There have been several turning points in my life –- crossroads, if you will -– when I found myself floundering. Finding out my daughter had autism about a month after her third birthday was one. Facing the fact that my weight gain in the ensuing years had crossed over into plus-size Lane Bryant territory was another. My answer, in both cases, was to get busy and find the best professionals possible to get me on the right path.

Thankfully, I quickly found some amazing specialists for my daughter, who at age ten is now an honor roll fourth grader; gifted writer/artist; and just an all-around happy, sunny, great kid (please forgive a bit of mom-bias). I don’t even want to consider where we would be now if we hadn’t brought this team of professionals on board.

It took me a little longer to realize my own issues of increasing weight and declining fitness also required professional help, but at the beginning of the year I had my “ah-ha” moment after a cholesterol screening returned a staggering number. So I joined a fitness/weight loss program run by some exceptional certified personal trainers and registered dietitians, who have dispelled me of my bad habits and the many misconceptions I had about eating, nutrition, and exercise (not to mention opening up can after can of “whup-ass” on me in daily workouts). Thanks to them, I’ve dropped three sizes and 43 pounds in 15 weeks while gaining muscle, energy, and endurance. Although not at my ultimate goal yet, I know I will get there now with their help, and I took great satisfaction in cutting up my Lane Bryant credit card over the weekend when I realized I was swimming in even their smallest size.

Next to family and health, career probably ranks among the top priorities for most people. If you find yourself floundering and unhappy in your work or fearing/facing a job loss, it’s not a good feeling. But being at a career crossroads presents you with an opportunity for change. With the right professionals aiding you, that change can be immensely positive.

Your career is your livelihood, and the resume is its currency. An extraordinary resume can do amazing things. It can open doors that will save you many months of unemployment, get you a promotion, enable you to change industries/careers, win you a higher salary, overcome challenging circumstances such as a long absence from the workplace, and return you to work that is both personally and professionally rewarding. When you partner with a certified resume writer, you can realize transformative results in your career. The pros know how to write a resume for you that is compelling, keyword-rich, packed with accomplishments, and interview-generating.

My one regret in working with the professional trainers/nutritionists I hired is that I waited so long to do it. I kept thinking that I should be able to shed the pounds myself, and I had a bookshelf crammed with diet how-to tomes to prove it. (Heck, I’d even read some of them.) In my case, though, it wasn’t until I sought the help of professionals that I really began to see results.

Maybe you’re like me in thinking that you should be able to conquer your own career crossroads single-handedly as well. But think about it for a minute. When you need a tooth filled, a good haircut, or an auto repair, don’t you turn to professionals? Doesn’t your career deserve the same professional attention as your cavities, your ‘coif, and your car?

If you’re ready to see what a difference a professionally written resume can make in your career, start interviewing professional resume writing firms now. Just as you would when hiring any professional, do your due diligence. Ask questions, study resume samples, find out about the writer’s credentials and years of experience, inquire about any satisfaction guarantees the firm may offer, compare prices/value, and read client testimonials. When you see your new resume, my bet is that you’ll wonder what took you so long to hire a pro!

Happy job searching, everyone!

Karen Hofferber

Senior Resume Writer, ResumePower.com

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If you’re in an active job search, you know that it’s a jungle out there. Your resume needs to be fierce to capture the reader’s attention and land the best interviews. But is your resume a lion or a lamb? Here are guidelines to gauge your resume’s “fierce-factor”:

Lion Resume: Includes a Resume Title
Lamb Resume: No Resume Title

A “lion” resume roars from the outset with a bold, clear resume title that immediately communicates your career goal (e.g., “Award-Winning Website Designer,” “Licensed Educator Transitioning into Corporate Training,” or “Fortune 500-Experienced Executive Assistant”). Whether you are remaining in your industry or changing careers, the title sets the tone for your document and removes the guesswork for employers. Hiring managers are inundated with resumes and rarely have time to try to figure out what you want to do. If your resume lacks a title (think “Silence of the Lambs”), you’re missing the opportunity to grab the reader’s interest.

Lion Resume: Highly Targeted
Lamb Resume: Unfocused

Some job seekers try to be all things to all people when looking for a new job. But if you cram in too many unrelated job targets in one resume, or you try to detail every single thing you’ve ever done in your career, the end result is an unwieldy document that lacks focus. Instead of meandering aimlessly like sheep in a pasture, your resume should provide the razor-sharp focus of a lion stalking its prey. (They don’t call it a “job hunt” for nothing!) Even though it will take a bit of extra time, you’re much better off creating multiple resume versions if you have more than one job target.

Lion Resume: Strong Qualifications Summary
Lamb Resume: Weak Resume Objective

If your resume contains a cliche-ridden objective like “seeking a rewarding opportunity with advancement potential,” get rid of it. You’re wasting valuable space focusing on what you want as opposed to what you can do for employers. Instead of a weak objective, harness the power of a strong qualifications summary. Written as either a brief paragraph or a few hard-hitting bulleted statements, a qualifications summary profiles your most marketable skills/qualifications and highlights your stand-out achievements. When done well, a qualifications summary entices hiring managers to keep reading your resume and it can help you land in the “must-interview” group.

Lion Resume: Has “Meat”
Lamb Resume: Has “Fluff”

Fluff may be cute, cuddly, and irresistible on a lamb, but it’s a detractor on a resume. What, exactly, is resume “fluff”? It can be several things – none of which are good.

At its worst, “fluff” is a kinder, gentler euphemism for exaggerations or lies on a resume. Misrepresenting your skills, qualifications, or accomplishments might initially get you an interview or even a job offer, but when your lies catch up with you down the road this can be grounds for termination.

More commonly, resume fluff refers to one (or more) of the following:

• An overuse of flowery adjectives or descriptors without concrete examples to back them up. If you describe yourself as an “excellent communicator,” “dedicated team-player,” or “outstanding problem-solver,” for example, you need to offer specific examples of how you leveraged these traits and skills to deliver results for your employers through the use of accomplishment statements. Otherwise, these phrases are just meaningless “fluff-fillers” that lack the requisite heft to be taken seriously.
• Content that is not relevant to your job target.
• Too much focus on your everyday responsibilities and job duties (what you did) and not enough emphasis on your accomplishments by showing examples of the results, benefits, or outcomes of your efforts (how well you did it).
• Information that is not quantified by numbers, dollar amounts, percentages, before/after comparisons, or some other measurable outcome. The better able you are to provide evidence of how you improved processes, revenues, productivity, customer satisfaction, profit margins, and the like, the more seriously your claims – and your candidacy – will be taken by employers.

When reviewing the content of your resume, ask yourself, “Where’s the beef?” Your resume should be packed with meaty examples of ways that you met or exceeded the expectations of your employers.

Unleash your inner resume-writer beast and your new “lion” resume will reign king of the job-search jungle. Best wishes for a successful job hunt!

Karen Hofferber
Senior Resume Writer, ResumePower.com

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How Old Do You Look?

A Job Search Style Makeover for Men

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

We’ve all heard about the importance of first impressions, and this is especially true during a job search when competition is fierce. Your appearance, resume and even the way you search for a job could be preventing you from getting the interviews and job offers you deserve. If you’re concerned your job search is at a standstill because you appear to be too old, it’s time for a job search style makeover.

Refresh Your Resume

Retro might be cool in some fashion or design realms, but it’s not a good look for your resume. “Nothing communicates ‘out-of-touch’ more clearly than a resume that looks old-fashioned,” explains Louise Fletcher, president of Blue Sky Resumes, a former Monster contributor and a career expert with 15 years of HR experience.

“Age discrimination isn’t actually about age,” says Fletcher. “It’s about all the things that are erroneously assumed to go along with being older, such as being out of touch, less technologically aware and less energetic than a younger person.”

Fletcher says the resume is a chance for you to show you’re not any of those things. Here are some tips:

• Trim early experiences, such as jobs older than 10 to 15 years.
• Include links to social networking profiles, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Plaxo. Set up such profiles to be highly professional, not personal.
• Add information about hobbies if they are sports-related.
• Consider removing graduation dates.
• Review resume samples written by professional resume writers to see the latest style trends.

The resume shouldn’t chronicle everything you’ve ever done. “Show that you are an invigorated job candidate who’s not even close to peaking in your career,” says Cliff Flamer, a professional resume writer and executive director of BrightSide Resumes. Flamer suggests illustrating that you’ve been keeping your skills refreshed, such as through certification courses, ongoing study, volunteer work and membership in professional organizations.

The key is relevancy. Focus on the qualifications that are most important to the job you’re pursuing while underplaying older or irrelevant experiences.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

If you’re mailing resumes through the US Postal Service and waiting for the phone to ring, you could be in for a long job search. “Older men need to understand that job searching doesn’t work the way it used to,” says Fletcher. Hiring managers are likely to source for candidates online using job boards like Monster.com, search engines and social networking sites.

“The best advice I can give any job seeker is to build a strong and professional online presence,” says Fletcher. ”Be on social networking sites, connect with as many people as you can, and — if you have a talent for writing — consider starting a blog and/or writing articles about your expertise.” Also, your resume should be ready to go in email format, and you need to be well-versed on how to send documents and communicate via email.

Not only will using modern job search methods help you get noticed, but employers will see you are in tune with the latest technologies and tools.

Update Your Look

Now that your foot is in the door for a job interview, it’s time for a style check. What message is your image conveying?

Joseph Rosenfeld, a San Jose-based image consultant and owner of JosephRosenfeld.com, says there’s nothing wrong with showing signs of aging, but older men can create a style that is contemporary. “If a man hasn’t been shopping for awhile, his clothes will look dated, and then he looks dated,” says Rosenfeld, who has been providing style advice to men for more than eight years. He advises men to select a suit that looks sophisticated, fits well, flatters the body shape and is age-appropriate.

Also, pay attention to your hair. If the style is unkempt or has not been updated in awhile, go to a hair stylist, advises Rosenfeld. And what about gray hair? It comes down to personal preference. “If the job seeker wanted to revive a more youthful look, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend coloring hair,” says Rosenfeld.

The ultimate confidence-booster is a focus on physical fitness. “When you walk in an interview and your endorphins are running high because you’re staying active, you exude a youthfulness and an energy that people want to access,” explains Rosenfeld. Staying fit can also influence your mental acuity, increasing the odds of a successful interview.

Remember that your experience and skills are of value to employers. The key is to get invited to interviews to give yourself the chance to shine. Your updated look and career marketing materials can help you do just that.

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This article was written by Kim Isaacs, director of ResumePower.com and author of The Career Change Resume book. Visit the ResumePower.com site to learn more about resume services to jump-start your career.

Copyright 2009, Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy, reproduce or distribute this article without the prior written permission of Monster Worldwide. This article first appeared on Monster, the leading online global network for careers. To see other career-related articles visit http://content.monster.com.

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There are few things more daunting than searching for a job when you’re unemployed – except perhaps searching for a job when you’re unemployed and the economy is in recession. Oh, and let’s not forget that in addition to the nation’s current economic woes, it’s also the holiday season – a time when conventional wisdom suggests that your odds of being struck by lightning are greater than your chances of getting hired.

Is a job search during a recession doomed for failure?

Not if you think creatively, search aggressively, and maintain a positive outlook and forward momentum!

I’m not going to “blow smoke” here – it’s true that our current recession makes for a decidedly tough job market. Job seekers will likely face some considerable challenges in the months ahead, and it seems that almost daily I’m reading scary reports of more large layoffs occurring nationwide. But the news isn’t all bleak. Consider the following:

– CNET’s Webware blog reported just ten days ago that there are more tech companies with job openings than there are ones initiating layoffs.

– Monster Worldwide’s CEO Salvatore Iannuzzi said in a recent interview with CNBC that a number of sectors are still hiring strong, including government, healthcare, protective services, mining, and exploration.

– In their recent “Who’s Hiring in This Economy?” special report, a Cleveland, OH TV network news affiliate checked the latest numbers from Manpower (the world leader in temporary, temp-to-hire, contract, and permanent employment services); Forbes magazine; and the networking service JobFox.com to find what each consider to be the top “recession-proof” jobs. They predict continued job openings in areas including:

• Accounting: The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
• Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, with openings at many hospitals.
• Physical Therapy: Openings exist at many hospitals.
• IT: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
• Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
• Security: You can’t have enough security these days.
• Building Maintenance: As companies hold off on new offices, it’s paramount that they take care of existing facilities.
• The U.S. Census Bureau: Now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010.

And here’s more positive news: regardless of the industry and field you are targeting, there are a number of strategies you can adopt to increase your chances of recession-era job search success. Here are my top picks:

Arm yourself with a recession-proof resume. With increasing numbers of laid-off workers competing for jobs, it’s important that you have a flawless, compelling, keyword-rich, and employer-focused resume. Consider hiring a resume writing firm to write your resume. Your initial investment is well worth the competitive edge you’ll gain, and it will be more than recouped in your first paycheck.

Harness the power of the web. The internet is a job seeker’s best friend. Use it to find and apply for jobs (major job boards post openings daily), research companies, create job search agents, develop/update your online profile, and more!

Network, network, network! Networking is still one of the best tools in a job seeker’s arsenal. Check out Quintessential Careers’ compilation of how-to’s, tips, resources, articles, and strategies on this topic.

Get organized, keep a schedule, and follow-up relentlessly. Resist the temptation to become complacent, discouraged, or lazy. Bad daytime TV, king-size chocolate bars, and internet solitaire are not your friends right now. Create a schedule with at least three job search items to accomplish each day and stick to it. Print out and file all job ads that you respond to, attach the customized cover letter and resume that accompanied each ad for your future reference, and follow-up with prospective employers. When the phone starts ringing for interviews, you’ll reap the rewards of your efforts!

Freelance. A number of career fields lend themselves well to freelancing, including writing, designing, IT, and more. There are various sites on the web that allow you to advertise freelance services for free or for a nominal fee. The demand for talented freelancers is bound to increase during a recession, as employers look for the most cost-effective way to get the work done. In addition, the more you freelance, the more contacts you’ll make – and each of these assignments presents the potential for a full-time job offer down the road.

Volunteer. What are you passionate about? The humane treatment of animals? Global warming? Your child’s school? Get out and volunteer! Just spending a couple of hours a week contributing to a cause you care about is incredibly therapeutic, and it offers the added bonus of giving you something you can add to your resume to fill the gap between jobs. Plus, you never know where it may lead. Your enthusiasm may catch the eye of a hiring manager, or you may meet a fellow volunteer who knows of a job opening in your field.

Supplement your income with creative “moonlighting.” My friend Chris is brilliant at this. She’s a talented HR executive who is currently searching for her next full-time job, but in the meantime she’s supplementing her income by advertising various services on Craigslist, including house cleaning, overnight babysitting, dog-walking, and pet-sitting/house-sitting. It pays the bills and allows her to expand her network of contacts

Consider temp and temp-to-hire options. Temp agencies typically thrive during times of economic cutbacks, so start interviewing with them now. Many of these firms require testing to measure your proficiencies in various areas, so the sooner you begin the process the faster you can find placement. And keep in mind that a temporary placement can lead to a full-time job offer.

Don’t buy into the myth that the holidays are a bad time to job search. Check out Alison Doyle’s blog on Job Searching During the Holiday Season for more information. Still not convinced? Dust off your old copy of “Kramer vs. Kramer” and wait for Dustin Hoffman’s “find-a-job-at-all-costs-right-before-Christmas-Eve” scene. I dare you not to be inspired!

Happy job searching, everyone!

Best wishes,

Karen Hofferber

Senior Resume Writer, ResumePower.com

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In case you missed last Monday’s headlines, the announcement by the National Bureau of Economic Research made it official: we’re in a recession. I doubt many folks were shocked by this grim news, as it only reinforces what most Americans already knew – times are tough and belts are tightening.

Layoffs are an unfortunate by-product of economic recessions, but if you take steps now to “recession-proof” your resume, you won’t be caught unprepared if you find yourself downsized. Here’s how:

1. Emphasize ways you have boosted the bottom line for your employers. Now more than ever, employers will be trying to preserve profits and pinch pennies. Use your resume to prove your talents in this area and you’re bound to leave a favorable impression. This might include contributions you have made (either independently or as a member of a team) to cost-cutting measures, revenue-generating efforts, customer acquisition/retention initiatives, or productivity/efficiency increases. Wherever possible, quantify these achievements with numbers for maximum impact and credibility. Here are a few examples using dollars, percentages, and before/after comparisons:

• Saved company $5K annually by transferring print newsletter to online format.
• Minimized costly rework on widget product line to increase profit margin by 15% (equivalent to $2.8M in annual revenue gains).
• Served on continuous improvement taskforce that cut store shrink in half (from 4% to 2%) to deliver annual bottom-line gains of $17K+.

2. Showcase examples of resourcefulness. Employers value candidates with a proven history of innovative thinking the ability to do more with less, but these skills become even more sought after during tough economic times. A friend of mine who’s in the HR field calls this the “what if…” factor. She says that even when limits are placed on hiring, she’s always on the lookout for people who excel in asking “what if?” questions. As in, “What if we did it this way instead of that way?” Think about ways that you stepped outside the box to add value to customers without increasing costs to your employer. Or instances when you came up with a unique solution or creative idea that improved processes or increased efficiency. Or examples of how you have adopted a “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” philosophy in performing your duties. Showcase a few of your best “resourceful hero” stories on your resume and you will definitely be noticed!

3. Highlight versatility, flexibility, and adaptability to change. Have you assumed expanded responsibilities beyond the scope of your initial job duties? Are you handling tasks that previously were performed by two or more employees? Have you led or participated in successful turnaround or change-management initiatives? Individuals who can demonstrate their abilities to help employers survive — and even thrive — during tough times are sure to be a hot commodity now and in the months ahead. Include a few key details of your strengths in these areas in your opening profile summary at the top of your resume, and/or add a few bulleted accomplishments relating to change-agent leadership and adaptability in the “Experience” section of your resume.

4. Start a “kudos” file. If you don’t already keep copies of your performance reviews and letters of appreciation, client thank-yous, or congratulatory emails you receive, start now. This provides excellent fodder for your resume. You can include quoted excerpts right on your resume, either in a separate “Endorsements” section or sprinkled throughout the resume. To see a few examples of how to incorporate third-party testimonials into your resume, check out the network administrator (view the left margin) and theatre Instructor (view the right margin) resume samples on our website.

5. Keep your resume and online profile updated. If you’re worried about your job security due to the uncertainty of the current economy, your best strategy is to keep your resume updated. The same goes for online profiles you may have on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, or FolioClick. Indeed.com’s blog included some excellent advice on this topic in a recent post, reminding us that “potential employers may look at any online profile of yours, so keep them up-to-date and free of content that would embarrass you.”

Best wishes,

Karen Hofferber

Senior Resume Writer, ResumePower.com

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Heather Johnson joins us today with a great primer on how to ace the interview. I especially like Heather’s emphasis on building confidence by planning, researching, and practicing before the meeting. Enjoy! — Kim Isaacs

10 Tips to Ace the Job Interview
by Heather Johnson

Most people dread going on job interviews. The stress of meeting new people, dealing with tough questions, and possibly losing a good job opportunity is enough to unnerve even the most self-assured people. The good news is that with a little preparation, you can “wow” the interviewer and become a frontrunner for the position. Follow these 10 tips to ace the interview:

1. Research the Company – Employers are impressed by candidates who take the initiative to learn about their operations. Your research findings will also help you ask relevant questions during the interview.

2. Learn About the Interviewer – If you know who is interviewing you, find out a little more about the person. Check out the company’s website for employee bios or visit social networking sites like LinkedIn. Be careful not to overdo this, though — you don’t want to appear like a stalker.

3. Practice – Ask a friend, family member, or colleague who is experienced with job interviews to roleplay with you. Here’s a list of 50 common interview questions that you can use as a starting point. Just going through some possible interview questions will help ease your nerves.

4. Dress Appropriately, Yet Comfortably – Wear your best business attire for an interview, but don’t squeeze into something that’s uncomfortable. You’ll feel awkward and your physical discomfort might affect your performance.

5. Tell Yourself You Don’t Need This Job – Even if this seems like your “dream job,” convince yourself that you don’t need the job. This way, it won’t be the end of the world if the interview doesn’t go well.

6. Be Punctual – Plan ahead and allow some extra time for traffic, as you will not make a good first impression if you are late.

7. Make Eye Contact – Make direct eye contact with the interviewer. This shows that you are genuinely interested in what the interviewer is saying.

8. Remain Calm – When people are nervous, they tend to rush through conversations. Take your time while answering questions, and think before you speak.

9. Ask Questions – The interview will help you determine if you even want the job, so be sure to ask questions. You may discover that this isn’t the job for you.

10. Thank Your Interviewer – Not only should the interview end with a “thank you” and a handshake, follow up with a thank you card as soon as you return from the interview.

Perhaps the most important rule is #8–you will perform better if you appear calm and collected, even if you are shaking on the inside.

About the Author: Heather Johnson is a regular commentator on the subject of how to become a pharmacist. She welcomes your feedback and potential job inquiries at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com (replace “at” with @ and “dot” with “.”).

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I caught up with my friend and colleague Carole Martin (”The interview Coach”), and I wanted to let you know about a great service that she’s offering: Live Speed Interviewing Events. If your interview skills are rusty, you can sign up for her tele-classes and learn from one of the most talented experts in the field.

In each session, Carole interviews job seekers who take the “hot seat” and are asked common interview questions (including the dreaded, “What are your weaknesses?” question, which I think should be banned at this point). Carole then critiques the responses and everyone learns how to formulate stronger answers to tough interview questions.

I was shocked when Carole told me what she’s charging for the Speed Interviewing sessions (see current rates on her website here), and I told her that participants are getting a great value for these information-packed classes. I don’t know how long she will keep her rates so low, so now is a good time to sign up if you would like to enhance your interviewing skills. Carole also makes recordings of past events available at a discounted rate.

You’re in for a real treat if you sign up — the combination of Carole’s expertise, teaching style, and passion for interview coaching is sure to “boost your interview IQ” so you can ace your next interview!

To your success,

Kim Isaacs

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Here’s a link to another Fox Business News segment with host Anna Gilligan. The topic is the importance of paying attention to and building an online identity that can help you advance your career. More and more employers and recruiters are using the internet to learn about potential hires, so it’s important that they find positive information about you. Don’t get left the dust because employers couldn’t find you on the internet, or worse, they find information that makes them not want to hire you.

Best wishes,

Kim Isaacs

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