Oregon Jobing Community Blogs

You are a unique, focused person with job experience that would apply to many positions.  You have skills that would be highly prized by almost any employer.  

For these reasons and more, you would not say yes these questions: 

Are you generic?  Do you have no experience that relates to the job you are applying for?  

However, if you use the same general resume for every application – your resume may be saying yes to those questions for you.  

If you find a position you want, take the time to tailor your resume to fit it.  Here are some quick tips to make your resume relevant

1.  If you have a long list of old positions, unrelated to the one you are applying to, remove them.  These positions are clutter and will do nothing to support that you are the right person for the job.  

2.  If you have long lists of duties that are unrelated to the job you are applying to – refine the list to emphasize the skills, knowledge and traits specifically listed in the job description.  

3.  If you were to remove the objective from the top of your resume – would a person be able to tell what it is?  Make sure that your objective is both clear and supported by the every detail of your resume.  Even if you are applying to a new field and the jobs on your resume are not the same as what you are looking for – if you emphasize the skills and traits that are transferable and support your objective, your career goals will be clear.  

If the job is unique, and you are a fit – bring your resume in line and your chances of success will improve!

(Quick Jobing.com Tip – Save up to ten unique resumes using your My Jobing! account so your relevant resume is ready-to-go!)

 

When searching for a job, I bet you notice how recently the position was posted – you might even filter your results to only view the freshest jobs around.  Similarly, employers search through resume databases looking for candidates that have recently updated their information.  To an employer, having recently updated information means:

1.  You are actively looking for new employment – now.

2.  Your information:  address, phone number, salary rate, and employment history are current and accurate.

3.  You are ready to interview, and perhaps even start your new job on a reasonable timetable. 

Go ahead and brush the dust off your resume every two weeks.  Your information may not be changing that often – but there are always improvements to make.  If you need ideas on how to keep your resume fresh: use feedback and ideas from your friends and peers, use tips from online articles and books, or maybe even just reorganize your existing info.  Whatever you do - keep your resume fresh – and keep it on the top of the stack! 

There are a ton of resources for online job searches – here are five tips on getting the most out of them!

1.  Use email job notification agents – many job boards will give you the option of conducting a search on a regular basis and having the results of those agents emailed to you (on Jobing.com we call them a Jobs-by-Email Agent).  These emails are a great way to stay on top of what is available whether you are actively looking or if you just want to stay aware of your options.  

2.  Apply to jobs that you are truly qualified or interested in.  It might be easy to submit your resume to many jobs that aren’t a very good fit.  Resist the temptation.  Recruiters are very busy people, and who knows – that same recruiter may have another position posted that is actually right for you – tomorrow!  Applying to jobs indiscriminately sends a poor message about the focus of your search and the quality of your candidacy.  

3.  Research the companies you apply to and tailor your resumes/cover letters to fit them and the position you are applying to.  There is no better way to impress a recruiter than to help them easily understand why you fit their culture and the job you are applying to.  So read the job description carefully, visit the company website, read the company profile, watch their employment video – research pays off.

4.  Use a variety of resources at first and find out what is working for you the best.  After a while you will be able to tell which is the best resource for you in your location and field of interest – then you can budget your job search time accordingly.  

5.  Keep updating your resume.  When searching for a job, I bet you notice how recently the position was posted – you might even filter your results to only view the freshest jobs around.  Similarly, employers search through resume databases looking for candidates that have recently updated their information.  Keeping your information current tells employers: 

a.  You are actively looking for new employment – now.

b.  Your information:  address, phone number, salary rate, and employment history are current and accurate.

c.  You are ready to interview, and perhaps even start your new job on a reasonable timetable.  

Whatever resources you use or advice you receive, remember there is no magic-bullet, no one single answer to finding the job you love.  Your job search is a process that requires your passion, diligence and the flexibility to continue to improve your approach.  

It is always tempting to bend the truth on a resume and in an interview.  Ultimately you have to ask yourself – what is the benefit?  When it comes down to your resume and your interview, what do you gain when you are honest? 

1.  You have a greater chance of getting a job that suits you.  It is a great feeling to work in a job that lines up with your strengths, abilities – one that let’s you shine and build a career! 

2.  If there are some key skills that you lack but are passionate about learning – express that will to learn to the employer (or better yet, show them that you are taking the steps to learn).  A drive to learn and improve is a wonderful trait to highlight in a job search, and could help you get the training you need to succeed. 

3.  You get the chance to look like a star.  If there is a cover-up out there to throw recruiters off the path from a bad end to a job, a weakness in your skills, or any other anomaly in your career – the recruiter you are communicating with has heard it, seen it and has learned to dismiss candidates that use these techniques.  Quickly.  We have all made mistakes and learned tough lessons.  Take every opportunity to show what you have learned from your mistakes, how you overcame your obstacles and how these “anomalies” have helped you become the great employee you are today.  Anyone can make a mistake.  It takes a true super-star to face it and improve. 

4.  Honest, straightforward communication helps employers see what you can do - efficiently.  Recruiters often have great demands on their time and need to figure out if you fit in as quickly as possible.  You can help them if you keep your resume and interviews free of “fluff” and stick to what you know, what you can do and what you have learned. 

Good luck building your career – please let us know what has worked for you!

During a time of economic change, downsizing and layoffs happen. If the situation arises in your company, would you be able to interview for your current job? This situation would bring on a litany of emotions; fear, anger, confusion, frustration – all of which are incredibly valid feelings. Yet, the best way to interview for your own position and be selected as a person that a company will keep onboard is to have a great attitude and focus. 

1. Choose the right attitude first!

Right now is the time to get very real about the attitude you bring into the actual interview. In this situation, there are often multiple candidates that will bring similar skill sets to the table. Optimism, dedication and wiliness to do what it takes are the attitude that will be welcomed and appreciated.  Now is the time to truly recognize and show how you personify your company’s mission and values. Know before you go into the interview that this is the right company for you, even through this hard time, and know why. This will be a question. Be ready to answer it with a great attitude.

2. Get Noticed.

As you prepare for your interview, reconnect with supervisors you may not have spoken with in awhile. Remind all people involved in the decision making process why you were hired in the first place. Set yourself apart from the competition and show them why letting a great person like you go is the wrong decision. Be very real in this connection, as "kissing up" or "faking it" will be read easily. Your boss will have a direct influence on your re-hire. Now is the time to show your commitment and enthusiasm for the roll.

3. Take this Seriously.

This interview should be treated with the same time, dedication to detail, and attention you paid to the interview that got you hired. You are reigniting your company's interest in YOU as the best candidate for the job. Dress professionally, even if your workplace does not require it. Bring an up-to-date, polished resume that speaks directly to the skills/talents/experience you  bring to your current roll. Be ready to talk about yourself and show all of the accomplishments you have had in your tenure. Sell yourself, but make sure you do not sell yourself short.

4. Be Prepared.

Not only should you have a resume that reflects the position, but also be ready to provide evidence of your successes.

- Bring a list of accomplishments/awards.

- Be prepared to discuss your strengths as it pertains to the job.

- Discuss what you bring to the job that others cannot.

- Be confident in your experience and background at the company and in the industry.

- Have specific examples that speak to your experience:

               -In service, discuss issues you have resolved.

               -In sales, discuss sales goals reached/exceeded.

               -In operations, discuss solutions to issues or processes you have implemented.

This is not an easy topic, nor is it an easy activity. Yet, you will set yourself apart from the pack if you come in prepared with a great attitude. In the time up to your interview, do not dwell on the negative emotion; just get ready to be your best.

Contributed by: Katy Piotrowski

Fretting about your skills making the grade when you apply to certain positions? You're not alone. Some job descriptions can make you feel as if the years you've spent proving yourself as a professional have all been for nothing. If you lack experience using a particular software program, or are light on how to execute a specific technique, you're hosed, right?

Well...maybe not. When a hiring company puts together a job description, it's most often a wish list of everything they hope for in a candidate. But that doesn't mean they'll find someone who possesses everything.

As an example, I once helped a woman apply for a job overseeing the continuing education department at a community college in Maine. At that time, she worked as a customer service manager for a plumbing supply company. While she did spend a small part of her time  organizing training programs for her team members (about 10%), it would have been stretching it to say that she oversaw a continuing education department. Although I didn't say it out loud, I thought to myself, "This will be a long shot".

Still, I helped her put together the best resume possible, clearly emphasizing the parts of her background that were relevant, including positioning her training background to its maximum advantage. In the end she landed an interview...received an offer...and accepted the job.

I learned an important lesson with that experience: if you believe you can do the job, even if it looks a bit out of your range on paper, throw your name in the hat anyway. And if you're wondering if it's even worth your effort to apply, use the 75% Rule as a guideline: If you have 75% of what they're asking for--or 3 out of the 4 requirements listed--go for it.

What if you lack more than 25% of what the job requires? You can be competitive if you apply some speedy skill-acquistion strategies. Let's say, for instance, that a juicy-looking project manager position requires that you know ABC Program, and have absolutely no experience with this software. Rather than throwing your hands in the air and wailing, "All hope is lost", you can jump into one or more of these activities to help you fill the skill gap:

• Email your professional colleagues and ask if anyone knows how to use the program. When you find someone with experience, ask if they'll brief you on the basics.
• Hunt down a tutorial that you can work through on your own. Many software companies offer intro programs at little or no cost.
• Contact a former instructor and ask if she has access to the software, or knows someone who does. Spend some time getting familiar.

Complete any of these techniques and you'll be able to list "Knowledge of ABC Program" on your resume--and that could be all that you need to get in the door.

So are your skills good enough? Possibly...or maybe not. But as hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky says, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take".