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Posts Tagged ‘Submit Resume’

Are you currently job hunting?  If you are, you will likely find a number of job listings that you want to apply for, if you haven’t already done so.  No matter what type of job you are applying for, whether you want to be a contractor, a secretary, or a retail store manager, you will want to make a resume for yourself.  Resumes are often used to replace or supplement a traditional job application. The only thing is that your resume needs to be professional in nature.

When it comes to resumes that are professional in nature, there are many individuals who wonder why having a professional resume is so important.  In all honesty, there are a number of different reasons. Just a few of the many reasons why having a professional resume, at least a professional looking one, is important are touched on below.

Perhaps, the biggest reason as to why you need to submit a resume that is professional in nature is because the resume is often the first thing that a hiring employer will see.  With many employers using the internet and newspaper employment sections to find qualified candidates, many are not meeting their prospective employees in person.  Most just simply submit their resume as an email attachment or mail it in.  Since your face will not be seen and your personality will not be witnessed right away, your resume will essentially end up doing all of the talking for you. That is why you want to make sure that it looks and feels professional.

What you may not realize is that there are many employers who classify all of their applicants based on their resumes.  Yes, this may not necessarily be fair, especially when that classification is based solely on appearance, but it is something that does happen.  That is why you will want to make sure that your resume gives a good first impression.  You don’t want it to be tossed to the side, just for its appearance.  For the best chance of success, print your resume out on traditional white computer paper, use standard font, and make sure that it is easy to read.

A professional resume, even just a professionally looking one, is also important because it can help give you an edge above the competition.  For many, submitting a resume that is professional in nature, right to the point, and easy to read is common sense, but for others it isn’t so obvious.  You may actually be surprised with how many applicants respond to a job listing with a resume that should have never left their house.  Depending on the job listing you are responding to, you may end up being one of hundreds of applicants. That is why it is important that you get an edge.  However, the way to do this is with a professional resume, not one that will get laughed at all the way to the trash can.

As you can see, from being outlined above, there are a number of different reasons as to why the resumes that you submit to hopeful employers should be professional in nature.  The term professional in nature is used because your resume doesn’t actually have to be professionally done.  If you do have some writing experience, particularly concerning resumes, you may be able to produce your own professional resume.  If not, you are advised to look into using the services of a professional resume writer.

Immediately upon graduation, most college students start filling in job applications in hopes of securing a job interview. Prior to this, these graduates need to have an impressive graduate resume. Resume writing is an art that is best left to professional resume writers that specialize in graduate and entry level resumes. A good cover letter and an impressive resume is the first step towards being granted a job interview.

Now that you have secured an interview, you need to prepare for the tough questions that lie behind the employers’ door. The majority of people considers the expected questions and prepare for these. Many rehearse the answers so that they sound confident while answering them. Practicing responses in advance keeps a check on nervousness, and you sound professional and confident. However, with the job market so competitive and so many applicants applying for the same job, employers have come up with a way to weed out applicants and let the cream rise to the top. Employers will ask questions that are difficult, make your pulse race and be tough to answer.

Tough Questions You Can Expect
Let us take a closer look at some of the tough questions you may be asked and what a likely response could be:

•    You have no experience. Why should I consider you? – You need to be persuasive. Mention your ability to overcome deficiencies. Also, mention how you increased your knowledge through education, internships and summer jobs. Perhaps explain how your ability to master new technology made your colleagues turn to you for advice. Detail how your budding management skills would have a positive impact on the organization.

•    How did you resolve a conflict, if you had any, with your professor or last employer? – You need to accept that you had disagreements with your professors or past employers that required resolution. Give specific examples of how you coped and resolved the issue without being judgmental of your professor or previous employer. To answer this question correctly, you need to show that you are able to see the other persons view in the dispute, consider all options and then act rationally. That is what the employer is looking for. The employer really does not care who was right or wrong but what is important is how you handled yourself and the situation.

•    How would your professors (or last employer) describe you? – Explain that all would agree that you were a very energetic person who always accomplished whatever task was at hand. You were dependable, creative and possessed a keen eye to apply your knowledge in a very practical sense. Inform the interviewer that you have references for his consideration to backup your comments.

•    In your opinion, what are the qualities of a successful manager? – Be brief, clear and meaningful with your answer – as this is a true quality of an excellent manager. Some qualities you could mention are collaborative leadership, visionary planning, understanding the corporate objectives. Also, highlight how to interpret these to increase revenues and service the clientele. You can finish your response by giving an example of a person you consider to be a true leader.

•    What is your greatest weakness? – Everyone has one so never answer this question in a lame manner. Be precise and confident in expressing to the employer what you feel your greatest weakness is. Then immediately explain how your main achievement has been to recognize your greatest weakness and work on overcoming the issue.

Are you looking for a new job or a new career?  If you are, have you already started using the internet or your local newspapers to find jobs?  If you have, you may be at the applying stage. The applying stage of job hunting is perhaps the most important part.  Many times, you are only required to send in a job application or submit your resume.  Since your face and your personality will not originally be seen, you will need to let your resume to all of the work for you. That is why it is extremely important that your resume is professional looking. A few tips that you may want to keep in mind when making your resume are outlined below.

As a reminder, your resume is the first thing that an employer will see.  If you apply for a job that you saw advertised online or in your local newspaper, there is a good chance that you will not be submitting your resume in person.  Although it isn’t always fair, many employers categorize their applicants solely on their resumes.  That is why it is extremely important that you thoroughly review your resume before turning it into hopeful employers.  In most cases, the resume is what makes or breaks an applicant’s chance of getting the job that they were seeking.

Perhaps, the most important tip to remember, when creating a new resume for yourself or reviewing your current resume, is the appearance.  Many people mistakenly believe that they stand the best chance if their resume stands out.  Yes, you want your resume to stand out, but in a good way; a professional way.  At all costs, you will want to try and avoid colored paper and flashy, hard to read print.  As stated above, many employers categorize their applicants by their resumes.  Having an unattractive, unprofessional resume is the quickest way to get your resume into that “don’t bother,” pile.

It is also advised that you tailor your resume to the job that you are applying to, or at least the industry that you are hoping to get into. For instance, if you are looking for a job in retail, your resume objective may want to mention “looking for a career in a faced paced retail environment,” or such.  Tailoring your resume to each specific job will help to keep you one step above the competition.  There are many hiring employers who wonder if their applicants even read through the job listing before applying.  You do not want to be one of those applicants.  Outlining the need for a job in the construction industry, while applying for a job in the retail industry is another quick way to get your resume into that “don’t bother,” pile.

Another tip that you will want to remember, when it comes to making a nice, professional resume, is length.  Yes, you want to make sure that your resume includes as much information as it can, but you will want to make sure that it isn’t jam packed with information.  If, at all possible, you are advised to keep your resume around one or two pages long.  Be sure to include all applicable information, like your work history and your education. When outlining your previous work experience and your education, you want to include the basic information, just that.  Anything else can further be discussed in an interview.  Many employers hate reading long resumes, especially when the information isn’t always applicable.

The above mentioned tips should be able to help you create a professional resume; one that will be looked at.  If you are not dropping your resume off in person, you will want to create a cover letter for yourself.  A cover letter should be short and to the point. Outline the job that you are applying for, the experience that you have which makes you a good candidate, and ask the hiring employer to see your attached resume for additional information.

Are you in desperate need of a job?  If you are currently unemployed or if you truly think that your current job is making you “crazy,” you may be.  When it comes to finding a new job, especially in a hurry, there are many individuals who think that the more job applications they fill out or the more resumes they submit, the better their chances of finding a new job are.  But, what about the employers who are currently not hiring?  If you are wondering whether or not you should fill out a job application or submit your resume to a place that isn’t hiring, you are not alone.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should submit a job application or drop off your resume to a place that isn’t hiring, there are a number of important factors that need to be taken into consideration.  Perhaps, the most important factor is if you know for sure they are not hiring. When it comes to filling out job applications, there are many applicants who try and determine, upfront, whether or not there are any positions available.  If you happen to stop by a local business or call to ask about hiring and get a negative response, you may not want to submit an application anyways, especially if you gave your name.  This tends to create a bad impression; an impression that states that you don’t necessarily listen to what you are being told.

Now, there is a difference between knowing in advance that a business isn’t hiring versus being told as soon as you go to turn in your job application or your resume.  If you are told when you are submitting your resume or job application, it is advised that you ask about the future?  Does the company representative that you are speaking with think that they will be doing any hiring in the future? If so, you may want to think about asking them to hang on to your job application or your resume for future use. In some states, employers are required to save all job applications and resumes for about a year.  Of course, if the business in question later advertises the fact that they are hiring, you are advised against automatically assuming that your resume is still on file. You may want to call, just to make sure.

One of the few downsides to applying to places that aren’t necessarily hiring at the current moment is the timing. As it was previously mentioned, many employers are required to save any job applications or resumes that they receive for a period of time, like a year.  This is nice because some employers decide to not even advertise the fact that they are hiring, instead many just go through the resumes or job applications that they accumulated overtime.  The only problem is the overtime part.  You may have submitted your application eight months ago and only end up getting a response now.  If you are like many job seekers, you should be able to find a job in as little as a few weeks, sometimes a month or two at the most. That means that by the time your application or resume gets noticed, it may already end up being too late.

As a reminder, the decision as to whether or not you want to apply at a place that isn’t hiring is yours to make, but it is advised that you proceed with caution when doing so.  If you are told that applications are not being accepted at the current time, even just to hang on to, you are advised to cut your loses and move on. The last thing that you want to do is create a scene or try to convince an employer to hang on to your application, as you may end up creating a bad name for yourself; one that may haunt you, you resume, or your job application for years to come.