Always Have a Current Resume

What is the biggest mistake people make with resumes?

People write their resumes as a chronological summary of everything they've done in their professional lives. Employers only care about one thing: what you can do for them. If they can't quickly get that answer out of your resume, it'll get tossed in the garbage can. An effective resume draws their attention, clearly spells out why you are better than the other candidates, and lands you an interview.

Should I use an experienced resume preparer?

Yes. Get it done right the first time because once your resume starts circulating, you won't get a chance to go back and clean it up. Frankly, when I work with people on their resumes, I am shocked at what they're sending out. These days, employers keep resumes in their databases for months or even years. So if it is poorly done and unimpressive, you may have blown it. Don't take any chances on this.

How long does a really good resume take to prepare?

At least several weeks. You can't throw one together and expect it to be your best. That's another reason to engage a preparer. That person will look at the resume with a critical eye, speed up the process, and improve the quality. It's very, very important to start working on your resume early. I can't tell you how many people send me resumes that need a ton of work. Yet they need to send it in "tomorrow".

Does this mean I have to use a resume preparer forever?

No. And be very wary of someone who tries to tell you otherwise. The preparer should explain how to update it yourself, going forward. You need to take ownership of your resume. It's your life. It's your career. When I do resumes, I show the person how to organize each section and how to add new information in a way that attracts the most attention from a prospective employer. Now, if major career events take place or if you are going after a job that has a lot of competition, you may want to engage a preparer to make sure your resume is in top shape.

Should I have a cover letter professionally prepared as well?

Yes. People who haven't yet met you personally will judge you by your communications. If you send a poor quality cover letter or email, the prospective employer will immediately suspect your resume and all the time you spent working on it will go down the tubes. It's worth the small additional investment to have a good cover letter or a professional email done ahead of time. Don't take a chance on this detail. It could make or break you getting in the door.

How often should I update my resume?

Go back and re-examine it at least twice a year. A good time of year to do that is January. You will have finished a full year of work and probably will have things to add or change. The job market typically heats back up in February-March, so you'll be ready by that time.

What if I don't have a lot of experience?

You still need a current resume. You can't get to your next step in life without one. Dig deep into your background and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the experience you do have but didn't think you did. Plus ? you'll know right away where your gaps are and you can get to work on them.

What if I am applying for an internal position?

Even for internal postings, there is competition. You may have to summarize your experience and accomplishments in an internal application and go through an interview process. If you've kept your resume current, you'll be able to copy the relevant information into the internal application. It'll be well-written and organized and will immediately put you ahead of the other candidates. People think that can you can be much more "casual" when applying for internal positions. That's not true. Don't you make that mistake.

What if I am self-employed?

All the more reason why you need a resume. When a prospective client asks about your company and your experience, you should have something ready to send out immediately that convinces him or her to do business with you. The format you would use in this case is different than a traditional corporate resume but you still need to have one.

Dee Piziak is a 20+ year business professional and college instructor, specializing in professional coaching, career development, and resume preparation for minority women. She can be reached at dee@acadiacommunications.com.

---

5 Tips for Customizing your Resume

Gone are the days of the bland, generic one-page resume. Employers these days are more impressed by a resume that is customized and they tend to give... Read More

Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover

Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others. None of us are truly independent or able to make it in life alone. All of us... Read More

Internships: Bonkers or Brilliant?

I have something to say that's driving me batty. It's regarding graduates who fuss about not getting a job they like or not getting a job at... Read More

Stacking The Deck In Your Favor

Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies... Read More

Why You Need To Be An Intrapreneur

When a client asks me if I think he or she is a good candidate for starting a new business, I ask several questions (see our free... Read More

When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates

Going through the motions of a bad interview is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Sally learned this lesson the hard way, hands-on during an... Read More

Book Summary: How to Work with Just About Anyone

This article is based on the following book:How to Work with Just About Anyone"A Three-step Solution For Getting Difficult People To Change"By Lucy GillPublished by... Read More

Yesterdays Project Manager is Todays Project Engineer

The rapid growth of technology, greater exposure to knowledge, higher levels of awareness are making the young project engineer act more and more like a project manager.What... Read More

Resumes, Networking, Headhunters ? Useless Without Marketing Sweet Spot

A career transition is no longer about getting your hands on a list of contacts, networking with headhunters, or going online to look for work. It's better... Read More

Feedback: Take It or Leave It ... But Get It

The expense was substantial. An immersion workshop with twelve participants sharing a common goal to hone their skills. With nervous eagerness like kindergarteners embracing school, we received... Read More

3 Secrets to Landing a Home-Based Position

Landing a telecommute position isn't easy. Finding them in the first place is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Then, when you finally do find... Read More

How I Joined the Outsourcing Revolution

Mention "outsourcing" to a programmer and you may as well be uttering profanity. The word suggests all the evils that have befallen the Information Technology sector since... Read More

Work Is A Four-Letter Word

I can hear the jokes already and most of them are not politically correct. Let me throw out a word that we often don't attach to work... Read More

Children At Work: Looking at Child Labor in the Victorian Age

Today, it isn't that uncommon for some children and teenagers to work. They may earn extra money by baby-sitting, doing yard work, or maybe even walking dogs.... Read More

How To Survive A Job Loss

Has this ever happened to you: You have been working at a particular job for a few years. It's not the greatest job and it hasn't always... Read More

Work Attitude Ethics For Progress

This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings, who somehow find themselves in the role of breadwinner and striving to improve their living standards.The heading... Read More

Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life

Why Career Advice Is So ImportantChoosing a career presents a nerve-racking decision, as it can have a life-long impact on you. Do not fret, as you can... Read More

How To Answer Your Call In Mid-Life

Hank Bochenski's story proves it is never too late to walk away from a life you feel trapped in and do something that you really love.Hank spent... Read More

How To Deal With A Nightmare Boss

It can happen to anyone. there's a change in the organization and -- suddenly -- you find yourself working for the boss from Hell. Arrogant, demanding, ignorant,... Read More

De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth

Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty tired of hearing about how you can "follow your dream" in three or four easy steps. I've... Read More

Get In The Game With a Stellar Resume

During the job hunter's market of the 1990's, employers were settling for less than qualified candidates because the candidate pool was so small. Job hunters were able... Read More

Whiners Need Not Apply

Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party and invite all my friends. Well, not all my friends, exactly. Only those whose livelihoods might have,... Read More

How to Crash - Proof Your Job Search

Think you have the speed, endurance, and know-how to fix what's broken? Bet not. The smartest people in the world are those who can leave their ego... Read More

A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read

You're still reading?so I know my title grabbed your attention.Why? Because it 'packed a punch.' You have three seconds to nab your reader in any written communication.... Read More

Career Killers to Avoid

Many professionals and managers are so involved in day-to-day crises and fighting fires that they forget about a key leadership characteristic: self-management. Effective leaders are first of... Read More

Seven Steps to Better Networking

If published statistics are accurate, employment agencies and search firms fill about 20% of all jobs in the US. Job boards fill anywhere between 2% and 8%.... Read More