Recruiting / Coaching - Busy Busy !

The RF/MW job market continues to waffle - but specialists in RF design are always in demand.  Coaching has been exploding - with more and more unemployed looking for new ways of searching for a meaningful position.   And my talk -"JOB SEEKERS! RETHINKING: RESUMES, FINDING OPPORTUNITIES, INTERVIEWING" - has been getting lots of attention.  

If you want to have the Resume Mistakes document - write to me ~ "See" you soon !  
 

Resume NO NOs - #s 4 through 6

4. Having An “Objective” Statement - Here is MY question to you about an "Objective" statement.  What does it really do for the employer?  Do you expect the company to see if "your" objective fits into "their" needs?

My Advice ??  Here is your objective – A NEW JOB !  Putting yourself ahead of the pack - whatever it takes to get you there!

5. Not Including a Summary Section Which Makes an Initial Hard Sell

This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools on the resume. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill
level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.

The Job Seeker Should Create a high-impact summary statement which captures the attention of the manager, highlighting achievements and skills along with education if advanced, and citizenship if applicable to the possition (ie - a security clearance will be required to be employed there)

Soft Skills need to be emphasized - interpersonal communications, ability to work collaboratively
and commitment to achieving corporate goals. Make sure your personality shines through. The
employer should find you to be likeable and well suited for the team. 

6. Too Focused on Job Duties
(REFER BACK TO OPENING PARAGRAPH – WHO IS THE AUDIENCE) Your resume should
NOT be a list of job duties and responsibilities. The interviewer wants to know what your job was –
so state what you did with how you made a difference at each company, providing specific
examples. For each position held, give a brief synopsis of the scope of your responsibility. Then
show how your performance benefited the company. Give examples of how past initiatives led to
positive outcomes such as enhanced efficiency, faster time-to-market, monetary savings.
Measureable Accomplishments are powerful - include actual performance figures. Focus on your
most impressive technical projects/ accomplishments. What types of challenges did you face? What
did you do to overcome the challenges? How did your performance improve the organization's
bottom line?
For contract work, provide a bulleted list of your top projects, reason for hiring you, scope of the
project, your approach to the project, work performed, and results.

Resume Ad !

1.  Too short or too long?
What's the "right" length of a resume?   The real answer is - there is no rule about this.  Using common sense would indicate that grabbing and holding the reader's attention is the desired outcome for starters.

Unfortunately technical candidates usually make one of two critical errors on their resumes -- either the document is excessively long with excruciating detail on every assignment ever completed, or too short with
hardly any hints at involvement/achievement

Many resume authors try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, as they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. These job seekers may delete impressive achievements or leave it too vague to be noticed.  Again - know the audience.  .

At the other end of the spectrum are the candidates who ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences; citing every award within the body of each position (rightfully listed at the bottom) including detailing almost marketing-like information about the employer.   The interviewer knows the competition - or can Google them - the idea is to highlight who YOU are and what YOU can do.  Diverting the attention for the sake of confirming what a great company you work for is like waving a red flag.....why?

2. Functional Resume
It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional format.

3. Personal Pronouns and Articles
There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles.  Here is where a "ghost author" or "editor" can be of real help!  Making a statement about achievement without personal pronouns makes the resume less subjective .... you want the reader to translate your achievements into their team!  without a major ego !

A Resume Is An Ad, Not A Fact Sheet
Now that I have your attention ...............

Know Your "Buyer/Employer" - To Whom Are You Selling Yourself ?
(Question to Ask yourself)  - To Whom Does the Position Report?  That information will help you to focus the tone of the information .


Upper Management - They set the strategic direction and how best to utilize funding, new product decisions, and watching and responding to trends in the marketplace. Profitability is the bottom line – You need to use
examples of how you have aided in the bottom line.  

Middle Management Responsible for getting it done !  Performance in completing a task or assignment on time or ahead.  A letter from a previous employer citing your cooperation or independence - Making it easier for the boss!


Over the next few days - I will post some global suggestions for preparing a resume - stay tuned!

The Good News and ... The Bad News

The Job Market is seeing improvement with many employers hiring, BUT they are more discriminating than ever before. The skills sets may be different, BUT the other criteria — critical thinking skills - people who are adaptable and amenable to change, are the same across the board.   The rapid pace in today's business requires a closer scrutiny on profitability.  A client of mine - who missed some critical information regarding a co-supplier design to a major client - is down $20MM a quarter!  To catch that kind of impact on the bottom line and reverse the trend down, requires review of the value-add of every employee and the ability to rapidly move in a counter direction - YOU must have shown your creativity and ability to be valuable in that kind of changing environment BEFORE it happens.   If you didn't - you will find yourself on "the List".   Good solid people - good employees ... losing their job.   Don't be that guy/gal !    As I always preach ... be a boy/girl scout and "Be Prepared".

Resume & Interview Coaching Service

The Launch of our new Resume Review/Rework & Interview Coaching Service was a rousing success!  Special pricing is over - but this is still a great value!   $125  to get you Noticed !  AND Make the Most of Every Interview!

• Audit your resume & make it more powerful to capture the "Right" attention  

• Brainstorm with you to "Think Outside The Box" & discover opportunities!  

• Coach you on interviewing techniques so you have the tools to confidently answer "Those" questions - including the salary issue.      

 Call with questions or to schedule.

Creating A Memory

It's a competitive marketplace. YOU need to stand out from among the many.  Think of something different, value added, to your presentation of yourself.  I've had a few great ideas come past my desk recently that I want to share.  

• A portfolio.   Whether it's pictures of your work, or an article about your work (think white paper or technical talk or advertisement), add it (or an excerpt) to your resume or as an addendum; especially when you go for an interview.   
• Do a PPT presentation - ask the hiring manager if you can give it when he/she asks you to tell a bit about yourself (time management here folks! don't use overkill) and make a few copies to leave behind  - different than a typical paper resume - but your resume could also be on there as a file and some of your other "portfolio" items (see above). 
• My new favorite?  A YouTube "elevator speech" with an animated avitar!  A link in your on line resume or in an email.  Sure to be remembered !     

Not each of these will fit your personality - but I'm hoping they will spark some thoughts and ideas to help you be memorable with each encounter in your process.  

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes --

Sound familiar ?   It's from Disney - if you don't dream / wish - you don't have a goal !  And if you don't have a goal, you won't want to do what's necessary to move foward. 
I have said it many times here - but the following is from my favorite business author/motivator/advisor, Harvey Mackay:  "My advice is always the same whether you are starting up or starting over:  Keep your options open.  Don't discount the value of any working experience.  Expand your network at every opportunity, because you never know who might know someone who could use your talents and skills.  Volunteer some time to get more and varied experience.  Make sure you have a presence on social networking sites, especially LinkedIn and Facebook.
Perhaps the most important tip I can pass along is this:  Never be afraid to ask for help.  There are plenty of people who have created successful businesses, and even more who have built successful careers.  Learning from others is essential, no matter how much you have learned from your own experience."

Top 10 Resume Mistakes #6 - #10

6. Too Focused on Job Duties

(REFER BACK TO OPENING PARAGRAPH – WHO IS THE AUDIENCE) Your resume should not be a list of job duties and responsibilities. The interviewer wants to know what your job was – so state what you did with how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. For each position held, give a brief synopsis of the scope of your responsibility. Then show how your performance benefited the company. Give examples of how past initiatives led to positive outcomes such as enhanced efficiency, faster time-to-market, monetary savings.  Measureable Accomplishments are powerful - include actual performance figures. Focus on your most impressive technical projects/ accomplishments. What types of challenges did you face? What did you do to overcome the challenges? How did your performance improve the organization's bottom line?
For contract work, provide a bulleted list of your top projects, reason for hiring you, scope of the project, your approach to the project, work performed, and results.

7. ACRONYMS

NO ACRONYMS - Spell it out if it’s important – if not, omit it! Do not put BOTH the acronym and the entire phrase. Look for a balance in showcasing your achievements and remember not everyone knows the industry jargon - and if you are looking within your industry (ie: defense comes to mind) then everyone DOES know the jargon.

8. Listing Irrelevant Information - Points To Ponder

1. Don’t give a commercial for the Company. Mention what they do in the context of your job - after all you are either trying to leave them or have left them !  
2. Many people include their interests, but they should include only those relating to the job.
3. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross country skiing as a hobby.
4. Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume.
5. Employers know you have professional references. You don’t need to state the obvious - but do have them listed on a separate document with both email and snail mail addresses, phone numbers, and how they know you (colleague - manager - subordinate)

9. Not Including Keywords

With so many companies using technology to sort and store resumes, it’s important to use relevant keywords through- out the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.  If you want a good trick to include these easily - call me and I'll be glad to tell you.

10. Typos
Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect in spelling AND grammar!

Top 10 Resume Mistakes ..... #5

#5. Not Including a Summary Section Which Makes an Initial Hard Sell
 
A Punched Up Summary is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.
 
Creating a high-impact summary statement captures the attention of the manager, highlighting achievements and skills along with education or honors or awards - not as a list but within the contact of making a strong impression.  

This is also where your soft skills need to be emphasized - interpersonal communications, ability to work collaboratively and commitment to achieving corporate goals. Make sure your personality shines through. The
employer should find you to be likeable and well suited for the team.