You want your résumé to impress the future employer reading it. It’s the first impression you’ll get to make, but it’s amazing how many people continue to gloss over errors. In the job market today, you need to ensure your résumé is going to be read rather than quickly scanned and thrown away.
So, do you know what your résumé really says about you? Here are some typical mistakes job seekers make—and what they can make future employers think of you:
1. Typos, misspelled words, and bad grammar can make a hiring manager think you’re careless or won’t pay attention to details on the job. Show you are capable of doing the job by choosing words carefully and catching any mistakes.
2. Including too much information can make employers think you aren’t able to write clearly and concisely, which has become increasingly important in today’s high-tech world. Your résumé might not be read if it’s too long, either.
3. A busy, cluttered résumé may make others think you are unorganized and scatterbrained on the job.
4. Sending the same document for every job opening shows you aren’t great at adapting. Show the future employer you know what they need and you are the one who can help them fill that need.
5. Using an inappropriate name for your e-mail address will very likely make hiring managers skip your résumé altogether. It’s unprofessional—create an e-mail account with some variation of your name for job seeking purposes.
6. Incorrect or false information can make the employer think you haven’t updated your résumé for the job opening—or worse, that you aren’t being honest.Enjoying this article? You could get the best career advice daily by subscribing to us via e-mail.
Here are some easy tips to spruce up your résumé in just a few minutes:
■Make sure your name is bold and stands out from the rest of your résumé.
■Combine sentences that are too similar. This will make your message much clearer and allow for easier reading.
■Change all responsibilities to accomplishments you had at that position. Most people who will read your résumé don’t want to hear about the general tasks you did, but rather how you benefited the company while you were there.
■Eliminate anything that doesn’t pertain to the job for which you are applying. You want to show the employer you know what they are looking for and YOU are it.
■Read your résumé out loud or have a friend look it over. You will catch anything that sounds awkward and your friend can probably give you some suggestions you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
■Don’t bury important skills. If it’s important in your field to have extensive computer skills, write about that in your professional profile (at the top) rather than burying it in a ‘skills’ section (at the bottom).
The lesson is to take your time to make your résumé showcase the best “you.” Highlight those accomplishments. Update it when necessary. Make it concise, compelling and error-free.
By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Heather Huhman
From www.careerealism.com
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Work for one of the world's most successful oil and gas companies located in Sugar Land!!!
Accounts Payable Clerk is needed to be responsible for the timely and accurate processing of full cycle AP.Customer service oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work in a high volume environment and meet stringent deadlines.
Duties and Responsibilities: Accurately input payment documents and credit memos, including purchase orders. Review documents presented for proper approval/GL coding. Provide internal and external customer support. Process returned items and general payment processes. Special projects as assigned.
Requirements: 2-3 years experience with full cycle Accounts Payable, MS Excel, Word, and SAP. Knowledge of W-9 and 1099 process. Customer service oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work in a high volume environment and meet stringent deadlines.
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm
Duties and Responsibilities: Accurately input payment documents and credit memos, including purchase orders. Review documents presented for proper approval/GL coding. Provide internal and external customer support. Process returned items and general payment processes. Special projects as assigned.
Requirements: 2-3 years experience with full cycle Accounts Payable, MS Excel, Word, and SAP. Knowledge of W-9 and 1099 process. Customer service oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work in a high volume environment and meet stringent deadlines.
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Medical Biller/Collector- Temporary
Use your experience in vascular medical billing/collecting to cover a 6-8 week leave at this great practice. There will be paid training time working with the employee who is taking leave . A small portion of your time will be used to do billing -- but you won't need to do coding -- the doctors do the coding in this group. You will be on the phone following up with Medicare, Medicad and private pay insurance companies. Working with these groups to discover why they made a partial payment or no payment will get the information you need to re-bill them. If you discover errors were made in when the practice billed, you will lead the effort to find these errors and insure that the billing is corrected and re-sent.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Losing the Job Before Your Interview Begins
Dana's job search week started at 8:00 a.m. on Monday just like it had during the previous 12 weeks. Alone and fearful of the future, she questioned when the next interview would come. She'd invested weeks refining her résumé, spent 20 hours per week networking, and consistently spent another 10 hours a week searching job postings. She had no idea that she'd have a phone interview in 20 minutes.
At 8:20 a.m. her phone rang. It was Cheryl, a hiring manager from SCM Partners, the company Dana has been trying to get into for months. Cheryl was impressed with Dana's résumé and wanted to do a phone interview immediately. “Hi, Dana. My name is Cheryl Jones-Smith from SCM Partners. I'd like to spea k with you about the XYZ position that reports to me. I hope I called you at a good time,” stated Cheryl as she began the phone interview.
Dana's excitement and hopes soared. She was thrilled to get this call. Fear quickly set in as she realized she was totally unprepared and unskilled for this. Dana had spent months trying to get this opportunity and now it arrived. Anxiety overwhelmed her as the interview proceeded, and she realized she was unprepared for the most important moment of her job search, the interview.
Dana's story is like that of most people seeking work. They spend money and weeks (often months) getting their résumé prepared, searching job postings, applying online, networking and calling prospective companies. And just like most people, Dana underestimated the importance of preparing for the only event that can get her hired, the interview.
Most people do not prepare for job interviews because they actually believe the six "Lies we tell ourselves about job interviews."
"If you are unprepared when the phone rings, you've already lost the job before the interview begins."
Most job seekers wait until they have an interview scheduled to begin preparing. If you're not ready when they call for the interview, all you can do is "wing-it” and hope.
So what can you do to get ready before the company calls you for the interview?
Questions & Answers
List the questions you expect and the questions you fear. Write your response and practice responding out loud. Have a friend practice interviewing you by using the questions list you have prepared. Keep each response to 60-90 seconds. Ask a question after each response. Click here for a virtual job interview.
Your Talent Inventory
Create a list of your talents and skills called your “Talent Inventory.” Your skills come from work, volunteering, hobbies, school and life. Formulating your talent inventory prepares you for any question about your skills. Interview Mastery (both online and workbook versions) provides you with downloads and templates to create your talent inventory.
Your Questions
Make a list of 5+ business-focused questions you will ask interviewers. Bring this list to the interview along with a note pad.
-Michael Neece
CEO, Interview Mastery
www.interviewmastery.com
From www.net-temps.com
At 8:20 a.m. her phone rang. It was Cheryl, a hiring manager from SCM Partners, the company Dana has been trying to get into for months. Cheryl was impressed with Dana's résumé and wanted to do a phone interview immediately. “Hi, Dana. My name is Cheryl Jones-Smith from SCM Partners. I'd like to spea k with you about the XYZ position that reports to me. I hope I called you at a good time,” stated Cheryl as she began the phone interview.
Dana's excitement and hopes soared. She was thrilled to get this call. Fear quickly set in as she realized she was totally unprepared and unskilled for this. Dana had spent months trying to get this opportunity and now it arrived. Anxiety overwhelmed her as the interview proceeded, and she realized she was unprepared for the most important moment of her job search, the interview.
Dana's story is like that of most people seeking work. They spend money and weeks (often months) getting their résumé prepared, searching job postings, applying online, networking and calling prospective companies. And just like most people, Dana underestimated the importance of preparing for the only event that can get her hired, the interview.
Most people do not prepare for job interviews because they actually believe the six "Lies we tell ourselves about job interviews."
"If you are unprepared when the phone rings, you've already lost the job before the interview begins."
Most job seekers wait until they have an interview scheduled to begin preparing. If you're not ready when they call for the interview, all you can do is "wing-it” and hope.
So what can you do to get ready before the company calls you for the interview?
Questions & Answers
List the questions you expect and the questions you fear. Write your response and practice responding out loud. Have a friend practice interviewing you by using the questions list you have prepared. Keep each response to 60-90 seconds. Ask a question after each response. Click here for a virtual job interview.
Your Talent Inventory
Create a list of your talents and skills called your “Talent Inventory.” Your skills come from work, volunteering, hobbies, school and life. Formulating your talent inventory prepares you for any question about your skills. Interview Mastery (both online and workbook versions) provides you with downloads and templates to create your talent inventory.
Your Questions
Make a list of 5+ business-focused questions you will ask interviewers. Bring this list to the interview along with a note pad.
-Michael Neece
CEO, Interview Mastery
www.interviewmastery.com
From www.net-temps.com
Monday, August 9, 2010
Cut to the Front of the Interview Line
The question is, “How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many other candidates looking at the same job?”
The answer is to “focus” – focus on what makes you unique.
Let’s assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for an interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.
Because companies have so many candidates to choose from, they are interviewing more people so that they can select the “best.” When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview, it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself, to let the interviewers know what makes you unique, what added value you can bring to the position—in other words, why you are the best person for the job.
•Step 1
List the skills and experiences you have that would be required in the type of job you are seeking. For instance, a technical job would focus on programs, languages, and platforms, etc.
•Step 2
Give some thought to those skills in which you excel, those that are referred to as the “soft skills.” These skills can be viewed as transferable– you can take them with you to any job you hold.
•Step 3
Next, think of the personal traits that make you unique. Maybe you never miss deadlines, or perhaps you are willing to do above and beyond what is asked, or perhaps you have a great attitude. (Don’t dismiss these traits--many people have been fired for negative personal traits rather than for lack of knowledge).
•Step 4
Make a list of those strengths and some examples of when those strengths have helped you achieve results on the job. It will be essential that you can not only identify your strengths, but that you also have examples and stories of times when you demonstrated those strengths in the past.
•Step 5
The next step is to make a list of 5 points you want the interviewer to remember about you – the ones that combined – make you unique.
When you walk out of that interview room, your interviewers may not remember all five of your points; but if they remember even two of the points that make you unique, you will be ahead of the game!
If you want to put together your five points and do it with the help of a new, quick, software tool – check out www.jobinterview.com
- Carole Martin www.interviewcoach.com
From www.net-temps.com
The answer is to “focus” – focus on what makes you unique.
Let’s assume that you have an outstanding resume and that you make it to the top of the stack of resumes of people to be called for an interview. You, and maybe nine or ten other equally qualified people for the position, that is.
Because companies have so many candidates to choose from, they are interviewing more people so that they can select the “best.” When you are lucky enough to be invited to an interview, it is essential that you be ready to sell yourself, to let the interviewers know what makes you unique, what added value you can bring to the position—in other words, why you are the best person for the job.
•Step 1
List the skills and experiences you have that would be required in the type of job you are seeking. For instance, a technical job would focus on programs, languages, and platforms, etc.
•Step 2
Give some thought to those skills in which you excel, those that are referred to as the “soft skills.” These skills can be viewed as transferable– you can take them with you to any job you hold.
•Step 3
Next, think of the personal traits that make you unique. Maybe you never miss deadlines, or perhaps you are willing to do above and beyond what is asked, or perhaps you have a great attitude. (Don’t dismiss these traits--many people have been fired for negative personal traits rather than for lack of knowledge).
•Step 4
Make a list of those strengths and some examples of when those strengths have helped you achieve results on the job. It will be essential that you can not only identify your strengths, but that you also have examples and stories of times when you demonstrated those strengths in the past.
•Step 5
The next step is to make a list of 5 points you want the interviewer to remember about you – the ones that combined – make you unique.
When you walk out of that interview room, your interviewers may not remember all five of your points; but if they remember even two of the points that make you unique, you will be ahead of the game!
If you want to put together your five points and do it with the help of a new, quick, software tool – check out www.jobinterview.com
- Carole Martin www.interviewcoach.com
From www.net-temps.com
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Seven Wonders of a World-Class Cover Letter
Today's hiring managers are being bombarded with job applications, resumes, and cover letters. Some have a mile-high pile of paper on their desks and not nearly enough time to read and respond to it. So what is a dedicated job seeker to do in this tight economy when employers are overworked and overwhelmed?
Make your cover letter stand out from the rest. No, not with pink or blue paper or accompanied with a dozen chocolate chip cookies. But simply by writing a one-page cover letter that features these seven wonders:
1.Three paragraphs on a single page: introduction, your skills and qualifications, and a request for an interview.
2.Three or four well-written sentences in each paragraph. Easy on the eyes.
3.Plenty of 'white space' around your writing so the cover letter is easy to read and comprehend. Create generous margins and double space between paragraphs.
4.Bullets and numbered lists when appropriate. Helps reader scan quickly.
5.Bold-faced type (like this) to emphasize certain points.
6.Correct spelling, usage, and punctuation for a professional appearance.
7.Accurate name, contact info, and signature.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER . . .
Write a cover letter that makes your point about the job you want, states your qualifications concisely, and asks for the opportunity to meet in person. Then double check for the 'seven wonders' listed above before sending it off to the hiring manager of your choice.
With all these points in place, the employer will not have to 'wonder' what you're all about. It will be clear from your cover letter that you're a person of integrity and dependability––one he or she will want to contact.
If you incorporate the seven wonders of a world-class cover letter into your writing, your cover letter may be the only one that attracts the hiring manager's attention enough to single you out for that important call for an interview - and ultimately for the job itself.
- Jimmy Sweeney
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"
© Written By Jimmy Sweeney President of CareerJimmy and Author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator
From www.net-temps.com
Make your cover letter stand out from the rest. No, not with pink or blue paper or accompanied with a dozen chocolate chip cookies. But simply by writing a one-page cover letter that features these seven wonders:
1.Three paragraphs on a single page: introduction, your skills and qualifications, and a request for an interview.
2.Three or four well-written sentences in each paragraph. Easy on the eyes.
3.Plenty of 'white space' around your writing so the cover letter is easy to read and comprehend. Create generous margins and double space between paragraphs.
4.Bullets and numbered lists when appropriate. Helps reader scan quickly.
5.Bold-faced type (like this) to emphasize certain points.
6.Correct spelling, usage, and punctuation for a professional appearance.
7.Accurate name, contact info, and signature.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER . . .
Write a cover letter that makes your point about the job you want, states your qualifications concisely, and asks for the opportunity to meet in person. Then double check for the 'seven wonders' listed above before sending it off to the hiring manager of your choice.
With all these points in place, the employer will not have to 'wonder' what you're all about. It will be clear from your cover letter that you're a person of integrity and dependability––one he or she will want to contact.
If you incorporate the seven wonders of a world-class cover letter into your writing, your cover letter may be the only one that attracts the hiring manager's attention enough to single you out for that important call for an interview - and ultimately for the job itself.
- Jimmy Sweeney
Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."
Visit our friends at Amazing Cover Letters for your "instant" cover letter today. "In just 3½ minutes you will have an amazing cover letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"
© Written By Jimmy Sweeney President of CareerJimmy and Author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator
From www.net-temps.com
Attention Cashiers!!!
Use your retail expertise in cashiering and customer service in assisting one of Houston's local colleges with Fall 2010 Registration. Paid training: Fri, Aug 6, 2010 12:30 pm -5:00 pm and Fri, Aug. 13, 2010 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Work Schedule: Mon, Aug 16-Thurs, Aug 19: 2:00 pm-7:30 pm. Fri, Aug. 20 and Sat, Aug. 21: off. Mon, Aug. 23-Thurs, Aug 26: 2:00 pm-7:30 pm.
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