Resume & Career Resources

Little known fact: the best jobs are never advertised.  They aren’t found online or posted in the newspaper.  No, on the contrary, the best job positions are filled before the general population even knows they existed.  And the men and women that get those jobs get higher pay, better benefits, and more responsibility.

So, if they aren’t advertised how do YOU go about getting one of these cushy jobs? The trick is thinking outside of the box, but here’s a couple of more conventional tactics to get you started:

Network Like Your Life Depends On It

Technically, of course your life doesn’t depend on it… but in essence it very much does. Get a better job, live a better life. Keep a crappy job, live a miserable life. Sometimes the math in life is really that straightforward.

When you’re looking for opportunities that are off the radar, you have to learn to glad hand like you’re running for office.  I’m not implying that you should put on the fake smiles and empty hugs… using the “kiss the baby” strategy that politicians are notorious for.  What I am implying is that you must be aggressive in meeting as many new people in your industry as possible.

Go to trade meetings and seminars.  Go to networking events like those held by the Chamber of Commerce and Toastmasters.  Go to relevant groups posted on websites like Meetup.com.  And, during these events, pass out business cards like you have a hole in your hand. And collect business cards like each one is a dollar.

Finally, make this your new motto: What challenges are you currently facing.  Learn to ask this to every new contact you make and every old contact you reach out to.

As Zig Ziglar says, “you can have anything you want, as long as you help enough other people get what they want.”  Look for ways to help your new contact and you will be remembered.  Let it be known that you’re looking for new work opportunities, but keep this secondary to making a genuine connection and helping your network reach their goals.

Go Fishing

Not literally… but the strategy you should use as a resume builder is the same as a bass angler.  Here’s how:

• The fisherman knows exactly what lakes they are going to fish.  The resume builder knows exactly what industry they want to be in.
• The fisherman knows exactly what fish they want to catch.  The resume builder knows what job responsibility they want to take on.
• The fisherman knows what bait to use and the expected weather forecast.  The resume builder knows what format to use, and the general health of the targeted industry.

The parallel can be drawn out to ridiculousness, but I’m sure you get the point.  Know what you are after and what you need to have or do to get it.  This will lead you to where you need to look and who you need to know to get the job.

Go Hunting

The more aggressive cousin of fishing, the goal is the same.  A true job hunter knows the exact employers they want to work with.  With this information, you can craft a much more effective cover letter and resume than the casual job seeker.

So, keep a list of your target employers.  Then, take the steps needed to get your resume in front of the right person (and you should know exactly who that is).

Then what?

These basic and conventional tactics should get you started in the right direction. If you want to improve your chances of striking oil even further, take the train of thought behind these tactic and mold you own strategies.  With some focused effort and a little creativity, you will jump from the mail room to the corner office in no time.

Getting an interview isn’t that hard, especially when you have a skill set with some demand behind it.  But just because you got to the interview stage doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. On the contrary, things are just getting started.

However, as a resume builder, there are things you can do to make the actual interview easier.  In fact, with a few simple strategies the interview will feel less like a hard close (where you smell of “PLEAZZEE HIRE ME”)  and more like a soft close (where the employer is highly interested and is almost chasing you).

Here’s what to do:

Know the position

If you plan on getting the job, you have to know why you’re a good fit.  Do background research on the company, the industry and the position you’re looking to fill.  Developing a firm grip on why you’re the answer to their prayers is priority #1.

With that information in mind, then you can take the steps to structure your resume properly.  Your goal is to frame your skill set as THE answer to their most pressing needs.  For example, if the sales staff has fallen short of quota for 4 quarters straight, the savvy marketing director would show how they’ve exceeded quotas for previous employers.

Tighten up your resume

Once you know your target position, it’s time to tighten up your resume.  Don’t make it longer than it has to be… just long enough.  That means establishing your expertise, your experience, and your skill set.

Leave all the fluff at the door… hiring managers are short on time and long on to-do’s.  Get to the point, and keep your resume laser focused on the position at hand.  As a resume builder, your job isn’t to write a book; your job is to sell your skill set for the highest premium possible.

Provide strong references

The resume builder should strategically use strong references.  In job hunting, as in life, what we say about ourselves doesn’t hold much water.  What other people say about us has a lot more weight. By including nothing more than a single reference from a reliable source is the equivalent of writing 100 pages of flowery resume chatter.  So when you’re writing up your resume, make sure to include references and letters of recommendation with your package.

Related note:  relevant references are even more powerful than just a reference.  What I mean by that is to use a reference source that has value in the eyes of the employer.  A reference from the VP of IT at your company matters more when you apply to an IT company than, say, a reference from your college professor of physics.  Both are impressive, but the former is more relevant to the employer.

As you can see, the underlying key to having a resume with teeth is to be focused. Focus on the needs of your potential employer, and focus on the unique skills you offer to help. By adhering to the strategies above, your personal job hunting efforts will be more effective and successful.

Curriculum Vitae, or “course of life” in Latin, is an alternative way expressing ones professional background with the intent of winning a job position.  Similar to the resume in this goal of job acquisition, the Curriculum Vitae (or CV) has a completely different format and usage than it’s resume sister.  As a resume builder, you should be familiar with these inherent differences, and know when to use a CV as opposed to a resume.

The Definition

Curriculum vitae have been the defacto job application tool in much of the world for generations. In a nutshell, the CV is an extremely detailed summary of one’s skills set, career experience, and education. The CV is typically 2 or more pages, where the traditional resume is one page.

The Use
The CV is generally used in countries outside of the U.S. and Australia.  The added detail of the CV is a boon for these employers, and makes filtering potential interviewees much easier.

Within the U.S.A and Australia, the CV still has its uses.  Specifically, those seeking positions in the academic or medical fields are expected to submit CVs instead of resumes.  This is because the added detail helps the employer filter out unqualified applicants more easily.

The Difference

The difference between the resume and the CV comes down to the required level of detail.  Resumes are much shorter, and give a quick summary of experience and relevant skills. Curriculum Vitae, on the other hand, dig deeper into the specifics of each.

Since the CV has more detail, having 2+ pages in addition to the cover letter is not uncommon.  This is in contrast to the resume, which is generally expected to be no longer than 1 page.

Also, some countries require the submission of a personal photo as part of the CV.  In the U.S. this is a discrimination suit waiting to happen, and is highly discouraged.  The exception would be the acting and modeling industries, where the “head shot” is the heart of the resume/CV.

More important facts

• Educational background is a major focus of the CV, and is expected to be comprehensive.
• Employment history is listed in descending order from oldest position to newest.
• Cover letters are also used with the CV to explain why the applicant is qualified for the position.
• Personal contact details are always listed at the top.
• A personal profile is often included.  This is basically a summarized mini biography, explaining who the applicant is and why they are applying for the job.
• Use of headers is encouraged so that the reviewer can find pertinent information quickly
• You may need to fill out a standard application as part of the process. Most employers allow the attachment of a CV to this application as a supporting document.

The Conclusion

The savvy resume builder can use the skills learned for constructing a resume, and modify them to work when CV building.  This means keeping the CV detailed but to the point, knowing the position you’re hunting for, and doing basic research on the company you would like to work with.

Of course, if you are applying within the U.S. and have no desire to work in the medical or academic fields, you’ll never need to craft a CV.  But if things do change in the future (i.e. – you decide to apply for an international company) it’s always good for you, the resume builder, to know the basics. And now you do… so good luck!