending upon how much you contribute. Other benefits include tuition reimbursement and training. If continuing your education is important to your personal and professional goals, don’t accept the offer without discussing the tuition or training program.
• Vacation: Vacation time is worth its weight in gold – not to mention that there is a dollar figure associated with vacation. You wouldn’t want to go from having four weeks’ vacation to only two. For me vacation would be a deal breaker. This is definitely something that can be negotiated. Generally companies have a vacation policy. Sometimes you are granted two weeks when you start and accrue additional time over your tenure. Review this point with your hiring manager before accepting the position. You should also be aware of any sick and personal days that you are entitled to over the course of your employment. 

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Many job search candidates spend innumerable hours pursuing employment opportunities; yet many do not achieve the desired results. Having worked with thousands of people trying to obtain positions of increased responsibility in their chosen industry or field, I have encountered the following common mistakes, resulting in failure to achieve optimal outcomes:

No organized search strategy:  You need a plan. Keep yourself organized with a list of things that you need to do on a daily basis. This list will allow you to focus your efforts in the areas that require your full attention. Would you go to the supermarket without a list of things you need? If you do, I will guarantee that you forget to buy something or purchase things that you don’t need. Your job search works in a similar fashion. The list will allow you to plan for a successful campaign.

No record keeping: It is important to keep a list or spreadsheet of some kind so you can review to whom you have sent your resume or the contacts made. There is no possibility of your being able to recall all of the companies or people that you have contacted – let alone those that may have contacted you. Without a record, you might miss an opportunity, or worse be unprepared when someone does reach out to you. Make sure you keep names, dates, and details of discussions you had. Your records will allow you to follow-up when appropriate and supports your organized approach (see above.)

No use of diverse search methods: You cannot simply apply online and think that the calls are going to roll in. A job search requires far more effort than the use of the Internet. The following must be done to ensure a successful campaign:

• Identifying specific companies where you might be interested in working. Once you have a list, you should do some research to get the name of someone internally to direct your correspondence.
• Conducting research regarding the names of people in senior level positions. Use trade publications and the Internet to uncover names of people. Trade publications can be a great source of information, including providing you with movement within your targeted industry.
• Leveraging your network of friends and family members. Your network should also include people you meet at local networking events. You will not be able to join every group so choose wisely. Engage with people that you meet to establish relationships that can be reciprocal.
• Identifying a few niche job boards where you can post your resume. You should not broadcast it on every board out there. You will look desperate.
• Establishing a relationship with a few key recruiters. Like any relationship, you will need to work at maintaining contact. Recruiters definitely know the market and have contacts within the companies where them make placements. You cannot work with everyone. Make sure you choose wisely; be prepared to conduct a fair amount of floww up to keep the communications lines open.

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Many people find it daunting to begin the process of searching for new employment. Maybe you don’t know where to begin. Maybe you haven’t looked for a new position in more than 15 years, or maybe you have just become complacent where you are and haven’t thought about looking in a really long time. Whatever your reasons for pursuing a new position, your success now hinges on establishing some guidelines and developing a plan. Your plan will help keep you focused and on track, while also serving as an important guide. Here are my key tips to help you with the process; hopefully this will take some of the uncertainty out of your search:

The getting to know you process. You might be wondering how you come to understand some of your drivers and things that motivate you. Consider taking some tests, including DISC or MBTI. These assessments can provide very valuable information to allow you to understand more about yourself. Reading articles and books, and speaking with friends and colleagues regarding their experiences will also give you a different perspective. The learning process can come from a variety of avenues. Take your time to ensure you know enough about yourself to plan for a change. The planning process will allow you to identify opportunities that you might not have considered. It will also prevent you from spinning your wheels pursuing things that might not be right or a possibility at this time in your career.

Preparing for the search. As you know, you will need strong career documents to launch your search. Even if you have a strong network willing to work for you, you will still be asked for a resume. Your resume should serve as a ‘living’ document. This means that you will need to modify it as you apply for positions or give it to a member of your network. Your resume should highlight the things you have done and how you achieved results. Creating mini stories on your resume will allow you to showcase your talents and what you bring to a new position. Remember, it is not what a company can do for you; but rather, it is what you can do for them that need to come across on your resume. Use the SAR method when drafting your document: Situation, Action, Result. This formula will enable you to tell your mini story. Keep it short and to the point, highlighting the most relevant details of what you did in your role. The examples should provide the reader with key information, including metrics relative to positive outcomes of your efforts.

Create your marketing tools. As part of marketing yourself to a potential employer, you need to know who you are. Some people are more self-aware than others. Evaluate your strengths and areas for improvement. Keeping a list of these things will allow you to capitalize on what you would like to present to a potential hiring manager. More importantly, understanding areas where you are not as strong will provide you with the foundation to either make changes on your own or seek professional / educational assistance or training to improve areas where you need help. Part of knowing yourself also requires that you have knowledge regarding your work values. Are you only interested in a 9-5 job, or are you willing to extend yourself before or after the traditional workday? Recognizing your work ethic will allow you to pursue opportunities that meet with your overall personal and professional needs.

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How does one go about getting the name of someone in human resources or the name of a hiring manager? Job listings posted all over the place simply read: No phone calls and direct résumé to BD or some other letter combination at some post office box or no-reply email address. Getting a name is like pulling a needle from a haystack. A good read might be something from Sherlock Holmes or a day with reruns of Get Smart to help solve the dilemma.

I won’t lie; getting a name can be tough, very tough. It can be done though! It takes work and a bit of sleuthing. Anything that is worth something is worth working for - right? So, here are some ways to win the holiday turkey - THE NAME.

1. Try calling the receptionist at the company where you are applying. You can ask the receptionist for the name of a person in human resources. If you are nice and engage the person on the phone, you will likely come away with a name.
2. When calling a company, ask to be directed to the human resource department; you will likely get the voice mail of a person within the department. Even if he or she is not the right guy or gal, when your résumé shows up, he or she will pass it along to the appropriate counterpart in the department.

Looking for the name of a hiring manager? This takes more digging.

1. Use LinkedIn and Facebook to find people. If you are on LinkedIn you will need to do a lot of looking to identify people that are associated with the company you are targeting. Join affiliated groups so that you can write to those people directly without an introduction. Is that sneaky? No. LinkedIn is a tool like any other. You need to know how to use it. From there, you can introduce yourself to a person at your targeted company, network with them and obtain a name. Facebook takes a little more work, because you need to introduce yourself and be added as a friend.
2. Traditional research also works. When doing research on a company, oftentimes the company will have a listing of senior management. You can start there. Send a letter or email to one of those people. You never know, you might get a response asking you to send your résumé to them directly, or they might even give you the name of someone to reach out to within the company.
3. Network with everyone you know. The rule of six degrees of separation is what LinkedIn is all about. You can get names from friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and many, many others.

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Is your employer feeling the crunch of the current economic climate? So much so, that the dreaded ‘pay freeze’ has been put into effect? Do you feel that your efforts to go above and beyond have really done some good? You can still get the raise you desire. Here are some tips to help sway the scale in your favor:

Conduct Research: Before you saunter into the boss’ office and have ‘the discussion’ you need to be prepared with some relevant industry data. It would behoove you to have salary data regarding comparable positions so you can present your case from a position of power and intelligence. Knowing where you are in connection with the market will allow you to develop a productive and compelling argument when you sit down to the brass tacks discussion.

Demonstrate your value: Asking for a raise is not enough. You need to demonstrate that you are exceeding expectations. Come prepared (with examples) of projects you completed that generated revenue or saved the company money. You need to justify the raise. If you have assumed increased levels of responsibility, were promoted from a previous role, or created a new business strategy, come prepared to provide the details – down to the numbers of how you made a meaningful contribution.

Understand the company’s goals: Make sure you are doing things that are in alignment with what the company deems important. If a new program is underway, make sure you are applying your skills to meet that need. Pay attention to the initiatives that are important and apply yourself in those areas – within the context of your role; but don’t forget to be creative. Go above and beyond to show true value.

Negotiate on your own behalf: When you make an appointment to meet with the boss to review the increase, you must be prepared to offer other options. For example, if you want a $5,000 increase, you might be offered $2,500. Are there other things (non-monetary) you can request to bridge the gap? You might suggest an extra week of vacation or something else that translates to cash. Similarly, you might be told that nothing can be done at this time, at which point you might want to negotiate a six-month review for a raise upon meeting certain agreed-upon goals.

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What are some of the things you are doing to stand out from the crowd? We all know that as technology continues to evolve and there are more and improved ways to communicate, getting your résumé noticed by hiring managers, recruiters and members of the HR community can be difficult. There are human capital management systems like Taleo that abstract the players names and contact info and anonymous job postings that are, well, anonymous; and it can be next to impossible to get the name of someone. I say next to impossible because nothing is impossible! It just depends on how much time and effort you want to expend. Regardless, in the world of career search, you want to stick out like a sore thumb – but only in the most professional and positive way, of course. This brings me to my point, finally. What are some things you can do to make sure you grab the reader’s attention aside from the obvious results dominated statements?

Your résumé through rose colored glasses: Depending on the industry you are working in and the position you hold, adding some color in a tasteful way can make your résumé shine. If you work in marketing, PR, or another related or similar field, adding this dash of flair can illustrate a bit of creativity on your part and will allow you to stand out from the other candidates in the pile. You might consider changing the color of the major headings to a deep maroon or something dark grey. Don’t go too crazy; you simply want to spice up the résumé a bit while keeping a professional and tactful appeal. More

What is your greatest weakness?

Asking this question is like begging for a cliché. What does the interviewer think he is going to hear? “Oh, well, let me tell you. I am perpetually late; I simply cannot get anywhere on time – not even to the office.” Right-on! No person at an interview is going to give that type of answer. Instead you would come up with something equally lame like the following: “Well, I am a consummate perfectionist; I must make sure that everything is perfect 100% of the time; so I expend extra energy to ensure things are done the right way.” Hmmm. That sounds like an answer you would give simply because you don’t know what else to say and you certainly aren’t going to provide a REAL weakness. You might be left at the starting line if you did that. Superficial answers will not work, though.

Consider this when answering the greatest weakness question. It might be ok to tell the hiring manager something that is not your strong suit. You should also follow it up with something you have done to improve. You are then not just telling someone what you are not good at, but you are also sharing information about the steps you have taken to change the situation. How you have addressed the problem or improved your confidence will serve as the basis for your answer.

Preparing to answer this question before the interview will help you. If you give the standard ‘perfectionist’ answer, you will seem disingenuous. You can even tell a story about a situation. That will uncover the weakness but also allow you to follow up with how you corrected the problem.

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