Sample resume Article

17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:41:31 +0000

17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview

by: Laura Adams

Several Days - One Week Before the Interview

1. Spend some time to research the organization and the position at hand. To find company-specific information, visit your local library, run a search on the internet, or talk to current or former employees about their experiences and impressions of the company. Study up on the company's products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, geographic location(s), structure, history, officers, and any other key information. Are there any new trends in the industry?

2. Identify the organization?s major competitors and do some basic research on how they differ (either positively or negatively) from the company at which you are interviewing.

3. Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organization?s needs. Practice answering directed questions about your experience, education, and skills and how they relate to the position at hand. Being prepared to draw colorations between your experience and the needs of the organization is one of the most important interviewing skills you will need.

4. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses, but find a way to frame them positively. For example, ?My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist. It may take me a little extra time to get a project done to my satisfaction, but you can be guaranteed that the work will pass even the most stringent review, be 100% accurate, and that no detail will be overlooked.?

5. Prepare several intelligent questions about the company and position that will demonstrate your knowledge of the company and your sincere interest in the position.

6. Try on your suit and make sure that it is still well-fitting and in good repair. If necessary, make arrangements to have it altered or find alternate dress.

The Day before the Interview

1. Contact the company to confirm the date and time of your interview. Also confirm the name and title of the individual(s) you will be meeting.

2. Get directions to the interview site. Be sure to double check the directions using a map. This will ensure that you know the way and also give you an approximate travel time ? don?t forget to allow for extra time for rush hour!

3. Lay out your entire interview outfit. Check it for any spot, wrinkles, or snags.

4. Print off a few extra copies of your resume and cover letter on nice paper. Even if the interviewer has a copy of their own, it?s always a good idea to have a backup copy. This is also helpful if you end up interviewing with multiple individuals, since the head interviewer may be the only person with a copy of your resume.

Get a good night?s sleep!

1. Your brain needs fuel to run at peak performance and if there is ever a day you needed 110% from your brain, it?s today. So don?t skimp on meals. Be cautious about eating large amounts of carbohydrates right before your interview though, since carbs are know to cause sluggishness and may lead to a ?post-lunch? naptime.

2. Get dressed early so you do not feel pressured to dash out the door. Pay attention to the details (brush off any lint, comb your hair, brush your teeth, use deodorant, etc.) and remember that a first impression can reveal a lot about you and your character.

3. Don?t forget to take copies of your resume, your cover letter, and your portfolio if you have one.

4. Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your interview. If you arrive more than 15 minutes early, it?s best to wait in the car or outside the building. Arriving too early gives off the impression that you have a lot riding on the interview (and have nothing better to do with your time), and also pressures the interviewer(s) into feeling that they have to adjust their schedule to accommodate you.

5.Smile and shake everyone?s hand when you are meeting for the first time - you should also smile and shake hands when the interview concludes.

6. Relax! If you have done your homework you are well-prepared for the interview. Take a deep breath and spend a moment collecting your thoughts if you need to when being asked a question. Ask confused about a particular question you are asked, don?t hesitate to ask for clarification.

After the Interview

Write a quick ?Thank You? message to the individual(s) who interviewed you.

About The Author

Laura Adams is a qualified careers advisor with 11 years experience. Nurses Jobs Information - Resources, News, Tips and Views to help Nurses find their dream jobs. http://www.Nurses-Jobs.info.

Another Chance to Shine ? Following Up on the Interview

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:30:26 +0000

Another Chance to Shine ? Following Up on the Interview

by: Heather Eagar

The interview follow up letter can make or break your chances of becoming hired. For that reason it should become an essential part of your job hunting tool box, right in there with the other tools you use: resume, cover letter, thank you note, reference sheet and salary history.

Think of the letter as a second chance. Some people don?t interview in person as well as they can write. Living up to the standards your resume set for you may be difficult. If that is the case, then the interview follow up letter will improve your appearance after the fact. Other people interview well in person, and are able to use this letter to reemphasize key points discussed with the hiring manager, and remind the hiring manager of the good points about the applicant. In either case the interview follow up letter is essential and if prepared properly will help the applicant get the job.

The following sample interview follow up letter gives an idea of what should be included.

The time I spent interviewing with you today gave me a clear picture of your organization?s operation as well as your work environment. I want to thank you for the thorough picture you painted of your organizational needs.

I left our meeting feeling very enthusiastic about the scope of the position as well as its close match to my abilities. I believe the key strengths that I can offer you are:

? Experience in dealing with people of all types and backgrounds through my life experience, education and training.

? Proven ability to operate a business at a profit, supervise and train personnel, facilitate activities to improve morale and cash flow, and interact successfully with both staff and customers.

? Excellent communication skills?particularly the ability to gain feedback and summarize succinctly.

With my energetic work style, strong people skills and attention to detail, I believe that I am an excellent match for this position. I welcome a chance to meet with you further to elaborate on my background and possibilities of future association.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to meeting with you soon.

Sincerely,

John Doe

You?ll notice that it is written in a positive and upbeat style. In sales, many successful salesmen assume the close. This does essentially that. The applicant in writing this letter is controlling the conversation and steering it towards positive attributes that he or she possesses, which would make the applicant appear valuable to the company. In addition, by using an interview follow up letter an applicant is ?walking the walk as well as talking the talk? simply because most applicants fail to use an interview follow up letter after an interview. Using a letter like this shows that the applicant is conscientious, thoughtful, intelligent, and just the kind of person the company needs. Using an interview follow up letter will lead to more job offers and more jobs.

About The Author

Heather Eagar

Are you guilty of sabotaging your own job search along with the opportunity to earn more money? Heather Eagar, a former professional resume writer and creator of ResumeLines.com, provides reviews of the top resume writing services (www.resumelines.com) that put you in charge of your career so you can get the job you deserve. Sign-up for your free Job Search Tips E-Course (www.resumelines.com/ecourse).

resources@resumelines.com

Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:53:38 +0000

Basic SEO Article - Focusing on Quick Optimization Techniques For The Newbie

by: Brad Callen

Basic On-Page SEO

On-page optimization is often ignored by the top sites on Google - after all, who cares about a few percentage points when you can literally buy your way to the top of the search engine result pages (SERPs) with a bucket-load of inbound links?

Today I?ll discuss a bit about why, contrary to common practice, why on-page SEO is so important and then tell you how you can quickly optimize your web pages even if you have very little time!

On-Page SEO - The Benefits

A lot of webmasters (including some self-proclaimed SEO experts) claim that on-page optimization is obsolete - that the only thing that matters is off-page optimization (i.e. link building).

So is that true?

Actually, like most SEO hype, there?s some truth involved. Inbound links have become the overwhelming determining factor in a website?s search engine rankings, but theres more to the story then that.

Why bother with On-Page SEO?

Here are just three reasons off the top of my head:

? With everyone chasing after links, the playing field is leveled somewhat. This means that well-optimized pages will have a better chance of ranking higher if they might not beat the top websites on link count (but come close nevertheless).

? Because of keyword spamming, search engines paid more attention to links. Now, because of link-spamming, search engines are moving back towards paying more attention to other ranking factors, including on-page optimization.

? Over 90% of your competition probably doesn?t know how to optimize their web pages, or are doing it wrong, or are probably committing some sort of search engine spamming, so that you can immediately place yourself within the top 10% of your niche by just spending a few minutes on each page and getting things done right (or hiring someone to do it for you if you have a huge site).

I?ll be honest. No one knows exactly how important on-page optimization is. Of course, you should still be paying a great deal of attention to link-building, but the key is this ? link-building is a long-term process, whereas on-page optimization a short, one-time thing. With its obvious ranking benefits, why wouldn?t you be optimizing your web pages?

On-Page SEO ? A Quick Tour

Before I go over the techniques, I want you to remember these things:

Search engine optimization is a lot about doing things in moderation ? you can?t do too little of it otherwise your pages won?t rank at all, and if you go too far (and start spamming the search engines), you?ll get your website banned and essentially kiss your online business goodbye.

Secondly, before you are optimizing a particular page, make sure you write down a short list of core keywords for that page. This is extremely important ? search engines rank pages, not websites, so all your efforts should be directed towards making sure individual pages rank best for their own primary keyword.

Title Tag

The Title tag is where most webmasters make serious mistakes (in case you didn?t know, the Title tag contains the text that you see on the top of your browser window). Now the best way to write a Title tag is to make sure that you get your best keywords for that page in there. Don?t bother with words that are not needed, such as ?and? or ?the? ? stick with your core keywords.

Using the example of a website owned by a professional resume writer looking to start their online business, for the home page you would probably use the following Title tag:

?Professional Resume Writer | Guaranteed Resume Writing?

Not only do you have your core keywords in there, you have also managed to combine them in one line without using the needless words like ?and? and ?the?.

Of course, you can always go too far and stuff the Title tag with as many keywords as possible. If you are thinking about doing that, DON?T! That sort of optimization will land you into trouble with the search engine algorithms, which automatically flag any website that uses spammy optimization techniques ? and once you are ?red-flagged? like this, you?ll be going down, not up in the rankings.

The next step is to take care of all your header tags.

Header Tags

Also known as H1 and H2 (and so on) tags, the header tags in your page give the search engine spiders an idea of how your page is structured. Therefore, if you can put in important keywords that are relevant to your page?s content in the header tags, the search engine will then ?know? that this particular page contains information on topics relating to those keywords ? thus helping your page rank better for those keywords.

It?s actually simpler than it sounds. Sticking with the ?Resume Writer? website, let?s suppose you have a page that?s titled ?How to write a Resume? (bear with me here). Now, you might have two sections on that page ? an article on resume writing and general resume writing tips. Now instead of lumping it all together, here?s what you could do:

? H1 tag for the page heading ? including a variation of the Title tag

? H2 tags for both sections ? ?Resume Writing? and ?Resume Writing Tips? in this case.

Textual Tags

When a search engine spider is scanning a page, it?s looking for several factors to determine what is important and what?s not. In particular, it looks for text tags ? bold, underline or italics, to help it rank the page. Why?

Quite simply, the search engine spider is programmed to ?think? that any text that is put in bold, italics or underlined is considered important information by the user, and therefore it ?might? be important. This is where bullet points come in handy as well.

I said ?might? be important because search engine spiders have very sophisticated algorithms that look at hundreds of other factors, including the relevance of the surrounding text.

So if you concentrate on putting bold or italics tags around your core keywords (while maintaining a natural flow of content), you will be directly improving the chances of a search engine spider ranking that page higher for those keywords.

Similarly, if you have an important list of points that you want to emphasize (or perhaps summarize), you could put them in an ordered (numbered) list or just a plain bulleted list on your page ? this will set that portion of text apart and alert the search engine spider that this text is more important.

The Image Tag

This is an interesting tag because it?s not that widely-used, and when some webmasters do use it they tend to stuff the tag with keywords in a futile attempt to influence search engines.

The Image tag is supposed to help the search engines ?read? into what the image that you are displaying is about ? thus the need to plug in your relevant keywords into the tag. Note that if your image is, let?s say, a picture of a hiking resort and your website is an adventure tours business, then you might plug in keywords that relate to hiking resorts ? remember to focus on the core keywords for that page and not just the website on the whole.

About The Author

Brad Callen - SEO Professional, owner of http://www.seoelite.com and Internet Marketing Consultant for http://www.Textlinkbrokers.com . Any reproduction of this article needs to have an html link pointing to http://www.textlinkbrokers.com

articleexpert@gmail.com

A Sample Interview Thank You Letter

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:37:31 +0000

A Sample Interview Thank You Letter

by: Heather Eagar

A sample thank you letter that you use after an interview, as a guideline or template, will save you a lot of time when preparing this type of correspondence. Since you?ll prepare it before the job interview when you are not nervous and have a clear head, the letter will really increase your chances of making or reinforcing a good impression.

Trying using this for your own uses.

Date

Name

Company

Address

City

State

Zip

Dear Name,

I enjoyed the chance to visit with you in your office today concerning career opportunities with ABC Company. After discussing the future of the company I am convinced that I can make a positive contribution, and believe our association could be mutually beneficial.

I was especially impressed with the information you provided concerning expansion into other markets and the need for an invigorated marketing effort. With my background in advertising and insurance sales and experience as a carnival promoter, I believe I have a lot to offer.

ABC Company has an outstanding reputation in the field and is the type of organization I wish to associate myself with. I pride myself on being an outstanding salesman and promotional specialist, and look forward to a chance to make a positive contribution during this period of growth.

If I can provide any more information that would be of assistance to you, please don?t hesitate to call me at the phone number listed above, or email me if that is more convenient. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Again, thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

John J. Doe.

Using this sample letter will save you time and lead to more second interviews and more job offers. However, if your field is not sales or marketing it may not be perfectly suited to your needs. It should be easy to analyze the thank you letter and see which sentences and paragraphs can be changed to make it fit your needs and your profession. With modern word processing software you can customize one version, and then copy the file and make another letter geared towards a different type of job completely. For instance, if there are three or four types of jobs you would consider then creating a thank you letter for each is probably a good idea. The same of course is true with your cover letter and resume. Different versions for different types of jobs, emphasizing different aspects of your skills and experience will make you more versatile. If, however, you are determined to pursue only one type of job, then you obviously need only one sample letter, one type of cover letter and one type of resume. This is a personal choice and you are the only person who knows exactly what job would be best suited for you and if there is more than one type you?d consider.

About The Author

resources@resumelines.com

7 Must-Do Tips To Create A Powerful Ad Copy

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:46:51 +0000

7 Must-Do Tips To Create A Powerful Ad Copy

by: Azwan Asmat

When creating an ad copy, you should make it believable and persuasive. Some of us are missing some crucial things to include. Here are 7 tips to help you create a powerful ad copy.

1. Use a "P.S." at the end of your ad copy. This is where you either want to repeat a strong benefit or use a strong close, like a free bonus. For example, "P.S. You can get (product), worth over ($), for the low price of ($)!" Another example, "P.S. I can not guarantee the (No.) bonuses will be here tomorrow!"

2. You could end your ad copy with a discounted price. Just list your regular price and then offer a discounted price off the order ?right now?. You could also offer a rebate that takes effect instantly. For example, you could say, "Instead of paying $99, you could order now and get an instant rebate of $20 - you only pay $79!"

3. You could end your ad copy with a free sample or trial of your product. If your ad didn't attract them to buy, maybe a free sample or trial would. If you were selling an e-book, you could give them a free sample at the end of your ad copy. For example, you could say, "If you're still not sure about ordering, download a FREE sample chapter!"

4. Motivate people to buy your product. Tell them positive things. For example, you could say, "You can now reach your goals and change your life if you buy our product.? If you come across positive in your ad copy, they will become positive about reaching their goals using your product.

5. Never assume people believe the information in your ad copy. You need to back-up all your claims with indisputable evidence. For example, you could include testimonials, expert endorsements, third party tests or studies, strong guarantees, a list of customers, pictures of customers, etc.

6. Create a bond with your visitors by bringing up likes or dislikes you have in common with them in your ad copy. Just make sure you do your research. For example, you could say, "I hate it when you have to wait in line for a long time at the drive-through." Another example, "I really like it when I have extra money to spend."

7. Ask people at the end of your copy why they decided not to buy. This will give you new ideas on how to produce ad copy that?s more profitable. Have a web form or e-mail link in place so they can answer you. You may find out they don't like your guarantee or graphics. It could be anything.

Use these 7 tips and you?ll create your own powerful ad copy.

About The Author

Azwan Asmat is the author of The Ecom Blog and has 1 year experience working with chemical substances. For more proven tips on online business, subscribe to his monthly newsletter.Visit http://www.ecommerce-newbie.com/ecom.

Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:24:25 +0000

Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?

by: Mike Fitzpatrick

For the first time in several years the U.S. dollar has managed to gain value against the world?s other major currencies. During the first three months of 2005, the U.S. dollar is up approximately five percent against both the yen and the euro. The gains for the dollar should be considered significant when considering the United States still faces a growing trade imbalance. So far this year, currency traders have shifted their focus from the United States? large trade and current account shortfalls toward the higher rates of returns being offered on U.S. debt. The recent strength shown in the dollar has somewhat shifted sentiment within the financial markets about the future direction of the currency. A Bloomberg survey released earlier this week shows that the major currency traders expect to see dollar weakness resume later in the year, but the sentiment among dollar bears is much weaker than it was at the start of the year.

The strength shown in the U.S. currency thus far in 2005 should prove to be short-lived. The strong Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the past eighteen months will begin to show signs of moving closer to more normal levels over the next couple months. The signs of a slower economic growth will likely cause a shift in sentiment among currency traders toward the more fundamental problems facing the U.S. economy. The United States trade and current account deficits show no signs of retreating anytime soon. In fact, we expect the coming trade figures to show further deterioration in the balance of trade over the next few months. The major industrialized nations outside of the United States continue to experience anemic economic growth. This continues to place further pressure on the U.S. dollar as the United States consumer continues to buy goods produced in Europe, Japan, and China.

While we expect the dollar to resume its gradual fall against most major currencies, the major wildcard in our forecast is of course China. Recent information coming from China?s top decision makers indicates the Chinese are in no hurry to adjust the current value of the Yuan-Dollar relationship. Should any talks of a possible revaluation emerge later in the year, the downward pressure on the U.S. dollar would quicken as currency traders would buy the Japanese yen, and other freely traded Asian currencies, that would likely benefit from a revaluation.

About The Author

Mike Fitzpatrick

For more information, visit http://www.financial-watch.com

10 Steps to Writing an Effective Thank You Letter

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:15:50 +0000

10 Steps to Writing an Effective Thank You Letter

by: Robert Moment

The interview was fantastic; you know that you impressed with your perfect answers and excellent resume. You also know that, from this point on, you just have to sit back and wait for the telephone to ring with your future employer on the line, begging you to come to work. You know this, right? Very wrong. No matter how wonderful the interview or great the resume, you can never be sure that you will get the job of your dreams?-anything can happen. However, one way to help shift the odds in your favor is to write a Thank You Letter. This courtesy is often ignored by job candidates; so, if you take time, future employers are likely to take notice. An effective Thank You Letter can push you closer toward your career goal. The Thank You Letter should always sell your skills and how they will help your future employer.

To write the proper Thank You Letter, follow these simple but effective tips:

1. Keep It Short

A typical Thank You Letter is one page in length; this allows you to make your point without going on too long. Remember that most employers do not have the time to read page after page of gratitude. Show that you understand by keeping your letter short. You show courtesy in two ways.

2. Refresh Their Memory

Refer to specific pieces of information discussed in your interview?this shows that you paid attention and can remember detail. By doing this, you can remind the employer why you are best for the job.

3. Send It Off

After your interview, begin writing your Thank You Letter. Do not wait; the employer should receive your letter within 48 hours. This shows proper respect. If too much time passes, a letter is not likely to help you. Your potential boss will probably forget you.

4. Be Professional

Your letter should be typed on plain, white paper. Do not use items like colored paper or special bonded paper. Do not send your letter through email or handwrite it. That shows a lack of respect.

5. Emphasize Everything

In your letter, be sure to reemphasize your qualifications and experiences. Remind the employers of why you truly are the best person for this position. A Thank You Letter can serve to alleviate any doubts he/she had of you during your interview if you stress your best qualities.

6. Extra Information

Make sure to save room in your letter for extra information that you may have forgotten to mention during your interview, or that the employer did not ask for. This can help reinforce you in their minds.

7. Be Original

Do not simply copy an example of a Thank You Letter and fill in the blanks; your letter must be of your own design. Otherwise, you can come across as unwilling to put effort into your projects.

8. Encourage Contact

Give your pertinent information (Email, Home Phone, Cell Phone, etc.). This will allow the employer to decide whether he/she wants to contact you or not?-you give them the chance. If you do not put your information in the letter, you may very well miss an opportunity.

9. Proofread

While an employer will appreciate a Thank You Letter, he/she will not appreciate one with spelling or grammar mistakes. Before you send your letter, proofread it; and, once you have read and reread, allow someone else to do the same.

10. Close With Gratitude

Without sounding overly dramatic, make sure that you thank the employer for taking the time to interview you. Thank them in your own way.

By following these steps, you can impress your future employer and give yourself the edge against other candidates. A simple courtesy could become the deciding factor of getting that perfect job.

About The Author

Robert Moment is an author, business coach, and success strategist. He has successfully consulted and advised hundreds of job seekers. His most recent e-book, ?What Matters Most is Employment? ( http://www.jobsearchrx.com ) is a concise guide, packed with information and tips on finding and getting career-advancing employment in today?s job market.

robert@jobsearchrx.com

6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:17:51 +0000

6 Vital Tips For Creating A Superior Resume

by: Rita Fisher

1, Keep It Short

Considering that initially HR personnel only spend approximately 10-20 seconds on a resume, the shorter your resume, the most desirable it is. Aim for one page.

Of course, it is sometimes impossible to create such a short resume. You might have to include a second page because you have way too much information regarding your work experience, accomplishments, etc. In this case, make sure that you list the most relevant information within the upper half of the first page because that is the section that gets looked at first. This way, these important insights will surely be noticed.

2, Spelling, Spelling, Spelling

It is not enough to run the word processor’s spell checker on your document. Proofread your resume at least 3 times, once backward (sometimes that is how you notice mistakes.)

Remember, a sloppy presentation is almost a guarantee that your resume will end up in the circular file even if you have all the qualifications in the world.

3, Start Your Resume With A “Power Statement”

Many resume writers suggest starting a resume with an objective. I object to that (no pun intended). Objectives are useless because they are self-centered.

Here is a typical objective: “Challenging position in social services.”

My suggestion is that you start your resume with a power statement such as: “Experienced Social Worker with 10 years of proven client counseling and support background along with enthusiasm for working with children and their families.”

Whereas the objective tells the employer only what you want to do, the power statement goes further in highlighting not only the job you are seeking but also your major achievements. The power statement showcases what you can do for the company.

4, Use Action Verbs

Begin your sentences with action verbs for added punch and to express a sense of accomplishment.

For a FREE list of action verb, please e-mail Rita Fisher at RitaFisher55@comcast.net with “Action Verb List” in the subject line.

5, Use Specifics

Use specifics such as numbers, percentages, figures and facts.

Example: “Exceeded sales quotas by 50% for 4 consecutive years.”

Numbers stand out and communicate clearly and openly about not only the results you produced by also about what you can do for the company (can’t repeat that enough.)

6, Answer The “What’s In It For Me?” Question

What every employer wants to know when reading your resume is what’s in it for them.

Employers are looking for people who will solve their problems. You have to present your case accordingly.

How?

By answering these questions and including the answers in your resume:

What kind of problems did you solve on the job?

How did the company benefit from your performance?

How did you do the job differently and better than the person before you did?

Did you introduce a new program or system?

If yes, what were the results of it? (Be specific regarding the results.)

What were you most proud of in your job?

What would your supervisor and your co-workers say they would miss most about you when you leave?

How did you make a difference in your job?

How did you affect the company’s bottom line?

Did you save money for the company? How much?

Did you earn money for the company? How much?

http://www.CareerChangeResumes.com

About The Author

Rita Fisher, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, has a team of writers who provide professional resume development to job seekers at all levels, with special focus on career changers. Visit her site at http://www.CareerChangeResumes.com.

RitaFisher55@comcast.net

A Sample Resume Template Can Help Get the First Interview

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:30:23 +0000

A Sample Resume Template Can Help Get the First Interview

by: Larry Washington

Trying to land that perfect job that's come your way? A sample resume template can help you do just that.

A sample resume can help you get that first interview. That's one step closer to getting through your future employer?s door. That's is your goal...right?

You might be wondering "How can a sample resume template help me get an interview?"

Simple...

You use it to help spark an idea as to how you may want to tailor your resume. It helps you create an idea which can transfer over to your resume.

This is how a sample resume template can help your resume look it's best!

Always remember that the best resumes will get the interviews.

Do not do a half decent job when using a sample resume template to build your resume.

That's because it?s easy to get complacent when an example is lying there in front of you. Always be creative and try to limit your resume to one page (2 pages max).

Remember, a hiring manager is on a schedule and doesn't have time to read through pages and pages of information.

Many of the sample resume templates are designed with a very high quality and look very professional.

This can help insure you have the best chance at getting the job offer. More job offers equals more opportunities.

Sample resume templates are very simple to use. All that is required is for you to put your content in where the sample text is. Remember to always be creative and use action words to describe yourself.

For example: you were responsible for leading a project with a group of 5 colleagues. This would immediately tell the manager that you are a leader.

In other words?

Sell yourself!

Selling yourself will leave a long lasting impression when the hiring manager reads your resume. Doing that will work wonders when the manager starts to narrow down his/her decision.

If you need help writing a resume, it's a good idea to reference a sample resume template to get going. It can help you spark ideas and also lead to getting the interview.

Following this tip for sample resume templates can pay off big in the long run!

Good luck to you in your career.

About The Author

Larry Washington is the founder of http://www.greatresumetips.com. His website is dedicated to providing individuals with tips on how to write a resume to get the job.

If you're looking for more information about resume writing, feel free to visit http://www.greatresumetips.com and check out the resume help section for more tips.

Boost Your Job Search with the Buddy System

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:28:16 +0000

Boost Your Job Search with the Buddy System

by: C.J. Hayden, MCC

Remember back in grade school when the teacher asked you to hold hands with a friend on field trips? The idea behind the buddy system is that it?s much harder to get lost if there are two of you traveling together. When you get into trouble, your buddy can help you out, or find someone else who can.

Maybe you could use a buddy in your job search. The constant challenges you encounter while seeking out job opportunities and going on interviews make job-seeking a difficult road to travel all alone, and it?s easy to get lost. Teaming up with a job search buddy can give you:

Perspective - A different point of view on your progress or challenges. Just hearing your problem restated by another person can give you new insight that will help you find a solution.

New Ideas - A partner for brainstorming and an extra pair of eyes and ears to spot opportunities. You can double the amount of knowledge and experience at your fingertips.

Accountability - Someone other than yourself to whom you are accountable -- who will ask you once a week what you have done so far, and what's next.

Support - Space to complain or celebrate out loud, with someone who cares about your progress. If you?re facing a roadblock, grousing about it for a few minutes may be all you need to get back into action. And having someone to share your success with can make it much sweeter.

While you could use your spouse, best friend, or a co-worker to provide this extra help, the individuals closest to you may not be the best choice. The people in your personal life will not always be thrilled with how much time you?re spending on looking for work, and your co-workers may tend to sidetrack you with day-to-day job issues. You may find it more helpful to find a buddy who can maintain some detachment, but who also understands the importance of your job search.

You and your buddy can assist each other in reaching your goals by setting up a regular check-in, where each of you reports on progress, announces successes, and describes challenges. The buddy's job is to listen, celebrate, commiserate, and be a brainstorming partner. Here?s how to make the buddy system work for you in job-seeking:

1. Set a fixed time to talk. Whether you meet by phone or in person, set a start and end time for your conversation. Half an hour is enough; an hour is plenty.

2. Check in about goals and action steps. Make a brief report about where you are with your job search and what steps you have taken since your last meeting. Keep your check-in brief and to the point, e.g. ?I got one interview this week, and set up two appointments for networking lunches. I revised my r?sum? to include more of my past accomplishments, and applied for three new job openings.? Acknowledge your buddy?s progress and celebrate his or her success.

3. Help each other solve problems. Ask your buddy to first just listen while you tell him or her what's going on and clear your emotional reaction to it. Your buddy can say things like, "Gee, that's tough," or "How awful!" but should not offer any advice until you are through. Talk about not only what is happening, but how it makes you feel. If it sounds like complaining, that probably means you're doing it right.

You might say something like this: "I've been trying for two weeks to finish my r?sum?, and there's just been one emergency after another, and now my mother wants me to help sell her car, and I'm so frustrated! All the words I write down just come out wrong, and I don't think it'll ever come together, and I needed it yesterday, and I'm so worried that..." You get the idea.

Set a time limit of 5 minutes for reporting and clearing. At the end of that time, ask your buddy to summarize for you: "I hear how frustrated and worried you are. You seem to have two problems that need to be solved -- finding the time to work on the r?sum?, and getting the words to come out right. Are you ready to look at some solutions?"

4. Brainstorm possible solutions. Your buddy's job is not necessarily to hand you the right answer -- his or her more important role is to help you expand your thinking to come up with some new ideas. Take your problems one at time, and together with your buddy, make a list of possible solutions. Don't edit the list as you are brainstorming; include anything and everything that comes up. You are not allowed to say, "That won't work," or "I already tried that."

Here are the potential results of a brainstorm on getting the right words for a r?sum?:

hire a r?sum? writer
plagiarize my friend?s r?sum?
use the thesaurus
ask my cousin the writer to help
do a r?sum? with only pictures
don't use a r?sum? at all
look at sample r?sum?s on the Internet
take a class in how to write a r?sum?
use what I have and stop worrying
have some colleagues review it

5. Decide on your next steps. If none of the brainstormed ideas seem right, look at each one to see if there's something useful in it. Maybe you can't afford a r?sum? writer, but you know one you could ask for a word or two of free advice. Perhaps a class would take too long, but you could check out a book from the library. Find just one thing you can do that will get you moving toward a solution.

Regardless of any problems you try to solve during your session, always end by naming what steps you will take on your job search before your next meeting. Write these steps down ? both yours and your buddy?s ? so you can check in about them next time.

6. Keep the relationship reciprocal. Make sure each of you gets an equal amount of time at your meetings. If you end up spending the whole session on one person?s problem, devote the next session to the other buddy. Keep your buddy in mind as you make new discoveries and meet new people, and share any opportunities you uncover. The buddy system works best when you do for your buddy what you would like your buddy to do for you.

About The Author

C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Hired Now! and Get Clients Now! Since 1992, she has helped thousands of professionals make a better living doing what they love. C.J. is a Master Certified Coach who leads workshops internationally ? in person, on the phone, and on the web. Find out more about C.J. and get a free copy of "How to Find a Job in 28 Days or Less" at http://www.gethirednow.com.